Spirit Island: Red's Final Tier List: Part 6: A-tier

[@noahduncan4095]

These daily drops have been making my week :D

[@bradymccann]

💯

[@InRealTime769]

So far my favorite Volcano combo has been with Darkness. Having the Volcano be the escape target for all the abducts is just too funny

[@Overlordsen]

these two spirits are my favourite ones, so this is great news for me :)

[@jfducusin7186]

Since some people are kinda requesting time stamps. Here it is. > > > > > :> @0:01 Intro/Ranking Criteria @2:10 Serpent Slumbering Beneath the Island : Base @8:44 Finder of Paths Unseen @13:38 Lure of the Deep Wilderness @18:18 Wandering Voice Keens Delirium @23:43 Eyes Watch From the Trees @28:46 Grinning Trickster Stirs Up Trouble @33:45 Vital Strength of the Earth : Nourishing @39:25 Volcano Looming High @47:16 River Surges in Sunlight : Travel @51:09 A Spread of Rampant Green : Regrowth ENJOY!

[@shockftw1508]

Thanks for your content. I am learning a lot! You keep talking about some boards being better than other for spirit x or y. I would love a video in which you explain in detail how to decide what boards are good/bad for that spirit.

[@arthurnorcome3967]

Do you already have a video that ranks the boards? like is board only good for 3 spirits?

[@TheDarktater]

I have been enjoying this series so much, thank you!

[@cmckee42]

Man, I did not expect trickster to be praised for consistency

[@lonelysandbar]

Finder is probably my favorite spirit, and when things line up it definitely feels downright busted to make lands adjacent, and it rewards out of the box thinking. Having the isolate right innate also feels really powerful if you get one of the isolate minors to pair along with them, isolating the whole coast and preventing a ton of explorers on the island.

[@dylogysminter]

We regularly use Volcano as a Tank but normally with Volcano being in the middle of the island so it has ~10 adjacent lands. Also this removes some of the Edge cases because if Volcano has 3 Boards it is working on you can move the Dahan so they don't interfere with Volcano at all making it so that Volcano doesn't kill them. All in all Volcano definitely feels super super strong. Even has a combo that can clear 6/6 +1 extra board. Even though it is not the most necessary Spirit in that combo. it still helps immensely. I think you really can play around most/all of the edge cases you were talking about with Volcano. Not in single player but in multiplayer games easily. I swear Board D is the best Board for Volcano. you are instantly in the middle of the island and can dominate from there.

[@lawrancelittle338]

I love nourishing strength of the earth spirit (absolute favourite both thematically and mechanically). I’m a massive fan of SI but I’m not that good. So I’ve been waiting to see where you would place this spirit and I’m so happy that you (a much more experienced player) regard it as an upper A tier spirit. I love my big protective rock boy! Also, Loving these videos!!!

[@cmckee42]

I combined Nourishing Earth with Hearth Vigil and Promises of protection to get 10 health dahan allowing them to tank city+city+town. So fun!

[@rampant1apart]

I feel like Finders is so specialized that it relies on team combos. Admittedly, I like being the range/movement/placement solution for the entire team. I have a lot of fun with the Finders/Keepers combo, but that's also partially because I like jokey name for the pair, haha.

[@Kentchangar]

I have another suggestion for a tier list: Tier list based on how many viable different ways you can play the spirit. Serpent's reclaim loop from turn 3 by playing the same 2 cards over and over vs some spirit that has multiple different builds without a reclaim loop.

[@Vagabond_4Life]

Another quality vid 💯

[@ZeroPlus707]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I'm intrigued that you mentioned not being a fan of reclaim looping your starting hand when talking about Lure, but then talked about enjoying that same strategy for Delirium, Eyes Watch, and River. Is that because Lure plays its uniques for Softly Beckon / Swallowed effects and not really for the innate payoffs?

[@Pit1993x]

Same! That confused me as well. Personally, I don't try to get into a reclaim loop unless I've placed almost all of my presence. Just feels inorganic to me. ^^

[@dylogysminter]

Nourishing is super strong with Dahan spirits for spirit combos. Adding a Dahan nearly every turn can strengthen some spirits extremely well.

