Hello and welcome to Battledex! JoshD asked me to make a list of replays that new players should watch to help them learn the game, so I hope you will learn from these replays and feel more confident in your matches.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am Rothmorthau. I’ve been a premium subscriber to Battledex since December 2010 and at the time of writing this I am ranked 18th overall on the leaderboard. I’m letting you know this because, while I feel confident that I can help new players out, there are plenty of other players that are more highly ranked than I am. Some of the information that I will give you not all players will agree is best in every situation, but my goal is to help new players have a base from which to improve their understanding of the game.

With that said, let’s dive right in!

Replay #1 – Schlumpfi and Jojo narrarated game

This is one of the best resources for players trying to understand how and why players make the decisions they do in 1v1 matches. The Youtube video will go through each player’s though process on why they did each action which can help with a broader understanding of what is going on at high levels of play.

Note: All of this work was done previously by Schlumpfi closer to when Battledex was first released.

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DP-1xF1 ... ature=plcp
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La9XM1kr ... ature=plcp

Here is the actual replay if you want to watch it yourself. Keep in mind that sometimes it is good to watch replays from one person’s point of view when you are trying to learn. Watch from one person’s view and their movements might make more sense.
Replay- http://www.battledexgame.com/game.php?game_id=6534


Schlumpfi also created two shorter tutorials on youtube, which I will also link below:

How to construct a deck for a specific map - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLpUG2d01u8

Strategy Tips (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jILDPGK ... ature=plcp

Replay #2 – Asfalasarion vs Hmpf

Replay Link - http://www.battledexgame.com/game.php?game_id=19467

How to build your deck in a SEALED 1v1

Most new players play sealed 1v1 matches before they play constructed matches. This means you get packs of cards that you open and use for the match. One of the biggest problems new players have is that they don’t know what cards are “good” and which cards to avoid.

New players should construct sealed decks as follows:
1) Take all the enlist cards and mercenary cards. (Enlist Artillery, Recon, Infantry, Merc Heavy Tank)
2) Take all the infantry buffs. (Medic, Tech Infantry, Adrenaline, Transports, Kevlar)
3) Take all the debuffs. (Blind Any, Immobilize Ground)
4) Take 1 or 2 “surprise” cards. (Airlift 3, Abandon, Airborne 2, Repair, Minor Artillery, any Hero units)

NOTE! At very high levels of play this list is inaccurate, but this rule of thumb should be good enough for most people rank up and understand what works and what doesn’t.


Some things to consider when watching the replay:

Asfalasarion used 4 cards on his first turn. Hmpf used 5 cards. In general most players use between 4-6 cards on the first turn.

Before watching ANY replay you should look at the cards each player has.

Watch from one player’s perspective and watch for when they use their cards. Did someone NOT use a card when you expected them to? Try to find out or guess why.

Replay #3 – WitcherSRS vs JamesTheSmoker

Replay Link - http://www.battledexgame.com/game.php?game_id=25177

DON’T RUSH IN!!!!

In this replay JamesTheSmoker takes an early lead. A common problem that new players make is that when they are behind they just rush all of their units towards their opponent. This is the opposite of what you should be doing!

If you are at a disadvantage then back up and regroup all of your units together where they can all support each other. Then attack where your opponent is weak, or bait your opponent into moving into a disadvantageous position.

Some things to consider when watching this replay:

Watch for when Witcher realizes he isn’t in a good position and how he handles it.

Watch Witcher bait JamesTheSmoker into protecting the bottom resource from Witcher’s infantry. See how long he
waits before actually attempting to take the resource.

Replay #4 – Random832 vs Denyo

Replay Link - http://www.battledexgame.com/game.php?game_id=26575

How to Draw Fire to Take Resources

If you havn’t figured it out already, resources are the most important facet of the game. But what are you supposed to do if your opponent is protecting a resource that you want to capture with Artillery?

How loading works – Each unit can attack a specific number of times in a turn. For example, an Artillery can attack 2 times per turn. This means that at 50 tics (50%) of its first turn an Artillery will shoot at the lowest hp enemy within its range and vision. If there ISN’T an enemy there, it will shoot IMMEDIATELY as soon as any enemy enters its range and vision. It then will take another 50 tics (50% of a turn) before it can shoot again.

