Volibear and Support Cards Review - Fate's Voyage: Onward Expansion

Volibear

Rate: 4.0

Volibear is a powerhouse 9-cost unit with a 10|10 stat line. His goal is to hit the board and instantly shift the game's dynamics, opening up opportunities for a lethal attack.

Given his high cost and robust stats, Volibear depends on the Sigil of the Storm landmark to hit the board a bit earlier. Ramp decks, as well, can incorporate Volibear as part of their win condition.

Volibear's play effect is a game-changer, unleashing Relentless Storm three times, dealing 4 damage to random units or the Nexus if there's none. This can clear out enemy units and set up a powerful attack.

What's great is that Volibear's level-up condition doesn't require him to be on the board. You'll need to deal a total of 50 damage to level him up, a late-game achievement you'll likely be nearing when Volibear hits the board.

Importantly, his level-up isn't limited to Strike damage; spells and skill damage also count. This means that Volibear's play effect, Relentless Storm, can contribute to achieving the 50 damage needed to level him up on the spot.

Once leveled, Volibear becomes an immediate threat with the crucial Overwhelm keyword, putting his 11 Power to good use. Moreover, Volibear will unleash Relentless Storm on attack and give other allies the Overwhelm keyword. This is especially valuable if your deck includes high-power units, making it challenging for opponents to block and survive your attacks.

Volibear excels as a powerful finisher, designed to end games once he's leveled. He works best in decks that can field buffed units and prolong the game until this win condition is established.

Volibear's champion spell is an AOE 4 damage ability that avoids hitting your Titanic units, offering a handy removal tool to maintain control of the board. Holding onto this 8-mana threat can make it difficult for your opponent to build a substantial board presence.

It's a stronger version of Trundle's Icequake, sacrificing the -3|0 effect for an extra 1 damage. The plus side is that it doesn't damage your Titanic units.

Overall, Volibear looks to be a promising champion, especially with the support package he has. The new cards provide the early to mid-game strategy before setting up that Volibear Overwhelm win condition.

AOE damage spells like Avalanche and Blighted Ravine might be a popular addition to these kinds of archetypes that want to keep the board in check as they advance Volibear's level-up condition.

What I mostly like about Volibear is his immediate impact on the board with Relentless Storm, he can be played on offensive or defensive turns and can disrupt the opponent's game plan.

Flamecaller Caprine

Rate: 3.5

Flamecaller Caprine is a 4-cost 3|2 unit with the Tough keyword. Its Forge ability, triggered when you play an Elemental Spell or skill, boosts its stats, making it a 4|3. You'll need to activate Forge on Flamecaller Caprine if you want it to be worth the 4 mana you've spent.

Managing to Forge multiple times will be an insane value on Flamecaller Caprine and with the Tough keyword, you'll force the opponent to commit more resources to kill it. It'll also pack a punch when it goes for the attack, so the opponent might have to sacrifice a unit to preserve their Nexus' health.

Invocation of Thunder

Rate: 2.5

Invocation Of Thunder is a 3-mana card-draw spell that also summons Sigil of the Storm onto the board. It might seem a tad costly for a single-card draw, but it comes in handy if you're aiming to play one of your Titanic units earlier than usual. You can spend 3 spell mana to reduce the cost of a Titanic unit by 1 and get an extra card draw. Keep in mind that it's a slow-speed spell, so your opponent gets an action after you play it. The biggest drawback is the inability to burst speed draw mid-combat, which means you won't be able to find a specific card in your deck if you need it.

Sky Splitter

Rate: 4.0

Sky Splitter serves as a low-cost combat trick, providing a +1|+3 stat boost to keep units alive. The +3 health might even transform one of your units into a Titanic unit, which can benefit your overall game plan.

This is a solid protection tool for its cost, and we'll most likely see it in numerous archetypes that rely on keeping key units alive. It's excellent to help keep units like Berserker Ursine safe.

Clash of Giants

Rate: 3.0

Clash of Giants is a 16-cost spell with strong Elemental Spell and Skill synergy. Its cost decreases as you play more Spells and Skills throughout the game. It doesn't have to be in your hand for the cost reduction to apply, allowing you to cast it for as low as 6 mana. While it can set up a late-game win condition on the board, the random Titanic units it summons introduce unpredictability that may not be what you want.

Clash of Giants is a great tool alongside a leveled Volibear, letting you use those summoned units as Overwhelm attackers and create a stronger attack.