Too Big to Fail - Hercules the Sinecure

This looks like a ton of fun! I really like the idea of using Powerful Punch against the hydra. Nice build!

BUT DOES IT BEAT RONAN THOUGH

I love Wild Tutor! So glad you made more decks.

Teasing aside, how were you using Jarvis? For +2 rec, the status discard or both?

Im a sucker for CoF decks, looks awesome!

@boomguy

lol. But,Yes. Beat Expert Ronan in 4 turns. No problem.

@InigoMontoya Wild Tutor. You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. Heh.

I’ve been using Jarvis for both. He does double duty. And, definitely the worst card in the deck. And could be endurance or angels aerie or any number of things. But he works for the purpose of healing quickly and supporting other players and since he’s new he’s a fun add here. He doesn’t hurt the deck so why not.

@Castlefrank47 CoF is more for multiplayer in practice. Most solo games end quickly. But I am a sucker for bonus cards. And Herc can trigger it very easily here.

@Astrodar thanks! Yes powerful punch is SO GOOD for him. Does double duty to finish labors and helps you just taunt or defend yourself to a dead villain.

I haven't played Herc yet but this looks incredibly powerful. Love the addition of Cuts Both Ways, insane retaliate!

I tried this in true solo and it wasn't performing all that well. I guess it's designed as more of a multiplayer thing? Herc struggles with managing threat and this deck doesn't really help him do that any better, plus sometimes I was just taking way too much damage in a single round. But I really like the general idea of this deck. Powerful Punch and Taunt are such fun cards for Hercules! So I modified this a bit: Cuts Both Ways got the cut, Helicarrier was replaced with Quincarrier, I added more allies (most of them with 2 thwart), slapped a Defensive Energy and an Endurance in there, and it massively improved this deck's performance in true solo (I know, allies are good, what a shocker lol). I wasn't super sold on Hercules after trying him in Leadership and Aggression but I actually really like him in Protection now. And that's all thanks to this deck being the inspiration. So thank you for publishing this list, it really changed my perspective of Hercules!

@TrueMoominMC

Thanks for the share. I will say that this deck is intended and tested as solo and multiplayer, but I agree if going true solo you can certainly make some changes to adapt to your playstyle.

I think it’s fantastic for players to play published decks and see what works for them and what doesn’t and find the changes that speak to them best. I thank you tremendously for giving it a chance and finding ideas that work for you. Endurance and quincarrier are examples of good sideboard cards I have used and recommend for solo play. Good shouts.

For solo players in general some tips on how I approach this deck in solo. I’ve had no problem with solo games, having tested against expert Ronan and Magneto as noted above as well as since playing against expert Venom Goblin. All of which I found the deck performed well against.

The deck’s central design is to get all the labors complete in 3 turns or less (completing a labor in the villain phase is quite possible). But, you have to pace it so that the labors are completed at a moment when the extra turn you get is optimized for success. It’s in that extra turn where a lot of the work in maintaining threat and the board come in. But also, you are playing a very fast: ignoring a lot of the setup cards early and focusing on the events. Once you have 2-3 labors the amount of readies and lion stat buff and Athena take care of threat no problem.

The other key piece is to Taunt as much as possible. How does one stay alive when getting hit by full blast Ronan? Defend. You often have 3-5 effective defense, indomitable or other readies at hand and the upside of drawing into the thing you need to answer the scenario in solo far outweighs HP. Hitpoints are resource to be used to the fullest. The free flip and ready from completing a labor also allows a quick top off of health.

On top of all this I suggest a fast playstyle if using the deck for solo. The game should be over by the 5th turn at the latest. One of the biggest advantages I’ve found with this deck is that the villain can’t scheme when they are dead.

But, I also recognize that rush isn’t for everyone. And when that comes up. Please make the changes you need to play at your pace and comfort level as well as playstyle. I really appreciate the suggestions made in @truemoominMC comment. Great suggestions for people that want to play solo with a more comfortable pace for them.

