Beginner's Guide to Raini: How to Choose Your Starter Deck
Raini: The Lords of Light is an engaging trading card game (TCG) that offers various strategies through its diverse decks. In this guide, we'll help you choose the best starter deck that matches your playstyle, making your entry into the game smooth and enjoyable.
How to get your Started Deck/ Theme Decks#Copy URL to this article section
Finish the Tutorial. Completing the tutorial rewards you with two theme deck tokens.
Go to the Shop: Navigate to the in-game shop.
Buy Your Theme Decks: Use the tokens to purchase theme decks (1 token per deck).
Completed the three levels of the tutorial in Raini: The Lords of Light.
When choosing your starter deck, it’s essential to match your choice to your playstyle. Generally, there are four card deck archetypes: Aggro, Midrange, Control, and Combo. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Type 1 - Aggro Decks#Copy URL to this article section
Aggro decks, short for "aggressive," focus on reducing the opponent's life points quickly rather than engaging in long-term strategies. They prioritize dealing damage with Minions and Spells, aiming to dominate early in the game. Minions cards are usually the primary source of cumulative damage for aggressive decks.
Pros of Aggro Decks #Copy URL to this article section
More Straightforward to Pilot: Aggro decks are easier to play, making them ideal for beginners.
Quick Game Finishes: Games with aggro decks are usually fast-paced and finish quickly.
Beginner-Friendly: The simplicity of aggro decks makes them accessible for new players.
Punishes Slow Starts: Aggro decks can take advantage of opponents who have slow starts.
Cons of Aggro Decks #Copy URL to this article section
Runs Out of Steam Quickly: Aggro decks often lose momentum in the later stages of the game.
Easily Stopped by Taunt Minions: Taunt Minions can effectively halt the progress of aggro decks.
Predictable: The strategies of aggro decks are often predictable, making them easier for opponents to counter.
Tips for Aggro Decks#Copy URL to this article section
Mulligan aggressively. Look for hands with a good curve of low-cost, high-impact Minions and Spells. Don’t be afraid to mulligan to find a better starting hand.
Understand when to trade. Avoid engaging with the opponent’s Minions unless absolutely necessary (e.g. if a Minion can clear your board or if it has Taunt)
Prioritize building your board. Use Spells only when you have nothing else to play, or if you need to remove key opponent Minions but don’t want to trade your own Minions for it
Manage resources. Be mindful of typical board wipe cards of the opponent's gem color, such as “Regulate” for orange gems or “Crypto Ban” for red gems. Think twice before you commit resources to building your board at the risk of not having enough cards to take down your opponent.
Explore the four aggressive starter theme decks in Raini
Type 2 - Midrange Decks#Copy URL to this article section
A midrange deck plays threats once it reaches the middle of the mana range of the game (around 5 to 7 gems), but its early strategy focuses on gem ramp and control. When facing aggro decks, a midrange deck will try and keep trading with minions reactively and handle them with attrition. Against control decks, a midrange deck will try to be more aggressive and get tempo. In colloquial TCG language, midrange is the balance between aggro and control since it can do both.
Pros of Midrange Decks#Copy URL to this article section
Balanced curve. You can still get a lot of value from your deck at any stage of the game–early or late
Versatile and flexible. You can adjust your strategy depending on the matchup, playing aggressively against control decks and defensively against aggro decks.
Cons of Midrange Decks #Copy URL to this article section
Requires early decision on strategy. You need to choose between aggro or control role early on in the game.
Vulnerable to bad draws and gem screw. If you miss dropping cards in the early turns, you significantly lose tempo.
Complexity in playstyle. It often requires a deep understanding of the meta, your own deck, and the opponent’s deck.
More challenging for beginners. It is not easy to pilot midrange decks as it involves a lot adapting and nuanced decision-making.
Tips for Midrange Decks#Copy URL to this article section
Curve Out Smoothly. Mulligan for a starting hand that ensures you have cards to play at each turn.
Make Value Trades vs Aggro. Play your cards in a way that gives you an advantage. Your Minions are usually stronger than aggro, so try to ensure that you use yours to destroy the opponent Minions.
Play Aggressively vs Control. Build your board to deal consistent damage against control decks, but don't overextend. Watch out for board wipe cards like “Regulate” (orange gems) or “Crypto Ban” (red gems).
Discover the midrange starter theme decks in Raini: The Lords of Light
Type 3 - Control Decks#Copy URL to this article section
Control decks rely on Spells to manage the board early to mid-game, using a clear win condition or potent late-game Minions. They defend their life points meticulously and aim for late-game victories.
Pros of Control Decks #Copy URL to this article section
More Options for Staking Cards: Control decks offer various options for staking cards, providing strategic flexibility.
Adaptable: Control decks can be tailored to counter specific metagames, allowing players to fine-tune their decks to address prevalent threats and strategies.
Card Advantage: Control decks often feature card draw and resource generation, enabling players to maintain a steady flow of answers and threats while depleting the opponent's resources.
High Resilience: These decks are highly resilient, capable of withstanding and recovering from difficult situations.
Cons of Control Decks #Copy URL to this article section
Longer Games: Games with control decks take longer to finish.
Diverse Decision Making: Playing control decks involves complex and diverse decision-making.
Early Vulnerability: Control decks are often vulnerable in the early stages of the game.
Tips for Control Decks#Copy URL to this article section
Prioritize Card Advantage: Use card draw and two-for-one spells to keep a steady hand and out-resource your opponent. Aim to trade one of your cards for multiple of theirs.
Mulligan for Answers: Look for lower-cost cards during the mulligan phase to respond to early threats.
Focus on Win Conditions: Have clear win conditions and know when to switch from defense to offense. Protect your win conditions with counterspells and removal.
Explore the control starter theme decks in Raini: The Lords of Light
Type 4 - Combo Decks#Copy URL to this article section
Combo decks focus on powerful synergies to accomplish significant plays in a single turn, shifting the game tempo or setting up a deadly attack.
Pros of Combo Decks #Copy URL to this article section
Surprise Factor: The sudden and unexpected nature of combo wins can catch opponents off guard, especially if they are not prepared to deal with the specific combo
Strategic Depth: Playing combo decks requires a deep understanding of the deck's interactions and the ability to sequence plays correctly, offering a highly strategic and rewarding experience.
Cons of Combo Decks #Copy URL to this article section
Inconsistency: Combo decks can be inconsistent, as they rely on drawing specific cards to execute their strategy
Predictability: Once the combo deck's strategy is known, opponents can adapt their play to counter it, making it harder to execute the combo successfully.
Complexity: The intricate nature of combo decks can make them difficult to play optimally, requiring precise sequencing and a thorough understanding of the deck's and specific cards’ interactions.
Tips for Combo Decks#Copy URL to this article section
Know Your Combo - Of course, you need to understand the exact sequence of cards needed for your combo and how to assemble it as efficiently as possible.
Draw and Dig - Dig through your deck for vital pieces of the puzzle.
Play Around Disruption - Be mindful of how your opponent can disrupt your combo and plan accordingly. Hold back vital pieces like Kitsune in Hermes’ Healing if you suspect they have answers.
Explore the control starter theme decks in Raini: The Lords of Light
Join the Community#Copy URL to this article section
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