Card Reviews · ArkhamDB

Sledgehammer

Is Arkham Horror not a game you actively enjoy playing? Roped in by a friend or family member, do you just wish that your turn would end faster? Well, call me Bob Jenkins, because FFG has the deal for you!

With Sledgehammer (4), you can make sure your turn is over and done with in minimal time. Spend every iota of your effort and all of your actions crushing that Swarm of Rats into nothing but juicy red pulp, and leave the actual minutiae of doing something so base as looking for clues or discovering locations to the other members of your team.

Sledgehammer (4) -- It's better than just watching.

(As an aside, I'm eternally amused that upgrading to Sledgehammer (4) adds five pounds of weight to the head of the hammer. Lol!)

9/26/21

fiatluxia · 68

I would rather imo run the lvl 0 sledgehammer with Carolyn and attempt to kill rat >:) — Therealestize · 74 9/26/21

This is basically a weapon that deals 2 damage per action which in itself is good if it wasn't for the fact it costs 4 XP. If you are using the first ability, which is basically what you will mostly use, you then only get +1 Combat, which is pretty low as most level 2 weapons and some level 0 weapons offer +2. On the plus side there is no gimmick (as in Fire Axe and Meat Cleaver) and it's unlimited (unlike the .18 Derringer). This weapons only finds its value in the second ability that allows to deal 6 damage for 3 actions (so still 2 damage per action) but with a hefty +5 Combat and you only need to draw one token instead of 3 (this is basically a ritual to summon the tentacle). However this is an ability that you only ever want to use on enemies with 5+ Health and there are really not a lot of them. Moreover if you are fighting some boss then you'd rather have a weapon that deals 3 damage per action like the Chainsaw. I't worth to note that Yorick might like this weapon in conjunction with well prepared since it has 3 Combat icons. But then again so does the already mentioned Chainsaw. — Killbray · 12351 9/29/21

Put the excess damage on Relentless for maximum profit — MiskatonicFrosh · 344 9/29/21

Yeah, this is definitely an end campaign Smack The Boss weapon. — fiatluxia · 68 9/29/21

I never understand why people make comparisons between items with limited uses and those that are unlimited. E.g., the already mentioned Chainsaw. — puert · 48 12/4/21

The God of One Thousand Forms emerges, in all it's hideous majesty. It does not speak, there is only the shrieking discordnat voices from it's many maws and the wet slapping of it's tendrils But in your mind, as clear as though it were a voice, the reality forms: The age of man is done. This being is greater than you could ever fathom From a world beyond your comprehension In a universe so small the you, our race, our entire history and civilization, are powerless and meaningless before the entropic gravity of this harsh truth that- ~~~ Some hobo: "AHHHHHHHH!!!" ~~~ Runs 40 yards across a field to swat Nyar with a sledgehammer ~~~ Nyarlathotep: "Blergh" Dies instantly — The Nue · 1 8/10/22

@The Nue This is how it be. — mythosmeeple · 473 10/10/22

Dragon Pole

Clearly designed for Lily Chen. Fish it out with Prepared for the Worst, fill your arcane slots with cheap Arcane slots like Scrying, and you can get this up and running on Turn 1. Turn 1!! Unlimited uses! At 0xp! It's really good.

Scrying might seem like a throwaway spell just to enable the weapon, but with Lily and the Dragon Pole up it's actually pretty good -- you can use the combo to ensure Lily will be drawing into the nastiest brute in the top of the encounter deck for 1 action a turn, making her excel in the crowd-control role.

2 hand slots is definitely a downside, but again with Lily you can take Bandolier, so it's a little mitigated.

9/26/21

fiatluxia · 68

Bandolier (0) and Prepared is 2-4 of your 5 G cards. — MrGoldbee · 1484 9/26/21

Savant

Absurdly good in Jenny Barnes, for who this will (scenario fuckery not withstanding) always be ????, or Unexpected Courage on steroids. Also pretty nice for Rogues with low willpower to pass a "brain test". For Winifred especially this seems like an auto-include if you need a plan to deal with those tests, especially since it feeds her ability. Also combos beautifully with cards that boost all stats, like Geas.

9/26/21

Cpt_nice · 80

Really good in that one part of the The Circle Undone. — OrionJA · 1 9/27/21

Lola also has same statline as Jenny — Fedorwin · 15 10/12/21

This is like Ward of Protection for Bob when he get $willpower, giving +4. Very reassuring to have 1 in hand. — 5argon · 11145 1/20/22

Amanda Sharpe gets ??? for a round with it — Fonsoelegido · 1 10/5/24

the problem is that Amanda cannot take it. It is Innate, not Practiced — chrome · 61 10/8/24

Counterespionage

A new shiny toy for Big Money Rogue. Preston especially, who is very vulnerable to the encounter deck due to low stats, can make good use of this. I think you want to always pay 4 for the "your deck" change, since not having to deal with an encounter card entirely AND getting a free draw is definitely a huge step up from the regular effect. I don't think you usually use this on your fellow investigators unless something REALLY backbreaking to them gets pulled.

9/26/21

Cpt_nice · 80

A bit more restrictive than the other Service cards for Preston, since he can't use Family Inheritance to pay for this. So, not usable in Dark Horse Preston, but as you mentioned great for big money. — MiskatonicFrosh · 344 12/1/21

Right, unless he cheats the system. Shameless plug for my review on the next page. ;) — Susumu · 381 2/20/22

Buried Secrets

There’s a subtle trap in this card. Notice it takes effect “If your location can be investigated.” At first glance, it seems that this is referring to locations with clues on it. But the rule is that you can perform an investigate if it has the potential to change the game stage. So other scenario cards may permit you to investigate a location, and then you’d be stuck. But some player cards—and I’m looking at you, Archive of Conduits—allow you to investigate some locations without clues. So this weakness would cause you to be stuck until you discovered that pesky ley line.

9/26/21

togetic271 · 5

You can investigate a location even with no clues on it. — toastsushi · 74 9/26/21

What toastsushi says. The text referrs to cards like "Locked Doors", which prohibits investigating, but not discovering clues with "Working a Hunch", "Drawn to the Flame" and many other cards. So it is completely unrelated to the presence of clues at the location. — Susumu · 381 9/26/21

Susumu: So temporary/conditional blockers to investigating would permit you to still move, like Locked Doors? You wouldn't be forced to beat down the door & then investigate that location? — HanoverFist · 746 10/6/21

HanoverFist: The text certainly only refers to the current state of your location, not all possible future states later in play. The fact that you can remove the locked door by taking a test is irrelevant; it currently prevents investigating, so the limitation on this weakness is not in effect. — tessarji · 1 10/13/21

As another example, some locations might state an additional cost (consider https://arkhamdb.com/card/02050). If you are unable to pay the cost, Buried Secrets's move limitation is still in effect for you. In this case, the location is able to be investigated but you are simply unable to initiate that action. — tessarji · 1 10/13/21

Ah that checks out, thanks for the explanation! — HanoverFist · 746 10/19/21