This guide is for those that are looking for a realistic guide. So many of the builds I've seen have ridiculously good items. Items that I don't have. Additionally, I found that I was having a hard time staying ranked higher than 1300, and having an especially harder time breaking that 1400 threshold. Well the following build took me from 1200 to 1500 in one night. Now if I can stay here is another question. Tickle Torture lvl 20 Elf Warrior Bejeweled ShortswordDouble-edged SwordExcellent RapierCrusty HelmSlippery ShieldBulky Leather VestPossessed ShoesEscapistSavvy Attacker2x Vicious Thrust3x Powerful Hack1x Powerful Bludgeon2x Impaling Stab1x Potent Stab2x Dancing Cut1x Backbiting Strike1x Nimble Strike1x Fiery Stab2x Shifty Stab2x Lunging Hack1x Thickened Mail1x Reliable Hide Armor1x Leather Harness3x Hard To Pin Down1x Reliable Mail1x Hardy Mail1x Obvious Maneuver1x Quick Run1x Immovable1x Cautious Sneak1x Shuffle1x Slippery1x Elvish Insight1x Walk1x Impaler1x Slicer1x Team Run Laughing Gas lvl 20 Elf Warrior Bejeweled ShortswordLochaber AxeNifty HalberdWeakling's HelmSlippery ShieldRusty ChainmailBlack Iron BootsEscapistSavvy Attacker3x Vicious Thrust3x Powerful Hack1x Powerful Bludgeon5x Nimble Strike4x Weak Chop1x Unreliable Block1x Able Bludgeon1x Solid Mail2x Mail3x Hard To Pin Down1x Reliable Mail2x Hardy Mail1x Wimpy1x Quick Run1x Immovable1x Slippery1x Elvish Insight1x Walk1x Impaler1x Slicer1x Team RunFunny Bones lvl 20 Human Priest Rapier Of MisfortuneGlinting Eye HammerIcicle ShieldOpaline ArmorBlack Iron BootsIncense Of Roiled AirIncense Of The Nether FogShuddering RelicSuperb CommandFocused Piety2x Nimble Strike1x Fiery Stab3x Bad Luck2x Mighty Bludgeon1x Raging Strike1x Powerful Bash1x Purge1x Frenzy Aura1x Leather Harness1x Bungled Heal1x Icy Block1x Wounded Block1x Flimsy Block1x Quick Run1x Immovable1x Hardy Mail3x Mass Frenzy3x Inspiration1x Enervating Touch1x Vulnerable1x All Out Attack1x Shuffle, Team!1x Parry3x AltruismThis isn't the most original build. However, I feel it is important to show the builds we use(d) on our way to the top and on the way to having the best items. More importantly though, is the discussion of how to play the game. I'm not very good at adapting to the intricate rules of a game. But here are a few things I have learned by using melee ranged classes in CardHunter: You don't need to use all of your movement card just because you have them in hand. Frequently they will get used because priorities and dangers are always changing in a given turn. You don't always have to move far from starting position on the first turn. This is especially true when you can't reach your opponent, or don't have the attack cards to do damage. Which leads me to . . . Don't attack unless you have enough damage in hand that could kill a character. I'm sure there are exceptions to this rule. But holding back until you can kill/seriously harm tends to be a good choice with this team. This also helps in case you're going in on a wizard that has a Short Perplexing Ray or two in hand. Elvish Insight is best saved. When I get it on round one, I tend to hold off on using it if I can until round two, after your opponent has kept his/her best cards. Additionally, in the round that I do plan to use it, I don't use it first if I have the tempo. I let the opponent play a card/pass in order to make sure they get out any and all trait cards and cycle through their decks so that I view a full hand. This becomes second nature as you play more with this wonderful card. This team works by giving you great mobility. You can easily close in with the elf warriors while still remaining in blind spots. This deck will teach you the meaning of positioning. PLANNED FUTURE CHANGES In the future as I get different items, I hope to make the Priest more efficient. I would like to be able to add more Martyr Blessing since it is a great defensive and offensive card. Additionally, I believe there might be better Human Skills and Divine Skills as I start to switch things around. The one thing I know, is that she performs best as an off-warrior using Nimble Strike and with support skills, primarily Mass Frenzy. Since the card drawing is great with Altruism and can be used to cycle through her own deck for the Frenzies or Attacks, I may try to push this a little more. If I had a St. Olf's Fiery Pike I could have more freedom to play with the divine items. THANKS FOR READING I would appreciate any feedback on more common items that you think would be beneficial to my build. I will say that this build is weakest against encumber effects. Therefore wizards tend to be the hardest for me. If any high rating players understand the teams I'm about to face, than I would be more than happy for their advice in how they face wizards (control, firestorm, frost, etc.). Thanks All!
