[XCAFRR19 Round5] bomber678 [Balance]/Disease/Growth vs NekoAtl [Strength]/Feral/Growth

@Nekoatl Let’s play.


Turn 1

Hand: Ironbark Treant, Merfolk Prospector, Rampant Growth, Forest’s Favour, Tiger Cub
Workers: Ironbark Treant


  1. Get paid (+$4, $4)
  2. Hire a worker ($3)
  3. Summon Merfolk Prospector ($2)
  4. Summon Master Midori ($0)
  5. Discard 3, draw 5

  • Patrol:
    :psblueshield:Squad Leader:
    :psfist:Elite:
    :ps_:Scavenger:
    :pschip:Technician:
    :target:Lookout:

  • Buildings:
  • Units/Heroes:
    Master Midori (2/3)
    Merfolk Prospector (1/1)
  • Base: 20
  • Other:

Economy:

  • Workers: 5
  • Gold: 0
  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 0
  • Discard: 3

Hand

Verdant Tree, Spore Shambler, Rich Earth, Young Treant, Playful Panda

Discard

Tiger Cub, Forest’s Favour, Rampant Growth

Think

Awkward to have both my tricks in hand one again. I don’t even know what this deck does.

GL HF

P2T1


StartingHand Workers

STARTING HAND
Savior Monk
Fox Viper
Fox Primus
Snapback
Smoker


WORKERS
Fox Viper


NextHand

Safe Attacking
Grappling Hook
Sensei’s Advice
Aged Sensei
Morningstar Flagbearer


Discard

Fox Primus
Smoker
Snapback


Tech 0 card(s)
Get Paid - ($5)
Worker - ($4)
Garus Rook - ($2)
Savior Monk - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 3, draw 5


Board Info:
In Patrol:

  • :psblueshield: Squad Leader: L1 Garus Rook (2/4A)
  • :psfist: Elite:
  • :ps_: Scavenger: Savior Monk (2/2) Healing 1
  • :pschip: Technician:
  • :target: Lookout:

Buildings:

  • :heart: Base HP: 20

Economy Info:
Cards:

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 0
  • Disc: 3

Gold:

  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 6

Thoughts

Since White starter was chosen over Green, despite having 2 Green heroes and Galina which powers up with Green units, I assume some White starter card is considered essential to this build, and most likely that’s Safe Attacking to protect token aggression, especially Birds, against a Tower. Probably the biggest threat in the opponent’s build is Balance, as advanced units from other factions can be shut down with Polymorph: Squirrel and/or Entangling Vines. Mythmaking could be extra effective as the opponent has Legendary Growth creatures in codex. Balance will surely interfere with my upgrades/buildings, but its capacity to do so is limited, and I have a lot of useful ones to choose from. Using Behind the Ferns to allow weenies to build charges on MoLaC is a standard Green strategy that should work here, and Growth runes can offset Disease runes.

Turn 2

Hand: Verdant Tree, Spore Shambler, Rich Earth, Young Treant, Playful Panda
Tech: Tiny Basilisk, Gemscout Owl
Workers: Ironbark Treant, Rich Earth


  1. Tech 2 cards
  2. Get paid (+$5, $5)
  3. Hire a worker ($4)
  4. Build Tech 1 ($2)
  5. Summon Playful Panda ($0)
  6. Discard 3, reshuffle, draw 5

  • Patrol:
    :psblueshield:Squad Leader:
    :psfist:Elite:
    :ps_:Scavenger: Merfolk Prospector (1/1)
    :pschip:Technician: Wisp (0/1)
    :target:Lookout:

  • Buildings:
    Tech 1: 5
  • Units/Heroes:
    Master MIdori (2/3)
    Playful Panda (2/2)
  • Base: 20
  • Other:

Economy:

  • Workers: 6
  • Gold: 0
  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 3
  • Discard: 0

Hand

Spore Shambler, Young Treant, Tiny Basilisk, Gemscout Owl, Tiger Cub

Discard

Thinking

Good redraw here. Getting bird for defence and planning to get circle of life to turn it into something nice.

