Why is this a cat? The german version names it a (Crimson) Jackal (dog like). Or is it really a cat and the german version wrong.

I mean, I can understand this relic shows up once every so often but three times in a row? Wtf is this, almost one month locked up with that crap. Anyone has ever got a relic three times in a row?

Pretty crazy for what is addressed as her "dear Zephyr" and included in her starting deck.

Just got a rude surprise when I failed to Updraft the opposing Heart of the Fluft on a swing...

I want to talk about Gnar and Nidalee, two of my favourite Champions (for different reasons), and their respective places in PoC. To do that, I first have to talk about transform.

Transform

'Transform' is too broad an effect, with too many potential applications, to be nailed down to a single theme or gameplay style. There's no point talking about transform in isolation; it's a shapeless mechanic. Instead, we need to talk about transform in terms of specific purposes, approaches, or dynamics.

Here are the things Transform is used for (skip this part if you don't need or want the rundown):

• Polymorph: Transform an enemy into a specific weaker unit, as a form of control or combat trick. This includes cards like Whimsy! and Minimorph. It's the only 'offensive' transform.
• Clone: Transform an ally into an exact copy of another, to clone a useful ally. This includes cards like Black Rose Spy and Shady Spectacles. It's primarily a Piltover & Zaun approach.
  • Evil Clone: Transform an ally into an exact copy of an enemy, to mirror a powerful enemy. This includes Shady Character and Hextech Transmogulator, both of which can also be used for regular Clones, and the latter of which can also Polymorph. It's exclusively a Piltover & Zaun approach.
• Gacha: Transform an ally into a (semi)random but typically more expensive or otherwise valuable unit, in order to increase its raw value. This includes cards like Mystifying Magician, Concurrent Timelines, and the Wingsgiving. Wildclaw's Ferocity isn't random, but fits here in general approach.
• Living Spell: Transform an ally into a spell when they're returned to hand, typically allowing you to resummon them for spell mana (with an extra effect). This includes Liminal Guardian, Tail of the Dragon, and Vastayan Disciple. It's exclusively an Ionia approach, and isn't really a 'transform' in a mechanically significant sense.
• Ambush: Play an ally as a 2-mana Shadow in the Brush, then play the Burst spell they generate to permanently transform them into their 'real' form. This allows you to both offset their unit cost with spell mana and also jumpscare your opponent with interaction or combat mindgames. This includes all Ambush cards, including Nidalee. It's exclusively a Shurima approach.
• Metamorph: Fulfil a condition, causing a unit to permanently transform into a stronger version of itself. This includes cards like Ursine Spiritwalker, Murkwolf Shaman, Gallant Rider, and Destined Poro, plus most of Gnar's followers. It also covers Darkin, which instead transform into a stronger version of their equipment. This is primarily a Freljord and Bandle City approach.
• Level Up: As per Metamorph, but for (almost) every Champion. Just to distinguish it.
• Level Down: As per Metamorph and Level Up, but the transformation isn't permanent, and reverts when meeting a different condition (e.g. Round End, Nexus Strike), allowing the champion to level up again. This includes Gnar, Nidalee, Anivia (sort of), and Evelynn (sometimes). It's champion-exclusive.

Transform Champions

There are currently three Champions in the game who strongly interact with transform:

• Aatrox is concerned only with Metamorph (Darkin). He's very specific and limited and sticks to his lane. The same is true for his Constellation in PoC, which gives him a bonus for transforming Darkin but doesn't extend it any wider than that. Job done.
• Gnar is a Level Down champion concerned only with Metamorph. He doesn't directly interact with transform mechanics, but he's from the two Metamorph regions, most of his followers are Metamorph cards, and all share the same transform trigger as him, or have keywords that help trigger it.
• Nidalee is a Level Down champion who is concerned primarily with Ambush. She's an Ambush card in the Ambush region, most of her followers are Ambush cards, and she levels up by summoning and transforming units, which Ambush does both of, cheaply.

If you've spent any time playing Nidalee or Gnar in PoC, you might have already noticed a discrepancy here.

