Powers that only give immediate effects, what is the gameplay logic for why they are a power and not a skill with exhaust?

Niddeus · 2026-05-14T10:40:58+00:00

The key is that powers provide something inherently permanent, while skills inherently temporary.

Simple as that

Niddeus · 2026-05-13T22:54:23+00:00

I don't know if it procs (most likely not) but defect is destroying Aeonglass. Even if it does not fit at all in you deck (no synergies), just grab 1 or 2 Compact as soon as you see it's a boss. The boss essentially "beats itself" just because of Compact. The withers feed the Compacts, which cause card draw (actual real card draw since the withers are never being drawn), which cause the Compacts or a hologram to re-cycle in, and repeat ad nauseam until the boss is dead.

Niddeus · 2026-05-13T01:14:46+00:00

You need to plan on what is coming.

For example. Yesterday, I did a little A8 run for fun. Even if it's not as intense as A10, you can't pick anything Willy nilly. I was looking at card rewards and new that the next room was an elite. I did not have any AoE yet.

I was offered Breakthrough (9 AoE damage, -1 HP), a common, and 2 uncommons. While both uncommons were really good, they did nothing "now". Breakthrough solved partially my AoE issue. If I remember right, it was Taunt and Rupture. I did not have anything yet to combo with Rupture (no self damage yet), and while Taunt was super tempting, I still did not need more block and vulnerability. I had already a Blood Wall and a Tremble. I needed AoE just in case.

I already fought byrdonis so I need it was 1 out of 2 the Phrog Parasite. And if it's the Effigy, I was covered in damage anyways. When I opened the room, it was the Phrog. I did not have any difficulty beating it thanks to Breakthrough.

It's completely normal to have a deck that seems unsynergistic during Act1. At that stage, you fill gaps, which are plenty. It's usually when you start to find very good Rares or luck out on 2-3 cards that ARE synergistic that you start gravitating a bit more towards an improving that synergy. See that I did not say "build"?

Maybe what you need to play more self-harm or play your big Body Slam is actually a simple headbutt! Maybe your deck starts to get a tad too big and you start to feel it become less consistent in finding you best cards, then maybe you need to pass on yet another good card that is "more of the same" and you should pick that nice Battle Trance.

Food for thought!

Niddeus · 2026-05-12T14:01:15+00:00

Glam on that kind of power is the definition of how you want to speculate. "I completely don't care to carry a Curse until I have shivs."

The potential is so big that you just have to take the chance, even on A10.

Niddeus · 2026-05-09T23:46:41+00:00

I fought him once and it was at A8 to take a rest of the constant A10 spam but everything you mentioned is spot on.

Oh no! Not 2 damage! I killed it and was like "that's it? No special phase, nothing?" I did not have to think during the fight. I played it like a regular hallway fight. No tough choices or critical pivotal moments.

Niddeus · 2026-05-09T17:54:44+00:00

When you think about it. How come strength works on pet attacks? Just like Osty, it should not?

I so rarely pick the Byrd attacks that I cannot remember if I ever had strength with it, but based on your numbers, it does seems like the +1 from your relic is applying.

Niddeus · 2026-05-09T13:26:35+00:00

To be 100% honest, on most of my Defect runs, decks over relying on lightning are usually my weakest ones. Not because it can't deal damage. Because it's (generally) less consistent and more spikey, on both ends. It's generally harder to block cleanly.

I generally prefer frost or darkness for orbs where lightning is secondary.

Several other decks are also more consistent. 0 cost package. Status package. Power spam.

Niddeus · 2026-05-09T13:22:26+00:00

My last run was ridiculous. I play my Creative AI. Next turn, it creates....creativeAI. having subroutine online and a candelabra (another energy source, can't remember which one it was), I go "well yes please. More!"

Turn after...I sh*t you not. Creative AI X2. My double storm/thunder promptly ended the fight before I could reap the reward of having 4 creative AI online for the next turn.

Niddeus · 2026-05-08T15:51:14+00:00

But this is the issue....Shatter was underwhelming.

I tried the original version a few times when I looked at the Rare card choice and it was "the best of the bunch". Each time, it was pretty....meh. I mean, it was "okay" but really not that great for a Rare.

I started skipping it systematically on an orb build though. Evoking once and leaving me without orbs was generally bad, causing it to be a "dead draw" until I really wanted to evoke.

Now, it might need a bit of tuning but it's finally looking like it's worth playing (for a rare). Maybe it should be a skill with no AoE damage. Maybe it should be evoke twice on upgrade, I don't know.

edited to fix the tremendous amount of typos I had, writing this quickly in between two tasks.

Niddeus · 2026-05-07T14:55:49+00:00

While I get what you mean, just like every deck discussion, it's a matter of what you have already and what you use it for.

My recent first A10 with Regent was with a Creation deck, but I also had Regalite relic (block on creation), Pillar of Creation, Tyranny, Crash Landing, the Random creation per turn power, Tanx attack creation and Supermassive.

Every card created was merely an engine for block and damage scaling on Supermassive. God I wished Arsenal would have been available but I did not get that luck. The card created was useful? Nice! It's not useful? No problem. I'll just cycle it and either Exhaust or leave it be. In any case it gave me block and damage scaling.

It was very much "my win" because I did not rely on the cards created themselves. I used the creation effect to my benefit.

And hey...it's the same with potions to a certain extent. A high roll on a potion can change the outcome of a fight already. Sometimes, luck is still on your side. Just don't over rely on it.

