Elusive

The V.1.9 June, 2021 Rules including new Taboo includes a new rule for this card:

It is back at 0 XP but does not bring you multiple locations away.

The effect is now limited to a connecting location, against a revealed location as initially released in 2016, limiting the potential for huge action contraction.


Let's look at its worth as of June 2021:

Cost: 1 draw + 0 action + 2 resources = 3 actions

Effects: Testless disengage (therefore not exhaust) from X enemies + move to one connecting location = X+1 actions

Results: This card is interesting if:

• You have low (Hey Leo) and access to cards.

• You have the intent of regularly having more than 2 enemies engaged with you (On the Hunt, Taunt, Riot Whistle, etc...)

• You want to start TFA

• You play in Hard/Expert and want Testless actions

• [SPOILER] You tend to be looking for Strangers or Family members and want some help


This card is NOT interesting in case:

• You create a deck around exhaustion: Sneak Attack, .25 Automatic, etc...

• You play it as your last action on a hunter enemy, it won't save you from the attack

• You have high and have access to Nimble or the 's Survival Instinct

Conclusion:

This is a well done Taboo, the card is not a stapler anymore, becomes interesting in some decks, not so much in others, more interesting in certain campaigns, less in others. Well balanced!

Valentin1331 · 83686
Great analysis of the latest iteration of the card. Thank you! — acotgreave · 906
You definitely want to strongly consider Elusive even in high agility heroes. A testless evade plus a move essentially gains you 2 actions and skips a token pull. Sometimes just playing it a 2-cost Shortcut is precisely what you need. Free actions are just that good. — Blackhaven · 9
testless disengage* — Blackhaven · 9
Key of Ys

Does the 2.12 card interpretation in todays FAQ update supercede the previous Q and A interpretation? If so the easiest path to keeping Key of Ys around by assigning horror to assets/allies may no longer be an option.

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(2.12) Interpreting “You” When Taking or Being Dealt Damage When an ability refers to “you” in response to taking damage or being dealt damage, it also includes any assets you control.

For example: The ability on Survival Knife ( 17) triggers “after an enemy attack deals damage to you during the enemy phase.” This ability triggers even if the damage from that attack is assigned to one or more of your assets, and not your investigator card. However, if all of the damage from that attack is assigned to another investigator or their assets (through the use of a card effect that allows them to do so), then no damage has been dealt to you.

bspring · 1
"deal" and "place" is different. 2.12 don't cover Key of Ys. Note that this is same for Agnes, requiring not dealing horror but placing horror onto her. — elkeinkrad · 512
The example with Agnes is void. In case of this card, horror is placed specificly "on Agnes Baker", not "on you". Might still be right, that place and deal/ take are different things. — Susumu · 383
Placing damage/horror comes after it being dealt. If you're dealt horror but assign all of it to assets, none is placed on you. Dealt > assigned > placed. — SGPrometheus · 856
Deep Knowledge

Dude, I just realized this card is a Lord of the Rings LCG reference :O

In Lord of the Rings LCG, Deep Knowledge is a card that has every player draw 2 cards, but also has a downside in Doomed 2 keyword.

TrueLolzor · 13
Wait till you read the flavour text on a test of will. — NarkasisBroon · 13
Hallowed Mirror

Hallowed Mirror (0) is perhaps the best healing option in the game right now, especially for guardians. I take this in most decks that can support it, including as a Dunwich splash. It takes up the accessory slot so there isn’t a lot of competition for it in a primary guardian. The level 0 is a guaranteed two healing for one action with the possibility of four more. But now, HM(3) reshuffles Soothing Melody it into the deck, increasing its consistency. At 3 XP, I think it’s a steal; it could easily have justified 4.

togetic271 · 5
Looks insane for parallel Agnes. — SGPrometheus · 856
Knight of Swords

TL;DR: Very situational card, only for rogues that use and skills and with a good amount of "succeed by X" triggers.

Let's compare it to the other Rogue Tarot card as they compete for the same slot: The Moon • XVIII

The Moon • XVIII gives you a solid +1 for 3 resources and 1xp, with no competition to other slots.

Knight of Swords now, gives +1 on any skill, IF you succeeded, therefore:

compared to The Moon • XVIII and any other tarot, Knight of Swords doesn't help you to succeed your test in the first place.

Knight of Swords can be used for any test, so more aimed at Rogues that would use at least 2 different skills with "succeed by" triggers, as of now, mostly and skills.


I am not going to do a list of every single combination, but a selection of some interesting that came to my mind:

Weapons:

Beretta M1918, Mauser C96 to prevent exhaustion or trigger extra effect if it is your last action

Switchblade for higher extra damage rate

.41 Derringer for an extra action that you could cash in with Pay Day

Sawed-Off Shotgun for more consistency in high damages shots.

Not a weapon, but it helps you to keep your Lockpicks/Lockpicks or Suggestion in the game.

Assets:

Improves chances of double benefits of Burglary/Pickpocketing

Completely prevents bad stuff happening with the new set of assets in Edge of the earth: Blur/Divination or the fight one to be revealed soon.

Events:

Help triggering the side effects of: Breaking and Entering, Slip Away, Cheap Shot

Help recuring in your hand the upgraded: Slip Away, Cheap Shot, Backstab, Pilfer

Daring Maneuver/Daring Maneuver should also appear here as ways to make this strategy more reliable.

Skills:

Improves the payback of: "Watch this!", All In, Nimble and Momentum

Great synergy with Opportunist and the upgrades that DO help to pass the test

Conclusion:

If you plan to use the "succeed by/succeeded by" mechanism AND would like to use multiple skills (/ based on the cards we can see in the selection that use this mechanism as of the release of this box), then Knight of Swords could be a good pick, otherwise select a lvl 1 tarot card that also help you succeeding the test.

Could be useful for "Skids" O'Toole or why not Tony Morgan that doesn't have access to Ace of Swords, Winifred Habbamock that wouldn't take Sharpshooter, maybe...

Let's bet here that the new Rogue to come will be a reversed Stella Clark? Succeed by 3 or more and get an extra action? In this case this card could become a stappler.

Valentin1331 · 83686
I agree with your analysis. A standard chaos bag has an expected value of -1.5 or so. So now you can commit one card less. I would like this more if it was exhaust to add +2. Of course, I would sell my mother for a level 5 version that provides a +2 on a success (again even if it has to exhaust). — togetic271 · 5
Then try to use Opportunist x2 with Knight of Sword, as well as Daredevil to find your opportunist fast enough, and even if rogues like money, keep your mom, she probably still has a lot of love to give :) — Valentin1331 · 83686
You can always put down two copies of this, if you are fine with going the Anna Kaslow or Moon pendant route (which in turn will probably need Charisma or Relic Hunter). It's very xp intensive, but you are always succeeding by two so you can safely commit your upgraded Opportunists and enjoy the maximum effect out of all of your succeed by cards. — Gandalph · 34
For any test that uses or includes Agility, though, Moon is going to be just as good as Knight. There's no point in switching from Moon to Knight just to try to land Cheap Shots unless you're willing to discard Knight for the one-use +3. — OrionJA · 1