Agreed, a single game isn’t a large enough sample size! It’s definitely interesting to see that Black can absolutely still win while completely cutting out a hero most players think is either OP or merely “very very strong” and not replacing her, though we’ll see whether that still holds true as you two get a sense for this version of the matchup.
I definitely think only having two heroes isn’t necessarily devastating. I’ve had a lot of games where I cycled between two different heroes frequently and still did well.
I think it’s fine if the game ends early and you have pressure. I expected this to go past turn 8 or so, and most games that go that late I end up using all three
Vandy trained me to be hyper-cautious about giving away free levels in the early game, and that experience bled into this game. I should have opened with Newsman and Onimaru on turn 1, probably.
I agree, I think Oni strats become way more viable with Vandy out of the picture.
Possibly even Quince strats, though mono-blue often doesn’t have much worth copying.
Skeleton Javelineer
Poisonblade Rogue
Sacrifice the Weak
Summon Skeletons
Jandra, the Negator
End of Turn Discard
My Thoughts
Last game went unexpectedly well but I feel like Neko went a little light on me, we’ll see if Elite Training, Free Speech and a little more aggro are able to keep me off Death and Decay this time!
No Newsman in hand this time around, so I can’t stop you from killing Onimaru if you have Sacrifice the Weak in hand… but since Garth takes $3 to midband instead of $2 and doesn’t have sparkshot, it looks like I can at least make you skip a worker if you want to claim those free levels!
P2T1
StartingHand Workers
STARTING HAND
Arrest
Jail
Building Inspector
Spectral Aven
Bluecoat Musketeer
WORKERS
Jail
NextHand
Reputable Newsman
Lawful Search
Porkhand Magistrate
Manufactured Truth
Traffic Director
Discard
Building Inspector
Spectral Aven
Arrest
Tech 0 card(s)
Get Paid - ($5)
Worker - ($4)
Bluecoat Musketeer - ($2)
General Onimaru - ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 3, draw 5
Board Info: In Patrol:
Squad Leader: Bluecoat Musketeer (1/2A)
Elite: L1 General Onimaru (3/3) Frenzy 1
Scavenger:
Technician:
Lookout:
Buildings:
Base HP: 20
Economy Info: Cards:
Hand: 5
Deck: 0
Disc: 3
Gold:
Gold: 0
Workers: 6
Thoughts
So he says, but no Newsman in hand this time around. Well, I’ll gamble that he doesn’t have Sacrifice the Weak in hand, for science. This wouldn’t be so risky if not for that pesky Haunt. I’ll patrol Bigby in Elite and SQL the Musketeer, this way Garth’ll have to midband if he wants to survive killing Onimaru, and he’ll have to play StW to even have that option. With his P1 economy, doing both means skipping a worker, which I’ll be happy to give away free levels for. It might still work out in his favor if he goes Lich’s Bargain, though, to end the game quickly before the worker difference has a chance to catch up.
Skeleton Javelineer
Poisonblade Rogue
Sacrifice the Weak
Summon Skeletons
Jandra, the Negator
Events of Turn:
Upkeep:
Get Gold (5)
Tech 2 cards in (except turn 1)
All Teched Cards
Plague Spitter, Bone Collector
Main:
Skeleton Javelineer (4)
Make a skeleton (3)
Haunt pings your base to 19
Worker (2)
Tech 1 (1)
Workers
Poisonblade Rogue, Skeletal Archery
Patrol as below
Discard 3 rs Draw 5
Tech 2 cards before my next turn
Board Info:
Buildings:
Base HP: 20
Tech1 HP: 5
In Patrol:
Squad Leader: Skeleton (1/1+1armor)
Elite:
Scavenger: Skeleton (1/1)
Technician: Skeleton Javelineer (1/1)
Lookout:
In Play:
Garth (1/3 lvl 1)
Pestering Haunt (1/1)
Economy Info:
Cards:
Hand: 5
Deck: 3
Disc: 0
Gold:
Gold: 1
Workers: 6
End of Turn Hand
Deteriorate
Sacrifice the Weak
Summon Skeletons
Plague Spitter
Jandra, the Negator
End of Turn Discard
My Thoughts
Not going to be as smooth of sledding here. MT and Arrest are going to cause a lot more problems. Arguably Nether Drain or Doom Grasp or maybe Hoodie are good choices here, but I’m going to opt for Spitter and a BC. Hopefully that does the job still okay. I’m almost certainly losing SQL and Techn here, unless he doesn’t have Porky or Newsie to block with
I agree that it was your best option, just was hoping to psyche you out of it lol. Need mindgames on my side with no Shadow Blades or invisible demon queens.
