Berserk Changeling
|
| Berserk Changeling |
|
I have already reviewed my favorite support card for the Klingon affiliation in The Dominion that of Empok Nor. For my next review in this series I will be reviewing another card that all affiliations can make use of and has in fact become a favorite of many players. Let's take a look and Berserk Changeling.
Berserk Changeling is perhaps one of the best cards in the set. If for no other reason than it is the first strong planet/space wall dilemma since Shaka, When the Walls Fell. There have been a few others but Hippocratic Oath and Unscientific Method tend to be used more as filters than they do as a will. Let's take a look at the text for this dilemma and then analyze it and see how it can be effectively used.
Planet/Space - Unless 2 hand weapons OR 3 SECURITY OR Changeling Sweep OR Shape-Shift Inhibitor OR Interphase Generator OR Mora Pol.
The first thing a player notices is that it has 6 or conditions. This is a lot for a card and normally makes it somewhat ineffective. Let's take a look at the conditions:
First of all currently there two of the conditions call for Cards that do not exist yet, Changeling Sweep and Shape-Shift Inhibitor. True there is a good chance we will see them in Blaze of Glory but for now there are of no concern. Personally I doubt that you will see them much when they do exist. On the surface both cards seem to be pretty focused and may not have a wide range of uses. If this turns out to be true most players will not use them but go for cards that have uses against several different strategies.
How about the Interphase Generator? This card has been around quite a while and is useful against a lot of dilemmas. However it has a drawback and that is it is an artifact. In the tournament scene you just don't see it used. You have to earn it somehow and it takes up a precious seed slot that could be used for another dilemma, hidden agenda or a more useful artifact. Interphase Generator is a defensive artifact and normally players are going after offensive artifacts like Kurlan Naiskos and Horg'ahn. You really probably shouldn't worry about it.
For the Bajorans Mora Pol will nullify it for you. You probably won't have to worry about him either for a couple of reasons. First off Bajorans is one of the affiliations you do not see as often. In tournaments I have been in you see at most one player using them. Secondly Mora Pol doesn't have a lot of skills. He is after all Science s2 and Exobiology x2. Unless you have a Science or Exobiological focus you probably won't be using him. Bariel Antos and Surmak Ren are more useful ,plus there are several N/A personnel with SCIENCE and a lot of other skills. I do not think that I have ever seen Mora Pol played by my opponent.
This leaves us with two conditions to worry a lot about. The first is 2 hand weapons. Weapons are seeing more use with the release of The Dominion but still you do not see them a lot. Still they are something you should take into consideration. You may want to have a plan to get rid of weapons. Disrupter Overload will help here. This card will is starting to see more and more use anyway. It helps against Borg Assimilate Counterpart strategies and is useful against the Dominion's Ketracel White. In the long run many players don't use weapons because they can water your deck down unnecessarily.
Trying to get 3 SECURITY will be how most players will have to try to overcome it. In today's play environment this is a lot. Most players try to play with 3 to 4 of each classification. With no piece of equipment that adds SECURITY to personnel it can be a vulnerable area for your opponent. Knowing this you will want to eliminate say two of your opponent's personnel that way they may not be able to solve the mission.
Now that we have analyzed the conditions now let's look at how to set it up and make it expensive for your opponent and make it stick. The combo I recommend is Empathic Echo + Selective Killer + Berserk Changeling. Why this combo? It forces your opponent to have 4 SECURITY to pass. Empathic Echo is the key to the combo. It is an Alternate Universe planet/space wall dilemma. It forces your opponent to have both Medical and SECURITY to get by the dilemma otherwise a personnel with Empathy dies. Seed this combo at all 6 locations and you have the makings of a set of dilemmas your opponent will be hard pressed to get around more than once. Empathic Echo forces SECURITY to be present and prevents Red Shirting the combo. Your Killer up next should target a personnel with SECURITY . Target Double SECURITY personnel like Tasha Yar and Worf Son of Mogh if you can. Killer's like Shot in the Back, Common Thief, Flaxian Assassin and Borg Ship work very well. Now that they have lost one SECURITY they will hit Berserk Changeling and loose another personnel.
A good planet combo is Chula: The Chandra + Alien Parasites + Berserk Changeling. When Alien Parasites hits you simple take control of your opponent's personnel and attempt one at a time and eliminate there entire away team.
Now then why is this card so good for the Klingon's? Well the answer is that Berserk Changeling is effective when used in conjunction with any Battle Deck. What better way to make sure your opponent will not have the necessary SECURITY is to be out to eliminate every ship he has. And as I noted in my last card review the Klingons are the best affiliation for battle strategies although Bajorans come in a close second. When your goal is to eliminate your opponent's ships and outpost you will by default be taking out a few SECURITY personnel at the same time. This will also take care of the hand weapons loaded on ships as well. In a battle deck an strong wall dilemma like Berserk Changeling becomes almost impossible to get around. My recommendation if you are planning to use a Klingon Battle deck or any other battle deck you should have 6 Berserk Changeling combos ready to go. Since Berserk Changeling supports a battle deck so well you will probably want them in your Klingon decks. After all how many tournaments have you played Klingons in and didn't at least take pot shots at your opponents ships.
Until next time may you always fight honorably and die well.
Qapla'!
Koloth
| Return to Way of the Warrior review page. |
|
For comments, suggestions or corrections e-mail
Koloth. This page last updated on May 23, 1999. |
|