The nine lines every pilot should be able to execute from memory.
Permanent upgrade
Witness probe and redeploy
⚠ Positional warningRetreating before combat opens prevents Witness from empowering. The trigger requires a combat that it was in to end.
01Move Witness into a battlefieldCreate combat.
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02Let the opponent establish their spendHow much are they willing to commit?
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03Exhaust AkaliThe Legend works only on your turn.
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04Move Witness to base
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05Ready WitnessRequires the Legend to be Empowered.
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06Combat ends and Witness empowersLeaving combat does not erase having been in it.
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07Move the ready 4-Might Witness elsewhereThe first commitment may now be irrelevant.
Rules noteWitness empowers when a combat that it was in ends, then has +2 Might while Empowered. The limiting condition is that combat must actually have opened.
Strategic purposeConvert a two-Energy unit into a permanently upgraded body while making the opponent’s first battlefield commitment potentially irrelevant.
Failure conditionsRetreating before combat opens produces no Empower trigger.
From the guide — §12 Core Tactical Lines
Every line below depends on the same judgement: whether the opponent’s commitment has crossed the threshold that makes retreat profitable. The mechanics are the easy part.