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Arkham Horror is a massive series, and it's hard to know what to buy and if you need it. The investigator starter decks include single class investigators who come with a full deck and upgrades. They’re a perfect addition for those who only have one core set and want to add another player to the game. Here I am speaking about Nathaniel Cho!
What's In The Box
In the box you get a pamphlet which describes Cho’s backstory, explains the upgrade arc for his cards and details a deck breakdown. The box also includes 60 cards. These make up Cho’s base deck and include upgrades. This means players can grow Cho’s deck without dipping into any other Arkham game.
This pack does not contain any Arkham tokens which means you’ll need to own a copy of the core set to use this pack. As Cho is a sole class investigator, this pack only includes Guardian cards.
Stats And Style
If you’re someone who likes to fight, Nathaniel is a great investigator. His deck and stats are primed for combat. With 5 combat and 9 health he can give out and take a lot of damage. As a sole class, Cho does lack in the intellect, willpower and agility department. Finding clues with Cho is like pulling teeth. He works best when paired with another investigator. As a tank he can take a lot of the heat whilst other investigators sneak about gathering clues.
Fighting with Nathaniel Cho is unique as a lot of his combat cards are events. His special ability allows you to do 1 extra damage with event cards every phase. This can make him a powerhouse especially if you use the ‘One-Two Punch’ card which lets you attack an enemy twice! Cho can also attack outside of his turn, ‘Get over here!’ brings enemies to your location so you can attack them and rescue your fellow players. ‘Counterpunch’ lets you attack an enemy that attacks you. These cards can be chained with others to deal huge amounts of damage. The new weapon, boxing gloves, are a bit underwhelming. These gloves only work well with other cards in Cho’s deck. On their own they’re not as powerful as a gun. They also take up two hand slots which isn’t ideal.
Other cards in his deck such as dynamite blast, vicious blow and taunt are reprints. These can be found in other guardian decks but it's always good to have more of these. Taunt is a great reprint in this deck as its not in the core set so getting Cho is a cheap way to acquire it sooner. Sadly, some good cards are lacking from this deck. Mainly neutral cards which can be found in the core set, like bullet proof vests, unexpected courage and flashlights. This is a bit disappointing as when playing with three there aren’t enough of these to go around. Having another bulletproof vest would have been nice!
Cho adds a new dynamic to the game. With his pack you can add a third player to the game without buying two core sets. You can also relive the Arkam adventure with a new investigator which will change up the experience. As Cho is a pure fighter, playing a solo campaign would offer new challenges. Alternatively, you can use the new guardian cards, in this deck, to enhance another investigator. It would be interesting to see Roland Banks sporting boxing gloves.
Final Thoughts
Nathaniel Cho is a solid investigator who is well suited to beginners. As a sole class investigator, he’s not very versatile, but his guardian class mean he has high hit points and can do some serious damage to enemies. Cho is best paired with an intellect heavy investigator, as his clue finding skills are not the best
You’ll still need a core set to play, but this pack has all the cards you need for a full third player’s deck and then some for upgrades. Cho also has some interesting cards which you can use to enhance other guardian decks. Overall, a great addition to your game. If you are looking for a strong fighter, who is easy to play for beginners, this is the pack for you!
