Card Reviews · ArkhamDB

Dark Memory

Another signature Weakness that involves making choices. Looking at the two elements, the effect and the discard condition, we get:

The effect: This is, more or less, an Ancient Evils that costs Agnes an action and 2 resources for the dubious privilege of losing a turn and maybe advancing the Agenda. The second effect, where, if you don't play it, Agnes takes 2 Horror each turn, might seem like a way to get some damage in, but the 2:1 Horror to Damage ratio isn't in Agnes's favor, even with Horror soaks like Peter Sylvestre in her card pool. You can probably take it on the chin for a round or two, waiting for (or avoiding) the Witching Hour, but it's definitely troublesome, and, in rare cases, can cost you the game. The impact is a little dependent on whether you are in a scenario with a couple of long Agendas or a number of shorter ones, but it's never good.

The discard condition: Covered above, you take an action and spend 2 resources. Being a Spell, costs can be eased by Uncage the Soul, Shining Trapezohedron, and/or Robes of Endless Night (with the level 2 version saving you the possibility of taking an Attack of Opportunity for your pains), but that is almost always scant comfort.

All in all, this is average signature weakness, perhaps above average if you really hate Ancient Evils.

1/17/21

LivefromBenefitSt · 1076

Depending on team size, this costs you 6 - 15 actions. You call that average? — Adny · 1 1/18/21

Umm what? This is one of the WORST weaknesses in the game. It's literally 4 actions (because doom takes away effectively 3), and while the second two cards you mentioned can help, Uncage the Soul is an action so that'd be adding to the cost for a total of 5 actions. Fortunately Agnes moves fairly quickly once she can leverage her stats. And tanking 2 horror every round is brutal, I've done it. It's is an absolutely miserable pill to swallow every time this thing shows up. But we do it because the waitress is a goddess among men with her killer stats and abilities. — LaRoix · 1645 1/18/21

Uncage the Soul is an action that plays a card as its effect (the playing of which doesn't then cost an action). So still 4 (counting doom as 3), shouldn't be 5. — Yenreb · 15 1/19/21

The doom only costs you those actions, though, if it leads to dooming out from the agenda (or forcing you to resign to avoid dooming out the agenda, where you otherwise wouldn't have needed to resign). In some scenarios the doom will not be what kills you, and the cost is just the resources and action to play. Which is still not nothing! — Yenreb · 15 1/19/21

Agnes can play fortune or fate in right moment to mitigate the loss of a turn — Django · 5142 1/20/21

So this and Carolyn’s book weakness still take the cake for worst weaknesses in the game for me. I’ve heard people talk about playing around or combating this weakness with different cards, but it’s all still a cost. Even Fortune or Fate is still netting you neutral doom instead of -1, and for 2 XP. That’s the same cost as Skids’ weakness, and you’re purposely electing that route. Anyways, paying 2 resources and an action to play ancient evils is terrible. — StyxTBeuford · 13043 2/3/21

And again, it’s not really about how you feel about ancient evils. Very few weakness in the game cost roughly 3 actions (the card, playing the card, and 2 resources) at minimum, and then take away another 3 from you at minimum. This is a horrific card even when you play around it. — StyxTBeuford · 13043 2/3/21

Playing Fortune or Fate to mitigate the loss of a turn is like "mitigating" Hospital Debts by not paying for it...except you still spent 4/6 resources and a card. — suika · 9497 2/3/21

Oops, posted this as the same time as Styx, making the exact same point. — suika · 9497 2/3/21

What could be worse than being forced to pay for Ancient Evils? — CaiusDrewart · 3193 2/22/21

A card I like for mitigating this is Peter Sylvester II. Agnes wanted to play this card anyway, and the horror soak Peter provides is so strong that if you draw Dark Memory in the mid-to-late game, you can often get away with just not playing it and dumping as much horror on Peter as possible (obviously you'll soon start having to take some yourself, as well). I've done this many times. If you draw it in the early scenario, you'll likely be forced to play it because the horror will eventually become overwhelming even with Peter II in play. — CaiusDrewart · 3193 2/22/21

