Hello this is QQinfinity, your resident Top Hat lover.
I am biting the bullet and writing the first strategy guide for this channel here because being informative is kind of my whole deal - ask the other old members of the discord.
You can find table of contents in the Pins 📌
Now disclaimer:
I am a player of the Taiwanese server, which first came out in 2021 autumn, and I joined HPMA in 2022 January; I then 'quit' HPMA in 2022 July, and now I came back 2023 June after a full year of hiatus. The information within this guide will not perfectly match the current state of global server nor the current state of taiwan server (since I am literally one year behind the others). But seeing as no one seems willing to share, this is all you're getting. Besides, knowledge is knowledge anyway.
The aim of this guide:
This guide will attempt to explain the basic mindset and attitude necessary to build a decent deck that will compliment the echo of your choice. Hopefully after reading this guide you will make better informed choices when adding cards and formulating strategy. While this guide will include a few sample builds, please DO NOT take it as gospel, and adjust the cards to your preferences and playstyle.
Also this is mostly dueling. Not forest.
The Venn Diagram:
Imagine a Venn Diagram (two circles that overlap). One circle is SPELLS, and the other circle is CREATURES, while the central intersection is MIXED.
Generally, Harry and Hermione echo will want a deck predominantly composed of Spells, Newt will want a deck full of CREATURES, and everyone else is a different degrees of MIXED where they lean closer to having more spells or having more creatures.
It is highly discouraged to make a harry/hermy deck with more than one or two creatures (which are usually either Three Headed Dog, or Skrewt, or Golden Snitch＊), same for Newt decks having more than one or two spells.
(Golden Snitch is currently unavailable in Global)
【continued......】
Reading your effects (cards and echoes)
The reason Harry and Hermione want to stick to spells, is because Harry's spell that are 3 mana and less will get damage/healing buff, and Hermione will boost the most expensive spell in her hand after using three other spells. Their echo effect do not benefit from the addition of creature cards at all. Which is why to maximize their echo effect, less creatures is always better for them.
On the other side of the spectrum, Newt's echo effect will generate a 1 mana cost creature after playing three creature cards. Again, to maximize his effect, less spell is better.
While the other echoes are still dependent on specific cards and will lean more heavily towards more spells or more creatures, the final result will generally be a mixed deck. Like Neville or Hagrid, their main focus will be one or two creatures, but will include supportive spells. And Snape or Bella, who prefer spells but will bring creatures of specific functions for support.
Picking your cards:
While it is possible to separate cards into categories like 'support' or 'damage dealing', etc. For the purpose of DECK BUILDING, I propose an alternative sorting system that will make it slightly easier to pick your cards.
Your Main Focus/Central Card
The One (or Two) card that will be central to your strategy.
Your complimentary cards/support
Four or five cards that will boost your central card or will give extra value to your central strategy.
Counter-Picks/Tech Cards
One or two cards picked specifically to deal with weaknesses or problems that your strategy struggle with.
Picking your Echo Bonuses
The mentality for echo bonus is usually " It's got ONE bonus that I really like. It will have to do." and not bother trying to optimize echo bonuses too much until you get to a really high level. You need to farm gold echoes and spend lots of coins, even then you won't always get bonuses you like.
yEr a WIzaRD, heRRy
Harry's echo grants damage and healing boost to all spells that are 3 cost or lower. Naturally, we include cheap spells. Your main combo are the following: Oppugno + Broom & Inflatus + Bewitched Snowball. These are the cards that deal the highest damage in Harry's arsenal.
Due to the fact that Harry spams a lot of cheap spells, we can benefit from the discount effect of Three Headed Dog. Note that you should ONLY use the dog when it's 0 cost. Not when it's 3 cost, not when it's 2, and not when it's 1. Only use at 0 cost.
With that in mind, here are a collection of cards that synergize well with Harry, written in the aforementioned three-category format:
⭐Central Cards:
Bewitched Snowball, Oppugno
+ Supports:
Inflatus or Incarcerous (for snowball)
Broom (for Oppugno)
Expulso (very useful for Harry after damage buff)
Nebulus
Stupefy
Expelliarmus
Episkey or Essence of Dittany
Portkey
Prior Incantanto (Note: copied 3 cost cards becoming 4 cost CAN benefit from the echo buff. Have fun with double Snowball)
Three Headed Dog (discount)
Golden Snitch ＊(not yet in global; function includes extra mana for casting and movement cards for kiting)
Manticore (not recommended, but you could use this if you desperately need more movement)
Skrewt
~ Techs:
Acromantula Venom
Incendio
Atmosphere Charm
Crucio
Ideally, Harry echo should not include any of the cards listed in the Techs section. Harry echo demands high precision and a noticeably higher skill level to play well. Using your cheap spells smartly to dispatch swarms of creatures, stupefy to pinball Piertotum Locomotor, breaking dragon eggs with Max Range snowballs, etc. Instead of relying on the tech cards like venom or atmosphere charm.
