Step 2- Building the Winning Deck.

Building a deck isn't as easy as it sounds.
For many of the best players, deck building (some like to call it 'deck-tech') is an actual science!  There are tons of variables involved with building a sound deck:  Which cards go well with which cards?  How many of what type of card should I have in my deck?  How can I squeeze all of this into only 60 card slots!?!

I this section, I'll explain how the best deck are constructed and show you where the traps and mistakes that can befall typical deck building.    Maybe even dispell some of the common myths about the way decks are made.

A) Developing the 'Theme':

Most decks are based around a singular 'Theme'.  A theme is a general term used to describe how the works in tournament play.  Often-times you can tell a decks theme almost immediately...  Other times you won't be able to figure them out at all!

There are two main theme catagories that a deck will fall into:  Space or Ground.

A Space deck is geared to do most of it's interaction at Systems or Sector locations.  It will have only a token ground force, if at all, consisting of a few very powerful cards.  Many players prefer this type of deck because its safer, in general than it's Ground Based cousin.  You see many character weapon that are available (that work on the ground) can cause sever damage to your deck, through reducing forfiet values (Forfiet =0 type weapons, like Vader's Lightsaber).  There are no starship or space-borne weapons that can do that kind of damage.  Thus, if you incorporate ways to reduce a ground deck's Force drain advantage, you'll have a stronger chance of surviving to win the game.

Here are the more popular decks that are based on this theme:

• Hidden Base-  This very popular deck style opens with the Hidden Base/ More Systems Will Slip Through Your Fingers Objective.  It concentrates on crippling the Dark Side's ability to play be reducing his card drawing potential.  It also has a strong "built-in" Force drain reducer as well.  There are many variations to this style...  Numbers (High Destiny droids and pilots with the Effect Never Tell Me The Odds) and X-Wing Swarm (loads of non-unique X-Wings powered by the S-Foils Effect) are a couple of the more popular ones.  These decks are known to make ample use of Enhanced Premier Pack mains for quick strike ground offensives.
• TIE's-  With the introduction of the Dreadnaught Class Heavy Cruiser, TIE's of all types have gotten a new lease on life!  Many start with a strong Force drain system location (Kashyyyk is a favorite among many) or with Wakeelmui for Sienar Fleet Systems.  TIE's are generally inexpensive and have many Effects and Interrupts (Lateral Damage and Tallon Roll, to name a couple) that can give them the edge over Rebel space decks that aren't prepared for them.  As a strong ground defense, many of these decks use AT-AT walkers like Blizzard 2 and Tempest 1.

Additionally, many of these characters' powerful weapons also have benefits on the ground (a Lightsaber's Force drain +1 for example).  Another attractive aspect of ground decks is the plethora of heavy Force drain locations (Tatooine: Cantina, Endor: Back Door or Hoth: Defensive Perimeter for instance).

Here are a few ground decks that you'll likely see in today's tournament scene:

• Hunt Decks-  Powered by the Objective Hunt Down And Destroy The Jedi/ Their Fire Has Gone Out Of The Universe, Darth Vader, already a powerful Force in the game, has gotten even more dangerous.  These decks require Vader to occupy a battleground site for their benefits to take hold.  The Force lose from Visage Of The Emperor and the inability for the Light Side to use Sense or Alter takes it's toll relatively quickly.  This forces a confrontation on the Dark Side's terms... Often resulting in duels (which Obi is placed out of play or Luke winds up joining the Dark Side), or battles against the best the Imperial war machine can put on the table!  While this is generally a Ground style of deck, some Hunt variants are known to incorporate high destiny TIE's (Scouts or Squadron craft (Black or Obsidian Squadron TIEs).
• Operatives-  Despite the huge errata Operatives received following their release in the Special Edition expansion, thse types of decks are still quite common, and quite powerful!  Both Light and Dark Side have their own set of Operatives (Bothawui, Raltiir, Corulag and Raithal operatives are the most favored).  Operative give the deck lots of speed, high Force drain potential and (when their respective Objectives are flipped) additional power and battle destiny.  The built-in Force drain reduction granted by the Objectives are an added benefit.
• Mains and Toys-  This is the most famous (or infamous, depending on which side of the table your sitting...) type of deck in tournaments today.  They are also the oldest, having thrived, inspite of just about everyone, since sanctioned tournament began.  Using expensive main characters (Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, Obi, Luke and others) and their equally expensive toys (lightsabers, Millenium Falcon, Executor) it's overall card economy and effectiveness is unparralleled.  It can fight anywhere and it can Force drain for massive amounts.  It's been known to beat opposing decks by 40 or more cards (which is a lot considering there are only 60 cards in the deck!).

