Queen of Reversals

Crauseon 95

There are plenty of different kinds of reversals. You could reverse Data, or flow of finances - or the corp's game state from ascending to declining.

Reina decided to do just every one of those.

There are a few routes you can go here, but sadly none of them include a lot of accessing (unless you've forced the corp to 0 credits):

1) Data Leak Reversal. This is the glorious 1st go-to when you want to win. Wireless Net Pavilion and Fall Guys grant you a safe reversal of data for at least a few turns, and if the corp denies you this win condition, they've just spent ~10-20 credits trying to save themselves. And they're vulnerable to Siphon and Crescentus once again.

2) Keyhole. Well, this is more of a threat instead of a win condition. Just before or after Data Leaks spam Keyholing might kill some of their economy, priority targets like Scorches and Jacksons, or get an off agenda. Jinteki the 1st hates this card.

3) Siphon. Well, you've made them super poor. They draw to rush out of Data Leak's way, and they're swarming with agendas, trying to score them - Siphon, Crescentus rezzed Ice, and wreck their scoring server. If you can't win by just Data Leaking, this is the way to get that final winning agenda, but this only works once (or twice, tops).

To be fair, there's nothing in here people haven't already figured out already. This worked before Wireless Net Pavilion, and it works now. Reina's ability works in tandem with literally everything in the deck, as does all of those win conditions. Eater fuelling Siphon fuelling Poor corp fuelling Data Leaks fuelling winning.

It's a really straight forward deck, but makes for really interesting matches against other consistent and powerful corp decks, like NEH and RP. It gets really tricky if the corp gets protected drip economy going, but even then they might get poor just by scoring, and you'll have a chance to wreck their drips.

Went undefeated in Joensuu 20.9. 12 players and 5R swiss. Ended 2nd with 15 prestige, as I failed a bit with my Blue Sun toolbox.

Cards to rethink: Spinal Modem didn't really see any play. It could be something else entirely. Xanadu's been useful when it's up, but not stellar. Same goes with Rook. Those could be third copies of Inject and Street Peddler.

4 comments
21 Sep 2015 unitled

Vigil seems like an obvious swap for Spinal Modem... I can't imagine you're running much or that you have endless amounts of cash, so the benefit of Spinal Modem wouldn't seem to outweigh the negative! Vigil means either the corp stays at <5 cards, giving them fewer options, or gives you free draw to find your combo pieces. Both good things for this deck, I think!

Also... Just a single WNP? I feel you want to see this sooner rather than later, so wouldn't an extra copy or two be worth it?

21 Sep 2015 Crauseon

Thanks for the comment! Vigil could definitely be a good idea here. I'll definitely try it out.

I just added a single WNP in a hurry just before the tournament, but it's amazing. Two could be crucial. It could replace a Rook or a Xanadu. Don't know which yet though.

21 Sep 2015 HolyMackerel

Love that the headlock-strategy is still viable. Some questions:

Economy? Besides Siphon-recursion, how do you gain cash consistently?

What do you usually mulligan for? I imagine you will want Siphon, Sure Gamble, and maybe Xanadu?

How do you deal with Crisium Grid on HQ or R&D? The only strategy that seems possible is Crescentus, which seems unreliable.

Have you thought about Lamprey? If you're going full econ-denial, it could do some major damage or at least force a purge.

22 Sep 2015 Crauseon

@pang4: I just wrote a lenghtier reply, but the Computer crashed on me. :D You'll have to settle for a less lengthy one.

There is no consistent cash engine here. You'll have to click for creds to kill PADs and whatnot. Hopefully only Keyhole and Eater cost, like, anything. That's something you'll have to live with. I haven't tried it out with Kati Jones yet. Don't know if I should even.

Mulligan for Sure Gamble, definitely. Or, alteratively click for creds to stay around 5c to be sure. Siphon can come later as well - don't worry about it. Data Leak and Fall Guy are top priority. Inject helps.

Crisium could be tricky, but remember your 1st go-to for win is Data Leak. You don't necesserily need Siphon to pull that off. Cirisum in R&D is no problem. Keyhole's there for intimidation more than the actual effect anyways.

Lamprey could be cool. Haven't tried it. To be fair I don't have it - I cherry picked most of the data packs, and I'm short 4 or so. And I've no plans to invest in them just yet. :)