4th @ Australian Northern Nationals 2024

Basically Begemot Laamb Esâ cut down to 45 cards. My thinking is that despite the temptation to play over the minimum deck sizes due to the ridiculous value of the anarch card pool consistency has a value all of it own.

Here's my cuts and why; (to be honest all these justifications are really ad hoc. I tend to make changes based on what feels bad/good, then I try to work out why)

-2 The price. Incredible value, but inconsistent. Feels bad to whiff, which has happened all too often.

-1 Chastushka. Esâ best card and the win con at the heart of the deck, but a three of? Feels bad when a good player locks you out of HQ. I lose them on the set up to get into HQ or while applying pressure elsewhere. Need more? That's what Labor Rights is for.

-1 Running Hot. Incredible value, but situational. I have a strong unsubstantiated feeling that Running Hot for value is a bad idea.

-1 Moshing. This hurts. My favourite card in the deck. I think it's best for getting out of a financial hole or some really bad draw which doesn't happen enough for me.

-1 Labor Rights. Seriously this is the most busted recursion card ever printed. Just two of them already provide a stupid amount of control over the stack composition.

-2 Botulus. Might be a mistake, but installing these feels slow. I opt for buzzsaw.

Now for the feel good choices;

+1 Cupellation. My god I love this card. It makes me feel like a naughty little dog prancing out of a butcher shop with a string of sausages in its mouth. My favourite target is whatever clever tech card the corp player slotted this time.

+1 Hush. This card is just so versatile. It basically shuts down most Jinteki ice's attempt to be relevant. Plus, slapping one of these down on an unrezzed Border Control just before a Chastushka or Finality makes you feel like a genius.

This deck went undefeated on both days and totally carried me to 4th place. I started playing a little over a year ago just around the release of the Automata Initiative. I have so much to thank to the Brisbane players who introduced me to the game. I do not think I could have made it as far as I did without our regular plays. We all made it to the top 4 of the cut turning the event into an all Brisbane finals. Such an epic outcome.