{% extends "archetypes/_layout.html" %} {% import "archetypes/_layout-erratum.html" as erratum with context %} {% import "archetypes/cats.json" as deck_json %} {% block meta %} {% endblock %} {% block archetype_name %}

Cats

{% endblock %} {% block archetype %} {% trans trimmed magnum=card(".44 Magnum"), abbot=card("Abbot"), aid_from_bats=card("Aid From Bats"), aire_of_elation=card("Aire of Elation"), anarch_revolt=card("Anarch Revolt", "Anarch Revolts"), animalism=card("Animalism"), canine_horde=card("Canine Horde"), carrion_crows=card("Carrion Crows"), cats_guidance=card("Cat's Guidance"), deep_song=card("Deep Song"), dragonbound=card("Dragonbound"), drawing_out_the_beast=card("Drawing Out the Beast"), ears_of_the_hare=card("Ears of the Hare"), engling_fury=card("Engling Fury"), entrancement=card("Entrancement"), falcons_eye=card("Falcon's Eye"), fame=card("Fame"), field_training=card("Field Training"), howler=card("Howler"), ivory_bow=card("Ivory Bow"), legal_manipulations=card("Legal Manipulations"), muricias_call=card("Muricia's Call"), raven_spy=card("Raven Spy"), sense_the_savage_way=card("Sense the Savage Way"), smiling_jack_the_anarch=card("Smiling Jack, The Anarch"), sniper_rifle=card("Sniper Rifle"), speak_with_spirits=card("Speak with Spirits"), swiftness_of_the_stag=card("Swiftness of the Stag"), taste_of_vitae=card("Taste of Vitae"), terror_frenzy=card("Terror Frenzy"), the_siamese=card("The Siamese"), underbridge_stray=card("Underbridge Stray"), vultures_buffet=card("Vulture's Buffet"), leeching=link("/strategy/bloat", _("leeching"), _anchor="leeching"), yoann_guyaders_deck=link("/deck-search", _("Yoann Guyader's deck"), id="2013fnpf"), stephen_sings_deck=link("/deck-search", _("Stephen Sing's deck"), id="2011asiancc") %}

Highlights

This is an Ahrimanes wall deck using group 4 Ahrimanes. Depending on the build, it can be a pure wall or more of a toolbox. The core concept is to use the rather classical {{ ani }} Intercept/Combat combination — {{ raven_spy }}, {{ cats_guidance }}, {{ aid_from_bats }} and {{ carrion_crows }} — combined with {{ spi }} intercept and combat enhancers: {{ falcons_eye }}, {{ speak_with_spirits }}, {{ ears_of_the_hare }} and {{ swiftness_of_the_stag }}.

This is a slow play, slowing down the prey and predator and bloating a bit with Master cards, all the while bleeding when possible with {{ deep_song }} and dealing additional pool damage with {{ fame }} and {{ dragonbound }}.

Tips & Tricks

As Ahrimanes are Sabbat, they have access to {{ abbot }}, an excellent intercept enhancer. Having {{ spi }} for intercept allows to drop the classical {{ raven_spy }} completely, although most builds of this archetype still include it, sometimes along {{ muricias_call }} and some other animal retainers.

{{ spi }} also provides {{ engling_fury }}, an excellent blood regeneration tool which, along {{ taste_of_vitae }}, helps the Master {{ leeching }} bloat module.

The {{ ani }} combat module always includes some cards against weapon modules to be able to handle some {{ ivory_bow }}, {{ magnum }} or {{ sniper_rifle }} on the opponent side. To this effect and depending on the context, {{ drawing_out_the_beast }}, {{ canine_horde }} or {{ terror_frenzy }} can be used.

If allies are expected, {{ vultures_buffet }} can be preferred to {{ engling_fury }} and {{ entrancement }} can be added to the mix.

Creator Insights

Randal Rudstam was kind enough to provide the following insights:

Getting into the three player endgame is more of a priority than getting the first or second oust.

A third way to play them is to go Anarch, remove {{ abbot }} for some {{ anarch_revolt }} and access to {{ field_training }}.

Variants

The main variant is a wall construct as given in example. Some may include {{ pre }} cards to help on the bleeding side, like {{ legal_manipulations }} and {{ aire_of_elation }}. {{ underbridge_stray }} is also a common inclusion, as well as {{ smiling_jack_the_anarch }}. {{ yoann_guyaders_deck }} from the 2013 French NC is a an exemple.

The Howler variant is less frequent, it is a group 2 build using {{ howler }} and {{ the_siamese }}. Group 2 vampires are a bit more expensive and do miss a bit of superior {{ ANI }}, so it makes including some {{ animalism }} quite necessary. On the other hand, the slightly bigger capacity allows for the use of {{ sense_the_savage_way }} to increase intercept capabilities, and {{ PRE }} is more present and allows for a more aggressive bleed module. {{ stephen_sings_deck }} from the 2011 Asian Continental Championship is an example of this approach.

{% endtrans %} {% endblock %} {% block errata %}

Errata

{{ erratum.pentextmsubversion( 'remove' ) }}
{% endblock %}