[@noahduncan4095]

My friend and I did Gaze and Volcano vs France 6 and yep, the extra destroyed presence back was very nice, especially because Gaze got another card that also let Volcano take destroyed presence back early. It was fun to both be playing the big damage bois

[@RezDisciple]

I notice that when talking about adversaries each of the spirits struggle against you very frequently say Habsburg and Russia. Is there something about those two adversaries that specifically counters the very traits that generally make spirits strong?

[@MadElk32]

Can you do a top 10 series? I want tknow the top 10 most fun, or top 10 best offence

[@draheim90]

My hot take is that Nourishing is one of the best additions to this expansion (top 3 for sure). I personally got no enjoyment playing any of the previous iterations of Earth yet Nourishing is probably my favorite aspect released to date (Tangles is pretty high, too). Curious why does Eyes destroy Scotland? It’s not immediately obvious to me and I don’t think I’ve played that matchup. Because it can power through its fear cards and doesn’t have an issue defending a built-up #2 land?

[@mrsamtheman80]

Finder + Ocean, Board A in play with Finder placing at least 1 presence there (starts there OR places Land 1 presence there), versus Scotland 2+: Turn 1, Drown 2 cities for 0 energy (via Paths Tied By Nature), since Oceans are considered wetlands, as long as Ocean places 1 presence on the ocean on board A (if not already there).

[@aidankocherhans9861]

Its funny how each video is a little longer than the last. Im surprised nourishing is all the way up here, I didn't think it would be that much stronger than might, but I guess those card draws make a big difference

[@DrDrao]

I definitely feel like both green aspects were underrated. Regrowth definitely belongs alongside base green in x, while tangles belongs in A.

[@samunstein]

Almost all things you said about travel river being strong are also true for base river, yet base river is in C tier. I suspect base river is one of those that will move to B tier with the final video, but even one full tier difference because of dahan movement and defend 1 feels harsh, even though those effects are for sure better than base special rule

[@sarahsloot2290]

Dahan movement during growth and defend 1 are massive when abused. Check out his travel river guide, they’re 90% the same spirit and the 10% is massive at high level.

[@samunstein]

​@@sarahsloot2290 I have, and I know you can squeeze a lot of efficiency from that 10%, but IMO not quite 2 tiers worth. Regardless of how much better it is, it would've been great to hear in the video why travel special rules specifically are so much stronger than base :)

[@sarahsloot2290]

Movement spirits have the luxury of being able to seamlessly entwine proactive and reactive play. But it’s possible that base river suffers from “why would you play it, when we have a better clone” syndrome.

[@dylogysminter]

yeah waning support is one of the reasons we never use one board per spirit. We much rather draw new imaginary boards if it is necessary so we always have a choice which spirit removes the presence.

[@bradymccann]

I find regrowth stronger if you’re able to get that presence out. You can basically skip every single build and ravage and then use cards to deal with the rest

[@AndreasVNesje]

I would never expect you to call Trickster "very consistent"

[@benjaminnightingale7638]

Has there been a video on tricksters major build yet? I’m trying to figure it out? Is it just go to the moon and 3 plays and grab a major somewhere?

[@wesneely7240]

The major build is take a major on turn 1, hope it's a good one. Presence off bot and only play tigers. Turn 2 is play the major, incite, impersonate, then just reclaim those 3 cards all game. There are others but that's the most aggro and arguably best one.

[@kunkudunk1133]

These placements don’t really surprise me other than maybe volcano and nourishing being higher up in A but both are solid so not that surprised. Personally I’ve found lure can gain plenty of cards should you want to but I also play the spirit a bit slower it seems. Never had problems doing so since it lets you keep placing presence longer uncovering more options and being able to draft solutions.

[@jfducusin7186]

Just wondering sir, I think you mentioned before that Lure is not too strong against high adversaries. (or maybe it is only with Russia) But he is really high in the ranking, have you changed your view with him?

