Reuniting Infinity

Mastering the EXODUS/GENESIS Combo in SCALE

• In SCALE: Rise of Dragons, assembling EXODUS and GENESIS is an instant victory. This seemingly simple two-card combo is deceptively difficult to achieve. Every card in SCALE holds offensive and defensive power, giving your opponent ample opportunities to counter your plans. Success demands not just luck, but meticulous planning, tireless searching, and a dash of deception.

Defense Wins Championships

• SCALE rewards control and patience, especially in skilled matches. While aggression is tempting, a reactive stance is often more fruitful. Each card in your hand is a valuable asset; play them only when necessary. Your opening hand should be viewed as a defensive toolkit, ready to capitalize on your opponent's missteps and secure key cards for later. Aim to keep your hand full and avoid overcommitting to early attacks. EXODUS and GENESIS embody this hyper-control playstyle, offering a path to victory even if you never gain true battlefield dominance.

Powerful Synergies with EXODUS/GENESIS

• WILD transforms into a copy of either EXODUS or GENESIS, doubling your combo pieces and potentially securing the win even if your opponent has one of the pieces in play.

• NULL offers a powerful offensive option by turning off abilities, allowing your Ancients to attack with ∞ power for the turn. Play NULL as a finisher in the Loop after deploying EXODUS or GENESIS for a devastating combo. While they'll lose their abilities for the turn (similar to BLOOM), you'll win during the next refresh phase. Be mindful that the NULL combo is tricky, as both EXODUS and GENESIS lose their 'Ancient' ability. If they enter the battlefield with full spaces and no 'Ancient' ability due to NULL, they won't be able to create space and will be sent to the graveyard instead.

• BEGIN can also win the game on the spot with its Enduring ability. Combine it with EXODUS, then play GENESIS into an empty Loop, and your opponent will be powerless to stop it. Here is a video on how to use BEGIN in competitive SCALE.

• SAVE is your ultimate insurance policy for securing the EXODUS/GENESIS win. This potent ability shields your entire board – including those precious Ancients – from exile and destruction for a turn. Imagine the frustration on your opponent's face as they desperately try to counter your combo, only to have SAVE render their efforts useless. It's the perfect play to put the nail in the coffin and claim victory.

• SHADE is the perfect complement to the EXODUS/GENESIS combo. With an active SHADE, victory is within reach – even without assembling the Ancients. SHADE's ability to play cards face down is my personal downfall in most SCALE losses. Seize the moment to get SHADE onto the battlefield, then sow doubt in your opponent's mind. They'll second-guess every move, fearing a hidden Ancient, creating a playground for bluffs and strategic misdirection.

• PRUNE's universal ability becomes a game-changer when you're close to your EXODUS/GENESIS win. Since the Ancients boast infinite power, they're immune to PRUNE's effect. However, this ability strategically shuts down many of your opponent's low-level (power less than 11) loop cards that could disrupt your combo. Imagine nullifying threats like CANCEL, CLEVER, FADE, and EXTINCT – a surefire way to clear the path to victory.

• DROWN, CANCEL, CLEVER, and FADE are your essential finishers for securing the combo victory. These cards offer targeted removal for threats in the Loop. When you're ready to go for the win, strategically hold a few of these cards in your hand to completely shut down your opponent's counterplays.

The Graveyard: A Battleground, Not a Final Rest

The graveyard isn't the end for an EXODUS/GENESIS player; it's generally the beginning. Graveyard- manipulating dragons like BLOOM, BURY, GARDEN, ROT, and ZOMBIE turn the graveyard into your greatest weapon. To secure the win, carefully control the graveyard – it is generally the key to assembling infinity.

• BLOOM revives both Ancients from the graveyard. They lose their abilities for the turn, but you can still win with the combo immediately. Only one Ancient loses their ability for the turn; the other retains it, meaning you still win the game. You can also attack or defend with infinite power when you revive with BLOOM, as the Ancients lose their "cannot attack" ability.

• BURY is the heart of your proactive strategy. Use it aggressively to place crucial cards, manipulate the order, and deceive your opponent. Mastering BURY is the key to dictating the very contents of the graveyard, ensuring that you always have the upper hand – and the tools you need to assemble infinity. Please read this article to learn about BURY.

• ROT can bring an ancient back from the dead by swapping one of your own cards in the loop with either EXODUS or GENESIS. To do this play a card to the loop, then play ROT after that card. When ROT exits the loop, you can switch your card with any card from the graveyard including a piece of the combo.

• GARDEN lets you add an Ancient dragon from the graveyard to your hand. In SCALE, the hand is the safest zone you control, allowing you to deploy EXODUS or GENESIS at your leisure.

• ZOMBIE can copy an Ancient from the graveyard, also completing the combo. ZOMBIE's name will change to match the copied card's name. So, it will be named EXODUS when copying EXODUS.

When pursuing a graveyard-based combo victory, beware! Savvy opponents will attempt to permanently exile the Ancients using cards like OMEGA, VANISH, or FADE. If either EXODUS or GENESIS is exiled, achieving the combo becomes impossible.

Securing the Combo: Your Path to Victory

• BIOLOGY, DECIDE, and QUERY are your premier search engines. Don't waste them early! Use BIOLOGY to break through your opponent's defenses when you're out of options, and DECIDE to control future draws or subtly manipulate your opponent's hand.

• PEEK is a SCALE player's ultimate weapon. PEEK reveals your opponent's hand, letting you know if they hold a piece of the combo or another threat you need to address and draws a card. PEEK can tell you instantly if the coast is clear to reunite infinity.

• EXODUS and GENESIS themselves have "Draw a card" abilities that offer consistency. While not as flashy as the other options, they provide a steady search engine.

Avoiding Pitfalls: Key Factors for Success

Even with a powerful combo like EXODUS/GENESIS, it's important to be aware of its potential pitfalls. Your opponent will aggressively target your Ancients, so prioritize protection, revival tactics, and the element of surprise.

• Be careful not to let the Ancients clog your hand; sometimes, playing them strategically is essential. Their draw and 'Ancient' abilities are generally more useful than their 'win' ability.

• TAX is the ultimate anti-combo card. In rare situations, if you have three treasures and your opponent has TAX in play, be cautious with EXODUS and GENESIS. If you play GENESIS, its draw ability triggers before its win condition. This means you'll lose the game due to TAX instead of securing a combo victory.

Finally, don't let the combo blind you to the rest of the game. Maintaining board control and card advantage is just as crucial as finding the combo pieces. Balance your search for the Ancients with smart, proactive plays to secure your victory.

The strategies outlined here are merely the foundation of your journey. SCALE's ever-changing playstyle, along with the cunning of your opponents, will demand continuous adaptation. Embrace experimentation, learn from your losses, and relentlessly refine your techniques. The path to true mastery of the EXODUS/GENESIS combo is a lifelong pursuit, filled with the thrill of discovery. May your victories be as infinite as the Ancients themselves!