Another Side of Millennium Blades: CCG Ostrich Racing
Visit the most interesting CCG tournament venues, like ostrich racing and a dragon’s vault, with Millennium Blades.
To say I’ve been sassed by Millennium Blades is an understatement! Either my luck ran out, the solo opponent is cheating, or I can’t put together good decks. Of those options, it’s definitely not the last one. Not at all. Ha ha! Even with my constant losses, I haven’t stopped thinking about the game and how I might, just might, win someday!
Game Overview
Game Name: Millennium Blades
Publication Year: 2016
Designer: D. Brad Talton, Jr.
Artist: Fábio Fontes
Solo Mode: Included in Millennium Blades: Set Rotation
Finally! I captured my collection of mini expansions that recently added more variety. Never fear about any crushed corners: All cards were safe and sound on arrival! With so many options, it’s impossible to think of a scenario where I’ll feel like things are overly repetitive. Maybe I’ll just complain about my repetitive losses. Because that’s TRUE.
First Play
March 27, 2020
Complexity
4
Latest Play
November 7, 2021
Expansions
7
Setup Time
10 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
12
Play Time
40 Minutes
High Score
204
Game Area
32" x 26"
Low Score
76
Off to Exotic Venues
A fun element of the multiplayer game is the inclusion of random venues. Each one changes the rules in some way, thereby adding something unique to the rounds.
Unfortunately, the descriptions definitely don’t work in the solo game. But I improvised. Why not just choose one to add a flavorful background to the tournament?!
So there I was. Building a deck while thinking about how to stay securely on top of a racing ostrich. Ha!
The crowd was pretty excited to see what I could pull off. I had a strategy… When there were 2 minutes left to go.
The Cruel-Aid Man
With hundreds of little jokes sprinkled throughout the cards, there’s bound to be something to make anyone smile! I laughed when I came across the best card.
Not the Cruel-Aid Man! Oh, YEAH! The text included some of the best flavors ever. I just laughed at the artwork.
Alas, I think this was the card that lost it for me. I had a decent strategy, but this was sort of a throwaway card. Not the best way to describe a card in the tableau!
At least I could just picture him jumping out of this card and getting left behind in the ostrich dust. Oh, NO!
Maximizing the Tableau
Normally, only 6 of 8 singles may be played during a tournament. This leaves the door open for flexibility, while not providing too many options.
With Shur Wen Na and an absolutely amazing cosplay set, I had the chance to place 8 singles. Very nice!
But at the same time, I still had to be conscious of the restrictions the solo opponent’s accessories put on me. I wasn’t about to give up 50 points for no reason.
Oh, Shur Wen Na. I think the entire CCG scene was about to rename her Shur Lu Sa after my shenanigans. Ha ha!
Hunting for Angst
This was the right way to get started. With those extra slots, Blizzard Angst came out to get me off to a nice start.
Then, it was time for my gold promo card to shine! This was where my strategy stemmed from. The new cards in the aftermarket would likely give me even more choices.
I had another single I could discard to play a card from the aftermarket, so there was even more reason to make this work! Clashes could only improve things further.
This was when my confidence rose, like the mercury in an old-fashioned thermometer. Neither was a good sign!
Hello, Deck Boxes!
It was at this point that any hint of my remaining luck crumbled, like a bad cookie. And another bad joke.
The majority of the cards turned out to be deck boxes. During the tournament, there are only extremely rare circumstances when a deck box may enter play.
So… Nice job with the cards! Actually, it wasn’t even bad shuffling because most of these came from different card sets. Just proof that luck wasn’t on my side.
All the same, I still had a few options and managed to make the most of a bad situation. Be confident!
Rules Clarification
The solo opponent played the final card… And I was in a bit of a pickle. I still had 2 more singles to put out, so I avoided anything that awarded immediate points.
But what about during scoring? This was the top card, so technically it looked like all of those points would be stolen from me. Cheating, didn’t I tell you?!
Luckily, the rulebook was nearby and I started to look through it for the clarification I desperately needed.
And there it was: “Top effects do not work during scoring, unless stated otherwise.” Take that!
Session Overview
Play Number: 9 and 10
Main Expansion: Millennium Blades: Set Rotation
Other Expansions: Mini-Expansions #1-6
Solo Mode: Included in Millennium Blades: Set Rotation
Play Details: Standard Difficulty Level
Required Play Space: 32″ x 26″
Setup Time: 10 Minutes
Play Time: 30-40 Minutes per Play
Outcome: 204-220 and 204-205 (2 Losses)
Consistent score… And a loss by a single point in the dragon’s vault. What is in that suitcase, Fulton?! Ha ha!
%
10 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
10
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
10
Quality
Components & Rules
7
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
9
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
10
Victory Conditions
Defeat the Boss
- Overall Goal Progress 62.5%
Goals and Milestones
Win at least 1 game against They Game from Space.
Win at least 1 game as Deques Applenti.
Win at least 1 game as Fulton Suitcase.
Win at least 1 game at the easy difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game at the standard difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game against EEG.
Win at least 1 game as Greline Alcartone.
Win at least 1 game as Shur Wen Na.
Continue the Conversation
Are there some aspects of Millennium Blades you enjoy a lot? Some of the mechanics may be found in other solo board games, yet this one stands on its own. It’s quickly become one of my favorites! Do you have a game that clicked with you right from the start? I may take a little break to share my table with other games. But I must get a win!
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