SantoriniPowerBia

Introduction

For most beginners, this power cannot be better. She can kill workers independently of the difference of levels? That is just OP. So they think if they play against Bia, they will probably lose. And they did. But after some time they learn not to make stupid mistakes, for example allowing double attacks. They start to realise Bia is not that strong, since although she can kill at any level, it is dodgeable. But the truth is, in fact, Bia is one of the weakest gods of the game, which is shocking to beginners! If Bia is playing against a very experienced player, she will have a hard time making use of her ability and Bia will seem powerless.

God Power (Revised)

Place your Workers first. Your workers must be placed in perimeter spaces. During moving, if your worker moves into a space and the next space in the same direction is occupied by an opponent worker, the opponent's Worker is removed from the game.

Category

Others

Explaination

Bia always starts the game. She has to place her workers in the perimeter (16 possible squares for 2 workers), since otherwise she could get a serious advantage in the early stage of the game. Her power happens during moving, and her killing happens regardless of level. Therefore, she will be forced further if she kills one of Harpies’ workers. If Bia is able to kill all of the opponent’s workers, usually she wins (except against Eris, where the game continues but there’s really not much hope for Eris).

Game Strategies

Early Game

This is the stage of the game in which Bia is the most powerful. The board is almost empty and so Bia can create a lot of threats (the more domes there are, the weaker Bia becomes). Furthermore, Bia has a lot of initiative with only she being able to move to certain squares (when I say that only she is able to move there, I mean that if the opponent moves there, he gets killed).

As Bia, you should start the game with the following configuration (or something equivalent):

Notice that I’m putting the workers on D5 and C1 and not C5 and C1, because this doesn’t allow tricks in the first move. The best way to avoid being killed against Bia, is to stay close to her workers, which is why most of the time her opponent will place each worker next to Bia.

For example, if the opponent starts with C2 and C4, this is already a blunder!! (of course here I’m considering that the opponent is a Mortal) She can move to e4, attacking both workers. Then the opponent can only move the c4 worker to d3 to defend both of them. Then if she moves to b1, the board will be like this:

Now no matter where the opponent moves, he will lose one worker! Instead, it would have been better to place the workers in C2 and D4. You could see a sequence of forced moves by the opponent, because Bia was attacking both workers. We can call this a double attack, which is a very important concept in a matchup including Bia. If you are playing with Bia, you should try to look for these opportunities. If you are against Bia, you should try to stay away from those poisonous squares.

Considering an empty board (but can be transfered to later situations), the following placement of workers allow double attacks by Bia:

• A1&E1, A2&E2, …, A5&E5: place Bia on column C (accordingly) and one worker will die.
• A1&E5, A1&E3 (or equivalent): this case is similar to the previous, just move Bia to column C so that it attacks both workers.
• A1&C3 (or equivalent): place Bia in A3 or C1, and there is no way for the opponent to save both workers.

Thus, if you play against Bia, you should at all cost avoid having the workers on the mentioned squares. One safe configuration to remember is the "Knight Jump": if your workers are standing a knight (chess piece) move away, then Bia cannot land a double attack.

The other thing you have to keep in mind when playing against Bia, is that you shouldn’t move to a space where Bia can kill you in the next move (unless this is a must or for better positions)! Why am I stating the obvious? This might seem obvious now, but when you play against her, and if you are not paying close attention, this can happen to you.

By now you must be thinking, how can you say that Bia is weak? Don’t forget that these analysis are done considering Bia is facing a Mortal. In a real game, the opponent will have a power and this will not be as easy as it seems, although most mentioned strategies apply.

Mid Game

At this stage of the game, Bia is not as strong as she was initially, but she still has some initiative and can prevent the opponent from moving to certain squares by carefully moving her workers to the correct squares. With Bia, you have to be careful because now a double attack might not be enough: you can try to set up a double attack but your opponent might be just able to win with one worker (Charon is a good example).

