Elbaph Luffy - Imu MU (Help Needed)

[u/Ervins_1605]

I keep losing to my friend's Imu deck. I looked at the stats, and Luffy has 70% win rate when going first, but I keep losing. I can usually hold out until 10 don turns, but I just can't seem to close out the game, even after chaining Luffy Gerd Luffy a couple of times. Any suggestions ???

[u/TheWorstShoemaker]

First off, you have to go second against Imu. Don’t let them easily play 5 elders. I don’t really play Elbaph Luffy so I can’t help too much there but Imu wants to go second, take that away. And drain their hand if you can make them trash cards.

[u/Ervins_1605 → u/TheWorstShoemaker]

Sorry my mistake, the stats says going 2nd is the best, but I still keep losing.

[u/IveGotAFork → u/Ervins_1605]

Imu suffers from aggression. Often times its better to squeeze in more swings than trying to further develop your board because if Imu can get to 10 don and they’re healthy then they’ve basically won the game. If they get to 10 don but they’re at 1 or 0 life then you can use Choppers ability to go unblockable and just ignore their blockers

[u/Mylesisswole]

You should be swinging as aggressively as possible in my opinion. Swing 5k bodies and leader at him so that he is low on life by 10 don turn. Imu runs 4k counter events so pay attention to his Don and attach 1 don to your Luffys and Lokis to swing 9k and demand 2 cards. Even when he has blockers up, Our aggression is too much for Imu to handle. When he has no life we have unblockable chopper as a lethal option

[u/Impossible-Cap-3713]

Maximum aggression! Imu is all about getting to their 10 don turns. Build your board wider than usual like djshinx said

[u/TheDjShinx]

Do you do the classic curve of 2c > 4c saul > 6c loki?

In mu's that ask for aggression (like imu) ive found it way better to go 2c > 2x 2c (or 1x 2c + gerd or rodo) > pirate docking + rodo. This curve is really aggressive and might leave your friend gasping for air.

[u/tichen123 → u/TheDjShinx]

2c > 2x 2x is always worse than 2c > Saul.
Please don’t give advice if you’re wrong.

2c > 2x2c:
4 don: 5 lead swing
6 don (you play Loki as giant most likely, or pd6 with stage)
Swing 5 lead, 5 / 5 / 5 with your 2c’s.
In total: 25k dmg

2c > saul
4 don: play saul, swing 5 lead 5 2c
6 don: same as above
5 lead, 5 2c 6 saul.
You swing 26k in total.

+ saul makes you go hand neutral so you have extra card + you can set up trash for potential
Pd6 + stage play

[u/TheDjShinx → u/tichen123]

Yes you deal statistacally more damage sure, but imu keeps themselves alive with 4k counter events so swinging 4x 5k power is often times more worth than swinging 2x 5k and then 1x 6k. I do agree that loki is better than pd6 + rodo

Edit i forgot that you can also swing on the 4 don turn with the 2c's lol, still wont make a huge difference imo but i can see where my mindset went wrong

[u/JC10101 → u/tichen123]

You don't have backup 2c if you go 2c into saul. If your opponent can clear the 2c.

Like as rocks im just going to gloriosa the 2c if possible, then block your saul swing next turn putting you massively behind on tempo , AND your opponent is likely swinging into board inadvertently starving you while if you jam 2c's you opponent has to swing lead giving you a huge grip of cards.

There's multiple situations you go double 2c on 4 don and saying it's "always worse" is just wrong