Difference between revisions of "Flux Counting"

Revision as of 04:28, 22 November 2009

Flux Counting and Improving Your Opening Game

Whats your opening like?

Flux counting is the coin term for a well planned opening game. Generally it should be used to plan flux spending for round 3 or 4 of a match but its possible to plan further. It will give you an edge.

This can be used to plan a rush or be used to find the safest way to get that 3rd domain. Often, you can find a card that would be better replaced with a similar card of different flux cost. Sometimes the difference between 1 and 2 flux costs or 3 and 4 flux costs and so on can mean a huge difference.

Introduction to the Counting Tree

The absolute best way is to do it with a pencil and a piece of paper. You put turn one in the top middle of the paper and branch out plays. As an example I will make a flux counting tree for a sylvan/elemental deck. In this example I want to cast Vapor Mahal and Bamboo Watch Tower quickly to claim the middle flux well but I also want to keep them defended. We also want to plan ahead for the times we don't draw a Bamboo Watch Tower by having a flux replacement. In this example, my flux replacement for Tenderfoot Archer is Valedune Arborist.

This is the original deck I got the idea of flux counting from. I spent roughly 2 months losing quite a bit to build a as strong as possible sylvan/elemetal rush. Originaly it had no Valedune Arborist and no Bamboo Watch Tower. I had galorix take a look at my deck and he said I need Bamboo Watch Tower. I even argued with him over it because at the time I didnt like the card. When I added Bamboo Watch Tower the deck immediately started doing better. Heres a mathematical reason the deck did better when I added Valedune Arborist.

Know your flux

Turn 1: 10 flux. 
Turn 2: 13 flux. 
Turn 3: 16 flux.

Heres a small mathematical example of why knowing your flux count is important.

Turn 3: 16 flux
       - 7 flux Grove
       - 1 flux Tenderfoot Archer or Valedune Arborist
       - 3 flux Bamboo Watch Tower
       - 5 flux Vapor Mahal
       = 0 flux left

This way your planning to do as much as possible with your early flux. In this case adding Valedune Arborist let me do this combo safer, and since it was more often safer I was able to do it much more often.

Here is the flux tree and a list of cards I use in this example. You may not think to notice this at first but the cards on the list are entirely commons. :) Please feel free to use these, and if you do I hope you enjoy the deck as much as I have.

CARDS this example is using:
Grove---------------(7 flux)
Vapor Mahal---------(5 flux)
Tenderfoot Archer---(1 flux)
Valedune Arborist---(1 flux)
Cloudburst----------(1 flux)
Thistle Falcon------(2 flux)
Flame Ent-----------(3 flux)
Bamboo Watch Tower--(3 flux)

                    TURN 1: 10 flux[/color]
                           - 7 flux - Grove  -----(without tenderfoot archer)-->(continued)
                           - 1 flux - tenderfoot archer or valedune arborist
                           = 2 flux left
                               -------------------------
                               |            |          |
                               V            |          V
                          END TURN          |          - 2 flux - Thistle Falcon
                              = 2 flux left |          = 0 flux left - END TURN
                       Turn 2:  5 flux      |_  Turn 2:  3 flux
   -----------------------------------      |              ------------------------>(continued)
   |                  |               |     |________      (not casting) |        (casting)
   V                  |               V              |___                V
  END TURN            |_________     END TURN            |________     END TURN
Turn 3:  8 flux                |____Turn 3:  8 flux               |   Turn 3:  6 flux
       - 5 flux - Vapor Mahal        |_    - 5 flux - Vapor Mahal |          - 5 vapor mahal
       - 3 flux - Bamboo Watch Tower   |   - 3 flux - Flame Ent   |          - 1 cloudburst
       = 0 flux left (AND MIDDLE FLUX) |   = 0 flux left          |          = 0 flux left   
--------------------------------------_|---------------------------|--------------------------
(FINAL      Tenderfoot, Bamboo, Vapor |Tenderfoot, Vapor, Flame Ent| Tenderfoot, Falcon, Vapor,
  CARDS)                              |                            |     Cloudburst

Outro

Written by UBER.

Special thanks to Keyser for motivating to make the page and showing me how to make it. Special thanks to Galorix for unknowingly helping me stumble on the idea.