HR Roy (B21)

## Overview

Written by: Basil

HR Roy is usually built pretty similarly to B22 Roy because they largely want the same thing- stack purple’s strong support skills for free. This version of Roy has a bit of a niche- he can stack any of the top 3 cards on his deck with skill 1, which also helps mill the deck, and his second skill makes all purple allies immune to destruction, including himself. This effect can win certain matchups on it's own, such as B21 Lilina, B10 Corrin F, even Zephiel to an extent.

## Gameplan

Early on, you’re looking to play your low costs, ideally your dark mages in the back line, to swing and hit support skills. This version of Roy doesn’t need to kete to promote on turn 3, but it never hurts since it allows you to deploy your other units sooner and use their skills more. You can also randomly draw with Lilina, or randomly make your opponent discard with a dark mage.

Once you promote, you get to use Roy’s skill every turn to stack something for free. There’s usually something worth stacking in the top 3 cards of your deck- a darkness emblem, Lilina, Lute, even an X support to secure a hit are all solid. After promoting, you’re mostly looking to deploy whichever stacker mages you have- Canas is the most common, as well as Nino and Guinivere. They are good for building advantage and attacking from the back line, forcing your opponent to have some way to clear them or you will get too much value and run away with the game.

Once you have 6 bonds, you’ll be looking to play the classic Zephiel + manakete to try to close out the game, or at least put on a lot of pressure. He is purple’s go to finisher, randomly discarding with the potential to destroy the opponent’s MC and allowing himself and the kete to hit face. Even if the game doesn’t end, they will have to clear him and recover from however many orbs / dodges he ate up, while you can either redeploy him next turn or go back to your mages and outvalue them.

## Strengths and Weaknesses

**Strengths:**

* Free advantage / utility with his stacking ability
* Makes his whole board immune to destruction
* Can swap to other version of Roy if desired depending on build / matchup

**Weaknesses:**

* Does not hit 80 on his own
* Relies on allies / support skills to deal with enemy back line
* Can whiff his skill 1 and not get much useful from it

## Key Cards

### Dark Mages (Canas & Raigh)

Canas and Raigh are literally exactly the same except for their names, which is relevant since the 1 cost Canas can be dodges for the 4 cost and keep him alive. But yeah these guys are gross, just free -1 for the opponent, and if they’ve been doing their job then they swing for 40. Late game they can be kinda dead draws, but you can always just bond them.

### Lilina / Lute

Lilina is probably the best support skill in the game- she just draws you a card for free if your unit destroys what it was attacking. Lute you have to flip to draw, but you don’t have to hit. Both of them are your way of gaining advantage- stack them with Roy, Canas, Nino, whoever- you just want them in your support area as much as possible.

### Zephiel

Zeph is the classic purple finisher, and for good reason. His LIS skill, though a bit random, can potentially instantly destroy the opponent’s MC if you discard a dodge, netting 2 hits in addition to himself and whoever he buffs hitting. Even if you don’t get their MC, you could destroy one of their units or discard a key card for their next turn. He is also a huge threat that the opponent has to deal with immediately.

### Ketes (Fae & Myrrh)

Though less important than in B22 Roy, the ketes are still ramp whenever you support them, which is always solid. You can potentially play your bigger units faster, you have more bonds to spend on skills, rarely ever hurts to ramp. They also scale and become 60 base 1 costs at 3 & 4 bonds, so they can still be relevant on the field even in the late game.

### High Supports (Eliwood & Limstella)

Although it may seem a bit gimmicky, running Eliwood, Limstella, and B22 Roy as high supports is not that uncommon. HR Roy can have trouble hitting 80, and while B22 Roy is a self support, the other 2 will allow him to clear most things pretty easily. Limstella’s support skill is counteracted by his destruction immunity skill, but can bite you in the early game before you promote.

## Sample Decks

Dark Mages HR Roy
4 Roy, Darkness-Defying Fire
4 Roy, Evil Star-Scorching Binding Flame
2 Roy, Foretold Flame
4 Lilina, Wielder of Infernal and Shining Flames
3 Eliwood, Blazing Knight of Valor
3 Guinivere, Supreme Light-Casting World-Illuminator
4 Canas, Scholar of Ancient Magics
4 Canas, Benighted Smile
3 Zephiel, Liberator of the World
4 Raigh, Darkness-Pursuing Youth
4 Myrrh, Girl of the Dragonkin
3 Peony, Sweet Dream-Bringing Lass
4 Fae, Innocent Dragon Girl
3 Lute, Matchless Prodigal Mage+
MC:
1 Roy, Heir to House Pherae (P2)