With Set 3 hopefully around the corner, it’s time to look back at Block 1 (Shards of Fate & Shattered Destiny) and commemorate the first ever block of Hex TCG. What better way to do so by handing out some awards – which we’ll dub “The Hexies”.

Card Most Likely To Make It Into A T1 Deck 5 Years From Now

Let’s start with a big one: which cards in the current block are most likely to be in a Tier 1 deck in 5 years (assuming an eternal format). It sounds like a difficult question but it really isn’t. While cards like Cerulean Mirror Knight and Gore Feast of Kog’Tepetl have stolen much of the spotlight in this first block, they are simply benefiting from the meta they find themselves in. Expensive legendaries like Angel of Dawn, Vampire King, Monsuun, Reese, and Wrathwood Master Moss all look amazing today but none are entirely essential and no one should be surprised if they are eventually eclipsed.

So what’s the card that’s most likely to stand the test of time? Extinction is as good guess as any. It’s a non-conditional board wipe that deals with everything save for Invincible troops. The effect alone isn’t what makes it so good. At 4 resource cost, one can rest assured that there won’t ever be such an efficient board clear for any cheaper. While cards rotate in and out and new archetypes and strategies are formed, there is always going to be a control deck that wants a board clear and Extinction will most likely best fit the bill.

Most Underrated Block 1 Limited Card

ExtinctionCrackling Vortex

Set 1 had an insane amount of subtly amazing common cards: Buccaneer, Thunderbird, Noble Citizenry, Sapper’s Charge, Ruby Aura, Boulder Brute, Giant Corpse Fly, Mystic of the Tranquil Dream. Set 2 underrated commons weren’t as powerful due to the less powerful nature of the set: Crackling Sprout, Field Tactician, Kog’tepetl’s Thirst, Meek, Mesmeric Hypnoscientist, Phoenix Guard Enforcer, Subterrenean Spy, Tormented Ritualist, Vanguard of Cerulea, Wreckasaurus.

Some of the cards listed above quickly became high picks, others required a specific deck or just weren’t as universally good. One card that was great in Set 1 and only became better in set 2 (with the lack of removal, and focus on building boosted evasive troops) is none other than Wind Whisperer. This card since day 1 has consistently wheeled and not many people seem to appreciate what it can do. Capable of shutting down any troop without Spellshield, it also allows for sneaky double exhausting to finish games. While removal only deals with a specific troop once, Wind Whisperer deals with their best troop every turn. It also puts your opponent in a tough situation when they have champions like Dimmid where boosting your troop has to be done at Basic speed.

Most Disappointing Card

Wind WhispererSapper’s Charge

It’s hard to sum up what we mean by a ‘disappointing’ card in one sentence but it boils down to a card that at first sight seems really interesting and good but that never manages to live up to any of its potential. Some cards like Jadiim (third most expensive card initially) sell for more than they’re worth because they’re really fun and people want them even if they’re not that good in competitive play. Other cards like Scheme get some hype initially but were never good in the first place.

Zombie Plague on the other hand is a legendary that seems great on the surface, but never really works. So when you’re playing him you’re often staring in disgust at your $5 card and wondering why it’s not doing anything. It was one of the most interesting cards initially due to its great use of the digital realm, but it ultimately disappointed and essentially turned into digital dust. We probably will never see it be a staple of a serious deck – which is supported by the fact that only one copy of it was played maindeck in the 3 VIP undefeated decklists in September, November and January.

Most Innovative Card

Zombie PlagueFish Hands (Verdict of the Ancient Kings decisively stole all of this card’s mojo).

There is no shortage of innovation in the first block of Hex: Shards of Fate so picking a winner out of all of the interesting cards is a challenge. Random card creation effects were certainly interesting, as were some of the transforming cards. The runner-up ended up being a card that we’ve not seen in any other game yet and single-handedly did the best job in terms of showing the value of the digital-only medium: Subterranean Spy and it’s unique ability to peek at other players’ hand without them knowing it.

