{"id":3169,"date":"2024-01-02T06:30:28","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T10:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fabrec.gg\/articles\/?p=3169"},"modified":"2023-12-31T11:23:50","modified_gmt":"2023-12-31T15:23:50","slug":"is-flesh-and-blood-more-than-just-a-math-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fabrec.gg\/articles\/is-flesh-and-blood-more-than-just-a-math-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Flesh and Blood More Than Just a Math Game?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6 style=\"text-align: right;\">(<span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Kassai of the Golden Sand\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Kassai of the Golden Sand<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artstation.com\/mokhman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Art by Alexander Mokhov<\/a>)<\/h6>\n<p>New<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> set, new heroes. New heroes, new decks. But what makes a deck good?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Heavy Hitters<\/em> looms, and each of the heroes revealed so far presents interesting deck-building implications and looks to leave the Deathmatch Arena to impact the <em>Flesh and Blood<\/em> metagame. But what will it take to make these contenders good?\u00a0How do players at the top tables choose their decks and refine them to perfection? Here&#8217;s the formula I have in mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>(Good Math + Good Evasion) x Effective Interaction x Consistency<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Math<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since the innovation of Michael Hamilton&#8217;s <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Iyslander, Stormbind\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Iyslander, Stormbind<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> and its dominance during the <em>Uprising<\/em> era, every player knows math flows through the veins of <em>Flesh and Blood<\/em>. In this game, &#8220;math&#8221; refers to the number of points of value your deck can generate. If I&#8217;ve blocked nine damage and dealt four, I&#8217;ve generated 13 points of value. &#8220;Good math&#8221; means creating more points of value than your opponent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A majority of successful decks since Hamilton&#8217;s Iyslander have had good math. Alexandros Argyriou&#8217;s <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Fai, Rising Rebellion\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Fai, Rising Rebellion<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> is a deck with excellent math, with the ability to generate hands that are consistently above-rate due to the power of <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Searing Emberblade\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Searing Emberblade<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>. Another example is US Nationals 2023 champ Charles Dunn being a defensive <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Briar, Warden of Thorns\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Briar, Warden of Thorns<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, utilizing two-card eights and wielding powerful blocking ability for superior turn cycles.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Searing Emberblade\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Anthem of Spring\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Wounded Bull red\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most infamous consideration of good math in <em>Flesh and Blood<\/em> is Bulllander, with the inclusion of efficient physical attacks to aid <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Iyslander, Stormbind\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Iyslander, Stormbind<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>&#8216;s struggles in denting Guardian defense with spells alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good math is the first check that most decks need in ord<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">er to be successful. <em>Flesh and Blood<\/em> is about trading points of value, with skillful players generating more points of value each turn, creating a life advantage to leverage the point difference into a victory.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Evasion<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evasion takes many forms in <em>Flesh and Blood<\/em>. From <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Bravo, Showstopper\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Bravo, Showstopper<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>&#8216;s dominate ability, to arcane damage via the Runeblades and Wizards, to all the powerful intimidate from <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Rhinar, Reckless Rampage\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Rhinar, Reckless Rampage<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> disabling blocking, each deck has methods to cause damage to overcome blocks rather than presenting an overwhelming amount of damage. Evasion is also important to ensure certain key attacks connect for their unique on hit effects.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Bravo, Showstopper\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Alpha Rampage\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Vexing Malice blue\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While your math might be excellent, without evasion you might leave yourself vulnerable to fatigue. Decks such as <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> and <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Riptide, Lurker of the Deep\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Riptide, Lurker of the Deep<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> are vulnerable to fatigue despite having access to powerful on-rate turns. This is due to the inherent drawbacks of their classes (boost with Dash and being weaponless in Riptide). While decks have gotten past this via overwhelming numbers, they require innovative deck-building and a skillful player to overcome these weaknesses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decks with poor evasion often suffer against defensive decks, giving them the space to generate their superior long-term value. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With good math and good evasion, this sets up a deck&#8217;s potential to create an effective proactive strategy. However, <em>Flesh and Bloo<\/em>d also involves a tense back and forth with your opponent, and that leads to interaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Interaction<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While what you do may be good, your opponent will have a say in your plays. <em>Flesh and Blood<\/em> carries interaction via several methods, such as disruption via Ice, or on hit effects such as <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Command and Conquer\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Command and Conquer<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interaction encompasses both proactive and reactive methods.