Spark Agency: Marketing Geniuses (Post NAPD List)

I wanted to post the latest version of my favorite Corp deck. For starters, let's just say this deck got hit pretty hard by the NAPD Most Wanted List hammer. The prior list had a total of 13 copies of cards on the list - ouch. That said, I've retooled the list into something that is honestly just about as strong. I've been playing this a lot even prior to the NAPD list going into effect and it is winning very consistently.

I'll focus mainly on the changes from the NAPD list and some of the standout cards as most of the core cards in any Spark Agency deck are well known at this point (i.e. if you aren't playing 3 copies of Launch Campaign, Pad Campaign, Product Placement and Pop-up Window, you should be).

My prior list had 3 copies each of AstroScript Pilot Program, NAPD Contract, Eli 1.0 and 2 copies each of SanSan City Grid and Architect. Needless to say, some things had to change. There was absolutely no way I was getting rid of AstroScript or SanSan as they are too essential to the deck (in fact, I added the 3rd SanSan).

The NAPD Contract was straight up swapped for Explode-a-palooza. While NAPD is probably a little better, they are honestly pretty close in power level in this deck. I can honestly say I haven't noticed the difference and sometimes prefer Explode-a-palooza when it pays for you to rez SanSan and score an AstroScript.

I also completely cut Eli 1.0 mainly because it was really just a good card that I had sufficient influence to play (very few decks are made worse by including an Eli). I went up to the third Wraparound, a Wall of Static and the third Special Offer in their place. While these don't tax the runner as well in the long game, they do force the Runner to find their barrier breaker and Wraparound punishes AI breakers. Since you are mainly trying to setup a bounce or trash of the fracter with either Archangel or Assassin, the difference is pretty negligible so long as you have a barrier that ends the run to be honest. I thought 5 barriers that just end the run felt like too much in the last version, so was happy to get another burst econ card in Special Offer that also drains the Runner's credits.

I also had to cut an Archived Memories and an Architect to complete the list. Archived Memories was a great value card that got back your upgrades as well as Ad Blitz (one of my favorite cards in the deck). It was nice to have, but I just decided to get back an influence by playing the third SanSan as it is the most frequent target. The loss of an Architect was painful, but necessary. I swapped it for a second copy of Assassin, which has been an amazing card the more I've learned how to play with it. Overall, the deck is slightly worse than the original version, but still very powerful and maybe more so with the drop in top tier Runner power levels.

The goal of the deck remains simple. Plan A is to start the patented NBN Astro Train, protecting yourself with cheap ice and cards that drain the Runner's money and keep them in the early game. If you go down this path, you typically win by building 2-3 ice deep central servers backed up by Ash and Caprice to protect you long enough to combo off with Astro scores. Plan B involves building a moderately taxing remote (maybe a Tollbooth and an Archangel) backed up with Ash and/or Caprice. This path will allow you to fight through Clot by leaving agendas on the table and give you the additional win condition of scoring 3+ point Project Beales (I've gone this route successfully many times).

The econ package is fantastic, operates on low money and can be recurred multiple times with Ad Blitz all while draining the Runner credits. The economy coupled with the Runner denial is the best I've played out of NBN and is really the biggest draw to the deck. The ice suite also gives you a great mix of early game ice that can be relevant late game (Pop-up Window and Wraparound), top tier midrange ice (Architect and Archangel) and two of the best late game ice in Netrunner (Tollbooth and Assassin).

I highly recommend this deck to anyone looking for a Store Championship deck out of NBN - it has consistently delivered for me and is only going to get better once the NAPD List kicks in and brings the Runners down to your level.