If you thought good old Mateo was just there to give last rites while the Great Old Ones snack on Arkham, you’re more delusional than a cultist at a customs check. This deck is a statement of intent: "May the gods forgive the Ghouls, because my Cyclopean Hammer certainly won't."

The Faith Combo: Bible or Beatdown?

The strategy here is crystal clear: Bless token economy. With the Book of Psalms and Keep Faith, we are stuffing the chaos bag with more "yellow tokens" than there are grains of sand on the Plateau of Leng. But it’s not out of brotherly love; it’s for the Cyclopean Hammer. Seeing Mateo wield that artifact is like watching the Pope hit a CrossFit PR: when that slab of stone connects thanks to a blessing, the enemy doesn't just go to the discard pile—it gets sent back to the Age of the Elders.

The Exorcist’s "Starter Kit"

-Arcane Initiate: That poor woman will end up with more trauma than a Dunwich protagonist, but her ability to tutor for Wither or Shrivelling is the engine that keeps us from becoming Shoggoth fodder.

• Holy Rosary & The Codex of Ages: Protection and destiny manipulation. Because in Arkham, you either control the odds, or the odds turn you into a shapeless mass of protoplasm.

• Rite of Sanctification & Uncage the Soul: Who needs resources when you have friends in high places? The resource management here is so spiritual your assets are practically subsidized by the heavens.

Survival on the Threshold

Using Beloved and Radiant Smite turns the Father into a tank of pure faith. He can take a hit from a Deep One and respond with a Meditative Trance to recover sanity while the other investigators are busy losing their minds in a corner.

Upgrade Path

Get your collection plate ready, because we’re about to spend Experience Points like the End of Days is scheduled for tomorrow morning (which, in Arkham, is a statistically safe bet). Here is your divine progression guide to turning Father Mateo into the true Hammer of God:

1. The Essential Upgrade: Song of the Dead (Level 2)

Swap out: Wither

Why settle for mildly insulting monsters with Wither when you can sing them a requiem that makes their heads pop? With the sheer amount of Bless tokens you’re jamming into the bag, this spell will hit harder than a three-hour sermon in a sweltering August heat. It’s the most spiritual way to say, "Back to the abyss with you."

2. Divine Insight: Eye of Chaos (Level 4)

Swap out: Rite of Seeking or any secondary investigation tool.

In Arkham, finding clues is usually a headache involving dusty libraries and tentacled librarians. With this, you’re basically asking Yog-Sothoth for the cheat codes. When those Bless tokens trigger, you’ll be clearing locations faster than a panicked congregation when the wine runs out.

3. Celestial Logistics: The Red-Gloved Man (Level 5) or Key of Ys

Swap out: Arcane Initiate (late campaign)

If you’re going to carry a Cyclopean Hammer, your stats need to be more than "elderly priest." Bringing in "consultants" from other dimensions—or wearing cursed jewelry from a sunken city—is a small price to pay. Sure, your soul might be at stake, but look at those combat bonuses! God will understand; it's for the greater good.

4. The Holy Trinity of Chaos: Seal of the Elder Sign (Level 5)

Swap out: Any filler event

Father Mateo’s ability triggers on the Elder Sign, so why leave it to chance? Playing this card is the mystical equivalent of putting a bear trap on a Great Old One. It’s pure destiny manipulation; luck is for pagans—we have Predestination.

5. More "Holy" Damage: Nephthys (Level 4)

Swap out: Book of Psalms (late game)

Why just pray with the tokens when you can turn them into a laser beam of holy light? Nephthys manages your Bless tokens like a divine accountant, and when she cashes them in, even a Shoggoth will feel the sting of righteous indignation.

_This deck isn't for those seeking subtlety. It’s for those who want Father Mateo to be the last man standing when the stars finally align. You’ve got damage, bag manipulation, and a hammer that would make Cthulhu himself think twice before breaching the surface.

Sacristan’s Tip: Prioritize the Cyclopean Hammer (Level 5) if you haven't fully committed yet. In Arkham, a well-timed smack to the face saves you from ten messy exorcisms._