Kindred
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Poor (4/10)
Rare Relics OK
Kindred occupies a niche position within the Shadow Isles roster, characterized by a control-oriented playstyle that many find cumbersome. The champion relies heavily on recursive summoning mechanics, which are frequently hindered by board space limitations and a relatively slow progression path compared to other region options.
Recursive Strike Loop
Increases the number of revives and enables a duplication loop. When Kindred is slain and revived, all summon-based relics trigger again.
Triggers upon summon and revival, allowing Kindred to strike and remove the weakest enemy immediately.
Ensures a steady supply of Kindred's champion spell, which is the primary tool for manually triggering the revival loop.
Strategy
The primary objective is to use Kindred's champion spell, Spirit Journey, on Kindred themselves while Guardian Angel is equipped. This creates a loop that clears the board through repeated Stalker's Blade strikes while generating multiple copies of the champion.
Epic Item Accumulation
Grants Epic items to three random cards in the deck every time Kindred is summoned or revived.- Enables the revival necessary to trigger Guardian's Orb multiple times per encounter.
- Provides necessary board control while the deck scales through accumulated Epic items.
Strategy
This build focuses on deck-wide scaling. By repeatedly killing and reviving Kindred, the player can saturate the deck with Epic items, eventually overpowering the enemy through high card quality rather than champion stats.
Other Relic Options
Useful in high-difficulty encounters to stun the strongest threat every time the revival loop is triggered.
Grants the entire board Overwhelm, which is essential for closing out games once the board is established.
Allows Kindred to consume Prey or other units to consolidate stats and keywords, mitigating board space issues.
The choice of the third relic is highly dependent on the encounter's speed. Everfrost is superior for defensive stalling, while The Beast Within is necessary for offensive finishers.
Constellation
Kindred's early constellation upgrades are considered low-impact. The reliance on the Prey mechanic at 1 and 3 stars is problematic, as these units often consume vital board space without providing significant offensive pressure.
Ashes to Ashes
Round Start: Summon a Prey. If you already have one, instead, grant your Prey "Last Breath: Deal 1 to the enemy Nexus".Review
The generation of Prey units is often viewed as a handicap rather than a benefit, as it limits the space available for champion copies and other synergies.
Circle of Death
+1 Starting Mana. Round Start: Create a Spirit Journey in hand. If you already have one, reduce its cost by 2.
Ashes to Ashes II
Round Start: Summon a Prey. If you already have one, instead, grant your Prey "Last Breath: Deal 2 to the enemy Nexus".Review
This upgrade provides a marginal increase in damage but fails to address the fundamental mechanical issues regarding board clog and slow game pacing.
Gameplay Tips
Master the Spirit Journey Loop
Kindred's effectiveness is tied to manual triggers of the 'on summon' keyword. Use your champion spell on Kindred to reset their state and trigger relics like Stalker's Blade or Guardian's Orb.
Manage Board Congestion
The Prey units generated by star powers can be detrimental in the late game. Actively look for ways to sacrifice or trade these units to ensure there is space for Kindred copies to spawn via Guardian Angel.
Leverage AI Targeting Patterns
The AI frequently misallocates removal spells toward Kindred. Use the revival mechanic to absorb high-value enemy spells, effectively depleting the opponent's resources while maintaining your board presence.
Prioritize Hard Removal in Drafts
Because the base deck lacks reliable hard removal for high-stat enemies, prioritize drafting spells that can obliterate or instantly slay targets to handle threats that the strike loop cannot clear.