ArcadianRook says: Can't say that I like the Opaline Armor ArcadianRook says: I'd swap it for a Mail of the Martyr ArcadianRook says: Do you have a Healing Hand mace or a St. Olf's Fiery Pike? Those are the weapons I use on my priest.
I saw your build and thought I'd try something different for a change. I only played one game with it, but I won it convincingly. It was against a 1/1/1 team. They just couldn't catch the elves. I think Perfect Command in my build may be movement overkill, and I've considered going for the double leadership one instead. If I do that, I'm just not sure where I'd put the gold token. I don't have a Lochaber Axe yet so I went with a Rageblood Dagger for a replacement. Let me know what you think or if I should change something. Auriel Level 17 Human Priest St. Olf's Fiery PikeNimbus BladeMail Of The MartyrGranwick's ShieldLt. Buckwell's BootsShuddering RelicShielding TokenShielding TokenPerfect CommandNovice Piety1 x Surging Shield Block1 x Officer's Harness2 x Consuming Touch1 x Polearm Slash1 x Run, Team!2 x Martyr Blessing2 x Weak Parry2 x Altruism1 x Minor Heal1 x Dash, Team!1 x Enervating Touch1 x Horned Plates3 x Fiery Stab1 x Vulnerable1 x Unholy Frenzy2 x Stab3 x Flanking Move1 x Strong Bash6 x Impenetrable Nimbus3 x Mass Frenzy Aelithiel Level 14 Elf Warrior Bejeweled ShortswordRageblood DaggerNifty HalberdDependable MailSlippery ShieldCrusty HelmBlack Iron BootsEscapistSavvy Attacker1 x Powerful Bludgeon2 x Reliable Mail1 x Quick Run5 x Vicious Thrust1 x Impaler1 x Obvious Maneuver1 x Walk1 x Raging Strike1 x Team Run3 x Powerful Hack2 x Nimble Strike3 x Weak Chop1 x Immovable1 x Slicer1 x Slippery1 x Elvish Insight2 x Hardy Mail1 x Blind Rage1 x Dancing Cut2 x Mail3 x Hard To Pin Down1 x Able Bludgeon Elrohir Level 1 Elf Warrior Bejeweled ShortswordDouble-edged SwordNifty HalberdGauntlets Of The GiantSlippery ShieldCrusty HelmGoat BootsEscapistSavvy Attacker1 x Hardy Mail1 x Obvious Maneuver1 x Backbiting Strike2 x Nimble Strike1 x Immovable1 x Slippery1 x Walk1 x Reliable Hide Armor1 x Slicer1 x Impaler1 x Able Bludgeon1 x Powerful Bludgeon2 x Dancing Cut2 x Reliable Mail2 x Vicious Thrust3 x Hard To Pin Down1 x Potent Stab1 x Team Run3 x Powerful Hack3 x Weak Chop1 x Dangerous Maneuver1 x Frenzy Aura1 x Weakened Armor1 x Elvish Insight2 x Impaling Stab
Sorry Rook. I don't have either of those two items. However, I did just get a Bleneth's Skull which I used to replace the Incense of the Nether Fog. So I'm thinking about switching out the Incense of the Roiled Air. Any suggestions for a good minor token divine item for this build? Do you suggest I go with more nimbuses or martyr? Or something totally different? More healing? I also took your advice about the Opaline Armor and I've swapped out my Focused Piety with Novice Piety in order to free up a major token. I'm testing this out, but currently I'm not sure if it is helping. One of my favorite tricks is to use the Bungled Heal from Opaline Armor in order to draw out blocks. And I feel like the third Altruism was necessary for decent card draw. Jealous of the St. Olf's AngryManUSA. That really allows for some nice nimbuses. If you don't like the Perfect Command, feel free to go for the Advanced Flexibility. I used to use the Advanced Flexibility on my priest, but a human with slow can just be too painful to move into battle and reduced my damage output. The Leadership was handy in many situations, but I liked the overall helpfulness of the Superb Command. Also its hard to shake the satisfaction that comes when a person quits because my priest takes out a dwarf warrior in one hit with AOA. Noob gratification, but still funny. Let me know if you're still running this and how you're doing? Lately, I've been having trouble with wizards that have a response for every move I make - literally. I'm worried about putting more movement into the build because then I don't get enough attacks. Maybe I should follow in AngryManUSA's footsteps and go with Perfect Command. What say the forums? Also, do higher up players specialize their warriors: one for mages one for tanking? I've been thinking about switching this up and seeing how that works. Any suggestions?
