Ark Nova Sponsors Tier List (2024)

Live with an updated Ark Nova Sponsors Tier List!
Wanted to update the old tier list for 3 main reasons:
1. The old list did not have enlarged images, this one will.
2. The meta has changed with Sponsor upgrade becoming more common.
3. Therefore my opinions on a lot of the Sponsors have changed!
Link to the final list: tiermaker.com/...

[@aetherllama8398]

Nice, I had your top 2 in my top 3 when I made my list last year, and they are still the best!

[@NoWondersTV]

@@aetherllama8398 I remember it well! The updated It’s a Wonderful World tier list will also look a bit more like your one (when I get around to it)

[@iantaylor2331]

What’s the current meta for upgrading actions (I used to upgrade association very quickly always but came to the realization that 10 money for a donation is quite expensive

[@NoWondersTV]

I have a video on just the topic! kzbin.infoe3DvG-socZo?si=lsEt2s3AmEobncnj I start talking about the action upgrades at 15 minutes. It's something you have to decide game-by-game. My current upgrade rates are: Animals (98%), Build (95%), Cards (87%), Sponsors (59%), Assoc (40%).

[@iantaylor2331]

@@NoWondersTV thanks very much! Just finished that section. I think cards will go down further in the meta and sponsors will go higher.

[@kylelange5613]

My issue with tier rankings like these is that they all seem to be based on cards being in your hand at the start of the game. Archaeologist, aquarium, cable car, native farm and side entrance are amazing to start the game with but lose value significantly as the game goes on. I would like to see sponsor tier rankings for middle and end game.

[@NoWondersTV]

I think towards the middle and end game it's a bit more common sense - the question you should be asking yourself is "does playing this give me any benefit at all?" For Aquarium the answer might still be yes, it's always 4 points at a minimum. If you have 5 Europe tags already then Expert on Europe becomes an obvious yes, it's 6 points. But at the start of the game when you're picking your starting hand it's nice to know that in general Expert on Asia is going to be stronger than Expert on Europe.

[@Filthyy1]

do you ever include the expansion content?

[@NoWondersTV]

I have a couple of tier lists for the expansion cards and action cards. When the expansion comes to BGA (soonish) I'll definitely talk about it more!

[@ByeMirko]

Nice tier list! I'd rate some cards a little differently because I value cards with a higher upside more. With that in mind: - tech and fed grants are a bit too high, maybe lower S tier- I'd basically always start with them but I wouldn't often spend xes to snap - mig recording is a bit high, maybe mid A+. It's a nice out if you lack projects, but if I end up releasing a lot, I just have little appeal amd struggle with other basic projects. It can have rly high upsides, but feels more like an opportunistic or avoid worse card. If a game goes well, I don't rly need it - I like polar bear exhibit and don't like foreign institute. But personal preferences :) - I'd rate exp on africa higher. Low A+, prob just above exp on americas. Maybe only because it makes feel like a pro in the game tho 🤔 - hyena compound should be higher, it can be game winning. It rly enables the pred strat and it's a nice shape. Mid to high A tier, also cuz it's fun. - not high on barred owl hut. It always feels so difficult to play. I like when I have it down though and I personally prefer orni because it's easier and triggers on their birds. I'd switch the two - lastly, I'd put experts on the diff animals amd baboon rock higher in D. They give nice little money and animal icon, and I've becoming more fond of the monkeys - they're mostly all decent, easy to play monkeys. Exp on large and engineer much more meh Anyway, just some thoughts based on personal preference - hard to rank, but def agree with Explorer. Love that card!

[@NoWondersTV]

@@ByeMirko always enjoy reading differing opinions, thanks for sharing!

[@ericgoto5166]

can it really be an s tier if it has the most cards 🤔

[@NoWondersTV]

@@ericgoto5166 I’ll add more to S, don’t try me! I’ll do it!

[@JDSecretPolice]

Sam only doesn't have problem seeing shapes in ark nova, he also doesn't know the shape of a bell-curve

[@simonthopmson7915]

Foreign isntitute is such a bait card IMO; just costs too much tempo and the upside is usually kinda mediocre, not to mention bad end game goal. Easily down in the B tier for me.

[@NoWondersTV]

It can serve an important purpose in some games. University + Foreign Institute is always going to give you a round 1 upgrade. Whether you need it or not is a different story. Then it also gives handy reputation to get you from 6>8 in round 2 for that 2nd worker. I agree there are many sponsors I'd pick over it, but it's a very safe and reliable card for when you don't have an early project to do.

[@kaikulimu]

Why do people not upgrade Association anymore? Donating for $2/$5/$7 are very nice. Often you can take the third Partner Zoo for last worker 2CP. And you can do highly-efficient combos like 8-Strength Association for both a Partner Zoo and a project. I am specifically talking about situations where you do not start with Explorer or Talented Communicator in your hand.

[@ericgoto5166]

I feel like the $2 donation is good but the 5 and 7, especially early/mid game makes a difference in being able to build or play animals so they aren't that good. If you wait until the end to do them then at that point you are only getting what 2 maybe 3 CP? I think if you have even OK luck with sponsor draws you can match the 2/3 CP and have more money through breaking with upgraded sponsors. The "highly efficient combo" requires 3 X tokens though so you aren't always going to pull it off.

[@NoWondersTV]

Both Darcelmaw and Gary have 60/30 splits on upgrading Assoc over Sponsors. There are even games where you can upgrade both and skip Build or Cards. The benefits you listed are the main reason for upgrading Assoc, it's just that something always has to be left out as you can't upgrade all 5 cards!

[@kunizial]

Small mistake: best maps for archaeologist are map 0 and A. playing the map expert tournaments on those rn, it's easily the most broken card on those broken maps

[@NoWondersTV]

Ok, that is correct, I just pretend those maps don't exist for the most part. There is a reason I didn't join those beginner map tournaments!

[@cropsini]

2024 okapi stable still underrated.. shame

[@NoWondersTV]

Get flamed for too much S, get flamed for too few S. Lose-lose