Pacta Arcana - The Double Agent

Welcome to the eleventh edition of Pacta Arcana, in which we will explore the depths of deckbuilding with multiple factions in the Call of Cthulhu LCG. In each article of this series we will be looking at combining two factions (sometimes more) together to form a cohesive deck around a particular theme, combo, or strategy. This weeks brings another exclusive spoiler from the upcoming deluxe expansion, Denizens of the Underworld, which will be available late this year!

Last time on Pacta Arcana, Midian took us on a bender at the Cuckoo-Cabana, and it’s probably for the best for the sake of out sanity that memories of that place are a little hazy. Syndicate and Hastur are truly frightening. What’s important is we came through with all of our important bits. This week, we find that on the other side of town at the precinct, members of the Agency are going deep undercover to investigate troubling rumors of a strange unnatural gatherings in the dark woods surrounding town. What they don’t know is that detective Savio Corvi (TiV) is undercover himself, inciting fear of inaction among his fellow detectives to pursue the dangerous cult. Perhaps leading the detectives further Into The Woods (LR) is exactly what he wants… but to what dark purpose?

Agency and Shub-Niggurath

First, let’s look at the card, and then we’ll delve into the deck.

This Agency event is a tactic, which we know from the recent article from FFG, is a featured event sub-type in the upcoming Denizens of the Underworld. Unfortunately, that specific part of the effect is neither reliable, nor particularly powerful outside of some random chance synergy with traits, and honestly there isn’t a lot trait-synergy in the game at this point. What’s really the good part is granting Invulnerability and Willpower to any character you want. This can provide additional protection to a character without terror or willpower to begin with, or lets you take to stories characters that you would normally lose due to terror and combat, for surprise effect. So far, the only event we’ve had that has granted Invulnerability at that price point has been Brazier Enchantment (TOotST), which carries a pretty hefty steadfast requirement, was for Silver Twilight characters only, and hence has never seen much play. Additionally, Deep Undercover is the first event that has granted willpower.

So an event that lets a single character cruise through terror and combat struggles unscathed...sounds perfect for a rush deck. An investigator deck with Agency and Miskatonic University would love this card, letting a fragile character with arcane/investigation go alone at a story and protecting him. Alternatively, this could provide additional protection for a deck that has a linchpin character - one that the deck centers on - as critical for it’s strategy. Normally, I wouldn’t recommend this sort of deckbuilding, since characters are nothing if not ephemeral in this game, however, if a character is not necessarily critical, but merely providing some sort of buff to shore up a weakness, then I can get behind that.

So while this event can have it’s uses, particularly in a investigator faction rush deck, I don’t think it fits into our deck this week as more than a thematic tie-in, especially since it would be impossible to play under ideal circumstances (such as when it's night with Night-shift Security (TH) in play). But without further ado, let’s get into the deck.

What do I get out of this deal?
This is a hard pact to make simply because Agency is the faction that least likes working with Eldritch factions. Most all of Agency’s good characters are Heroic; likewise, many of Shub’s good characters are Villainous, including the corpulent beauty, Y'Golonac (Core), and Corrupted Midwife (ER). The reason to run Savio Corvi is to give all of your characters and Fast. Terror, for the most part, gives protection to most effects that would drive a character insane. And since all the Agency heroes have willpower, this would be redundant. Agency provides a lot of combat firepower, as well as access to investigation icons, which Shub is typically lacking. Combined, they create an overwhelming board presence, and pack an impressive punch in 3 of the 4 struggles. It’s too bad that ignoring arcane struggles currently will result in an automatic loss against a deck like Yithian mill; however, the deck still packs some answers to this in Shotgun Blast, Behind Bars, Burrowing Beneath, and Into the Woods as well (by providing an additional combat struggle so that Master of the Myths can’t commit.)

The other interesting theme that comes out in the Agency/Shub pact is Night. A very interesting sleeper card is Night-shift Security, an often overlooked card simply because of the conditional "When it is Night" ability. However, the ability is very, very good, and shuts down a lot of targeted destruction and wounding that is rampant in the environment. (This incidentally, is why we aren't playing Deep Undercover in our deck, since Night-shift Security prevents all players from targeting each character you control.)

