Monday, September 23, 2024

The Witch (Third Party): Overview and Strats

 

(AI Generated Art)

The Witch is a powerful and manipulative third-party role in Deck Mafia, whose goal is to outlast both the Subver (villagers) and scum factions to be one of the last two players alive, securing a solo victory. With a combination of deck-swapping, player transformations, and the ability to perform an unstoppable kill, the Witch is a force to be reckoned with. Let’s break down how to play the Witch and maximize your potential for a solo victory.


Primary Objective:

  • Goal: Be one of the last two players alive, eliminating all other threats and achieving a solo victory.
  • Challenges: You must survive while manipulating other players, including using your Frog Transformation to disable them or your Unstoppable Kill to eliminate key targets.

Key Abilities:

  1. Deck Swap and Steal:

    • Effect: You can target two players to swap their decks and steal one card from each of them.
    • Usage: This ability is incredibly versatile, allowing you to disrupt alliances, cripple powerful players by taking key cards, and gain strategic advantages from the cards you steal.
    • Tactical Advantage: Swapping decks can create confusion, forcing players to adjust to their new cards while you cherry-pick the best from their collections. This also disrupts any carefully built strategies between factions.
  2. Frog Transformation (Even Nights Only):

    • Effect: On even nights, you can transform a target into a Frog, neutralizing them until someone kisses them to break the curse.
    • Frog Status:
      • The transformed player loses the ability to vote, use their cards, and perform any actions.
      • If kissed, they turn into a Prince with 3 votes, but you steal their entire deck.
    • Tactical Advantage: Frog Transformation is one of your most powerful tools for disabling key players or removing someone from the game temporarily. It also sets up the possibility for you to steal their entire deck when they become a Prince, allowing you to bolster your own resources.
    • Kisser Reward: The player who breaks the curse gets two cards from the public catalog, which you choose, adding another layer of manipulation as you can control what resources the kisser gains.
  3. Unstoppable Kill:

    • Effect: By spending 10 cards, you can execute an unstoppable night kill that is impossible to prevent. The target will flip as Scum aligned, regardless of their true alignment.
    • Tactical Advantage: This ability allows you to eliminate a key player and throw off factional trust. By forcing them to flip as scum, you create chaos and mistrust within factions, especially among Subvers and innocent players. It’s a powerful way to eliminate threats and disrupt alliances.
    • Card Management: Since this ability requires 10 cards, managing your resources effectively is crucial. You’ll need to steal, swap, and accumulate cards strategically to use this ability when the time is right.

Limitations and Restrictions:

  • If the Witch dies before achieving their win condition, they will be revealed as Subver or Farmers aligned, masking their true third-party role.
  • The Witch cannot randomly draw or submit Bastard cards, though they can use Bastard cards to help fuel the Unstoppable Kill.
  • The Witch cannot use Frog Transformation and Unstoppable Kill on the same night, so careful planning and alternating strategies are necessary.

Optimal Playstyle and Strategy:

1. Early Game: Build Resources and Stay Under the Radar

  • Deck Swap for Cards: Use your Deck Swap and Steal ability to begin gathering cards from other players while disrupting their strategies. This ability gives you a significant advantage early on by gaining cards and keeping players on their toes.
  • Avoid Early Aggression: In the early game, it’s essential to stay relatively low-profile. Avoid using your Frog Transformation too soon, as it will draw attention to your role. Instead, focus on accumulating cards and positioning yourself to strike later in the game.
  • Monitor Player Behavior: Pay attention to which players are emerging as leaders or threats. These players may become ideal targets for your Frog Transformation or Unstoppable Kill later on.

2. Mid-Game: Disrupt and Weaken

  • Frog Transformation on Key Players: By the mid-game, it’s time to start using your Frog Transformation on key players who are leading discussions or have powerful roles. This will neutralize them and give you an opportunity to steal their deck if they turn into a Prince.
  • Encourage Chaos: By transforming players into frogs and introducing the "Kiss Frog" mechanic, you can create a chaotic environment. Players will scramble to figure out how to break curses or manipulate the situation to their advantage, and you can benefit from the resulting confusion.
  • Strategic Deck Swaps: Continue using Deck Swap and Steal to disrupt alliances and gather more cards for future use. Target players who are trying to build strong decks or control the narrative within the game.

3. Late Game: Secure Your Solo Victory

  • Unstoppable Kill: In the late game, when there are fewer players left, you’ll need to consider using your Unstoppable Kill to eliminate a key threat and push the game toward your win condition. By making the target flip as Scum, you can turn factions against each other, making it easier to isolate and survive until you’re one of the last two players.
  • Frog Strategy for Deck Theft: If there’s a player with a large or powerful deck remaining, using your Frog Transformation can set you up to steal their entire deck when they’re kissed and turned into a Prince. This late-game move can give you the final resources you need to either protect yourself or execute your final kills.
  • Manage Resources Wisely: Make sure you have enough cards to execute your Unstoppable Kill or use your manipulation abilities to their full effect. By the late game, you should be well-equipped to make decisive moves that eliminate your competition.

Tactical Considerations:

  • Targeting and Timing: The Witch thrives on carefully timed actions. Use Deck Swap and Steal early and often to disrupt key players and gather resources. Save your Frog Transformation for critical moments when a powerful player needs to be neutralized or when you can capitalize on stealing their entire deck.
  • Mislead with Unstoppable Kill: The Unstoppable Kill not only removes a player but also creates mistrust by forcing them to flip as scum. Use this strategically to throw off alliances and cause confusion among the remaining players.

Final Thoughts:

The Witch is a manipulative and versatile role, with abilities that allow for both long-term strategy and decisive action. By skillfully using Deck Swap and Steal to gather resources, Frog Transformation to neutralize threats and to steal decks, and the Unstoppable Kill to eliminate key players and create mistrust, you can outlast both factions and secure your solo victory.

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