Flux Counting

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 Watchtower. 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 [color=#0000FF] left[/color]

This way your planning to do as much as possible with your early flux.

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

So good luck and happy playing. If you need any help ask.