BRIGADE COMBOS

 

One of the common deck-building errors made by beginning players is trying to play too many brigades.  I usually recommend 1 or 2 brigades for heroes.  Sometimes 3 will work, but more than that rarely does (unless you build a hero-intensive banding deck, or a by-the-numbers deck).  As a rule of thumb, include at least one good multi-colored enhancement for each good brigade you play.  Most good brigades can stand alone if you have a complete collection of cards from that brigade.  At that point, the only benefit to having 2 brigades is getting around cards like Bear and Frog Demons which are immune to entire brigades, and for having access to twice as many sites.  

   

If you are going to build a deck with 2 brigades for good, what combinations of brigades work best?  Brigades that have characters that band to each other is useful, as are cards that enable you to use enhancements from the other brigade. Following are several 2-color combos, and the cards that tie the brigades together.  If you have most of the cards listed in one of the pairs, give it a try.  Some combos appear weaker than others, but you may be surprised at how well many of them do.  Often one brigade will make up for what the other brigade lacks.

 

Special thanks to Jim "Eternal Student" Woolcott for many contributions to these lists.

 

Red and Gold

·        Soldier of God can use both brigades of enhancements.

·        Adam bands to Eve

·        Mentor may band with any NT human hero with */5 or less.

·        Barak works best if Deborah is in play

·        Lazarus can use convert enhancements, and Gold has 3 of them.

·        Simeon bands to Peter, David, Gad, or Malachi (or Deborah, who helps red)

·        Passover Preparations works well on Gad, Malachi, Jude, Gaius, Archippus, Prochorus, or Deborah.

·        Gideon's Call allows Gold heroes to use any Red enhancement

·        Book of Gad the Seer allows you to search your discard pile for any OT hero enhancement and add it to your hand.

·        Book of the Wars allows a red hero to use these good Gold enhancements: Battle Prayer, Sling, Spear of Joshua, Bow and Arrow, Preaching God's Word, Drowning of Pharaoh's Army, Jawbone

·        Potter's Field can be acquired with Zaccheus, and emptied with The Empty Tomb, Raising the Saints, and Raising of Lazarus.

·        Raised to Life allows you to search your discard pile for a hero and return hero to territory.

·        Covenant with Adam works well as a name on name bonus on Adam, or as an artifact while Moses or Shamhuth are in a by-the-numbers battle.

Red and Green

·        Soldier of God bands to Paladin or Faithful Servant.

·        Armorbearer bands to Abishai, Adino, Asahel, Barak, Centurion, David, Jashobeam, Jephthah, Joab, Mighty Warrior, Shamgar, or Uriah, (or green brigade David, Cornelius, Eleazar, see below). What a list!

·        David (green) can use these red enhancements: David's Sling, Bravery of David, and David's Staff with name-on-name bonus.

·        David (red) can use Clemency of David and Covenant with David with name on name bonus.

·        Book of the Wars allows a red hero to use these Green enhancements: Valley of Dry Bones, Edge of the Sword, Sword of the Lord, Blinding Light, Saul Repents

·        Spiritual Gifts allows Green heroes to use these Red enhancements: Counsel of Abigail, Goodness, Healing, Temperance

·        Passover Preparations works well on these red and green heroes: Eleazar, Cornelius, Asahel, Centurion, Jude, etc.

·        All the banding would be hindered by Household Idols. Covenant with David negates Household Idols, and can be used as a green enhancement instead if your opponent is not using Household Idols.

Red and Blue

·        Helez (Kings) bands to Kings versions of Abishai, Jashobeam, and Adino.

·        Mentor bands to any NT human hero with */5 or less.

·        Tribal Elder bands to any OT human hero.

·        Soldier of God can use both brigades of enhancements.

·        Claudia bands to Christian Soldier, Andrew, Epaphras, Gamaliel, Lazarus, Peter, Philip, Jude, Mentor, or Centurion.

