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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 Strategy Session is dedicated to Victoria!

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

Victoria
Starting Hand Size: 6     Superstar Value: 1
Diva Superstar Ability: Once during each of your turns you may shuffle your hand into your Arsenal and draw the same number of cards. Your cards titled Battling the Voices are -6F and cannot be reversed.
DO, SS3

A 6 hand is pretty good when coupled with a 1 SSV, this makes it easy to bump up into double digits with Underrated Superstar and a couple other good cards.

Also, Victoria is a Diva, so that gives her access to a bunch of good cards.

However, It's her Superstar Ability that I really like. Being able to shuffle your hand in and draw that many again can be an amazing option at all points in the game. Have a large hand? Great, lets see what else we can get. Have a small hand? Test your luck and try to get a better one. This ability is ALWAYS useful. And Battling the Voices is a pretty decent card. I'll include it in Part 2.

Managed by Stevie Richards
Pre-match Manager
The maximum number of Pre-match cards you may have in your Ring area is reduced by 1.
When this card is in your Ring area, you may put this card into your Ringside pile to reverse any non-unique maneuver and end your opponent's turn.
When this card is in your Ringside pile, during your turn you may discard 4 cards and then put this card into your Ring area. When the card titled Stevie Interferes is in your Ring area, discard 1 card instead.
F: 0     D: 0     Unique     Raw logo
DO, SS3

This is a very good card. I wish the reduced Pre-Match clause wasn't there, but her next cards helps that out. This card on it's own is similar to Managed by Jimmy Hart, being that it can reverse a non-unique maneuver by putting it into ringside. But the good thing about this card is that it can bring itself back. Discarding 4 is a pretty steep price, but it gets dropped down to only 1 card when Stevie Interferes is in your ring.

The Voices Are Getting Louder!
Pre-match Event
This card and Managed by Stevie Richards do not take up a Pre-match slot in your Ring.
Your Battling the Voices cards are Multi, and during your turn, ACE: you may remove 1 of those cards in your Ring from the game to put a Victoria-specific action from your Ringside into your hand.  When that card is Backed by Torrie and Candice, you may put that card into your Ring instead.
F: 0     D: 0     Unique     Permanent
V1

This card gives you a net +1 pre-match when your manager is in your ring. Battling the Voices becomes nearly impossible to reverse now, and you can ACE one of them to get one of your specific actions from ringside. This is a pretty good card.

I Ain't the Lady to Mess With
Mid-match Reversal: Action
Reverse any non-unique Action card and end your opponent's turn. Search your Arsenal for 1 Superstar-specific card, reveal it to him, put it into your hand, and shuffle your Arsenal.
F: 3     D: 0     Fan Favorite logo
GAB

Mid-Match reversals are always welcome, and this one is non-unique. However, Victoria being a female/diva superstar AND a Raw superstar means that she will not have any room to spare in her backlash deck.

Spider Web Moonsault
High Risk / Action
As a maneuver, can only be played after a successfully played card.
As an action, this card is -5D, put this card on the bottom of your Arsenal and then either draw 2 cards or put the card titled Managed by Stevie Richards from your Ringside pile into your Ring area and discard 1 card.
F: 0     D: 5

I really like this card. High Risks are already pretty difficult to reverse, and this one is playable on your first turn. But it's also a very good action, one that allows you to put Stevie back into your ring at a discount, or to draw 2 cards. Great way to start the game.

Victoria's Secret
Grapple
Can only be played after a successfully played maneuver.
Cannot be reversed from your opponent's Backlash deck.
When this card is in your Ringside pile, during your turn you may put this card on the bottom of your Arsenal.
F: 5     D: 10     SV: 1     Unique
ARM

This card has a generous F to D ratio, easily playable, and has a reversal restriction. It has all the makings of a good card. AND it can recover itself for free every turn. Everything about this card is good.

