RACE #3: petE ([Anarchy]/Strength/Growth) vs. cstick ([Demon]/Fire/Balance)

Codex Codex play-by-forum
1

@petE will be going first against @cstick. Good luck and have fun!

2

@cstick GLHF !

P1 Turn1

[details=StartingHand Workers][spoiler]
STARTING HAND
Careless Musketeer
Pillage
Scorch
Mad Man
Bloodrage Ogre

WORKERS
Scorch

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=NextHand][spoiler]
Nautical Dog
Makeshift Rambaster
Bloodburn
Bombaster
Charge

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=Discard][spoiler]
Careless Musketeer
Pillage
Bloodrage Ogre

[/spoiler][/details]

Tech 0 card(s)
Get Paid - ($4)
Worker - ($3)
Rook - ($1)
Mad Man - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 3, draw 5

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]:
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]: Mad Man (1/1)
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]:
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]:
    [B]In Play:[/B]
  • Rook lvl 1 (2/4)
    [B]Buildings:[/B]
  • :heart: Base HP: 20

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 0
  • Disc: 3
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 5
3

You too.

P2T1

StartingHand Workers

STARTING HAND
Summon Skeletons
Skeletal Archery
Graveyard
Thieving Imp
Jandra, the Negator

WORKERS
Skeletal Archery

NextHand

Skeleton Javelineer
Pestering Haunt
Poisonblade Rogue
Deteriorate
Sacrifice the Weak

Discard

Thieving Imp
Summon Skeletons
Graveyard

Tech 0 card(s)
Get Paid - ($5)
Worker - ($4)
Play Jandra, the Negator - ($1)

Float ($1)
Discard 3, draw 5

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]: Jandra, the Negator (4/3)
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]:
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]:
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]:
    [B]In Play:[/B]

[B]Buildings:[/B]

  • :heart: Base HP: 20

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 0
  • Disc: 3
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 1
  • Workers: 6
4

P1 Turn2

[details=Tech StartingHand Workers][spoiler]
TECH
Gunpoint Taxman
Bird’s Nest

STARTING HAND
Makeshift Rambaster
Nautical Dog
Bombaster
Charge
Bloodburn

WORKERS
Scorch
Bloodburn

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=NextHand][spoiler]
Pillage
Nautical Dog
Bombaster
Bird’s Nest
Makeshift Rambaster

[/spoiler][/details]
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($5)
Worker - ($4)
Rook to midband - ($0)
Rook kills Jandra

Float ($0)
Discard 4, reshuffle, draw 5

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]:
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]: Mad Man (1/1)
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]:
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]:
    [B]In Play:[/B]
  • Rook lvl 5 (3/1)
    [B]Buildings:[/B]
  • :heart: Base HP: 20

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 4
  • Disc: 0
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 6
5

P2T2

Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Tiny Basilsik
Tiny Basilsik

STARTING HAND
Poisonblade Rogue
Deteriorate
Pestering Haunt
Skeleton Javelineer
Sacrifice the Weak

WORKERS
Skeletal Archery
Poisonblade Rogue

NextHand

Graveyard
Deteriorate
Skeleton Javelineer
Tiny Basilsik
Tiny Basilsik

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($7)
Worker - ($6)
Build Tech 1 - ($4)
Play Jaina - ($2)
Play Pestering Haunt

Float ($2)
Discard 3, reshuffle, draw 5

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]:
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]:
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]: L1 Jaina (2/3)
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]:
    [B]In Play:[/B]
  • Pestering Haunt (1/1)
    [B]Buildings:[/B]
  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 5

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 4
  • Disc: 0
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 2
  • Workers: 7
6

P1 Turn3

[details=Tech StartingHand Workers][spoiler]
TECH
Blooming Ancient
Blooming Ancient

STARTING HAND
Pillage
Bird’s Nest
Makeshift Rambaster
Nautical Dog
Bombaster

WORKERS
Scorch
Bloodburn
Pillage

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=NextHand][spoiler]
Gunpoint Taxman
Bloodrage Ogre
Charge
Careless Musketeer
Bombaster