·        Book of the Wars allows a red hero to use these Blue enhancements: Rod of Iron, Drawn Sword, Ehud's Dagger, The Long Day, Put to Flight, Lay Down Your Life, Jacob’s Grandsons, and Journey to Egypt

·        Book of Nathan allows blue heroes to use these red enhancements: Sound the Alarm, Steadfastness of Peter, Battle Axe, Healing, Forest Fire, Potter and the Clay, Wheel within a Wheel, Baggage, Arrow of Deliverance, Burning Censor, Authority of Peter, Book of Gad the Seer, Holy Ground, Lamplight, and Battle Cry

·        Passover Preparations works well on these red and blue heroes: Christian Soldier, Centurion, Helez, Demetrius, Jude, Shepherd, Seth, etc.

·        Jubilee allows you to search your discard pile for any blue brigade enhancement and add it to your hand.

Red and Purple

·        Soldier of God bands to Saint of Virtue

·        Prince Jonathan bands to David (red)

·        Mentor may band to John, Ethiopian Treasurer, Ananias of Damascus, and Lois.

·        Book of the Wars allows a red hero to use these purple enhancements: Loyalty of Jonathan, Saul's Spear, Five Smooth Stones, Glittering Sword, Trust

·        Prophesy of Eldad and Medad allows male purple brigade heroes to use these red enhancements: Sound the Alarm, Steadfastness of Peter, Battle Axe, Healing, Forest Fire, Potter and the Clay, Wheel within a Wheel, Baggage, Arrow of Deliverance, Burning Censor, Authority of Peter, Book of Gad the Seer, Holy Ground, Lamplight, and Battle Cry

·        Passover Preparations works well on Saint of Virtue, Bathsheba, Gad, Jude, or Christian Soldier.

·        Book of Gad the Seer allows you to search your discard pile for any OT good enhancement and add it to your hand.

Red and White

·        Mentor may band with John the Baptist, Lydia, Philip’s Daughters, Titus, Timothy, Jairus’ Daughter, Peter’s Mother-in-Law, Elders of Jerusalem, and Onesimus.

·        Isaac can use Wrestling with God

·        Book of the Wars allows a red hero to use this white enhancement: Wall of Fire

·        Coat of Many Colors allows any hero to use any enhancement, and is permanent on Joseph.

·        Passover Preparations works well on Philip's Daughters, John the Baptist, Gad, Jude, or Christian Soldier.

·        Book of Gad the Seer allows you to search your discard pile for any OT good enhancement and add it to your hand.

Red and Silver

·        no banding combinations yet

·        Book of the Wars allows a red hero to use these silver enhancements: Angel Chariots, Flaming Sword, The First Seal, The Second Seal, Might of Angels, Protection of Jerusalem, Spiritual Protection, War in Heaven.

·        Passover Preparations works well on Angel of Warning, Angel with a Secret Name, Angel of Revelation, Guiding Angel, Gad, or Christian Soldier.

·        The Fifth Seal allows you to search your discard pile for a hero and place it on top of your draw pile.

·        The Seventh Seal can be used to search for Burning Censer in your draw pile.

·        Spiritual Protection allows holder to get an Armor of God enhancement from draw or discard pile as long as a New Testament human hero is in play.

·        Book of Gad the Seer allows you to search your discard pile for any OT good enhancement and add it to your hand.

Gold and Green

·        Soldier of God bands to Paladin or Faithful Servant.

·        Caleb bands to Joshua

·        Mary of Bethany bands to Martha

·        Armorbearer bands to Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Moses, Othniel, Samson, Samuel, Shammah, or Shamhuth (or David - see below, or Caleb - see above)

·        Simeon bands to David, Miriam, Abel, Amos, Zechariah, Isaiah, Agabus, The Watchman (or Deborah, Moses, Samuel - see above)

·        All this banding will be prevented by Household Idols. Covenant with David and Covenant with Moses both prevent Household Idols. These covenant cards are Gold and Green, and name on name bonus applies on Moses and David.

