Drowning in (fake) Agendas - 1st @ Rain City 2023 H1 CO

Pretty much the same effective but controversial deck as last time. Turns out that as long as runners don't have ways to forfeit agendas, they'll have to resort to some clever play or lucky accesses to deal with the fake points this deck doles out.

Taking my advice from last time, I cut one Hangeki and spent one of the freed influence on Global Food Initiative and the deck slot on a third Manegarm Skunkworks.

Performance on the day of the Circuit Opener was fair, as it went a total of 2-2 for the day. In a weird quirk of the format (SSS into top 4 cut), 3 of those 4 games were against the same player, the second place Charlie (Santa).

Gameplan is same as before: jam agendas early with click pressure from ice or Mr. Hendrik. It's a win-win situation if the runner contests early by risking core damage and putting an agenda in their score area for Stock Buy-Back and Giordano Field later in the game. In the midgame, you can discourage the runner from contesting the remote by stacking 2-3 upgrades and then scoring on them, then leaning on the Biotic to close out the game (or Ontological Dependence if you've stuck enough core damage).

Special Card Notes:

• Pulse is the best ice in this deck, as its on-rez ability can force a core damage on an unprepared runner, or even forcefully end the run on a poor runner against Manegarm. Only rez it when the click-tax is relevant, as it has little ability to tax a runner for the long game.

• Bloop is your most taxing ice, so judicious placement on centrals is key to staving off powerful wincons like Stargate or Deep Dive. Its derez effect can be used to reset a Pulse on the remote as well.

• Hangeki should not be pointed at Nightmare Archive if you can help it, as you're just doubling down on giving them a negative point.

• Manta Grid is a bit of a meme include at this point. The slot can be replaced by a Mavirus or Crisium Grid to spend that last influence pip. But it's hella fun if it ever triggers.