Mot's Useless Card Review #42: Vorgon Raiders

So, your opponent has an artifact in his deck. He valued it enough to put it there. That's reason enough to see he doesn't get it. Indeed, if it was so worth playing, why not take it for yourself? ;-)

To use Vorgon Raiders, you must have Ajur and Boratus in play, and this is why most people won't use it. Playing three cards to steal one of your opponent's cards is not the most cost-effective proposal. Still, outside of having your outpost destroyed, having an artifact stolen is about the most demoralizing thing that can happen to you in a game. Many a player will attest to the fact that if their key strategy is disrupted, they have a hard time shifting to a backup plan. So consider that the benefits of playing Vorgon Raiders extend beyond the simple acquisition of the artifact, but also include the unexpected twist you're creating for your opponent. An opponent on the hot seat is an uncomfortable opponent! ;-)

So, how to best arrange this? You could stock multiple Ajurs and Boratuses. In fact, a retired multi-player deck of mine included three of each of them, and three Vorgon Raiders. The goal was to steal any and every artifact I could, and at that it was successful. Unlike the skills Ajur and Boratus possess themselves, you are not restricted to using Vorgon Raiders once per game.

Another way is to rely on your Q’s Tent. You might stock one copy of Ajur, Boratus and Vorgon Raiders in your deck, and another copy of each in your Tent. Tent to get whichever card doesn't come into your hand naturally. Or try an Orb of Prophecy and Change, to accelerate through your deck to these three cards you want to get a hold of. You could also use a Betazoid Gift Box to grab the triad from your deck.

But as long as you're thinking of using artifacts to help you out, consider using the best of them all: Cryosatellite. Stock Ajur and Boratus on a Cryo (with any third person you think will help you out - Berlingoff Rasmussen goes well with the Vorgons, with his Archaeology skill). That's one sure way to get the cards you need into play.

And just think of the possible benefits! Don't just nullify your opponent's Horga’hn... steal it! Or take that pesky Kurlan Naiskos away from a Borg-hunting opponent. Swipe the Interphase Generator from someone hoping to pull off the classic two-mission Pegasus Search strategy. Throw an unexpected monkey wrench in the Ressikan Flute deck. So many great strategies rely on artifacts...

...and with Vorgon Raiders, you can screw them all up! ;-)