Hi folks!Another card check article. This time I want to share my thoughts about an old time favorite. In the past couple of tournaments I've seen many decks that use untapping cards like Freak Drive, Majesty, Second: Tradition, Sense the Savage Way, etc.
With all these untapping effects being around I once more realized how strong this card can be. Actually I played an imbued deck in a casual game last year that packed 3 copies of Vampiric disease. Now I tend towards building an imbued deck that uses some more, like 6-7 of them. Once the disease has spread the overall blood level on vampires will be pretty low, so the imbued will be real combat monsters (Strike with Conviction, Target Vitals and equipments).
It's pretty obvious how effective the disease is when we look at some examples:
1. Dominate Brujah
Let's say Donal shows up and gets a disease. A mandatory Govern the Unaligned will cost a blood + 1 for the untap. A turn later if he took any actions and wants to block with a Second Tradition that will cost him 1+1 again. So this is already 4 blood! 50% of his capacity.
2. Dominate / Fortitude
A common deck type to see at tournaments. Freak Drive will cost 2 blood. Govern basically the the same. Since Conditioning and Deflection also costs blood, the disease will drain of the vampire very fast.
3. Rutor's Hand?
Get the hand for 4 blood + 1 to untap next turn. No each time you want to use the hand to untap that will cost a blood...
4. Weenie Presence tap and bleed
Imagine 3-5 caps playing Majesty for 2 blood all the time. 'Nough said.
Of course not only the imbued can make use of the disease. It might seem a little risky, but Howler and friends could add some copies as well. Normally you won't get the disease since you can out-maneuver almost everything and throw in a couple of Terror Frenzy to be extra save. Also a one star deck built around Cailean could use a few copies. I really should stop talking about Vampiric Disease being a great card, instead I just should build the deck a win with it. A plan for the future...
by: Mephistopheles
I also like the way it really messes with an Infernal deck; a tapped Infernal vampire with 1 blood and a disease counter will cost its controller two turns and two pool before it's back online.
ReplyDeleteIn general, Vampiric Disease isn't a lock, but it is a good way to get a vampire to zero or one blood. Once it gets down that low, it is pretty easy to get rid of the counters - playing Freak Drive or Second Tradition with your last blood will do it, even.
Thus, I think it's best when coupled with a way to exploit a vampire in this state. Something like Temptation, Form of Corruption, Horseshoes, Sleep of Reason, Fantasy World.... Ossian and Muddles can help out too.
Also: it's clarified in the recent rulings around Vampiric Disease that, if combat ends before range is chosen, the disease will not spread. So a Vampiric Disease deck can escape the curse by using before-range combat ends effects like Mariel, Lady Thunder, Alpha Glint, or Illusions of the Kindred.
ReplyDeleteOr you an just avoid combat altogether. Stone Travel, Obedience, Faerie Wards, and Mirror Walk are all options here.
Since it's expected that vampires will be on low blood, that also makes effects that deal damage before range are really useful, as they could be used to end combat and thus avoid the risk of gaining a counter. Stuff like Weather Control, Alejandro Aguirre's special, and Outside the Hourglass might be particularly handy.
Taunt the Caged Beast is a fun way to spread the disease.
Vampiric Disease isn't a lock in most cases, but on a vampire who's a Perfectionist, it can create a hunt loop. Which is pretty funny.
Thanks finbury for sharing your thoughts. I agree with all you said. However I must add that I never intended to use Vampiric Disease as a lockdown. Like you said it yourself: it helps getting the vamps down to 0 or 1 blood pretty fast. This will help me to make my combat more effective. An imbued can torporize a vampire with a strike with conviction, or just a sniper rifle. Howler has a built in maneuver so all I need to play is a carrion crow to torporize the opposing vampire. Same for Cailean. That's the point: you need less resources, which will be more effective.
ReplyDeleteI plan to build a deck with Blackmail, Disease and Blood Clots. :)
ReplyDeleteOnce i play D. with Consignment to Duat. It was nasty. :)
And also play some good game with D.+Lunatic Eruption+Frenzy, and another silly one Weather Controll+Theft of Vitae+Seeds of Corruption.
I like this card. :)
Some time ago one of our players had a really nssty, Grinder-style deck with Vampiric Disease and Deer Rifles (to stay away from the infected!). Simple, but effective.
ReplyDelete