Microbots

If you are looking for a classic TV show episode to build a Perceptor deck around, look no further than Microbots.  Perceptor was doing his nerdy scientist thing, working on a shrinking-enlarging device.  Brawn was making fun of him for not being a fighter (which really made me feel bad for my fellow nerd Perceptor).  On the Decepticon side of the aisle, Megatron got his hands on "The Heart of Cybertron" which increased his power when it was installed on him.  Perceptor came up with a genius plan to shrink himself, Brawn, and Bumblebee down to microscopic size to infiltrate Megatron's body to disconnect the device - straight out of Innerspace y'all! And yes, I recognize that I am dating myself with that movie reference - google it!

This deck reunites this micro-dream team.  Will they shrink in the face of adversity, or rise to the occasion?  Note: The fortressmaximus.io visual depiction of the deck is at the end of the article

Characters:
Perceptor (8)
Convex (4)
Brawn (5)
Bumblebee Brave Warrior (6)
Heroic Spotlight Stratagem (1)

Energized Field Star Card (3)

Battle Cards (Pip)(Number):

Agility of Bumblebee (O)(1)

Confidence (O)(3)

Escape Capsule (O, BL)(3)

Escape Route (W)(3)

Field Repair (O)(3)

Hold the Line (WG)(3)

Matrix of Leadership (OB)(3)

Noble's Blaster (BG)(3)

Rapid Conversion (W)(3)

Regenerative Core (G)(3)

Repair Bay (O)(3)

Roll Out (OB)(1)

Swap Missions (B)(3)

Wedge Formation (O, BL,G)(3)

Energized Field (BB)(3)

Breakdown: 22 Orange, 18 Blue, 9 White, 15 Green, 6 Black.  27 Actions, 3 Weapons, 6 Armor, 7 Utility

Why These Characters: Let's be real.  The image of a mini Brawn, Perceptor, and Bumblebee riding on some sort of micro virus is amazing.  Perceptor was one of those characters that was always hanging around on the fringes, but he didn't have too many episodes focused on him.  On the other hand, he managed to survive the carnage of Transformers the Movie, so he's definitely worthy of a deck!  Speaking of the movie, it's nice to build a deck around a Brawn story he didn't get destroyed in (see my tragic Heroic Nonsense deck).  This team left me with some extra stars, but not much I could do with them, so I added the Heroic Spotlight Stratagem and some star cards. 

Why these battle cards: The theme of these battle cards is escaping and healing, which fits nicely with the Microbots episode.  Bumblebee is in the house, so we need at least one copy of his agility with Agility of Bumblebee to help zip around the microverse.  This particular Bumblebee also is a leader, so I threw in Matrix of Leadership (it's like of like the Heart of Cybertron ... not really...but close enough to stand in for it in this deck).  

The micro squad are all Autobots, so I tossed in Noble's Blaster.  Perceptor is a body, so I included Escape Capsule.  I threw in Escape Route, Rapid Conversion, Roll Out, and Swap Missions to take advantage of Perceptor's and Bumblebee's flip abilities.  Brawn likes flipping different color pips, which I think will be helped by my pip distribution.

I had three extra stars to use so I gave Energized Field a try. That seems to fit with the weird micro thingy our heroes rode in the episode.

Strategy: This would be an awesome deck to run up against a Megatron, thematically
at least.  The goal is to use Perceptor's flip ability as often as I can.  The pip color distribution should help make Brawn useful in the meantime.   If Perceptor dies, we can still make use of the flip cards with Bumblebee - when he flips each other character gets pierce 1 until the end of the turn. 

Fury Road: Daring Escape Cars

Taking a break from Gen1 themed decks, this is my attempt at a Daring Escape deck (which is admittedly hard when I only have two copies of it).  I have no idea if it would work, but it was fun getting to use some cards I haven't been able to use in a deck yet.  The fortressmaximus.io deck depiction is included at the end of this post.

Characters:
Cliffjumper (8)

Sunstreaker Bold Warrior (7)

Prowl Military Strategist (6)

Private Stakeout (4)

Battle Cards (Pip Color)(Number):
Daring Escape (BG)(2)
Diagnosis (W)(3)
Energon Axe (B)(3)
Escape Route (WG)(3)
Grenade Launcher (O)(3)
Increased Durability (BL)(3)
Kinetic Converter (W)(3)
Pep Talk (B)(3)
Pocket Processor (G)(3)
Rapid Conversion (W)(3)
Repurpose (BL)(2)
Roll Out (OB)(1)
Start Your Engines (B)(1)
Team Up Tactics (B)(3)
Treasure Hunt (O)(2)
Turbo Boosters (O)(2)
Breakdown: 8 Orange, 13 Blue, 8 Green, 12 White, 5 Black. 23 Actions, 6 Weapons, 3 Armor, 8 Utility.

