Card Spotlight: Bloodlust

Card Spotlight: Bloodlust
by Devin Monnens, Game Design Intern

Deep in the battlefields of Norrath, a lone Fighter stands off against a horde of Orcs! Undaunted, he deftly leaps among them, slashing his blade left and right. Suddenly, an Orc comes from behind, ready to slice his back with a cruel-looking scimitar! But the Fighter has been trained well -- he feels adrenaline pumping through his body and his eyes grow wild as in a frenzy he knocks the Orc off-balance, sending him falling to the sand below. Thus Fighters make good use of their training and skill to tap their inner bloodlust and gain an advantage in battle!

Bloodlust is one of my favorite Fighter cards in Legends of Norrath due to its versatility and surprise factor -- its Hidden keyword means you can play it during combat as a surprise!

The most obvious use of Bloodlust is to play it during the middle of combat with your avatar. First, exert one of your weapons (or armor if you're defending). Then, play Bloodlust to ready that item, allowing you to use it a second time! Using this card, you can add some quick, cheap attack or defense, or better yet, exert that mighty sword of yours for a damage bonus! What else is a good Fighter to do?

But as our favorite merchant, Garth Lightfinger, would say, 'Wait, there's more!' Here are three more interesting uses for this card:

• After exerting an item with a useful main phase ability like Boots of the Storm, Flowing Black Silk Sash, Greaves of the Pious, or Vengeance Blade of the Dead, play Bloodlust to ready that item, allowing you to use it again.
  
If you have an item that does not normally ready during your main phase like Fiery Avenger, you can play Bloodlust to ready it.

• Here's my favorite one. Kind of bummed that your opponent attacked you on the very first turn before you even got a chance to play anything? Here's your chance to get back at him by playing Bloodlust! Now you'll be able to get your revenge by completing the first quest at the start of your first turn, giving you a quest point and four power to spend! Remember that this trick works for any other Hidden cards as well, effectively giving you a 'free' card.

Be sure to play with Bloodlust in your own Fighter decks - it's become something of a staple in mine!

Discuss this card in the forums.