Players can take advantage of this by running extra infantry or other units like recons ahead of the infantry you want to capture the resource. The faster unit will be shot first, leaving more HP on the infantry who is trying to capture the resource.

In this replay both players go back and forth using this same tactic against one another over and over again. While both players in this replay decided to use extra infantry, keep in mind that it is also very common to use recons to draw fire.

Some things to consider when watching this replay:

Watch how each player positions their units and moves them at the same time to ensure the best chance at capturing the resource.

Keep in mind that at the end of the game, if both players have the same amount of points, the player who earned the most gold will win. Since both players were tied for the entire game each side had to fight for the middle resource or they would lose. I’ll go into this more in the next replay which concerns tie games.

Schlumpfi goes over this tactic in the Strategy Youtube video here (middle of the video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jILDPGK ... ature=plcp

Replay #5 FruitDealer vs FantomKoala

Replay Link - http://www.battledexgame.com/game.php?game_id=5012

Control Points are Confusing

There are several ways to win a 1v1 game of Battledex. Let’s first look at what causes the game to end:
1) Turn Limit is reached.
2) One or both players reach or exceed the Victory Point limit.
3) One player has their HQ destroyed.
4) A player surrenders.

Whoever has the most victory points and still has their HQ at the end of the game is the winner. If both players have the same amount of victory points, the player who earned the most gold throughout the game is the winner. Lastly, if both players earned the same amount of gold, then a coinflip occurs and a random winner is chosen (This has only ever happened once to my knowledge).

So because victory points are so important, let’s talk about how they work. Infantry units capture control points after ending two turns standing on that hex. The infantry CANNOT move off the control point at any time or else the two turns start over. Once a player controls a control point the infantry can go elsewhere and that player will begin receiving Victory Points.

Victory Points are earned at the END of each turn. Players will not earn a victory point for a turn that an enemy infantry is occupying a control point they control.

Example: Player 1 controls a control point and is earning 1 victory point each turn. Player 2 moves an infantry unit onto that control point and the turn ends. Player 1 does not receive a victory point for that turn, and if he doesn’t kill that infantry by the end of the next turn the control point will be controlled by Player 2.

Some things to consider when watching this replay:

Try to watch victory point totals and how they change each turn.

Note how having an infantry on an opponent’s control point at the end of a turn stops them from gaining victory points for that turn.

Take a look at the victory screen. Who won and why?

Consider how the game would have changed if either player protected their resources better, perhaps with just a recon.

Replay #6 – WitcherSRS vs MythoSD

Replay Link - http://www.battledexgame.com/game.php?game_id=15997

How to Turtle and Efficiently Use Units

Sometimes situations will occur where your opponent has a significant resource advantage and you have no way to easily get that advantage back. In these situations, sometimes it is best to try to fortify a position instead of spreading units all across the battlefield.

Turtling prevents your opponent from being able to abuse your lack of resources as easily. By grouping all of his units (mostly Artillery and AA) in a favorable position Witcher became much more cost efficient with his units and was able to win by waiting his opponent out.

In this game:
MythoSD earned 4035 gold and killed 18 units.
Witcher earned only 2835 gold and killed 30 units.

Some things to consider when watching this replay:

When did Witcher make the decision to start turtling? Why?

Take a look at the position Witcher decided to hold. Why did he turtle there? How did the terrain help him there?

What could MythoSD have done if he realized what Witcher was going to do earlier? (Hint: Where is Witcher vulnerable to losing?)

Replay #7 – Fewar vs WitcherSRS

Replay Link - http://www.battledexgame.com/game.php?game_id=15002

Recon Rush! OR How to Compete in Constructed Games Without Ultras

New players often feel too intimidated to play constructed matches against players who have many ultra rares. The good news is that, while ultras can help, a solid overarching strategy to your deck is what matters the most.

