New Player/F2P Guide Updated!!!

[alcolitoz]

Hi! I´m alcolitoz and want to help new/F2P players enjoy SC. In my opinion SC is a great game that has a lot of potential and also has great Devs that really care about their game.

I´ll be 100% honest about the game, when you start playing any game you really want to know the truth! So here is the first question: is the game really F2P? not exactly, you can get a ton of boosters if you have a High Rank at the end of season or if you are good in Raid (Arena) mode, but (2nd question) is it doable? Not really unless you are experienced in CCGs, (3rd question) Can I play/compete (and have fun) as a New/F2P player: Absolutely Yes!!!!

UPDATE 10/9: Right now the game is very F2P Player friendly, The Devs added new features like the mentor program and the weekly cards so: Is the game really F2P: Yes it is.

The first thing new players need to understand is that in CCGs you need to invest time or money in the game, if you prefer to invest your time then I will tell what is your most value resource: Scrap. Scrap is used in Fusion Mode to create new cards. What is the most viable strategy? Value, this means that you need to 2 for 1 your opponents cards. What cards should i pick? If totally new: Good-stated vanilla cards are great 2/3 or 3/2 for 2, 4/5 or 3/6 for 4, etc.

So here are the tips that worked great for me and my friends:
1. Unlock the factions! : you need to beat opponents using them
2. Unlock basic cards: at level 9 you get all the cards and at level 15 you´ll get the 2nd module (hero power) , right now Annukai doesn´t have a 2nd.
3. The basic/starter decks are good but have a higher curve so you should reduce the number of big guys (6+ cost) and include other 2 or 3 drops (the Vraxxian Gunboat is a great card and you should try to keep it at the start).
4. Learn how to use you Sniper and put 2 of them in your deck, sniper works with energy and supply so you can only use him limited times per turn, don´t do 1 dmg to face unless you are just about to win! prioritize killing minions or creatures!
5. Subscribe to the Free Booster Pack forum and try to use all codes available!!

UPDATE 10/9: The devs added a lot of free modules!! read them and learn to use them!! also two more tips for beginners:
6. Use a Mentor code: this will net you free boosters after you level one of your commanders to level 26, you can use mine and feel free to add me ingame 6903486f-9085-4ec5-a02a-74fdb58d5c3f
7. Check the weekly cards for core cards!! Weekly cards are cheap way to get a core card and save your precious scrap!!

UPDATE 10/10: The devs added a lot more missions for new players, open a booster, play a game, win a game and more!!! all those mission will net you +500ish credits
8. Complete all the initial missions.

After doing all these things you´ll learn a lot about the game, and you should have some credits and Scrap. So here comes the big question! What to craft first? For me the most important part in a game is having fun, so pick your favorite faction and start playing! but follow these simple advices!!

1. Replace vanilla cards with stronger ones that have the same function, remember value is extremely important in the beginning because you don´t have combos, so a 2/3 (Ranger) can be replaced by a 2/3 Vraxxian Scourger... I know you don´t have firepower cards but your opponent might use a Heavy Infantry and you will get a 3/3 for 2!!
2. Cards that can damage opponent´s units are great, remember the value! Gargoyle Bomber, Battle Walker or Terazin Destroyer are good examples.
3. You need to have a way to deal with you opponent´s strong cards so Removal is 100% needed, you have 3 options Nullify (Council Patrol or Void Probe), Destroy (Neutralize) or Disable (Saboteur), the choice depends on your preference and try to use them wisely!

Remember about the Scrap? You should only use Scrap to get the Core cards of a deck! after feel free to expend it to make your decks better!, In my opinion you should start with any of these decks:

1. Support Terran
Core cards: Combat Engineer, Arms Merchant and Field Commander
Modules: Both free faction modules
General Strategy: Terran has a lot of support units and terran modules can create 1/1s, use your support units and then buff them with Arms Merchant and Pulse Rifles to take control of the board or for the final push.
Removal Option: Void Probe is a support card! Zeroed In is really useful too!
Competitive?: not really, Firepower Terran is way stronger but this deck is a great start for terrans.
UPDATE: 10/10 This deck is not strong enough but the Core cards for this one are the same for the Support Annunaki which is a very strong deck so you´ll be able to have 2 decks to complete your missions!

