Overview & Win Condition
Portal Gun is an aggressive, synergistic Science tempo deck. Instead of playing a long, drawn-out control game, this deck aims to build an early board state of difficult-to-remove Science zombies, snowball their stats with Zombot Drone Engineer, and finish the game with massive burst damage via Gadget Scientist and Quarterly Bonus.
Immorticia brings excellent Beastly support to the traditional Brainy Science shell. Cheese Cutter demands early attention, drawing removal away from your combo pieces, while Area 22 provides Frenzy to your heavy hitters like Supernova Garg. When a Supernova Garg in Area 22 performs a bonus attack, the game usually ends on the spot.
Key Combo Pieces
Zombot Drone Engineer + Science Swarm
The core engine. Every time a Science zombie does damage, the Drone Engineer grants it +1 Attack. With Interdimensional Zombie, Neutron Imp, and Teleportation Zombie, your board can quickly spiral out of control.
Gadget Scientist + Supernova Garg
The ultimate finisher. Supernova Garg is a Science zombie, meaning Gadget Scientist will trigger a 5-damage bonus attack (or more, if buffed). Doing this during the Zombie phase bypasses Plant tricks.
Area 22 + Bonus Attacks
Placing Area 22 on any Science zombie (especially Supernova Garg) grants +2/+2 and Frenzy. When triggered by Quarterly Bonus or Gadget Scientist, they will destroy the defending plant and immediately attack the Plant Hero.
Mulligan Strategy
You are looking for a smooth curve of early drops to begin applying pressure immediately.
Always Keep
Cheese Cutter, Interdimensional Zombie, and Zombot Drone Engineer. Cheese Cutter forces out early removal, protecting your Turn 2 Engineer. Interdimensional Zombie transforms into a 3-drop the moment you play a Science trick.
Vs. Aggro
Extinction Event and Neutron Imp. Extinction Event is vital for clearing swarm boards (Pineclones, Mushrooms), while Neutron Imp can trade cleanly and trigger extra attacks when environments are played.
Turn-By-Turn Sequence
Early Game (Turns 1-3): Seize the board immediately. Lead with Cheese Cutter or Interdimensional Zombie. On Turn 2, if the coast is clear, drop Zombot Drone Engineer to start stacking buffs on your Science units. If contested, use Teleportation Zombie to safely maneuver your units in during the Trick phase. Keep up the pressure so the Plant Hero is always reacting to you.
Mid-Game Tempo (Turns 4-5): Use Area 22 to push damage and create Frenzy threats that demand hard removal. This is also the time to drop Supernova Garg. Even if played dry, his massive 5/9 stats make him incredibly difficult for plants to remove on Turn 5, effectively setting up your Turn 6 lethal.
Lethal Execution (Turns 6+): If you have a board presence, drop Gadget Scientist to initiate a wave of bonus attacks. If your board was cleared, you can play Teleport + Supernova Garg during the Trick Phase, or use Quarterly Bonus on an existing unit to unexpectedly close out the game.
Common Mistakes
Playing Drone Engineer Naked. Unless you have a specific read that the Plant Hero has no 2-damage removal (like Berry Blast or Banana Bomb), try to protect your Drone Engineer. Hide him behind a Teleport or play him when you already have another Science zombie ready to attack and gain the buff.
Forgetting Supernova Garg is Science. Many players associate Science purely with smaller Brainy units. Supernova Garg's tribal tag is crucial. Always calculate for his potential 5 damage (or 7 with Area 22) when planning a Gadget Scientist play.
Wasting Gadget Scientist. Gadget Scientist is a weak 5-cost 1/5 body on his own. Do not play him just to develop a minion if your board is empty. Save him strictly for when you have at least one high-value Science zombie on the field to guarantee value.