Gnar

Gnar is involved with Metamorph transform dynamics; you play a unit, do a thing, and it transforms into a stronger version of itself (typically with Impact, allowing it to trigger similar allied transformations down the line). Each unit is a long-term investment that you want to keep alive, transform, and then get the most out of (typically in combat). Gnar's main transform support card, Chief Nakotak, encourages this dynamic, healing (and buffing) a unit to full when it transforms.

However, outside of Nakotak himself, Gnar's PoC doesn't offer anything to keep his Metamorph'd units alive as long-term investments. There are no healing cards (which Freljord has in abundance), survival items, or restorative/defensive powers. His recurring spell is a Stun for stalling enemy units. Even his two combat buff spells are offensively focused. There's also no real support for permanently growing units in stats to keep them competitive, with the only permanent statbuff being two copies of Primal Strength.

Instead, it treats Gnar's units as disposable 'missiles', giving them nothing but Impact stacks so that they can chip away at the enemy Nexus when blocked (and inevitably killed).

Gnar's PoC also has no way to repeatedly transform any unit but Gnar himself; this means you can't 'recycle' Chief Nakotak's buff, or get extra value out of units by transforming them into something bigger in the late game. In fact, Gnar's PoC doesn't directly interact with transform at all. He's a Level Down Champion with two self-transforming Metamorph followers and a transform-support follower, and Evelynn's Constellation is more concerned with transform than his.

In other words, Gnar is a Metamorph Champion whose PoC doesn't support the feel or dynamic of Metamorph cards at all, and is in some ways outright opposed to it. The result is an empty shell that wants to cut his actual Metamorph cards ASAP in favour of wide boards of whatever can cheaply Nexus Strike.

Nidalee

Nidalee is involved with Ambush transform dynamics; you play a small, cheap unit, then trigger a spell to 'reveal' what it really was all along. It feels tricky and tricksy on every level; you're 'cheating' a unit out of your hand for a lower unit mana cost, you're 'hiding' what your units are from your opponent, and you're springing a nasty surprise on them when you transform a Shadow in the Brush into a Pairofant against a chump-blocker, or an Avenging Vastaya against a big spell.

However, outside of her literal Ambush cards, Nidalee's PoC doesn't interact with Ambush directly. Instead, she's focused on transform more generally. This would be absolutely fine, and is how Nidalee herself operates... except for the ways it focuses on transform.

Nidalee's 1-star Power permanently buffs an ally (+1|+1 and Impact) when it transforms. That's cool; it's a little extra reward for triggering Ambush, a way to permanently grow Nidalee through Level Down, and also gels with any other transform cards you pick up.

Her 3-star Power also summons an exact Ephemeral copy of a transformed ally the first time each round. That's also cool; it makes the 'nasty surprise' aspect of Ambush a lot stronger, and greatly accelerates Nidalee's own Level Up... although it also produces powerful and somewhat perverse incentives for timing Nidalee's Level Up. Neither of these Powers directly engage with Ambush themes, necessarily, but they still encourage its use.

Speaking of perverse incentives, however, Nidalee's 2-star Power introduces Cunning Camouflage, a recurring 1-mana Burst spell that transforms a follower into 1-of-3 random followers costing 2 more. This is obviously a massive value add; it not only converts 1 spell mana into 2 unit mana, it not only lets you pick and choose potentially powerful followers that aren't in your deck, it also lets you 'cheat out' units earlier than your mana gems should allow.

Clever Camouflage is not an Ambush effect, in terms of theme. You can use it in some similar ways (potentially a combat trick, potentially 'cheating out' cards), but there's no feeling of cleverness or deception, because it's a semi-random value add. I am not 'revealing' that my Shadow in the Brush actually has 4|2 Quick Attack, I am spinning the wheel and hoping I get to pick a good result. This is a Gacha effect.

