Solo Dexter (0 xp, Chapter 2)

Hi all

Here is my take on one of my favorite SOLO decks for chapter 2. I want to stress that this is meant to be played solo, single handed.

The rationale here is simple: Dexter investigates and combats very proficiently, once we create an engine with allies, items or (preferably) spells, backed by very strong skill cards to make sure that the key skill checks are successful.

In order to make the engine run, we need

i) To draw: or even better, to "tutor", with Arcane Initiate and "For my next trick...". Also Jim Culver is a great replacement for the Initiate, once she has helped finding the spells we need

ii) A lot of resources: this is key, and we get them with "For my next trick...", Favor of Baalshandor and the newly published Rogue skills "Watch this!" and Out the door.

Once Dexter has a Cosmic Flame and a Second Sight / Lockpicks, he can face anything the encounter deck throws to him...

In terms of mulligan, I would say that I would push for an initiate or Next trick, with one of the two spells/lockpicks as a good add-on.

With a huge efficiency in terms of skill icons, Dexter can face a couple of turns until the engine is up (Blood Curse + Soul Link are probably the best cards in the new chapter, and combined in the same archetype is bonkers)

Other commendable mentions here are:

1) Bloodstone and Cloak of Resonance are wonderful items that you can recycle with Dexter's skills, after soaking damage from Blood Curse, Soul Link or Favor of Baalshandor

2) Precisely, Favor of Baalshandor is a perfect replacement for the Emergency Cache. You save an action and avoid attacks of opportunity in exchange of a point of damage, that can be soaked by the Bloodstone or Jim Culver (to draw)

3) Polished Cane is a fun item that can help you in scenarios where the evade is better than a pure combat (or to get you going in terms of combat whilst you find your Cosmic Flame)

4) Will of the Cosmos is a great card that works well with Dexter's recycle skill, and is equivalent to 3 actions (2 investigates and a move)... incredible value

Finally, in terms of improvements...

I would go with

Arcane Experience (4xp)

and then:

1) Cosmic Flame (5xp) x 1

2) Charisma (3xp) x1

2, 4) Out the door (1xp) x2

5, 6) (Blood Curse (3xp) x2

7) Cosmic Flame (5xp) x 1 (you can skip this one if you want, given the tutors you have to find the improved one). Maybe you can buy a Jim Culver Jim and Lockpicks for the same price...

These are 21 xp... pricey, but doable.

Dexter has 2 main problems that need to be addressed carefully:

1)The Necronomicon is a big hit once your engine is up and running, because it replaces one of your spells and locks you out of the game... its the killer of the deck and you need solutions. I find often myself not drawing with Jim anymore to avoid the risk... I decided to put the Arcane Experience to avoid this problem as the first xp improvement, and then forget about the problem...

2) With 6 health, minus at least 2 from your own skills and events, you need to soak with the initiate, the bloostone and Jim... with the plethora of resources you will be able to save using the rogue cards and the favor, this is solvable by recycling the bloodstone or Jim

Hope you like this idea, and let me know how that works for you playing solo

Thanks!!