Vincent Lee - Decipher the Dream with Skill

Card draw simulator

Odds: 0% – 0% – 0% more
Derived from
None. Self-made deck here.
Inspiration for
None yet

Ramun · 434

Introduction / deck idea

This deck is built around 3 cards:

The general idea of the deck is to focus on tempo: fast investigate actions, action-less bonus effects from skill cards and endless supply of unexpected courage to never fail a test. It is somewhat flexible, leaning more towards clue getting but with some reasonable combat options as well.


Example combos / practical situations

Example 1: Your location's shroud value is 3. Investigate with Cryptographic Cipher. The location's shroud value is now 4, you can commit your Essence of the Dream (Explorer upgrade) for 4 icons which puts you in that sweet +4 spot. If this was the last clue in the location, throw in Crack the Case to gain 4 resources instead of 3, benefiting again from the increased shroud value. Get 1 clue and 4 ressources for no action.

This is the optimal combo when all your pieces are setup, but I believe Cryptographic Cipher will have many use cases regardless of location shroud value.

Example 2: Your location's shroud value is 2. Investigate with Cryptographic Cipher. The location's shroud value is now 3. Commit On the Mend and Deduction for that +4 sweet spot. Get 2 clues for no action.

You don't have to be at +4 over test difficulty, especially if Lucky! is in your hand. The point is you should be able to reach it consistently when facing an important test.

Example 3: During a basic fight action, commit Brute Force and Helping Hand for +6 icons. You now have 9 / 10 with Jessica Hyde, which secures the +2 damage trigger against 3 / 4 combat value enemies.

Example 4: Use Toe to Toe and laugh at the enemy's attack (you probably heal and bring back an On the Mend). Your attack is automatically successful but you can still commit skill cards so throw in Vicious Blow or Resourceful to secure damage or recursion.


Upgrade path

There are a many options to reach the final deck, but in the end I decided to rush for Ancestral Knowledge, saving the 3 xp from In the Thick of It for this purpose. Some cards worth mentioning in the level 0 deck:

Level 0 deck
 Cost  Total
   In the Thick of It  →  Ancestral Knowledge ••• 3 XP 3 XP

Pick up skill cards Overpower x2, Perception x1 and Resourceful x2

 Cost  Total
   Dream Diary    Dream Diary ••• 3 XP 6 XP
   Dream Diary    Dream Diary ••• 3 XP 9 XP
   Overpower  →  Brute Force 1 XP 10 XP
   Overpower  →  Brute Force 1 XP 11 XP
   Perception  →  Sharp Vision 1 XP 12 XP
   Perception  →  Sharp Vision 1 XP 13 XP
   Backpack    Backpack •• 2 XP 15 XP
   Mr. "Rook"  →  Jessica Hyde 1 XP 16 XP
   Backpack    Backpack •• 2 XP 18 XP
   Mr. "Rook"  →  Jessica Hyde 1 XP 19 XP
   Bizarre Diagnosis  →  Surgical Kit ••• 3 XP 22 XP
   Bizarre Diagnosis  →  Surgical Kit ••• 3 XP 25 XP

(View at arkham-starter.com)


Luxury upgrades

If I had additional xp to spend, I would probably go for Deduction(2) x2 and Studious x2.

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