Diana Resolves to be Astronomically Desperate

Overview: This is a fun fighter/support build for Diana that synergizes Astronomical Atlas with Bestow Resolve. The Atlas loves cards with varied icons (or wilds) and Resolve excels when using any card with 3+ icons.

I imagine Diana stole the Atlas when she fled the Silver Twilight Lodge and she still has to learn to effectively harness its power.

I envision this Diana build working well in a three-player game with a strong Cluever and either a Flex or a low-cost Fighter-Evader who needs some additional encounter protection (e.g., Silas or Rita).

This deck doesn't have the action compression I usually aim for. However, Diana will routinely be testing most or all of her stats at 6+, so I especially like this build for scenarios where there are significant failure penalties on locations or symbol tokens. I think it's well-tuned for Standard difficulty, but on Hard I usually want at least a few more testless options than this deck allows for.

I think it's a fun deck because it relies on a greater degree of planning and budgeting than a deck focusing on static boosts would (especially with Diana's flat stat line). To make the deck hum, you need to closely manage what's on the Atlas so you always have space there for key cards.

Using Valentin's system: Difficulty: 3/5; Enemy: 4/5; Clueing: 2/5; Encounter: 3/5; Survivability: 3/5; Economy: 3/5; Jank: 4/5.

Willpower and Desperation: In this build, Diana isn't so concerned about building her willpower since she only relies on it for treachery tests, the first couple of which she doesn't mind failing if it puts her desperate range. She can start with In the Thick of It for two horror and use Ward of Protection, Holy Rosary and Hallowed Mirror to toggle in and out of desperate range to move Reckless Assaults and Say Your Prayers from the Atlas to hand, where they are practically auto-successes when paired with Resolve.

The Soothing Melodies have three different icons, making them relatively easy for Diana to move through the Atlas and then either play for healing or commit for three wilds each via Resolve.

Diana definitely wants to be passing tests when committing certain cards from the Atlas, so don't be bashful about also committing one from hand.

I debated long and hard on including the Bandolier just to carry the Twilight Blade, but since this deck is fairly light on draw, and we can't afford to take a huge hit from Terrible Secret, I think it's essential to be able to recur as many cards as possible. Again, having relatively low Willpower isn't a major issue for this build of Diana.

In this build, Diana fights using Enchanted Blade or Machete. I think Geared up and slightly accelerated draw from the Atlas makes finding them feasible.

I felt Geared Up was a necessity from an economy standpoint and I feel it works well with Diana's slightly larger deck size.

You generate some Calvin-like tension running this deck in that your weakness could crush you if it catches you in Desperate range, so all the more reason to use the Twilight Blade freely and/or just don't worry about boosting your Willpower using Diana's ability until after you've seen Terrible Secret.

Other cards to consider: --I was tempted to add Brand of Cthugha, but frankly I think it's OP and destined for the taboo list. --Olive McBride would allow Diana to dodge her weaknesses, but Olive is expensive and you don't really need her Intellect boost. --I don't LOVE Stand Together since it has only one icon and it is Willpower (making it potentially challenging to move from the Atlas to your hand), but this deck is desperate (if you will) for economy and an icon-free Emergency Cache is useless if it gets stuck under the Atlas. I suppose Diana could combine several single-Willpower-pip cards under the Atlas into one test, but that seems awfully risky! She could also commit those types of cards to Willpower tests being performed by higher-Willpower comrades to get them off her Atlas and into her hand. --Upgraded Bandolier is a luxury but would allow you to access all three blades plus the Atlas, and it's not like the the Willpower boost is ever going to be a BAD thing! --You'd have to map your own upgrade path to determine whether or not Down the Rabbit Hole makes sense for you. I decided it would slow down my early upgrade path too much.

Upgrades:
--Assuming Diana starts with In the Thick of if It for two mental trauma, I'd include one Atlas in my starting deck.
--Then, I add the Resolves, then a second Atlas, and then at least one Antiquary. --Now you have your draw and recursion engine going and you can upgrade the Enchanted Blades and Vicious Blows if you're team lacks damage output, or Dodges and Wards of Protection if they're getting beat up.
--Upgraded Safeguard is especially helpful if you're tracking someone with Hiking Boots, Track Shoes, or Pathfinders. --I think you could also replace the Desperate cards with upgraded Guts and Overpower--the latter have one fewer icon but will increase draw. This becomes less attractive in a Rabbit Hole build.

I'd love your feedback!