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Second Turn Player Strategies
sayswhoto
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Was wondering if anyone wanted to discuss strategies they use when going second. I imagine most people agree going first has the advantage, so wanted to find out what people do when they have to go second.
Here are a few I have encountered or used.
Try to Limit Turn One Player's Gold
I see Alessia + Mora is being used now to atempt to give the first turn player less gold in terms of a power card and a no power/no gold Alessia starter agent. This has an added advantage where if the first turn player cannot get 4 gold (and nothing good in the tavern) then the second turn player can start the Alessia spam. For limiting gold on turn one, I would avoid Red Eagle since the patron power can be used to draw an extra card which can be +1 gold. Pelin also has too many low cost cards that are good, which favors the first turn player.
Choosing Decks With Cards That Are Not Too Powerful on Their Own
Psijic, Red Eagle and Almalexia can fit into this category. This is to try and increase the odds that the first turn player can't just buy game winning cards on turn one. Usually, you'll have to actually build a deck as the game progresses. I know some people prefer this playstyle and others send me rage whispers if I don't play this way. I'll play a slower and less cheesy game if I know the person has this preference. It's not the highest win rate option for me. As much as I would like to climb the ladder, it's just an online card game and I'll prioritize sportsmanship if needed. This slower and more strategic playstyle is the "right way" to play ToT.
Skew Towards Deck With Higher Cost Cards
Picking decks with better cards that cost 5+ gold like Druid and Hlaalu. The second turn player has a higher chance of reaching 5 or 6 gold due to the +1 starting gold. This can also slow the game down as the tavern is more likely to contain higher cost cards, allowing the first turn advantage to dissipate. I almost never use this strategy now due to better options and the fact these decks can also have good low cost cards.
Play a Deck Combo You are Better Than Most People At
I know some PC NA players consistently choose one deck combo or a slight variation of. I'm not sure how much effort they spend on statistics and optimization or if they just build intuition over time. I tend to not use this since I like playing a variety of decks and seeing the game from different perspectives.
Counter The First Turn Player's Deck Pick
This seems limited in effectiveness to me since any deck choice can win you the game if you get the right cards, although some will probably have higher win rates than others. There is also the RNG component of the right cards showing up in order for any counter to work. However, I have noticed that some players who play Crow+Red Eagle a lot tend to underestimate Orgnum+Pelin. So, I usually pick that if I think someone wants to use Crow. Psijic is probably the most reliable counter to Rahjin for me. Rahjin is also good for reducing the effectiveness of deck thinning.
Edited by ZOS_Kevin on November 7, 2024 10:34AM Here are a few I have encountered or used.
Try to Limit Turn One Player's Gold
I see Alessia + Mora is being used now to atempt to give the first turn player less gold in terms of a power card and a no power/no gold Alessia starter agent. This has an added advantage where if the first turn player cannot get 4 gold (and nothing good in the tavern) then the second turn player can start the Alessia spam. For limiting gold on turn one, I would avoid Red Eagle since the patron power can be used to draw an extra card which can be +1 gold. Pelin also has too many low cost cards that are good, which favors the first turn player.
Choosing Decks With Cards That Are Not Too Powerful on Their Own
Psijic, Red Eagle and Almalexia can fit into this category. This is to try and increase the odds that the first turn player can't just buy game winning cards on turn one. Usually, you'll have to actually build a deck as the game progresses. I know some people prefer this playstyle and others send me rage whispers if I don't play this way. I'll play a slower and less cheesy game if I know the person has this preference. It's not the highest win rate option for me. As much as I would like to climb the ladder, it's just an online card game and I'll prioritize sportsmanship if needed. This slower and more strategic playstyle is the "right way" to play ToT.
Skew Towards Deck With Higher Cost Cards
Picking decks with better cards that cost 5+ gold like Druid and Hlaalu. The second turn player has a higher chance of reaching 5 or 6 gold due to the +1 starting gold. This can also slow the game down as the tavern is more likely to contain higher cost cards, allowing the first turn advantage to dissipate. I almost never use this strategy now due to better options and the fact these decks can also have good low cost cards.
Play a Deck Combo You are Better Than Most People At
I know some PC NA players consistently choose one deck combo or a slight variation of. I'm not sure how much effort they spend on statistics and optimization or if they just build intuition over time. I tend to not use this since I like playing a variety of decks and seeing the game from different perspectives.
Counter The First Turn Player's Deck Pick
This seems limited in effectiveness to me since any deck choice can win you the game if you get the right cards, although some will probably have higher win rates than others. There is also the RNG component of the right cards showing up in order for any counter to work. However, I have noticed that some players who play Crow+Red Eagle a lot tend to underestimate Orgnum+Pelin. So, I usually pick that if I think someone wants to use Crow. Psijic is probably the most reliable counter to Rahjin for me. Rahjin is also good for reducing the effectiveness of deck thinning.
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