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proactive interaction involves throwing threats that demand answers, lest they generate immense value. Examples of this would be <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Uzuri, Switchblade\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Uzuri, Switchblade<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>&#8216;s <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Shake Down\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Shake Down<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Pummel red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Pummel<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> effects, or <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Bravo, Showstopper\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Bravo, Showstopper<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>&#8216;s <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Crippling Crush\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Crippling Crush<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>. While proactive interactions lack good math at the surface, they provide powerful effects that put your opponent off their strategy effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Shake Down\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Crippling Crush\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Blizzard\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While reactive interaction is often known as debilitating effects such as <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Blizzard\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Blizzard<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, defensive tools such as defense reactions, solid equipment, or abilities to circumvent proactive interaction are all effective tools to ensure your proactive plan goes smoothly. Examples of this include <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Levia, Shadowborn Abomination\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Levia, Shadowborn Abomination<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>&#8216;s unparalleled armor suite (e.g. <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Carrion Husk\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Carrion Husk<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>) deflecting attempts to soften her onslaught, or <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Fai, Rising Rebellion\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Fai, Rising Rebellion<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>&#8216;s decent equipment suite and defensive tool package of <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Reinforce the Line red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Reinforce the Line<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> and <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Sink Below red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Sink Below<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> used for handling Bravo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The above two forms of interaction are more widespread, and the lack of effective tools in interaction results in a weaker matchup against aggressive strategies, as they either outperform you via their proactive strategy, or host the tools to answer your attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interaction also refers to tools to handle specific heroes. <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Dromai, Ash Artist\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Dromai, Ash Artist<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, for example, asks difficult questions that require unique answers. <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Rake the Embers red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Rake the Embers<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> produces a number of <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Aether Ashwing\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Aether Ashwing<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>s that require numerous small attacks to handle, lest they pile upon damage as the game draws long, alongside six-power Phantasm attacks. The duality between needing wide attacks as well as poppers to destroy hyper-efficient Illusionist attacks causes unique interactions to be needed for a good Illusionist matchup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Carrion Husk\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Rake the Embers red\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Aether Spindle red\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Wizard matchups also ask for interesting interactions. Not only do you need a heavy pitch count to prevent bleeding into combo range from <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Kano, Dracai of Aether\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Kano, Dracai of Aether<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>&#8216;s attacks, but also a fast clock with sufficient evasion to ensure Kano can&#8217;t set up a pitch stack for a powerful turn to guarantee a kill. This duality also limits the decks that have effective plans into Kano without other unique tools to handle the problem presented.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Consistency<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consistency is key, especially if you&#8217;re trying to get a deep run in a long tournament. While huge spikes of power are important in a field of refined decks, having your deck underperform due to variance often costs too many games to take you out of Top 8. Consistency involves many hands being active regardless of their layout, either with a high redundancy of key pieces for active turns, tools to fix faulty hands, or reliable turn cycles to execute your deck&#8217;s game plan over clunky combos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Tome of Imperial Flame\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Lumina Ascension\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examples of highly consistent decks are Redline <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Dromai, Ash Artist\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Dromai, Ash Artist<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, with a great level of redundancy throughout her deck preventing bricks and always maintaining options of proactivity. The addition of <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Tome of Imperial Flame\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Tome of Imperial Flame<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> skyrocketed Dromai&#8217;s consistency, letting her see more cards, generate more active hands to the situation presented, and overwhelm the opponent. Decks that lack this consistency struggle to make a splash at the highest level. An example is <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Ser Boltyn, Breaker of Dawn\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Ser Boltyn, Breaker of Dawn<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, with his reliance on drawing the powerful spike of <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Lumina Ascension\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Lumina Ascension<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> for winning odds, leaving your fate at the mercy of your draw.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Innovation<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While decks appear to have weaknesses, the answer isn&#8217;t to throw them aside upon encountering them, but rather to innovate to shore up these weaknesses. There are many examples of this, but Ben Dodd&#8217;s <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Uzuri, Switchblade\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Uzuri, Switchblade<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> list is one of the cleanest cut.