Rush Cerebral Imaging - Lightning Advance

Card draw simulator
Odds: 0% – 0% – 0% more
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xethebuilder 19

The ice is taken straight from Running Bear's HB:ETF fast advance. It is the perfect setup for solid early ETRs and then destroyers to buy a bit of time once they get breakers. If you have more then one available, the power shutdowns can also try to snipe cheap breakers. And don't worry about the bad pub. You'll win/lose before it matters.

The plan: Score Efficiency Committee the hard way. Draw into Shipment from SS and use it to score another Efficiency Committee or a Vitruvirus with one counter from hand. Draw/vitruvirus into JH, Priority Req, Power Shutdown and Accelerated while ditching other 2 Shipments if drawn. Once ready, spend last Efficiency counter to install Priority, install JH and then do the Power Shutdown combo with 3 shipments, winning.

I'm still working on perfecting it, but the premise seems solid in light testing. Might consider dropping something for an extra Accelerated Diagnostics (enhance reliability), adding anonymous tips for even more draw power and trying the other HB identities (Next or ETF could be interesting for rush/money respectively). The version I'm currently using swaps the Blue Level Clearances for Successful Demonstrations, but I intend to switch as soon as I can track down Fear and Loathing.

Credits: Running Bear for the ice setup. Sebastian Barth had a fantastic article on match points and a great NEXT Rush deck that both inspired this

6 comments
19 Feb 2014 Ajar

I like this version a lot more than the low ice/panic button variant I've encountered.

19 Feb 2014 xethebuilder

I tried the low ice too but kept getting into R&D lock and wasn't able to rush as well. Panic button might be an interesting addition, but I'd rather take anonymous tips (if I could fit them) for more reliable draw.

19 Feb 2014 Ajar

I do think you could get away with cutting one Rototurret or one Wall of Static for the third Accelerated Diagnostics. Other than that, I don't think I'd change anything. I might have to test with this after the Store Championships are over.

19 Feb 2014 xethebuilder

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to try it with -1 rototurret, +1 accelerated. If I can get in a bit more practice, might take it to some of the upcoming Boston (MA, USA) area championships (I'm not a very competitive player, but it'd be fun to see how it does against a wider field).

23 Feb 2014 vevicus

Is Infinite Frontiers mandatory for this deck to work? I'm worried that if I have to spend a turn rezzing a bunch of ice due to runners just face checking a lot that my hand size will get butchered for having no credits. Also if an account siphon comes into play things also get messy.

23 Feb 2014 xethebuilder

Siphon can hurt. The cheap ETRs seem to be enough to keep siphon out in the early game, when it matters the most, but it's still tough. Unlike most CI decks this one does't require as many moving parts or credits, so it's not quite as bad. likewise with vamp or imp/keyhole/demo run trashing operations.

Once the first efficiency's scored, it typically snowballs. however, drawing into that first one can be tough, so that's part of the motivation for playing CI. With 9 economy operations and cheap ice, the first turn should be ok, (just rez r&d if the hand's relatively safe).

Since the ice is cheap, and the combos are more dependent on cards than credits, (2 credits + shipment usually scores second agenda, 2 more credits makes power & accelerated combo work...) CI seemed like the natural choice. But, as mentioned in credits, Sebastian Barth's tournament winning NEXT deck uses a similar premise (abusing efficiency committee) so it could definitely work with another ID.