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[Hogtrail]

My goal is to spotlight and break down a different superstar every week by going in depth on their cards, referenced cards, and different types of builds for them.

I posted a poll on the TCO discord channel and this week's superstar this strategy session is dedicated to the current WWE Champ Kofi Kingston!

PART ONE
Let's take a look at his specifics:

Kofi Kingston
Starting Hand Size: 7     Superstar Value: 2
Superstar Ability:  Once during each of your turns, when your maneuver is unsuccessful, you may discard 1 card and overturn 2 cards, and your turn does not end; the next card you play this turn can only be a High Risk maneuver, but replace the "after a successfully played" text on that High Risk with "after an unsuccessfully played", and when that maneuver is successfully played and damage is resolved, end your turn.
Your maneuvers are +1 Stun Value.
You can pack High-Flying Style.
V3

Is 7 the most popular hand size? Someone should look into that. Anyway, Kofi has a 7 hand size and a 2 value. I like these stats because that means his hand can be easily bumped up to double digits with an Underrated Superstar.

I also like his Superstar Ability. Being able to continue your turn is always good, and being able to throw high risks easier is also always good. And he can pack High Flying Style, which is a great card.

But my favorite part is adding +1 stun to all of your maneuvers. This can help offset the discarding you'll be doing.

Unicorn Magic
Backstage Card
During your turn when you have 11+ lower Fortitude or you are a Stable, you may put this card from your Backstage into your Ring, draw 1 card, put 1 card from Ringside on the bottom of your Arsenal, and your opponent discards 1 random card.
D: 1     Unique     RMS logo
V8

Good card that can hopefully help you start a comeback. Random discard is a super powerful tool. And if you're in dire straights, 1F is enough to give you Undermine the Competition – however, most high risk decks run Smackdown branded.

S.O.S.  I Hear Them Shouting
Pre-match Event
This card and your Awesome Pyro cards do not take up Pre-Match slots in your Ring, and when you draw cards for Awesome Pyro, draw 1 additional card.
ACE: During your turn, you may put this card into your Ringside, and then put your hand at the bottom of your Arsenal and draw the same number of cards +3; when your opponent reverses this effect, he discards 2 cards.
F: 0     D: 0     Unique
V3

And here's the text of Awesome Pyro:

Awesome Pyro!
Pre-match Event
At the end of the Pre-match phase, put this card into your Ringside pile and you may shuffle your hand into your Arsenal and draw # cards, where # is equal to the number of cards shuffled in.
When played by Kane, Chris Jericho, Chyna, Kurt Angle, The Dudleyz Boyz, Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, Christian, Booker T, The Big Freak'n Machine, or Rey Mysterio draw 1 additional card.

I like this card, but I don't love it. +3 hand is nice, but it has a cost of 4 pre-match cards. Those cards not taking up Pre-Match slots is nice for the effects of Flanked by Arena Security. I prefer the ACE part of this card. As long as it isn't reversed, you get to boost and cycle your hand. Add McMahonism and you can really set your hand up for success.

(Air) Boom Drop!
Mid-match High Risk + High Risk
When you are Kofi Kingston, this card is -10F.  When you have lower Fortitude, this card is -1F for each of your maneuvers in your Ringside or removed from the game.
Can only be played after a successfully played maneuver.  Cannot be reversed from Backlash.
Draw up to 4 cards and put cards from your hand on the bottom of your Arsenal equal to the cards you drew -2.
F: 20     D: 10     SV: 2     Unique     Multi
V5

Another specific card that can help you fight from behind. A potentially F:0 D:10 multi high risk that's easily playable can really swing things in your favor. And if it's successfully, it's another card that gives you drawing options.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The Thunderclap
Mid-match Action
Your opponent cannot respond to this card.
Your Springboard cards cannot be reversed.
ACE:  Once during each of your turns, you may discard 1 card and then ignore the "Can only be played..." text on your Springboard or From the Top Rope cards; when he reverses this effect, he discards 1 random card.
F: 0     D: 0     Unique     Permanent
V3

Cannot be responded to cards are always welcome in high risk decks.

I personally have never packed Springboard in my near 20 years of playing this game. I feel like there are enough easy to play high risks that I don't need to play a strike as one. However, From the top Rope is still a good card that's worth packing.

