In this guide, we will explore how to effectively use the Ansei Frandar Hunding deck in the Tales of Tribute card game in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). The Ansei Frandar Hunding deck is centered around gaining power and strategically shuffling cards back to the top of your deck. The Patron himself offers free Coin whenever he favors you, which can be quite beneficial during the game.
The following are the current cards available in the Ansei Frandar Hunding deck. If you’re unfamiliar with the types of cards in Tales of Tribute, it’s recommended to check out the Tales of Tribute Beginner Guide, which breaks down the mechanics in more detail.
Agent cards:
- No Shira Poet
Contract Action cards:
- Battle Meditation
Action cards:
- Way of the Sword
- Ansei Assault
- Conquest
- March on Hattu
- Shehai Summoning
- Warrior Wave
Upgradable cards:
- No Shira Poet can be upgraded to Hel Shira Herald
- Battle Meditation can be upgraded to Grand Oratory
- Ansei Assault can be upgraded to Ansei’s Victory
- March on Hattu can be upgraded to Hira’s End
Powerful Early Game Cards
The Ansei Frandar Hunding deck offers several strong early-game cards that can help you establish an advantage. For example, the Warrior Wave card costs only 4 Coins and allows you to choose between gaining 3 Power or purchasing another card in the Tavern for up to 4 Coins. The Conquest card, also priced at 4 Coins, gives you a similar effect, but with an added bonus of 2 Power when used in combination. Be sure to prioritize acquiring these cards when possible, as they will give you the power to pressure your opponent early in the game.
Combined with your starting card, Way of the Sword, these early-game cards allow you to build up Power rapidly, putting you ahead of your opponent. The Way of the Sword may not be the strongest card, but it helps trigger combos and offers a choice between gaining 1 Coin or 1 Power, which is useful in certain situations. If your opponent focuses too much on gathering cards without managing their Power, you could find yourself in a commanding lead.
Leveraging the Power of Ansei: Returning Cards to the Top
The Ansei Frandar Hunding deck has some cards that provide a significant advantage by allowing you to return cards from the cooldown pile to the top of your deck. Cards like Shehai Summoning, No Shira Poet, and March on Hattu allow you to do this, which can be extremely powerful. By putting agents or high-value cards back on top of your deck, you can ensure that they are drawn in your next turn.
This feature is especially useful when your opponent discards one of your agents. By returning that agent to the top of your deck, you can retrieve it in the following turn, keeping your strategy intact. What’s even better is that these cards often give you a choice between returning a card or opting for a different effect, adding flexibility to your approach.
High-Cost Cards Worth Pursuing
As the game progresses, you’ll have the opportunity to acquire more powerful cards, such as Ansei Assault or its upgraded version, Ansei’s Victory. While these cards cost 9 Coins (or 10 Coins for the upgraded version), they provide a significant boost, either by granting you a large amount of Power or allowing you to acquire another card for free with a cost of up to 9 or 10 Coins. These high-cost cards can be game-changers, so it’s worth pursuing them when the opportunity arises.
Although the Ansei Frandar Hunding deck is potent on its own, it can work even better in combination with Grandmaster Delmene Hlaalu. You can use the free cards you acquire from the Tavern to feed into Hlaalu’s Patron ability, sacrificing those cards for Prestige points. This allows you to not only farm Power with Ansei Frandar Hunding but also gain additional Prestige, pushing you closer to victory.
Free Coins with the Ansei Frandar Hunding Patron
One of the unique features of the Ansei Frandar Hunding deck is the ability to use 2 Power to flip the Patron to your side. Once the Patron is in your favor, you’ll receive 1 Coin for each turn he remains loyal to you. However, keep in mind that your opponent can flip the Patron back to their side at any time.
Another interesting aspect of this Patron is that he has no neutral state; he immediately flips either to your side or your opponent’s side. This means that you can sometimes gain a strategic advantage by flipping the Patron quickly. Many players assume it takes two turns to flip him, but you can actually do it in just one interaction, which can catch your opponent off guard.
With the right strategy, the Ansei Frandar Hunding deck can be a powerful tool to control the flow of the game, build up Power efficiently, and create opportunities for securing victory. Keep these tips and tricks in mind as you play, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering this Patron deck in Tales of Tribute.
