DaVinci is a Sage

bubbathegoat 605

The idea is a simple Sage-saurus with little or no MU used in the finished rig. Lockpick and Dyson Mem Chip are used for cheap/free installs and recurring credits that both power Sage. With a little drip econ added in, this deck and provide enough credits to break into most servers for only the one click to run.

Install the first Sage whether or not you have Dinosaurus yet, you'll over-install the extra later with a Creeper for 0 MU, or DaVinci that will clear up the MU after it installs something else.

This deck became so much better by adding DaVinci. Earlier iterations had sat back too passively to draw and build, but with DaVinci, a successful run on any server can become a credit for an install. Kate's ability synergizes very well as it lowers the install cost, allowing an install for fewer credits, and an opportunity to trigger this ability on the Corp's turn. I'm loving the early pressure DaVinci has brought to my shaper game.

DaVinci is great for bluffing on a run, since it can instantly become your breaker, or some extra MU when you need it, so long as its charged up.

I moved to 3x of the two breakers since I started face-checking more aggressively and do face some program destruction. I already had a lot of card draw to pull out all the hardware and drip econ, and with only 2 breakers I was looking for, the tutors felt redundant.

This deck is nowhere near Tier 1, but I've had a lot of fun with it. Running with just DaVinci and Creeper while building my rig has confused many opponents, who laughed at Sage when it popped out. The start is very slow while building, but DaVinci makes this deck at least viable in a janky way.

8 comments
28 Sep 2015 FarCryFromHuman

I would think Replicator would go a long way towards getting through your deck. It also synergizes well with DaVinci. Sadly Inside Man is probably a trap, and you have plenty of drip already.

It might be nice to free up 3 influence for a trio of Career Fairs, and you would only lose 2 and 2 for trading out 2x MemStrips for 2x CyberSolutions Mem Chip. That's a tempo play to get your drip and draw in play and prevent unwanted discards but it might be worthwhile.

28 Sep 2015 Phoenix

My biggest concern is your sentry suite. Creeper is brutally expensive vs Komainu, Tsurugi and the like.

28 Sep 2015 Phoenix

A turn 1 Oversight Curtain Wall is also a massive scoring window.

28 Sep 2015 bubbathegoat

@FarCryFromHuman I haven't tried Replicator in this deck yet, but I agree it could really power out the recurring credits/MU and speed up the deck.
I had Career Fair at one time, but took it out. I think you are probably right about it though, I could use the tempo boost to get out some of the resources in the early game (I have been clicking for credits in the early game without it). Maybe -1 MemStrips, -1 Creeper +2 Career Fair?

28 Sep 2015 bubbathegoat

@Phoenix on a turn 1 OAI Curtain Wall, yes, that is a big problem. I actually make a point to not install Sage too early in mainly glacier matchups to try to hide how weak I am to big ICE.
I agree that Creeper is not a great breaker. It is influence free and 0 MU, but painful (often meaning net damage instead of breaking) when I have to use it. I plan to replace it with GS Shrike M2 (among other changes) when I get Data and Destiny.
Is there a killer you would recommend? My default would be Ninja for most situations.

28 Sep 2015 Phoenix

My suggestion would be either finding the influence for an e3 feedback implants or 2 (helps make Sage cheaper as well so you could remove a Dyson Fractal Generator or 2) or fitting in a Mimic to go alongside Creeper.

29 Sep 2015 belkalra

I'm suprised no one has mentioned this yet, but you could hotswap the dyson fractals for Cyberfeeder; you are going to be paying more for them now, but you'll save 6 influence(which you could use for either the Career Fair or for some e3 Feedback Implants)

Also seconding the Replicator and I would also recommend the Tyson Observatory to get the hardware out faster.

29 Sep 2015 Phoenix

The influence could also buy you a D4v1d which also combos nicely with E3 and would rescue the early game.