·        Interceding for Battle works with Moses, Aaron, or Hur

·        Patience (C deck) works well with Gaius, Archippus, and Prochorus.

·        Gideon's Call allows Gold heroes to use any green enhancement.

·        Spiritual Gifts allows Green heroes to use these Gold enhancements: Faith as Children, Faithfulness of Luke, Kindness, Peace, Preaching God's Word, Sanctifying Faith

·        Raised to Life allows you to search the discard pile for any hero and return it to territory.

Gold and Blue

·        Helez (Kings) bands to Kings versions of Shammah and Shamhuth.

·        Soldier of God can use both brigades of enhancements.

·        Simeon bands to Barnabas, Jacob, Silas, Jonah, Zephaniah, or Anna

·        Noah works best with Noah's Sons

·        Tribal Elder may band to one OT human hero.

·        Solomon's Temple can be acquired with Zaccheus, and can be filled with Artifacts that can be obtained by Eli the Priest.

·        Potter's Field can be acquired with Zaccheus or Alabaster Jar, and emptied with Raising of the Saints, Resurrection, and Raising of Lazarus.

·        Raised to Life allows you to search your discard pile for any hero and return it to territory.

·        Jubilee allows you to search your discard pile for any blue brigade enhancement and add it to your hand.

·        Gideon's Call allows gold heroes to use any blue enhancements.

·        Book of Nathan allows blue heroes to use these gold enhancements: Furnace of God's Wrath, Two Olive Branches, Highway, Hammer of God, Deception Exposed, and Vengeance of Eternal Fire.

Gold and Purple

·        Soldier of God bands to Saint of Virtue

·        Lois bands to Eunice

·        Simeon bands to Hosea, Habakkuk, Elisha, John, Ezekiel, King Saul, or King David

·        Gideon's Call allows gold heroes to use any purple enhancement

·        Prophesy of Eldad and Medad allows purple heroes to use these gold enhancements: Furnace of God's Wrath, Two Olive Branches, Highway, Hammer of God, Deception Exposed, and Vengeance of Eternal Fire

·        Gold has Vengeance of Eternal Fire to keep your opponent's evil characters exposed, and purple has Authority of Christ to wipe them out.

·        Raised to Life allows you to search your discard pile for any hero and return it to territory.

Gold and White

·        Eunice bands to Timothy

·        Simeon bands to Jeremiah, Mary, Daniel, Philip's Daughters, or John the Baptist

·        Ruth meets Boaz allows Ruth to band to Boaz until one is discarded

·        Boaz protects himself, Ruth, and Naomi from Hunger and Without Food.

·        Transfiguration allows a white brigade hero to band to Moses

·        Gideon's Call allows gold heroes to use any white enhancement

·        Coat of Many Colors allows any character to use any good enhancement, and the Coat is permanent on Joseph.

·        Raised to Life allows you to search your discard pile for any hero and return it to territory.

·        White discards demons, Gold converts humans.

Gold and Silver

·        Simeon bands to Angel at Shur, Captain of the Host, Angel with the Secret Name, Gabriel, Angel at the Tomb, Foretelling Angel, Messenger Angel, Angel of Revelation, Guiding Angel, and Watcher (and Moses, Huldah, Deborah, Samuel, and Elizabeth - see below).

·        Entertaining Angels allows a gold hero to band with a silver brigade hero

·        Gideon's Call allows gold heroes to use silver enhancements

·        Spiritual Protection allows holder to get an Armor of God enhancement from draw or discard pile as long as a New Testament human hero is in play. Gold has twelve.

·        When Messenger Angel enters battle, he adds 1/1 to your Simeon, Moses, Huldah, Samuel, Deborah, or Elizabeth.

·        Foretelling Angel's ability only works if there is a human prophet in play.

·        The Fifth Seal allows you to search your discard pile for any hero and place it on top of your draw pile.

Green and Blue

·        Armorbearer bands to Abiezer, Abram/Abraham, Ehud, Helez, and Ira (and Cornelius, see below)

·        Helez (Kings) bands to Kings versions of Benaiah and Eleazar.

