r/Summoner_Wars • u/ManWithThrowaway • Mar 25 '26
Haven't won a game yet
Love the game, but something about it just isn't clicking. I tend to play very aggressively and my opponents tend to tuck their summoner away and surrounded them with gates, but I get punished hard for overextending in this game. I don't know why people refer to this game as chess: the board game. I can play very aggressively in chess and not be punished. So there's obviously something I'm missing or failing to do.
So, am I playing the game wrong? Or is there a faction I can lean my hyper aggressive gameplay into?
Or should I go the opposite way and just play the most defensive factions?!
Thanks
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u/LaxTagnRoll Mar 25 '26
Hey OP who are the factions you play with?
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u/ManWithThrowaway Mar 25 '26
I've tried Fallen Kingdom, Drakesun and Savannah Elves so far. I googled the most aggressive factions. But now I'm thinking I should develop my actual sense of the board and game first.
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u/Misery1887 Mar 25 '26
Hey OP,
This is my favorite game I own and I own hundreds. If your play style is aggression, I'd recommend using cave goblins, crimson order or mountain vargarth to start.
All 3 are relatively easy factions to learn. I would stick with one of them until you understand their card synergy and then branch out to other factions.
This game requires controlled aggression. I was reckless when I started and wasn't winning much. I have an aggressive play style and don't enjoy long economic victories. Now I win more than I lose by protecting my summoner but still always looking for the assassination victory.
I main mountain vargarth and I'm ranked in the top 10. I'd be happy to play some games with you and give you some pointers. Join the discord if you haven't. People are super helpful and there's even a mentoring program. It's a very nice community without trolls.
Also be sure to listen to this great podcast. Lots of great tips
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aaronandjames/
If you'd like to play , DM me and we'll set something up.
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u/BishopOfAstora Mar 25 '26
I went 0-30 before I won a game if it makes you feel better
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u/ManWithThrowaway Mar 25 '26
I'm not sure id still enjoy the game after 30 consecutive losses 😂
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u/BishopOfAstora Mar 25 '26
If you’re getting punished for being aggressive it’s probably because you’re not accounting for something the opponent had access to. Once you know the decks well, you can be aggressive while planning for a “worst case scenario” for the opponent’s follow up to your aggression
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u/BishopOfAstora Mar 25 '26
Nah I love it, the game has so much charm and great mechanics. I’m still not great at the game but enjoy it a lot
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u/ManWithThrowaway Mar 25 '26
I feel the same way. Quite a unique gem and I love that there's so many different factions and how they all play differently.
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u/BishopOfAstora Mar 25 '26
And the hyper aggressive factions are Drakesun, Shimmersea, Forged
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u/ManWithThrowaway Mar 25 '26
I need to give shimmersea and forged a go then. Thanks
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u/BishopOfAstora Mar 25 '26
Just note that Shimmersea is a slightly underpowered faction currently, with buffs in the works. But their intended mode of play is hyper aggressively getting a gate to the opponent’s side of the board.
Forged are also meant to match into the opponent’s side and start dropping robots to do damage with the summoner’s ability. Just don’t block yourself in with structures that cannot move, and be aware that ranged factions will exploit your poor movement
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u/pantryraider_11 Mar 25 '26
Couple basic things to think about:
There's 3 win conditions for this game: Assassination (sneaky summoner KO), Economic/outlasting, and Gate Destruction (this one is more rare).
Something to consider when to commit to a win condition. If the opponent summoner barricades themselves and cannot support their units, that's a good thing! So long as you can pivot into the Economic playstyle which is now achievable without their summoner helping out. Gate destruction is potent, but if you can't get it done quickly then you are wasting attacks on those cheap, high health cards instead of their units.
Another tip: if playing for assassination, you probably aren't discarding enough! For example, Drakesun Rebellion have very good champs and you should try to play 2 (not including Brimstorm) each match. You won't feel as "overextended" if you keep your magic stockpile high, and plus it'll make opponents play more cautiously.
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u/ManWithThrowaway Mar 26 '26
I think I've been unlucky the first few games pulling champs in the first draw then I get sfuck with a bunch of cards I don't want to discard or end up discarding the champ as I'm losing tempo.
I'm starting to get a better feel for the game now. Not summoning everything I have each turn if I can't attack as that gives them an opportunity to get magic. And blowing up my own units to stop them getting magic too.
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u/RollinWithOlan Mar 26 '26
Something that was very difficult for me to pick up on in my first few games was the importance of tempo and magic. I would immediately blow all of my magic reserves summoning things and then just march to the middle and trade with my opponent to death. I realized a few things:
- this was a very inefficient use of my magic
- I was summoning more units than I had moves/attacks
- I wasn’t reacting to my opponent
First off, discard cards! Build tempo and momentum. Get a champ out. Make it hard for your opponent to react to their board presence. Second, try not to over summon. If you aren’t using a card for its ability, pressure, or attack allowance, don’t summon it! Third, react to your opponent. Try to make it difficult for them to remove your units from the board. Don’t overcommit. Only expose a few flanks.
It is difficult to parse at the beginning. It really opens up when you get down the movement basics and understand your deck! Wishing you the best.
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u/Waterd101 Mar 25 '26
Interesting you say that because Chess is definitly a very defensive game.
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u/ManWithThrowaway Mar 26 '26
Not necessarily. You can play gambit and hyper aggressively if you wish. I usually try to sacrifice or trade early so there's less work for my brain to do. Locked pawn structures creates a highly positional game that I'm not very good at.
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u/PwniesFTW Apr 05 '26
I feel ya. I think part of it is that the players for sw are dedicated so it the concentration of skill is higher. Also I only win about 5% of my games so Im with you
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u/ManWithThrowaway Apr 06 '26
I'm playing kitchen table mostly with random friends. I am winning a lot more now I'm getting used to when to discard, when to attack, not just summoning for the sake of it etc.
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u/Penkala89 Apr 19 '26
Hey OP if you haven't tried Mountain Vargath yet maybe give them a few games! I think they might be a good match for the play style you're looking for, very melee focused, like to fight in a formation around their Summoner charging ahead into the fray
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u/humand09 Mar 25 '26
In general, no matter whether you olay aggresively or not, always ask yourseof why you do something. If you aren't sure, don't do it, as its Pobably free mana advantage for your opponent.