Submission : Xanatos Gambit

Name: Xanatos Gambit
Cardtype: Action
Cost: 1 blood
Capacity: Not applicable
Discipline: None
Clan: Harbingers of Skulls
+1 stealth action.
Bleed any Methuselah. If this acting Habringers of Skulls has a capacity above 5, this action is at +2 bleed. The Methuselah you are bleeding may burn the top X cards from his or her library to reduce the bleed amount by X.


Flavor text: None

Art notes: people setting fire to a library

World of Darkness reference: Nothing specific (I'm surprised that name hasn't been already used in VTES)

How does this card address a compelling game need?: Harbingers definitely needs some help. What I like about this card is that it lashes out to the core of the game (the player's pool) but in a way that can be getting around with. Also, i'm not sure about the +2 bleed. Maybe +1 would be more than enough...

Created by: François Crussard

Id say the mill is too much. You basically will bleed for 0 and mill 3 cards for a blood. I'd say +1 bleed, anyone, they mill cards equal to bleed amount, if the acting is 5+ capacity they untap at end of turn or something. Maybe only one playable each turn? Or make it a permanent mill effect for bleeding with +1 bleed and unique? It feels fair to bleed for 2 trochomanncy into 3/4 and be untapped at Eot withanother trochomancy set up almost. It feels like wall paper to bleed for 0 and mill 3 cards for a blood.

The thing is we don't want to be as efficient in bleeding as .

I also think that, without playtesting, it's very hard to evaluate the true power of the mill. Until now we only had Slaughterhouse and that was clearly not enough. But maybe 2 or 3 more cards in only what's needed to make this strategy viable.

I think Harbinger's card should focus on milling. Taking advantage on the cards from the ash heap should belong to discpline's or sect's card.

Though, if you think Xanatos Gambit is too weak, we can remove the blood cost...

You've clearly never been the prey of a Harbinger deck with 3+ Slaughterhouses in play (they're not unique or limited to one per player), never mind if the minions out include Zygodat or Egotha , who have bled with Trochomancy to stop you from being able to claim back cards later (e.g. via Ashur Tablets , Reinforcements etc).

Name: Xanatos Gambit
Cardtype: Action
Cost: 1 blood
Capacity: Not applicable
Discipline: None
Clan: Harbingers of Skulls
+1 stealth action.
Bleed any Methuselah. If this acting Habringers of Skulls has a capacity above 5, this action is at +2 bleed. The Methuselah you are bleeding may burn the top X cards from his or her library to reduce the bleed amount by X.

In the tabletop/LARP materials, WW made a big thing of the Giovanni becoming rich through their use of wraiths to spy on competitors and get inside information on trading etc. Therefore, Necromancy should have a card that does at least bleed at +1 bleed for +1 stealth. Library burning I'm not so sure about :-/ We're certainly agreed on bleed enhance - I've been playtesting one quite similar (FOR/NEC +1 bleed but limited to 2 or 3 depending on the level, but may untap if successful - don't have my stuff with me at the moment so that's from memory). My local is meeting up on Saturday though so hopefully should be able to upload everything on Sunday.

I've found that Bloodwork in my Harbinger Black Hand deck works quite well, perhaps mostly due to my local game being Sabbat dominated *( Psychic Assault is a nice pairing too).

I have no doubt that the HoS' prey will have a though time. But is that enough to ensure you GW ?


If the goal of the incoming set is to boost , I think they should really have cards that only them can play.
A +1 bleed/+1 stealth card will most certainly benefit to everyone else but them.