[@RedReVenge007]

Lure is really strong into single 6 adversaries, maybe I mispoke! Into doubles, I've seen the spirit have problems though!

[@jfducusin7186]

@@RedReVenge007 oww yeah he struggles in doubles when his gather card is insufficient to solve multiple lands or since he kinda needs build up of tokens. thanks

[@rickyplaysbyear7663]

I comboed Eyes with Breath. Breath vomits Invaders into an Eyes-defended land with waiting Dahan. Also tons of fear.

[@bobbymichealson798]

Sorry if you’ve explained elsewhere, but what do you mean by a 6 6 comp? Level 6 adversary, but what’s the other 6?

[@RedReVenge007]

Basically two level 6 adversaries together. It’s the toughest / highest difficulty within the confines of the rulebook. Example would be England 6 Russia 6

[@RedReVenge007]

To further elaborate. Basically, I’m referring to, can this spirit be brought up against two level 6 adversaries at once and in which team compositions can it do so.

[@markmittelbach7975]

Sadly, this really killed my desire to play Delirium. I don't normally enjoy spirits that focus too much on reclaim looping, and this all of the reasons why and worse. You don't even get new cards, you do the exact same thing every turn for the entire game. Sure you decide which lands to hit with what power but what I love in SI is discovering new options from the challenges the game present, and it looks like I don't have anything to discover here. I'm sure it's a good consistent spirit, but there is no reason for me to ever play it. I could just not do the loop, but intentionally making bad decisions isn't coming up with new solutions to challenges. And this clearly looks like the right decision with no point for new decisions because you play all your cards each turn.

[@Butterfieldbank]

For spirits that say Any element in their track, do you choose each round or do you choose once and that stays the rest of the game?

[@benjaminnightingale7638]

You choose every round. You also don’t have to pick it right away. So you could leave it as a wild until you need it for an innate, threshold or event card.

[@mrsamtheman80]

I thought you had to pick right away…is that true?

[@benjaminnightingale7638]

@@mrsamtheman80 I k ow it’s on page 9 of the nature incarnate rule book. It’s also in page 14 of the base rulebook. But they mention that you can pick anys at any point on your turn, you just can’t change it once you choose. This is also the same for the pick one of two element spaces on wandering voice or wounded waters.

[@g07h4xf00]

What is "6 6?" I assume one of the 6s refers to the adversary level?

[@K4350-]

Yep, it's two level 6 advisarys at once

[@g07h4xf00]

Where invaders have the abilities of two level 6 adversaries? Seems OP lol

[@RedReVenge007]

@g07h4xf00 exactly :)

[@aidankocherhans9861]

Wait, did you cover lair yet?

[@RedReVenge007]

I believe it should be in B tier

[@dylogysminter]

regrowth green is the most controversial placement for me atm... You say that it sometimes is stronger then base green sometimes weaker. And also it performs better with your criteria. and you put it in A? Like it is still completely game breaking. I don't understand how it isn't somewhere near base green.

[@RedReVenge007]

It has significantly worst matchups than Base Green across most adversaries. It's also far more reliant on oppressive combos than base green. It has a better "peak", but a much worst early-mid game.

[@dylogysminter]

@@RedReVenge007 Ok haven't played much myself. I was mainly confused by what you were saying co0mpared to where you placed it. Thx for the clarification.

[@angelnoa6327]

I can see why you put Travel River in A tier. But how is base river C tier? In this video you talk about putting Travel River in A Tier due to the reclaim loop, boon of vigor, and it's great innate. But all of those apply to Base River too. You didn't mention the pros and cons of swapping out the Base River Special rule for the Travel River Special rule at all? I do agree that Travel River is better than base River, but I don't think the difference is worth two entire tiers? To me Travel seems just a couple extra spots better than Base River. I don't understand this huge discrepeancy when every thing you talked about that made Travel River A tier also applied to Base River?

[@RedReVenge007]

Base river gets moved up to B tier. Videos were made far in advance and changes ocxured

[@angelnoa6327]

Thank you for the reply. That makes a lot of sense. @@RedReVenge007