Key Cards:

• Savio Corvi (TiV) - He makes all your characters powerhouses. Terror basically grants immunity to insanity, and fast is like giving an additional of each icon a character already has.
• Shocking Transformation (Core) - Our restricted card, this is perfect for pulling Savio, Amaranth, Hungry Dark Young, or Grasping Cthonian. It's a great toolbox card for whatever we need at the moment to smooth out the deck.
• Book of Iod (ER) - This is one of the most efficient draw cards in the game, nevermind that it discards a card to do so. The discard is where we want out cheap characters to fish out through recursion effects.
• Into The Woods (LR) and
  Dreamlands Conspriacy (CoC) [sic]- Our two conspiracies, the will ensure that Savio Corvi is active, but also provide the overall strategy of the deck by fishing out and recurring characters to constantly control the board.

Thoughts on Gameplay:
The idea of the deck is to get Savio Corvi into play as quickly as possible, protect him, turn on his ability, and then watch as your opponent cannot commit to any of your stories without massive casualties. Teodor Corvin, Agency Bodyguard, Abhorrent Spore, and Night-shift Security are all there to protect Corvi. Ol’ Lazy Eyes, Amaranth, and The Setting Sun are there to ensure he’s always active.

The overall strategy is that you want to get Into the Woods out as fast as possible either using Ol’ Lazy Eyes to both turn on Savio Corvi, and use the story effect to bring out at least 2 characters for free. Putting cheap characters in your discard pile though Book of Iod, Elena Belskaya, and Shocking Transformation will set them up to be recurred with Hungry Dark Young, and a late game Dreamlands Conspiracy. By then you should have enough board control to easy win your third story.

In terms of resourcing, you probably want to go to 3-1-1 as quickly as possible to get Savio Corvi into play. On turn 3, you can go to 3-2-1 and stay there until you happen to have Y’Golonac. You really want to save all your cards to use for pushing through wins at your conspiracies.

The Deck:

Total Cards: (50)

Character: (31)
3x Savio Corvi (TiV)
2x Jenica Capra (LR)
2x Baleful Reveler (TiV)
2x Night-shift Security (TH)
2x Agency Bodyguard (JtUK)
1x Amaranth (SoK)
3x Hungry Dark Young (Core)
3x Twilight Cannibal (TH)
3x Grasping Chthonian (IotF)
2x Y'Golonac (Core)
1x Corrupted Midwife (ER)
2x Ol' Lazy Eyes (CoC)
2x Elena Belskaia (TbtA)
2x Teodor Corvin (***)
1x Black Dog (***)

Support: (6)
2x Abhorrent Spore (LR)
2x Book of Iod (ER)
2x The Setting Sun (TH)

Event: (11)
3x Behind Bars (SotD)
3x Shotgun Blast (Core)
3x Shocking Transformation (Core)
2x Burrowing Beneath (Core)

Conspiracy: (2)
1x Into The Woods (LR)
1x Dreamlands Conspriacy (CoC)


A few notes on the deck:

• A deck built around Day will give this deck trouble some trouble, since it’s possible a Day card can take out Savio Corvi. Interestingly, Abhorrent Spore can be sacked to save him from the destruction effect, resulting in that strange situation where it’s both Day and Night at the same time!
• If you are playing against a Day deck, try to rely on Setting sun to make it night, and delay using your conspiracies so that Corvi isn’t taken out that way and your opponent gets an easy 3 for 1. Use your other would-canceling for Corvi.
• Save Burrowing Beneath and Grasping Chthonian for those time you really need it, such as when you are about to win a conspiracy and need Snow Graves taken out, or if you really need to use Shocking Transformation to bring out another copy of Corvi, or if that Flux Stabilizer is giving you a twitch.
• Don’t get greedy. While you should have the advantage with terror and combat early game, and should be able to apply pressure with investigation, the long game favors you after you trigger some of your recursion effects. Play a defensive game early to ensure your opponent doesn’t sneak through any surprise stories, and don’t overexpose yourself by overcommitting on offense.

Thanks for reading, and a special thank you to Wildefox and Midian for helping out with the article. I hope you have enjoyed their contributions as much as I did! See you next time for another edition of Pacta Arcana.

Any feedback, suggestions, or comments are welcome.

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Danigral started hoarding Call of Cthulhu the same time as A Game of Thrones. While he’s played AGoT more competitively, he’s harbored a secret love for CoC and has played it casually and competitively for over 2 years. Initially drawn into the game through a fascination with Lovecraft’s mythos, he fell in love with the innovative mechanics and engaging gameplay CoC offers. And he wants to convert you. Cthulhu Fhtagn!