No Disintegrations - Gencon Deck Preparation

Welcome back to this week’s No Disintegrations. With all the excitement this week with Gencon, the OCTGN Tournament Top 16, and the new Force Pack, I thought it might be good to do a breakdown of some of the top decks going into the coming week. Ever since EoD was released decks have constantly been changing and shifting. Currently we have a very diverse and what I consider to be a healthy game environment where no single deck is unstoppable and there are several viable decks for either faction. Today we are going to take a quick look at what could be the top three decks for both Light Side and Dark Side. Only time will tell if my predictions are at all accurate, but after some solid testing over the past few weeks I am fairly certain that if nothing else these decks will be the inspirations behind quite a few decks at Nationals.

The first deck we are going to take a quick look at was originally posted by RedSquadronK, his version ran Col Serra instead of Renegade Squadron Mobilization. While Col Serra is a very solid unit and his objective set isn’t bad, I think the uses of Echo Caverns and the added tactics icons from Renegade Squadron add more to the deck as a whole. This deck reminds me a lot of previous Rebel decks (I’m looking at you Untouchables) as it requires a few key cards to really work correctly. Overall I think this is a solid deck, but the weakest of the three Light Side decks we are going over today.

Smugglers Sprint:
Affiliation:
Rebel Alliance (Core)

Total Objective Sets: (10)

2x The Defense of Yavin 4 (Core)
Red Two (Core)
Y-Wing (Core)
Astromech Droid Upgrade (Core)
Hidden Outpost (Core)
Rebel Assault (Core)

2x Questionable Contacts (Core)
Han Solo (Core)
Twi'lek Smuggler (Core)
Cloud City Casino (Core)
Swindled (Core)
Crossfire (Core)

2x Renegade Squadron Mobilization (The Search For Skywalker)
Renegade Squadron (The Search For Skywalker)
Renegade Squadron Operative (The Search For Skywalker)
Munitions Expert (The Search For Skywalker)
Echo Caverns (The Search For Skywalker)
Target of Opportunity (The Search For Skywalker)

2x Raise the Stakes (Edge of Darkness)
Blockade Runner (Edge of Darkness)
Cloud City Operative (Edge of Darkness)
Bothan Spy (Edge of Darkness)
Smuggling Compartment (Edge of Darkness)
Swindled (Edge of Darkness)

2x Across the Anoat Sector (Edge of Darkness)
Sleuth Scout (Edge of Darkness)
Sleuth Scout (Edge of Darkness)
Undercover Operative (Edge of Darkness)
Smuggler's Run (Edge of Darkness)
Over My Dead Body (Edge of Darkness)

Strengths:
- Blast damage
- Speed
- Counters large defending units

Weaknesses:
- Survivability
- Consistency
- Unit Damage


The second deck we have is the logical progression of the current Jedi decks. You basically keep the defensive core of the deck with all of its shenanigans, and add in the ever abused Millennium Falcon and Chewbacca. You also gain a core set of tricks including Swindled, Let the Wookiee Win, and Bamboozle to give you the edge in most matchups. The deck shines against pretty much anything you can throw against it and is very resilient because of the large number of possible defenders. On the whole though it is a bit slower than other Light Side decks and requires a bit of setup before it can start swinging for the fences.

Jedi Smuggling:
Affiliation:
Jedi (Core)

Total Objective Sets: (10)

2x A Hero's Journey (Core)
Luke Skywalker (Core)
Twi'lek Loyalist (Core)
Jedi Lightsaber (Core)
Trust Your Feelings (Core)
Dagobah Training Grounds (Core)

2x The Secret of Yavin 4 (Core)
C-3PO (Core)
Guardian of Peace (Core)
Guardian of Peace (Core)
Lightsaber Deflection (Core)
Twist of Fate (Core)

2x Questionable Contacts (Core)
Han Solo (Core)
Twi'lek Smuggler (Core)
Cloud City Casino (Core)
Swindled (Core)
Crossfire (Core)

2x Wookiee Life Debt (Edge of Darkness)
Chewbacca (Edge of Darkness)
Wookiee Warrior (Edge of Darkness)
Wookiee Warrior (Edge of Darkness)
Let the Wookiee Win (Edge of Darkness)
Heat of Battle (Edge of Darkness)

2x Asteroid Sanctuary (Edge of Darkness)
Millennium Falcon (Edge of Darkness)
Cloud City Operative (Edge of Darkness)
Cloud City Guest Quarters (Edge of Darkness)
Bamboozle (Edge of Darkness)
Twist of Fate (Edge of Darkness)

Strengths:
- Survivability
- Consistency
- Unit Damage

Weaknesses:
- Blast Damage
- Speed


Of all the Light Side decks we have gone over today, this is probably my favorite. Not because it is the “best” but because it feels like the old Sith Control decks did; like a toolbox. While playing the deck it feels like you have answers for most anything that Dark Side can throw at you. It runs the big three (Han, Chewy, Falcon) as well as everyone’s favorite smooth talker Lando Calrissian whose tricks and uses should never be underestimated. There are so many useful tricks and counters in the deck that it really does a good job being an all around useful deck. The inclusion of Across the Anoat Sector gives all of your Smuggler units that little extra punch they need to take out objectives, and the Sleuth Scout is pretty terrifying for a little two cost unit.