I went with 6 nimbuses to help counteract the low hp on elf warriors. I saw Farbs using a 2 elf warrior, 1 human priest build in a game and counted 7 nimbuses that he played. I dunno how many he runs, but i'm guessing at least 8. I don't think you can have too many with 2 elves on the team. If you're using Mail Of The Martyr now, I would recommend adding some nimbus since you have Bleneth's Skull. I don't think that more than 2 or 3 martyr blessings are needed. You could test out Burnished Plates with a Tome Of The Martyr too for 3 Martyr Blessing or keep the Mail of the Martyr and just run 2 Shielding Token or 1 with 1 Medallion Of St. Vigus. I talked to Flaxative about using Perfect Command with 2 elves. He said that he liked using it to surround people and it's great because Push effects ignore encumber. I didn't realize encumber was bypassed, and that is the main reason I have decided to keep it. Plus, Flanking Move is always helpful, so it's a human skill with 3 extremely useful cards. AoA is great when running 14 damage attacks if you don't get blocked or they don't have toughness in hand. I've had too many times when it put me at a card disadvantage though, and plus my priest isn't using big attacks. I'm going to try out The HackMaster on one elf and put an Infused Greatclub on the other one, keeping 2 step attack weapons on each one and see how that goes. If you don't have attack cards in hand, then do you like said and wait out of range until you have lethal damage. You could even save your dash from that turn rather than using it, in order to cover 8 squares next turn when you likely will have the damage you need.
AngryUSAMan, I use to run a priest that was more support. If you find that it allows your team to get beyond 1500 ranking then let me know. For my play-style, I like to be able to close in on a target relatively quick and en masse so as to scare the sh*t out of them. Usually a wizard is the best target, although not always on a map like Koi Pond, where a dwarf warrior can guard the victory point. Like you said above, one of my tactics is to save move cards for better map running on a second turn if my first turn hand is bad. I tried cards like Infused Greatclub and but it didn't work for me. My issue is that the damage isn't consistent enough for me. I use a lot of step cards to draw out blocks, even NS. The movement of my elves allows me to coordinate attacks to maim/kill one target in a single round. It's hard to do that with Bludgeon unless I have Mass Frenzy attached. I would prefer to have movement cards in order to avoid terrain attachments or to position my attack for the next round. Movement is key in this build. Which leads me to my next point: this build is something of a glass cannon build. Having the nimbuses might be a good idea for me because of this. And in fact, I bet this is what is preventing me from raising higher in the ranks. What you described so well above about changing my priest so that I can offer more Push effects However, I have such an affinity for martyr's blessing over nimbus and I would rather not take both. The reason I don't want to take both is because of the number of attachments allowed on a character. I find that the different traits in my warrior builds can be best in a situation, especially against control wizards (Slippery, Immovable). If I draw one or two of those traits, then add mass frenzy, nimbus, and martyr on top of that, one hit from a burning attack can ruin the setup. Because of this I prefer to limit my enchantments to two. This means I can have either an immovable or a slippery, a mass frenzy, and one other attachment. This is just my preference but it means that I will have to make a decision at some point between nimbus or martyr. Do other priest players find this to be true about limiting their attachments from a priest to two? Also, any feelings about specifying a warrior as you get higher: one vs wizard and one vs warrior?