Of note, if you draw this during a turn in which Dissonant Voices is in your threat area, you are prevented from playing Dark Memory durin gthis turn and are forced to take the horror damage. — Jelonek · 1 10/18/21

The Necronomicon

This is an interesting Weakness to rate. Looking at the two elements, the effect and the discard condition, we get:

The effect: Swapping the for the isn't fun, and it doubles you chance of auto failing, but... it's possible to go an entire scenario without seeing either token, so it's on the lower end of the punishment scale for signature weaknesses. It could even help you, if Daisy is running Voice of Ra, where the grants an extra 2 resources, while the is a miss. If you've had the bad luck to get Nihilism as your Weakness, you might feel differently. Still, not incredibly punishing.

The discard condition: 3 actions and 3 Horror, and the actions can be Daisy's bonus Tome actions. Daisy has a high Sanity, but this still eats a third of it. 2 actions to clear a Weakness is pretty standard, so 3 bonus actions is fairly forgiving, and Daisy can always pack Fearless (2) to recover from her unwise bedtime reading.

All in all, this is a below average signature weakness.

1/17/21

LivefromBenefitSt · 1076

you might be able to move horror off of it with Solemn Vow. If you remove the last horror that way, though, it doesn't get discarded. — Zinjanthropus · 229 1/18/21

Not by default, but it can now be overplayed (or tossed to a failed Crypt Chill). — Yenreb · 15 1/21/21

One question: with this weakness having the same name as another necronomicon("Petrus de Dacia Translation") and "Limit 1 per deck" on that card, can I have these two cards in my deck at the same time?" — newdaylqt · 1 11/17/23

Song of the Magah Bird

Can someone explain where this bird starts and ends? Looks really strangely drawn in comparison to the other cards. And is it sitting on a branch, or is that the beak? Im confused... ........................................................................................

1/17/21

Brahlam · 1

I think the answer is yes to both? lol. I honestly can't see the bird either, but I guess since we're in the Dreamlands it kinda makes sense? — TJMike · 13 3/31/21

I believe the head of the bird is turned so the beak is facing to the left of the card and is under the wing <(o), it is sitting on a branch with long tail feathers showing up behind. — halogen64 · 1 3/6/24

Dark Ritual

No reviews yet? It's bad. If you're afraid of drawing curses then don't put them in the bag in the first place. Most curse cards require you to put in curses as a cost so this card can actually prevent you from playing your cards.

It's always a shame to see obvious pack filler and that's exactly what Dark Ritual is.

1/16/21

KasaiAisu · 41

Some rogues either want to spend money every turn, like Preston with Darkhorse, or want to keep curses trapped until they’re needed. Your building elaborate combo, eventually you won’t need the 0XP parts of it anymore, but this does an amazing job for some characters, preventing Faustian bargain‘s from ruining your chances of success. And when you’re ready for the tokens, stop paying for it. — MrGoldbee · 1483 1/17/21

This also prevents curses from being used up by tests if you need a specific amount of them for other card effects. — Django · 5142 1/17/21

Yes, it's definitely a very situational card, but that is not the same as being a bad card. You shouldn't throw it in a deck on a whim; you use it when you have a specific reason for wanting to store curses. — LivefromBenefitSt · 1076 1/17/21

Dexter Drake

Dexter, you're a boy, make a big noise

Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday

You got Molly in your face, you big disgrace

Discarding assets all over the place, singin'

We will, five Will shrivel you

Drake, you're a young man, soldier man

Fine clothes in the street, gonna take on the world someday

You got Molly in your face, you big disgrace

Waving your haste all over the place

Six Will, we will summon you, sing it!

Six Will, we will summon you, yeah

Great Drake, you're an old man, veteran

Pleading with Yaztaroth, gonna get you some peace someday

You got Molly in your face, big disgrace

Summoned hound put you back in your place, do it!

Seven Will, we will razor you, yeah, yeah, come on

Eight Will, we will wither you, alright, louder!

Nine Will we will shrivel V you, one more time

Ten Will, we will shrivel you

Yeah

1/15/21

jimjamculver · 142

Great work man! love it — StartWithTheName · 71473 1/16/21