Widow's Peak
Trademark Finisher
Can only be played when you reversed a card to end your opponent's last turn and this is the first card played of your turn.
When this card is in your Ringside pile, once during each of your turns you may remove your Backlash deck from the game and then put this card into your hand.
F: 20     D: 20     SV: 2     Unique     Raw logo
DO, SS3

An easily playable TMF with F:20 and D:20 is very nice. And, like so many of her cards, it can recover itself – albeit at a very high cost. However, if you have all of your mid match slots filled, there's no downside to removing your backlash from the game.

Stevie Interferes
Reversal: Special: Run-in
Reverse any non-unique card and end your opponent's turn. When the card titled Managed by Stevie Richards is not in your Ring area, discard 1 card.
F: 15     D: 5     Unique     Raw logo
DO, SS3

This is probably Victoria's best card. A F:15 D:5 near omni reversal that ALSO makes her other best card EVEN BETTER. The sooner you can get this card into your ring the better.

Backed by Torrie & Candice
Action
Put 1 Unique card from your Ringside pile into your hand.
When this card is in your Ring area, once during each of your turns you may put 1 card from your hand under this card and then put 1 card from your Ringside pile on the bottom of your Arsenal. You may play the cards under this card as if they were in your hand. If this card is moved from your Ring area, put the cards under this card into your Ringside pile.
F: 0     D: 0     Cheater logo
GAB

This card is good, but you have to choose between this card and her Mid-Match card, which is a pretty tough choice.

As for the effects, putting a unique card into your hand is good, and being able to save cards in your hand is also good so they aren't lost to your superstar ability. It's a good card, but you may want the mid-match reversals instead.

This Is Not Enough
Action
Can only be played when you have fewer cards in your hand than your opponent.
Draw cards until you have the same number of cards in your hand as him.
Your next card played this turn is -#F, where # is equal to his Fortitude Rating.
F: 0     D: 0     Unique
VEN, SS3

In the right situation, this could be a great card. It can allow you to draw a bunch of cards and/or let you play a high F cost for cheap. But it's also possible that this card won't really do that much. No reason not to pack it – but don't count on it working every game.

All the Things She Said...
Action
Shuffle 1 card from your Ringside pile into your Arsenal, draw 1 card, put 1 card from your Ringside pile into your hand, remove 1 card in your opponent's Ringside pile from the game, and he discards 1 card.
F: 1     D: 0     Unique     Raw logo
DO, SS3

This card is fine, but not that great. It isn't a BAD card. It can fetch you a key card from ringside at an opportune time.

Yes, I've Lost My Mind
Action / Reversal: Special
As an action, reveal your hand to your opponent and discard all non-Maneuver cards. Your maneuvers can only be reversed from your opponent's Arsenal for the rest of the turn.
As a reversal, when overturned, reverse any non-Trademark-Finisher maneuver and end your opponent's turn.
F: 8     D: 0     Unique     Raw logo
DO
   ---OR---
Yes, I've Lost My Mind - Throwback
Action / Reversal: Special
As an action, your maneuvers can only be reversed from your opponent's Arsenal for the rest of the turn.
As a reversal, when overturned, reverse any non-Trademark-Finisher maneuver and end your opponent's turn.
F: 8     D: 0     Unique     Raw logo
SS3

Under the right circumstances, this card can be pretty powerful. I imagine that combining this card with Punch After Punch could be a great way to do some serious damage.

...Running Through My Head
Action + Action
Cannot be reversed when All the Things She Said... is in your Ring.
You may discard up to 3 cards from hand, put the same number of cards from your Ringside into your hand, and shuffle up to the same number of cards from your Ringside into your Arsenal; you may discard 1 additional card for each Backed by Torrie & Candice in your Ring.
F: 12     D: 0     Unique     Multi     Cheater
V7

My only complaint about this card is that it costs too much. It's only slightly better than Don't Hate The Playa, Hate the Game!, and it costs 5F more. Also, it's cheater, and I think I would rather pack her Mid-Match reversal.

