Pete, Duke and Yaotl Desperate Synergy

Pete, Duke and Yaotl Desperate Synergy. "Desperate Pete" Version 2.0

Wait, where's Miskatonic's Quarterback?..

This deck utilises the new ally from the New Forgotten Age Deluxe Expansion Yaotl. As such this decks experience requirement is 2 to begin with. Start with Peter Sylvestre, replace with Yaotl after your first scenario.

Standard "Ashcan" Pete decks utilise Peter Sylvestre as a buffer to somewhat compensate for his low sanity. This enables Desperate Skills to shine in this deck. His sits squarely in the average category so a boost to your goes a long way.

Yaotl's has many remarkable synergistic abilities in correlation with "Ashcan" Pete's and your Skill Icons on the top of your deck. Desperate Skills need not be committed in this deck on occasion. As such you do not require to be less than 3 sanity for most tests. It will help in the committing of Desperate Skills, but as you will see this isn't the way you'll always be playing them...

Here are just some of the examples of this combo's ability...

1- Making a check using Duke's , you can then use Yaotl's to gain the Icons on the top of your Discard Pile. For example: lets say a Resourceful is on the top. Thus you Skill Test value is currently at 5. At this point you could use "Ashcan" Pete's to refresh Yaotl. For example, you discard a copy of Reckless Assault. Thus you can now use Yaotl again in the same trigger window. If you do, your Skill Test value is now at 9 as Reckless Assault is now at the top of your Discard Pile.

2- You can use both timing windows in a Skill Test to your advantage. Using the first example, you can use Yaotl's in the first timing window using the Resourceful's icon. Then commit Vicious Blow. Your Skill Value is now at 6. Then in your second timing window, discard Reckless Assault. With Yaotl refreshed, you can then trigger his ability again to gain the 4 Icons from the top of the Discard Pile. Your Skill Value is now at 10.

3- The most ludicrous amount you could get in one test would be to full pump Fire Axe for +6, building into an active Dark Horse that's in play. You also have Reckless Assault on the top of your Discard Pile. You activate Yaotl, increasing your skill value to 13. You then commit an Inspiring Presence from your hand. You then discard Resourceful from your hand to refresh Yaotl. You then finally activate Yaotl's one last time. Your final Skill Value is a whopping 15!!! And to top it off, Yaotl is refreshed from Inspiring Presence, if successful. Ready to use again on the following action. The dream. But in reality, HIGHLY unfeasible.

There are other small benefits to this deck that help this synergy...

Other benefits this deck has is that it is not slot competitive. Leather Coat has no competition, Cherished Keepsake has no competition, and Machete is only competing against Fire Axe in order to get your Deck's weapon amount to a sustainable draw chance. Yaotl also is the only Ally in this deck.

Another benefit this deck has is it has only icons appearing on the single Unexpected Courage in the Deck and Emergency Cache being the only cards that contribute no icons. While this may seem detrimental, envision a test you make with Yaotl ready and there is an Unexpected Courage on top of the Discard Pile. This deck needs a well maintained Discard Pile in order to succeed. One card that assists in this mechanic is Resourceful. This card allows you to remove a discarded card from the top of your deck in order to have a +1 bonus to all , and tests when you next use Yaotl as long as no following card is discarded beforehand. To further assist with is, there is a small amount of events in this deck in order to help this hindrance.

What's the optimised way to play this deck?

Mulligan hard for Yaotl. The decks staple requires him to get the most out of your deck. 2.1 Edit: Not being able to find Yaotl early game is highly detrimental to your beginning setup. Suggested later scenarios of your campaign should include a copy of 1 Flare to get Yaotl out early. Alternatively but risky is to play Calling in Favors using Duke to gather him.

Focus on optimised testing. Your icon spread is all in the 13-15 and above range with doubles on many of the Skill Cards, so always consider each card for its printed icon value when discarding or committing. Remember committed cards will not count as been on top of your discard pile until after the test is over. If you need card draw because you have over exerted yourself, keep your Eureka!'s, Overpower, Manual Dexterity and Guts for committing only to get that required card draw. You will be speeding through your deck fast, so use every available opportunity on Scenario locations to draw as a main priority outside of normal play.

Plan ahead. Do you need to discard an essential card this turn? If you're Investigating or Fighting with Duke and Dark Horse in play, you may have no need to. Not all tests will require a large number like 10 to almost ensure success though it will depend on your difficulty. This synergy will basically ensure high percentage of success once or twice a turn for Skill Tests.

Try to always envision using the same card on top of your deck for twice. Having a Resourceful on the top of your Discard Pile on your last turn from a previous test can give you a multitude of Skill coverage for your potential test in the upcoming Mythos Phase next round.

Have a distinction between when to Commit and when to Discard. Discarding a card to ready Yaotl essentially means using that card for its Skill Icons for your current test. Committing a card means using that cards Skill Icons essentially for your current and next test if Yaotl is ready, as this card will not enter your discard until after the test is completed

What should I build into?..

You want to increase your static skill values as far as possible. To increase your static skill values, Charisma and 2 copies of Peter Sylvestre at 9XP (9XP including Yaotl) are a good purchase to further mitigate taking large amount of accumulating horror and further boosting your stats. Following this purchase, the Key of Ys is an absolute must buy in this deck, perhaps even prior to the purchase above. The amount of static values that you can get "Ashcan" Pete to with this accessory in play is ludicrous. This takes you to 14XP.

Survival Instinct is an optimal replacement for Dumb Luck, especially in Solo play. Dumb Luck while a good card, is a pain in Solo as this enemy will only be drawn next turn. The reason for it's include is the 2 icons for Evade Tests. Once you have the necessary XP, replace 1 or 2 copies with Survival Instinct. Alternatively, Infighting is also a good purchase, if not for the multiple icons printed on the card and to give yourself a more options during a Skill Test. This takes you to between 18 and 20XP.

You may be inclined to include Exile cards in this deck build. Although quite incredible in their abilities, they are detrimental to this build, as these icons will never appear on top of your Discard Pile. Instead they can also be treated as "Test Stalling Mechanics". Playing a card like A Test of Will allows you to avoid committing a card to your Discard Pile, if your certain the Reckless Assault that is already on top of your discard pile is required for the next fight test you will be conducting on your turn. Replace Dumb Luck with A Test of Will. 2.1 Edit: As stated above, Flare may be an essential upgrade to have the ability to get Yaotl out in the early game.

Why Guts and Manual Dexterity?..

The Innate trait. Which brings to another key XP purchase True Survivor. No better card for this deck. It enables redraw of some crucial Skills in your deck such as Resourceful in order to get your True Survivor back. And Inspiring Presence in order to keep Yaotl in the game. If order to minimise the cards exposure, it would be beneficial to really focus on getting the right Skills back to your hand, as True Survivor has no icons on it and would be detrimental if left at the top of your Discard Pile. Replace 1 copy of Resourceful if you aim to constantly draw it back from the discard to replace itself.

Art Credits: The Mountain Printing & Manufacturing, Decal Girl, Ruben Duran, Universal Pictures