BATTLES WITH BUST Episode #694: In this exciting episode, BUST takes on a challenging run in The Bazaar, experimenting with a unique Card Table build while navigating the highs and lows of Vanessa’s item pools. Get ready for a detailed breakdown of strategies, item synergies, and critical gameplay choices that define high-level play!
Introduction: The Search for a Powerful Build with Card Table
The Bazaar’s ever-changing meta demands strategy, flexibility, and sometimes a willingness to pivot from your original plan. In BATTLES WITH BUST #694, BUST dives in with Vanessa as the chosen hero, looking to close out Season 1 with style. While Vanessa is famed for explosive poison and burn weapon builds, this run spotlights a different path: leveraging the Card Table as a potential build-defining item.
Early Game: Navigating Vanessa’s Item Pool
Like many Vanessa runs, the adventure began by prioritizing gold-tier skills, aiming to find an early advantage. The options at the start were less than ideal, but this challenge set the tone for a run filled with on-the-fly adjustments. Right Eye was picked up as a suitable crit item, bringing hope for a powerful single weapon strategy.
The item shop on day one offered limited upgrades—a weak selection but a necessary roll of the dice for something playable. Trebushechet entered the board, and with it came the usual high stakes: does the next Mandela roll turn it into the key Crow’s Nest, the safe but boring Cove, or something entirely off-plan? Unfortunately, the run would soon confront the randomness of Mandela, the ever-present gamble for Vanessa builds.
Midgame: Chasing Synergy and Suffering Setbacks
BUST continued searching for build direction, grabbing items like Dense Big Bite for early sustain, arms dealer for maximum health, and key aquatic weapons to open potential synergies. Multiple Mandela rolls kept things spicy—some paying off, others resulting in underwhelming bricks like Water Wheel and Port.
After a string of awkward encounters, the item pool started shaping an aquatic theme. Volcanic Vents, Life Preserver, and eventually the coveted Puffer Fish made their appearance. Yet, as BUST wisely notes, without items like shot glasses or Crow’s Nest, aquatic/poison builds can struggle with scaling—often topping out at a strong but unspectacular midgame performance where wins (and leaderboard rank) are not guaranteed.
Deep Dive: Testing the Card Table Build
As the run progressed, BUST’s board began to resemble a classic aquatic/poison combo: Dive Weights, Jellyfish, Puffer Fish, and supporting items like Battery and Catfish. With only a handful of games left and the promise of “seven wins or bust,” BUST took the bold step to integrate Card Table into the lineup—a gamble that could send a weak board over the top with multicasts on Puffer Fish.
Strategic choices followed: removing Catfish and Pearl to maximize the chances that Card Table would supercharge Puffer Fish (while keeping enough haste activators together). The high risk, high reward nature of multicasting was fully on display—sometimes, the perfect proc, sometimes just a whiff. But for viewers looking to learn, this section is packed with valuable tips for maximizing value from multicasting items.
Critical Observations on Card Table in The Bazaar
BUST’s assessment of Card Table is clear: it’s a real item with potential, particularly in builds focused on a single powerful aquatic weapon, like with Shark Ray and Crow’s Nest. The multicasting power is amplified when you slim down your board and key into your best items, allowing explosive rounds—or heartbreak, if luck fails. It’s not quite high-tier in every game, but with the right setup, it can be a game-changer.
Takeaways: Lessons from a High-Level The Bazaar Run
- Flexibility Wins: Even with bad shops and risky Mandela rolls, adapting to the items you get is key. Tunnel visioning on a single build path can lead to disaster.
- Item Synergy is Everything: Core combos like Dive Weights + Jellyfish + Puffer Fish will always be solid, but you need upscaling (Crow’s Nest, shot glasses) to truly dominate.
- Card Table is Real: In the right context, Card Table can take a mediocre board and push it into contention. Best used when you can trim down to a single multicasting focus.
- Mandela is a Double-Edged Sword: Use Mandela for transforming items only when you have backup plans—its randomness can set your run back without proper support.
Conclusion: Wrapping Up BATTLES WITH BUST #694
This run may not have reached the 10-win dream, but it showcased valuable lessons in pivoting strategies, maximizing item synergies, and knowing when to risk it all on a card table. In BUST’s hands, even a challenging board offers opportunities for clever plays and deep learning for The Bazaar’s player base. Whether you’re grinding for Legend or just looking to improve, these insights from BATTLES WITH BUST will help you make the most of your next Vanessa adventure.
Enjoyed this breakdown? Be sure to check out the full video above and catch more BATTLES WITH BUST for expert The Bazaar strategy!