“My child… Sometimes it is not enough to rely on your units alone. Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. Do not hesitate to use Avatars. You know, they are called like that for a reason…”
If you remember, Avatars are like your extension. At their every turn they can make up to three actions: move, make a basic attack, and use their skill. Every faction has four unique avatars and each of them has a unique skill and three traits you can choose from. That is... One, two, three… 12 Avatars, 12 unique skills, and more than 30 different traits! You really have your work cut out for you. Depending on the trait you use, the way you play your Avatar can change drastically. That allows you to adapt Avatar’s playstyle to your own. When talking about Avatar playstyles, it is possible to divide them into five types: Leaders, Warriors, Casters, Assassins, and Specialists.
Avatars who have offensive and defensive abilities which are centered around your units are Leader Avatars. They buff and protect your units enabling you to maximize their efficiency and get the most value out of each of them. Tyberiuth, The Warrior King of Drakkoriths, is a perfect example of the Leader type Avatar. His skill will allow you to increase the power of one of your units until your next turn, and with his traits, you can either increase your leadership or further buff your units.
When was the last time you managed to kill a mighty dragon or some badass aberrations? If your answer is not long ago, then Warrior Avatars are most likely right up your alley! Their skills and traits usually give them more sustainability which in turn allows them to fight more dangerous creatures and create a meaningful board advantage. Especially if you add Avatar supporting units to your deck. Saffron, The Sentinel in service of the Vestige witches, has some very interesting traits you can choose from. If you wish to be able to kill strong, buffed enemy units with your Avatar the trait that makes it so that it can’t take more than 3 retaliation damage is probably the best choice for you. Or you realize that oftentimes you find yourself on 2 or less health with your Avatar. Saffron has a trait that will in that case unmute its skill. And since you can’t use Saffron’s skill to deal damage directly to the enemy Core unless Saffron has taken damage, those traits can really come in handy and influence your playstyle.
Casters are perfect for those who prefer to stand back and focus primarily on their skills. They usually have traits that allow them to modify the way their spells work, so if you ever find yourself against a Caster type Avatar make sure you check its trait as it can be a major factor in creating the best possible strategy against them. Caster Avatars are most often paired with energy heavy decks which means they have fewer units in their deck. However, it does not mean they should be taken lightly. You can expect heavy ability support from them and some combo finishers. For example, Ozzordomu, Drakkorith’s Cinder Archon, has a skill with which he can target any wounded unit or enemy Core and deal damage to it. Depending on the trait you choose you can add REAP effect which will heal Ozzordomu every time he kills a unit or Avatar, have an extra attack every time you play 7+ cost unit, or obtain an Overpower card which will add +1 on your Avatar’s basic attack and REAP effect that allows you to draw a card.
Sometimes you just want to dive in behind the enemy lines and cripple their defenses. Usually, the best way to do that is to eliminate their Avatar. If it is subdued, the enemy Avatar can’t attack and that player can’t play energy cards. That can take a lot of pressure off of you and put your opponent into an unfavourable position. Perfect Avatars to do this are Assassins. Their skills and traits allow them to get close and personal with the enemy Avatar, and if your opponent isn’t careful, you can even subdue their Avatar multiple times in the game. That is also 5 extra damage to the enemy Core each time their Avatar is subdued! Lyxia, Oblivion’s very own Voidwraith, has mastered this ability. Her skill allows her to target an enemy unit after which her attacks can’t be blocked by it that turn. The traits you can choose from can influence the way you play her. She can deal 1 more damage to Avatars with equal or more health, deal damage to the enemy Core every time she deals damage to the enemy Avatar, or you can just choose that her base skill costs 2 energy less. There is something for everyone.
They are the odd ones, the misfits, the outcasts. At least when we are talking about playstyles. This merry bunch of Specialist Avatars are here to test you and your deck-building skills. With their specific skills, a different type of approach is usually needed and your strategic thinking will be crucial if you wish to fully use their potential. Zhtugg, Oblivion's Lord of Frailty, Theodora, Vestige's Daughter of Thorns, Reina, Drakkorith's very own Crimson Cultist… These are just some of the Specialist Avatars and every one of them brings something different to the table. Zhtugg's skill will target a local unit and reduce its power by 1 until your next turn. You can modify his spell with his traits and choose if he will buff your random local-owned unit with 1 power or if he can use his skill twice per turn. But if that doesn't suit your playstyle, you can always opt for a +1 leadership trait. On the other hand, Theodora can target a local unit after which that unit can't use its move action until your next turn. Her traits can enable you to buff a random local friendly unit with +1 power during the enemy turn, or, if you expect Theodora to be subdued, a trait that spawns a Spirit of Vengeance (a 3/3 unit) may be a better fit for you. And Reina, well, she will deal 1 damage to your local owned unit and deal 1 damage to it, and in return, she will heal your Core for 2. That works quite well with her trait which gives her +1 power as long as your Core is at full health, especially during the early stages of the game. Perhaps you like to strategize a bit more and her trait to obtain a Sanguine Enchantment (a 2 Energy cost card which gives +1/+1 to targeted unit) every time she kills a unit is more interesting to you. Or you want to have a card more than your opponent at the start of the game. There is a sea of possibilities!
Feel free to explore and experiment with different combinations Avatars can add to your arsenal. If you utilize them properly you can easily turn the tides in your favour.
“As you can see, my dear child, it is possible for you not only to lead your units or support them, you can be in the front rows with them, taking down creatures your soldiers wouldn’t even dare to dream of encountering. Or you can shift your focus and do everything in your power to destroy the enemy’s Avatar, making its army weaker and yours closer to victory. Which path to choose is entirely up to you… However, if you find yourself overwhelmed with doubt, feel free to join our Discord channel: Discord. Its Residents are always happy to help.“