Notes & Combos

This 50 card list is far from optimal, but neither is playing Mathmech. Because the Tearlaments matchup (40% of duels out of 144) is so difficult even when first, I decided to play Cynet Conflict to offset this. Previously, other formats could be dealt with just Superfactorial and handtraps. Conflict ensures Superfactorial resolves and has a handy lingering effect similar to Called By The Grave.

I decided on 3 Micro Coder for Conflict. Going 2nd, Coder gives you a way to extend into Transcode, while still using Diameter as an NS and Circular to soak interaction. For going 2nd, its one of the best extenders to draw into with Heatsoul as opposed to something like Debug which would not give you Conflict at the end of a combo.

For handtraps, there are 17 in 50 cards which amounts to 56% to draw 2+ going 2nd. I had to include more handtraps to compensate going over 40 (for comparison 13 handtraps in 40 gives you just above 50% to open 2+) which contributed to the final count of 50. Here are some reasons for the choices:

1. Skull Meister was played before the others because it can negate Agido/Kelbek whenever a Tear player does not open well and relies on them to get out of their hole. Meister also performs double duty since it is not once per turn and can negate the shufflers. There are some scenarios where Meister's level 4 came up for Alembertian, but they were rare.
2. Gamma was included because it is a handtrap that can bridge into Coder, but its also one of the most powerful handtraps going 2nd. My matchups were Tearlaments which overlaps in utility with Skull Meister for Agido/Kelbek, but you can also pick off matchups like Exosister and Floowandereeze. In addition, it serves as additional Maxx "C" out in a larger build as people shotgun Maxx to play around Talents.
3. No D.D. Crow - I wanted to play this card as well but I did not want to increase the deck size beyond 50 (3 Micro Coder, 1 Conflict, 2nd Sigma, 3 Desires, plus additional handtraps to improve my odds of seeing 2). Skull Meister covers a bit more by negating Agido/Kelbek mill 5, and Gamma took priority for other matchups.

Finally, Pot of Desires. This card helps offset the disadvantage from relying on handtraps to negate Tears. Heatsoul also helps with this, but in combination they become unfair. Desires also helps with going 2nd because the handtraps you draw can deal with Tear endboards. Meister on Rulkallos revive, Kitkallos mill 5, Belle on a Tear sent by Sulliek to name a few.