Robots churn themselves off the factory line with frightening efficiency. - AEG
Captains of industry built the robots, and then the robots took over and made the process even more efficient! Now they can churn out more little, highly specialized bots than their enemies can handle. Oh, and a few massive ones as well....
- - Core Set rulebook
The Robots are one of the eight factions from the Core Set.
Robots specialize in playing multiple low powered minions in one turn.
Other factions from the same set: Aliens, Dinosaurs, Ninjas, Pirates, Tricksters, Wizards, Zombies.
Cards
The Robots have 18 minions and only 2 actions compared to the usual 10 and 10. The total minion base power (not counting any abilities) is 38 or an average of 2.11 per minion compared to the usual 30 and 3. A few minions (Microbot Fixer and Microbot Alpha) can boost the power of minions beyond its base value.
Minions
1x Nukebot - power 5 - Ongoing: After this minion is destroyed, destroy each other player's minions on this base.
2x Warbot - power 4 - Ongoing: This minion cannot be destroyed.
3x Hoverbot - power 3 - Reveal the top card of your deck. If it is a minion, you may play it as an extra minion. Otherwise, return it to the top of your deck.
4x Zapbot - power 2 - You may play an extra minion of power 2 or less.
2x Microbot Fixer - power 1 - If this is the first minion you played this turn, you may play an extra minion. Ongoing: Each of your Microbots gains +1 power.
2x Microbot Guard - power 1 - Destroy a minion on this base with power less than the number of minions you have here.
2x Microbot Reclaimer - power 1 - If this is the first minion you played this turn, you may play an extra minion. Shuffle any number of Microbots from your discard pile into your deck.
1x Microbot Alpha - power 1 - Ongoing: Gains +1 power for each of your other Microbots. All of your minions are considered Microbots.
1x Microbot Archive - power 1 - Ongoing: After one of your Microbots (including this one) is destroyed, draw a card.
Actions
2x Tech Center - Choose a base. Draw one card for each of your minions there.
Bases
Mechanics
Robots specialize in overwhelming bases with a large quantity of very weak minions. This makes up almost all of their strategy as they have 18 minions and only two actions (Microbots making up the deficit from the standard deck). Most of their minions either allow playing extra minions or buff based on other minions you've played.
Robots have a subclass of power 1 minions called Microbots which augment eachother into a much more potent threat. The Microbot Alpha minion can expand this qualification to all their minions in play, and thus expand all the buffs and benefits.
To counter mass destruction Robots have a couple minions who are invincible, punish opponents for destroying them, or reward themselves for being destroyed, as well as ways to get microbots back into their deck.
FAQ
Questions on Nukebot
Q: A player has two Polar Commandos on the same base as a Nukebot. If Nukebot is destroyed, are the two Polar Commando destroyed or one survives because it becomes indestructible when it's alone?
A: They are both destroyed. After Nukebot is destroyed, the resulting destructions happen at the same time, not one after another.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Questions on Warbot
Q: Can Warbot still be targeted for effects that say "Destroy a minion..." such as Powderkeg? If so, does the rest of the effect still occur?
A: Yes, Warbot can be targeted and won't be destroyed. In the case of Powderkeg, the rest of the ability still occur.
Rule 1: The card you target may be immune to the effects of the ability you are performing, but it is still a valid target.
Rule 2: Cards are resolved entirely.
Questions on Hoverbot
Q: With Hoverbot, I reveal a minion from the top of my deck. Do I have to play it immediately? Or because it's an extra, can I play it later on my turn?
A: TBD
Rule: TBD
Questions on Zapbot
Q: After I play a Zapbot, can I play a War Raptor as the extra minion? A Pinkie on the same base as one of my minions? Microbot Alpha while I have several minions in play already?
A: Yes to all. Before it is played, a minion's power is equal to its printed power, so a War Raptor, a Pinkie and Microbot Alpha are all power 2 or less while they're in your hand.
Rule: If it's not in play, a minion's power is equal to its printed power.
Q: Is Zapbot a Microbot?
A: Unless you have Microbot Alpha in play, a Zapbot isn't considered as a Microbot because it doesn't have "Microbot" in its name.
Rule: N/A
Questions on Microbot Fixer
Q: What is a Microbot?
A: By default, any minion with the word "Microbot" in its name. If Microbot Alpha is in play, any of your minions in play is considered as a Microbot.
Rule: N/A
Q: If a card allows me to do something to cards with the same name, can I choose the name "Microbot" and get Microbot Alpha, Microbot Fixer, Microbot Guard,...?
A: No. "Microbot" itself is not a card name.
Rule: N/A
Q: Does Microbot Fixer gain +1 power from its own ability?
A: Yes. Microbot Fixer is included in "each of your Microbots".
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: If I have two Microbot Fixers in play, do their abilities stack and give +2 power to my Microbots?
A: Yes. Their abilities stack. Each one gives +1 power to all your Microbots, including the other Microbot Fixer.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: If Microbot Alpha is in play, do all my minions get +1 power from Microbot Fixer? Even the ones without "Microbot" in their name?
