Hacking 101 [Intro Deck]

PureFlight 1068

I've used this as a teaching deck for new players' first few games of Netrunner. I pair it up with Wal-Mart, a Weyland Glacier deck. I discuss the deck and teaching strategies in general on Episode 5 of my podcast, Shipment from Chilo.

Comet is great for new players because it's very easy to understand, and they feel really awesome when they put together the plan to click MOpus for 6 and then play Tinkering+The Maker's Eye for a big 5-card dig.

After 1-2 games, the new player should start to think ahead to how they'll need breakers to get into servers. They might even start to feel impatient with how much they may need to draw and draw for the breaker they'll need. At this point, change out 3x Easy Mark and 1x Cyberfeeder for 2x Special Orders and 2 extra cards (I'd say Tinkering, Infiltration, or Modded).

I wouldn't recommend using this deck for more than maybe a half dozen games with the same person. It isn't particularly interesting and lacks any of the flair that something like TheBigBoy's teaching decks do. I therefore refer to this as an "Introductory" deck and not a "beginner" deck.

EDIT: If you're looking for a deck that's Core 2 savvy and MWL 2 legal, I'd make the following changes:

  • Change Kate to CT (don't need mem chips, and easier to draw into breakers)
  • -2 Akamatsu
  • -2 RDI
  • -2 Modded
  • -1 Deja Vu
  • -2 Cyberfeeder
  • +2 Same Old Thing
  • +2 Bank Job
2 comments
22 Aug 2017 Matt500

@PureFlight Thanks for the post! I have sleeved all of TheBigBoy decks and was looking to do something with Kate as i find her ability is also a good intro to the game. My mate is learning Netrunner soon so i'll sleeve this up and see how it goes. Also thank you for reminding me that Comet exists as a card!

24 Aug 2017 PureFlight

@Matt500You're so welcome! Hopefully the deck goes over well. I like to think the Big Boy decks are a great 2nd step after someone understands the most rudimentary concepts. Let me know if you have any feedback after you and your friend play!