This month's card idea review is
Orochi | Orochi by
Drake_XIV. Idea Guru
Drake_XIV reviewed it below.
Orochi | Orochi[/center]
On a strict cost to stat basis, Orochi is an incredibly effective attacker, perhaps the most effective for its stat tier with 12 ATT for 8|7
. However, there are a few things keeping this from strictly being overpowered and overshadowing fellow effective attackers like Shrieker, which has 8|10 ATT for 8
.
The one obvious thing here is Appease. Each turn, you must sacrifice a creature on your side to ensure that Orochi attacks your opponent instead of turning around and attacking you instead. So the card cost of the sacrifices goes into the cost of Orochi itself, and that's disregarding any cost of the Sacrifices themselves.
Another thing that sets this aside from other attackers is how Appease works. On the first turn, due to the inability to use its ability on the first turn, if you have not taken proper precautions, Orochi can and will do damage to you once. That is a guarantee.
So, cost balance. At 12 ATT [ +12
] and 8 HP [ +2
], it can take some punishment and deals in kind, but Orochi's Appease considerably drops the cost. With the initial 12 damage [ Compared to a negative weaker Heal, estimating -2
] and assuming that Orochi will be used for on average 3 turns, there is card cost to consider [ Estimated to be -3
, excluding quanta cost of sacrifices]. As a neutral element,
grants only a HP boost [Graboid + Shrieker is an exception for thematics], so it justifies the 8 HP [ -1
]. This leaves it at its current spot at 8
, 7
for upgraded.
Duo Possibilities:
[
|
] Especially upgraded, both elements provide free fodder to fuel Orochi's Appease. Also, use of Quintessence will prevent Orochi from being Lobotomized and attacking you instead. And Parallel Universe will create more ways to get more out effectively, with Dimensional Shield keeping any backlash from touching you.
[
|
] With so many things being sacrificed, the death effects will definitely increase. With Gnome Riders and Skeletons, Orochi will have plenty of cheap fodder to go through while generating more with Boneyard, racking up quanta with Soul Catcher, raising defense with Bone Wall, or increasing one's offense with Vulture. It's up to the player, but there are choices here.
[
|
] Deja Vu and Scarabs create cheap fodder for Appease, especially when used in tandem with Pharaoh, meaning you should be able to maintain a steady stream of sacrifices. In case you don't, Sundial is helpful in making sure Orochi doesn't strike back at you right away and Reverse Time or Eternity will return him back to your deck in case he is Lobotomized. There is also Anubis to protect Orochi from being Lobotomized to begin with, but that treads in trio territory. It also allows for some Graboid splashing, so this isn't exactly far off as well.