Why these characters: I finally got Cliffjumper from the Energon Edition and was looking for a way to try him out. He looks great as a leader of cars, so I then tried to go wide and cram as many Autobot cars as possible into his team. Once I decided to combine his flipping car teammate ability with Daring Escape, Sunstreaker was my next choice.  I chose Prowl because his bot ability can help keep his fellow teammates alive when one goes down and his car mode gives them a nice flip Bold 2 bonus, which can help dig for Daring Escape cards. Stakeout's 4 stars fit, but even better, I can toss a white card (there are 12 in the deck) and flip another character if I want to trigger an ability (such as Sunstreaker's draw card ability).

Why these battle cards: I'm trying to thread the needle between having a good fighting deck but trying to trigger Daring Escape's win condition.  So, most of my cards are geared around drawing cards, even if I never use them, if they are in my hand, they won't be in my deck or scrap pile. Drawing cards include Diagnosis, Kinetic Converter, Pep Talk, Pocket Processor, Repurpose, Team-up Tactics (because this squad is all cars), and Treasure Hunt.

Because Cliffjumper and dead bot mode Sunstreaker reward flips, I included Escape Route, Start Your Engines, Rapid Conversion, and Roll Out.

In the likely circumstance I don't pull off that Daring Escape, hopefully the cars specific upgrade Turbo Boosters, Increased Durability, Grenade Launcher, Energon Axe, and Diagnosis can help.

Strategy: This deck is all about drawing cards and flipping ... to draw cards.  or the first turn, Prowl flips, triggers Cliffjumper draw power, and Sunstreaker attacks.  I don't mind if Sunstreaker dies because he can still flip and draw cards for me.  Second turn, I'm flipping stakeout (to trigger Cliffjumper's draw ability) and attacking with Stakeout.  If Sunstreaker is then killed, I can use his KO flip/draw ability.  If my opponent takes out Stakeout instead, Prowl heals Sunstreaker (or whoever my opponent attacked first if they went first).  Cliffjumper can chill out in car mode until he's the last man standing, at which time he will flip and take advantage of +3 attack for each of his dead car buddies. 

In the meantime, each time I play a Daring Escape, I can KO cards on the top of my deck.  If I get one early enough, this could be 3 or 4 cards.  Combining that plus my draw cards and abilities, and I just might be able to escape before my team dies.  Then again, being on an Autobot Shuttle isn't what it is cracked up to be, especially for Prowl (see Heroic Nonsense).

Note 1: I only own one copy of Roll Out and Start your Engines and two copies of Daring Escape. Would you recommend playing more in this deck?

Note 2: This deck was largely completed before Wave 5.  Would you swap in any Wave 5 cards to improve this deck?

Passing the Matrix

This deck is fashioned after that time in Transformers: The Movie where Optimus Prime died and he gave the matrix to Ultra Magnus (not an auspicious inspiration since that didn't work so well in the movie):

Characters: General Optimus Prime (11), Major Ultra Magnus (12), Ultra Magnus Armor (2)

Battle Cards:

Battering Ram x2

Brainstorm x 3

Cargo Trailer x3

Combat Training x2

Cooling Vents x1

Data Pad x1

Defensive Formation x2

Diagnosis x3

Energy Pack x 2

Grenade Launcher x3

Handheld Blaster x3

Improvised Shield x3

Matrix of Leadership x1

Mining Pick x2

Noble Blaster x2

Roll Out x1

Squish them Like bugs x2

Steamroll x1

Team up Tactics x2
Breakdown: 22O, 22B, 2G, 5W. 14 Actions, 12 Weapons, 5 Armor, 9 Utility

Why these characters? Both are trucks and leaders, so I have a better chance of using the Matrix, battering ram, and cargo trailer.  They are both Autobots, so I can use tribal cards like Noble Blaster.  Both are big, so I have a better chance of using Squish Them Like Bugs and can use Energy Pack.

Why these cards?  I only have to flip Magnus once so I tried to have my deck geared towards hitting 2 orange and 2 blue pips.  That's why I have the double pip cards (Handheld Blaster, Improvised Shield, Matrix, Roll Out, Ultra Magnus armor once it gets knocked off).  I tried to pick white cards that would also help me get those cards - Combat Training gives me bold 1 if I have an Armor on Magnus, Data Pad gives me a card and lets me put on one the top of the deck.  Either one of these utilities would help Magnus.  Obviously Mining Pick is very helpful as well. My other white pip is Diagnosis, which could help keep these guys alive. 

Since I have only two guys, I tried to pick pip cards that would help heal these guys or block damage - Cooling Vents, Defensive Formation, Team up Tactics.   I put Steamroll in for situations where I am playing a wide team and need to smash the damage to another player.

Strategy: This one is all about flipping Ultra Magnus and trying to smash with him until his armor gets taken off.

What do you think about this amazing recreation of the saddest moment in movie history?