·        Claudia bands to Cornelius, Faithful Servant, Agabus, James son of Alphaeus, Matthew (Levi), Philemon, Simon the Zealot, and Paladin

·        Tribal Elder may band to one OT human hero.

·        Book of Nathan allows a blue hero to use these green enhancements: Endurance, Repentance, Valley of Dry Bones, Stone Cut without Hands, Golden Lamp Stand, and Search

·        Spiritual Gifts allows Green heroes to use these blue enhancements: Faith, Faith of Abraham, Heavenly Trance, Love, Miracle of Healing, Patience of Job, Truthfulness of Nathan

·        Creation of the World allows these green and blue brigade heroes to join the green hero in battle: Abel, Rachel, Abram, Sarah, Jacob, Rebekah, Noah, Seth.

·        Love for Rachel allows her to band to any male hero

·        Unity in Christ allows these blue and green heroes to join the green hero in battle: Claudia (and all the heroes she bands to. See above.), Thomas, Bartholomew.

·        All this banding can be protected by Abraham's Servant to Ur and Covenant with David.

·        Jubilee allows you to search your discard pile for any blue brigade enhancement and add it to your hand.

·        Plenty of set aside cards and healing cards make Ira and Benaiah tough to stop.

 

Green and Purple

  • Armorbearer bands to Prince Jonathan, King David, King Saul, and Jonathan

  • Prince Jonathan bands to David (or King David, see above)

  • Prophesy of Eldad and Medad allows a male purple hero to use these green enhancements: Endurance, Repentance, Valley of Dry Bones, Stone Cut without Hands, Golden Lamp Stand, and Search

  • Spiritual Gifts allows Green heroes to use these purple enhancements:  Faith of Bartimaeus, Faithfulness of Ananias, Gentleness, Great Faith, Joy, Long-suffering of John, Mercy of James, and Prophesy of Eldad and Medad.

  • Helping Pharaoh's Daughter allows Miriam to band to Pharaoh's Daughter, and is name on name bonus with Pharaoh's Daughter.  It also gives both brigades female heroes.

  • Creation of the World allows these green and purple brigade heroes to join the green hero in battle: Abel, Rachel, and Melchizedek

  • Love for Rachel allows her to band to any male hero

  • Unity in Christ allows these purple heroes to join the green hero in battle: John, James son of Zebedee, Saint of Virtue, James (half-brother of Jesus), Ethiopian Treasurer, Ananias of Damascus, Lois, and Stephen

  • All this banding can be protected by Covenant with David.

Green and White

  • Armorbearer bands to Elhanan, Ittai, or Maharai

  • Spiritual Gifts allows Green heroes to use these white enhancements:  Generous Giving, Meekness of Isaac, New Tongues

  • Creation of the World allows these green and white brigade heroes to join the green hero in battle: Abel, Rachel, Enoch, Isaac, Joseph

  • Love for Rachel allows her to band to any male hero

  • Unity in Christ allows all N.T. white and green heroes to join the green hero in battle: 

  • All this banding can be protected by Covenant with David.

  • Coat of Many Colors allows any character to use any good enhancement, and the Coat is permanent on Joseph.

  • White discards demons, green converts humans.

  • This tip was contributed by Stephen M. Schaefer:  Here's a list of cards in the White and Green brigades that pull cards from the draw pile or discard pile:
    Creation of the World
    Lost Coin Found
    Midwives
    Moses and Elders
    Search
    Ship to Cyprus
    Transfiguration
    Valley of Dry Bones
    Words of Encouragement

Green and Silver

·        Seraphim bands to any green brigade hero

·        Spiritual Protection allows holder to get an Armor of God enhancement from draw or discard pile as long as a New Testament human hero is in play. Cornelius is a good one, because Armorbearer bands to him.