[/spoiler][/details]
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($6)
Worker - ($5)
Rook to maxband, heals, two lives - ($2)
Build Tech 1 - ($0)
Rook kills Jaina, you draw

Float ($0)
Discard 4, draw 4, reshuffle, draw 1

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]:
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]: Mad Man (1/1)
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]:
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]:
    [B]In Play:[/B]
  • Rook lvl 8 (4/4) [two lives]
    [B]Buildings:[/B]
  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 5

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 5
  • Disc: 0
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 7
7

P2T3

Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Faerie Dragon
Faerie Dragon

STARTING HAND
Deteriorate
Tiny Basilsik
Graveyard
Skeleton Javelineer
Tiny Basilsik
Thieving Imp

WORKERS
Skeletal Archery
Poisonblade Rogue
Thieving Imp

NextHand

Faerie Dragon
Jandra, the Negator
Deteriorate
Sacrifice the Weak
Summon Skeletons

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($9)
Worker - ($8)
Play Tiny Basilisk - ($6)
Play Tiny Basilisk - ($4)
Build Tech 2: Balance - ($0)
Pestering Haunt pings your Tech 1

Float ($0)
Discard 3, draw 3, reshuffle, draw 2

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]:
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]: Tiny Basilisk (1/2)
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]: Tiny Basilisk (1/2)
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]:
    [B]In Play:[/B]
  • Pestering Haunt (1/1)
    [B]Buildings:[/B]
  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 5
  • :heart: Tech II HP: 5 (Balance)

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 3
  • Disc: 0
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 8
8

P1 Turn4

[details=StartingHand Workers][spoiler]
STARTING HAND
Careless Musketeer
Bloodrage Ogre
Charge
Gunpoint Taxman
Bombaster

WORKERS
Scorch
Bloodburn
Pillage
Careless Musketeer

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=NextHand][spoiler]
Makeshift Rambaster
Bird’s Nest
Blooming Ancient
Blooming Ancient
Nautical Dog

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=Discard][spoiler]
Surprise Attack
Surprise Attack
Bombaster
Charge
Bloodrage Ogre

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=Thoughts][spoiler]

Have played with this deck against Balance a couple of times, and find it a difficult matchup. Nature Reclaims negates MoLoC, Mimic copies flying and haste, Potent Basilisk destroys Bird’s Nest, and generally feels vulnerable to multiple fliers. Teching in Surprise Attacks for non-flying pressure with synergy with Ancients that Tiny Bs can’t block. For now, hoping he doesn’t have Sac the Weak in hand, as I’d lose Rook before having the chance to get the Birds out.

[/spoiler][/details]
Tech 0 card(s)
Get Paid - ($7)
Worker - ($6)
Gunpoint Taxman - ($4)
Tech 2 Growth - ($0)
Mad Man trades with Haunt

Float ($0)
Discard 3, draw 5

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]:
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]: Gunpoint Taxman (3/3)
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]:
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]:
    [B]In Play:[/B]
  • Rook lvl 8 (4/4) [two lives]
    [B]Buildings:[/B]
  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 4
  • :heart: Tech II HP: 5 (Growth)

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 0
  • Disc: 5
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 8
9

P2T4

Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Potent Basilisk
Ember Sparks

STARTING HAND
Sacrifice the Weak
Summon Skeletons
Jandra, the Negator
Faerie Dragon
Deteriorate

WORKERS
Skeletal Archery
Poisonblade Rogue
Thieving Imp
Jandra, the Negator

NextHand

Summon Skeletons
Skeleton Javelineer
Faerie Dragon
Graveyard

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($8)
Worker - ($7)
Play Vandy - ($5)
Play Faerie Dragon, putting a rune on the Taxman - ($1)
Deteriorate the Taxman
The Basilisks both kill Rook. Vandy midbands.

Float ($1)
Discard 2, draw 3, reshuffle, draw 1

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]: L3 Vandy (3/4 + A)
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]:
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]:
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]:
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]: Faerie Dragon (4/2)
    [B]In Play:[/B]

[B]Buildings:[/B]

  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 5
  • :heart: Tech II HP: 5 (Balance)

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 4
  • Deck: 7
  • Disc: 0
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 1
  • Workers: 9
1 Like
10

P1 Turn5

Nice combo !