New... Day Rocks!
Mid-match Action + Action
This card is -1F for each reversal in your opponent's Ring, and when this card would go to your Ringside, put it in your Backlash instead.
Draw 1 card, shuffle up to 3 cards from Ringside into your Arsenal, and he overturns 2 cards.
ACE: During your turn you may overturn 2 cards, and then put this card in your Backlash and end your turn.
F: 5     D: 0     Unique     Multi     RMS logo
VHS2

I really like this card in a high risk build. A unique multi action is relatively difficult to reverse, and then you can follow it up with a Technical Stomp or Technical Splash in the Corner.

As for the text of the card, another draw ability, and you get to recover 3. And how much fun would it be to pin your opponent by clapping your hands?

Let's look at his arsenal specifics:

Kofi's Double Chop
Strike + Strike
Cannot be packed when packing Corners.
This card is also considered a High Risk for your Ability.
After you use your Ability, you may put this card from your Ringside into your hand.
F: 0     D: 5     SV: 1     Unique     Multi
VHS2

This is a very good card that can bounce it's way back to your hand until it's successful. And you can essential play it twice per turn until it does stick. Amazing card.

Unicorn Stampede
Strike + Strike
When you are a Stable, this card requires 3 reversals to reverse instead of 2; when you are not, this card is -3F.
When you are Kofi Kingston, this card is also considered a High Risk for your Ability.
When you have lower fortitude, ignore 'completely' in reversals and reversal effects to this card.
F: 6     D: 8     Unique     Multi
VHS2

This card is very powerful. And, to go with a reoccurring theme, is made even better when playing from behind. Also, since you're Kofi, it's playable after using your SSA.

The Boom Drop
High Risk / Action
When you are Kofi Kingston, this card is Multi.
As a maneuver, can only be played after a successfully played 5D+ maneuver.
As an action, this card is F: 0, shuffle this card and up to 2 cards from your Ringside into your Arsenal and draw up to 1 card.
F: 15     D: 10     SV: 2     Unique
V3

I greatly prefer the action part of this card over the maneuver part. Sure, a multi high risk is nice, but a Multi action that lets you recover and draw, and then you can play it again later in the game for as many times as you want... well that's just better to me.

Trouble in Paradise
Trademark Finisher / Reversal: Strike
As a maneuver, when played after a successfully played High Risk, this card is Multi.
As a reversal, reverse any Strike; when you are Kofi Kingston, you may also reverse any Superstar-specific card.
F: 30      D: 20     SV: 3     Unique
V3

This is a great TMF. Likely being saved as a (VERY GOOD) reversal, it could also end games as a maneuver when played after a high risk. But being able to reverse and Superstar Specific card is incredible.

The Dreadlocked Dynamo
Reversal: Special
Reverse any maneuver and put up to 1 card from your Ringside into your hand.
When this card is in your Ring and your opponent reverses your Kofi Kingston-specific card, he chooses 1 card from hand and puts it on the bottom of his Arsenal; when you have lower Fortitude, the card is randomly chosen instead.
F: 0     D: 0     Unique

"Reverse any maneuver" are 3 of my favorite words in Raw Deal. This card is one of the best reversals in the game. F:0 makes it playable turn 1, allows you to pick up a card from ringside, and makes your opponent have to think twice about reversing your specifics. Alternatively, you could keep recycling this card and reverse on the overturn. Great card.

Xavier Woods Interferes
Reversal: Special
When played from hand, reverse any card, Promo: 3 and then put 3 cards from your Ringside on the bottom of your Arsenal.
F: 9     D: 1     Unique
VHS2

"Reverse any card" are another 3 favorite words of mine. This card is another great reversal, and it puts a card in your hand AND allows you to recover. It's a souped up Manager Interferes.

Air (Boom) Support
Action + Action
When you are Kofi Kingston, your opponent cannot respond to this card.
ACE:  When he reverses your High Risk maneuver from hand or Backlash, you may put this card into your Ringside and put up to 2 maneuvers from your Ringside into your hand.  When you are Kofi Kingston and he reverses this effect, choose 1 maneuver in his Ring and he puts it into his Ringside.
F: 0     D: 0     Unique     Multi     Permanent
V5

ANOTHER cannot be responded to card! I like this card, it fills your hand with maneuvers, OR it strips your opponent of fortitude. Win/Win.

