[Revolution] Randy Orton
Revolution format
by Ryan “The GOAT” O’Donnell

BACKLASH (12)

Pre-match (6)

A New Plan x1
I Am the Legend Killer x1
Ring Psychology: Head x1
Ring Psychology: Neck x1
<WWE logo> Heavyweight Title Belt x1
<WWE logo> Intercontinental Title Belt x1

Strategy Notes:

You will probably want to play I Am the Legend Killer every game, as it gives you perhaps the best Ability available in the Revolution format. To keep your hand up, you will probably also want to play the <WWE logo> Intercontinental Title Belt. Based upon who you are facing, you should choose between your two Ring Psychology cards. You will have to make a judgment call on whether you feel your opponent is more likely to play Throws or Assaults against you. With certain superstars (Batista, Sabu, Rey Mysterio), the decision will be easy. With other superstars, you will have to figure out which maneuver type he is more likely to play. If you are stuck and cannot decide, I would default to Ring Psychology: Neck as it will help you maintain your hand. The <WWE logo> Heavyweight Title Belt is there in case your opponent plays the <WWE logo> Intercontinental Title Belt before you do. If you get hit by the <WWE logo> United States Title Belt, play both Ring Psychology cards instead of one of the two title belts. A New Plan is there in case your starting hand is unmanageably awful.

Mid-match (6)

Before This Gets Out of Hand x1
Critical Injury x1
I Can Do Anything I Want x1
Keep Your Eyes Open or It’s Game Over x1
My Destiny x1
Talk is Cheap x1

Strategy Notes:
Your Mid-match contains four reversals that are intended to act as a supplement to your hand should you find that you are unable to reverse a maneuver from your hand. Aside from the four reversals, we have My Destiny, which is a fantastic card specific to Randy Orton. Clearly, as soon as you can play this card, it is to your advantage to do so. Critical Injury on the other hand is a method of finishing your opponent off. While your maneuvers will be focusing on primarily your opponent’s head and neck, you should not have a problem getting 7 maneuvers in your ring with the same target and if you do, there’s a little help below in your antics. Make your opponent discard his hand, or if his hand is already gone then make him discard his Backlash. At that point you should have no problem pinning your opponent.

ARSENAL (60)

Antics (11)

A Legendary Hit List x1
A License to Kill x1
A Spirited Turn of Events x2
Burn in My Light x1
Concentrated Attack x2
Don’t Stick Your Neck Out x2
Look Under the Ring x2

Strategy Notes:

Concentrated Attack is your tool for maximizing your targets to hit cards like Critical Injury and Don’t Stick Your Neck Out. A Legendary Hit List should help you not only put some maneuvers in your hand with target: neck and head, but will also give you some good hybrid Core reversals in your hand. A License to Kill is a very powerful card which you can use to play a Colossal against your opponent or bridge into a high Fortitude Antic. Between Burn in My Light and A Spirited Turn of Events, your opponent will be overturning many cards, which of course will work to your advantage. You can also use A Spirited Turn of Events along with Look Under the Ring to manipulate your ringside. Don’t Stick Your Neck Out will help fuel your hand, which is always a positive.

Maneuvers (23)

Big Boot x3 (H)
Choke Hold x3 (N)
Ego Cutter x1 (N)
European Uppercut x2 (H)
Full Nelson x3 (N)
Garbage Can Lid x2 (H)
Knee Lift x2 (H)
Running Elbow x3 (H)
Running Clothesline x2 (N)
The Legendary RKO x1 (H)
Third Generation Dropkick x1 (H)

Strategy Notes:

Of your 23 maneuvers, 9 have target: neck and 14 have target: head. The idea behind the maneuver set is to maximize one target with the eventual goal of utilizing your Ring Psychology cards and Critical Injury as well as Don’t Stick Your Neck Out. When given the option, hold onto your hybrid Core maneuvers and play non-hybrid maneuvers instead, as your opponent will likely haphazardly walk into your hybrid reversals. Other than that, play maneuvers as you draw them.

Reversals (26)

Chicken Wing x2
Chop x3
Double Leg Takedown x3
I Won’t Be Beat Tonight x2
Inertia x1
Inverted Atomic Drop x2
Masochist at Heart x1
Try to Get Away x2
Welcome to My World x2
Why Don’t You Kiss My A%$? x3
Wrist Lock x3
You Telegraphed It x1
You’ll Never Take What’s Mine x1

Strategy Notes:

In this particular build, I’ve opted to default to the F:0/D:2 hybrid Cores as my standard reversals to Core maneuvers. While they leave you open to the 6 F:0/D:1 Core Assaults, Holds, and Throws, they do reverse every other Core of those types. The downside is of course that they do not do as much damage or grant as much fortitude as some of the other hybrid reversals. You can also see that I’ve opted to include 2 copies of each of the F:0/D:7 Core hybrid maneuver as well. These can be particularly important when facing The Sandman, as he can start the game by hitting you with Means or Edge, as he can play The Edge Clipper once you have any fortitude and launch right into Means from their as well. While I have decided to pack lighter on the Momentum reversals, I do feel that since there are still few maneuvers that have Momentum without being granted that trait from an Antic, it is more important to have Antic reversals. In that realm I’ve decided to pack 3 copies of Why Don’t You Kiss My A%$? and 2 copies of Welcome to My World. Conveniently enough, Randy’s superstar-specific reversal is also a reversal to Antics, which will further negate your opponent’s ability to play them. If you are forced to play I Won’t Be Beat Tonight, make sure to be conscious of the targets you are removing from your ring, as you want to make sure you keep as many target: neck or target: head in your ring as possible.

Any Final Strategy Notes / Insights:

Randy Orton has arguably the greatest set of superstar-specific cards in the Revolution format. With such a strong ability granted by his Storyline card, a host of Antics with very good effects, a good reversal, and several good maneuvers including one of which is one of the few maneuvers in Revolution to have built in Momentum, no one should be stiff competition for The Legend Killer. Well having your Storyline in your ring will greatly improve your situation; you are not in big trouble if it gets removed, as your printed Superstar ability is also rather useful. Since many of the maneuvers in the arsenal are Assaults, you can easily retrieve a useful Antic to help recover some of your arsenal or replenish your hand.