One Last Blast

Since rotation is coming even faster than expected, I guess it's time to dump my pre-rotation decks!

Here's the GRNDL deck I've been bullying people with in the Competitive lounge on jinteki.net. The deck runs on a few extremely simple principles:

1. The Runner must die.

2. Don't be a wuss. There is no such thing as a safe play, so just make the play the moment you can or immediately before. If you can't follow it up, bluff it.

3. "The Play" generally involves installing a naked High-Risk Investment and double advancing it, thus either setting up for a Midseason now (where your early credit lead lets you win traces) if they run it, or setting you up for a Midseason later if they don't run it (where High-Risk counter guarantees you win the trace). Whether you actually have Midseason/Consulting Visit/Punitive Counterstrike in HQ is irrelevant; all that matters is that you play with confidence. If you do end up in a situation where you needed a combo piece, Election Day away - sitting on a hand of cards that aren't immediately winning you the game goes directly against point 1!

4. "The Play" can also be installing an unadvanced Government Takeover, letting them check it and then shooting their face off. Same logic as earlier applies with regards to whether you actually have Punitive in hand or not. Dropping Government Takeover into Archives and then not Jacksoning it is very legit, too.

5. Restructure - Bryan Stinson - repeat Restructure is a pretty all right first turn play.

6. Nobody expects Subcontract. Installing and one-advancing a Posted Bounty will leave most people too confused to run on it, so punish them with advance - advance - Subcontract for double Scorch. 95% of all players won't even pop Sports Hopper if present, because "They can't kill me with one tag and one click!"

7. Film Critic is hard countered by playing faster than they can find their Critic. Worst case scenario you might need to recur MCA Informant with Jackson and/or Hades Fragment - and I've won exactly one game that way - but it's not really recommended.

Does this deck win games? Heck yes. Does it win games consistently? Absolutely not. Although I believe this deck has a positive win rate at the time of retirement, each game is its own train wreck of bluffs, gutsy plays and catastrophic losses. There is no consistent truth other than "GRNDL games end quick, one way or another" - you're aiming to win in five turns or less - and that's just how I like it. No matter the outcome, hilarities will have ensued.

And remember - the power is yours. Unleash it.