PSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPS
“My Pounce is currently at 19 attack. Now I’ll flip for attack.”
Is a sentence you don’t want to hear from your opponent.
Today we have a crossover/conjunction/collaboration/whatever deck idea/tech/video/list/article/whatever.
The Jank Lab has given us a list in which to mess around with.
Decepticon Pounce – Infiltrator – 8 stars
Crankcase – Data Collector – 7 stars
Private Firedrive – Ground Command-Artillery – 7 stars
Infiltration Stratagem – 1 star
Actions
3x Backfire
2x End Hostilities
2x Even the Score**
3x Hidden Fortification
3x Hiding Spot
2x Hold the Line
2x Quartermaster
1x Reprocess
3x Sabotage Armaments
1x Smelt
2x Spymaster’s Ruse
3x Stable Cover
3x Step Forward
Armor
2x Smoke Cloak
Utility
Weapon
2x Energon Axe
2x Energon Mace
1x Scoundrel’s Blaster
3x Sturdy Javelin
That’s a 30/10 split. With 24 secret actions. We managed to get some games down and often times I had no upgrade play. It feels bad, but it can manage.
Pounce/Crankcase/Firedrive vs Whirl/Kup2/Fireflight
Pounce/Crankcase/Firedrive vs Wincharger/Highjump/Tote/PowerTrain/Flak
So the basic agenda is to flip Pounce, grab a secret action, then draw one of the 2 remaining cards with Fire Drive when he attacks, and obviously your 3rd card is going to be your first attack flip.
Side tangent on that sequence: You can utilize things like Field Communicator, Metal Detector, Scrounge, or Anticipation Engine to help advance/cheat more actions and upgrades.
Part 2 is to flip Crankcase and keep 5 cards in your hand as best you can while hopefully laying down SRSA (Spymaster’s Ruse and a Secret Action).
Your next turn is decision time. Is it time to…………………………….Pounce?
Obviously you are going to flip Pounce, then decide if you want to lay into a character or make a one-shot attempt. You can lay a secret action and flip the stratagem for another 2 if you choose. Pounce is at 11 now, or if you slapped down a SRSA last turn, 13, before you play a weapon if applicable.
Side tangent: I have since tweaked TJL’s list and am going to be trying to see if I can utilize Anticipation Engine on a Pounce attack. And to address the opening sentence of this article I will elaborate if you have no already figured it out.
If for some reason you change this list to add draw and Brainstorms and save the stratagem flip for later, there could be an instance where you have all 3 Spymaster’s Ruses in play (+6 Pounce), then lay your action for the turn (+8 Pounce), then flip Pounce + stratagem (+12 Pounce), then flip a secret action with Anticipation Engine when Pounce attacks (+14 Pounce), you are looking at a big hit. These numbers go up with the inclusion of other ways to vomit actions such as Brainstorming + Leap of Faith + more secret actions coming off the top. I’m not interested in the math right now, but I’m sure Pounce might be able to break 30 attack?
Crankcase + 2x Even the Score
At 7 stars, Crankcase is no joke for a more-than-likely 8/11/1. You might be able to mess around and remove the star cards and hunt for a better suited 7-9 star replacement. Experiment, enjoy.
I feel the Pounce + Firedrive synergy is great and those 2 should be the staples. Crankcase may very well not have an equal for this deck.
Joe’s take
Decepticon Pounce – Infiltrator – 8 stars
Crankcase – Data Collector – 7 stars
Private Firedrive – Ground Command-Artillery – 7 stars
Infiltration Stratagem – 1 star
I am sticking with the original team because damn it’s fun and easy.
Actions
3x Backfire
3x End Hostilities
2x Even the Score**
3x Hidden Fortification
3x Hiding Spot
2x Hold the Line
2x Sabotage Armaments
3x Spymaster’s Ruse
3x Stable Cover
3x Step Forward
Armor
Utility
1x Point Position
Weapon
3x Anticipation Engine
2x Energon Axe
3x Fusion Borer
1x Scoundrel’s Blaster
3x Sturdy Javelin
Removed the armors while retaining pip colors and hopefully effectiveness to stall for Pounce. I was not feeling the Energon Mace too well and opted for the Fusion Borer.
I dumped some actions I felt were counter productive to Backfire and added the Anticipation Engines and more stall tactics.
I’m still on the fence about Even the Score. It has potential but often feels bad if you can’t get it down before Crankcase dies or if he is KOed with ping damage. Plus a double orange on attack is nice… Steamroll is definitely a card to consider with all those secret actions in play for Pounce.
Joe: Overall, I give Jimmy props for this one. Definitely well thought out. Glass cannon for Crankcase while stalling and using Pounce as the finisher.
Brian: Jimmy’s deck is impressive, since it has the ability to hit hard, while having multiple tools to negate incoming heavy hits. On top of that, with both Crankcase and Pounce offering early threats, you don’t really have a clear option for who to focus down on first.
Frenchie: It’s very fun to play! The game plan is clear, and it’s pretty much more interactive than the average deck (not counting daring escape). Players who like to manipulate their deck will love to play this one and this will probably get better as long as they are printing secret actions. Chapeau bas Jimmy!
Wreck 'N Rule 