I just don't get this game. What deck should I use?

[EmperorVolo]

Ok I've tried "Meta" builds so called builds that fill the near Infinite level.

For the most part these seem pretty garbage. I'm not sure how people use them to get to Infinite. On paper they're at best 60% something win rate. Which if you figure out the math is weeks of grinding. Potentially so low of a % that you might not reach Infinite.

So now I can make decks as good or better and here's my experience with that.

What I found is the best deck is a rope-a-dope deck. However due to their nature they only work on non-savvy players.

Here's what I mean. So the most common rope-a-dopes are movement decks because the other player doesn't know where my cards are going and in many cases don't know where their cards will be or end up. Even if the player is overconfident at the end Heimdal is often used to shift the battle. Trying to get them to place all their eggs in the basket on a location that will soon have none or only a few on my side. So now I have only two locations to defend. Doesn't alway work but I'm more likely to get 8 cubes this way.

This doesn't work at higher levels.

Basically lulling the opponent into giving me extra cubes but even this due to the overall weakness (except the slight Vulture buff) has a slighly better than 68% win rate.

Now I can make a deck at over 80% winrate. You're probably like why ain't that already at Infinite?

Problem is people realize they're screwed so fast they quit at 1-2 cubes. So I'm climbing but it's such a long grind. Additionally those who know counters often challenge to 8 cubes. So even if I say win 10 in a row or 20 cubes. I often can get 1 match where they have a sufficient counter and know it so go for an 8 cube set back.

Also in most cases this Deck pumps out more power per location than Helalock or Thanolock which contributes to the win rate but the freaking instant quiting is really getting to me. Some won't even snap to 2 cubes. 1 cube wins are driving me crazy. Since they've never seen the deck they just don't Snap to see what it does for the next time they see me.

Is this the way the game is meant to be played. Is it just a grind or is there something I'm just not getting?

[Koori_89]

I am not sure if a move deck or a move deck shell can climb so fast w/o the player knowing every possible deck and outcome before they even play out their cards, very few players are actually at that level. Move needs a lot of chess moves, and on top of it dies hard to lockdown and shang + shadow king combos like Sera control. Baiting and spamming emotes works on CL 1500 for 8 cubes but not on ppl who have been playing for more than 9-12 months.

Meta constantly shifts from one arch type to another per day , hot location, missions, weekend missions. The Metas are just the most effective cookie cutters. You can absolutely make a deck that has a arch type shell + something else (Example: HE + Lockdown). But you will need to feel comfortable playing it, aka realize the win conditions and when to win or snap. Climb is 60% snap management. Win rate doesn't mean much if you keep getting 1 cube and lose later 4.

[Lady MacBeth]

Your opponents are playing somewhat optimally. You should be retreating in 35-40% of your snap games on average. This is why decks with a 55% or higher win rate are considered top of the line. If you aren't snapping and retreating properly then yeah it will be a long ass grind.

edit
Also cube rate >>>>>> Win rate

[BobbyGun]

Meta decks are senseless, if you don't understand, how they are meant to play. Begin easy, learn, adjust, have fun.

[ryu600RR]

meta's don't really apply until you have all of the cards and hit top 10-5% playerbase

tinfoil theories here but i think a hidden MMR keeps win rate in check

[Tray]

Originally posted by ryu600RR:

tinfoil theories here but i think a hidden MMR keeps win rate in check

That's literally the purpose of MMR based match making in every single type of competitive game ever.

How is that a Tinfoil theory?

[EmperorVolo]

Originally posted by ryu600RR:

meta's don't really apply until you have all of the cards and hit top 10-5% playerbase

tinfoil theories here but i think a hidden MMR keeps win rate in check

Ya I agree. So as an update for anyone who cares I sat down to see how far this deck would carry me. So I sat down and grinded for I think 14 hours or so and went from 58 to 97. I don't know if this means I'm bad or what I'm not sure how long that's supposed to take.

I was honestly panick cause I've noticed in the past if I play a relatively new deck build in hours I'll start seeing the exact same deck being played. I think this is the MMR adjusting especially if I start skipping ranks from winning too many in a row. I was trying to hurry and beat as many people as I can before it caught up.

Now it's bashing me over my head again. It's just so frustrating at times.

[EmperorVolo]

Originally posted by Koori_89:

I am not sure if a move deck or a move deck shell can climb so fast w/o the player knowing every possible deck and outcome before they even play out their cards, very few players are actually at that level. Move needs a lot of chess moves, and on top of it dies hard to lockdown and shang + shadow king combos like Sera control. Baiting and spamming emotes works on CL 1500 for 8 cubes but not on ppl who have been playing for more than 9-12 months.

Meta constantly shifts from one arch type to another per day , hot location, missions, weekend missions. The Metas are just the most effective cookie cutters. You can absolutely make a deck that has a arch type shell + something else (Example: HE + Lockdown). But you will need to feel comfortable playing it, aka realize the win conditions and when to win or snap. Climb is 60% snap management. Win rate doesn't mean much if you keep getting 1 cube and lose later 4.

I've been playing since this game released and my primary deck is movement. Also I agree does not typically work at higher levels unless they are overconfident by what they think the deck will do. Which surprisingly happens enough to make it semi-viable but not meta.

[Si]

The meta decks are only good if you draw ideal. I've lost count of how many have been useless to me because I always draw bad.

High evo decks being a good example.

Throw out Sunspot, Misty, Nebula earpy and start gaining power. Magic, Leech on 5, She-Hulk + Infinaut on 6.

Well there is me game after game somehow not drawing a single card I can play until turn 3. Sunspot only turns up on turn 6 so me floating is a waste, and I only draw one big 6 drop I can play.

Must be nice to be one of those people who draws cards in the ideal order every time.

[King Bogs]

this goober