Well, AngryUSAMan already spoke for me, but Perfect Command is fantastic. It's worth the token. Which doesn't mean you need to run it—there are definitely other things worth that token, too, and you need to choose—but it is seriously great. From what I understand, once you have access to [the set of broken items], you go for consistency. So you try to get as many of your characters to fulfill as many of your roles as possible in case you lose one of them. One problem with builds like my vampire build is that if you lose the frenzybot, or the vampire, you're largely gimped; high-tier players just seem to throw on as many nimble strikes, reliable mails, and blind rages as possible onto all three of their guys and hope for the best. You can definitely have too many nimbus. I am not sure 6 is too many, but it is a hard card to use well, especially against high-tier players. My frenzybot uses MF almost exclusively, but carries a couple Martyr's and one Nimbus into battle. I've never really had to worry about the # of attachments in my priest's deck because while maximizing my MF, I've basically lost room for anything else in my decklist
Maybe I'm crazy, but today I decided to try this out with zero nimbus and 3 martyr blessings along with 4 mass frenzy. This build is closer to yours, Adolf. Here's what I'm testing today: Auriel Level 17 Human Priest St. Olf's Fiery Pike Glinting Eye Hammer Mail Of The Martyr Rusty Buckler Lt. Buckwell's Boots Shuddering Relic Shuddering Relic St Ulrich's Bones Superb Command Novice Piety 1 x Healing Rays 1 x Purge 2 x Fiery Stab 3 x Parry 1 x Powerful Bash 1 x Dodge 1 x Bless 1 x Cleansing Ray 1 x Raging Strike 3 x Martyr Blessing 2 x Enervating Touch 4 x Mass Frenzy 1 x All Out Attack 2 x Stab 1 x Minor Heal 2 x Flanking Move 2 x Vulnerable 2 x Mighty Bludgeon 1 x Officer's Harness 1 x Shuffle, Team! 2 x Altruism 1 x Horned Plates Aelithiel Level 14 Elf Warrior Double-edged Sword Bejeweled Shortsword Nifty Halberd Sturdy Armor Slippery Shield Crusty Helm Goat Boots Escapist Savvy Attacker 1 x Elvish Insight 3 x Powerful Hack 2 x Impaling Stab 1 x Hardy Mail 3 x Weak Chop 1 x Immovable 1 x Impaler 1 x Team Run 1 x Reliable Hide Armor 1 x Able Bludgeon 3 x Hard To Pin Down 1 x Walk 1 x Obvious Maneuver 1 x Slippery 2 x Dancing Cut 1 x Slicer 1 x Potent Stab 1 x Backbiting Strike 2 x Vicious Thrust 1 x Weakened Armor 2 x Nimble Strike 3 x Reliable Mail 1 x Powerful Bludgeon 1 x Dangerous Maneuver Elrohir Level 3 Elf Warrior Bejeweled Shortsword Rageblood Dagger Nifty Halberd Dependable Mail Slippery Shield Crusty Helm Black Iron Boots Escapist Savvy Attacker 1 x Elvish Insight 3 x Powerful Hack 1 x Able Bludgeon 2 x Hardy Mail 3 x Weak Chop 1 x Immovable 1 x Impaler 1 x Team Run 3 x Hard To Pin Down 1 x Walk 1 x Obvious Maneuver 1 x Blind Rage 1 x Dancing Cut 1 x Quick Run 1 x Powerful Bludgeon 2 x Mail 5 x Vicious Thrust 1 x Slicer 2 x Nimble Strike 2 x Reliable Mail 1 x Raging Strike 1 x Slippery
Just curious, have y'all tried using exactly the same build, except with dwarf warriors and, say, Solid Rock or Raging Rock? You have enough step attacks and team moves that the racial move shouldn't be too important, and dwarves are strictly better than elves at brawling. Also, y'all have basically reinvented the impenetrable elves build, which I've ignored lately due to lots of high-damage warriors floating around. Do let us know if y'all break 1500. (I wasn't able to when I gave it a shot a couple months ago.)
Good to know Flaxative. Thanks for your post. Your point about specialization is not lost on me. Once one of your specialists goes down, you can easily be screwed. This is another reason why I don't follow in AngryUSAMan's footsteps and turn my priest into a complete support role. I much prefer having my priest have damage and has actually one me some games. I haven't tried the same build but with dwarves. I probably will at some point neoncat, but part of my reason for this build is my current love affair with elves. The dwarves might be what gets me to the top ranks, but I'll probably prefer to play elves. Good food for thought though. If anyone tries a build like this with dwarves, let me know how it goes. I find it unfair to call a team with the same make-up a reinvention. When I look at that build, I tend to see remarkable differences. However, I totally acknowledge I'm not the first person to post a build and that I might be a little defensive since this build is my 'baby.' Lastly, I'll just remind people that this build is not only about trying to show a "new" build, but more importantly a build that people can make without all the epics and legendaries. Thanks for all the replies. Let's keep it going!
How's this build going for you AngryUSAMan? Are you enjoying it more? One thing I tried to point out earlier is that this build really hones your positioning skills and makes you aware of how many movement cards you have in hand at all times. Maybe that is something everyone does, but this build really strengthened those skills for me.
Merely pointing out some relevant archaeology for the young'uns, so that y'all can draw from a broader pool of experience...
Haha. Well I appreciate it neoncat. Its nice to have someone as old as you point out all the links I haven't seen. I guess the first thing I have to find out is if the impenetrable elves had trouble with CW and how to apply that to my build.