From my first playthrough with Roots. I was so focused on trying to draw all the invaders to the Incarna while adding Vitality to Empower it. Then it clicked that it is far easier to move the Incarna to the land with the most invaders once I cleared out the original land and adjacent ones. It is only one action to move the Incarna at the right move versus spending multiple actions or turns to regather then.
Just found this after playing Towering Roots for the first time yesterday and quite enjoyed it. Thanks for the great overview. Looking forward to the strategy guide!
For me, this wasn't a spirit that initially got me hyped, but more one that I know will click with me instantly. I'm looking forward to seeing how it matches up against England 6, who I still haven't taken a win from yet
Solo England 6 is a bit tricky with this spirit because it lacks good fear. It's still very doable (as in I'm 6-0) in solo for the mu. In multiplayer England 6 it's much stronger since the other spirits can carry a bit of the fear.
Great video! I'm definitely struggling with this spirit. In my massive (/s) playtest of 3 entire games, I've been extremely underwhelmed, and I *knew* it had to be my tactics and simply not groking the spirit playstyle. Then again, I also struggle with base Earth, and so far this spirit has felt most similar to that one, sort of an Earth/Lure combo-ish (which is funny because I typically do well with Lure). On the other hand, I had zero issue with Hearth-Vigil and Eyes Watch, other strong defensive spirits. I suspect my issue is that I'm focusing too much on the draw-in effect and not making enough stuff happen on nearby lands outside of my incarna. I seem to be slow at hitting the thresholds and once things get into the incarna area it's almost as if the whole place is simply gone as far as mechanics go...the invaders can build, but if they ravage they don't add blight (due to vitality stacking) and they don't kill anything or die (due to damage immunity). I'm also struggling to see the point in having any Dahan under the tree since they can't counter-attack. I also haven't played around much with moving the tree since all my games have been solo board, so I generally just plant (heh) into the most centralized jungle and leave the incarna there. Maybe I need to consider using it more tactically, rather than treating it like a volcano stack where you generally only move if you have to. I'm VERY much looking forward to your guide on this spirit as conceptually it seems to fit my playstyle (other favorites are Starlight, Fractured, Eyes Watch, Lure, Memory, and Many Minds) but I haven't figured out a build that feels like it's doing anything except stalling out the game and falling behind (same issue I generally run into with base Earth). Thanks for the overview...I was worried the spirit might be undertuned, but if it's your favorite, then chances are 100% I'm just not playing it right!
Really appreciate the detailed post. I've told a few users on discord that I think Roots is the toughest spirit to pilot out of the NI spirits (even tougher than DUE). It has a very low floor though! It's very unforgiving and tests the players ability to judge drafts as well as when to activate the innates / move Tree. You only can move the Tree 1-2 times a game so where you place the tree is essential! The guide will definitely be posted and I'm sure it will help out alot of players. It will be my most detailed guide yet! If you are really struggling with the spirit, I'd recommend choosing board E to practice the spirit. Board E on Roots is by far the strongest board for the spirit and it isn't even close. Hearing your struggles makes me a bit happy :). This is because the devs were worried it came out too strong based on my feedback, but I kept explaining to them that I think it's the product of an abnormal amount of playtesting. They were thinking of doing a bit more nerfs, but it sounds like the spirit is at a good power level.
I dont like defensive spirits in SI (though I am a total turtle/camper in every other game). this one looks interesting enough to fill that role for me
I haven't gotten around to testing any yet, but Roots definitely looked very interesting to play. Roots, Breath of Darkness and Delirium are the ones i want to try the most when i get around to it. All of the NI Spirits look great though.
Oh i'm really looking forward to trying the Aspects too. When i looked through them there were quite a few that i really liked conceptually (e.g. Locus).
I have played roots a fair amount (5 games) mostly due to how excited you were about them. In those games I have yet to feel in danger due to the board state, but I do feel pressured by time. One game I was unable to find a good way to generate fear from the major deck and I really struggled. I tend to focus top track first using one of the majors I drafted with my boon to loop and help me stall until I max out my right Innate. but maybe I should try a bottom track build and gain a lot of on element minors to get fast access to my innates. with a 1/1/1 set up reclaim looping doesn't prevent you from getting stronger. I have yet to test them out in a multiplayer game, but I already know they would be solid on most teams. Great video! my favorite spirit is coming up soon and I am very excited to hear from you about them.
Looking forward to my copy, and just wathcing your videos meanwhile. A quick note. You said that you can generate 3 fears from innates. It just removes the invader not destroyes them, so it shouldn't generate fear imo. Do I get it wrong? It feels wrong to contradict you, but please clarify this for me.
Does Roots Incarna get enpowered when the second or when the third Vitality token gets placed in its land, seeing it counts as a Vitality token itself?
I just realized myself that that tangle on the token is just the icon for the Incarna and they area all different. Looked too similar to a Vitality token for me.
From my first playthrough with Roots. I was so focused on trying to draw all the invaders to the Incarna while adding Vitality to Empower it. Then it clicked that it is far easier to move the Incarna to the land with the most invaders once I cleared out the original land and adjacent ones. It is only one action to move the Incarna at the right move versus spending multiple actions or turns to regather then.
I'm excited to see future analysis on this one!
Just found this after playing Towering Roots for the first time yesterday and quite enjoyed it. Thanks for the great overview. Looking forward to the strategy guide!
Nice overview! I’m baffled by Wounded Waters, and I’m looking forward to watching a playthrough where its mechanics are explained.
