Take a PEEK

In competitive SCALE, information is the ultimate resource. Skilled players can definitely deduce strategy from their opponent's actions, but the information dragons: PEEK and COAX eliminate the guesswork entirely.

• Deception and mind games are crucial in SCALE, and that's hard to pull off when your opponent knows your whole hand. PEEK and COAX are the ultimate asset to defeating a skilled opponent.

• At the highest levels of competitive play, PEEK and COAX are a win condition not a support card. A well-timed info card combined with a few Loop-clearing cards like CANCEL, CLEVER, DROWN, or FADE, can pave the way to victory. If you are trying to win the information war, try and bait out your opponent’s Loop cards before playing an info dragon. Sometimes, it's smarter to hold onto PEEK or COAX before a few cards have been played, let your opponent use up some resources, then gain the upper hand with perfect knowledge of their options. A good SCALE game can go on for a while, but the right info at the right time can cripple your opponent's plans and shorten it up drastically.

• And remember, if your opponent plays SHADE, immediately counter with PEEK or COAX! You'll expose their entire hand (except the card they just drew), essentially nullifying the use of their SHADE.

There are some major difference between PEEK and COAX. Both are excellent weapons. PEEK’s draw ability gives it versatility throughout the game. Early on, though, COAX packs a serious punch, especially against an opponent with a full hand. Its power wanes a bit as the game progresses, so it is a very effective first turn play. The beauty of COAX is the disruption it causes. Just one power, and you force your opponent to make a sub-optimal move. Use it wisely, and you can force them to waste valuable cards or reveal hidden strategies. My pro tip: make them play a card that actively hurts their own position. Overwhelmed in battle? Force an EXPLODE or VANISH. Is the Loop the problem? Hit them with ORDER or OVERHAUL. Need more resources? Make them play GREED or CHARITY.

The possibilities are endless, and that's what makes it so much fun! If the Loop is empty, make them play FADE, CLEVER, or even better, CANCEL. Is the battlefield empty? Make them play ALPHA, DELTA, or OMEGA. Need cards? Make them play GREED or CHARITY. Do they have powerful abilities? Make them play NULL. Are they (or you) not going to attack or defend this turn? Make them play FIERCE or BUST. Do you have a way to copy EXODUS or GENESIS for the win? Make them play the other half of the combo. Nothing good to get in the graveyard? Make them play ZOMBIE, GARDEN, BLOOM, or ROT. Point is, there are a ton of ways to make a card useless or hurt your opponent with COAX, but the best part of COAX is still the revealing of the hand itself.

In all, PEEK and COAX offer unparalleled strategic advantages. These “information dragons” grant you perfect knowledge of your opponent's hand, disrupting their plans and allowing you to manipulate them into suboptimal moves. While PEEK offers consistent value throughout the game, COAX is at its most potent early on. Mastering the timing and strategic use of these cards is essential. Play them wisely, force your opponent into disadvantageous situations, and you'll seize control in the information war. Remember, in a game ruled by information, knowledge is the ultimate weapon – and PEEK and COAX will put that weapon firmly in your grasp.