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uzuri has very powerful two-card hands, with a weakness in utilizing higher hand sizes efficiently outside of swinging daggers. Ben innovates via trying to keep Uzuri&#8217;s cards as proactive as possible, minimizing blues and utilizing <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Nimblism red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Nimblism<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Nimble Strike red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Nimble Strike<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, every zero-cost go again possible, and minimal interaction tools varied to the meta. This shores up Uzuri&#8217;s extremely poor <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Dromai, Ash Artist\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Dromai, Ash Artist<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> matchup to being playable by increasing his interaction on that front, alongside leaving themselves a solid matchup against other aggressive decks due to Uzuri&#8217;s inherent interaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Ravenous Rabble red\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Nimblism red\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Hurl red\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another example is classic <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Lexi, Livewire\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Lexi, Livewire<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>. Lexi&#8217;s traditional weakness to fatigue was mended in <em>Outsiders<\/em>. Via the utilization of six-card hands in <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"New Horizon\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">New Horizon<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, the axis of attack enabled by the Codices caused defensive decks to play incredibly awkwardly around Lexi&#8217;s attacks, struggling to keep their arsenals filled in order to prevent the Codices causing a disarm due to Lexi&#8217;s ability. This, alongside her incredible math of over-rate attacks, Ice to keep aggro mirrors in check, and redundancy of vanilla arrows, caused Lexi to have an incredible matchup spread, dominating the metagame.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Codex of Frailty\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Codex of Inertia\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"New Horizon\"><\/div><\/div>\n<h2>Application of Theory<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Maxx &#8216;The Hype&#8217; Nitro\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Maxx &#8216;The Hype&#8217; Nitro<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> was conceptualized as a deck which went all-in on its ability to cast <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Construct Nitro Mechanoid\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Construct Nitro Mechanoid<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> and utilize its powerful ability to severely outtrade its opponents. Maxx Nitro&#8217;s math is fantastic once he transforms, with a decent on-rate proactive strategy without accounting for the transformation condition due to powerful boost cards. <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Maxx &#8216;The Hype&#8217; Nitro\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Construct Nitro Mechanoid\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"High Octane red\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For evasion, Maxx aims to overcome defensive decks via utilizing <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"High Octane red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">High Octane<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> to overwhelm their defenses by slamming the Mechanoid multiple times in one turn. Interaction is where he falls relatively flat. He does have several points of armor, however. Once he flips, he can utilize the massive base armor of the Mechanoid to ward away some attacks as he sets up his devastating retaliation. But with the Mech class&#8217;s access to defense reactions being limited, he&#8217;s only able to utilize <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Firewall red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Firewall<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> to deflect key on hits. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, while Maxx&#8217;s game plan is powerful, his consistency suffers due to the reliance on transforming to spike powerful turns. Deck-building concessions have to be made that detract from the proactive plan to enable the Nitro Mechanoid plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><em>Heavy Hitters<\/em><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now to apply these assumptions to the new heroes. Each of them presents unique potential strengths, and challenges that need to be overcome. We have yet to see the new suite of support for each of the heroes revealed at the time of this article&#8217;s writing, but here&#8217;s a quick overview.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Kayo, Armed and Dangerous &amp; Rhinar, Reckless Rampage<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Kayo, Armed and Dangerous\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Kayo, Armed and Dangerous<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>&#8216;s hero ability aims to fix the weakness of the Brute class, which is poor consistency. Due to the high volume of six-powers, it enables the previously inconsistent Brute cards such as <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Pulping red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Pulping<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> or <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Tear Limb from Limb\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Tear Limb from Limb<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> to become far more reliable, enabling Kayo&#8217;s onslaught. Kayo&#8217;s weaknesses initially appear to be his lack of natural evasion and the inherent Brute weakness of the lack of interaction. Unlike <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Rhinar, Reckless Rampage\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Rhinar, Reckless Rampage<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, Kayo doesn&#8217;t have a built-in form of interaction, and looks to present massive chains of damage to go over an opponent&#8217;s defense. Whether or not he&#8217;s vulnerable to fatigue depends on how spiky Kayo&#8217;s power turns are, especially since his attacks often involve discarding from hand.<\/p>\n<p>Kayo&#8217;s forms of proactive interaction don&#8217;t go beyond tools in generics such as <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Command and Conquer\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Command and Conquer<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> and <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Erase Face\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Erase Face<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, although he&#8217;s buffed by his <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Might\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Might<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> tokens to push difficult thresholds. Defensively, Kayo boasts the usage of <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Scowling Flesh Bag\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Scowling Flesh Bag<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> to disrupt wide aggression, however it requires the sacrifice of the use of <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Skullhorn\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Skullhorn<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>. Each inclusion of a defensive tool, much like Mechanologists, carries a risk, limiting the number of defensive tools he can include. As such, at a glance, a successful Kayo deck aims to maximize his proactive brutality, and find the balance of holding off his prey&#8217;s retaliation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Kayo, Armed and Dangerous\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Scowling Flesh Bag\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Show No Mercy\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>Rhinar&#8217;s return looks to fix his problems. He&#8217;s always had the best evasion in the game, forcing his damage through defenses outside of arsenaled defense reactions due to his intimidate. Where he&#8217;s traditionally faltered is the relative inefficiency of his attacks, struggling to keep them on rate outside of <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Bloodrush Bellow\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Bloodrush Bellow<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> turns. His consistency has always been a balancing factor as well, as he lacks the ability to make his blue ratios or six-power ratios up to par simultaneously. His poor math and consistency could use improvements to bring him up to metagame standards.