Cactus Game Design Message Boards

This is a really interesting summary! - Did not yet get into any of all these details and options but at least for Goshen and Noah I also tried to get sth. together - but did not follow this very much yet. It needs deliberate setup of own defense too since opponent also might attack with meek and/or patriarchs. So not all defenses might be equally viable. It also needs backup options since several defenses are setup mostly mono-brigade meanwhile (due to rotation).

As for IJ: So at most 3 meek heroes for it to count (maybe sometimes even only 2) - right? Usually this should be enough to get rid of pesky evil cards in opponent's hand - but still some small risk left IMO.

How does a defense beat toss? Why do toss heroes say if alone, or they have a one time toss? It's because tossing in bands are too strong, and what beats tossing overall? Numbers. So, if a hero can negate characters, aka stop their banding ( a la Cornelius) then the person who is built for toss mitigates the chance that the opponent can block if they cannot band.

Tossing, Coliseum, a new card, protection, pre-rescue look at hand (The First Sacrifice and similar cards), are all still ways around scattered like cards. I do think more meek protection bands become prevalent. People need to lose to these style decks before they shift to them, and then people start getting creative.

Exodus is very strong. Play first is very strong. CBN enhancements are very strong. Moses to Aaron to Phinehas to Jehoshaphat to The Destroyer is a CBN play first band that has the ability to grab what it needs (Moses' Staff). That's a 5 hero band but that's easy to set up. Also, you get whatever plague you need, you get to play first, it's CBN and regardless of protect. You lose The Exodus unity, but I think that's ok with that band.

Jay and Jeremy showed you Devouring Philistines? That cuts me to the core Luke. Brian Jones and I came up with that deck, I think Josh or someone else commented on that card when it came out, and then I ran it in a very successful T2 until Jay ran Judges (go figure) against my Phillies and Phillies didn't have any real banding back then so I got shredded by Auto-Gideon/Sam-Edict x4. That deck rolled through everyone else and could set up a Devouring Philistines play very early. I have had people say you don't want that play early, but you can wipe their territory early and force them to hold characters, hint hint Priests of Christ RoJ is clay and works wonders in that deck. Holy Grail already works in that deck so get devouring out early, mid-game, late game, whatever game, it works. I prefer that combo slightly early in T2 (turn 3-4) after they have a slightly established board and then I go for the wipe. Even if they have protection it wipes their protection and everything else. My favorite play was banding in a second. 

Jeremiah + Sins Forgotten is a very strong attack, Jeremiah + Two Bears as well. Jeremiah + Sins is a CBN mass negate and remove those EE's with a draw 2, with 2/2 numbers, all after a presumed toss.

Humble Seeker setup is great, Humble to a protected big meek hero (Post-e's has plenty) with a simple CBN meek negate is great. Humble Seeker to meek with Royal Parade is probably the better play though. Music Leader, Mary, Joseph, Humble Seeker can set up a lot of value (Windows of Narrow Light/WoP) for ongoing layered protection while recurring Royal Parade with a protected block.

Moses, Friend of God with new cards will be very strong going forward.

Phase 1 has a lot of strong rescues for single heroes.

Elijah in general is really good. The CtB is great, but I still don't get why people don't include Elisha, that band is amazing. Elijah, CtB, with the same Jeremiah support cards is awesome. Jeremiah with the look to know when to play Faith of Samuel is great to then band in Elijah + Elisha.

Noah + Royal Parade, especially with layered protection, is very strong.

Heck, now that clay is about to run rampant, Peter + Elymas will be the new Phinehas + Zeal.

People should also realize Elisha + Two Bears is usually CBN in T1.

I think GoC will bring back TSA RoJ with some strong Revelation enhancements, that was always a good attack. Any CBN hero is good moving forward, and there's not much.

The Ruth offense offers a lot of layers to get through. TC protection, strong fortress support, add to battle, Ruth is a CBN hero, arguably the best potential bander in the game, easy to setup, David, Heart After God, there's a lot of great rescues with Ruth in general. If you can peak at their hand, Ruth + Marriage Covenant can be amazing.

Moses CoW + numerous cloud enhancements will be a strong play. If you look at what is CBN for GE's, it's not much. Cloud enhancements actually have a couple, and Moses offering what he does multiple negates/interrupts will be a strong play. Once again, he also has TC protection. A strong play for him is to play Temple Dedication, then attack with Moses from hand. With all the bouncing, that is an easy rescue that allows you to have a CBN protected negate all hero with enhancement support...not too shabby. Cloud enhancements are also clay, so a Moses + clay GoC pairing could be very interesting.

Ok, I think I have given up enough secrets!

Anytime you can have layers to get through, CBN heroes, protected heroes, toss, or negate all,

Jacob, Follower of God (with all the ways to get out Genesis heroes) to a meek hero is great, it also offers a lot of brigade options. Snagging a Genesis card (Abe's Servant/Descendant seems good there) plus a 9/9+ meek hero is a solid attack.

Speaking of Joe Schaefer, we just talked about Mordecai and Mordecai plus Royal Parade would fall into the very strong one hero + enhancement category.

Speaking of Joe Schaefer, we just talked about Mordecai and Mordecai plus Royal Parade would fall into the very strong one hero + enhancement category.

Yes! Mordecai! perfect because he is exactly the kind of character Im talking about. I dont think ive even read the first part of his abbility before. What a great solo option, thank you My single hero deck is coming along nicely

What about D-Fence outside of gray? Any one find anythin busted like ways to generate for sure blocks (FW or medium to KOT level good?)

Don't want to overstress this - but anybody else already thought about Mordecai with Joy played on him to make the protection also CBN? 

@MarshallMatters: Already curious about your single hero deck and how you will equip it with GEs and support cards.