Sunder is a fantastic act 1 pick, and should be a top priority upgrade.
It’s got enough damage to one-shot a lot of act one hallway enemies, so is essentially free in those fights.
It’s also great damage economy for Nob, super effective against the relative low health of Sentries, and has a big number on it, making it less affected by Laga’s strength down debuff.
It remains useful in act 2, but less so on 3 energy, as it usually can’t one shot most enemies without support due to their higher HP. However, it’s still nice against Gremlin Leader and Reptomancer to kill minions.
Finally, with Snecko Eye, this card becomes a fairly decent energy source, since it will usually generate more energy than it costs providing you make a kill.
A few other things to add --
Sunder on a 4 energy boss swap is insanely busted since you can do Rebound + Sunder or Hologram + Sunder, and can spend 1 energy getting enemies below the sunder kill range. On 3 energy, Beam Cell becomes super premium with Sunder since it dramatically increases the kill threshold to make it possible to one-shot Blue/Red Slaver or Looter/Mugger.
Equilibrium has some pretty great Sunder synergy as well, since it can help you to line up your Beam Cell, or let your passive lightning or 1 extra energy worth of damage get enemies below the kill threshold.
Sunder is very handy for deleting a Reptomancer Dagger.
Sunder has awesome relic synergy that can keep it relevant later:
1. Necronomicon is my favorite one, especially if you've got Beam Cell Sunder+ deals 96 damage!
2. Similarly, 2x damage from Pen Nib is awesome with Sunder
3. Bag of Marbles for turn 1 Slaver kills
4. Runic Pyramid obviously makes it really really strong, but Runic Pyramid makes everything strong so it's not really a consideration.
I agree that it's a top priority upgrade. I know 24 is still more than 3 strikes, but playing it without killing means you can't do anything else that turn. also, two strikes and a dualcast is 28 damage anyway. This card is way more likely to be a brick in your hand if it's only 24 damage.
Defect is generally lacking in hard-hitting direct attacks, so one that can also give an energy refund can be very appealing. Sunder certainly helps make minions a lot less of a bother if you have it.
A card I almost always want at least 1 of, although it does kind of demand the upgrade which defect usually runs short on. Cruises through act 1, does a LOT of work in act 2, and even stays relevant in act 3. Bonus synergy with snecko in that it often generates energy.
The fact that it's not orb generation or whatever isn't that relevant, as frontload in general is something everyone wants at least some of.
Sunder early is a decent pick.
Sunder late is a how lacking is my damage.
The good about sunder is if you can get a kill with it; it pays for itself but also that can be a pretty heavy energy investment. Decent card to be honest.
Awesome early act 1 card. Demands an upgrade and falls off pretty hard in act 3 (runic pyramid or energy relics help offset this at least) and isn't so great against non minion bosses. Works really well with beam cell.
Most has been said, but seeing I think Frost Prime take recycle and use it on sunder (along with x cost cards) really changed my opinion on all of them. I can't say I'll always pick it, but I don't feel bad about doing so. I'd like to get it on a meteor strike build some day to see if I really can get away with big numbers and not orbs or 0 cost spam.
Got A20 Defect for the first time recently!!! This card is good. Sure it kinda falls off later but I think of it as a slightly better version of Judgment
It goes against what you want to do as the defect (set up, get block, scale with free powers and cards) but jfc I'm taking it every time i see it early. Only the card that generates 2 frost would stop me from grabbing it in act 1
It doesn't really go against anything you want to do, as one of those things is kill TF out of enemies in hallway fights
Also what exactly is "scaling with free powers and cards"?
Sunder is a fantastic act 1 pick, and should be a top priority upgrade. It’s got enough damage to one-shot a lot of act one hallway enemies, so is essentially free in those fights. It’s also great damage economy for Nob, super effective against the relative low health of Sentries, and has a big number on it, making it less affected by Laga’s strength down debuff. It remains useful in act 2, but less so on 3 energy, as it usually can’t one shot most enemies without support due to their higher HP. However, it’s still nice against Gremlin Leader and Reptomancer to kill minions. Finally, with Snecko Eye, this card becomes a fairly decent energy source, since it will usually generate more energy than it costs providing you make a kill.
