This is a deck that try its hardest to make sure we can use Snipe with Roland, as it gives a cool impression of professional spy with headshot-pinpoint accuracy on his revolver not losing to that of TF2 Spy with an Ambassador. Plus it is extra cool when he use it with his signature Roland's .38 Special.

Mainly, Snipe became usable with this Roland as he can use his Red Tape Directive making it fast, so not to waste an action aiming his gun. You of course should use Vicious Blow with this action as it is less likely to be wasted.

We also ensure he could run other spy-like tricks such as Backstab, Elusive, and Sneak Attack. They are normally anti-synergistic with Roland given his 2 , but we don't care as we are trying hardest to be in line with the theme here. Cards like Combat Training, Defensive Stance, and Sure Gamble are included so he can finally land that elusive Backstab or evade for Sneak Attack.

Dynamite Blast or Toe to Toe is prohibited as it is not sneaky. Machete cannot be used as it is not a spy weapon. He must have 0 Ally card as spy operates alone. He sports 1 hidden Knife that must not be removed on upgrade since it is a spy's last resort weapon. And lastly, Cunning Distraction is a must. A spy should be cunning and have a boiled chicken hidden somewhere with him.

He is chock full of Events and is completely naked elsewhere. He is likely broke from playing all the events and therefore a thematic Sleuth must be purchased 2x ASAP to help him play these events turn after turn.

► About "2 Packs Deck Guide"
　A series of decks made with the new distribution model in mind, requiring a Revised Core Set box + just 1 more Investigator Expansion box. ❄ character on the deck's name means the additional box it uses is Edge of the Earth Investigator Expansion.
　It maximizes the chance of newcomers being able to build and learn to play the game, enjoying the story on Standard difficulty ASAP. They can then get into deck-building later if they wished to do so. See other decks in the "2 Packs Deck Guide" series here.

2 Packs Team Compositions

2 Packs Deck Guide : Edge of the Earth series is now complete with the following decks :

• Daniela Reyes: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Burning Bruiser
• Daniela Reyes: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Tanking Cats and Dogs
• Norman Withers: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Double Icons in the Stars
• Norman Withers: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Norman the Miskatonic Tutor
• Monterey Jack: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : The Underworld Bullwhip
• Lily Chen: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Lily the WILL AGI Battle-Mage
• Bob Jenkins: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Short Supply Scavenging
• Roland Banks: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Roland the Real, Authentic Spy
• Daisy Walker: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Guns and Books
• "Skids" O'Toole: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Destiny Draw
• Agnes Baker: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Agnes the "Mahou Shoujo"
• Wendy Adams: ❄ 2 Packs Deck Guide : Wendy Lovecrafting

To help assembling a party made entirely from just 2 packs, I have a tool that let you browse team compositions for 2 players, 3 players, and 4 players, that has manageable amount of card overlaps or even none at all. The result is sorted from low to high overlaps. Click here to see all team comps.

Upgrade guide

(View at arkham-starter.com)

The starting deck has the following cards since his parallel back provide free 5 starting XP :

• 2x Sweeping Kick • : Make it possible to Sneak Attack in the first scenario, though the total cost is high without Sleuth. Save up to perform this sequence on the big enemy with a victory point.
• 2x Snipe • : Make the most use of your bullets. Keep Vicious Blow to use when the bag became plenty of 0s.
• 1x Extra Ammunition • : Try hold onto your empty gun and wait for this.

Directives

• Red Tape : Core card so you can play Tactic events with Sleuth often. Also try utilizing the window after Hunter enemy move but before it attacks. If it is enough for the enemy to die (Backstab/Sweeping Kick), you basically avoid damage and save an action of walking into it. (Therefore do not use Red Tape inside your Investigation Phase as it would exhaust.)
• Due Diligence : This basically give him 4 to evade and then Fast Sneak Attack it with Red Tape.
• Leave No Doubt : This simply adds +3 sanity making him able to withstand several failed Cover Up, as this Roland is not exactly good with getting clues. You can still use On the Trail as it moves exactly twice.

Advanced?