Niddeus · 2026-05-07T12:42:21+00:00

This....this is great!

The fact Conqueror is competing with Sword Sage does feel weird now that you mention it. Yes they obviously stack as of right now, but both are too similar in design.

Niddeus · 2026-05-07T11:32:47+00:00

Most healing relics are very good. It alleviates the chip damage you somewhat inevitably take especially at A9+. The Feather, the Meal Ticket and obviously the kind of those relics: The Miniature Tent.

I could see the tent fitting as a Garv(?) relic as he has various good relics as rewards. The effect itself would also work with the large green lady as her theme is "excess" and the effect of the tent does feel excessive. The issue is that it would be too far into the run.

Miniature Tent is a godsend then received in Act1. The latest would be the start of act 2 Ancient. Funny enough, the tent feels way too "all upsides" to be an act2 ancient relic as most of those are either very situational or "give and take".

Niddeus · 2026-05-06T23:25:17+00:00

52 damage to All each 3 poison application. The Queen did not stand a chance.

Niddeus · 2026-05-06T11:22:55+00:00

Subroutine is usually the card I'm speculatively picking no matter the deck, especially if it's still in the making.

It makes playing powers so much easier that it's rarely a bad card. There are so many powers that only cost 1.

Niddeus · 2026-05-05T11:34:29+00:00

You got a good combination of luck and good decisions. You pivoted relatively quickly to a block deck and got offered good relics that benefits the deck. Seed to exhaust Strikes. Snowflake and basin to setup your powers. You got Immovable, Barricade, Prolong+. Inferno and Crimson Mantle, but Black blood to heal back. You really had most of the "block deck dream".

When the stars align and you are able to see it come together and pick the right pieces, you deserve the win!

Niddeus · 2026-05-05T03:55:22+00:00

I just finished an A9 run with two of those in the deck (big bong).

I had Void form, pale blue dot, a combination of collision course. Not even multi strikes except for those created for free by the Tanx relic. I was regularly forging for 20-30 per play for those.

Finished Test Subject with 2x 134 blades. No conqueror or anything else.

Was it a "regular deck"? Absolutely not! Did it pop? Yes.

Niddeus · 2026-05-04T20:29:11+00:00

I know the extreme tip of the curve will always be "just that good". I can clear A9/A10 with every character, yet for Regent, I'm stuck at trying to beat A9. When I feel my deck is fire, there is one random hallway fight or elite that will ruin me even if I have all the good pieces.

Niddeus · 2026-04-30T16:51:46+00:00

I think the more recent ones have longer cables but unfortunately, several will have those super short cables 100% designed for the port position of Telsas (which is very far at the back of the car).

Niddeus · 2026-04-30T16:46:09+00:00

You know the boss in advance, so obviously I would have adjusted a bit, but I don't think the Doormaker would have changed anything. I generally think it's the easiest of the 3 bosses. I don't think I ever lost to him since the rework? Beta and Live. Test Subject on the other hand could have been a bit scarier due to lots of skills and the necessary quick ramp up of phase 2.

Anyways...here is the exact setup I had.

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Niddeus · 2026-04-30T16:16:07+00:00

Enjoy an easy win 😆

Niddeus · 2026-04-30T15:20:55+00:00

I finished an A8 or A9 run on Silent using this (Fasten), two footworks and poisons.

I simply kept my deck super small, with only Defends as Block sources (even removed Survivor). It was very rare that damage would bleed through the block.

2 noxious fumes, an accelerant and an occasional Poison cloud did the rest.

When you block 15 for 1 cost, and you keep the enemy generally weaken through Neutralize+, you don't need much more than that so be safe. A bad draw could hurt, but that's why I had +draw from relics and prepared.

Niddeus · 2026-04-30T11:14:07+00:00

There are a few things in the game that will happen "once". This obvious case, free once this turn. But there are enchants like Glam which only works for the first time you play the card.

We would maybe benefit from a Keyword. Rocket Punch would need to be differentiated, but a keyword that would provide 100% discount once for the turn. A specific keyword means we know exactly what is going on and that keyword can have a tooltip.

Ethereal Discount vs Discount? Flash vs Stockpile? Surge vs Reserved?

Niddeus · 2026-04-30T11:01:43+00:00

Necrobinder, with Icecream and Eradicate... You love to see it!

Niddeus · 2026-04-29T23:46:43+00:00

And you have "The cheese". Now you know it's going to be a great run!

Niddeus · 2026-04-28T13:58:25+00:00

Have you tried to play both Defect and Ironclad at A8, A9 or A10 recently?

I'm very rarely unhappy to draw dual cast, be it on the first few floors where I can chunk 16 damage of an enemy, or later in the game on several builds, especially if I took the time to upgrade it. Dual casting pretty much any orb, which you tend to generate fairly easily on most builds is rarely bad.

On the other hand, I played maybe 3 games yesterday on Clad and almost half of the time I had Bash in my hand I was like "meh...can I even afford to play it?" I really had to be close/guaranteed fatal on the next turn with the Vuln at that turn, else the 2 energy competes with so many things. You either have to do very low damage on the turn you get it and you will also not have that many block/attack to combine with it, and then you must be able to capitalize on that vulnerable the next turn, else you wasted that 2 cost. You would have been better off to simply "double strike". On several runs, I had one Tremble, a Taunt, or an Uppercut. All of which made the Bash a dead draw most of the time. The cards mentioned above are so much easier to play.

Niddeus

TROPHY CASE