P2T2


Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Bird’s Nest
Thunderclap


STARTING HAND
Sensei’s Advice
Safe Attacking
Aged Sensei
Morningstar Flagbearer
Grappling Hook


WORKERS
Fox Viper
Sensei’s Advice


NextHand

Smoker
Morningstar Flagbearer
Safe Attacking
Fox Primus
Grappling Hook


Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($6)
Worker - ($5)
Savior Monk kills Merfolk
Midband Rook - ($1)
Rook kills Midori
Aged Sensei - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 3, reshuffle, draw 5


Board Info:
In Patrol:

  • :psblueshield: Squad Leader:
  • :psfist: Elite: Aged Sensei (2/1)
  • :ps_: Scavenger:
  • :pschip: Technician:
  • :target: Lookout:

In Play:

  • L7 Garus Rook (3/3) [2 damage]
  • Savior Monk (2/1) Healing 1 [1 damage]

Buildings:

  • :heart: Base HP: 20

Economy Info:
Cards:

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 3
  • Disc: 0

Gold:

  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 7

Thoughts

Patrolling against Midori and Panda would be awkward, so I’ll reluctantly postpone my Tech I and go Rook aggro.

Turn 3

Hand: Spore Shambler, Young Treant, Tiny Basilisk, Gemscout Owl, Tiger Cub
Tech: Plague Spitter, Circle of Life
Workers: Ironbark Treant, Rich Earth, Tiger Cub


  1. Tech 2 cards
  2. Get paid (+$6, $7)
  3. Hire a worker ($6)
  4. Summon Spore Shambler ($3)
  5. Move a rune to Wisp ($2)
  6. Move a rune to Panda ($1)
  7. Summon Gemscout Owl ($0)
  8. Wisp kills Sensei
  9. Panda kills Rook
  10. Discard 2, draw 3, reshuffle, draw 1

  • Patrol:
    :psblueshield:Squad Leader:
    :psfist:Elite:
    :ps_:Scavenger:
    :pschip:Technician: Spore Shambler (0/1)
    :target:Lookout: Gemscout Owl (0/1)

  • Buildings:
    Tech 1: 5
  • Units/Heroes:
  • Base: 20
  • Other:

Economy:

  • Workers: 7
  • Gold: 0
  • Hand: 4
  • Deck: 5
  • Discard: 0

Hand

Verdant Tree, Rampant Growth, Forest’s Favour, Young Treant

Discard

Thenk

I wanted to play Basilisk, but the opportunity for a kill on Rook when he didn’t tech up is too good to pass up. Shame about the free levels.

2 Likes

P2T3


Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Ardra’s Boulder
Mythmaking


STARTING HAND
Grappling Hook
Morningstar Flagbearer
Fox Primus
Smoker
Safe Attacking


WORKERS
Fox Viper
Sensei’s Advice
Smoker


NextHand

Thunderclap
Snapback
Bird’s Nest
Mythmaking
Morningstar Flagbearer


Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($7)
Worker - ($6)
Tech I - ($4)
Fox Primus - ($1)
Monk kills Shambler

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


Board Info:
In Patrol:

  • :psblueshield: Squad Leader:
  • :psfist: Elite: Fox Primus (3/2) Frenzy 1, anti-air
  • :ps_: Scavenger:
  • :pschip: Technician:
  • :target: Lookout:

In Play:

  • Savior Monk (2/2) Healing 1 [1 damage]

Buildings:

  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 5

Economy Info:
Cards:

  • Hand: 5
  • Deck: 4
  • Disc: 0

Gold:

  • Gold: 1
  • Workers: 8

Thoughts

Clearly should have spent that last gold on a maxband. :confused: Well, at least he used up his board to do it, and my Rook spells weren’t in hand. Hopefully he didn’t draw Circle of Life.

Are we just walking past spore shambler now?

1 Like

Fixed, sorry.