I have included Advanced Roland's .38 Special and Advanced Cover Up for your reference in the Side Deck. It is not required, deck should function the same with normal or advanced version.

But I would take the Advanced version, because Directive: Leave No Doubt basically let you fail at Advanced Cover Up more often and the penalty is still the same as the original version. An upgraded gun with a chance of refilling ammo is absolutely worth it.

Card tips

Sleuth •••

Perhaps the most important card to find and put down, I would always hard mulligan for this. (e.g. Even willing to mulligan away his Roland's .38 Special to find Sleuth.)

Many Events in this deck are at 2 cost or lower, so the regenerating resources can cover them completely. Having it down allows you to save up resources to play your guns instead of having to save up for events.

If you have so many spare resources to put 2 copies down, you can discount all 3 cost of Backstab and even use 1 more to boost the test value. Sweeping Kick also has a test to boost. And even cooler that you can play Cunning Distraction at only 5 - 2 - 2 = 1 cost. (!!)

Roland's .38 Special

Shoot with Snipe for the peak moment of your life.

.45 Automatic

Try saving up money with Sleuth down to cycle this gun, while using events from Sleuth resources to fend off enemies.

Dodge

This is important to protect the Combat Training composure as a stray horror without any ally would destroy the composure. Later we add Elder Sign Amulet to help.

Vicious Blow

Use it with Snipe to improve a chance of landing bonus damage with minimal commits.

Extra Ammunition •

One copy to give you a chance to refill his Roland's .38 Special.

Elusive

One copy left after the upgrade. Not much combo asides from being spy-like, as it is already Fast and not needing the Red Tape.

Backstab

Looks awful and cost prohibitive until you have Combat Training and Sleuth, where you then have reasonable chance to land the hit.

Sneak Attack

Get the enemy to exhaust with Sweeping Kick, Defensive Stance evasion, or Cunning Distraction.

Cunning Distraction

Mainly you will just commit this for treachery defense, but with Sleuth down there is a chance that you can afford to play it for real. Red Tape also save you an action. If you perform Sneak Attack, an entire combo is automatic.

Knife

If possible do not throw it, keep it as a lucky charm. Because this deck is very bare on the equipments, when asset-losing treachery strikes, then you will be able to choose the knife. Empty gun should not be discarded unless Extra Ammunition had already gone.

Sweeping Kick •

A key card to land an exhaust because it adds to your acceptable . After, you can use Sneak Attack.

Snipe •

Use Red Tape to save an action then you can perform accurate hit with your gun. Even if you have used Red Tape for something else, it can be use mid-fight since text says ignore AoO. (But cost an action.)

Find Vicious Blow to pair with and look for a 3 HP enemy to perform a low-commit killing attack.

Remember that it uses one of your 2 plays restriction on your Red Tape directive.

Sure Gamble •••

A cool but expensive card that allows him to do the impossible, that is evading or landing a Backstab.

Beware that this is not compatible with Sleuth, you must keep 2 resources to play it.

Elder Sign Amulet •••

An important Combat Training protector.

Defensive Stance •

Allows Roland to basic evade and exhaust an enemy to use that Sneak Attack, when Due Diligence is not quite enough or already used.

He can also land a Backstab with +4 added, this is similar to the effect of Sweeping Kick but inverted.

Combat Training •••

Adds the important boost so you can land the Backstab hit easier. Use Dodge and Elder Sign Amulet to protect the composure.

Also if you got a perfect game with 2x Sleuth, Elder Sign Amulet, and the guns down, it ensure you still have something to do with your resources by dumping them into the boosts.

On the Trail •, On the Trail •••

Follow the trail of your target which is awesome for Sleuth theme and also can be discounted by that. This is a few chance you can perform fancy investigation as he lose his kill-clue ability on his original front.

By using Red Tape making it Fast, you can drag the currently engaged enemies locations away since you avoided the AoO to play the card, and multiple moves inside the effect of this card won't trigger anymore AoO.

Investigator combos

There is no draw engine in this deck. Therefore if you can pair him with someone that can provide him card draws, he can have more events to play to keep up with his replenishing Sleuth resources.