Ember + Root starter deck

Ember + Root mixes pressure with staying power. Ember deals the damage, Root keeps Shardlings standing: Thorns punishes attackers, Regrow heals, and Snare Roots blocks an attack. While the opponent struggles through the Root lanes, Ember’s attackers hit the ward.

Every player owns one starter deck. The six starter decks can all be played against the computer at any time.

Key cards

CinderlordCost 6 · 6/5 · Stage 3LegendaryWildfire (Jump): 2 damage to each enemy lane (empty lane: enemy ward).ElderstagCost 6 · 5/7 · Stage 3LegendaryRegrow 2: heals 2 at the end of your turn.GrovewardenCost 5 · 4/6 · Stage 3EpicThorns 2: a Shardling that attacks it takes 2 damage.PyrewolfCost 5 · 5/5 · Stage 3EpicPierce: excess damage hits the ward.

Game plan

• Put Root Shardlings in the lanes the opponent attacks and Ember attackers in the open ones.
• Overgrowth gives +3 health: use it on the Shardling that is about to fall, not on the safe one.
• Renewal gives you 4 life and a card. It often buys the turn you need to win the damage race.

Against the other starter decks

Average against all five: 45 %. Computer against computer with the current rules, 500 games per pairing, both players going first equally often. The computer plays well but not perfectly, so treat these numbers as a guide, not a promise.

Cards worth adding later

Rare, Epic and Legendary cards of the same two classes that are not in the starter deck. Good first picks for your own version of this deck.

EldershellCost 6 · 4/11 · Stage 3LegendaryBloom 2: at the end of your turn, heals 2 on neighbouring friends. Thorns 1: attackers take 1.FurnacetuskCost 6 · 6/5 · Stage 3LegendaryRampage: attacks again after destroying the Shardling opposite. Pierce: excess damage hits the ward.MagmadrakeCost 6 · 6/6 · Stage 3LegendarySparkstrike 2 (Jump): 2 damage to the opposing lane. Rampage: attacks again after destroying the Shardling opposite.AshphoenixCost 4 · 3/3 · Stage 2EpicRampage: attacks again after destroying the Shardling opposite.BramblebuckCost 5 · 5/6 · Stage 3EpicBloom 1: at the end of your turn, heals 1 on neighbouring friends. Thorns 1: attackers take 1.BurrowmoleCost 5 · 4/7 · ShardlingEpicRegrow 1: heals 1 at the end of your turn. Thorns 1: attackers take 1.Pollen CloudCost 3 · TrapRareTrigger: an enemy Shardling attacks. The attack is blocked and you (the player) regain 2 life.ScorchmawCost 3 · 3/2 · Stage 2RareRampage: if it destroys the Shardling opposite, it attacks again.

Questions