Turn 4

Hand: Verdant Tree, Rampant Growth, Forest’s Favour, Young Treant, Tiny Basilisk
Draw: Playful Panda
Tech: Might of Leaf and Claw, Blooming Ancient
Workers: Ironbark Treant, Rich Earth, Tiger Cub, Forest’s Favour


  1. Tech 2 cards
  2. Get paid+gem (+$8, $8)
  3. Summon Young Treant, draw ($6)
  4. Hire a worker ($5)
  5. Build Verdant Tree ($3)
  6. Summon Tiny Basilisk ($1)
  7. Discard 2, draw 3, reshuffle, draw 1

  • Patrol:
    :psblueshield:Squad Leader: Young Treant (0/2+A)
    :psfist:Elite:
    :ps_:Scavenger: Tiny Basilisk (1/2)
    :pschip:Technician:
    :target:Lookout: Gemscout Owl (0/1)

  • Buildings:
    Tech 1: 5
    Verdant Tree: 3
  • Units/Heroes:
  • Base: 20
  • Other:

Economy:

  • Workers: 8
  • Gold: 1
  • Hand: 4
  • Deck: 4
  • Discard: 0

Hand

Circle of Life, Plague Spitter, Merfolk Prospector, Rampant Growth

Discard

Thinkerino

Guess I’ll just put more things on the board and tech up next turn. He has no haste and no upgrade destruction, so Might of Leaf and Claw should work for me here. Probably. Or something.

1 Like

P2T4


Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Bird’s Nest
Galina Glimmer


STARTING HAND
Snapback
Thunderclap
Bird’s Nest
Morningstar Flagbearer
Mythmaking


WORKERS
Fox Viper
Sensei’s Advice
Smoker
Bird’s Nest


NextHand

Safe Attacking
Ardra’s Boulder
Aged Sensei
Grappling Hook


Discard

Thunderclap
Mythmaking
Snapback
Bird’s Nest
Galina Glimmer


Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($9)
Worker - ($8)
Rook - ($6)
Thunderclap, sideline Treant and Basilisk - ($4)
Primus kills Owl
Monk kills Treant
Morningstar Flagbearer - ($1)

Float ($1)
Discard 2, draw 4


Board Info:
In Patrol:

  • :psblueshield: Squad Leader:
  • :psfist: Elite: L1 Garus Rook (3/4)
  • :ps_: Scavenger:
  • :pschip: Technician:
  • :target: Lookout:

In Play:

  • Fox Primus (2/2) Frenzy 1, anti-air
  • Morningstar Flagbearer (2/2) Tempting target
  • Savior Monk (2/2) Healing 1 [1 damage]

Buildings:

  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 5

Economy Info:
Cards:

  • Hand: 4
  • Deck: 0
  • Disc: 5

Gold:

  • Gold: 1
  • Workers: 9

Thoughts

I can’t kill the Basilisk, but hopefully I can make him choose between trading it for Rook or trading it for a tech II unit. I could break the Tree instead of killing the Owl, but I think there’s better value in using CoL to convert the Own into a tech II than constructing the building and playing one from hand. The Flagbearer serves many useful purposes to thwart Green/Growth, just wish I could have gotten him in play before losing Rook, heh.

Turn 5

Hand: Circle of Life, Plague Spitter, Merfolk Prospector, Rampant Growth
Tech: Moment’s Peace, Blooming Ancient
Workers: Ironbark Treant, Rich Earth, Tiger Cub, Forest’s Favour, Circle of Life


  1. Tech 2 cards
  2. Get paid (+$8, $9)
  3. Hire a worker ($8)
  4. Summon Argagarg Garg ($6)
  5. Tiny Basilisk trades with Rook, Arg gains two levels
  6. Maxband Argagarg ($4)
  7. Summon Plague Spitter ($1)
  8. Summon Merfolk Prospector ($0)
  9. Discard 1, draw 3

  • Patrol:
    :psblueshield:Squad Leader: Water Elemental (3/3+A)
    :psfist:Elite: Wisp (1/1)
    :ps_:Scavenger: Merfolk Prospector (1/1)
    :pschip:Technician: Plague Spitter (3/3)
    :target:Lookout:

  • Buildings:
    Tech 1: 5
    Verdant Tree: 3
  • Units/Heroes:
    Argagarg Garg (1/5)
  • Base: 20
  • Other:

Economy:

  • Workers: 9
  • Gold: 0
  • Hand: 3
  • Deck: 1
  • Discard: 6

Hand

Might of Leaf and Claw, Blooming Ancient, Playful Panda

Discard

Tiny Basilisk, Young Treant, Blooming Ancient, Moment’s Peace, Rampant Growth, Gemscout Owl

Thinkums

Everything seems to be according to plan? Not sure why he just gave me that kill for free, but maybe he had no tech 1s to prevent it. But then why summon a hero anyway? Weird. Next turn, if my units stay alive, try to trigger the big Might. Otherwise, it’s RUNE TIME.

P2T5


Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Galina Glimmer
Mythmaking


STARTING HAND
Aged Sensei
Ardra’s Boulder
Safe Attacking
Grappling Hook


WORKERS
Fox Viper
Sensei’s Advice
Smoker
Bird’s Nest
Aged Sensei


NextHand

Galina Glimmer
Snapback
Grappling Hook


Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($10)
Worker - ($9)
Argagarg, maxband - ($3)
Grappling Hook, Elemental to Lookout - ($2)
Flagbearer and Monk kill Wisp and Merfolk
Ardra’s Boulder - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 1, reshuffle, draw 3


Board Info:
In Patrol:

  • :psblueshield: Squad Leader: L5 Argagarg Garg (1/5A)
  • :psfist: Elite: Fox Primus (3/2) Frenzy 1, anti-air
  • :ps_: Scavenger:
  • :pschip: Technician: Water Elemental (3/3) Anti-air
  • :target: Lookout:

In Play:

  • Ardra’s Boulder (0/6)
  • Morningstar Flagbearer (2/1) Tempting target [1 damage]
  • Savior Monk (2/1) Healing 1 [1 damage]
  • Wisp (0/1)

Buildings:

  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 5

Economy Info:
Cards:

  • Hand: 3
  • Deck: 6
  • Disc: 0

Gold:

  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 10

Thoughts

Can’t afford a tech II yet, so I’ll try to get Argagarg killed to make room for Rook. Dropping the Boulder now and doubling up on other Legendary-themed cards to try and get the trio in play ASAP.

You got a wisp?

1 Like

It was hiding behind everyone else, so nobody noticed it.

Turn 6

Hand: Might of Leaf and Claw, Blooming Ancient, Playful Panda
Tech: Stampede, Blooming Elm
Workers: Skeletal Archery, Poisonblade Rogue, Summon Skeletons, Sacrifice the Weak, Jandra, the Negator


  1. Tech 2 cards
  2. Get paid (+$9, $10)
  3. Exhaust Verdant Tree
  4. Build Tech 2 Growth ($6)
  5. Summon Blooming Ancient ($2)
  6. Summon Playful Panda, 2 runes ($0)
  7. Plague Spitter hits Arg, 2 - runes
  8. Water Elemental kills Arg
  9. Discard 1, draw 1, reshuffle, draw 2

  • Patrol:
    :psblueshield:Squad Leader: Argagarg Garg (1/5+A)
    :psfist:Elite:
    :ps_:Scavenger: Wisp (0/1)
    :pschip:Technician: Blooming Ancient (4/6)
    :target:Lookout:

  • Buildings:
    Tech 1: 5
    Tech 2: 5
    Verdant Tree: 3
  • Units/Heroes:
    Playful Panda (2/2)
    Plague Spitter (3/2)
    Water Elemental (3/3)
  • Base: 20
  • Other:

Economy:

  • Workers: 9
  • Gold: 0
  • Hand: 3
  • Deck: 8
  • Discard: 0

Hand

Spore Shambler, Young Treant, Might of Leaf and Claw

Discard

Big Think

I had to kill Arg in case he did a galaxy brain stampede gambit. Which means my ancient could die which is super lame.