Squad Leader: Traffic Director (1/1A) Untargetable
Elite: Reputable Newsman (1/3) $2 blocked
Scavenger: Soldier (1/1) Sparkshot
Technician: Soldier (1/1) Sparkshot
Lookout: Soldier (1/1) Sparkshot, resist 1
In Play:
L8 General Onimaru (1/2) Frenzy 1, readiness [3-]
Buildings:
Base HP: 19
Tech I HP: 5
Economy Info: Cards:
Hand: 4
Deck: 5
Disc: 0
Gold:
Gold: 0
Workers: 8
Thoughts
What a mess. It seems I have only bad options here, and oddly, sacrificing maxband Onimaru seems the least bad. The Imp taking the Cadet really hurt, and the Haunt is such a thorn in my side. I’ll aggressively rush Garrisons even though I can’t afford to build a Tech II. Chances are I won’t have both in hand next turn, and even if I do, I can probably pull strings to get Bigby in play to stash one of them.
Can’t argue that I somehow underestimated at gut check just how much the starter decks play a role in making this matchup hell for Blue. I thought Vandy was a more key piece of that puzzle.
Huh, interesting choice, Maxing Oni but neutering him… must have whiffed the Arrest and MTruth (or I got lucky and DCd one with Imp). I’m going to set up Graveyard + BC in that case, and worker the DG. Doesn’t feel like I’ll need it now. I can kill a lot of stuff by using Deteriorate to trade favorably, let’s do that. Possible I’ll lose Garth here, so teching a dozer and… Well Nether Drain is still really handy, let’s tech that also. Carrion Curse is a decent consideration also but I think I’m probably rushing tech 3 at this point.
Elite: L8 General Onimaru (2/2) Frenzy 1, readiness [3-]
Scavenger: Soldier (1/1) Sparkshot
Technician: Soldier (1/1) Sparkshot
Lookout:
Buildings:
Base HP: 19
Tech I HP: 5
Tech II HP: 5 (Peace)
Economy Info: Cards:
Hand: 4
Deck: 1
Disc: 6
Gold:
Gold: 3
Workers: 9
Thoughts
Tempting to build a Tower with this $3 for more stopping power, but I expect to have other need for both the gold and the add-on slot soon, so I’ll float instead. Floating may also make him cautious of Judgment Day, so hopefully he won’t gain too much board advantage.
Yeah Black tech 1 is also way better than Blue tech 1, and Garth is still above average early game despite poor combat stats just because of how effective cardless 1/1s are for keeping key pieces safe.
Sacrifice the Weak
Summon Skeletons
Zarramonde, the Obliterator
End of Turn Discard
My Thoughts
Seems pretty safe to take good trades but leave the technician, and aim for tech 3 next turn. Even with all that gold, decent chance I avoid total board flood if I force a discard, and flood or not I still have a solid board myself. Next turn maxband Garth + Worker + T3 and I should be in pretty good shape. Teching both Zarras to fatten the deck w/ a draw for em.
…
Well drawing one on the RS isn’t great, maybe I shouldn’t have patrolled techn… Hopefully the other one stays in the deck until next dc draw.
I dunno, I think Blue Tech I is quite strong under the right circumstances. The problem is they don’t really start to shine until they have Tech II support.
P2T5
Tech StartingHand Workers
TECH
Spectral Hound
Spectral Hound
STARTING HAND
Flagstone Garrison
Flagstone Garrison
Overeager Cadet
Spectral Aven
Bluecoat Musketeer
Spectral Hound
Spectral Flagbearer
Building Inspector
Traffic Director
Overeager Cadet
Manufactured Truth
Spectral Hound
Spectral Flagbearer
Overeager Cadet
Reputable Newsman
Plague Spitter
Zarramonde, the Obliterator
Blackhand Dozer
Hooded Executioner
End of Turn Discard
My Thoughts
Seems perhaps I was wrong lol. That’s a lot of board flood. Likely he tech Elite Training and is able to roll me here a bit, let’s see if I can make it work!
I think I have this pretty well in hand, but Death Rites could still be a problem. Newsman could perhaps prevent that, and probably should try. I have to try to prevent Sacrifice the Weak from taking him out, so I’ll increase his attack to let the Building Inspector and Aven screen for him.