A: Yes.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: If I manage to play a Microbot Fixer on an opponent's turn (e.g. Hidden Ninja), is it considered as the first minion I played this turn and so I get an extra minion to play?
A: Yes. If you haven't played any other minion before it on that player's turn (e.g. Shinobi, Wil Wheaton), then it is indeed the first minion you played this turn and so you do get an extra minion to play. Please note that if you obtain an extra minion that way, you must play it immediately or not at all.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Questions on Microbot Guard
Q: If I play Microbot Guard on a base where I'm the only one to have minions there, do I have to destroy one of my minions?
A: Yes. If there's at least one minion with power less than the number of your minions there, even if it's yours, you must destroy one of them.
Rule 1: If the ability doesn't say "you may", you must do it immediately.
Rule 2: "A minion" means "any minion in play".
Q: Is a Microbot Guard immune to its own destructive ability?
A: No.
Rule: "A minion" means "any minion in play".
Q: If I play a Microbot Guard on a base where I have no minion, does it destroy itself?
A: No. If you have no other minion there, that means the number of your minions there is 1. So, you have to destroy a minion with power (strictly) less than 1, which is 0. Unless another card reduces Microbot Guard's power to 0 (e.g. Sleep Spores, Hissy Fit), Microbot Guard cannot be targeted for destruction.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: Can I choose to destroy a minion that cannot be destroyed? (e.g. Warbot)
A: Yes. In that case, the destruction fails.
Rule: The card you target may be immune to the effects of the ability you are performing, but it is still a valid target.
Questions on Microbot Reclaimer
Q: If my Microbot Alpha is in play, can my Microbot Reclaimer shuffle any minions from my discard pile into my deck?
A: No. Microbot Alpha's ability refers to "all of your minions", which only applies to your minions in play.
Rule: "Your minion" means "any minion you control". (and a minion is only controlled if it's in play)
Q: I play a Zapbot, then a Microbot Reclaimer. Since Microbot Reclaimer isn't my first minion, I don't get an extra mimion, but can I still shuffle Microbots from my discard pile into my deck.
A: Yes. Microbot Reclaimer being the first minion you played is only a condition for getting an extra minion. Shuffling your discarded Microbots into your deck happens whether Microbot Reclaimer is the first one or not. Otherwise, it would have been worded "If this is the first minion you played this turn, you may play an extra minion and shuffle any number of Microbots from your discard pile into your deck.". Also, even if the first effect isn't applicable, you still do the rest of its ability.
Rule: Cards are resolved entirely.
Q: If I manage to play a Microbot Reclaimer on an opponent's turn (e.g. Hidden Ninja), is it considered as the first minion I played this turn and so I get an extra minion to play?
A: Yes. If you haven't played any other minion before it on that player's turn (e.g. Shinobi, Wil Wheaton), then it is indeed the first minion you played this turn and so you do get an extra minion to play. Please note that if you obtain an extra minion that way, you must play it immediately or not at all.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Questions on Microbot Alpha
Q: What does "All of your minions are considered Microbots" mean?
A: Usually, that is if Microbot Alpha isn't in play, only minions with the word "Microbot" in their names are considered as Microbots. So, Microbot Fixer is a Microbot, but Zapbot isn't. With Microbot Alpha in play, any of your minions in play are considered as Microbots, even if they don't have "Microbot" in their names.
Rule: N/A
Q: Is it only restricted to the Robot minions or does it work with my other faction or even an opponent's minion that I take control of?
A: It works with any minions you have control of, not just the Robot faction.
Rule: "Your minion" means "a minion that you control".
Q: If my Microbot Alpha is in play, can my Microbot Reclaimer shuffle any minions from my discard pile into my deck?
A: No. Microbot Alpha's ability refers to "all of your minions", which only applies to your minions in play.
Rule: "Your minion" means "any minion you control". (and a minion is only controlled if it's in play)
Q: Does it only get +1 power from all my Microbots on all the bases or just the its base?
A: Any Microbot on any base, not just its own base.
Rule: "A minion" means "any minion in play".
Q: One of my non-Microbot minions has Tooth and Claw... and Guns attached to it. I play Microbot Alpha, so Tooth and Claw... and Guns is destroyed and the minion isn't considered a Microbot, right?
A: Wrong. Tooth and Claw... and Guns only prevents the minion it's attached to from being affected. Being considered a Microbot isn't considered as being affected, so Tooth and Claw... and Guns doesn't trigger.
Rule: Definition of "affect".
Q: I have a War Raptor and a Microbot Alpha. Does Microbot Alpha's ability cancel War Raptor's?
A: No. Both abilities keep working just fine. War Raptor is still named "War Raptor", it's just also considered as a Microbot.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Questions on Microbot Archive
Q:
A:
Rule:
Questions on Tech Center
Q: After playing Tech Center, I have more than 10 cards in my hand, do I have to discard down to 10 now?
A: No. You only discard during phase 4 of your turn (after drawing two cards).
Rule: Check phase 4.
Trivia
- The artist is Bruno Balixa.