Eights and Nines 4.0

• Versions
• 4.0
• 3.0
• 2.0
• 1.0

Took second in Store Championship (lost to Vader Raider in finals but beat a different Vader Raider deck in semi finals)

(Leadership is a card I am still considering but not sure what to give up)

This has been my primary project deck from the begining of SOR. It has been play tested quite a bit and refined. For the most part I am quite satisfied with this version.

Some things I learned from playing this deck and previous versions...

1. This deck does not generate many resources and many of my card selections reflect that.

2. Doubt is a sneaky good card. It is a hard counter to things like TIE Pilot and Overkill and other cards with lots of Plus sides like Jet Pack. It can also be used on big dice, say Vader rolls his 3 Melee, use doubt, the result can't be worse for you and it gets the dice out of play.

3. Generally you want your opponent focused on FN-2199 shenanigans while you load up IG-88.

What you might think is the biggest omission from this deck...

Where is Thermal Detonator, it seems like the perfect weapon for IG-88?

• I know I thought the same thing but I have played this enough that I found the following flaws with that logic.

1. Because Resources are so hard to come by in this deck the 3 cost Thermal would never get played on FN and even playing it on IG for 1 with IG-88's special was expensive at times because one of the specials on Thermal is a pay side as well and when you resolve it its gone and you have to repeat the process. Just not efficient and you want IG-88 rolling damage after the first turn or two, not his special.

2. There just were not enough 2 cost Yellow upgrades to play for free on IG-88 and then Ramp into a 3 cost weapon like Rocket Launcher. I ended up going for the Gaffi Stick because it is a weapon and can be used with FN's ability. Jet Pack was the other consideration but it doesn't work with FN and I already have Ascension Gun's that don't work with FN.

3. The much more efficient and preferred card on IG is the Rocket Launcher (More on that below). This is an expensive card as well and way more efficient in the deck.

My preferred plays...

This deck has a few options to get you started but my ideal strategy is as follows...

1. As stated earlier, Get your opponent focused on FN while you build up IG. To do this a great first turn play would be to play a Gaffi Stick on FN, roll and resolve, then overwrite it with a Vibroknife (or a holdout blaster), roll and resolve. This can get your opponents attention early and it gets a 2 cost Yellow weapon/equipment in your discard for IG.

2. Get Fast Hands on IG-88 after you have your opponent focused on FN.

3. You want those IG-88 Specials early, not late in the game to get either a Gaffi Stick or Ascension Gun on IG for free as quick as possible. That said I wouldn't reroll damage just to get the special, always resolve the damage when you can.

4. Ideally, second turn you draw a Rocket Launcher and you overwrite your 2 cost weapon on IG with it. If not try and ramp a 3 cost yellow weapon onto IG to hold the spot for the Rocket Launcher. Rocket Launcher is expensive so once you have Fast Hands and a Rocket Launcher on IG, always roll him first while you have resources. Resolve IG specials until all 3 upgrade slots are full.

5. If you successfully get your opponents attention on FN feel free to ramp one of his weapons into a Riot Baton because it has redeploy.

6. Aggressively use Arms Deal for an extra resource or two early. Getting a 3 cost weapon out first turn can put you way ahead of the game.

I never focus too much on dream first draws because the never happen but some suggestions for mulliganing would be.

1. Always mulligan your 3 cost upgrades for something cheaper EXCEPT if in your first draw you get an Arms Deal, either a Riot Baton or a Rocket Launcher, and another Yellow weapon or a Holdout blaster. In that case use Arms Deal to get the extra resource and play the 3 cost Riot Baton or Rocket Launcher first turn.

2. Keep one of either Doubt, He Doesn't Like You, or unpredictable and Mulligan any 1 cost events, you are looking to play a weapon turn 1.

3. You want a Fast Hands round 1.

4. My dream first hand would be Fast Hands, 2 of these three Doubt, He Doesn't Like You or Unpredictable, Gaffi Stick, and VibroKnife.

If played well and with a little dice luck you could have IG-88 with a Gaffi Stick and Fast Hands and FN with a VibroKnife by the end of turn 1. When that happens you are way ahead of the game. Turn 2 you want to ramp up your Gaffi Stick into a 3 cost weapon, ideally Rocket Launcher but Flame Thrower or Vibroknucklers work too. Once you have a Rocket Launcher on IG you will be resource strapped, wait on IG specials and try and get a 2 cost weapon on FN when the opportunity presents itself to continue with some FN Shenanigans.

In the case of a poor first draw...

Lets say your begining hand is Ascension Gun, Vibroknife, Flame Thrower, Electroshock, and Holdout Blaster.

In that case play Holdout Blaster on FN, roll and resolve, Then overwrite with Vibroknife, roll and resolve. Then roll in IG and FN. Whether you get IG's special or not you will have to discard the Ascension Gun to reroll, if you have an IG special keep it and find something else to reroll, if not reroll both IG dice unless they are both showing damage. If you get the special pull back the Ascension Gun, otherwise use the Flame Thrower to reroll. If still no special I personally would go for it and discard the Electroshock for the special, you may play differently depending on how risk averse you are.

I would say it would be extremely unusual for you to get an initial hand that has little to no options. This deck is meant to be played aggressively, you can't be timid. Do damage as fast and hard as possible.