Fewar won a constructed tournament with this deck, which didn’t include any ultra rares at all. This is just an example of how innovative ideas can catch an opponent and win you the game.

From my perspective (sorry Fewar if I’m not getting something right) the goals of this deck are:
1) SPEED! 4 infantry capturing places all over the map very quickly.
2) MOBILITY! Airlifts to move units quickly across the map. Light Tank Hero to break entreanched artilleries.
3) VISION! Having that many recons means that Fewar can see what Witcher is doing and can more easily react.

The point of all of this is that you CAN make innovative strategies that take down decks with ultras. Experiment with new ideas and find out what works. Deck building is one of the most fun parts of Battledex.

Some things to consider when watching this replay:

Turn 5 – Light Tank Hero is on pursuit of the Artillery when it gets Airlifted away, but because Fewar has vision where the Airlift occurred, the Light Tank Hero still moved toward the Artillery.

Turn 8 – Blockade on right to protect infantry. Protect your infantry at all costs!

Turn 11 – Guessing that WitcherSRS would drop an airborne infantry off of his Fighter Hero, Fewar preemptively airlifted to block the infantry and protect his resource.

Spamming recons when you are ahead is a pretty good strategy! It helps you to prepare for what is coming as you will see it sooner and it will help slow down pushes by absorbing damage. 60g for 75hp is REALLY GOOD.

Replay #8 – Thor21 vs Valkyrie

Replay Link - http://www.battledexgame.com/game.php?game_id=27402


Superbuffs!

Buffs are a large part of Battledex, so I figured it would be important to talk about Super Buffed units.

Advantages:
1) Super Buffed units can deal a lot of damage, especially on maps that are cramped where multiple units would have a hard time getting in range.
2) Super Buffed units live longer due to being faster and getting out of harms way, by having armor, or by having a repair over time.
3) BECAUSE they live longer they have a better chance of achieving Veteran (+25% firepower, +15% armor) or Legendary status (+50% firepower, +25% armor). Units that achieve each status also gain +15% hp at that time!
4) Super Buffed units can force an opponent to make specific types of units instead of units they would prefer to make. (Darn, I want artillery but I need AA to stop this superfighter)

Disadvantages:
1) Debuffs wreck superbuffed units. An immobilize that costs 5g and a card slot can mean that your expensive unit is easily killed. A blind can prevent your unit from even doing damage.
2) Superbuffed units often take multiple card slots. There is an opportunity cost for making a superbuffed unit as you often can’t take along all the cards you’d like to.
3) Superbuffed units can only be in one place at a time. Other parts of the map might go undefended.

Some things to consider when watching the replay:

How many cards did each player commit to their Superbuffed units?

Why are flying superbuffed units good on that particular map? Why would a superbuffed tank have a harder time?

What are the weaknesses of each player’s deck? If you were Thor and could have any cards in your hand during the game, when would you use them and how would you deal with the Super Helis?

Don't forget to laugh like a maniac when the super heli does a massive 72 damage to an infantry in one shot

Replay #9 – WitcherSRS vs Seanpaul

Replay Link - http://www.battledexgame.com/game.php?game_id=23778

Wait, Control Points and Resources Give Vision?

Another common mistake new players make is that they fail to take into account the fact that if a player has control of a resource or control point they have vision of that hex AND the hexes surrounding it.

Whenever possible you should try to give your opponent as little information as you can. If you can move in such a way that isn’t in vision range of a resource it puts your units in less danger and they will be able to live longer and do more damage for you.

Also keep in mind that the vision resources and cps provide is immensely helpful to Artillery who effectively need a spotter to attack units.

Lastly, controlled resources and and control points can spot camouflaged infantry, so as soon as you are 1 hex away your opponent will begin shooting.

In this game Witcher realizes that he cannot move out without losing too many units. Therefore he decides to try to keep his control point advantage and turtle up, using the control point vision in conjunction with his artillery.

Things to consider when watching this replay:

When does Witcher decide it isn’t safe to go midfield anymore? Where does he pull his artillery back to?

Why did Witcher choose to defend with artillery? Would he have had as much success with Fighters or Helis?