So I was lamenting this week about how I won’t be able to make the trip to GenCon again this year. It really is a frustrating thing to love this game so much (even before minis with the TCG) and never be able to make this event due to other priorities in life. It will be an interesting week, as I’ll have a friend there locally who will help provide updates, but not being there will just be a “suck it up” thing to take. So, amidst the sorrow of not being able to go and the joy of watching one of my friends compete and hopefully do well, I got wondering to myself, of all the minis in the game, which one’s probably won’t make their way to Indy either?

I know, morbid, but somewhat funny, as there are just some minis that no one plays with in constructed and when they open them in a sealed the first reaction is one of annoyance. The next question of course, is, could any of those minis, not making the trek to Indy, be an actually viable, or at least a fun, team? Well, what exactly makes a mini unfavorable I guess is the first question?

High costs with low value is the first thing to come to mind. Someone like Ona Skyshot, Harnum Firebelly, and Bogstrok Razorclaw are a few that to mind immediately for each faction. At 8, 7, and 7 honor, there are just so much better “best in slot” minis to fit into a team for that honor. Then there is the high tick attack with a low payoff mini. Again, looking at each faction, some standouts in this category are Aleyah Dawnborn (4T 5D), Leeroy Jenkins (4T 6D), and Deathwhisperer (XT XD with X being the same, ouch!) All three of these minis have higher than average attack costs for the potential damage they could do. Additionally, there are the “Can’t do much with this” minis… like Anchorite Christia (2T 2R 3D) with her OCH (3T, 2R, 2D), or Sidian Morningblade (4T 1R 5D) with an almost painful ability with 6 (potentially 7) life, or on the monster side, Grimdon (2T 2R 3D) who can be wiped off the board without breaking a sweat.

Yes, there are a lot of minis that appear to not be making the trip to Indy… but, if you’re not going to Indy… what is a lil’ plastic dude (or dudette) supposed to do?

Party it up with the other peeps who can’t make it right? And what goes better at a good party, than some cheesy 80’s music? Looking at the above, that gives us three, horrendous, horrid piles of plastic, filled with potential….

"Hit me with your best shot”
Ona Skyshot
Aleyah Dawnborn
Sidian Morning Blade

“Sexual Healing”
Harnum Firebelly
Anchorite Crisita
Leeroy Jenkins

“Against All Odds”
Bogstrok Razorclaw
Deathwhisperer
Grimdon

Let’s look at them one at a time over the next three days… yes folks, that’s right… you may be clamoring to know what cards are going with “Against All Odds”, but patience Daniel-san, and you will know. Today, let’s look at the Horde, “Hit me with your best shot” party…



We have Range with Ona, and two melee classes. Aleyah will not be much help with Ona as Ona is going to want to be pew-pewing away from afar, while the paladins wipe out the remnants. However, Aleyah will help Sidian. With Sidian already having a lower health total than desired, and potentially taking more damage on his own, Aleyah’s Blessing will be just that, a blessing. But, before moving ahead, let’s look over Ona. she’s the bulk of this 18 honor team. She provides range, and has an OK attack at 3T 2-4R 6D. Aspect of the pack may help us in a pinch, but exhausting cards of our own is a painful prospect to get people into the thick of things, especially when one of our other minis needs to have at least one card not exhausted (Sidian). So let’s see, this new Viper’s Sting is pretty solid. This will help slow down enemies for sure. And, with two melee classes available to us, we may want to use Arcane shot to switch to a magic attack as needed. Finally, we need a pet. What’s a hunter without a pet? In this case, let’s look to an old favorite, Call Fury. Offering increased movement off the bat, higher magical resist, and a solid attack, she’s always good choice

Ok, so Ona is covered, now let’s look at Aleyah. Paladins are insanely OP in the online game and although Aleyah is not the bomb, she’s no slouch either. Blessing of Sacrifice is a solid ability. Anyone who has played BIG knows this. However, Aleyah never seemed to get the play that Graccus did. Still, being able to absorb damage from friends is a helpful little ability. Her main attack, as discussed earlier, is painfully slow, and not valuable in the big scheme of things. If you toss this more than two times a game, you’re probably playing wrong. So, since she’s going to be running around the board with Sidian, making sure he doesn’t die, or worse yet, kill himself, what should we add to her arsenal? Flash of Light is almost immediately needed. This is the staple heal for Paladins and does a solid job. Also, as I’ve heard, Locks be in dem darn hills… so Cleanse would be a good option as well. Additionally, Cleanse readies at 5, so it can be used with Aspect of the Pack early if needed too. Finally, for a third option, there is the big daddy, the Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros. Yes, it pumps this team up to 22, but really, if you are gonna go down, why not go down swinging a big weapon right? Plus, the Blessing will trigger the Hand’s ability, adding to the damage back for the damage taken. Fair trade off, even if not a championship team here.

Now on to Sidian. Sidian is an interesting mini. He’s by no means anywhere near the top of the list when I think of Paladins I want to play with. He’s like the Diet Coke of Paladins. Obviously, we need an equipment card here. If not, we’re playing wrong off the bat. And, it needs to stay ready, no Aspecting this one. Nightmare Blade is probably the best card to go with this guy. It adds two honor, but offers the best options. Rerolls come into play, and with a high tick attack, we’ll need to ensure crits are happening. Additionally, movement on crits could be beneficial, and can’t hurt since it’s optional. We want him attacking every chance he gets, so instant cards are good for his remaining slot options here. We’ve already got a lot of speed with Aspect of the Pack, why not make everyone a bit faster, getting Fury, Aleyah, and Sidian here to the battlefield sooner than later? Crusader Aura is a good option I be thinking. Finally, ensuring rerolls happen, Scroll of Strength is a good option here as well. Additionally, the scroll offers you the option of using both the Scroll and the Crusader to opt not to increase your honor with the nightmare blade. Sidian may not be using Aspect of the Pack, but having Crusader will help get him into the mix, and with either the blade or the scroll, you can help get those much needed crits.

Hm? Maybe this isn’t that bad of a team after all? We have Ona shooting from afar, pew-pewing away… Sidian rushing in to damage opponents, Fury along by his side (with 4 movement with Crusader if timed right) and Aleyah with them to keep them happily swinging away!

Final Party:
Ona Skyshot packing:
Viper Sting
Arcane Shot
Call Fury

Aleyah Dawnbringer bringing:
Flash of Light
Cleanse
Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros

Sidian Morningblade along with:
Nightmare Blade
Crusader Aura
Scroll of Strength

Honor Options:
18 Honor Raw
20 Honor with Nightmare Blade (and no Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros)
22 Honor with Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros (and no Nightmare blade)
24 Honor with both Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros and Nightmare Blade

Seems our first party has more options overall than we thought! And really, when you are at home, pining for GenCon, what better to surround you, than options.

I hope you enjoyed this masochistic view of minis, and look forward to tomorrow’s team review, “Sexual Healing”