A free Event for Urien, which is good, but it's implications arn't huge or fantastic even with cards like Soul Seizure.

Granted for 2/6 Warlords the damage does add up.

3/5 (2.5/5 if I could have rated it that way)

It's not really free, because you could have drawn something much much more useful instead. Has its situational uses though - like VW describes best used to do damage (either directly or by pulling out shields) as is easy to mitigate if you attempt to choke with it.

Yes, its wise to name Attachment every time with this card, assuming your opponent isn't error prone.

I actually think the best time for this card is the deploy phase, as a 1 deploy delay for 0R. The attrition on the warlord does add up. You have to watch out for Iridial though, and if Iridial AND Carnath are about, you may as well hold onto this as a 1-shielder.

I have started to realy like the versatility of this card in my last games, particulalry thanks to it's 0 cost, and none of its uses included removing cards from my opponents hand.

- It's a very nice way to bloody the opponent warlord if he overextends in a fight.

- The Grotesques become a real danger, being 6 damage + 1 from the experimentation.

- It's a card that if felt useless in hand, can be used to ready the Wracks (so the card turns to a likely "deal 3 damage")

- Also, can be used like a shield or be easily discarded after a Caius Wroth effect, so it buffs a possible later Soul Seizure.

Even though it's tempting to use it in the deploy phase, I have never felt the need. I usually find a better way to use it in combat.

Has anyone tried using this during the deploy phase to make the opponent discard units instead of being able to deploy those units? It's kind of like killing people before they show up, yes?

Has anyone tried using this during the deploy phase to make the opponent discard units instead of being able to deploy those units? It's kind of like killing people before they show up, yes?

Unless I want to force damage on opponent's warlord by naming a card type not in their hand, I always name army unit when playing this card and occasionally play during deploy in order to delay a move and also to trigger crucible so I can prep my opponent's deck for the upcoming command draw.  However, in my opinion almost all players with experience playing as or against Urien will never discard an army unit, unless they have no shields in hand and their warlord was on the cusp of bloody, which likely will not be the case.  Card choke is a major threat from Urien, particularly unit choke.  Most experienced players I think play defensively against that.

I typically save these for triggering Hypex, but the Crucible prep is sometimes a necessity for retaining control.

Darikgrey, dnapolitano: Naming Army Unit does nothing except provide an additional option to your opponent.

Look at it this way:

You name Army Unit they can:

1) Take the damage

2) Shield the damage by discarding an attachment or event

3) Prevent the damage by discarding an army unit.

On the other hand, you name Attachment they can:

1) Take the damage

2) Shield the damage by discarding an attachment or event.

3) Prevent the damage by discarding an attachment.

Thus, if you name a card type that doesn't have shields on it, you're simply increasing their options.

No Mercy is the only mix up factor on this, but thats not a common include for Urien decks, in view of the surcharge.

Maybe look at it this way:

If you name "unit" or "support," your opponent ends up with the option of replacing your choice with their choice of "event" or "attachment" - assuming the card of that type they discard has a shield on it.

So if you are gunning for a particular card type, you're more likely to actually get what you ask for - effectively - if you name "attachment" or "event."

Darikgrey, dnapolitano: Naming Army Unit does nothing except provide an additional option to your opponent.

 

Look at it this way:

 

You name Army Unit they can:

1) Take the damage

2) Shield the damage by discarding an attachment or event

3) Prevent the damage by discarding an army unit.

 

On the other hand, you name Attachment they can:

1) Take the damage

2) Shield the damage by discarding an attachment or event.

3) Prevent the damage by discarding an attachment.

 

Thus, if you name a card type that doesn't have shields on it, you're simply increasing their options.

 

No Mercy is the only mix up factor on this, but thats not a common include for Urien decks, in view of the surcharge.

I look at it this way:  I want them to have the option to discard an army unit, unless the goal is to have them deal damage to their warlord, in which case I would hope to know what they have in hand (via Visions and Crucible).  If I don't know what is in hand and want to damage, I'll name attachment due to the lower frequency and reasons you express.  But typically I name army and hope they discard army.  If they don't, then they will do 1) or 2) anyway, regardless of the card I name, and I'd rather them discard a card as shield then take damage.  So, I am comfortable if they have a third option as a general rule.  

I was wondering if naming "event" is wise with this card. So many decks only put in events that they really want to use and are important to their strategy that it seems like that might be a good thing to get out of their hands.

If that's the case, your opponent is likely to damage his warlord instead.

If that's the case, your opponent is likely to damage his warlord instead.

Well, then you've forced them to make a choice about what matters more. 

Which theoretically is the whole point of the card regardless of what you named.

Naming units early will most certainly force your opponent to damage his warlord (which is normally negligible) unless he has a really expensive unit he can't play anyway.

Midgame I agree events are probably more valuable.

All in all, I still prefer to hold this one in hand to trigger other effects like that in Twisted Wracks, or spam it later into the game when the choke has been successful and I really want to damage the opposing warlord.

I really play too rarely with a friend to say whether it will work, but I would like to try something like this: Use Visions of Agony and the Experimentations to guarantee the damage, than play Colliseum Fighters to return the Experimentations and repeat. The main idea is to accumulate enough damage on the enemy Warlord and then wait to ambush him with Warpstorm for the kill. Then repeat again for the win.

Other cards for this deck are Kabalite Halfborn, Bloodied Reavers (placed at planets where you will have the initiative for additional Warlord hate) and maybe even some Cultists and Range units. Then comes the Calamity - this is the combo reset that will return the Colliseum Fighters(if they are still alive, of course) AND the Halfborn to your hand, allowing you to return your events back to hand while drawing from the Halfborn. Thus you will be able to return some of your events(even Warpstorm, maybe) while searching for the Ichor Gauntlet and potentially stall down your oponent. Maybe, just maybe, you can use Slake the Thirst in such deck as a card draw effect for yourself, to find your Tortures more quickly (but take the risk of throwing some of your key pieces in the discard).

Maybe after another card is released to supplement such strategy it may be worth considering. Experimentations!

I really play too rarely with a friend to say whether it will work, but I would like to try something like this: Use Visions of Agony and the Experimentations to guarantee the damage, than play Colliseum Fighters to return the Experimentations and repeat. The main idea is to accumulate enough damage on the enemy Warlord and then wait to ambush him with Warpstorm for the kill. Then repeat again for the win.
Other cards for this deck are Kabalite Halfborn, Bloodied Reavers (placed at planets where you will have the initiative for additional Warlord hate) and maybe even some Cultists and Range units. Then comes the Calamity - this is the combo reset that will return the Colliseum Fighters(if they are still alive, of course) AND the Halfborn to your hand, allowing you to return your events back to hand while drawing from the Halfborn. Thus you will be able to return some of your events(even Warpstorm, maybe) while searching for the Ichor Gauntlet and potentially stall down your oponent. Maybe, just maybe, you can use Slake the Thirst in such deck as a card draw effect for yourself, to find your Tortures more quickly (but take the risk of throwing some of your key pieces in the discard).
 
Maybe after another card is released to supplement such strategy it may be worth considering. Experimentations!