PART TWO
Non-specific cards that can be helpful for Victoria:

First off:

Battling the Voices (S)
Action
Reveal the top 6 cards of your Arsenal, put 3 into your hand, and put the rest into your Ringside pile.
Throwback
F: 6      D: 0

Next, Victoria is a Female and a Diva, which gives her access (or benefits from) to a bunch of good cards, such as:

Hello, Ladies!
Pre-match Event: Run-in: Set-up
When you are a Female Superstar or Val Venis, the maximum number of Pre-match cards you may have in your Ring area is increased by 1.
When this card is in your Ring area, during your turn you may put this card into your Ringside pile and then put 2 cards from your Ringside pile on the bottom of your Arsenal for every card titled Hello, Ladies! in your Ringside pile. 
¶ ¶ ¶ (Activated Card Effect Symbol)
Raw logo
F: 0      D: 0

Skirt the Issue
Mid-match Reversal: Special
Can only be packed by a Diva Superstar.
Reverse any unique card and end your opponent's turn.
"I think she's got her own way of getting around that, in more than one way, in fact! Ha, ha!" - Jerry "The King" Lawler
F: 3      D: 0

The King Interferes!
Mid-match Reversal: Special: Run-in
Reverse any Foreign Object or any 10D or greater maneuver and end your opponent's turn.
When played by a Female Superstar, instead reverse any Foreign Object or any 6D or greater maneuver and end your opponent's turn.
Raw logo
Active
F: 10      D: 3

Modified Clutch Onto Opponent
Submission
Can only be packed by a Diva Superstar.
Can only be reversed by cards that specifically reverse the card titled Clutch onto Opponent.
When successfully played, draw 1 card or look at your opponent's hand.
You cannot play the card titled Maintain Hold or Apply Illegal Leverage immediately after this card.
F: 0      D: 2

Girly Grab
Submission
Can only be packed by a Female Superstar.
Can only be reversed by the card titled Elbow to the Face.
Your opponent cannot play the card titled Over Sell Maneuver immediately after you play this card.
When successfully played, you may draw 1 card.
F: 0      D: 2

Girly Punch
Strike
Can only be packed by a Female Superstar.
Can only be reversed by Reversal cards of printed D:0. Your opponent cannot play the card titled Over Sell Maneuver immediately after you play this card.
"Catfight!" - Jerry "The King" Lawler
F: 0      D: 2

Diva Lock
Submission
Can only be packed by a Female Superstar.
This card is +1D for every card in your Ring area that is a Heel card or a card with the word "female" or "Diva" in the text.
When this card is in your Ring area, during your turn you may put this card into your Ringside pile and then put 2 cards from your Ringside pile on the bottom of your Arsenal.
¶ ¶ ¶ (Activated Card Effect Symbol)
F: 4 D: 2

I've Got a Nice ... Bottom
Action
Can only be packed by a Diva Superstar.
When this card is in your Ring area, cards overturned for any reason are put onto this card instead of put into your Ringside pile. During your turn, you may remove this card from the game and put up to 10 cards on top of this card on the bottom of your Arsenal and put the rest into your Ringside pile.
When this card is moved from your Ring area, put all cards on top of this card into your Ringside pile.
   (Activated Card Effect Symbol) 
Active
F: 0      D: 0

Drastic Times - Drastic Measures
Action
Can only be packed by a Diva Superstar.
When this card is in your Ring area, if your Fortitude Rating is less than your opponent's Fortitude Rating, once during each of your turns you may remove 1 card in your Ring area from the game and then put 1 card from his Ring area into his Ringside pile.
¶ ¶ ¶ (Activated Card Effect Symbol)
Unique
F: 0      D: 0

Lip Lock
Action
When you are a Male Superstar, can only be played when your opponent is a Female Superstar.
When successfully played, search your opponent's Arsenal for 2 non-Superstar-specific non-Reversal cards, remove them from the game, and he shuffles his Arsenal.
Your next card played this turn is -6F and his Reversal cards to it are +9F.
F: 0 D: 0

Everyone Wants to Watch Women Wrestle
Action
Can only be packed by a Female Superstar.
When your opponent is a Male Superstar, search his Arsenal for 3 non-unique Maneuver cards, remove them from the game, and he shuffles his Arsenal.
When your opponent is a Female Superstar, this card is -1F, discard this card and your opponent discards 1 card.
Raw logo
F: 1      D: 0