Smugglers Trio:
Affiliation:
Smugglers and Spies (Core)

Total Objective Sets: (10)

2x Questionable Contacts (Core)
Han Solo (Core)
Twi'lek Smuggler (Core)
Cloud City Casino (Core)
Swindled (Core)
Crossfire (Core)

2x Wookiee Life Debt (Edge of Darkness)
Chewbacca (Edge of Darkness)
Wookiee Warrior (Edge of Darkness)
Wookiee Warrior (Edge of Darkness)
Let the Wookiee Win (Edge of Darkness)
Heat of Battle (Edge of Darkness)

2x Trust Me (Edge of Darkness)
Lando Calrissian (Edge of Darkness)
Saboteur (Edge of Darkness)
Cloud City Casino (Edge of Darkness)
Sabotage (Edge of Darkness)
Target of Opportunity (Edge of Darkness)

2x Asteroid Sanctuary (Edge of Darkness)
Millennium Falcon (Edge of Darkness)
Cloud City Operative (Edge of Darkness)
Cloud City Guest Quarters (Edge of Darkness)
Bamboozle (Edge of Darkness)
Twist of Fate (Edge of Darkness)

2x Across the Anoat Sector (Edge of Darkness)
Sleuth Scout (Edge of Darkness)
Sleuth Scout (Edge of Darkness)
Undercover Operative (Edge of Darkness)
Smuggler's Run (Edge of Darkness)
Over My Dead Body (Edge of Darkness)

Strengths:
- Survivability
- Consistency
- Blast Damage
- Adaptability
- Unit Damage

Weaknesses:
- Tactics Icons
- Capture/Discard


Enough with those dirty stinking Scoundrels, what about some Dark Side decks? Never fear, there are some very formidable Dark Side decks floating around. The first is an updated version of Sith Control brought to us by Mr. 19 Points himself; dbmeboy (red5ccg)! It is actually a very close adherence to the Sith Control decks of old; by old I mean like 3 weeks ago, in that it still keeps the Vader/Palpy/Counsel core and just adds in four other objective sets to compliment these. Trandoshan Terror works wonders in this deck for two reasons. First it comes with a total of four two-cost units and second those units can help deal with the Wookiee infestation. The key currently to combating most Light Side decks is figuring out a way to deal with Sleuth Scouts and Wookiees and Sith Control does that very well. The current version of the deck runs one Reconnaissance Mission and one Cruel Interrogations, though either of these can be switched around to suit personal preference. Also keep in mind that Vader and Palpatine can be used very offensively in the current environment.

Sith Control v2.0:
Affiliation:
Sith (Core)

Total Objective Sets: (10)

2x Fall of the Jedi (Core)
Darth Vader (Core)
Dark Side Apprentice (Core)
Vader's Lightsaber (Core)
Force Choke (Core)
Heat of Battle (Core)

2x Counsel of the Sith (Core)
Advisor to the Emperor (Core)
Kuati Security Team (Core)
Sith Library (Core)
Dark Precognition (Core)
Twist of Fate (Core)

2x The Emperor's Web (Core)
Emperor Palpatine (Core)
Emperor's Royal Guard (Core)
Sith Library (Core)
Force Lightning (Core)
Force Choke (Core)

1x Cruel Interrogations (Core)
Interrogation Droid (Core)
Interrogation Droid (Core)
ISB Interrogators (Core)
Intimidated (Core)
Interrogation (Core)

1x Reconnaissance Mission (Core)
Human Replica Droid (Core)
Human Replica Droid (Core)
Heat of Battle (Core)
Target of Opportunity (Core)
Twist of Fate (Core)

2x Trandoshan Terror (Edge of Darkness)
Bossk (Edge of Darkness)
Trandoshan Hunter (Edge of Darkness)
Trandoshan Hunter (Edge of Darkness)
Bounty (Edge of Darkness)
Heat of Battle (Edge of Darkness)

Strengths:
- Survivability
- Consistency
- Adaptability
- Unit Damage

Weaknesses:
- Swindled
- Rebel Assault/Targeted Strike
- Blast Damage

Next up is a Tiny Grimes special (I think I got the deck correct) which he has been playing on his stream for the past few weeks with some pretty good success. The deck is a bit more complicated to play than your typical Sith Control deck as it has quite a few more options and tricks which is a really good thing; however it gains this by losing a bit of protection against Sleuth Scout which is a fear for every Dark Side deck right now. You also gain two of the best cards in Scum decks right now Spice Visions and Krayt Dragon, both of which can be absolute game changers.

