Raph's Basic Introduction to Meltdown (Credits to Zoolgar)

[Raphael Majere]

Firstly, what is "Meltdown"?

One has to first check out my fellow WotBP Guild member's article (DnDfreak): http://boweh.blogspot.sg/2012/10/sha...breakdown.html

It explains what Meltdown is. He also made a commentary video: http://www.shadowera.com/showthread....-Meltdown-Game

The following article is almost 100% based on what Zoolgar (My WotBP guild brother) wrote. So 100% credit to him.

What I've done is to insert some of my tiny inputs and made videos based on his ideas. Btw, Zoolgar is in the finals of the first Ever-Meltdown tourney so his words definitely weigh tons. For me, well, I am (was) ranked 3rd on Meltdown so that counts a little as well.

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Before you start, a great tip from Kangozza

Add one more, everyone need to know all the cards before hand esp heroes ability before choosing them.

1. Click on the "Merchant" and Click "Buy" - Almost all the cards will be there. OR
2. Read them here: http://www.shadowera.com/cards.php


Step 1: Select your Hero

Some Heroes can utilize weapons much better than the rest. Examples include Gwenneth Truesight, Amber, Serena, Logan Stonebreaker and Darkclaw.

Scroll down to the bottom. You can see most of the weapons here. Not all the weapons will be there. What Big Teeth and Throwing Dagger are located at the Class-specific cards. (Wulven-Specific and Rogues-Specific respectively)

If there are not many weapons, it's evident that one must use a hero does not have a Shadow Energy ability that can only be used on weapons.

Raph's Hero Tiers

Tier 1

• Majiya
• Banebow
• Zaladar
• Eldawen
• Lance
• Gravebone
• Elementalis
• Boris
• Moonstalker

Tier 2

• Victor
• Zhanna
• Ter Adun
• Jericho
• Nishhaven
  

Weapon-based Heroes (Tiers dependent on quality of weapons)

• Gwenneth
• Logan
• Darkclaw
• Amber
• Serena
• Baduruu

Step 2: Insert the Allies

You'll need (almost) all of them. Allies deal damage and kill your opponent's allies. Enough said. This is one major issue I see with new players on meltdown. Insufficient allies.


Step 3: Insert the Ally control cards

Select the best and insert them into the deck; generally a Captured Prey is better than a Poison Arrow. A Lightning Strike is better than a Arcane Burst. Other direct damage cards like Fireball and Shield Bash are good as well. Board wipes like Tidal Wave, Energy Discharge and Supernova are EXCELLENT for catching your opponent off-guard.


Step 4: Insert the "Draw Engines"

What is a draw engine?

What's a draw engine? As defined by me, these are cards that can bring "consistent" draw, like a reliable engine. Examples include Blood Frenzy, Ill Gotten Gains, Wizent Staff. What's NOT a draw engine, in my books, would be cards like Bad Santa and Tainted Oracle and Honored Dead. These are more like a shot of adrenaline: it give you a burst of fast but unsustained supply of cards.

Other examples include Tome of Knowledge and Wrath of the Forest


Step 5: Insert the Item destruction cards

Examples include Shriek of Vengeance, Smashing Blow, Stop Thief!, Focused Prayer

Around 2 - 3 per deck.


Step 6: Insert the Heal

Examples include Enrage, Lone Wolf, Rampage, Healing Touch, Regeneration

Around 1 - 3 per deck.


Step 7: Check your deck size

If I have Eternal Renewal or Resurrection (both are SUPERB cards for meltdown), I'll never go beyond 33. If I have neither of those cards, I might go up to 35 cards, BUT NEVER MORE.

Remember that you'll need the allies; you can adjust the number of Ally control, Item control or Heal cards. Try not to remove too many draw engines.

Videos with Commentary:

Deck 1: Banebow



Notes:

1:14: "Draw Engine" - In this case, the Wrath of the Forest.

A Draw engine is a card that bring you 'regular' draw. Other examples include Blood Frenzy, Tome of Knowledge

2:14: "FP" - Focused Prayer

2:30: "IGG" - Ill Gotten Gains

2:38: "DOT" - Damage-over-time: cards that deal damage as long as the condition/"attachment" exist.

Deck 2: Eladwen



Notes:

2:07: "Mill" - a strategy where one tries to run his opponent out of cards to draw: no cards to draw = no way to win.

See how I win with the deck:



Deck 3: Majiya




Learning Videos without Commentary:

1. How a Gwenneth (weapon) deck can work:



2. How a Serena (weapon) deck can work: (Also shows new players how to 'search' for any players' games)



3. See how a Jericho deck can work by removing nasty attachments as well as removing one's BF.




I might include more vids on heroes that are interesting or epic comebacks.

TL ; DR

Step 1: Select your Hero
Step 2: Insert the Allies
Step 3: Insert the Ally control cards
Step 4: Insert the "Draw Engines"
Step 5: Insert the Item destruction cards
Step 6: Insert the Heal
Step 7: Check your deck size (33 to 35 cards)