State of the Mantis: Celestial Launch

not true mantis scout shuggi is the anti outerwall man.

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(\ ºvº\ (\ Storm Master of DHI

	Moshi Oki wrote:
	So Kilian, any recommendations about how to make the best use of our fixed cards and what we should be looking for in the additional cards in a sealed environment? I have to play on Sunday, but I'm still not really up to speed and haven't seen the new starter deck yet.

The Mantis starter is actually pretty strong, I won the local release tournament using DGC. In a constructed environment I agree with Killian that 7 Seas is the stronger stronghold, but in sealed the follower recursion of DGC is king. You should get the x2 Kishos that Killian mentioned and 1 Sanjo (who is awesome!), you should also get x2 Kamiya, and I ended up with x3 Mizuru as well as the unaligned cavalry shugenja which in a 30 card deck is enough to play the spells the spells which are included, I used Consumed by 5 Fires and x2 Thunders Favor which are both devastating in a sealed environment. You should also get an Imperial Elite Guard and several other decent followers along with x3 Peasant Vengeance and x3 Permanent Encampments. When you put this all together with the Unwavering Assaults and the Routs that you will also have you get a very battle action heavy sealed deck that should be able to make your opponent cry.

Also never discard Naizen you can easily put him out turn 2 which is an auto win in sealed.

Good Luck!

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I don't play L5R, I play Mantis.

"From nothing we have risen
and from nothing we still rise!"

Hatebreed

I was doing well in my release tournament, until this unicorn player poped out that unique crab with the built in follower-flay for his force.

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Gosse Crew Pirate * Naval * Friend of Buntaro * AKA Quietcorn

Someone less lazy then me should post a link to Yoritomo's guidance here. That's freaking auesome , and so is the art and flavor text.

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drunken monk of osano wo*naval
MANTIS CLAN STANDARD BEARER
Head of Thunder Dragon
Moshi Kalani --now ever time I post a kitten dies!

	Yoritomo Tsuma wrote:
	Someone less lazy then me should post a link to Yoritomo's guidance here. That's freaking auesome , and so is the art and flavor text.

I did the moment I saw it--I've been checking regularly since the Lion came out!

I think it's gorgeous. I love the Mantis "koku" in the corner of the art.

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We're collecting Koku for the Clan again--contact me via PM for the mailing address.

There's nothing not to love about that card.

Rethinking our CE state: I'm okay with blank personalities, as long as they've got like 3F printed/conditional force and 3-5 printed GC and some useful traits like Naval, Scout, Samurai, Shugenja Wink

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I would say that after playing around twenty ish games with various clans, DGC is the stronger choice for stronghold i my opinion. SSP has never really worked well for me. It could be im not running enough heat fate cards, but the ability to recyle my followers is very handy especially with IG2 out and the Heavy Regulars.

That recon open does not seem to give you the bang for your koku, and it telegraphs.

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Mantis Clan-Samurai-Naval-Ambassador to the Hare Clan.

TsuruchiSteve wrote:

I would say that after playing around twenty ish games with various clans, DGC is the stronger choice for stronghold i my opinion. SSP has never really worked well for me. It could be im not running enough heat fate cards, but the ability to recyle my followers is very handy especially with IG2 out and the Heavy Regulars.

That recon open does not seem to give you the bang for your koku, and it telegraphs.

I would have to agree with this. My only issue with the DGC deck is that its early game is either non-existent or simply risky, but late game it is absolutely explosive. Also, in my experience, it completely hinges on getting a T1/2 Secluded Outpost or else it stalls.

TsuruchiSteve wrote:

I would say that after playing around twenty ish games with various clans, DGC is the stronger choice for stronghold i my opinion. SSP has never really worked well for me. It could be im not running enough heat fate cards, but the ability to recyle my followers is very handy especially with IG2 out and the Heavy Regulars.

That recon open does not seem to give you the bang for your koku, and it telegraphs.

Doesn't attacking a defender's provinces telegraph? I mean, it's not like the Mantis have a bunch of Cavalry that lose the element of surprise by saying "Oh, we'll attack that one."

Besides, you can use it every turn, make people think you're going to attack, and do nothing. Mess with their intentions, keep them on their toes.

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Mantis Clan * Monk * Kolat * Emperor * Merchant * Capo * Naval * Experienced 2 * Cloud Sect * Thunder * Proud Papa * More traits than Moriya

"Wouldn't surprise me f***ing hobbits." -Doji Yoshie

I like to throw down the SSP recon at one province so they waste their own recons (Crane) on that province, then toss a Dangerous and Military Assessment at a different province once they're done.

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Mantis Clan * Beer Kensai * Thunder Dragon Summoner * Iron Chef * Kitsune Isen * Retired Storm Rider Sensei * Kama Comedian * Naval * Soul of John Belushi * More Traits Than The Khan

	Tsuruchi Moriya wrote:
	Quoting yourself is NOT cool.

SSP is a nifty stronghold and perhaps with POTD coming out it will have a bit more suport, but until then I just dont see it as a good strong hold. I have seen a few mantis decks with it that are "go big or go home" turn 3-5, after that not so hot.

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Mantis Clan-Samurai-Naval-Ambassador to the Hare Clan.

can someone tell me why there's a crab guy running around with our stronghold as an ability?

Hida Rokurota

Anyways, overall a bunch of my friends are playing draft and been having fun. I haven't played since...well diamond? Lots of changes! Mantis does seem a fairly strange theme. It doesn't have that RA power it used to have. What happened? Especially when we have 5+ force crabs/onis running around.

crabs also have a big follower strat. The difference is we can count on actually having that ability in play.

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Gosse Crew Pirate * Naval * Friend of Buntaro * AKA Quietcorn

haha i know. i was hoping that we'd have a unique personality that allows us to draw a card when we play a follower from our hand/graveyard =P I'd be down with that =O