PD Wide Core (2nd Aus Capital Megacity Championship)

Core damage Asa was my favourite deck in the previous rotation. This deck is an extremely similar version of that deck but we sadly cannot run the ID that made it pop.

This version certainly slows down more but has a lot of the key fundamentals that made the previous deck viable. We only lost the Asa ID and gatekeeper from the previous set. Scatter field more than makes up for the loss of gatekeeper and actually works to boost our wide game plan forward on face checks.

The last minute changes to remove 1x Tatu-Bola and 1x Cohort Guidance Program to include a 1x Measured Response and 1x Flyswatter were genius. We won with Measured Response twice (could have been 3 but scoring out is always cooler). Always remember as the runner, 4 cards 8 credits or don’t run! You can only be measured on a “successful run”. It also was huge in my Magdalene game where my opponent saw it early and I scored it back to hand with PD leaving the runner at 3 hand size due to core. This slowed them to a crawl.

The "core" game plan is to give the runner 2 core damage, from this point our core damage agendas are suddenly 2/2 and can be scored from HQ in one turn. Giving the deck a total of 6 score from hand agendas.

To accomplish this we either safely score out a salvo testing with a Djupstad grid if possible. This can be done behind 1-2 ice with a Manegarm Skunkworks. I suggest MIC and a Bran as your scoring ice server. There are two cohorts in the deck to help you manage this, if you have both down you can score the 3/5 in one turn with a previous install. You are in a very strong position if you manage this. I would then install and score Elivagar Bifurcation from HQ at this point. If you get to 4 core dmg just ice RnD and draw (except last click) for instant scoring of Ontological Dependence to win.

I found hard installing and advancing the Salvo Testing put people off who didn’t see I was on core damage. They tend to ignore it thinking it’s a trap, off world or maybe a send a message, something that doesn’t punish you for letting fire once. These runners were very wrong.

Another way we accomplish 2 core dmg early is with Bumi 1.0 and jaguarundi rez’s. I prefer jaguarundi as it punishes no rig face checks more harshly and doesn’t allow you to click through the core dmg. Bumi facecheck early results in them losing one extra click to stop the core but the other subroutine doesn’t normally matter. Bumi however is extremely powerful into anarch (for botulus) and should not be cut completely. I would replace a Bumi with another Jaguarundi in future matchups.

Once the runner realises you are on core dmg (usually by finding a Djupstad in the remote) you are now at your most vulnerable. The runner should realise you are running either ontological or ontological + salvos and can punish you hard for it as they are all 2/4 and 3/5.

We cut no big deal as the deck inconsistently has a lot of credits. If you have credits id suggest pushing agendas if safe. Close the game out, pressure the runner. If low credits just click for credits, you are a semi glacier deck, take your time.

If you are feeling the pressure work on tightening up your board state and score an elivagar with Djupstad from hand (requires 6 credits). Even 1 core dmg really boosts your gameplan.

I would remove Cerebral Overwriter and replace it with a Mr. Hendrick in the future. It never fired and i never felt like installing it when i drew it.

Another note, always check your opponents hand size at the end of every turn as it is very easy to forget they are on core dmg and will often forget to discard down. This is up to you to ensure.

Results: 4-1-0 Beating out Magdalene, 2x Phoenix and Seb Lost to Sable deep dive

Thanks again to everyone for such a great event. Looking forward to the next one.