TheOfficialTourney 2025 – Round 3, Game 1 (Polus)#
After a solid showing in Round 2, I entered Round 3 Game 1 looking to keep the momentum going.
The map was Polus, with blizzards, fog of war, unstable portals, and progressive cards. Survival would depend on smart positioning, careful stack management, and reading the map through limited visibility.
I had a weak start, failing to secure any bonuses in the very early game. Instead of panicking or overcommitting, I did the smart thing: I waited, kept my armies strong, and didn't worry about the lack of bonus. I realized that splitting my armies into multiple stacks would help prevent being killed early on, especially with fog hiding my true strength from opponents. This approach worked perfectly—other players couldn't be sure how strong or weak I was, and I avoided becoming an easy target.
I didn’t go for early bonuses—instead, I spread out, built multiple stacks, and waited. Eliminating a bot after safeguarding the kill by blocking others to its last territory gave me a foothold with 5 extra cards. That patience paid off and I held on for a strong 2nd place finish, with one bounty secured for extra points.
🎥 Watch the Full Match#
Tournament Results Table#
| Game | Map | Placement | Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | Polus | 2nd Place (with bounty) | Watch Here |
Match Settings#
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Map | Polus |
| Game Type | World Domination |
| Card Bonus | Progressive |
| Portals | Unstable |
| Blizzards | On |
| Fog of War | On |
| Alliances | Off |
| Turn Timer | 60 sec (Normal) |
| Dice | Balanced Blitz |
| AI Difficulty | Expert |
| Bots | None |
Game Breakdown & Highlights#
Opening Strategy#
I started the game without any early bonuses, which could have been a disaster. Instead of chasing risky objectives, I focused on splitting my armies into several stacks across the map. With fog of war and unstable portals, early information is scarce, and this approach gave me maximum flexibility and made it much harder for opponents to line up an early kill. By not revealing my true strength, I avoided becoming a target and kept my options open for both defense and offense.
Mid-Game: Patience and Positioning#
Rather than forcing early eliminations or overextending, I waited for the right moment. When the opportunity arose, I protected Yellow (a bot) from being eliminated by another player, blocking access to its last territory. This let me secure the bounty myself, cashing in 5 cards and gaining a crucial advantage.
"Now I'm protecting yellow. That's kind of my goal right now is to hold on to yellow for a potential kill... And there we got the kill. So that was perfect."
Endgame: Holding On for 2nd#
With the bot eliminated and a bounty in hand, I played conservatively in the tense 3-player endgame. Despite not having the strongest position, I managed to outlast the field and secure 2nd place—a strong result for tournament points.
🔥 Key Highlights#
- ✔️ Survived a weak start by not chasing early bonuses
- ✔️ Split armies into multiple stacks to avoid early elimination under fog
- ✔️ Spread out early for maximum visibility and flexibility
- ✔️ Avoided premature engagements in the early game
- ✔️ Eliminated Yellow (bot) and protected the bounty
- ✔️ Held strong in a tense 3-player endgame
- ✔️ Finished 2nd with a bounty – excellent tournament points
Final Thoughts#
I played a strong game despite a weak start. The highlight was protecting a bot player from being killed by another player, and taking the kill for myself. Sometimes, patience and positioning are more important than early aggression—especially on a map like Polus with so much hidden information. Splitting armies and not worrying about bonuses early can be the difference between an early exit and a top finish.
Would you have gone for early control, or played the long game? Let me know in the comments!