But if there’s one card that encapsulated many innovative aspects into one, it was Relentless Corruption. Being able to take a card from your opponent’s deck and put into your hand is already crazy enough but you also get to transform that card’s threshold right on the card itself. If that wasn’t enough, you also get to shuffle the Relentless Corruption back into your deck and increase the number on each copy of that card. It all sounds confusing but it works flawlessly and comes together to create a simply awesome card.

Most Badass Card

Relentless CorruptionSubterranean Spy

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary a ‘badass’ means someone of “formidable strength or skill”. We prefer the UrbanDictionary definition however – “Ultra-cool motherf*cker” – so we’ll go with that when selecting the winner of this next Hexy.

We used several criteria for filtering out candidates here including art, ability, flavor text, and overall flavor. Demented Demolisher got some consideration for his sinister look and his no-nonsense approach to demolising stuff. Monsuun, Shogun of Winda’jin nearly got our vote for his selfie worthy pose in front of a giant pillar of flame. Gortezuma probably came closest to taking the crown as the blood splitting all over the card and his epic flavor text combine to make him one ‘badass mofo’ as Samuel L Jackson would say.

Ultimately we had to go with The Killipede. I mean just look at that card – it oozes of badassness. I’m surprised just one hit from that thing doesn’t flat out kill someone, but seeing as that would be OP in the world of TCGs, we’ll accept having to strike twice.

Cutest Card

The KillipedeGortezuma, High Cleric

Shifting gears to the opposing side of the spectrum we have the Hexy for the cutest card in Block 1. In a world full of strangely delightful creatures like the Shin’hare and Shroomkin, it’s a surprise to have to give this award to a robot. Yes, the award for cutest card in Block 1 goes to Augmentation Bot. Not only does he look like something you’d want to hug and never let go of, even his ability is entirely non-menacing as 10 different abilities ensure even your opponent will probably let it live for a while.

Sexiest Card

Augmentation BotStorm Cloud

We were going to dub this award “The Card You’re Most Likely To Use To Pleasure Yourself” but sexiest card sounds a little bit classier. The world of Entrath has creatures of all types and tastes whether you’re seeking a sexy elf like Constantina, an Emma Stone resembling mermaid like Genesis Pool Naiad, scary but still hot looking Gobbleglade Witch and Mentor of the Grave, Lady Shimmer for you fans of romance novels the Hex novel, Royal Cutblood for you IRL creeps, Concubunny AA because sexy rabbits are a thing, Queen Grace if you’re into milfs, or Ruby Pyromancer because she’s actually hot.

Ultimately we took the safe pick here and went with Princess Victoria AA.

Best Solo Troop Deck

Princess Victoria AAGenesis Pool Naiad AA

We’d like the winner of this award to be chosen by you! We want to know what’s the best troop if you could only have a deck full of just this troop and resources (no 4 of restriction for the troop, no champion power) – so something like 34 Baby Yeti and 26 Ruby Shards would lose to a deck with Shin’hare Militia which would lose to Constantina etc. While there’s a certain element of paper-rock-scissors here, as is the case in any meta, there really should be one single deck that should have the best win-rate against the field. State your pick and the reason why. We’ll award a booster pack to whoever can make the most convincing case in the comments below.

Other Awards

Best Art: Cerrulean Mirror Knight AA

Best Combo Card: Goremaster

Best Card For PvE: Royal Falconer

Best Dressed: Grand Squirrel Titan

Best Constructed Champion: Poca, the Conflagrater

Best Limited Champion: Sir Giles Rowan

Best Companion: Boldheart

Manliest Beard Award: War Machinist

Junkiest Rare: Trial of Fate

Most WTF Card: Kismet’s Reverie

The 40 Year Old Virgin Award: Alwyn

Feel free to share your own crazy awards in the comments below!