Poverty Prav [Startup], 3-0 Aus Startup Nationals

Hey everyone, posting this as I think it's a really solid approach to Prav. It's based on the deck posted by the always excellent Andrej of Metropole Grid with some tweaks.

I went into the Startup Nationals feeling a bit grumpy about Corp as I went 1-3 with Sports in the Standard event, and wanted to play something more to my taste. This was an absolute blast to play, defeating Sable, Zahya and Padma with only the Sable game being close. The highlight of the day was a turn 1 install Bellona - advance - NAPD Cordon with Seamless Launch in hand. The Runner went into the tank for about 5 minutes, eventually managed to rip a Bellona off R&D for 9 credits, and next turn it was 3-3 with the Runner having absolutely zero credits or board state. From there the win snowballed.

The strategy is to rush out behind fairly cheap but taxing ICE and/or NAPD Cordon, get a Vlad grid rolling, and close out the game either with fast advance or a hugely expensive Bellona. There are a lot of fun lines you can take with the Prav ability, Vlad Grid and Remastered tokens. Some common plays:

Never advance 4/2s or Bellonas with Seamless Launch

Fast advance a 4/2 using a previously double advanced Vlad Grid - or, a single advanced one and a Remastered Edition token onto the Grid.

Fast advance Bellonas using a double advanced Vlad Grid and a Remastered token.

Seamless Launch Vlad Grid, install an agenda in that server, play NAPD Cordon to dump an extra 4 credits + 2 from the Prav ability if they try to run it.

Chain Cryptocrashes behind Gold Farmer.

Use Vasilisa and Prav to mess up Runner math on NAPD Cordon.

Notable card choices:

Agendas

Artificial Cryptocrash: while it may not make the cut in Standard due to the superior drip available, it's brilliant in this deck. It's sort of the opposite to Offworld Office in that instead of giving you the resources to score the next agenda, it takes away the Runner's ability to steal it. Scoring one of these and jamming an agenda with NAPD Cordon next turn tends to make it untouchable. My good friend and testing partner Rob used this to score 7 points behind a Pop-Up Window with a very similar list. The downside is they can play around it by dropping low on creds to install sources of money.

Bellona: Second best 5/3 in the format. Costs an ungodly amount to steal with NAPD Cordon - if you IA, when they run and you Prav it, Bellona costs a hideous 13 credits to steal. This can get way out of hand with Vasilisa and Vlad Grid.

Remastered Edition: many of these kinds of decks play Offworld Office. While this is definitely a great card, I prefer opening up fast advance lines and being tricky with NAPD Cordon.

Tomorrow's Headline: I need more points. Beale could work as a fake 5/3 here.

Assets:

Marilyn Campaign: Great card, turns on your ID. However, these would also potentially be great as Engram Flush to snipe money cards out of hand and be expensive to break.

Regolith: A big, reliable source of credits.

Ubiquitous Vig: Jammed this in at the last minute because "new card" and wanted to make Runners spend 4 bucks. Did absolutely nothing on the day (never rezzed, never advanced) and would be better swapped for another Planogram and ICE.

Urtica Cipher: protect that Vlad Grid! Honestly this might be too cute, but I've gotten cheap kills with it. Also works as a Trick of Light bank, and will be good with Engram if that goes in.

Operations:

NAPD Cordon: the absolute business. Makes Bellonas untouchable, makes everything else a massive pain. It does die to Light the Fire, but luckily everyone stopped playing that when Pinhole came out.

Seamless Launch: if you're looking to score 7 points in a remote, whether it's Startup or Standard, in my opinion you should be on 3 Seamless Launch. Opens up tons of bluffing opportunities, and in this deck combos wonderfully with Vlad Grid to fast advance a 3/2.

Trick of Light: an additional fast advance tool to take advantage of a loaded Akhet or failed Urtica Cipher.

Upgrades:

Vladisibirsk City Grid: absolutely shines in Prav when you're getting free advancements. Very flexible and useful in this deck.

ICE:

Pretty standard picks here. Akhet is nice and gets turbocharged to 3 advancements fast. Mestnichestvo and Gold Farmer and super strong and play well with the game plan. Vasilisa is kinda bad, but is great on the scoring remote with NAPD Cordon live.