Scum Control:
Affiliation:
Scum and Villainy (Core)

Total Objective Sets: (10)

2x Fall of the Jedi (Core)
Darth Vader (Core)
Dark Side Apprentice (Core)
Vader's Lightsaber (Core)
Force Choke (Core)
Heat of Battle (Core)

2x Counsel of the Sith (Core)
Advisor to the Emperor (Core)
Kuati Security Team (Core)
Sith Library (Core)
Dark Precognition (Core)
Twist of Fate (Core)

2x The Emperor's Web (Core)
Emperor Palpatine (Core)
Emperor's Royal Guard (Core)
Sith Library (Core)
Force Lightning (Core)
Force Choke (Core)

1x Hive of Scum and Villainy (Edge of Darkness)
Greedo (Edge of Darkness)
Paid Informant (Edge of Darkness)
Paid Informant (Edge of Darkness)
Bounty (Edge of Darkness)
Captured (Edge of Darkness)

1x Jabba's Reach (Edge of Darkness)
Jabba the Hutt (Edge of Darkness)
Jabba's Pleasure Barge (Edge of Darkness)
Gamorrean Guard (Edge of Darkness)
Prized Possession (Edge of Darkness)
Reversal of Fate (Edge of Darkness)

2x Feeding the Pit (Edge of Darkness)
Bib Fortuna (Edge of Darkness)
Krayt Dragon (Edge of Darkness)
Gamorrean Guard (Edge of Darkness)
Spice Visions (Edge of Darkness)
The Almighty Sarlacc (Edge of Darkness)

Strengths:
- Survivability
- Consistency
- Adaptability
- Blast Damage

Weaknesses:
- Swindled
- Rebel Assault/Targeted Strike
- Sleuth Scouts

So the last deck is something that I haven’t actually seen get much play but I think it has an outside chance of being not terrible. It is actually a very oddly fun deck to play, that has some quirky draws and rather.... unique plays to it. I touched on it briefly in my last article and have since done a bit of refining to a few of its ideas. Backstabber is an odd addition I have been trying over Defense Protocol; the ability to use Backstabber against some of the “unblockable” units can come in handy. I wish there was a way to recycle it back to hand to make it a bit more viable, but overall it has worked decently well in testing. Overall the deck is VERY rough and has quite a few issues, but I think there may be something that could come of it...

Tusken Aggression:
Affiliation:
Imperial Navy (Core)

Total Objective Sets: (10)

2x Imperial Command (Core)
Admiral Motti (Core)
Duty Officer (Core)
Heavy Stormtrooper Squad (Core)
Heavy Stormtrooper Squad (Core)
Orbital Bombardment (Core)

2x Kuat Reinforcements (Core)
"Backstabber" (Core)
TIE Fighter (Core)
TIE Bomber (Core)
Tallon Roll (Core)
Death from Above (Core)

1x Deploy the Fleet (The Search For Skywalker)
Death Squadron Star Destroyer (The Search For Skywalker)
Death Squadron Star Destroyer (The Search For Skywalker)
Fleet Navigator (The Search For Skywalker)
Death Squadron Command (The Search For Skywalker)
Admiral's Orders (The Search For Skywalker)

2x A Dark Time for the Rebellion (A Dark Time)
Colonel Starck (A Dark Time)
MTV-7 (A Dark Time)
MTV-7 (A Dark Time)
The Moorsh Moraine (A Dark Time)
Heavy Fire (A Dark Time)

1x Sabotage in the Snow (Assault on Echo Base)
Snowtrooper (Assault on Echo Base)
Snowtrooper Vanguard (Assault on Echo Base)
Forward Command Post (Assault on Echo Base)
Forward Command Post (Assault on Echo Base)
Battle of Hoth (Assault on Echo Base)

2x Across the Jundland Wastes (Edge of Darkness)
Bantha (Edge of Darkness)
Tusken Raider (Edge of Darkness)
Tusken Raider (Edge of Darkness)
Tusken Raider (Edge of Darkness)
Gaffi Stick (Edge of Darkness)

Strengths:
- It doesn’t run Looking for Droids?

Weaknesses:
- Too many to list...

Thanks again for checking in for No Disintegrations this week, hopefully everyone doing to GenCon has a great time comes away with a new love for playing the Star Wars LCG. Good luck to everyone playing at GenCon and in the OCTGN Tournament, hopefully some of the deck ideas here have inspired you to go outside the box with the decks you will be running. Next time my plan is to go over a quirky Jedi deck that I have fallen in love with, but I can’t talk about it too much now in case someone decides to play it at GenCon... you know who you are. As always without each and every one of the valued members here at CardgameDB.com I would be writing to no one so I thank you for your time and may the top deck always be with you!