When I saw that Aven, I hoped to have Primus in hand T1, but shuffler says no. My next go-to would be Scavenger Sensei, but that’s also not an option. So… I guess Monk SQL and a hero? I can go aggro and follow-up with Primus patroller next turn to punish the bird if it attacks, maybe. As for which hero… Orpal has the option of midbanding and target-killing the bird, but that seems really awkward. Better to go with Grave for the lower midband cost and flexibility of Readiness and spells.
Mmm, want Grappling Hook… $4 to maxband Quince, $1 for Hound, $1 for worker… could be trouble. Well… even if that happens, the free levels from killing Grave will fizzle, so it’s not sooo bad, and I can punish with Snapback, though Quince is probably the least efficient target for that 'cuz his free Mirror on arrival and low maxband cost. Still, the question remains, should I midband Grave and SQL him to protect the Fox, or should I buy a Tech I instead? Tough call, but I’ll frontline Grave to protect my units and guard against the possibility of being attacked by the Mirror twice.
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($7)
Martial Mastery - ($6)
Worker - ($5)
Grappling Hook, move Quince to Lookout
Tech I - ($3)
Grave kills Quince
Maxband Grave - ($1)
Throw sword to kill Aven
Aged Sensei - ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 2, draw 1, reshuffle, draw 3
Board Info: In Patrol:
Squad Leader:
Elite:
Scavenger: Aged Sensei (1/1)
Technician:
Lookout:
In Play:
L7 Grave Stormborne (4/5) Sparkshot, readiness
Fox Primus (2/2) Frenzy 1, anti-air
Buildings:
Base HP: 20
Tech I HP: 5
Economy Info: Cards:
Hand: 4
Deck: 5
Disc: 0
Gold:
Gold: 0
Workers: 8
Thoughts
So, he did have a hound… but prioritized killing the Monk, or else wanted to avoid killing Grave when he couldn’t gain free levels from him. Well, $2 for $2 isn’t a bad trade, I guess. I could really use Grappling Hook and Versatile Style right about now, but both are in deck, unfortunately… but at least I can fish for them and will get at least 1. I’ll commit to some utility Tech I units and Martial Mastery reveals a commitment to Illusion units. If he took Reteller, he probably either took Macciatus or is planning to use Illusion’s weaknesses to prevent Orpal from spreading -1/-1 runes. Either way, the immediate threat is MTruth, so it’s worth splurging a bit to take down that Aven. That being the case, it’s very disappointing to whiff on Style, but I do have Grave’s maxband, and I think I have to use it. Opting to patrol as Scavenger because I need gold to tech up and because Martial Mastery is more valuable when played as the last card in hand.
If he’s including Dreamscape in his strategy, I’ll want to counter with either Mind-Parry Monk or Macciatus, but given that I have both options available, he probably won’t go that route. What I should probably be really concerned about are Liberty Gryphons. The only way to really defend against those is to prevent them from being played at all, and I think my best bet for that is to go for air superiority with Dragons.
Yep… definitely want air power, thankfully he skipped a worker which means I might still have time despite missing Martial Mastery. Still, that’s a lot of board pressure to endure, and I’m pretty sure the only way out of this mess is to call forth a 2nd hero, and Quince isn’t gonna get the job done. I should probably also try to phase out my anti-air units, lest they be used against me.
STARTING HAND
Lawful Search
Manufactured Truth
Spectral Roc
Porkhand Magistrate
Spectral Aven
WORKERS
Bluecoat Musketeer
Jail
Building Inspector
Traffic Director
NextHand
Arrest
Reteller of Truths
Eyes of the Chancellor
Reputable Newsman
Injunction
Discard
Manufactured Truth
Porkhand Magistrate
Spectral Roc
Lawful Search
Spectral Roc
Mind Control
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + Hound and Reteller to hand (h:7) - ($8)
Reteller of Truths (h:6) - ($6)
Spectral Aven (h:5) - ($4)
Manufactured Truth Mirror #2 into Aven (h:4) - ($3)
Hound and Mirror Copy of Aven kill Orpal, Quince to L3
Mirror trades with Grave, Quince to L5
Mirror - ($1)
Spectral Hound #2, Quince turns Mirror into Copy of Hound (h:3) - ($0)
Quince and Whisperer deal 4 to Base
Float ($0)
Discard 3, draw 5
Board Info: In Patrol:
Squad Leader: Spectral Hound #2 (4/4), +1/1
Elite:
Scavenger: Mirror Copy of Hound (4/4), +1/1
Technician:
Lookout: Reteller of Truths (4/4), +1/1, resist 1
In Play:
L5 Quince (1/5)
Mirror #2 (1/2), +1/1
Macciatus, The Whisperer (3/3), illusions get +1/1
Squad Leader: Young Lightning Dragon (3/3A) Flying
Elite: Mirror Illusion (1/1)
Scavenger: L1 Sirus Quince (1/3)
Technician: Sparring Partner (2/2)
Lookout: Mirror Illusion (0/1) Resist 1
Buildings:
Base HP: 16
Tech I HP: 5
Tech II HP: 5 (Discipline)
Economy Info: Cards:
Hand: 4
Deck: 4
Disc: 4
Gold:
Gold: 1
Workers: 11
Thoughts
That’s some sloppy patrolling… shame I don’t have anything to attack with to kill that SQL and clear the Scavenger for free. Also, I realize now I shouldn’t have included Truth in my build, as I can use Carrion Curse instead of Free Speech.
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($5)
Worker - ($4)
Grave kills Director
Tenderfoot kills Mirror
Helpful Turtle - ($2)
Tech I - ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 3, reshuffle, draw 5
Board Info: In Patrol:
Squad Leader:
Elite:
Scavenger:
Technician:
Lookout: Helpful Turtle (1/2) Healing 1, resist 1
In Play:
L1 Grave Stormborne (2/2) Sparkshot [1 damage]
Tenderfoot (1/2)
Buildings:
Base HP: 20
Tech I HP: 5
Economy Info: Cards:
Hand: 5
Deck: 3
Disc: 0
Gold:
Gold: 0
Workers: 6
Thoughts
Not really worried about Quince if I clear out his units, patrolling as Lookout in case of Arrest. Think I’ll experiment with leading with Spitters to provoke spell countermeasures, then shutting those countermeasures down with Carrion Curse.
Putting the damage on Tenderfoot in case Arrest clears the way for Quince to attack. Also, putting Spitter on the backline to protect it from Arrest and to prevent Quince from tagging out for another hero with a suicide attack.
Squad Leader:
Elite:
Scavenger:
Technician:
Lookout:
Base HP: 20
Base HP: 20