[Startup] Virus NapTime Reina

Took this baby for a spin of 20 games so far. All on Jinteki casual. I got 50% victory and I definitely threw a few games with stupid runs. A good runner could likely get better %.

Let me know your thoughts and comments

My targets for the deck were

• Keep Corp low on cred. This done through:
  • Make ice expensive to rez through Reina Roja: Freedom Fighter+Xanadu
  • Face check ice to force corp to Rez
  • Trash econ assets and events, mostly through Imp+Cookbook
  • Scrap their investment through, Chisel+Devil Charm, "Baklan" Bochkin

Then, I like the lean economy that can be seen in Startup Loup's deck "Virus Soup". Using mostly non-breakers to go through ice makes the lack of economy more bearable

Strategy

• I mulligan for economy. Any cards that will give me a little credit to get pressure on

• I Face Check a lot, specially early in the game. I like to use Botulus, Chisel after I know what ice they'll go into. I push to install an early Xanadu through Gachapon in the first couple turns

• See how much creds the corp has and what are they likely to run. Startup has few ice so check them in advance. See what they are likely to trash on your side or advance on their plans through things like Drafter. I use face check to gain intel and force the corp to spend credits. Agendas are the icing on the cake.

• If corp is poor, it's likely agendas are on centrals. I try to prevent the creation of a scoring central through Chisel, Tranquilizer and if company gets to one, Botulus, Boomerang, "Baklan" Bochkin to get in with Imp, to trash their Manegarm Skunkworks (hate this card). In more than one instance the corp had issues to both rez Manegarm Skunkworks + Anoetic Void and use Anoetic Voidon the same turn (6 cred total).

The Cards

Economy

3 x Moshing 3 x Wildcat Strike 3 x Gachapon 3 x Paladin Poemu 3 x Fermenter

Moshing/Gachapon work very nice by given credit/discount and allowing you to filter through the deck. We have quite a few cards that we don't need more than one of (Cookbook,Paladin Poemu,Xanadu, even Imp if you are doing rejigs)

Paladin Poemu is the drip of the deck, enabling 25 cards of the deck. Since 11 cards have 0 cost, there are only 6 cards that we need hard credits to pay for.

Wildcat Strike Technically the Corp should always give you credits, but since sometimes they see a crippled economy they might give you cards. I tend to always run this first click

Fermenter Still debating this vs Daily Casts. I tested both and the 1 cred of Fermenter makes it more to my liking, specially with Cookbook

Getting Through ICE

Buzzsaw The only breaker, but a must have. Magnet wrecks our day and shuts us of servers really well. Tranquilizer/Chisel/Botulus are all ruined. Plus many non HB decks are splashing this due to how prevalent Botulus is on the Startup decks. I tend to aggressively Moshing and Gachapon to dig for it when needed.

Botulus Is our ticket to get in the servers. The most expensive the ice, usually the better. With Cookbook it allows you to break straight in most ices the turn you install this down. Use Rejig to move it around and change attack server

Chisel / Devil Charm Love this combination. I run only two devil as it doesn't help me with breakers, I don't have any, and Chisel many times can break cheaper ice if I hit my head in it enough times. Of course, this just takes me through a couple of ices in a match.

"Baklan" Bochkin Love this dude. Once loaded up it allows us to run face into servers and cost the corp a good amount of cash. Know the strength of the likely ICE you can run into. Be ready to clear the tag if you have good resources you don't want them to trash

Boomerang Very good card to double down with Botulus and get you into a server. Works on Magnet as it's hardware and not a hosted program.

Taxing their Ice

Xanadu The deck runs on this + Reina Roja: Freedom Fighter. I aggressively Gachapon for it. I don't muligan for it as then I'm after some early economy.

Tranquilizer Great Card. Mostly kills an ICE. Corp can still rez it further times, but you know the risk as you run into it.

Emergency Shutdown Tried different amounts and one worked out fine. Would prefer to have more of it vs En Passant but they cost 2 influence.

En Passant Hard card. I usually succeed at deploying it in few scenarios only. After "Baklan" Bochkin or if corp is poor in cash and has iced multiple servers. Usually I end up using it any time the condition is met, as it's a narrow window that doesn't come often. Definetly a flex spot.

Other

Retrieval Run Works well to get a second use of key cards. Remember to trash programs as you install new ones if you want to use this card to fetch back an emptied Imp or move a Botulus

Rejig The tactical card to move your target server around. Moves really well Botulus, Tranquilizer and recharges empty Imp

Imp Main uses : Hold back their econ if they are poor by trashing assets. Late in the game trash their R&D to get 2 accesses a turn when digging for final agenda.

Stargate Still in doubt on this one. Won me very few matches and cost 4 creds. Definitely a flex spot.

Tried out cards that didn't work (at least for me :-) )

Sure Gamble Never had 5 creds to run it. Went into cheaper options

DreamNet / Earthrise Hotel Nice draw engines that felt good when running, but my econ could hardly afford them

Daily Casts Good card and still in doubt on this vs Fermenter