In this phase of the game, a new strategy arises for Bia, which is a new type of double attack. This time, Bia can threaten to kill a worker and to win in a level 3 in the same move. This is even more powerful than the previously mentioned doubled attack as in this one, the opponent is forced to dome the level 3 or he will lose. Consider the following position:

In this case, Bia can move to a1 and build on b1, threatening to win and attacks A3, although this attack is not what is important. What is important is that the squares in which the opponent can block the tower are attacked by Bia’s C4 worker. So if the opponent goes to A2 or C2 (and domes B1), that worker will be killed in the next turn by the C4 worker. However, although the opponent lost a worker, he got some activity in the right lower corner of the board, so not all hope should be lost.

Late Game

In this phase of the game, Bia’s ability is much weaker than it was. If there are domes (especially in the center), it is hard for Bia to make use of her ability. Furthermore, the irregularity of heights is another factor that affects Bia on the negative. I hardly doubt that you would get anything good out of a double attack here, since there should be a lot of ways for your opponent to counter it, e.g. creating a level 3 threat, sacrificing a worker for a winning attack.

Specific Matchups

Circe

This is not like the other matchups. It is probably better if Bia doesn’t start with her workers far away, otherwise she might be willing to lose a worker and the game at an early stage. Bia has to keep her workers close the whole game, and this affects Bia’s range. Circe is easier and better to play in this matchup.

Chronus

Chronus is the worst power of the game, but he is able to win against Bia. He just has to be careful and avoid being killed.

Domers (e.g. Asteria, Atlas, Selene)

The more domes there are, the less ineffective Bia is. This means that these gods perform well against Bia, although with Selene you have to be extra careful not to lose your female worker.

Eros

Eros’s ability is based on the fact of having 2 workers. If Eros loses one of his workers, he is useless. However, both Eros and Bia start in the perimeter. Therefore, Eros needs to be very careful and try to win using his condition, just “ignore” Bia, but avoiding double attacks. If Eros is able to get his workers close, it will be hard for Bia to defend.

Gaea

Is having more workers really an advantage against Bia? Gaea can place at most 2 more workers, but Gaea doesn’t get any extra worker for the ones Bia killed, so you have to place your workers very carefully.

Graeae & Proteus

These gods have three workers because they would be too weak with just two workers. What does this mean? It means that if Bia kills just one worker, this is pretty much game over. In this case, you have to be careful against double and triple attacks! This might seem too much to handle, but a careful play on Graeae and Proteus’ side could prove these matchups to be balanced, or even worse for Bia.

Harpies

It might be hard for Harpies to detect double attacks. However, even if Bia is able to eliminate one of Harpies’ workers, Harpies should still be able to win!

Hippolyta

Bia can only move diagonally, meaning that she can only kill diagonally. If this wasn’t bad enough, Bia places her workers first (and in the perimeter) and Hippolyta can take advantage of this fact. I do not recommend this matchup.

Hydra

This god makes Bia’s killings feel like they were for nothing, and this is in fact true. Hydra is much better in this matchup.

Medusa

This is a matchup between killers and it is likely that someone might offer it. The game between Medusa and Bia is balanced, although Medusa should still have a slight edge.

Maenads

The game between Bia and Maenads is probably better for Bia. If you keep your workers separated, you can still create threats and it is hard for Maenads to have counter play. Furthermore, if Maenads loses one worker, the game is over.

Powers which are weak with only one worker (e.g. Ares, Castor & Pollux, Poseidon, Terpsichore)

The mentioned gods can only afford to lose a worker if they are sure they will win. However, Castor & Pollux, Poseidon, Terpsichore should have no problems defeating Bia. As for Selene and Eros, they were already mentioned and should do fine if played carefully. Ares can be tricky since removing blocks is not exactly what you want to do against Bia, but you can’t ignore the fact that it will be hard for Bia to create level 3 threats.

Conclusion

The takeaway from this section about Bia is essentially the concept of double attacks. You just have to pay attention and take your time. Most gods will perform very well against Bia, and Bia would even be weaker, if she wasn’t so unpredictable and tricky.

Tier ranking: C

This God is most feared by an inexperienced player whereas an experienced player will most likely not choose Bia (although it is much more relaxing to play with Bia). A matchup with Bia is one that requires great attention, but if you avoid double attacks and try to “dome” squares as much as possible, you should be fine. It is also fun to sacrifice a worker and win with just one worker.