[details=Tech StartingHand Workers][spoiler]
TECH
Stampede
Dinosize

STARTING HAND
Nautical Dog
Bird’s Nest
Blooming Ancient
Blooming Ancient
Makeshift Rambaster

WORKERS
Scorch
Bloodburn
Pillage
Careless Musketeer

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=NextHand][spoiler]
Bombaster
Dinosize
Makeshift Rambaster
Surprise Attack

[/spoiler][/details]
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + scav. - ($9)
Blooming Ancient #1 - ($5)
Blooming Ancient #2, 1 rune on BA#1 - ($1)
Nautical Dog, 1 rune on each of BA#1, BA#2 - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 2, reshuffle, draw 4

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]: Blooming Ancient #1 (5/6) [two 1/1 runes]
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]:
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]:
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]:
    [B]In Play:[/B]
  • Blooming Ancient #2 (3/5) [one 1/1 runes]
  • Nautical Dog (1/1)
    [B]Buildings:[/B]
  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 4
  • :heart: Tech II HP: 5 (Growth)

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 4
  • Deck: 6
  • Disc: 0
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 8
11

P2T5

Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Moment’s Peace
Moment’s Peace

STARTING HAND
Skeleton Javelineer
Graveyard
Faerie Dragon
Summon Skeletons

WORKERS
Skeletal Archery
Poisonblade Rogue
Thieving Imp
Jandra, the Negator
Graveyard

NextHand

Ember Sparks
Potent Basilisk
Tiny Basilisk

Discard

Summon Skeletons
Skeleton Javelineer
Moment’s Peace
Moment’s Peace

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($10)
Worker - ($9)
Faerie Dragon attacks the Ancient in Elite
Play Faerie Dragon B, which puts a rune on and kills the Ancient in Elite - ($5)
Vandy kills Nautical Dog
Play Summon Skeletons - ($2)
Maxband Vandy, buffing a Skeleton - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 1, draw 3

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]:
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]: Skeleton (3/3) (doomed)
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]: Skeleton (1/1)
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]: Faerie Dragon B (4/2)
    [B]In Play:[/B]
  • Faerie Dragon A (4/2)
  • L5 Vandy (4/5)
    [B]Buildings:[/B]
  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 5
  • :heart: Tech II HP: 5 (Balance)

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 3
  • Deck: 4
  • Disc: 4
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 10
12

GG, well played !
@EricF

This turn I get to play Zane and Surprise Attack, which could have dealt ~30HP damage had I been able to retain both Ancients. With the one (doomed) Ancient I can clear your skeletons, hero, and break Tech2, but won’t be able to stay in the game for very long.

Couldn’t resist taking your T1 Jandra, knowing it committed to maxbanding Rook, and ran the risk by delayingTech1 of not getting the Birds in the air before Rook was killed. Your Tiny Bs did too fast a demolition job – one turn longer and I think I’d have been in good shape. Very nice plays casting the feather runes on my units too!

13

Note that the Ancient isn’t doomed — Vandy’s maxband only affects tech 0 and 1 units, so the Ancient is safe. If having an Ancient in play makes it worthwhile to continue playing, go ahead and take another turn. Otherwise, GG to you as well.

14

That does make a difference – will continue in that case, thanks!

15

P1 Turn6

[details=Tech StartingHand Workers][spoiler]
TECH
Entangling Vines
Maximum Anarchy

STARTING HAND
Dinosize
Makeshift Rambaster
Surprise Attack
Bombaster

WORKERS
Scorch
Bloodburn
Pillage
Careless Musketeer
Makeshift Rambaster

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=NextHand][spoiler]
Bloodrage Ogre
Stampede
Surprise Attack
Charge

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=Discard][spoiler]
Nautical Dog
Blooming Ancient
Surprise Attack
Dinosize
Bombaster
Entangling Vines
Maximum Anarchy

[/spoiler][/details]

[details=Thoughts][spoiler]

Did not get Bird’s Nest in the draw at the end of this turn. Really needed that to have much chance of coming back, so suspect this will be over pretty soon.

