Creation of Poseidon

Creating the First Deck

Hello everyone! I hope the previous log list has been helpful in guiding you toward creating your first game. In this entry, I’ll continue sharing my thoughts and methods for developing the mechanics and theme of my first deck—Poseidon.

Some may wonder why Poseidon was chosen as the first deck instead of Zeus. The decision was primarily based on personal preference and a clearer vision for Poseidon’s mechanics and abilities.

Inspiration from Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, Poseidon ruled over the sea and all its creatures, making it easier to envision his power and influence in an oceanic setting. Initially, the core concept for the Poseidon deck centered on his ability to command sea creatures, using them as the deck’s primary strength. While the mechanics were simple and easy to understand, the gameplay felt too straightforward, turning into a repetitive hack-and-slash approach, which lacked depth.

Trident

Target player takes 3 damage.

The symbol of the Sea within the Greeks, where one swing will create monstrous waves and damages.

To refine the deck, further research was needed. However, detailed ancient myths about Poseidon were limited — most available sources referenced modern interpretations like Percy Jackson.

Still, some well-known legends provided valuable inspiration. For instance, Poseidon’s iconic weapon, the Trident, became a key element, incorporated as the deck’s most powerful attack ability.

Water-Based Abilities

Poseidon was also worshiped by sailors and fishermen for safe travels and bountiful harvests. This inspired several additional card abilities, such as Calm Sea, Crushing Waves, Tsunami, and Torrent, each representing different aspects of water control.

Originally, these abilities focused on discarding and restricting an opponent’s hand, but this mechanic didn’t align well with the game’s battle dynamics, so it was scrapped. Over time, the abilities evolved to align more closely with their mythological inspirations.

Calm Sea

REACTION

All damage taken is nullified till the end of current player’s turn. Target player regains 2 health

For example, the Calm Sea card was initially designed to force a player to discard two cards and skip their action, but they would receive healing during this phase. However, this mechanic proved ineffective when used on Poseidon himself. Additionally, the deck lacked reaction cards, leading to a revision of this ability for better balance.

The Power of Sea Beasts

Beyond Poseidon’s abilities, certain legendary sea creatures played an essential role in the deck’s theme. The Kraken, often depicted as Poseidon's pet and the guardian of deep-sea caverns, became a crucial component. Known for its massive tentacles that rival the height of buildings, the Kraken was integrated into the deck’s strongest abilities.

Poseidon’s gameplay revolves around utilizing the Kraken for both offense and defense, inspiring the creation of the Kraken Token mechanic. This token allows the player to block an attack from an opponent unless the attacking card specifically states it destroys all tokens. Furthermore, when paired with Lord of the Deep (Linker) and Giant Squid (Link), the Kraken can unleash devastating damage. The Wrath Card Release the Kraken further enhances this strategy, making it one of the deck’s most powerful plays.

The Drawback of Poseidon

Despite its formidable offensive and defensive capabilities, the Poseidon deck has a major weakness—it lacks sufficient healing abilities. As battles progress, players will notice that sustaining Poseidon’s health becomes a challenge in the Pantheon War. This makes timing and strategic card usage critical to his survival.

Conclusion

No deck or strategy is perfect in war, just as no god is invincible. While Poseidon’s limited healing potential could be a weakness, a skilled player who understands his abilities and plays strategically can turn him into one of the strongest among the four gods in the game.