January 7, 2013

Today’s Team: Flavor Of The Runt
H/H Unborn Val’kyr (Shadow Slash, Siphon Life, Haunt)
P/S Ominous Flame (Spiritfire Bolt, Nimbus, Foreboding Curse)
H/H Clefthoof Runt (Smash, Trumpet Strike, Stampede)
Tastes like cow!

Strategy:
Based on Josh’s comments on 1/6/14 I decided to use a Feign pet with the Flame to see if I can cut down on the turns lost due to swapping. As suggested, the Val’kyr is a great pet for this role since can also Haunt. I decided to go with Siphon Life for something different. The plan is to Siphon Life then Haunt to bring in the Ominous Flame. The Ominous Flame will Curse then Nimbus and maybe shoot a Spiritfire Bolt if necessary. I threw in the Clefthoof Runt because I’m still trying different pets with Smash to benefit from the Nimbus buff. It would be really nice to get a beast racialed, 95% accuracy Smash after a Stampede. Who knows, it could happen.

Concerns:
Whenever I lose with fotm pets like the Val’kyr I feel silly :P. Better not lose.

The Opposing Team:
H/S Beetle
P/S Corefire Imp
P/P Sunreaver Micro-Sentry
Apocalypse? Lightning? Both?

The Battle:
I wasn’t sure what to expect so I stuck to my plan. The Val’kry cast Siphon Life then the Beetle cast Apocalypse. I’ve never been that afraid of Apocalypse. All you need to do is save a low health pet to sacrifice on the turn that it’s about to hit. Next round the Beetle hit three Flanks (ouch) before my Val’kry Haunted. I brought in my Flame on the free swap. My opponent must have seen what was coming because the Beetle swapped right away to the Micro-Sentry who took the Curse. I was a bit worried facing the mech because Spiritfire Bolt is weak against mechs and my third pet was a beast. I cast Nimbus. Then I remembered that the Micro-Sentry only has one mech attack in Call Lightning so I swapped to the Runt as the Micro-Sentry cast Supercharge. The buffed Haywire did 1050 damage to the Clefthoof Runt but it started with 1887 so it still had quite a bit left. My Runt was able to get off two Smashes and the first turn of a Stampede before dying.

My Val’kyr replaced the fallen Runt and my opponent swapped to the Imp. I thought they would swap right out but instead the Imp took a Siphon Life, Haunt, Forboding Curse then two Spiritfire Bolts. That was the end of the Imp. Perhaps it thought it could heal through that with Cauterize. Apocalypse was approaching so I swapped to the Val’kyr which had to face the Micro-Sentry. I haven’t fought too many Apocalypse teams lately and I couldn’t remember if Haunt will avoid the Apocalypse. I Haunted, Apocalypse missed, the Micro-Sentry died but Failsafe kicked in. What a lackluster Apocalypse. The Flame came in to finish off the Micro-Sentry and watch the Val’kyr res on the backline (even though it was laying down like it was dead). I guess Haunt does work against Apocalypse. The Beetle returned see a Foreboding Curse and Spiritfire Bolt end the battle.