·        Creation of the World allows these green and silver brigade heroes to join the green hero in battle: Abel, Rachel, Angel at Shur, Destroying Angel

·        Unity in Christ allows all N.T. silver and green heroes to join the green hero in battle.

·        All this banding can be protected by Covenant with David.

·        The Fifth Seal allows you to search your discard pile for a hero and place it on top of your draw pile.

Blue and Purple

·        Soldier of God bands to Saint of Virtue

·        Philip the Evangelist bands to Stephen

·        Claudia bands to Stephen, Ethiopian Treasurer, Saint of Virtue, John, James son of Zebedee, James (half-brother of Jesus), and Ananias of Damascus (or Philip the Evangelist - see above).

·        Tribal Elder may band to one OT human hero.

·        Book of Nathan allows a blue hero to use these purple enhancements: Ezekiel's Stick, Leaves for Healing, River Flowing from the Temple, The Branch, The Vineyard, Glittering Sword, and Faithfulness of Ananias

·        Prophesy of Eldad and Medad allows a purple hero to use these Blue enhancements: Courage, Rod of Iron, Strength, Truthfulness of Nathan, Balm of Gilead, Drawn Sword, Measuring Line, Razor, Cup of Wrath, Iron Pan, Resurrection, Put to Flight

·        Jubilee allows you to search your discard pile for any blue brigade enhancement and add it to your hand.

Blue and White

·        Maharai (Warriors) bands to any blue brigade hero

·        Maharai (Kings) bands to Kings version of Helez, Ira, and Abiezer.

·        Helez (Kings) bands to Kings versions of Maharai, Ittai, and Elhanan.

·        Priscilla bands to Aquila

·        Claudia bands to Thaddeus, John the Baptist, Onesimus, Elders of Jerusalem, Timothy, or Titus (or Aquila - see above)

·        Rebekah Meets Isaac allows Isaac and Rebekah to band together for the rest of the game

·        Tribal Elder may band to one OT human hero.

·        Isaac may use any enhancement with a reference from Genesis 21 to 35, which includes these 7 blue enhancements: Laughter, Abraham's Servant to Ur, A Wife for Isaac, Drawn Water, Jacob's Dream, Jacob's Rods, Jacob's New Name

·        Coat of Many Colors allows any character to use any good enhancement, and the Coat is permanent on Joseph

·        Book of Nathan allows a blue hero to use these white enhancements: Compassion of Jeremiah, Charred Vine, Wall of Fire, Lion Dwelling with the Calf, Mountain of God, Lamb's Righteousness

·        White destroys demons, but is weaker against humans. Blue has Baptism and Paying Tribute to defeat humans.

·        With all the banding, your opponent is likely to go first against you, so the 6 negate cards between blue and white will be nice to have. Jubilee, Lost Coin Found, and Moses & Elders can be used to recur them from the discard pile.

Blue and Silver

·        Seraphim bands to any blue brigade hero.

·        Jacob bands to any silver brigade hero.

·        Claudia bands to any N.T. silver brigade hero.

·        All this banding can be protected by Captain of the Host, Abraham's Servant to Ur, Ehud's Dagger, Sign of the Rainbow, and Covenant with Noah.

·        Book of Nathan allows a blue hero to use any of these silver brigade enhancements: Gathering of Angels, The First Trumpet, The Second Trumpet, The Third Trumpet, The Fourth Trumpet, The Fifth Trumpet, The Sixth Trumpet, The Seventh Trumpet, The First Seal, The Second Seal, The Third Seal, The Fourth Seal, The Fifth Seal, The Sixth Seal, The Seventh Seal, War in Heaven, Might of Angels, The Book of Life, Angelic News, Angelic Guidance

·        Spiritual Protection works if any N.T. blue brigade hero is in play (such as Claudia, Bartholomew, Thomas, Philip the Evangelist).

·        Water To Wine is a nice way to get blue set aside enhancements to work on Ira, The Strong Angel, and Captain of the Host early.

·        Providing Angel getting The Body of Christ over and over again is really nice.