The Jamaican Sensation
Action / Reversal: Special
As an action, this card is -4F and your opponent cannot respond to it.
As a reversal, when played from your hand, completely reverse any non-Unique non-maneuver card.
ACE:  Once during each of your turns, you may discard 1 card and then search your Arsenal for Springboard or From the Top Rope, reveal it, put it into your hand, and shuffle.  When he reverses this effect, he discards 2 cards.
F: 4     D: 0     Unique     Permanent
V3

This is getting RIDICUCLOUS. Another card your opponent cannot respond to. OR it completely reverses any non-maneuver! And the ACE of it isn't too shabby either. And it's permanent. This card has like 5 or 6 different effects that alone would be worth packing – together it becomes a great card.

The Power of Positivity
Action + Action / Reversal: Special
As an action, shuffle this card and up to 1 card from your Ringside into your Arsenal.
As a reversal, this card is -4F and when overturned, completely reverse any Cheater, Face, Fan Favorite, or Heel card.
F: 4     D: 0     Unique     Multi
VHS2

This is an interesting card. Able to help you recover key cards over and over, or (at F:0), reverse a bunch of cards on the overturn. I really like it.

PART TWO
Now let's look at a few non-specific cards that can be helpful for Kofi.

First, High-Flying Style is a must pack:

High-Flying Style
Pre-match Event
Can only be packed by X-Pac, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Lita, Tajiri, Hurricane, Rey Mysterio, MNM, X-treme Diva, Mexicools, Chavo Guerrero, Funaki, Kenny, Revolution Sabu, Owen Hart, The Blue Blazer, Latino Cheat, and Johnny Nitro.
Your Strike maneuvers with 'rana' in the title are now High Risk maneuvers instead, and your opponent's non-unique reversals to your High Risk maneuvers deal no damage.  Your From the Top Rope and From the Middle Turnbuckle cards cannot be reversed.
F: 0     D: 0     Unique     Permanent

And here's a card that every Kofi deck should have at least 1 of:

Stun the Crowd
Pre-match Event
When this card is in your Ring area, your cards with Stun Value are +1D and +1 Stun Value.
F: 0      D: 0

Considering all of Kofi's maneuvers have stun value, this card not on;y adds a damage to them, but the additional stun value means you'll be drawing at least 2 if your maneuver is reversed from arsenal (and not by the last card).

Speaking of stun:

You'll Really Be Stunned
Mid-match Action
Can only be played after a successfully played card with Stun Value.
When this card is in your Ring area, if you successfully play a card with Stun Value, your opponent overturns 3 cards and if he reverses a successfully played card with Stun Value, you may put this card into your Ringside pile and continue your turn.
¶ ¶ ¶ (Activated Card Effect Symbol)
Active
F: 1      D: 0

This card can add some serious milling to your gameplan, Having opponent overturn 3 cards each time you successfully play a maneuver can really add up.

And this card interacts well with Kofi's ability:

Blindside Elbow Drop
High Risk
Can only be played after a successfully played maneuver or a Superstar-specific card.
You may play this card from your Ringside pile.
When played from your Ringside pile, this card is +3D. Discard 2 cards.
SV: 1
F: 1 D: 5

You can use it as the discard portion of your ability, then play it from ringside. You'll be discarding more cards, but all that stun value you'll be drawing will offset that.

Another card that can help with your ability is:

Back Body Drop
Strike / Reversal: Special
As a maneuver, this card is -5F and can only be played after the card titled Irish Whip or Throw Into the Corner Turnbuckle.
As a reversal, reverse any card with the word "atomic," "bomb," or "driver" in the title and end your opponent's turn.
When this card is in your Ringside pile, during your turn you may put this card on the bottom of your Arsenal and then put 1 Set-up card from your Ringside pile into your hand.
Throwback
F: 10      D: 12

This can help you get those set ups into your hand.

PART THREE
Specific Build Types

First Idea: Chain

What's the one thing chain maneuvers lack? Stun Value. And Kofi gives all of his maneuvers +1 Stun. And even more if you add a Stun the Crowd or two. This can really help give you a big hand advantage over your opponent.

