"Genetic Algorithm" Seems to be pretty underwhelming, thoughts?

[Cellidor]

So there are a couple of cards out already with "high armor, -but-" for their description. Gain plenty of armor but has ethereal. Gain a bunch of armor if you don't -already- have armor, etc. As it stands though, I can't think of any kind of run where I would actually pick up Genetic Algortthm.

I could understand if it was an -attack- that dealt more damage each combat, that's fine, but block? Block is something you need consistently, almost every turn in combat.

Even if it's massively upgraded to essentially give you invincibility for one turn, it's then gone, so what's the point?

I mean, I could justify grabbing something like this in an IC Barricade run, or a silent build running Blur + Burst, but the Defect?

He already has a power that totally negates 1 or 2 attacks anyways, so this seems redundant. Am I missing it's usefullness, or is it as underwhelming as I'm picturing? Heck even IC would have more use for this card since he could Exhume it.

[Paranoia]

It is useful in Ice-heavy Builds that only ever need Block while setting up. Since Algorithm clears itself out of the way, it is good in those Decks.

Plus, I guess, Bursty Decks that hope to kill the enemy before the Algorithm would even show up again, meaning that a single time of very high Block is better for them than repeating mediocre amount.

That said, I would prefer if it cost 0.

[Sinsling]

It did just save my hide in my last run by stopping an attack form the final boss when I didn't have frost orbs in my current cycle. Had it at +40 block by that time since I got it early.

[Deadrock]

If the Defect had either a way to convert block into damage (like body slam) or a way to keep it (blur/barricade) it would definately be much better.

That said it can be rather useful if obtained early on, allowing you to stop most bosses super attack.

[Sinsling]

Originally posted by Deadrock:

If the Defect had either a way to convert block into damage (like body slam) or a way to keep it (blur/barricade) it would definately be much better.

That said it can be rather useful if obtained early on, allowing you to stop most bosses super attack.

Calipers or spoon. Granted that is a relic dependency but ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ would it be imba if defect could just pull that out non-stop. Like the current frost stacking isn't bad enough.

[Cellidor]

That's about what I had figured, yeah. Hmm...It really would be better if it cost 0, honestly. It's the least it could do since it's gone from the deck for the rest of combat after.

[Tellik]

I've tried it out a couple of times. If you can get it early on, it's a great block later on. It would indeed be better if it cost 0 though, and/or was slightly stronger to ramp up quicker. I could even see it being useful like claw where it buffed all copied of it permanently (keeping the exhaust) to allow for running more viable.

[kerputnick]

if you get it early, it's a very nice 1 time block, kind of like a cheaper impervious (and potentially stronger block as well)