Alternatively, Victoria could also pack these:

The Era of the Superstar
Backstage Card
Can only be packed by a Female Superstar. Cannot be packed by a GM. When packing this card, you are not a Diva and cannot pack cards as if you were a Diva.
You may ignore card effects from your opponent's non-Superstar-specific cards with 'female' or 'diva' in the text that would move cards from your hand, reveal your hand, or allow him to search your Arsenal.
When played as a Counter, your maneuvers without 'reversed' in the text are -2F.
Unique     RMS logo

Revolutionizing the Division
Action / Reversal: Special
Can only be packed when packing The Era of the Superstar.
As an action, choose 1 card in your opponent's Ring, that card is blank while this card is in your Ring.
As a reversal, when played from hand reverse any Unique card, or when he is a Diva, reverse any non-maneuver card.
He overturns 3 cards, and put up to 1 non-hybrid maneuver from your Ringside into your hand.
F: 8     D: 0     Unique

The Women's Evolution
Mid-match Reversal: Special
Can only be packed when packing The Era of the Superstar.
Reverse any Unique card or an Activated Card Effect from a Unique card; draw up to 1 card (2 cards when you have fewer cards in hand).
F: 6     D: 0     Unique

But perhaps the most important non-specific card Victoria should pack is this:

McMahonism
Pre-match Allegiance: McMahonism
The first time during each of your turns you would draw cards outside of your Draw Segment, look at that many cards on the top of your Arsenal first and you may put any of those cards on the bottom of your Arsenal.
When you are Vince McMahon, Shane O'Mac, The Genetic Jackhammer, or The McMahon Dynasty, you may use this effect during your Draw Segment instead.
F: 0     D: 0     Unique     Permanent     RMS logo

With this card, when Victoria uses her superstar ability, she can cycle through a lot of her arsenal and set up her ideal hand. Along with this card, she will want cards that allow her to draw – this way she can constantly cycle her hand.

PART THREE
Specific Build Types

First Idea: BASH

Being a female superstar, Victoria cannot pack Multi maneuvers, and early multi maneuvers are the bread and butter of BASH. However, Bash allows you to start with 3F, which makes her mid-match action reversal playable on the first turn. And Victoria can more than make up for a lack of multi maneuvers if she has a plethora of annoying reversal restriction maneuvers. A few that come to mind (other than the above mentioned female/diva moves) are:

Boot Lace
Strike / Action
Cannot be reversed from your opponent's hand.
As a maneuver, can only be played if you reversed a card from your hand or Arsenal to end your opponent's last turn and this is the first card played of your turn.
As an action, discard this card and draw 1 card. Doing this will cause no damage to your opponent.
F: 2      D: 4

German Suplex
Grapple
When this is the first card played of your turn and you reversed a card from your hand to end your opponent's last turn, this card can only be reversed from his Backlash deck or Arsenal.
Throwback
F: 4      D: 8

Atomic Lariat
Strike
Can only be reversed by hybrid or unique Reversal cards. 
(Restricted Modification Symbol)
"And another lariat! When will this stop?" - Jim Ross
F: 6      D: 6

Precision Haymaker
Strike
When played, name a number 5 or less. Your opponent draws that many cards. This card is -2F for each number named.
Cannot be reversed from your opponent's hand by non-hybrid cards.
¶ (Restricted Modification Symbol)
SV: 2
F: 18 D: 22

Along with the starting 3F, BASH also gives you access to a bunch of pretty good reversals you can play early in the game.

Second Idea: Chain

The whole idea of chain is to gain a hand advantage over your opponent. Victoria, more than a lot of superstars can benefit pretty greatly by this. Chain is arguable the most popular, and perhaps the most powerful mechanic in Raw Deal, why shouldn't Victoria take advantage of that?

Second Idea: Volley

I've said it in previous articles, but Volley maneuvers = high Stun Value. Stun Value gives you more cards in your hand when your maneuver is reversed from arsenal (except on the last card). Victoria loves having a nice large hand size to cycle through her arsenal with her ability.

