In Case of Emergency, Break Ice [SOCR3]

neuropantser 525

pictured: a weak headlock

Post-core/MWL 2.0 Cache Refresh, much like the corresponding standard format, has proven fairly wide-open. A variety of corp strategies range from viable to strong; a wide palette of cards see play; and every faction has a realistic path to victory (except NBN).

But you know what they all need? Money.

This deck's goal is to exert enough financial pressure on the corp to cripple their strategy. There are a few reasons I think the concept is sound in the current CR format:

1) Rezzing ice costs money.

2) Rezzing non-ice cards costs money.

3) Advancing agendas costs money.

In all seriousness, money is fairly finite corp-side in cache refresh as long as you stay above Stinson range. The nutso economic assets aren't in the format, and the ones that are in the format (PAD Campaign, Mental Health Clinic) are rarely high-impact enough to protect with ice. Preemptives can shuffle back operation econ, but Preemptive is very far from Jackson's power level, and you have to have money to make money with operations. This deck is good at making that a problem.

This is almost certainly not the best possible iteration of the idea--drawing cards never happens efficiently, and it really wants to find Hernando Cortez much faster than it's usually able to. I do think it's a solid approach to the core 2.0 meta, though, and there is a certain glee to running past a Chiyashi you know your opponent can't rez and blowing it up for 0 credits.

This deck went 2-2. In both wins, En Passant was a standout. Use it wisely--if the corp doesn't have time to make the money to re-rez a DNA Tracker, it's as good as trashed. Against Jinteki, I recommend saving En Passant (with Shutdown, if necessary) for the scoring remote--that's where the Data Loops and Chiyashis usually go.

In both losses, it didn't see breakers and/or money early enough, and the anemic card draw didn't help get there. If you want to play a variant of this deck, that's the first thing I'd tackle.

6 comments
30 Oct 2017 mbzrl

I like it! I looked at a similar build when deciding what to bring, but it's super hard to get enough draw in the deck so I shied away. This looks like a great build with what's available though.

30 Oct 2017 neuropantser

@mbzrl What this deck wouldn't give for an Earthrise or two... Curious what tech you were looking at when you explored the archetype, anything obvious that you think I'm missing?

30 Oct 2017 mbzrl

Maxwell James is really good for remote pressure; it's not a direct upgrade to E-Shutdown though, I'm not sure it's necessary but it fits in with the strategy. And you can justify Underworld Contacts with it too, you want sustained econ if you're using Rubicon. Alternately, replacing the Rubicon with Maxwell, but I haven't tested at all and that seems wrong. And maybe ProCo/Laguna if we can shave influence off somewhere

30 Oct 2017 PureFlight

Thoughts on...sigh...Build Script for draw?

Otherwise, Laguna is actually a strong card if you can afford it. You'd have to drop either the Shutdowns or the Rubicon for it though. Maybe drop the 3rd Turtle?

Cache Refresh, Man.

30 Oct 2017 neuropantser

I never actually installed Rubicon. Only drew it in one game, and it was turn 2 Obokata fodder. As such, I'm not actually sure how good it is. I think it's fair to test with a playset of Deuces (Wild and/or Mild) in its place--just note that doing so makes it even more essential to use Shutdown only in the right spots.

Hashtag CacheRefreshMan currently trending on NRDB

30 Oct 2017 neuropantser

@PureFlight I never actually installed Rubicon. Only drew it in one game, and it was turn 2 Obokata fodder. As such, I'm not actually sure how good it is. I think it's fair to test with a playset of Deuces (Wild and/or Mild) in its place--just note that doing so makes it even more essential to use Shutdown only in the right spots.

Hashtag CacheRefreshMan currently trending on NRDB