To gain early board control in 9 Kings without overspending, deploy a Level 1 Executioner to remove dangerous single-target threats while conserving gold for long-term economy upgrades. The Executioner relies on innate removal efficiency rather than heavy stat stacking, allowing you to stall enemy power spikes during the opening turns of a run.
Why the Level 1 Executioner Works
Unlike units that demand continuous gold investment to reach combat efficiency, the Executioner provides immediate removal capability at base level. This creates an opportunity to play a minimalist, low-cost board while saving resources for mid-game infrastructure.
- High Target Removal: Deletes key high-health targets and priority units before they scale.
- Resource Efficiency: Eliminates the need for early level upgrades on the Executioner itself.
- Economic Advantage: Frees up gold to invest in passive scaling tools and deck thinners.
- Deck Cycling: Keeping your board compact ensures the Executioner returns to your hand frequently.
Board Setup and Counters
The main weakness of a single-target Executioner setup is board swarms. While the Executioner handles elite targets, low-health fodder units can absorb its attacks and block access to primary threats.
| Unit Role | Primary Function | Tactical Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Executioner (Level 1) | High-value removal | Eliminates dangerous enemy single targets and boss threats. |
| Support Units | Area & fodder clear | Clears low-health swarms so the Executioner targets key threats. |
| Economic Scaling | Resource generation | Converts saved upgrade gold into long-term infrastructure. |
Executioner Gameplay Steps
- Deploy Early: Place the Executioner in high-traffic center zones where dangerous targets enter combat.
- Add Area Clear: Pair the unit with light splash or crowd-control support to prevent low-tier enemy swarms from absorbing removal hits.
- Hold Upgrades: Avoid spending early gold to level up the Executioner; rely on its base removal value.
- Reinvest Savings: Direct saved gold into deck refinement, economy tools, or mid-game build transitions.
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Player Comments
123 players commented on this guide.
Good guide for 9 Kings players. The early game part was useful.
The explanation is clear, especially for beginners.
I wish I had read this before upgrading the wrong thing.
I tried this today and it worked better than my old setup.