@VJakson Thank you so much for the tips for solo! That is a super insightful breakdown of what this deck actually wants to do. I was definitely not trying to rush the villain at all, did not seem like the obvious way to play this list. Very interesting. And you correctly identified that I don't really enjoy rushing in this game in general, I'm definitely a build out player. Happy to learn that both ways can get the job done here. Cheers!

Thanks! It’s my hope that each deck is a starting place for people to find something that works for them.

I try to post tested decks that have a plan or theme. But no deck is “the deck” and each player is going to have ways that they can find what works for them.

I have a lot of fun playing other people’s decks and finding how they work best for me.

I’m grateful it worked for you that way and am Happy it helped find a way to enjoy the fun character that is Herc!

What's the combo where you are clearing all 3 labors in 2 turns? You mentioned it's possible to clear all 3 in 3 turns or less

I guess that somehow it involves taunt for extra attacks of the villain, allowing you to leave it ready to clear in the villain phase. Powerful punch also lets you kill the hydra in the villain phase, which really helps in the tempo. I haven't played Hercules in protection but it seems so plausible to me.

@3t1j4

Yes as whhehe said, Hercules can only complete 1 Labor a phase. But, since taunt allows you to remove protect humanity labors in the player phase, you often complete that one in the villain phase and with the extra cards going into the next phase, you are often set up to clear the next one right away. This also allows you to get the flip to AE in the villain phase so you can get a labor out at the start of teh turn and flip up.

Also, yes Powerful punch allows you to do the same thing by defeating the hydra in the villain phase. So often, I will get the labor that brings out the minion, being able to soften them up with attacks in the hero phase and defeat them in the villain phase.

This looks like a great deck. Going to try it out though I might replace Cuts both ways with side step just for the extra survivability since I play mostly 2 handed.

@Vincentdante

Cuts both ways is one of the key cards to allow you to defend for Defend Himanity or if a minion comes in and is attacking Cho. Cuts pulls attacks by making you the defender. Side step won’t pull attacks to you.

I honestly haven’t had any issues with survivability. Playing taunt into the likes of expert ronan and magneto over and over when wasn't much of an issue. The key is to use your basic defense and readies when you need to.

If you try it and are not anting extra defense. I suggest not side step but something that makes you a defender. Perhaps I can do this all day.

I didn’t do a perfect job explaining the reasons for the defense cards here. One key part of this deck is to pull attacks to Hercules that would go to his Allies at all player counts. But also cards that make him the defender even when he is exhausted. Additionally cuts both ways a powerful punch help trigger change of fortune and make unflappable when minions are around to not only protect Cho but deal just as much or more damage than attacking.

What’s more they serve to trigger indomitable as does his helm. So you can for example play taunt while you are exhausted and use these cards to ready while doing bid damage with these cards and his gauntlets with retaliate and then draw into more cards.

Do not be shy about basic defense or recovery. These are excellent tools for him and between his late game overkill healing and just the mountain of health pool and card draw you have, it will not be an issue.

Actually I misread Side Step when I previously commented and thought it had a similar function of not needing to tap, that's my bad, I will add cuts both ways after all. Looking forward to trying it out.

Am I right in thinking that cuts both ways won't hurt the hydra because it isn't an attack?

@TheAdipose you are correct. Powerful punch is great hydra tech. Cuts is ideal for pulling attacks for protect humanity and to also pull attacks off Cho from minions without exhausting. It’s great to get change of fortune too. It also is great off taunt to trigger readies from indomitable, it triggers electrostatic even if you play taunt while already exhausted. I will often play taunt 2-3 times a turn and it’s one of the nice techs to ensure you get those defend triggers and readies.

I’ve been really enjoying this mate, well done. I’ve played around with a few of the cards. The only ones I think definitely improve the deck is one copy of face the past, and hidden base which works brilliantly with the free flip down and the taunts. You were right that you can effectively "rush" the labors. The hydra is often the hardest one due to the heal. I haven't used the cuts both ways much so I might see if there's a replacement with a fist resource (or other cards with fist) that can help make the hydra fight more consistent.

Armoured vest/and the new+3 hp one also work well but not sure what to cut to get them in....