The Book of Grubs

[Killer Lawnmower]

The Book of Grubs
Champion of the Mercenaries: Reinforcements 2 - Hawk's Strike

http://www.summonerwars.com/Grubs.jpg

The bodyguard Grubs earned his notoriety when he fought alongside the Cave Goblin Sneaks in a Guild Dwarf ambush. The Cave Goblins suffered absurd losses and the Dwarves repeatedly broke through the Goblin lines in an attempt to cut Sneaks down. But the Goblin Summoner never bothered using his signature ability to vanish out of harm’s way. Instead attacking Dwarves found themselves set upon by a mercenary Hobgoblin who cut them down with ease, and who often teamed with Sneaks to bring down hardier foes. The Goblins lost the battle and fled after an hour of fighting, but the attempt on Sneaks’ life failed, and the Dwarves were left cursing their luck.

Rules Clarifications
Q. If Grubs dies from Body Guard, where does he go?
A. He would go into the controlling player's Magic Pile.

Community Contributions
Grubs needs a Rub (http://www.plaidhatgames.com/sum_forums/showthread.php?p=10070#post10070)

[sitnam90]

I'm getting a lot of interesting thoughts on this guy. First I thought prince elien or Sera would greatly benefit from having this guy with em. But now I'm thinking Grognack, Sunderved, and Sneeks can also benefit from having Grubs whilst they are on the attack

[Marroking1]

I'm getting a lot of interesting thoughts on this guy. First I thought prince elien or Sera would greatly benefit from having this guy with em. But now I'm thinking Grognack, Sunderved, and Sneeks can also benefit from having Grubs whilst they are on the attack
I don't think he would be very good with Sneeks, cause when he uses sly Grubs will take 2 hits. Which if you where playing a 4-player game and your team mate had Sera would not be so bad.

[killercactus]

But you can summon Grubs at the front of the battle and then Sly Sneeks in on that turn, and then move Grubs again, which is really cool.

[Elcor13]

I don't think he would be very good with Sneeks, cause when he uses sly Grubs will take 2 hits. Which if you where playing a 4-player game and your team mate had Sera would not be so bad.

Unless you're slying to a unit besides Grubs that you brought up, like a Berserker or Rider or something.

[Marroking1]

But you can summon Grubs at the front of the battle and then Sly Sneeks in on that turn, and then move Grubs again, which is really cool.


Unless you're slying to a unit besides Grubs that you brought up, like a Berserker or Rider or something.
The traditional combo I use with the CG is summon 2 beast riders Use GI and Goblin Horde Attack. Then I move my Beasts adjacent to there summoner attack then switch with Sneeks. With Grubs you can make this combo last event longer than a turn. You can have Sneeks attack then have Grubs move in front blocking the attacks.
Thanks for the ideas guys.

[KCU Master 2007]

After playing a tournament with the Cloaks, I think he might fit in there. The Cloaks really don't have a hard hitting Champion with the exception of Dagger when he is behind an enemy unit which isn't always easy to do.

Seeing as Vlox is most likely going to be Scrapping around the board anyway, why not keep him and Grubs on the front line? It may limit Vlox's mobility a little bit, but you don't really need Grubs until that big champion is summoned by your opponent. I know he would have helped against Miti if I could have gotten him down.

[Sujoah]

I'm quite surprised this was never addressed: if Body Guard kills Grubs, what pile does he go into?

[r0gershrubber]

I'm quite surprised this was never addressed: if Body Guard kills Grubs, what pile does he go into?

I'm fairly certain it is the owner's pile, just like the Firebeast. I think the general rule is whoever's plays the event or controls the unit that destroys a unit gets the magic.

[Phoenixio]

Yep. Grubs would go into his controller's magic pile if he ever got killed by Body Guard.

[esper88]

Grubs you silly man.

I've tried him in a few Vanguard games and he was very solid, if a bit vanilla.

What does Grubs look like in his prime? When does that 2 movement really come into play?

