For Fun: Arctic Algae vs GIA

[xspuipuke]

In your opinion and why, is Arctic Algae a counter to GIA or does it make GIA even stronger? Or neither?*

*Assuming one player has AA, and the other GIA, if that isn't clear from context.

[rambling_coherently]

My opinion, entirely focused on 2P and ignoring everything else, ala Habs and all: Definitely not a counter to GIA. If anything, makes it even easier to get a full-value GIA if the opponent has AA played. It lets you use GIA at more opportune moments, instead of feeling tempted to rip it when the opponent has 6+ plants.

AA is great, but GIA is amazing and a scarier card overall.

[RoyalRook]

GIA is hard counter for AA, just like heat trapper for methane, amc for mining. Just throw your hands up when those two came in your draft together. I like early arctic over GIA for my combos, GIA feels like helping the tempo of Arctic player on top of creating better greenery rebate scenarios.

I began to experimenting not playing arctic algae right away if I top deck the card, that way I get to draft more ocean cards and no one is the wiser to hate draft them till it's too late.

What I am saying is that I am not doing engine after arctic right? So go ahead and push the game for me. I am going to get my greens down no matter what with AA the board is mine.

[Attica451]

It's sometimes hard to get a full hit deimos or GIA on an opponent because they are playing around it. When they have AA your GIA is prolly going to be a full hit making it an efficient play. Also AA is often a gen 1 play and enables you to GIA efficiently much earlier in the game where as if they have no AA you're going to be waiting quite often until mid or late game to get a good GIA off.

[ice wizard]

You can place ocean tiles and make your opponent get his plants before you destroy them.