A · Fundamentals · §4

Resource Hierarchy

Four resources, ranked: scoring stability, cards, runes and Power, library composition.

4.1 · Scoring stability — the most important resource

Scoring stability means: having a unit that survives through the next Beginning Phase; having a second body after sacrificing the first; being able to contest two battlefields rather than overloading one; not relying on a Temporary Reflection as the only unit that will supposedly Hold.

⚠ WarningA conversion that produces four cards but gives up an uncontested Hold can easily be negative.

4.2 · Cards

The deck is exceptionally good at producing cards through Watchful Sentry, LeBlanc Fragmented, Sacrifice, Dusk Rose Lab, Rift Herald, Glasc recursion, and LeBlanc Reflections.

Pilot noteBecause card generation is plentiful, do not reflexively maximize every draw trigger. The marginal value of the fifth card in a turn is often lower than that of one surviving three-Might body.

4.3 · Runes and Power

Soaring Scout, Black Rose Dignitary and Sacrifice provide acceleration, but their runes enter exhausted — they improve subsequent action cycles rather than the current one.

Order Power is usually the binding constraint: Baited Hook, Karthus, Glasc Mixologist, Harnessed Dragon, Hidden Blade, Rift Herald, Vi and The Ruination all need it. Mind requirements are less frequent but relevant for Ruined Rex, Thousand-Tailed Watcher and Temporal Breach.

Rules noteRift Herald ignores Energy, not Power. If Herald is about to die, the question is not merely which expensive unit is in hand — it is whether the necessary Power remains available when the Deathknell resolves.

4.4 · Library composition

Every Hook changes the texture of subsequent Hooks. After looking at five cards, you learn which six- and seven-Might payoffs are no longer immediately available; how many low-Might legal hits remain; whether your next Hook is acceleration or merely replacement; whether a premium threat is already in hand, trash or recycled away.

Pilot noteMaintain a rough count of: Harnessed Dragons remaining · Ruined Rexes remaining · Rift Heralds remaining · Watchers remaining · Dragon Forms in hand or trash · Karthus copies still accessible. Hook is significantly less random when known zones are part of the decision rather than printed deck ratios.