Spirit Spotlight: Ocean's Hungry Grasp

[@TakeWalker]

"I have yet to meet a player who doesn't strive to do that." That's because it's the best card. :D And Ocean is just about my favorite spirit.

[@rickypoon6406]

"Because Explorers tend to explore the coast." Scotland: allow me to introduce myself...

[@BoardGameTime40]

These are the best character specific guides for a board game I’ve ever watched. So much love for the product you can just tell. Thank you guys so much for these

[@paulzagieboylo7315]

He's not kidding about Ocean running out of things to do by midgame, either. It's not only that Ocean's offense on the coasts is absurdly good (although it is; the innate Ocean Breaks the Shore is one of the best direct-damage innates for how easy it is to trigger), but also any good pushing spirit like River Surges in Sunlight, Bringer of Dreams and Nightmares, or even Keeper of the Forbidden Wilds automatically have all their "push" powers upgraded into "chuck the invaders into the ocean" powers. Usually games with Ocean devolve into "let's push all the remaining invaders out of the middle of the island toward the coasts, where Ocean can eat them." Ocean does tend to spend turns 5-7 just hunting through the power deck for powers with 2+ range, Reaching Grasp, or Indomitable Claim just so that it has something to do. But if you happen to find Cast Down Into the Briny Deep first while doing this, always, always take it. Always. That kicker looks tough to meet, and it is for most spirits (in fact it's tied with Unlock the Gates of Deepest Power for the toughest in the game, requiring 8 elements beyond the card itself), but for Ocean the only thing you'll have to go out of your way to get is Sun; you're near-certain to have everything else automatically, and Sun/Earth is a fairly common combo so you'll probably have at least one.

[@Lunaraia]

In a 2 player game I drowned the entire board at once because I managed to scrounge up enough energy to play, kick, and then allow a double play with full payment of cast down, using the card that lets you replay a power. The expression on my friend's face when I just calmly drowned the entire island was spectacular.

[@paulzagieboylo7315]

@@Lunaraia "This will solve the problem. There. Problem solved. What? You big whiners. Get over it."

[@sporkaccione4444]

@4:08 big mistake. Anyone that runs out of things to do mid/late unless you find +range powers this is why.... Let them build up on the coasts, it's never too much. Don't prevent builds on coastal lands by killing the explorer before he builds... Coastal lands you WANT them to build so you can farm them for fear! At the beginning of the game let coasts build up on your own board and immediately go influence other spirits' boards. Taking care of your teammates' coasts early means they can come help your inland sooner as well. For innates, try and get Ocean Breaks the Shore as often as possible. Pound Ships to Splinters is nice, but at tier 2 it generates 2 fear, while tier 2 Ocean Breaks the Shore gives you 2 fear, a City off the board and 3 invader health to turn into energy. Don't worry about Pound Ships, it isn't worth building for when the other innate is so much better. Tons of range 0 powers mean you really have to think ahead with this spirit. For growth options you'll need to push presence every turn and reclaim every odd turn. If you don't push every turn all your presence tends to end up clumping up in the ocean.

[@LolLasorz]

Error at 5:07 - if the last board is wiped out (or destroying a board would make you win and lose at the same time), you win. This is the same if a card causes you to win and lose because of blight, destroying presence, etc. and is known as a "Sacrifice Victory". It's in the rule book, bottom right of page 12.

[@GreaterThanGames]

Good catch! -Trevor

[@CrazyBunnyGuy]

I've just started playing Spirit Island (the base game, B&C is ordered, though ;)), and even though I haven't yet gone through all the spirits there myself, I did play with the Ocean and I must say I LOVE THIS SPIRIT! I immediately got what I need to do with it, I understood the idea behind "wash up on the shore, pull everything back into the ocean with you, wash up on the shore..." and if other spirits can help by pushing invaders towards the shorline, Ocean is quite useful up until the very end! I can't wait to get my hands on the expansion and destroy the game board.

[@karmos585]

Oceans hungry grasp my beloved

[@MrAndyjobo]

Despite having played this game 100 times, I still enjoy seeing these videos and learning about how the developers view their spirits. For example, it was cool to see you reference Cast Down Into The Briny Deep, because indeed I have a player at my table who plays Oceans a lot and always takes that card. Huh.

[@leavemydogalone]

Great series! Love the effort put in to these vids

[@lucasscheper8783]

Thank you very much for this video. I hope that they are worth the time you spend in. Since the expansion Branch and Claw came out in Germany by Pegasus, im looking forward for a spotlight of one of this two spirits.

[@badbirb5698]

Great series. Fabulous use of TTS and pacing!

[@OmegaDestroyer99]

My favorite card for Ocean is Tsunami due to its secondary power. It's great for clearing up the board.

