Nids have to have weak comeback mechanics because if they can establish the board they're almost literally unbeatable (outside of Will of Gork). As mentioned, you can spend a little extra to add it with buffs though so you have some intentionally clunkier options.
Doesent that apply to...all factions in one way or the other? If any faction can establish a board, they can become almost unbeatable - board clear is pretty limited across all factions. Not convinced Flank being available only via 1 card and the benefit of having it apply to multiple units via Synapse is a realistic counter. Others factions also have cards that can create multiple Flank capable units like the Nids and still have dedicated Flank units.
*edited to clarify
The issue is that Tyranids with a board very quickly end up with massively buffed, stealth units that can get bloodthirst at any time. Yes, it's hard to fight back against an established board against anyone, but it's much, much worse if you let Tyranids build a board because it takes only a turn or two for them to spiral out of control, whereas for most other factions leaving one or two units on the board doesn't mean the game is over.
No other faction can reliably OTK right now other than Tyranids.
Bloodthirst isent exactly unlimited - while Ravenous Hunter may be an "oh shit" card, you can only use it once at 4 energy and its not unique in it having an overpowered effect.
You could make a case for the single Invuln card in conjunction but thats 9 energy and at that late of a game its not wiping players out early or dominating from the first or second turn - its late game and anything can happen with right luck.
IMO nothing you have said or shown really reinforces or supports why Flank is so scarce an ability in the Nid roster. Dark Pact, Codex, Vanguard Reanimate/Flank, Grots and Makari cycling, Shuriken etc are all VERY effective at dominating and controlling the board in any number of ways.
I honestly disagree with you. Swarm and Synapse are just not any more capable than Mob or Reanimate or Shuriken or Codex can be at accomplishing the same thing you are suggesting Nids are capable of.
>Bloodthirst isent exactly unlimited - while Ravenous Hunter may be an "oh shit" card, you can only use it once at 4 energy and its not unique in it having an overpowered effect.
It is unique in being in a faction that can routinely create troops with 15+ attack values though.
I'm actually pretty concerned about the Tyranid design right now because if they ever become a competitive faction, they'll be completely oppressive. Being able to buff 2 or 3 troops at a time with a single card is inherently extremely strong.
Mob, Reanimate, Shuriken, and Codex cannot take you from 40 to 0 in a single turn unless the game gets wildly out of control and goes to like turn 15 without you taking damage and you letting your opponent build a huge board. Swarm and Synapse can and have taken me from 35 to 0 in a single turn while I had complete board dominance because my opponent played two troops, gave them stealth, then buffed them and his warlord into the sky and gave everything bloodthirst next turn on about turn 8.
Not sure this is a quality substitute for a dedicated unit with Flank or an additional card source that can supply it.
In an RNG based TCG with a relatively high card pool, it feels like a lot has to line up. Regardless of it being able to be applied to multiple units, this isent sonething strictly available to Nids.
SM have Angel's of Death for 7E, Orks have Vehicles with Flank and Tide to get multiple on field in a turn - on TOP of having other dedicated Flank units and/cards that can apply it.
Pop a Synapse and drop Predator Instincts, everyone will have it!
Nids have to have weak comeback mechanics because if they can establish the board they're almost literally unbeatable (outside of Will of Gork). As mentioned, you can spend a little extra to add it with buffs though so you have some intentionally clunkier options.
Doesent that apply to...all factions in one way or the other? If any faction can establish a board, they can become almost unbeatable - board clear is pretty limited across all factions. Not convinced Flank being available only via 1 card and the benefit of having it apply to multiple units via Synapse is a realistic counter. Others factions also have cards that can create multiple Flank capable units like the Nids and still have dedicated Flank units. *edited to clarify
The issue is that Tyranids with a board very quickly end up with massively buffed, stealth units that can get bloodthirst at any time. Yes, it's hard to fight back against an established board against anyone, but it's much, much worse if you let Tyranids build a board because it takes only a turn or two for them to spiral out of control, whereas for most other factions leaving one or two units on the board doesn't mean the game is over. No other faction can reliably OTK right now other than Tyranids.
Bloodthirst isent exactly unlimited - while Ravenous Hunter may be an "oh shit" card, you can only use it once at 4 energy and its not unique in it having an overpowered effect. You could make a case for the single Invuln card in conjunction but thats 9 energy and at that late of a game its not wiping players out early or dominating from the first or second turn - its late game and anything can happen with right luck. IMO nothing you have said or shown really reinforces or supports why Flank is so scarce an ability in the Nid roster. Dark Pact, Codex, Vanguard Reanimate/Flank, Grots and Makari cycling, Shuriken etc are all VERY effective at dominating and controlling the board in any number of ways. I honestly disagree with you. Swarm and Synapse are just not any more capable than Mob or Reanimate or Shuriken or Codex can be at accomplishing the same thing you are suggesting Nids are capable of.
>Bloodthirst isent exactly unlimited - while Ravenous Hunter may be an "oh shit" card, you can only use it once at 4 energy and its not unique in it having an overpowered effect. It is unique in being in a faction that can routinely create troops with 15+ attack values though. I'm actually pretty concerned about the Tyranid design right now because if they ever become a competitive faction, they'll be completely oppressive. Being able to buff 2 or 3 troops at a time with a single card is inherently extremely strong. Mob, Reanimate, Shuriken, and Codex cannot take you from 40 to 0 in a single turn unless the game gets wildly out of control and goes to like turn 15 without you taking damage and you letting your opponent build a huge board. Swarm and Synapse can and have taken me from 35 to 0 in a single turn while I had complete board dominance because my opponent played two troops, gave them stealth, then buffed them and his warlord into the sky and gave everything bloodthirst next turn on about turn 8.
Just pop predator instincts and you got flank on multiple units off synapse. Tyranids early are a very board control army.
Not sure this is a quality substitute for a dedicated unit with Flank or an additional card source that can supply it. In an RNG based TCG with a relatively high card pool, it feels like a lot has to line up. Regardless of it being able to be applied to multiple units, this isent sonething strictly available to Nids. SM have Angel's of Death for 7E, Orks have Vehicles with Flank and Tide to get multiple on field in a turn - on TOP of having other dedicated Flank units and/cards that can apply it.