Benders against Tundra Orcs

[cmarie]

On the heels of the Benders strategy minute, I want to take a moment to describe a recent matchup that was horribly one-sided -- in fact it was the least fun game of SW I have played so far. I was playing TO and my husband was the Benders. We are new players, with about 8-10 games under our belt, all against each other. Neither of us are really "mind games" people so the Benders are not very intuitive to us.

The game was a blowout in favor of the TO's. At the end, Tacullu was surrounded by Krung, another TO champion, and a couple walls, with Grognack nearby. It was pretty frustrating for my husband as he was in desperation mode for many turns leading up to the end as I hit him with Freezes, etc. (We are pretty nice, sympathetic "aww you did a good job"-type players, so this made it less fun for me as well.) For a few turns late in the game, he was playing about 1 common per turn just to emergency-defend against me because that's all he could afford, and he was never even close to being able to use Tacullu's un-summoning power. Kalal never showed up because he couldn't afford her.

I say this kind of stuff not to toot my own horn (because I think TO are WAY easier for beginners to play than Benders) and not to suggest that the factions are unbalanced, but to ask what someone in his place could do differently in a rematch. Build more magic early like James said? Use more events (like Mind Control, which he never used on me) instead of building them for magic? This was our first SW game that really felt almost unfair and therefore also un-fun, but hubby says he likes the concept of the Bender faction and would like to learn how to play them better. I could use the advice too, as I usually lose with them.

Thanks for any input you can give!

[thenightsshadow]

For this matchup, the Freezes are the most annoying to battle. Since this is the base deck matchup, build every single Breaker, as well as most, if not all, of your Mimics. Also build A Hero is Born AND Kalal. Only aim to get out Gulldune or Sorgwen, not both. Other than that, play defensive with your Walls, stun Units with the Deceivers when you can. Controllers play a muted role early on, then get stronger as the game goes on, so try to keep at least two.

[Anoir]

Unfortunatley, I don't have too much experience with this matchup but it's definatley not in the Bender's favor, but no where near as bad for them as facing the Phoenix Elves.

Walls- I usually keep them in my thrd row. This is so if commons are attacking your walls you can snag yourself a decent melee common.

Events-

Mimic- make sure to play mimic especially if they have 3+ cards in their hands and you might luck out and get reinforcments or a freeze.

Magic Drain- Make sure these happen the benders need the magic.

Mind Control- Can really help out some of the time. Use your discretion.

Hero is born- Throw it in the magic.

Commons-

Decievers- if they are stunning a unit don't neccisarily kill it. The stunned unit acts as a blocker and clutters up the field for catch up events.

Breakers-build most for magic but if you have Sorgwen on the field consider using them in conjunction with her. If you hit champs or some of the more lucrative events they are paying for themselves.

Controllers are your bread and butter especialy with Sorgwen on th field. Use them sparingly since they are of limited supply.

Champs

Guldune- Throw him in the Magic furnace. Only thing worth mind controlling with him is a fighter and even then I'd rather have the Magic.

Kalal- She is decent but expensive. Consider her a stretch goal she hit's hard from afar and can ruin the enemies plans if she comes out quick enough. IN this Match up her magic might be going to pay off freezes.

Sorgwen- The END all the Be all the PUHLEEEZE ALLL Champion. Make sure she comes out and when she does you better have a controller come out with her. The two of them can do an easy 7 dice to a target. Throw on more controller in the fray and you have 9 dice. That being said try to make sure she can't be hit or die to quickly because she has low hp. Pay to unfreeze her.

Tacullu- Don't Bank on Counter Summon. It's an ability that's good on paper but is better left unused. If you spent 5 magic to unsummon Ragnor. You could have summoned Sorgwen with a little help aka 7 magic in total (The bender's magic number) you could easily have nine dice on him and likley kill him and have board presence.

That's all I have for now but remember the Benders have the superior commons in this match and if you don't have to unfreeze don't pay to.

[airdroppers]

ProTip: Bender's are a joke without a big pile of magic.

[prometheuslkr]

It's been said before that perhaps the Benders do not have one of the highest "fun factors," because Bender games are more likely to be a blowout; either the Benders own or get annihilated.

[5150mitch]

I like the benders a lot! I have had some really close games and of course some big blow outs in victory and defeat! For me it's all about resisting the temptation to move forward and choosing to lie and wait for your enemy to come to you. " I have been told of a certain sea snake which has a very unusual method of attracting its prey. It will lie at the bottom of the ocean as if wounded. Then its enemies will approach, and yet it will lie quite still. And then its enemies will take little bites of it, and yet it remains still." only after 4-5 rounds of magic building should you awake the beast and embrace your true nature using mimics,magic drains, and mind controles while ideally bringing out Sorgwen with a controller. I also will choose to bring out Gulldune after Sorgwen if possible. There is something about turning ur opponents Champions against them that is completely demoralizing and feels awesome as u watch them crumble as you kill their summoner with their own kind!!! (mhuHa ha ha) evil plan laugh..........

...All bend to my will...

[cmarie]

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts about the Benders!

After writing my original post, I realized that the Benders had actually NEVER won in our household, against any faction. But I am delighted to report that yesterday we had an epic battle between the Benders (me trying the new strategies) and the Vargath (husband). The game had many great moments and I found myself very emotionally invested in each turn. The Mind Control events were especially fun to play. At one point I was holding down a total of 4 different Vargath commons with a pair of Deceivers -- counting my wall, that only left one unblocked route into my territory. It was AWESOME!! Then I un-summoned Growden and used Sorgwen and Gulldune to bait Sunderved into a quasi-trap at the end. (Quen was out at the time but totally nullified.) SO COOL to finally harness the power of the Benders and defeat those burly mountain dudes! I still get excited remembering it.

Thanks for bringing Bender victory to a couple Summoner fans! It was fun to enter into our spreadsheet where we are keeping track of all the matchups.

[Joseph]

congrats on the win! the benders are actually quite easy to get when you understand the concept. you guys probaly lost a lot with the benders because you used them in a way you would use the vargath or TO. the benders are a glass cannon faction that enjoys making half the enmy forces switch sides at the xpense of low life. the benders are stictly mind games, gameplay wise and in real life. you should get your opponent thinking "i could get my awesome commn up!, oh wait he might mind control it. Then ill summon all of these weak ones! arggh, wait , then he might magic drain me. ok, i will pull out this heavy champ! Oh crap, i forgot, counter summoning and the sorgwen+controller combo! arggh, i hate the benders!" Of course, now that you have gotten the concepts, i hope the two of have fun with the benders. they aren't hard, just very difernt.

[5150mitch]

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts about the Benders!

After writing my original post, I realized that the Benders had actually NEVER won in our household, against any faction. But I am delighted to report that yesterday we had an epic battle between the Benders (me trying the new strategies) and the Vargath (husband). The game had many great moments and I found myself very emotionally invested in each turn. The Mind Control events were especially fun to play. At one point I was holding down a total of 4 different Vargath commons with a pair of Deceivers -- counting my wall, that only left one unblocked route into my territory. It was AWESOME!! Then I un-summoned Growden and used Sorgwen and Gulldune to bait Sunderved into a quasi-trap at the end. (Quen was out at the time but totally nullified.) SO COOL to finally harness the power of the Benders and defeat those burly mountain dudes! I still get excited remembering it.

Thanks for bringing Bender victory to a couple Summoner fans! It was fun to enter into our spreadsheet where we are keeping track of all the matchups.

I am really excited for your victory and happy that a fellow summoner has as much fun with the benders as I do