[@antoniogutierrez7218]

Spirit Island is one of my favorite games, I just discovered it recently, and struggle to play with Ocean's Hungry Grasp, it puts a lot of fear into the game too, and I discover the bad way that I should pick powers with some range to be more effective, can't wait to play it again. Oh, and about Cast Down Into a Briny Deep, according to the rules I would say you win the game with a sacrifice victory, but I see the point of the decision if you win or loose, since the sacrifice victory is based on the idea that the island survived and also the dahan, and they won't. Also, can't wait to get my hands on Jagged Earth!

[@Isnogood12]

I think the actual FAQ also says you end up with a sacrifice victory.

[@daforkgaming3320]

@@Isnogood12you scared the invaders so much that their whole expedition crew was gone, and now they’ll never invade another island every again. While you destroyed your own, you saved many others from the wrath of the invaders

[@jenwashi921]

Need to play this spirit more. 🤩 Your videos always make me want to play a game of Spirit Island... should have watched it after work 😅

[@Smashpack85]

Love these videos. Please keep them coming for the remaining spirits!

[@michaelbaker7499]

I prefer sweep into the sea and flow like water reach like air. Being able to push all the towns and explorers from one land into the sea (or towards the sea) is so powerful and has the potential to generate so much energy for ocean. Reach like air eliminates any issues he has with range thanks to its range boost. And the ability to push one presence into the ocean, taking 2 of everything (including cities) is ridiculously powerful. My and it costs two energy. But the one card I really want and will always fish for is strong and constant currents. Every time I've got that card as ocean it's a game changer

[@bilanggoboy]

I need to learn this spirit just so I CAN DO THAT!!!

[@nora19711]

Spirit Island gang together strong! (love the video!)

[@grantprice9768]

Can you guys try to get one of these up for every spirit?

[@Isnogood12]

The strength of Ocean is not what it can do alone, but how it makes other spirits hugely more powerful. River and Nightmares are mediocre spirits on their own, but once you combine them with Ocean, they go up several tiers. I really don't mind that, especially because I love to play Nightmare and one of our usual playgroup prefers Ocean. :)

[@sporkaccione4444]

That is one of my favorite combinations as well! You should have your Ocean friend try Serpent. Serpent + BoDaN is a super satisfying combination to play as they feed eachothers' innates

[@lucasscheper8783]

The background music seems to be very nice while playing the game. Is there a way to get it?

[@thalleslopes817]

Use the Melodice website, just type the name of the boardgame and it gives you a thematic playlist

[@KoboldGamer]

I never got to play many games of this, but in one of them my best friend played Ocean's.... yeah he just had a glut of energy and nothing to do with it after a while

[@ioannispaxinos5171]

The coastlands isn't "one specific area." It's an island for heaven's sake. It's surrounded by coastlands. And the fact that Ocean can deal with all of them allows for huge flexibility for the other spirits to focus inwards. It kind of feels like cheating when Ocean is in the game. It changes the flow of play so decidedly. The fact that pushing turns into drowning alone, completely changes many spirits capabilities. Control suddenly becomes offense.

[@Isnogood12]

How are these videos made? Is it related to the PC game coming out in the future? I love it how clean and detailed it looks compared to the actual pieces!

[@MrThewalkingdead]

Say it with me, "In... Out. In... ... Out".

[@ImperatorZed]

"In single player It's up to you to decide who won or lost" - no, it's not. The rules say that if both the invaders and the spirits die at the same time, the spirits win.

[@TimelineSciences]

Nice try with the spotlight but fully missed the mark with what players would want to hear/know. Stick with some format for the spotlights: Special power Innate powers Growth options Presence Tracks Build options Game progression (early/mid/late) Spirit synergies Throughout describing the game progression is a good time to go over some of the initial cards the spirit starts with, cards the spirit complements well with, and major/minor options. Some spirits have quite flexible builds options, maybe cover a basic one so players can use these spotlights to help them try the spirit next time they play with friends and not completely bomb it and be reliant on game leaders for their moves. Ocean is a great example of a spirit my group has not liked due to its level of planning required to impact specific coastal tiles. Love to see more on spirit island from you guys, my favourite board game of all time!

[@lucasscheper8783]

I think you are describing a guide, but this is an spotlight. I have over expectations on guides than spotlights

[@TimelineSciences]

@@lucasscheper8783 Type champion spotlight into the search bar and you'll see how the big names present their characters

[@donnellefuller546]

Yikes, “Nice try but you completely missed the mark on what players want to hear?” Uhhhhhh I would MUCH rather have heard a deeper dive like this into the unique mechanics and gameplay tactics of a spirit than a rote recitation of things you can look at on your own just from observing your board and cards. I agree with the other commenter, you’re describing a guide, not a spotlight.

[@Kindlesmith70]

This is an old Spirit. Why the video on this Spirit? I like this spirit which is very easy to play when you have players who help out feed you. My favorite card is a Major Power that sinks an entire board along with everything on it. Edit: funny you actually mention it in the video too. Problem... if you destroy the only board left in the game you meet the loss criteria first. You no longer have presence on the board and so immediately lose the game.