P2T6


Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Feral Strike
Feral Strike


STARTING HAND
Galina Glimmer
Snapback
Grappling Hook


WORKERS
Fox Viper
Sensei’s Advice
Smoker
Bird’s Nest
Aged Sensei
Galina Glimmer


NextHand

Safe Attacking
Galina Glimmer
Thunderclap


Discard

Grappling Hook
Fox Primus
Snapback
Feral Strike
Feral Strike


Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($10)
Worker - ($9)
Garus Rook, maxband - ($0)
Grappling Hook Argagarg to Lookout
Primus and Elemental trade with Ancient

Float ($0)
Discard 1, draw 3


Board Info:
In Patrol:

  • :psblueshield: Squad Leader: L8 Garus Rook (4/6A) Two-lives
  • :psfist: Elite:
  • :ps_: Scavenger:
  • :pschip: Technician: Ardra’s Boulder (0/6)
  • :target: Lookout:

In Play:

  • Morningstar Flagbearer (2/2) Tempting target
  • Savior Monk (2/2) Healing 1
  • Wisp (0/1)

Buildings:

  • :heart: Base HP: 20
  • :heart: Tech I HP: 5

Economy Info:
Cards:

  • Hand: 3
  • Deck: 3
  • Disc: 5

Gold:

  • Gold: 0
  • Workers: 11

Thoughts

Even if the Ancient can’t distribute runes, it can still quickly grow to unmanageable size… better to get rid of it now.

Turn 7

Hand: Spore Shambler, Young Treant, Might of Leaf and Claw, Gemscout Owl
Draw: Stampede
Tech: Guargum, Eternal Sentinal, Galina Glimmer
Workers: Ironbark Treant, Rich Earth, Tiger Cub, Forest’s Favour, Circle of Life, Gemscout Owl


  1. Technician draw
  2. Tech 2 cards
  3. Heal
  4. Get paid (+$9, $9)
  5. Summon Young Treant, draw ($7)
  6. Hire a worker ($6)
  7. Research Might of Leaf and Claw ($3)
  8. Summon Spore Shambler ($0)
  9. Argagarg hits Rook
  10. Plague Spitter hits Rook
  11. Water Elemental kills Rook’s first life
  12. Playful Panda hits Rook
  13. Discard 1, draw 3

  • Patrol:
    :psblueshield:Squad Leader: Young Treant (0/2+A)
    :psfist:Elite:
    :ps_:Scavenger:
    :pschip:Technician: Spore Shambler (2/3)
    :target:Lookout: Wisp (0/1)

  • Buildings:
    Tech 1: 5
    Tech 2: 5
    Verdant Tree: 3
  • Units/Heroes:
    Argagarg Garg lvl 5 (1/1)
    Playful Panda (2/1)
    Water Elemental (3/2)
  • Base: 20
  • Other:
    Might of Leaf and Claw (4)

Economy:

  • Workers: 10
  • Gold: 0
  • Hand: 3
  • Deck: 3
  • Discard: 5

Hand

Rampant Growth, Tiny Basilisk, Merfolk Prospector

Discard

Blooming Ancient, Guargum, Eternal Sentinal, Stampede, Galina Glimmer, Plague Spitter

Thonk

I’m in a very good position here. The silly flagbearer prevented me from activating this turn, but it will be pretty tough for him to prevent me next turn, and even if he does, Moment’s Peace basically guarantees I get an attack with something. So I’m pretty favoured to win here.

I surrender, GG. @FrozenStorm

1 Like

Gg man. I still don’t really know what the disease is for.

Plague Lab increases runes of any type, including +1/+1, sword, focus, etc. Also, putting +1/+1 runes on Plague Spitter / Orpal makes them more effective at disabling things, and healing allows them to recover afterward. That being said, I’ve found that spamming Plague Lab to boost runes is really only practical if you have an overclocked economy, e.g. Galina Glimmer.

1 Like