But what else about chain can help Kofi? How about making your opponent discard cards to reverse your chain maneuver, THEN using your superstar ability to play a high risk against your opponent's depleted hand. Sounds pretty good, right? You could even use this card:

Unbreakable Chain
Pre-match Event
When this card is in your Ring area, if your opponent reverses a Chain card, you may put this card into your Ringside pile, put up to 3 Chain cards from your Ringside pile on the bottom of your Arsenal, and continue your turn.
¶ ¶ ¶ (Activated Card Effect Symbol)
F: 0      D: 0

This way you can play a high risk even if they reverse from arsenal (and after you draw all of your precious stun).

Here's another card that can work well with your ability:

Leaping DDT
Grapple: Chain
When this card is in your Ringside pile, if you successfully play a maneuver, you may put this card on the bottom of your Arsenal.
SV: 1
F: 8 D: 10

Second Idea: Volley

What's the one thing that volley maneuvers don't lack? Stun Value. And Kofi loves him some stun.

Also, notice that Kofi's superstar ability doesn't specify HOW the maneuver needs to be unsuccessful, so he can even use it if opponent reversed via the volley trait.

And volley contains a few cards that interact well with the ringside pile:

Thrust Knee Lift
Strike + Strike: Volley: 8
Cannot be packed by Female Superstars.
When this card is in your Ringside pile, during your turn you may put this card on the bottom of your Arsenal and then randomly remove 2 cards in your opponent's Ringside pile from the game.
Cheater logo
Multi
SV: 1
F: 9 D: 8

Thrust Kick
Strike: Volley: 8
When this card is in your Ringside pile, if you successfully play a Volley maneuver, you may put this card into your hand.
Cheater Logo
SV: 2
F: 7      D: 8

And my favorite volley card for Kofi:

Cold-cocked
Strike: Volley: 6
If this card is not successfully played, put up to 2 other Volley cards from your Ringside pile into your hand.
"I haven't seen JBL this mad since the last time the market crashed." - Tazz
SV: 3
F: 10      D: 12

This card, when unsuccessful, allows Kofi to pick up 2 other volley maneuvers in his ringside, and then using his ability to continue his turn. And there are a few volley high risks he can pick up, such as:

Double Axe Handle
High Risk: Volley: 6
Can only be played after a successfully played 3D or greater maneuver.
"Folks, that Edge sure has pinpoint accuracy - ouch!" - Jim Ross
Throwback
SV: 2
F: 3      D: 8

Spinning Leg Drop
High Risk: Volley: 8
Can be packed by The Big Show.
When your Fortitude Rating is less than your opponent's Fortitude Rating, this card is -2F.
Can only be played after a successfully played 2D or greater maneuver.
SV: 1
F: 4      D: 9

Missile Dropkick
High Risk: Volley: 10 / Action
As a maneuver, can only be played after a successfully played 3D or greater maneuver or, if this is a Tag Team format match, when this is the first card played of your turn and you have just been "tagged" into the match.
As an action, this card is -15F and -15D, put this card on the bottom of your Arsenal and then put 1 Volley maneuver from your Ringside pile into your hand.
Throwback
SV: 2
F: 15      D: 15

Third Idea: Blindside

This one is pretty self explanatory. Being able to play maneuvers from your ringside works well with Kofi's ability. The cost for blindside maneuvers is often a bit high, but nothing impossible to overcome.

PART FOUR
In Conclusion:

I've never built a Kofi Kingston deck, but this article has intrigued me. I think the best way to build him would be a Chain/Volley combo deck. Both of those traits have pretty good benefits for him. And now that Kofi is currently champ, I'm sure the interest in building him will be going up.

Please comment anything I may have forgotten or overlooked, or if you've built Kofi before!

I hope you enjoyed this, and hopefully learned a few things.

I'm taking next week off due to my attending the Raw Deal North American Championship!

[Keith0913832]

Great write up as usual! The Chain idea was intriguing and would be interested to give it a shot

[rachelmon]

I actually went with No Escape and unique high risk maneuvers.
But chain sounds like a plan too

[Daeva]

Kofi's Double Chop can't grab itself off of Kofi using his Ability when Kofi's Double Chop is reversed. The timing isn't right; the Double Chop isn't in the Ringside yet when the text triggers. It's just like Cold-Cocked.

Therefore, throwing the Double Chop twice in the same turn via Kofi's Ability isn't going to happen.