Also, I've always felt that Volley is a pretty powerful mechanic. Combine Volley with a little hand destruction, and you can really control your opponent.

Third Idea: Dynamic

Dynamic got a nice big boost in virtual. Mainly due to this card:

Dynamically Inclined
Backstage Card
Cannot be packed by Doink.
Before starting hands are drawn, search your Arsenal and Ringside for 10 non-Trademark-Finisher maneuvers with "dynamic" in the title, put them under this card, and shuffle;  if you do not, hide this card.  At the end of the Pre-match Phase, choose 1 card under this card, put it into your hand, and shuffle the other cards into your Arsenal.
Your Pre-match Capacity is +1 for each The Luck of The Draw card in your Ring greater than 1.
Your non-Unique maneuvers with "dynamic" in the title are -3F and +2D.
When you have lower Fortitude, your opponent is considered to have double the number of reversals in his Ring for your effects with "dynamic" in the title or text.
Unique     RMS logo

This can give you a nice opening hand full of reversals, and a guaranteed starting maneuver in hand.

Also, these cards are pretty good as well:

Find Out How to Fight From Finlay
Pre-match Event
Your opponent cannot play Pre-match cards with the word "old" in the title that are Active or Unique.
Your Action cards with the word "dynamic" in the title are considered Multi cards.
When you play a maneuver with the word "dynamic" in the title, you may name Strike, Grapple, or Submission and the maneuver is instead considered to be that type for the rest of the turn.
Permanent
F: 0 D: 0

The Luck of the Draw
Pre-match Event: Heat
When this card is in your Ring area, once during each turn, you may discard 1 Heat maneuver or put 1 Dynamic maneuver from your hand on the bottom of your Arsenal and then draw 1 card and put 1 card from your Ringside pile on the bottom of your Arsenal.
You may put this card into your Ringside pile to completely reverse any card that allows your opponent to search his Arsenal and end his turn.
¶ ¶ ¶ (Activated Card Effect Symbol)
F: 0 D: 0

My Name is Matt Striker ... and I Am Your Teacher
Mid-match Action
Can only be played when there is a card with "dynamic" in the title in your Ringside pile.
When your opponent reverses a maneuver from his hand and he has 5 or more Reversal cards in his Ring area and you have a card with "dynamic" in the title in your Ringside pile, you may put this card into your Ring area.
When this card is in your Ring area, once during each of your turns you may reveal 1 card in your hand with the word "dynamic" in the title and then search your Arsenal for 1 card with the word "dynamic" in the title, reveal it to your opponent, put it into your hand, and shuffle your Arsenal.
¶ ¶ ¶ (Activated Card Effect Symbol)
F: 0 D: 3

Fourth Idea: Back to Basics

Back to Basics is another card that got a tremendous boost in virtual Raw Deal. And Victoria can also still play McMahonism while having a B2B deck,

However, you lose the ability to play Managed by Stevie Richards during the pre-match phase. BUT if you can figure out a way to put it into your ringside during the game, you can also use it's text to return it to the ring area.

PART FOUR
In Conclusion:

Victoria is someone who can built pretty much any way and always be at least decent. I don't think she is an elite superstar, but she has pretty good card support, both with her her own specifics AND Female/Diva support, and her ability allows her to fish for whatever key card she needs that turn.

I also feel like she would be a great superstar to give to a beginner to teach them the game.

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

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

Check back next week when I cover The Dangerous Alliance!

[Scotty]

I love Blindside Tornado Strike in her to clear up mid-match space from Skirts/Lady to Mess With. She's got a redwall Backlash deck, which opens up some opportunities for more unique offense with either moves or actions in my opinion.

[Drywall]

She can't pack Punch after Punch but other than that, excellent write-up sir!

[Hogtrail]

She can't pack Punch after Punch but other than that, excellent write-up sir!

Indeed. Thank you!

[DebuRaito]

Wouldn't really pack her fan fav mid match since I can't rmb the last non-unique action played against me. (Other than Mania and some superstar specific non unique action)

But if you're going BASH, Scotty worm would probably cover more than enough

[necrobaron75]

San Diego to get Managed by Stevie in ringside?