by Shadrach
topdeckgames wrote:
I originally thought the wands were fairly fragile, because they couldn't be protected. BUT, last weekend, after a better reading of the cards, I realized a Nullify or Reverse Magic would protect the wand, since the mage is targeted by a Dissolve or Explode. Now with Lightning Bolt(think I have the name right), the only 0-3 range attack spell, the mage can call in air strikes from 3 zones away. The only way to kill it is with another mage(or that incanting bird.)
So, how can the wand be defeated if the mage has a few protection spells? My opponent pointed out that the costs for non-Wizards is high, but I don't think enough to thwart their use. One way is to cast a nullify on the target. That would cause the Lightning Bolt spell to be discarded from the wand, allowing another to be attached.
Any other ideas to break the wand?
So, how can the wand be defeated if the mage has a few protection spells? My opponent pointed out that the costs for non-Wizards is high, but I don't think enough to thwart their use. One way is to cast a nullify on the target. That would cause the Lightning Bolt spell to be discarded from the wand, allowing another to be attached.
Any other ideas to break the wand?
Thunderbolt is 10 mana for a 6 die range 3 full action attack. At it's fullest extent it's got utility, but really it's ONLY good in that instance. Otherwise it's expensive, and extremely limiting for not THAT much damage. If my opponent is going to spend his entire channeling(10 is about right, give or take add ons) throwing a 6 die blast my way, I'll GLADLY take it on the chin a few times while sending hordes across the field to eat his head. The thing to really remember about Mage wars is efficiency is vital to any mage. Thunderbolt is situationally useful, but it is FAR from efficient.
Much more disruptive is Sleep in a Wand. Sleep is Mana efficient, cripples enemies small and large alike, and as of yet(I expect this to change with expansions) is hard to counteract once it has been used.
The Solution to a sleep wand is of course seeking dispel+dissolve, or the inclusion of a few psychic immune critters in your tome which you can buff, or a magebane on the mage in question. The Warlock can overcome it with a sneaky application of Maim Wings and Moloch's Amulet. Throw Maim wings on your own creature(flying or not) then you can ping it for 1 every upkeep to wake it up. If it dies, You get maim wings back and can do this for another critter.