1029th RIFLE CORPS & BORODINO FIELD

[random ibex]

!crossfire

[latent dagger]

Cards found: 1

[plain bolt]

1029th looks okay. Very strong even, in fact it will usually be a 3/3 or 2/3 card in a lot of midrange matchups, and in control it will be easily 4/3 until turn 4. On the one hand it looks dangerous, on the other I think it is well balanced.

[muted rapids]

so just elite version of crossfire?

[dawn agate]

It also counts your units, so it will also clear your board too

[muted rapids]

oh

[dawn agate]

Or, you can manipulate the hp of your units too to ensure an even bigger board clear

But, otherwise, yes, it is basically an elite version of crossfire

[vernal cedar]

not gonna lie, a soviet crossfire that hits every target sounds quite cool (and OP)

[lament fulcrum]

Second one should not hit hq

Insane self dmg potential

And you deal at least 2-4dmg of chip on the enemies hq

[plain bolt]

Only that it fits Soviets, most of their aoe removal under damage, also hit HQ. If he removed it, the card would have to cost 2K.

[lament fulcrum]

Not really, hitting their own hq is a feature of Soviet orders

But there are some that only include units

And for the ‘only 2k’ thing, it would basically become in incredibly op card in control

You could even sack 12th guards to make a 3k deal +2dmg to all units

[plain bolt]

It would be better to use 321st I think xD

A card that beats everything would be strong for 4K, true, but it's a double-edged sword, potentially cheaper Winter Offensive, only requiring setup. Which doesn't change the fact that it would fit the faction and in my opinion it would be cool in the end.

[plain bolt]

Out of 5 aoe removals (if you count Enemy at Gate), 3 that hit units (all types) also hit HQ. And the remaining 2 either give something to units, but can't give HQ (attack), which is why there is a distinction here, or they strictly attack a specific type of unit like "air" and "ground", so HQ is omitted here. However, all strict "Deal dmg aoe" removals also hit HQ. So it would be stupid to distinguish it here.

[lament fulcrum]

I understand, but it doesnt omit the fact it would be incredibly strong, and would be another busted soviet elite

[plain bolt]

Well, additional matching concept: Soviet Elite cards are busted. Check.

[lament fulcrum]

Doesnt mean we should add more

And make control have 20 auto-include Elites XD

[plain bolt]

I simply judge a card by its effect-faction compatibility, power, and cost-effect adjustments.

In all of this, the card looks fine, the problem is that it would be a perfect addition to current control decks.

[lament fulcrum]

i see it as a complete upgrade to winter offensive

[plain bolt]

Well, as I wrote above, this card is a cheaper Winter Offensive that requires setup. Is Winter Offensive a very strong card? I wouldn't say that, it's probably ok, but it's far from, for example, Strategic Focus in my opinion.

[lament fulcrum]

Except it costs half as much, which provides insane value against any aggro deck. plus it minimizes the damage to your own hq if played that way, so even when its being 'wasted' it still provides a benefit over winter offensive

Like if this wasn't 4K oa soviet card it would be fine

But this could be more useful than even strategic focus in certain matchups

[plain bolt]

But the fact is, Borodino Field, by the very fact that it costs 4K, is much stronger than Winter Offensive, and even Strategic Focus for that matter. Another aspect is the great synergies with self-wound cards, because each ping is single and triggers all card effects like:

• 34th Guards
• 456th Rifle Regiment

They would probably be in decks for the above cards, but unfortunately, most good aoe removals will be abused by control, such are the current realities, which does not mean that you should be afraid to add them. I would rather see cards added exclusively for other archetypes, which would create a balance counterbalance for control decks.

[lament fulcrum]

and nothing is stopping you from using* both

[plain bolt]

In general, Soviet control decks currently have the ability to play all of these removals, because Front Formation is a 1-card win condition. A lot will change if this card were to go into the reserve, suddenly adding this type of aoe removal wouldn't be so oppressive.

[lament fulcrum]

It all circles back to claim the skies and front formation 💔

or the engineer battalion (for SD)

[plain bolt]

Well, the problem with Front Formation is that there is no alternative to this card for other factions. And only control decks can use this card in a good way, as if other archetypes got this type of win condition (in Soviets), which also does not fit control, so it could diversify the approach to the game in this faction. It is difficult to assess the strength of Front Formation in general, because while CtS is easy to assess as busted, because there are many cards to compare it to, Front Formation is quite unique and most resembles e.g. Yank, which is also a type of win condition, only in different factions.

[lament fulcrum]

there are cards that can somewhat compare, and they all suck compared to this

!Iron victory

[latent dagger]

Cards found: 1

[lament fulcrum]

!act on intel

[latent dagger]

Cards found: 1

[plain bolt]

The problem with Iron Victory is mainly the cost, if this card cost 2K I could realistically see it being used in e.g. token decks as an alternative win condition. At 5K however it is way too expensive for the effect.

[lament fulcrum]

!infilt

[latent dagger]

Cards found: 1

[plain bolt]

This card too is way too expensive for the effect, for 3K it would be fine to play.

[lament fulcrum]

the point is that the amount of Value generate is so enourmous even when compared to the closest* counterparts

hell even look at case blue

!case

[latent dagger]

Cards found: 2

[plain bolt]

I mean, realistically if I had to write, after playing Front Formation, the game ends in 3-4 turns on average, so there's not that much value in it, unless you're playing a control matchup. However, on aggro if you live to turn 7, the opponent will surrender on their own, and against midrang, it's usually 2-4 turns after playing Front Formation, either you or they beat you.

No matter how you look at it, the Front Formation effect is 2K per turn (Siberian card) +1K for the permanent effect, so 3K per turn, so it would pay off, the game has to last at least 3 turns. So no matter how you look at it, the card looks good.

[lament fulcrum]

yes, but you mustn't forget about the value of deck space

[plain bolt]

Blue is probably a bad example, it's a win more card, not a win condition per se. I'd rather compare it to Kokuras Sword.

[lament fulcrum]

its still the closest example, and its supposed to be a payoff card

[plain bolt]

Yeah, that's why I emphasize that FF is a 1-card win condition that allows you to play that form of control, and not another. In other control decks, you'd have to play about 3-10 cards that are potential win-conditions.

[lament fulcrum]

well we can only hope it gets properly adressed

[plain bolt]

No, Case Blue is not comparable here at all, because it's a completely different type of card. If anything, you'll sooner compare it to Mass Attack.

[delicate pier]

i read borodino as bombardino

too much brainrot