Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Miguel de la Cruz Investigator Deck
Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Miguel de la Cruz Investigator Deck Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
How to Use This Expansion
This expansion contains a 34-card Miguel de la Cruz investigator deck and 26 upgrades for that deck. This deck and its upgrades can either be used on their own or can be integrated into a player's collection like player cards in any other Arkham Horror: The Card Game expansion.
When playing this deck on its own, first separate the Miguel de la Cruz investigator card, his two signature cards, the Blood Drinker basic weakness, and all 30 of his level 0 cards, as shown in the sidebar to the right. These 34 cards are a prebuilt Miguel de la Cruz deck which you can use to play any Arkham Horror: The Card Game scenario or campaign (sold separately). When you earn experience during campaign mode, you may spend it to purchase or upgrade into any of the 26 higher level cards included in this expansion. In the Arkham Horror: The Card Game rulebook, experience is described on page 22 and deck customization is described on page 30.
When playing Miguel de la Cruz with an existing collection of Arkham Horror: The Card Game player cards, you can start with the premade deck and modify or upgrade it using any of the cards from your collection, or you can build your own Miguel de la Cruz deck from scratch.
Deck Contents
Miguel de la Cruz, The Rancher (Investigator)
- Miguel de la Cruz. (1)
Assets (15)
- Miguel’s Knapsack. (2)
- 2x Daniel Jameson. (5)
- 2x Hunting Dog. (6)
- 2x Loner. (7)
- 2x Old Compass. (8)
- 2x Pocketknife. (9)
- 2x Rabbit’s Foot. (10)
- 2x Same Old Thing. (11)
Events (12)
- 2x Decoy Trap. (12)
- 2x Glassing. (13)
- 2x Guerrilla Tactics. (14)
- 2x Hidden Shelter. (15)
- 2x Lie in Wait. (16)
- 2x Stalk Prey. (17)
Skills (4)
- 2x Do-or-Die. (18)
- 2x On the Brink. (19)
Weaknesses (2)
- Feline Hybrid. (3)
- 1x random basic weakness [Blood Drinker. (4)]
The card text for these cards is not printed on the deck sheet, so it is not reproduced here. The Feline Hybrid and Blood Drinker entries are listed by name and collector number only.
Note on symbols: the skill icons on the printed sheet are not in its text layer, so they were read from the page image. Where the text refers to a skill icon, it is rendered as the skill name: the fist icon as combat, the head icon as intellect, and the running-figure icon as agility.
Upgrading Miguel de la Cruz
Many of the upgrades in this deck help Miguel maximize his investigator ability. Upgrade into Guerrilla Tactics (level 2) or grab some Trap events like Makeshift Bomb (level 3) and Rope Trap (level 2) to build out Miguel’s options for controlling the board. In turn, you can utilize Hunter’s Instinct (level 2) or Respite (level 2) to recur those events for future play.
If you want to maximize Miguel’s fighting ability, pick up Longbow (level 3) or Winchester Model 52 (level 2). If you find yourself struggling with intellect or agility tests, picking up a copy of Levelheaded (level 3) provides a way to reliably boost skills using any extra resources you may have on hand. As a bonus, the starting keyword on Levelheaded also means that you can begin the game with it in your opening hand!
Miguel’s suite of upgrades also offers some great options for healing. If you find that your Hidden Shelter (level 0) isn’t enough to keep your sanity and health intact, replace it with Extra Rations (level 1) and/or Canteen (level 2). If playing with other investigators, you’ll surely be the talk of the campfire with the healing from Field Dressing (level 1).
Expansion Symbol
The cards in this expansion can be identified by this symbol before each card’s collector number.
Playing Miguel de la Cruz
Miguel de la Cruz is a skilled survivalist and capable ranged fighter who uses events to manipulate enemies across the board. His ability to play an extra event each turn allows him to maximize his hunting prowess and play reactively. As Miguel, you always want to stay one step ahead of enemies, luring them into traps and keeping at least one target on the board at any given time.
One of the greatest strengths of Miguel’s deck is its adaptability. Cards like Pocketknife and Guerrilla Tactics offer a choice of how to fight, using either combat or agility. Use Daniel Jameson and Old Compass to bounce back more easily from failed tests while keeping your card draw up with Rabbit’s Foot.
Miguel also boasts some impressive movement abilities. Hunting Dog will bring you toward your target, while Loner can help you move around the board with more ease (especially early on in the game, when there are fewer enemies on the board). You will need to coordinate with your fellow investigators to get maximal use out of these cards, however.
If you can, mulligan for Miguel’s Knapsack for maximum flexibility, and get Same Old Thing out to pay for your suite of events. If you play Stalk Prey at a location where you’ve laid one of your many traps, you can spring an ambush or gather clues quickly using your agility. However, beware the deadly Feline Hybrid, who can only be fought or evaded with basic actions!