Zamba Slammer

kusoash 156

This is the current iteration of a Los GPI Net Tap/Zamba/derez deck I've been playing for the past couple of weeks and it's a load of fun as well as what I would call a solid tier 2, maybe 1.5 deck.

Knowing the deck quite intimately I know the ins-and-outs of it as a pilot but to someone else it could be difficult to pick up. I usually find myself setting up for the first 4-5 turns with some runs here and there depending on opening hand and draws.

The early goal of the deck is to force the corp into having to choose from only bad options. One of my favourite plays is to let them gain anywhere from 10 - 20 credits and try for a scoring window then hitting them with Fisk and Tapwrm, sometime sans Sac Con. Then watch them squirm into either letting you gain 2 - 4 credits and another setup or attack turn, score the agenda and discard several cards from hand, or install/play cards that could only benefit the runner with extra creds or options for Aeneas Informant.

The ultimate goal is to keep the corp poor by hitting their servers while gaining Turtle tokens and Zamba credits at an advanced rate and bouncing/derezing ICE to push their gameplan back. One concern with the current deck is no option of multi-access but can be easily fixed by flexing something for a late-game Legwork.

Several pet cards in here including Xanadu and Cortez for taxing the corp further and Ankusa for bouncing cheap or troublesome barriers back to HQ. Most of the time the corp will either reinstall or discard.

46 cards unfortunately but I've found it quite difficult to cut it down to 45. I tried 2 Informant but was missing the third. A third Zamba would also be nice but slots are tight. Some other options for derez to try are Exploit for power run turns or E Shutdown but Leave No Trace does a fine job alongside MJ.

Give the deck a whirl if you like and send some feedback this way.

8 comments
17 Jan 2018 Income Tax

Were Keros Mcintyre + Rubicon Switch too slow? Odd that they're not in a deck focused on derezzing.

17 Jan 2018 kusoash

@ValranothI definitely tried both of those but a) deck slots are tight and b) Rubicon was just too slow. Leave No Trace and Maxwell are instant solutions and efficient while you gain credits from GPI/Zamba combo. I would love to include Keros but it needs more derez consistency to shine.

17 Jan 2018 kusoash

@ValranothI definitely tried both of those cards but found that a) deck slots are tight and b) Rubicon is too slow to work efficiently. You need to spend time setting up and forcing corp options to worry about installing and having the money until late game to derez and by then you usually have the corp under a tight lock that Rubicon becomes obsolete. For Keros to shine you really need some more derez options, some that could work even on the corp's turn but totally an option I'd love to have in this deck.

17 Jan 2018 kusoash

@ValranothI definitely tried both of those cards but found that a) deck slots are tight and b) Rubicon is too slow to work efficiently. You need to spend time setting up and forcing corp options to worry about installing and having the money until late game to derez and by then you usually have the corp under a tight lock that Rubicon becomes obsolete. For Keros to shine you really need some more derez options, some that could work even on the corp's turn but totally an option I'd love to have in this deck.

17 Jan 2018 kusoash

@ValranothI definitely tried both of those cards but found that a) deck slots are tight and b) Rubicon is too slow to work efficiently. You need to spend time setting up and forcing corp options to worry about installing and having the money until late game to derez and by then you usually have the corp under a tight lock that Rubicon becomes obsolete. For Keros to shine you really need some more derez options, some that could work even on the corp's turn but totally an option I'd love to have in this deck.

17 Jan 2018 kusoash

@ValranothI definitely tried both of those cards but found that a) deck slots are tight and b) Rubicon is too slow to work efficiently. You need to spend time setting up and forcing corp options to worry about installing and having the money until late game to derez and by then you usually have the corp under a tight lock that Rubicon becomes obsolete. For Keros to shine you really need some more derez options, some that could work even on the corp's turn but totally an option I'd love to have in this deck.

18 Jan 2018 gumonshoe

I think you might trade a dueces wild (straight swap) or Na'Not'k (->mongoose & drop something else) for a turning wheel and be fine on multi access. It'll do that thing that you need it to do while bouncing off centrals for zamba credits. I'm a little worried about how hard the whole thing leans on GPI. I've played this sort of deck and it can be fast, but it can also be the slowest deck in the world. Maybe there's enough lateral right now that Aeneas is filling the gap.

Peregrine + Ankusa can definately be rough for the corp, but they can also be rough for you. But either of those options leaves you hurting after a major derez. If you effectively deny their income, then you can be in a position to deny yourself income as well.

I haven't seen this version in action; but I'd guess T2.5 based on my own testing. It may be that the economy in your build is slightly better than I'm giving it credit for. But, the deck will be a whole lot better out of the new Crim ID, which allows credit swings & aumakua counters or knowledge & income

18 Jan 2018 kusoash

@gumonshoe thanks for your thoughts! I've tried Mongoose in the killer spot to gain the inf point back but the functionality of Na'Not'K is, imo, better than what Mongoose can offer. In terms of Deuces, all 3 are needed for the card draw at minimum but the expose and run helps reset Aumakua after a purge. Your concerns on econ are valid, I've found myself clicking for credits a few times but ultimately a new avenue opened up for Aeneas or derez to get Zamba/GPI running again. Aeneas does a lot of work right now in this meta so it's fine.

Peregrine hasn't been used on anything other than DNA Tracker or FC3.0 yet so the opportunity cost is in favour of the runner by pushing the tax onto the corp and the awkward choice of rezzing for higher cost with Xanadu/Cortez or reinstalling if Ankusa bounces a barrier. Aumakua fills in the breaker gap during low income situations alongside Aeneas as I said before.

Ultimately, this deck archetype will work better put of 419 as well as some additional support cards. For now, this is what I believe to be the best decklist until that support comes. Cheers!