Ok I have played 2 games as Phoenix with Crane splash Voice of Honor and Noble Sacrifice versus Dragon. Now my experience was I played only one Voice out of 2 games and I drew and held them in both games. They were just dead cards in hand. Now again I didn't see any Asako Diplomats in either game either. But i did draw Court Games fine. It seems the Phoenix cannot reliably honor more than one here and there. Not enough to run those splash. If your opponent denies you the fire ring it can hurt. The Kimono is good but it is only good on someone with fate. It doesn't help you win a conflict. It is an investment later. So you have to win conflicts with the Kimono, Asako Diplomat, and the Fire Ring to get honored. The trick is getting on that positive side. I think keeping Phoenix on the ropes will be key to beating them. To that end, I think Phoenix has to drop some of the ring tricks and play more "win conflict" cards. Less Know the World and maybe not 3 Way of the Phoenix, and run Rout and For Shame! that you didn't have room for in your deck. Even Display of Power might only need 2. After you lose 2 provinces, not defending a 3rd doesn't look like much of an option.

Going back to splash, I am thinking after Crane not working so well that I agree Dragon would be good. Mirumoto's Fury is amazing. Let Go helps remove pumps so that wins fights. The Tattooed Wanderer is good too. Otherwise I think Lion to counter For Shame! And Mirumoto's Fury with Ready For Battle and Honored Blade for more pump.

Just my thoughts after playing them.

Yeah, I'm starting to think Phoenix actually have the worst conflict cards of any clan spoiled so far. Too situational and not enough pure power, a few of them are just enablers for their very strong Dynasty cards, which are super strong. Display of Power is just too narrow and too expensive, Know the World and Way of the Phoenix are just enablers, Supernatural Storm and Grasp of Earth are too conditional, etc, etc. Pacifism is really the only strong, consistent card they have. I'm starting the think that they may be a good "bid low" faction, which makes me want to play Good Omen, just to keep those strong Dynasty dudes around for longer.

I'm definitely leaning Dragon after playing against them twice, Indomitable Will, Mirumoto's Fury, and Let Go all would have been very relevant.

This is not a doom and gloom post, though, I can happily announce that I got thoroughly trounced in the first game as Lion. As in annihilated, I think I broke one province. I won against them with Crab, but I'm not sure how, it seemed like I was getting owned, but he just couldn't break provinces.

40 minutes ago, Casanunda said:

Yeah, I'm starting to think Phoenix actually have the worst conflict cards of any clan spoiled so far. Too situational and not enough pure power, a few of them are just enablers for their very strong Dynasty cards, which are super strong. Display of Power is just too narrow and too expensive, Know the World and Way of the Phoenix are just enablers, Supernatural Storm and Grasp of Earth are too conditional, etc, etc. Pacifism is really the only strong, consistent card they have. I'm starting the think that they may be a good "bid low" faction, which makes me want to play Good Omen, just to keep those strong Dynasty dudes around for longer.

I'm definitely leaning Dragon after playing against them twice, Indomitable Will, Mirumoto's Fury, and Let Go all would have been very relevant.

This is not a doom and gloom post, though, I can happily announce that I got thoroughly trounced in the first game as Lion. As in annihilated, I think I broke one province. I won against them with Crab, but I'm not sure how, it seemed like I was getting owned, but he just couldn't break provinces.

I played two matches against Lion and Crane and I also think that you shouldn't take too many Phoenix conflict cards, but I think Display of Power and Way of the Phoenix is necessary to defend the first two turns and Way of the Phoenix is insane with some Dynasty cards. I personally don't like Supernatural Storm and Grasp of Earth, because they are really bad in the early game and also often don't work when your oponent tries to control your characters. I am also not a fan of Pacifism, but it is certainly a good card. I don't think that Phoenix is a low bid faction, but I think that Good Omen could be a good inclusion, because while drawing cards is really important in the early game, I felt like they aren't that necessary in the mid- and lategame. I think that the splash really dictates the direction you will go with Phoenix. If you want to play a honor deck, I think that Lion is currently the best choice. I really like Honored Blade and Vengeful Oathkeeper and Stand your Ground as a one of seems also very reasonable. It is also much easier to win mil conflicts, destroy provinces and your board can easily become insane, when it isn't disrupted. This was key against Lions and the deck performed really well. Against Crane although the deck got destroyed.

I will try the dragon splash and I will try a more controlish style of play with Miromoto's Fury, Let Go and Tattooed Wanderer and while I am certain that it survives the early game and can handle disruption better, I fear that I will miss the conflict prowess. I think that Crab and Crane are currently the worst splashes.

I will never splash Crane. I don't care how good it is.

I think Scorpion will be our best splash. Right now I don't think any of the dragon / crab / lion splashes are far and away better than the others.

On ‎7‎/‎31‎/‎2017 at 11:02 AM, Nickciufi said:

I will never splash Crane. I don't care how good it is.

I doubt Crane want to be splashed; their kimonos stain too easily.