It's not enough to grab 60 of your favorite cards and hope that they work together in a tournament.  I see this all of the time, too.  Inexperienced players are romantisized with the fact that they've got really cool looking rare cards and they simply want to show them off.  However, I'm here to tell you, a deck whose cards work well together, even if their common or uncommon cards, will be competitive and can even win.

Cards work together by developing combos.  You see these combos all of the time in card reviews on this website, the Decipher webiste and other prominent websites.  This card, plus that card, does this.  You know.

When building a deck, watch for really great combos that mesh well with your deck's theme.  Often, the key is to understand how many cards are required to successfully pull of a desired combo.  Just because you have 60 cards doesn't mean that you'll see each and every one of those 60 cards during a touranment game.  In fact, there've been times where Vader didn't appear at all during a game I had... And, I had 3 in the deck!

This is where learning the nuance of the deck comes in.  Figuring out which combos can be pulled of early and easily and which ones simply don't have the cards required to be very effective.

A rule of thumb for tournament play is to avoid the monster combos.  Although, they may be devestating and really cool when they work, but, getting them to work before your opponent Force drains you right out of the game, can be difficult.  Generally, three card combos (Like Han Solo, Chewbacca and Life Debt or Darth Vader, his Lightsaber and You Are Beaten) are about as far as you'd want to go.

Many times, a player will devise a theme based solely on a desired combos.  The Corporal Drazin/ Special Delivery combo, by it's nature, will beget a Carbon Freezing Objective based Ground deck.  Boba Fett and Hidden Weapons could spawn a Jabba's Palace style Ground deck.  You see the picture.

Whether you choose to make a theme then pick the combos or make the theme around the combos, just remember to keep your combos simple and not so card intensive.

C) The fabulous foursome- Monnock/ Grimtaash and Houjix/ Ghhhk:

Hot decks come and go...  But, one thing pretty much stays the same:  The decks have multiples of cards and they do battle damage.  There are many occasions where I'll either be saved or hurt by one of these little jewels.  One thing is clear:  These babies are important.

I simply can't stress enough how usefull and vasitile these cards are.  Games have been won by a well played Monnock.  Games have been lost because the player didn't have a Houjix in hand.

When building a deck always keep these cards in mind.  Try to keep the multiple card count down so you don't become Monnock or Grimtaash bait.  If you live in an area that thrives on the use of these regulatory cards, and you've abolutely got to play a Trooper deck, then think about limiting cards like Well Guarded, Yoda's Stew or Cybernetic Implant.

D) Deck Building FAQ's:
 

• How many locations should I have in my deck?

• Do I need to have weapons in my deck?

• I don't have very many main characters, but, I want to play a ground deck anyway.  What should I do?

• How many multiples of a card should I have in my deck?

• I want to use a particular card combo that I think will be really powerful.  How can I make sure it's legal?

D) One Last Word:

When you're buidling your deck, remember that you've only got 60 card to deal with.  However, understand that your opponent is also limited to 60 cards!  So, don't be so intimidated if you haven't got all that you wanted into your deck...  The key to winning is doing the best with what you have.

Keep your decks simple and straight forward.  Avoid the fancy delicate stuff.  Select cards that are veristile and can help you in multiple situations.  You only get 60 cards...  Make the best of them.

Practice with your new decks some...  Learn the nuances.  Adjust the deck if it doesn't act the way you like.

Above all, have fun with it!  The coolest part about Star Wars CCG is the fact you get to make your own decks.  Make one that all your own!  One that you'll really enjoy playing.  You'll be surprised at how well it does!

Next up...  Playing in the touranment!