Purple and White

  • Ittai (Kings) bands to King David.

  • Prophesy of Eldad and Medad allows a purple hero to use these White enhancements:

    Compassion of Jeremiah, Charred Vine, Wall of Fire, Lion Dwelling with the Calf, Mountain of God, Lamb's Righteousness

  • Authority of Christ can be used three times if you get it back again with Lost Coin Found and Moses and Elders.

Purple and Silver - thanks, Jim!

 

·        Cherubim bands to any Purple brigade hero.

·        Foretelling Angel allows you to look at the top 3 cards in any draw pile if a human prophet is in play or a set-aside area, and Purple has seven: King David, King Saul, John, Ezekiel, Elisha, Hosea, and Habakkuk.

·        Messenger Angel adds 1/1 to any good prophet in play or set-aside area (see above).

·        Providing Angel can take a healing enhancement from the draw or discard pile, and Purple has three: Elisha’s Bones, Royal Protection and Leaves for Healing.

·        Angel of Deliverance, Angel in the Path, Angel at Jerusalem, and King’s Daughter all have access to any Site.

·        Spiritual Protection allows you to search the draw or discard pile for an Armor of God enhancement if there is a NT hero in play, and Purple has eight: James (half-brother of Jesus), James son of Zebedee, Saint of Virtue, John, Stephen, Ethiopian Treasurer, Ananias of Damascus, and Lois.

·        The Fifth Seal allows you to search your discard pile for a hero and place it on top of your draw pile. This can be handy for getting a discarded Widow back in play.

·        Ezekiel’s Stick and River Flowing from the Temple allow you to band a second hero into the battle.

·        Gathering of Angels allows you to set aside a Silver hero for 4 turns, then that hero can band to any other hero until discarded.

·        Prophecy of Eldad & Medad allows a Purple hero to use these Silver enhancements: Gathering of Angels, The First Trumpet, The Second Trumpet, The Third Trumpet, The Fourth Trumpet, The Fifth Trumpet, The Sixth Trumpet, The Seventh Trumpet, The First Seal, The Second Seal, The Third Seal, The Fourth Seal, The Fifth Seal, The Sixth Seal, The Seventh Seal, Might of Angels, The Book of Life, Angelic News, Angelic Guidance, War in Heaven, and The Golden Censer.

 

White and Silver - thanks, Jim!

 

·        Angel in the Path has access to any Site, and can band to a White brigade hero.

·        Foretelling Angel allows you to look at the top 3 cards in any draw pile if a human prophet is in play or a set-aside area, and White has five: Jeremiah, Mary, Daniel, Philip’s Daughters, and John the Baptist.

·        Messenger Angel adds 1/1 to any good prophet in play or set-aside area (see above).

·        Providing Angel can take a healing enhancement from the draw or discard pile, and White has two: Angel Food (D deck) and Antidote.

·        Angel of Deliverance, Angel at Jerusalem, and War Officer all have access to any Site.

·        Spiritual Protection allows you to search the draw or discard pile for an Armor of God enhancement if there is a NT hero in play, and White has twelve: Thaddeus, John the Baptist, Mary, Priscilla, Lydia, Philip’s Daughters, Titus, Timothy, Jairus’ Daughter, Peter’s Mother-in-Law, Elders of Jerusalem, and Onesimus.

·        Gathering of Angels allows you to set aside a Silver hero for 4 turns, then that hero can band to any other hero until discarded.

·        Patriarch Travels allows you to band a second hero into battle.

·        Lost Coin Found allows you to search your discard pile for any good enhancement of 3/3 or less and add it to your hand.

·        Moses and Elders allows you to search your discard pile for any good card, other than a Dominant or Artifact, and add it to your hand.

·        Coat of Many Colors allows a hero to use enhancements from any brigade, and the Coat stays on OT Joseph until he is discarded.

·        Isaac can use this Silver enhancement: Hagar and Angel at Shur.

 

If you have any suggestions for improving these combos, please let me know.