2. Support Annunaki
Core cards: Combat Engineer, Arms Merchant and Field Commander
Modules: Acolyte, Phase Shift (this one is expensive but very strong for this deck), Fusion Reactor (leave the module slot open)
General Strategy: The main idea for this deck is to buff all units all the time, use Combat engineer, Arsenal Dropship, Duskwind Guerrillas. Phase Shift will make your Screen units very resilient, the Acolyte will also be buffed!
Removal Option: Void Probe is a support card!! you can also use any other Annunaki tactic like Telekinetic Blast or Paranoia.
Competitive?: Oh yeah!!! this deck is very strong!!!! Scrap investment in higher rarity cards is a good option.

3. Mercs Consortium
Core cards: Eredani Battalion, Eredani Guards, Displacer Cannon
Modules: Both free faction modules
General Strategy: Mercs are cheap and strong use them combined with Hit and Run Tactics module to get board control, in the mid game Veteran Advisor buffs all mercs and Double Retainer can steal games!
Removal Option: Neutralize
Competitive?: This deck is very strong, Scrap investment in higher rarity cards is a good option.

4. HajirGog
Core Cards: Hellfire Cannon x2, Scour
Modules: Both the free faction ones and Arsenal
General Strategy: Hellfire Cannon is such a powerful card, mulligan hard for that card, use your Trash module to increase the Attack, Refurbish Weapon to increase the charges and other creatures to stall or end the game.
Removal Option: Hellfire Cannon and Scour can easily get you board control, a Sacrificial Rite or Superheat (use this one with the weapon from Arsenal!!!) can destroy that pesky Carbonic Protector or Stargate Guardian!
Competitive?: Yes, this deck is one of the strongest and very cheap!

5. Shan Ti (update 10/10)
Core Cards: Infected Militia, Natural Selection
Modules: Natural Selection, Infect, Praecordian Symbiote
General Strategy: This combo is very strong: Turn 1 activate Praecordian, Turn 2: Play Infected Militia, use Infect on IM then use Minerva Spores, end turn for profit. Keep spawning Eggs and Spider and win!
Removal Option: Spine Spitters, Terminal Mutation or any other.
Competitive?: Yes but the combo might get nerfed.

6. Heirarchy: DCP aggro is very powerful and cheap. Check Arginine´s post.

UPDATE 10/10 : Arginine has a post with more and advanced decklists, check his post!!!!

As you can see, those decks are really cheap to craft and will net you a lot of wins, and you´ll get some boosters that can help you get more cards and soon you´ll have a strong collection!

Btw whats wrong with the other factions? Why can´t new players use them? In my opinion you need more expensive core cards for them to work. Hierarchy needs Damage Control Protocols, Defensive Revision or Nanite Fabrication; ShanTi needs Natural Selection and Aberrations and the cheaper version of Annukai uses Pacify but its a slow one.

UPDATE 10/9 : After new modules were introduced the text above is not accurate anymore.

I hope this simple guide can help New/F2P players, feel free to add me in game! and May the Force be with you (yeah I´m a StarWars fan!)

[sandlover75]

If you don't have modules that use energy make sure you put some cards that use energy in your deck. The sniper mentioned above is a very good example.

[Branmicael]

Hey buddy, great guide! It's nice that some guides are finally starting to appear for SC!

I would just make a point though, "is the game really F2P? not exactly"
In my opinion the game can be played, enjoyed and even be competitive for high ranks as a 100% f2p player. It will take more time, yes, but that's to be expected.

As a f2p dont spend any scrap untill you know wich cards will make the core of your deck and acording to the strategy you'll want to develop. Play casual mode and farm credits while doing daily quests. I use a Consortium deck for this effect as it makes games end quicker win or lose so i can get the most credits per hour spent in game. It takes 20 wins for a boster pack (excluding quest rewards) With quests you can easily get at least two packs per day on minimum. Using the guidelines alcolitoz provides for the core of each faction decks you can then start using scrap to get these cards and swapping them for others in your deck.

Also, i would add that in the beguining screen cards are probably one of the best things in your deck but you'll want to eventually swap then for higher value cards such as the void probe or the saboteur.

Great begginers guide alcolitoz!

[Owazrim]

Great guide.

I will second that screens and units that let you nullify are a must. Both can help delay some face damge or help to hold onto some other units longer.

[alcolitoz]

Hi guys, guide is updated also read the comments there a really useful tips!!!

[Arginine]

You are the best!

Guys, take it from me. Alcolizoz has a very good understanding in ccg's.

[alcolitoz]

Hi guys, Starter decks section updated!

[kokerus]

Hello all! You can find short video-guides for game mechanics on the official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StarCrusade/

[76561198409519307]

thx for all yours advices