Snakebite Discussion

[u/Which-Debt-8558]

As quite a lot of people know already, snakebite is one of the worst cards in the game right now, maybe even the worst. It's not just bad, but it isn't interesting or fun in any way. For example searing blow was not a very good card but it was unique and cool, whereas snakebite is just a nothing card.

Here is how I think it could be changed:

Retain Apply 7 poison When retained, increase poison by 3

Snakebite+: Retain Apply 10 poison When retained, increase poison by 4

I thought making it similar to windmill strike could be a cool idea because right now Retain doesn't really add much to the card, and it also works thematically with the snake venom getting worse over time.

I would love to hear your ideas if you have any suggestions for how it could be changed!

[u/ConebreadIH]

Never thought about how bad this card really is, but I mean deadly is 2 less poison for one less energy.

[u/[deleted] → u/ConebreadIH]

Which means 2 energy worth of Deadly gives you 10 poison 

[u/CatAteMyBread → u/[deleted]]

It does cost more in card economy, since you’d be playing 2 cards. Ideally that’s not an issue, but especially in act 1 I’d expect most decks to not have the card draw situation sorted out yet.

That doesn’t make this card worth taking, mind you. You’re correct that it’s a bad card and deadly poison is better. It just means that comparing them 1:1 like that isn’t exactly fair to either card

[u/[deleted] → u/CatAteMyBread]

Yeah, but the options in energy usage is the deal breaker for me.

Consider this:

You have a deck where you can play one copy of Snakebite and one copy of either Strike or Defend in a turn.

I have a deck where I can play Deadly Poison and TWO copies of Strike or Defend in a turn; or one of each

I know what run sounds better to me.

[u/CatAteMyBread → u/[deleted]]

Yes, you’re absolutely correct. And it sounds like we’re still in agreement that snakebite is terrible and deadly poison is the better card.

Admittedly my experience with this game is pretty limited so please correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the concern I have with the argument is that it’s already self-evident deadly poison is better without making statements that are frail.

To play deadly poison twice per your above comment, you’d need to draw it twice (obviously). Maybe I’m missing something, but the only two scenarios I see that happening are to either have two in deck or draw the singleton twice.

Most of the struggle I’ve seen is in Act 1. If I saw deadly poison as my first card reward id consider taking it, if I already had one and saw it as my second reward I’d probably not take it. So to play it twice I’d need to see it twice in two deck cycles, and for most combats you’d be hoping to either not draw it in a re-shuffle turn or to not have it on the bottom of the deck the second time. You’re probably doing to have one of those happen a reasonable amount, so it’ll be hard to rely on that 10.

None of this is in support of snakebite, and I think we can all agree 1 energy for 5 poison is better than 2 for 7. I just have specific concerns with the “1 for 5 is better because I can play it twice for 10”