Subject: Defeating Hatred Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 09:49:06 +0100 From: "Ian O'Brien" To: To Frank and Co This article is all about how to beat the card I fear most in Exodus:HATRED. I have read many articles on the dojo and in other places which say that hatred will not be used as its CC is too high. However, there are a few such as Mike Donais who have recognised the potential of this card. A deck built around this can win 2nd turn sometimes, and 3rd turn quite regularly. Also, if you stop the hatred the deck can perform well as a suicide black deck. An example of one I made myself follows. It is geared more toward Hatred then the other decks I have seen. 4 Dauthi Slayer 4 Dauthi Warlord 4 Dauthi Horror 4 Sarcomancy 4 Carnophage 4 Hatred 4 Unholy Strength 4 Funeral Charm 4 Dark Ritual 4 Mana Vault 4 Wasteland 16 Swamp Let us analyse this deck. It uses early mana to cast a 1cc creature and then on the second or third turn can win i.e swamp--->sarcomancy then next turn ritual,vault, hatred for 18, game. It can also win soon after this with a hatred. Funeral charms allow quick kills to creatures like mogg fanatics who would break a warlord or horror. Wastelands can slow opponents long enough to get a hatred off. To win we must be able to consistenty stop the hatred. However, if we kill the creature after the hatred is cast we gain an enoumous life advantage. Therefore, the best measure would seem to be a quick life gainer or creature kill. To be wholly sucessful a 1cc spell would be best as to leave your all of your mana untapped waiting for a hatred would be suicide, and sometimes 1 mana will be all you have if they take the first turn. Obviously if the tech card is not drawn then you will still lose, but with an opponent this fast there is nothing else you can do. Healing Salve A healing salve after a hatred will leave both players on about 2 life, meaning that you can easily have a kill next turn. This works well if you already have a creature on the table or are playing burn. However, as an anti-first turn kill measure it is somewhat lacking-they will simply attack next turn and finish you off. Shock This is very effective anytime as their creature will die and leave the way open for you to finish the game early. Mogg fanatic can be used in a similar way except it can only kill the 1 toughness creatures, they will know it is coming and it can be killed by a funeral charm. Incinerate/Kindle These are not as effective as shock because of the 2cc but they are effective all the same, and in a similar way. Force Spike A turn 1 counter can save you from the hatred-though they will not lose the life, it may give you time to set up defences. Fog This willl stop the quick hatred dead as well as any other creatures attacking you. You also get to capitalize on their life loss, unlike Force Spike. Pro-Black Creatures I played a deck that got out a turn 2 Soltari Monk then a turn 3 White Knight and I got absolutely stomped on. Though they may not stop the 2nd turn hatred they are just about the most effective measure-barring Dauthi Horrors, of course. Light Of Day Not particularly tech but deserves a mention for its power. This will never be played main deck but as a sideboard card will kill suicide black without hatreds, and can hurt hatred decks-can be cast turn 3 with an early birds or elves to help (or a B/W deck, second turn with a ritual? Anyway.......), and with no enchantment removal mono-black will die horribly. Basically, 1cc spells are needed and they need to be drawn early. There can never be a perfect solution as hatred decks will often kil before you draw one of these, but with some main deck you have a chance game one and you can board some in in game two. Obviously, you should metagame some into your main deck so they will not clutter up your sideboard and will always be there 1st game of a match. Make sure they are useful for all games - my current U/G deck uses force spikes main deck and a couple of fogs in the sideboard. Burn with fireblasts, shocks, fanatics, and even the 2cc spells will kill hatred a lot of the time. Suicide Black will otherwise stomp control decks and speed decks alike, and with this new card their power will be increased many times over. HATRED. FEAR THIS CARD. I'm sure there are other solutions but I hope this article opens your eyes and encourages you to find your own answers. May The Tech Be With You Ian O'Brien (IOB) 5CEverything on Dojo Chat