i just ordered the entire summons of the deep cycle and im hoping there are good cards in there. are there or is not that good of a cycle overall? what is the best cycle to date? i know that its a matter of opinion but im looking for the best cards overall not pet" cards that people like to have in their decks so they think its the best cycle.

I don't think there is an answer to your question. The "best" cards depend on the type of deck you are trying to build, the factions you want to support, etc.

Also, there's no reason you have to buy all the packs in a cycle together. It's perfectly fine to pick & choose the individual packs you want.

What I tend to do is go to a site like cardgamedb.com and look at the cards in pack. If there are enough of them I want, that pack scores higher on my list of which ones to get next. Or, pick up packs based on the specific deck you want to make. That's what I did for Gencon, I just nabbed the packs that had the cards I planned to use. I'm thinking of making a Lunatic themed deck sometime and if so I'll take the same tactic - ordering the specific packs with the cards I want. Each time I do this there will be fewer and fewer of them because I'll start to have more of the cards I need from previous orders.

I do see a lot of people suggesting that The Yuggoth Contract is a good cycle though, and Summons of the Deep seems pretty nice to me too.

dboeren said:

I agree about the latter, though. Imho, The Yuggoth Contract has been the best cycle so far.

Anyway to the OP: You don't have to 'guess' what cards are in the AP or 'hope' that there are good cards in them. There's lots of ways to find out well before you buy:

- At BGG spoiler lists for every expansion are available.

- There's a web-based online DB search utility available at cthulhu.dbler.com/

- There's a standalone Windows app that is brilliant to build your decks at eric.minet.free.fr/cocbuilder/index_en.htm

- There's the CardDB that has already been mentioned

Always worthy of mention over and over again: The Deck Builder is absolutely incredible. Everyone here has installed it (right?).

Please do the same. You will be overwhelmed with information. And the game will come to you in your most creative musings. "I wonder if I check this sub type at that cost in this faction.... It is limitless.

And so, will provide you your best opinion on the best AP, your own.

I agree that themes within cycles lend to completing all six. But I think there are few examples where those intra-cycle mechanics really are that impactful on good strategy. Less powerful themed decks certainly, like a polar deck or something. I tend to think you'll find the cards you want sprinkled between each AP, some more than others. Now you can build it (I guess and play it if you're into online) before you buy.

All that said, I like the Mouldering Spawn Atole Asylum Pack best myself. The obscure Cthurgle M'Hengy Ancient One is a must have.