<\/p>\n<h3>Olympia, Prized Fighter &amp; Kassai of the Golden Sand<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Olympia, Prized Fighter\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Olympia, Prized Fighter<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> has had little revealed, but boasts the strength of the Warrior&#8217;s class, incentivizing blocks and punishing them. With his specialization <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Up the Ante\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Up the Ante<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, alongside <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Take the Upper Hand\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Take the Upper Hand<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, he looks to modify its attacks on the combat chain, forcing opponents into inefficient blocks, or scare opponents off\u00a0 blocking altogether, enabling him to generate <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Gold\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Gold<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>. It hasn&#8217;t been shown whether Olympia has good math to back the Warrior&#8217;s powerful evasion. As his card pool is largely shrouded in mystery, all we can say for certain are the mind games around his wagers are likely his greatest strength.<\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Olympia, Prized Fighter\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Up the Ante\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Take the Upper Hand\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Kassai of the Golden Sand\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Kassai of the Golden Sand<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, on the other hand, has a unique deck-building restriction, but looks to play a mathematics game. She attempts to generate <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Gold\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Gold<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> to draw cards, enabling powerful turns swinging her sabres, generating even more Gold. Reactions such as <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Glint the Quicksilver\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Glint the Quicksilver<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> and <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Blade Runner red\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Blade Runner<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> present a difficult blocking puzzle. Kassai&#8217;s evasion comes from her specialization, <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Raise an Army\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Raise an Army<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, creating Sellsword tokens which are difficult to clear and to block, overcoming defenses if not dealt with. Kassai&#8217;s weakness may lie in her consistency, as her need for red and yellow cards ask for a unique deck-building challenge to ensure she can cast her cards.<\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Kassai of the Golden Sand\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Raise an Army\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Blade Runner red\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>At face value, both heroes lack proactive interaction outside of threatening efficient wagers to benefit themselves. The Warriors however have always boasted a powerful suite of armor that can be used to protect themselves from counter-attacks. Thus, if their proactive strategy is lacking, they may falter to other powerful aggressive strategies. However, if possible, these two heroes look to be nightmares to defend against in combat.<\/p>\n<h3>Betsy, Skin in the Game<\/h3>\n<p>The Guardian class&#8217;s strengths have traditionally been their interaction, but <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Betsy, Skin in the Game\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Betsy, Skin in the Game<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> begs to differ. Her ability is similar to that of <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Bravo, Showstopper\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Bravo, Showstopper<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>, adding additional pitch to add overpower to attacks she wagers. This evasion on demand is a huge strength, however, unlike Bravo, her attack suite is likely to differ as she has to wager the attacks rather than asking for Guardian attacks. The Guardian modus operandi has always been to weaken their opponents blunting their counter attack, while Betsy looks to go bigger with her specialization <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Bet Big\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Bet Big<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"edhrecp__cards\"><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Betsy, Skin in the Game\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Bet Big\"><\/div><div class=\"edhrecp__card-container\" name=\"Money Where Ya Mouth Is\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>While most traditional forms of Guardian disruption are too pitch-costly to be buffed then overpowered, cheaper attacks exist. Utilizing buffs like <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Money Where Ya Mouth Is\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Money Where Ya Mouth Is<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> on <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Command and Conquer\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Command and Conquer<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> or <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Erase Face\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Erase Face<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> allows for evasion to cards that normally don&#8217;t receive them.<\/p>\n<p>When appropriate, Guardians use powerful attacks such as <span class=\"edhrecp__link\"><a class=\"edhrecp__link-a\" content=\"Spinal Crush\"href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">Spinal Crush<\/a><span class=\"edhrecp__link-image\"><\/span><\/span> to force an opponent onto defense. They&#8217;ve also traditionally suffered a weakness of consistency, due to the high-costed nature of their attacks, a good ratio of blues and reds have to be achieved to ensure Betsy has reds in every hand to assault her opponents, and have the energy to cast them.<\/p>\n<p>For Betsy to be effective, she must be able to combat the opponent on the efficiency angle, presenting trades that favor her, carving advantages as she wins her wagers before closing the game with her ability.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>With each new <em>Heavy Hitters <\/em>card previewed, consider what problems the card solves, and build decks as a whole considering how each hero fights on these axes. I wish all my readers luck in the Deathmatch Arena!<\/p>\n<h3>Further Reading:<\/h3>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/fabrec.gg\/articles\/is-flesh-and-blood-worth-playing-at-a-casual-level\/\">Is Flesh and Blood Worth Playing at a Casual Level?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/fabrec.gg\/articles\/what-to-ask-and-how-to-answer\/\">Improve Your Flesh and Blood Gameplay<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/fabrec.gg\/articles\/the-benefits-of-team-play-in-flesh-and-blood\/\">The Benefits of Team Play in Flesh and Blood<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is Flesh and Blood more complex than just winning with bigger numbers? This analysis has your answers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":2690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,8],"tags":[35,36,359,390,391,268],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Is Flesh and Blood More Than Just a Math Game? - FABREC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How complex is the math of Flesh and Blood? 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