TheoryCraft...Kois, Corsairs and Gaujs, Oh My!

[seraphicreaper]

Out of Kois, Corsairs and Gaujs can all be immune to generals (and Gauj, minions), but this effect never looks to be used, why?

Because we’re positional fools, all of us!

Ha, but seriously, is there anyway to get anything worthwhile out of them? Maybe. And yes, I’m even including the Koi. Actually, I’m primarily mentioning the Koi.

Koi being the most difficult to use/control of the three kept my focus. How can we get Koi to serve its effect? My thought process went here: To minimize the number of options Koi can target.

This is actually more manageable than we may think too. By forcing a position like the one below, the likelihood of Koi attacking a general is immense.

[details=Successful Koi Implementation]
(I made this example deck and accidentally joined a ladder game haha. Despite this, I successfully portrayed it on its first attempt.)

[/details]

By placing Koi in the diagonal position between your general and a provoke minion, Koi’s only target is the enemy general.

(As silly as the rest of my hand and board is,) legitimately consider the opponent’s position against me, my knight and my Koi. How do you respond?

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Pros/Cons of the Koi

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Cons
Card slot could be filled by alternative 1 mana drops (or other cards)
Reliant on Provoke minions

Pros
With exception of BTA or scorn, proper utilization will demand a higher mana response than how much you placed
Places a larger importance on the opponent to address the provoke minion.
Even after managing your provoke minion, Koi can take out most 2 mana drops.

I think Koi can best be played in conjunction with pre-existing or simultaneously played provoke minions. By effective positioning, Koi can produce the risk equivalent of a pheonix fire.

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I’m not going to make any claims, but give it some thought…maybe Koi can work?

• (Staple) Koi’s not only viable, that little buddy is going into all my decks!
• (Good) You know what? Koi may actually work. I might give Koi a whirl.
• (Eh?) For just a split second, I actually considered it.
• (Trash) Was utter garbage. Still utter garbage. This didn’t change my view on it in the slightest.

I hope this was both an entertaining and thought-considering read. Comment, blah blah, and blah blah below

This didn’t discuss Corsair and Gauj, as their effect is similar, but by not being a battle pet, can be controlled and utilized easier by comparison.

[phayze]

Walked in, read first sentence. Went to get detox and make sure there was no alcohol left in my blood. Walked back in… still trying to get my eyebrows off the ceiling.

[seraphicreaper]

You sir, are no fun.

Hahahaha, read that as eye rolling.

[oranos]

oh my gauj
that is actually i consider taking into gauntlet. since theres no guarenteed bloodtears, chromatic colds, or well positioned minions.

[crystalgears]

Sounds like swarm lyonar material to me

[phoinexflame]

Gauj and Corsair to some extent are good in the gauntlet, on the ladder they can’t do their job good enough though. Koi is still a gimmick card that requires lots of setup to do something.

[persona0]

The only really viable use of knives would be a songhai deck with the spell that lets ur pets attack again. You get immediate value from them that way.

[akurane]

I mean, at first I thought you were going to post a Songhai list (position and direct battle pet synergy). I might try it out now, although I don’t think I have enough spirit for quartermaster Gaul

[excogitator]

I first thought that this little guy can be decent, either dealing free damage to the enemy general or trading up, but then I thought; Bloodtear Alchemist!

Seriously, that card makes nearly all 1 health minions poor choices, from Pyromancer, to Alcuin Loremaster, to Jaxi.

[miguelosz]

Haha, you made it! I would really love someone to try this card in some dope list with Sol and beefy provokes etc. Could be a really fun card (like the rest) but sadly so hard to get value from them…

[skorpyin]

While these minions may not see play often, their effect sure does. Don’t forget about Scion’s second wish! It proves by its playability that this mechanic IS viable, its weakness is simply that the minions dont last long, and therefore wish can be good because it works on a minion already able to attack. Maybe we could make koi work too, with some helpful other battlepet shenanigans? (yo sol, get in there!)

[rebound]

I used to have a deck that ran corsair, mainly because it was one of the first cards I opened about a year ago. It was a different age of duelyst, but it was actually fairly good. I ran it in vetruvian. The trick was that this deck stuck to the opponent from very early on and placed corsairs as the way to win the race. The corsairs did often need the first wish upgrade to ensure that it did not die to a cheaper removal spell. Other minions were used to block the corsair, but this is where bone swarm made short work of these attempts.

Again, this is in the age of 2-draw duelyst. I do want to give this little guy another chance.