[esper88]

Update: I played Grubs with the Phoenix Elves the other day. Seems like a match made in heaven right? The summoner most in need of protection with a body guard. Sounds great, right?

Nope. Elien + Grubs looks great on paper, but bringing Elien into the fray in order to keep Grubs alive is too risky. If you've managed to deplete all of the opponent's resources by the time you get the Grubs Elien tag team out, you will be alright, but odds are the opponent will still have a few cards in hand when your duo starts to move out.

This means that if you move Elien out with Grubs onto the opponent's side, they can potentially summon a common or two and waste Elien in a single turn. So basically you have to turtle until your opponent comes to you, during which time your opponent can organize themselves to pull off the best strategy possible. One game against the Sand Goblins was won by sandstorming Elien while Grubs only had 1 wound. This is the problem with the Grubs Elien combo: Elien is made of tissue paper and needs to stay out of harms way until he absolutely has to move out.

Now I see why Grognack is cited as one of the best uses of Grubs, because Grognack can take a beating and allow Grubs to flourish. However, that 2 movement hasn't been too alluring so far. Basically I think Grubs main selling point is his 3/6 body, which some factions don't have access to. For instance the Tundra Orcs already have Rukar, who sacrifices that 2 movement in order to gain huge damage potential and the ability to be playing early or mid game. Thus I think I'd only include Grubs in the TO if I already had Rukar and I still wanted that particular stat spread.

The 2 Movement has been more conjecture-ally good than anything. I can envision Grognack behind a wall sending Grubs in to attack something and then reeling Grubs back out of harm's way, but scenarios like this don't come up very often in actual gameplay.

But 3/6 is a hot body. I'll have to try him in the Cave Goblins in a very strange build. I can see warping Sneeks in to accompany Grubs at any position. Potentially great.

Anyway, Grubs is a 3/6/7 who doesn't gradually destroy himself like Malevolence. That's his true strength. Body Guard is fringe benefit (/restriction).

[Sauam]

Yep I agree, it is already quite establish that Grubs will not work well the Prince of Hurting.

Grubs with Sneeks is so far the best, giving Grubs the ability to go full force attack once chance permits, or allow Sneeks and Grubs attack separately then warp to regroup like a cool Voltron lol... something Grognack wish he can do, in fact sometime that stranglehold Grognack put on Grubs restricts movement if not play carefully.

Another surprise use with Grubs is tag with Vlox, his ability to allow Vlox to push up and morph into anything is pretty subtle but quite effective, giving protection and/or allow Grubs to choke wall so no counter attack can be made to Vlox.

[darkbladecb]

Grognack + Grubs > anyone + Grubs.

[esper88]

Played some games with Grubs and Sneeks, and now I'm in love with the 2 movement. I was under the impression that the movement would always be used to flank the summoner so he wouldn't get attacked, but this is not the only use. In fact, when Grubs was at 5 damage in one of my games, I used the movement to place him behind Sneeks, who was at near full health.

The two movement is great. It allows you to do little positioning tricks that translate to board control.

If only I was better with the Cave Goblins, I would have won one of the games I played... But Grubs hauled butt in these games and now I see how he is comparable to Rukar and not strictly inferior.

[clembo]

I really wish that Grubs could be further away from the Summoner to use his movement. How much more useful would he be if he could be 3 or 4 spaces away from your summoner to get that extra movement? That way he could leave your summoner for a second to go attack, then he could run back into his area to stop from getting damaged. As it stands right now he's really situational. But I guess that's how Mercs are supposed to be!

[thenightsshadow]

Grubs is, for me, the most-used Mercenary, and I've tried him with every Summoner, even Mugglug.

[sitnam90]

I have yet to really try grubs, but I've been thinking he'd do well with Sunderved. But every time I've played MV I haven't gotten him out

[Sauam]

Grognack + Grubs > anyone + Grubs.

I humbly disagree.

Sneeks + Grubs >>> anyone + Grubs

There is so many tricky sly trick. Play those common thoughtfully around Grubs and it is easy to see why. Makes CG so interesting.