Bear Tamer

**+1** max hand size

**Get 1 Command each turn**, get 1 upgraded Command instead if the damage of the bear is higher than 11.

**Bear's actions:**1. Deals damage to the nearest enemy. Deals additional damage on all Injured enemies.
2. Gains armor.

## Stats

### Coins

100

The **Bear Tamer** is one of the playable heroes in Pirates Outlaws.

## Strategies

The Tamer is a defensive character with built in self-heal and Armor, who is in for the long game. Her bear starts out weak but eventually grows into a powerhouse both offensively and defensively.

The game does a poor job of explaining how the Command skill works. It alternates between two modes: defensive, which adds to your armor, and offensive, where it damages opponents. The offensive mode functions somewhat like a melee attack, in that it hits the first enemy in front of you, but it also hits any enemy with the Injured status effect one additional time (including the first enemy again). Both modes start with a value of 4 and scale up 2 points every time it is used, and when the value hits 12 it becomes free to use. These factors, along with the Tame and Wild skills temporarily changing the mode or value of Command, means the order you play cards in matters a great deal to the Tamer

Survival: If used correctly, upgraded **Bear Tricks** (9 armor) and **Command** alone will raise your Armor to absurd heights. Try to upgrade **Bear Paws** (6 damage 2 times, 25% Lifesteal) early for the additional selfheal.

Tricks: You *could* try to build a defensive armor-strategy with the **Artificial Stone** and **Spikey Shell** Relics and the **Explosive Armor** and **Throw Shield** skills. This is excellent against multi-hitting, low-damage enemies but will often lose to opponents that raise their attack damage regularly.

Or you *could* specialize in Injuries. You will definitely want additional Injury cards over and above those in your starting deck (Battlecry, the Tamer’s unlocked Quest card, is great, changing Bear to attack, knocking an enemy back, and doing 4/7 injury) in order to maximize Command’s offensive mode. If you invest more fully here, you will benefit also from **Good News** or **Throw Bomb** letting you draw all the cards. This is nice against many bosses but sucks against enemies that change their status effect regularly. You could also buy the Thorn package, which gives you Bear Trap (5/7 injury), Thorn Armor (5/7 injury to anyone who attacks you) and Spike Ball (2 x 3 injury). Combine these with a card like Reopen Wound (double injury) or Rip Wound (do damage of 5 x injury).

A third option is *neither* of those and build a flexible deck with relatively low ammunition cost out of efficient cards like **Quick Shot, Surprise** and **Snowball**. A great card to use is **Knife Trick** (fills your hand with Throwing Knives, so best case 6 as a Tamer) for burst damage. Try to avoid non-Injury status effects, as they will override Injuries and thus weaken your Bear.

Relics to buy: Buy **Dice**, to discard curses, and improve your draws. Also try to gain **Heart of gold** early for more gold gain, that you can invest in many upgrades.

Packages to use: You can try out the Cost-Package and play with the **Scorching Ring** to increase your offense (even **demonic blade** might be viable). Or Thorn package for an injury deck.

## Gallery

Bear Tamer In-gameBear Tamer Pet In-gameBear Tamer Pet (Wild) In-game

Doctor Chicken Inventor First Mate