For me, this wasn't a spirit that initially got me hyped, but more one that I know will click with me instantly. I'm looking forward to seeing how it matches up against England 6, who I still haven't taken a win from yet
Solo England 6 is a bit tricky with this spirit because it lacks good fear. It's still very doable (as in I'm 6-0) in solo for the mu. In multiplayer England 6 it's much stronger since the other spirits can carry a bit of the fear.
Just got my copy and noticed how crazy generous this spirit's unique powers are. All of them have 4 elements
While Roots may have several elements, those elements are needed for the innates.
@@RedReVenge007 would help with a majors build at the very least
Great video! I'm definitely struggling with this spirit. In my massive (/s) playtest of 3 entire games, I've been extremely underwhelmed, and I *knew* it had to be my tactics and simply not groking the spirit playstyle. Then again, I also struggle with base Earth, and so far this spirit has felt most similar to that one, sort of an Earth/Lure combo-ish (which is funny because I typically do well with Lure). On the other hand, I had zero issue with Hearth-Vigil and Eyes Watch, other strong defensive spirits.
I suspect my issue is that I'm focusing too much on the draw-in effect and not making enough stuff happen on nearby lands outside of my incarna. I seem to be slow at hitting the thresholds and once things get into the incarna area it's almost as if the whole place is simply gone as far as mechanics go...the invaders can build, but if they ravage they don't add blight (due to vitality stacking) and they don't kill anything or die (due to damage immunity). I'm also struggling to see the point in having any Dahan under the tree since they can't counter-attack. I also haven't played around much with moving the tree since all my games have been solo board, so I generally just plant (heh) into the most centralized jungle and leave the incarna there. Maybe I need to consider using it more tactically, rather than treating it like a volcano stack where you generally only move if you have to.
I'm VERY much looking forward to your guide on this spirit as conceptually it seems to fit my playstyle (other favorites are Starlight, Fractured, Eyes Watch, Lure, Memory, and Many Minds) but I haven't figured out a build that feels like it's doing anything except stalling out the game and falling behind (same issue I generally run into with base Earth). Thanks for the overview...I was worried the spirit might be undertuned, but if it's your favorite, then chances are 100% I'm just not playing it right!
Really appreciate the detailed post.
I've told a few users on discord that I think Roots is the toughest spirit to pilot out of the NI spirits (even tougher than DUE). It has a very low floor though! It's very unforgiving and tests the players ability to judge drafts as well as when to activate the innates / move Tree. You only can move the Tree 1-2 times a game so where you place the tree is essential!
The guide will definitely be posted and I'm sure it will help out alot of players. It will be my most detailed guide yet! If you are really struggling with the spirit, I'd recommend choosing board E to practice the spirit. Board E on Roots is by far the strongest board for the spirit and it isn't even close.
Hearing your struggles makes me a bit happy :). This is because the devs were worried it came out too strong based on my feedback, but I kept explaining to them that I think it's the product of an abnormal amount of playtesting. They were thinking of doing a bit more nerfs, but it sounds like the spirit is at a good power level.
I dont like defensive spirits in SI (though I am a total turtle/camper in every other game). this one looks interesting enough to fill that role for me
I haven't gotten around to testing any yet, but Roots definitely looked very interesting to play. Roots, Breath of Darkness and Delirium are the ones i want to try the most when i get around to it. All of the NI Spirits look great though.
There's only one NI spirit that I dislike. The rest (and aspects) are incredible!
Oh i'm really looking forward to trying the Aspects too. When i looked through them there were quite a few that i really liked conceptually (e.g. Locus).
@@RedReVenge007 is it wounded waters you dislike?
@@dylogysminter correct
THE TREE STANDS TALL 🌳
I have played roots a fair amount (5 games) mostly due to how excited you were about them. In those games I have yet to feel in danger due to the board state, but I do feel pressured by time. One game I was unable to find a good way to generate fear from the major deck and I really struggled. I tend to focus top track first using one of the majors I drafted with my boon to loop and help me stall until I max out my right Innate. but maybe I should try a bottom track build and gain a lot of on element minors to get fast access to my innates. with a 1/1/1 set up reclaim looping doesn't prevent you from getting stronger. I have yet to test them out in a multiplayer game, but I already know they would be solid on most teams. Great video! my favorite spirit is coming up soon and I am very excited to hear from you about them.
Looking forward to my copy, and just wathcing your videos meanwhile.
A quick note. You said that you can generate 3 fears from innates. It just removes the invader not destroyes them, so it shouldn't generate fear imo. Do I get it wrong?
It feels wrong to contradict you, but please clarify this for me.
Thanks for the reply!
Removing doesn’t generate fear, but the innate has fear written on it.
@@RedReVenge007 🤦♂
Thanks!
Surprised this wasnt your first post release vid😅
Going in order from least complex to most!
@@RedReVenge007 ahh that makes sense.didnt catch the pattern. Although I expected hv to be more complex than roots
@@jonashartmann6687 HV tends to be pretty forgiving imo. You just take a lot of blight while playing it (or more blight than some spirits).
Does Roots Incarna get enpowered when the second or when the third Vitality token gets placed in its land, seeing it counts as a Vitality token itself?
I just realized myself that that tangle on the token is just the icon for the Incarna and they area all different. Looked too similar to a Vitality token for me.
Needs 3 Vitality. You can empower on T2 at the earliest.
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