Downgrades do not have a huge impact on the Games landscape, but some of them, like Mind Extraction, deserve a second look.
Introduction
Mind Extraction is a blue villain Downgrade that costs two resources to play, a price that has deterred many from utilizing this card. The text reads: Attached character loses all of its non-special () abilities. | Action – Exhaust attached character to discard this downgrade. Only attached character’s controller can use this action.
Design Notes
Downgrades have not been utilized much yet due to their primarily defensive design. However, downgrades can be the ticket to a late game advantage or a solid control play. Mind Extraction falls in the latter category, allowing you to turn off an opponent’s non-special abilities. This means the opponent cannot use that character’s Power Action nor inherent card ability.
This is the first time we’ve seen a card designed that can strip away the opponents abilities, abilities that we have always thought to be untouchable. From a design perspective, we have now added a new wrinkle in the game that must be accounted for. No longer are we just exchanging and mitigating damage back and forth, but we have the means to cripple an entire deck’s backbone, requiring players to think about and incorporate various paths to victory in their decks.
Artwork/Lore
Mind Extraction, with artwork by Ryan Valle, takes its inspiration from The Force Awakens, when Kylo Ren uses the force to pull secret information about Poe’s mission and the map to Luke Skywalker. Thematically, the card “sees through” your opponent’s abilities or tricks and prevents them from happening, just as Kylo took the information and used it to mount an all out search for BB-8.
Things to Consider
The timing of Mind Extraction can become an important element in play. If the opponent activates their character before using its power action or ability, that is the optimal moment to play this downgrade. This removes the option of them freeing their character of its restriction for this turn, further slowing down their progress.
Choosing an appropriate target for Mind Extraction is also crucial. Some characters are only included for their ability, and your opponent won’t hesitate to exhaust them, freeing them of the downgrade and regaining their use of that character’s ability.
Preventing even one use of a power action such as Snoke or Watto can turn the tide of the game in your favor. You can also reduce the consistency of characters like Mother Talzin, whose ability is tied to character activation. With her, it doesn’t matter when you play this downgrade, it will have its intended effect.
My favorite would be a late game play of this downgrade on Palpatine, forcing your opponent to discard upgrades down to three total, and maybe even defeating him on the spot since his health no longer is increased.
This downgrade has some very interesting potential that is still yet to be explored. Once you really examine the power this card can have, perhaps the two resources are worth it.
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