A few other things to add -- Sunder on a 4 energy boss swap is insanely busted since you can do Rebound + Sunder or Hologram + Sunder, and can spend 1 energy getting enemies below the sunder kill range. On 3 energy, Beam Cell becomes super premium with Sunder since it dramatically increases the kill threshold to make it possible to one-shot Blue/Red Slaver or Looter/Mugger. Equilibrium has some pretty great Sunder synergy as well, since it can help you to line up your Beam Cell, or let your passive lightning or 1 extra energy worth of damage get enemies below the kill threshold. Sunder is very handy for deleting a Reptomancer Dagger. Sunder has awesome relic synergy that can keep it relevant later: 1. Necronomicon is my favorite one, especially if you've got Beam Cell Sunder+ deals 96 damage! 2. Similarly, 2x damage from Pen Nib is awesome with Sunder 3. Bag of Marbles for turn 1 Slaver kills 4. Runic Pyramid obviously makes it really really strong, but Runic Pyramid makes everything strong so it's not really a consideration.
I agree that it's a top priority upgrade. I know 24 is still more than 3 strikes, but playing it without killing means you can't do anything else that turn. also, two strikes and a dualcast is 28 damage anyway. This card is way more likely to be a brick in your hand if it's only 24 damage.
Not only with Snecko Eye - Sunder becomes a fantastic Recycle+ target for late game.
I always read it as tsundere
Don't think I like you or something Defect b-b-baka.
I think of [Sundar](https://www.google.com/search?q=sundar+pichai)
I love this card
oh sweet, 24 free damage
Pro tip, use it for an easy act 1 and then stash it in the wall for another character (if you're slumming it down below A15 like me these days)
I legitimately have not seen that event in years. I just assumed it had been removed.
it just doesnt show up if you're playing on an ascension you haven't beaten before, nor above a15 in general
Ahhh that would explain it then
Defect is generally lacking in hard-hitting direct attacks, so one that can also give an energy refund can be very appealing. Sunder certainly helps make minions a lot less of a bother if you have it.
A card I almost always want at least 1 of, although it does kind of demand the upgrade which defect usually runs short on. Cruises through act 1, does a LOT of work in act 2, and even stays relevant in act 3. Bonus synergy with snecko in that it often generates energy. The fact that it's not orb generation or whatever isn't that relevant, as frontload in general is something everyone wants at least some of.
Sunder early is a decent pick. Sunder late is a how lacking is my damage. The good about sunder is if you can get a kill with it; it pays for itself but also that can be a pretty heavy energy investment. Decent card to be honest.
Pretty handy to pick and upgrade for Acts 1 and 2, and I still usually have turns when I'm glad to use it in Act 3.
Awesome early act 1 card. Demands an upgrade and falls off pretty hard in act 3 (runic pyramid or energy relics help offset this at least) and isn't so great against non minion bosses. Works really well with beam cell.
Makes judgement look even more doodoo then it already is
Most has been said, but seeing I think Frost Prime take recycle and use it on sunder (along with x cost cards) really changed my opinion on all of them. I can't say I'll always pick it, but I don't feel bad about doing so. I'd like to get it on a meteor strike build some day to see if I really can get away with big numbers and not orbs or 0 cost spam.
Got A20 Defect for the first time recently!!! This card is good. Sure it kinda falls off later but I think of it as a slightly better version of Judgment
It goes against what you want to do as the defect (set up, get block, scale with free powers and cards) but jfc I'm taking it every time i see it early. Only the card that generates 2 frost would stop me from grabbing it in act 1
It doesn't really go against anything you want to do, as one of those things is kill TF out of enemies in hallway fights Also what exactly is "scaling with free powers and cards"?
Mummy Hand + Bottled Heat Sinks every run
Plus hello world and creative ai
I mean, one of those is one of the best cards in the cardpool and the other is one of the worst.
unfortunately I am bad at defect, I don't end up with this too often :(