[/spoiler][/details]
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($8)
Worker - ($7)
Zane, rune on Ancient - ($5)
Surprise Attack, 2 runes on Ancient - ($0)
Sharks kill Scavanger and Technician Skeletons, you draw and gain $1
Ancient kills Vandy, Zane to lvl 3
3 runes from Ancient to Zane
Zane breaks Tech 2, your Base to 18HP

Float ($0)
Discard 2, draw 4

[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]

  • :psblueshield: [I]Squad Leader[/I]:
  • :psfist: [I]Elite[/I]:
  • :ps_: [I]Scavenger[/I]:
  • :pschip: [I]Technician[/I]:
  • :target: [I]Lookout[/I]:
    [B]In Play:[/B]
  • Blooming Ancient (3/1) [one 1/1 rune]
  • Zane lvl 3 (5/5) [three 1/1 runes]
    [B]Buildings:[/B]
  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 4
  • :heart: Tech II HP: 5 (Growth)

[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]

  • Hand: 4
  • Deck: 2
  • Disc: 7
    [B]Gold:[/B]
  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 9
16

Blooming Ancient can only move runes onto other units, not heroes.

17

In which case I’ll concede after all. Well played!

18

I’ve enjoyed playing ~10 pbf games with this deck, but have struggled whenever I come up against Balance. Nature Reclaims takes care of MoLaC, Mimic copies haste from Red units and Zane, Potent Basilisk kills Bird’s Nest making the Birds (my only fliers) feel a vulnerable defence against Faerie Dragons and Mimics, and the Tiny Basiliks are great hero killers as happened in this game. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions?

19

Against Balance’s fliers, I think that birds are actually a decent defense. The weakness of Faerie Dragon is that it only has 2 health, compared to the 3 health that most other tech 2 fliers have. Because of this, a patrolling bird + a tower are enough to kill an attacking dragon. Plus, the birds keep coming back as long as Rook is around, and Taxman and Arg’s elemental can strike back if you can keep them alive for a turn. Defensively, things with 5 or more health are usually good, because they can survive attacks from fliers.

Another thing that might help is not workering Scorch against Balance. It’s actually a reasonable answer to Faerie Dragon.

I think a weakness of Balance’s fliers plan is that it can struggle to establish a rigorous ground defense. Stuff like Zane and Surprise Attack can be really good for getting through and crippling my buildings, or even just base racing.

Tiny Basilisk is dangerous, and should probably be prepared for in advance. I wouldn’t invest too much into heroes early on if you’re expecting Basilisks, and I’d recommend teching 2x Taxman to block them in the first few turns. Later, you have to be careful to make sure they can’t trade for anything important, such as Rhinos or Blooming Ancients with multiple runes on them. Zane is decent against them, as you can play him out of the command zone and have him kill them on your terms.

As far as your tech 2 plan, I definitely agree that MoLaC is not safe to play. Blooming Ancient, however, is still very good. It’s big enough to be difficult to kill conventionally, while the ability to spread runes around makes it less vulnerable to Basilisks. It can generate a lot of damage quickly, which is good for pushing through my defenses and keeping me from playing things.

Your other tech 2 plans are also worth looking at. Anarchy is great for getting damage through, and Steam Tank seems like a good way to exploit weak ground defenses. In Strength, Doubling Barbarbarian can win a race, and Grappler can kill most of the things I play.

In this particular game, I think you weren’t that far off. I was able to get ahead early by answering Rook with Basilisks, which let me build my Tech 2 without being under pressure. Ancients + Surprise Attack was a good follow up. I think you had a decent line available on turn 6 which could have kept you in the game. If you had Zane kill a skeleton instead of a shark, you could have had the ancient break my tech 2, then move 2 runes onto the shark to kill Vandy. That way, you have Zane and a 4/6. I mean, you’re still facing down 8 power of fliers, but with nothing else on board, I would have to choose between some combination of breaking your tech 2, killing Zane, and killing your living ancient. I might have picked the wrong thing to kill and left Zane alive so you could surprise attack again, or something.

1 Like
20

Great suggestions, thanks