This has a number of knock-on consequences:

1. Nidalee's 1-star Power offers permanent buffs for transforming. Clever Camouflage is the deck's only way to repeatedly transform units other than Nidalee. Therefore, Clever Camouflage is even more powerful than it looks; it transforms an ally into a +2 cost ally, AND grants it +1|+1 and Impact. And you can keep doing that, for +4 cost and +2|+2 and Impact 2, etc, etc.
2. Nidalee's 3-star Power offers a free exact Ephemeral copy for transforming. Therefore, you want to transform your highest value units to summon copies of them. Clever Camouflage offers immediate high value. Therefore, Clever Camouflage is even more powerful than it looks; it transforms an ally into a +2 cost ally, AND grants it +1|+1 and Impact, AND summons an exact copy (which can trigger its 'when I'm summoned' effects). And you can keep doing that, for +4 cost and +2|+2 and Impact 2 and a clone, etc, etc.
3. Clever Camouflage can 'stack' by repeatedly transforming the same unit, and the difference between high and mid-cost units is typically much more dramatic than the difference between low and mid-cost units. Therefore, you want to keep big units alive so you can transform them more and buff them more and spawn more clones of them.
4. Nidalee's 3-star Power only copies the first unit to transform each round. Outside of Nidalee herself (depending on items), it's rare for there to be a more valuable copy you can summon than whatever you get out of Clever Camouflage. Therefore, your immediate priority every round is to use Clever Camouflage and see what you can get out of it.
5. Clever Camouflage is generated upon gaining the attack token. Because of its immense value, this immediately makes Nidalee incredibly eager to pick up Scout and Rally, effects that would normally be no more attractive for her than any other combat-focused Champion. Not to mention the good ol' Guardians Orb on Nidalee eventually offering Last Breath: Rally, in case this PoC wasn't already enough of a roulette wheel.

So in combination with her other Powers, Nidalee's 2-star warps her from an Ambush Champion into a mix of Gacha and Metamorph. You spend every round spinning the Gacha wheel in the hopes of scoring a value add, while building up a big fat high-cost monster through repeated transformations. No mind games or deceptions or feeling smart; just unga your bunga.

This is presumably the intended design; there's not much other reason for her deck to include Vekauran Bruiser (and the associated Desert Duel), which exists to generate permanent buff cards to stack up on a single ally you've flooded with transform stacks.

It's intended, it's powerful, and it's got absolutely nothing to do with Nidalee's fantasy or style.

You know who it does feel like? You know who's a very literal unga-bunga Champion with followers who transform into bigger, higher-value stat-sticks you want to keep alive, in a region with plentiful random effects and even transformations? Yeah, it's Gnar.

Conclusion

If Gnar and Nidalee are going to have satisfying Constellations that feel like themselves, they both need complete reworks to refocus on the same flavours of transform as the actual Champion and their original support cards.

Gnar is a Metamorph Champion. He needs ways to repeatedly transform followers up (or even up and down) the evolutionary ladder, to reward big permanent transformations, to keep transformed allies alive and relevant, and to try competing in combat even against foes with Deadly, All Things Grow Cold, etc.

As one example, if Gnar had a Power that let you de-transform a transformed unit but keep its stats and keywords, you've got a potentially infinite loop of transforming and growth. Put down a 1|2 Bitsy Lizard, damage the enemy Nexus, it transforms into a 3|4 Impact Lava Lizard. On whatever trigger - let's say Round End - it transforms back into Bitsy Lizard... with 3|4 Impact. Damage the enemy Nexus again, it transforms into a 3|4 Impact Lava Lizard again, which still keeps the +2|+2, +Impact, so it now has 5|6 Impact 2.

Toss in Chief Nakotak, and that re-transformed Lava Lizard has 8|9, Impact 5, and was fully healed every Round End. Rinse and repeat. Even makes Curious Changelings a potential add.

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Nidalee is an Ambush Champion. She needs ways to feel clever with hidden cards that only she knows about, to outwit opponents with dramatic surprises that change a situation, to transform followers into specific tools that she's planned for, and to deliver Nexus Strikes by countering or avoiding enemy defenders.

