Diana and Her Hexy Hammer

Diana and her new BFF peek at some hexy stuff and deny the threats of the encounter deck.

Key cards and tactic

We have the Cyclopean Hammer in the title, which surely is quite powerful. However, the real fun comes with Alyssa Graham and Foresight.

Peek and deny

• Alyssa Graham: Diana's new BFF has two main tasks. 1.) Enable the use of our most powerful cancel card, i.e., Foresight (see also below). 2.) Ease the timing for Delay the Inevitable.

• Scroll of Secrets: Thanks to the recent taboo, triggering the ability is fast. It's purpose is the same as with Alyssa Graham, but with limited charges. During setup, it can also be used for card draw.

• Foresight: Cancels enemies, weaknesses and treacheries completely (not only the revelation effect) for any investigator at the same location, but requires peeking. Once it is put beside Diana and her Shiny Blade is in play, it allows to play an asset fast and with discount (requires peeking at investigator deck), also for any investigator at the same location.

Immortality

• Delay the Inevitable: Since its cancel effect is triggered at a later stage after it is played, it can always trigger Diana's ability and be played recursively (as long as there are enough resources).
• Talisman of Protection: Similar, to Delay the Inevitable, but less timing critical. On the other hand, it triggers only if things went bad. Consider this as an insurance card.

Further assets

• Cyclopean Hammer: Gets stronger after each time, Diana's ability triggers. Attacks with a base value up to 11, dealing 3 damage, moves tough enemies out of sight.
• St. Hubert's Key: -bonus might be necessary if not fully charged and good for The Hammer. 5 (together with Alyssa) allow solid investigating at low shroud locations. Furthermore, since the sanity is reduced, it makes it easier to trigger Talisman of Protection.
• Bandolier: Allows to hold The Hexy hammer and the Even Hexier Blade, simultaneously, and gives extra .

Weaknesses of this deck

Resource management

This deck has some expensive assets. Furthermore, recursive use of Delay the Inevitable is also quite costly. The following cards help to generate the required money:

• "I've had worse…": Cancels and gives resources, exactly what is needed here. With Diana's ability and a second use via the Cancel-Again Blade, gives a total amount of up to 5 resources.
• Foresight: Cost 0 resources and generates 1 resource with Diana's ability. Second use can be used for second effect to save 2 resources, makes in up to 3 resources, in total.
• Deny Existence and any other "cost 0 resources" cancel: Generates 1 resource due to Diana's ability.
• Stand Together: 2 Resources, also 2 for a friend. Usefull, during setup to help companions, too.

Without "I've had worse…" and Foresight, resource economy is quite challenging. Unfortunately, they both require some EXP. Therefore, handling the finances is quite challenging during the first scenario(s). In the Thick of It can be used to have them early on. Alternatively, since arkham horror is a cooperative game, her sugardaddy can shine a lot when buying Diana's expensive stuff. Other helpfull support cards from friends are, e.g., Schoffner's Catalogue, Charles Ross, Esq., Stand Together.

Investigating

Diana's base value of 3 books okay, but not good. Her BFF and St. Hubert's Key raise it to 5. That's enough to get some clues at low-shroud locations, but not enough to be the main clue getter. Drawn to the Flame can give some difficult-to-get-clues, but still, Diana is better at protecting the main clue getter than getting the clues herself.

Overview when to play/trigger what

Since Diana's special ability is limited to once per phase, we have maximum four possibilities per round to trigger it. (Defiance is omitted since it's low triggering probability.)

Mythos-phase

Lv. 0

• Deny Existence
• Ward of Protection
• Dark Insight
• Delay the Inevitable
• Talisman of Protection

Lv. 1+

• Foresight
• "I've had worse…"
• Deny Existence lv. 5
• Ward of Protection lv.2 and lv. 5 ver.

Investigator-phase

Lv. 0

• Drawn to the Flame (enables cards for mythos-phase)
• Delve Too Deep (enables cards for mythos-phase)
• Provoke AoO to use a card for enemy-phase

Lv. 1+

• Mind Wipe

Enemy-phase

Lv. 0

• Deny Existence
• Delay the Inevitable
• Dodge
• "Get behind me!"

Lv. 1+

• "I've had worse…"
• Mind Wipe
• Deny Existence

Upkeep-phase

Lv. 0

• Dark Insight

Lv. 1+

• Foresight

Final Notes

This deck shows the version with the main/key cards already included, to be powerful. Cards for a 0EXP version can be found in the side deck. However, I feel like that there is some room for improvement and requires alignment with the other investigators (see also notes above on weaknesses).

If available EXP > 20, they can be spend on simply upgrading some of the cards.

The side deck also include Mind Wipe, which seems interesting to include. However, it is quite situational and not suitable for every campaign.