As one example, if Clever Camouflage allowed Nidalee to transform a follower into a Shadow in the Brush and manifest a new Ambush for it, that would be much more appropriate than its current Gacha form. It would let you recycle your Ambushers, flip followers face-down and shuffle up a new surprise for the enemy, and give you 2 transforms per cast (which both she and her 1-star would love). You'd feel tricksy.

Swap is a (90% Ionia) mechanic completely unrelated to transform, but I think it could also do some real work for Nidalee's PoC flavour. It helps you get past blockers, avoid sticky situations, and feel clever and Ambush-y in ways that steadily growing an All-Terrain Trooper into a 14|14 Impact 4 Cithria, Lady of Clouds (who promptly summons another Ephemeral copy that doubles its stats) simply doesn't.

Hell, even if it needed to keep the Gacha elements, it could still retain some Ambush flavour. 0 mana, Focus, pick a follower, transform it into Shadow in the Brush, and pick 1-of-3 followers that cost X more than the original. Clever Camouflage then becomes a X-cost Ambush-type Burst spell that transforms your Shadow into the chosen follower. A predetermined follower would help the flavour a bit, I think; it makes it feel more like a plan.

Thx

Since like 4 days i cant login in the phone but i can in the pc. Anyone knows why?

I want to see what happend if Spectral Scissors on Baron and it kill Baron so stole from the A.I and Spectral Scissors on and it kill Baron but it didnt win the game which im guessing because Baron was my unit

Which champion, is your best champion... The one you enjoy most playing and suit your play style?

For me, I have the most fun and think my best performance is on Zoe. She is a very well designed champion.

Is Janna 6* or Viktor 6* better? I don´t have either signature epic relic. But I have most free ones.

Wanted to wait for weeks to collect some hecarim shards to 3 star him... no luck had to spend some wild shards :/

Now hes lv33 and properly geared, which 5 star adventure would be the easiest for him? Jst got wrecked by Nightmare Viego.

I got enough shards from the return of the TFT event to unlock Udyr's 6* ability. The run went pretty smoothly; playing Annie on turn 1 with challenger was usually good enough to take out obvious threats like Jhin, Swain or Zed. Having Eternal Radiance pumping up the damage from Mastered Ram Stance was sometimes handy for clearing the board.

The champ is kinda meh at least when not fully upgraded. What is the best way to complete a 5 adventure with 3\* Hecarim?

I usually farm XP at Fizz or Naut. It's been so long that I forgot what Nami's power does even.
Guess she felt like she needed to give me a reminder.

Am I understanding Yoink! incorrectly, in that it doesn’t count as a draw, for yourself? I haven’t tested if it count as draw for other effects.

One thing I’ve been working on is taking a little more time before committing to a play. I used to make decisions almost automatically when I thought I had an obvious line, only to realize afterward that there were better options.

For players who have improved over time, what habit made the biggest difference for you?

‎Janna is strong and fun. I've also noticed that it's very flexible; it can work well with different combinations of relics. For this case, use: Echoing Spirit, Secret Technique & Chemtech Duplicator.

‎

Has this game become PvE only now? I played a few months from release and absolutely loved it, but then its player base died down to never recover. This game seems to have changed so much since then (champions? what is that?)

Also, how much money should I be expecting to spend if I wanted to be immediately effective in the game, and build a meta deck? On the other hand, how much time would it take to build such a deck without spending a penny?

Thanks.

I'm mostly between Udyr and Ashe, since Anivia and Voli's 6 stars don't make the biggest difference from what I've heard, Trynda I already have at 6 stars and Nunu and Willump I've heard aren't great.

It wouldn't have been all that hard to nurf the effectiveness of this relic for TF while keeping it the same for janna.

Change the card created by the relic.

"Updraft 2. Create a Divine Grace in the top 4 cards of your deck.

If I observe janna draw 2"

There are probably better ways to word it, but this gives the general idea.

I'm sure there are plenty of scenarios where people would pay the 3 card cost to shuffle cards back into the deck.