10 Essential Deck Building Tips for Chaos Zero Nightmare (2025 Guide)
Master deck building in Chaos Zero Nightmare with these proven strategies. Learn how to optimize Faint Memory usage, avoid common mistakes, and create powerful builds for every tier.
Building the perfect deck in Chaos Zero Nightmare can feel overwhelming, especially when you're juggling Faint Memory costs, tier caps, and card synergies. Whether you're a new player struggling with Tier 1 limitations or a veteran optimizing your Tier 13 build, these 10 essential tips will help you create more efficient and powerful decks.
1. Always Convert Base Cards Before Removing Them
This is the #1 mistake new players make, and it costs them dearly.
The Math:
Removing a base card directly: 0-130 points (scaling) + 20 penalty = 20+ points wasted
The conversion cost is never refunded, but you avoid the 20-point base card removal penalty. This simple trick can save you 10-20 points per card—enough to add an entire neutral card with epiphany!
Pro Strategy: In early tiers (1-4), these 10 saved points can be the difference between adding one extra card or staying stuck with your base deck.
2. Use Your Free Actions Strategically
Many players don't realize that the first removal and first duplication are completely free:
Many players assume all divine epiphanies cost 20 points. Neutral cards are the exception at 30 points—factor this into your calculations!
4. Plan Your Build Around Tier Caps
Each tier has specific point limitations that should guide your strategy:
Early Game (Tier 1-5: 30-70 points)
Focus on 1-2 neutral cards with epiphanies
Keep most base cards
Avoid monster cards entirely
Every point matters—plan carefully
Mid Game (Tier 6-10: 80-120 points)
Start removing base cards (convert first!)
Add 3-4 neutral cards with divine epiphanies
Consider 1 monster card if it fits your strategy
More room for experimentation
Late Game (Tier 11-13: 130-150 points)
Multiple monster cards become viable
Full deck customization possible
Complex builds with many modifications
Focus on synergy over individual cards
Don't try to build a late-game deck with early-game resources. Scale your ambitions to your tier.
5. Master the Scaling Cost System
Both removal and duplication costs scale based on total actions, not individual cards:
Action Number
Cost
1st
0
2nd
10
3rd
30
4th
50
5th
70
6th+
+20 each
Critical Insight: If you've already removed 2 cards (spending 0 + 10 = 10 points), your next removal costs 30 points—regardless of which card you're removing.
Use a deck calculator to track these accumulating costs. Manual calculations often miss this scaling pattern.
6. Prioritize Economy Cards for Stable Builds
Economy cards have a unique property: 100% retention rate with fixed costs.
Benefits:
Never lost due to tier cap overflow
Predictable point usage
Only 20 points base cost
Great for defensive/support builds
When to Use:
Building a consistent, reliable deck
Playing in competitive environments
Wanting insurance against mistakes
Creating tutorial-friendly builds
When to Skip:
Pushing for maximum power
Late-game optimization
Already under tier cap comfortably
7. Leverage Forbidden Cards as Insurance
Forbidden cards are permanent additions that follow special rules:
Key Properties:
Cost: 20 points
Always saved, even if you exceed tier cap
Cannot be modified or removed
Fixed in your deck forever
Strategic Uses:
Guaranteed Power: Add your most essential card as forbidden
Cap Buffer: If you're close to limit, forbidden cards won't push you over
Build Foundation: Lock in core cards early
Warning: Once added, you can't change forbidden cards. Choose wisely!
Think of forbidden cards as your deck's "constitution"—permanent and unchangeable, but providing stable foundation.
8. Optimize Epiphany Distribution
Rather than maxing out one card, distribute epiphanies for better value:
Less Efficient:
- Card A: Divine (+30 for neutral)- Card B: None- Card C: NoneTotal: 30 points on one card
More Efficient:
- Card A: Normal (+10)- Card B: Normal (+10)- Card C: Normal (+10)Total: 30 points across three cards
You get 3 enhanced cards instead of 1 for the same cost. This spreads your power across the deck and reduces vulnerability to card removal or counters.
Exception: In late-game builds with points to spare, concentrate divine epiphanies on your win conditions.
9. Use Multi-Slot Planning for Complex Builds
The calculator's multi-slot feature isn't just for saving different builds—it's a planning tool:
Workflow:
Slot 1: Your current in-game deck (reference)
Slot 2: Experimental build #1
Slot 3: Experimental build #2
Slot 4: Target end-game configuration
Compare:
Point efficiency
Card synergies
Path from current to target build
Cost of transitioning
This prevents you from committing to a build path that's inefficient or impossible within your tier cap.
10. Calculate Before You Commit
The single most important tip: Never make deck changes in-game without planning first.
Why a calculator is essential:
✅ See total costs before committing
✅ Visualize the final deck
✅ Compare multiple build options
✅ Avoid irreversible mistakes
✅ Learn optimal modification order
One wrong move in-game can cost you hours of progress. Five minutes of planning saves hours of regret.
Use the free deck calculator to plan every modification. Your future self will thank you.
Common Deck Building Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Not Tracking Removal/Duplication Counts
The scaling costs catch everyone eventually. Keep a running count or use a calculator.
Mistake #2: Adding Monster Cards Too Early
80 points is nearly your entire Tier 1-4 budget. Wait until Tier 6+ when you have room.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Basic2 Free Epiphanies
Basic2 cards get normal epiphany for free—a rare bonus you should exploit.
Mistake #4: Random Epiphany Distribution
Have a plan. Don't just add divine epiphanies because you have points—consider synergy.
Mistake #5: Forgetting Conversion Costs Are Permanent
Even if you remove a converted card, those 10 points are gone forever.
Advanced Strategies for Tier 10+ Players
Once you reach higher tiers, these advanced techniques become viable:
The "Conversion Chain" Strategy
Convert all base cards (10 × 8 = 80 points)
Remove 4 of them (0 + 10 + 30 + 50 = 90 points)
Total: 170 points spent, but all remaining cards can receive epiphanies
Best for Tier 12-13 where you have 140-150 points
The "Monster Rush" Build
Keep all base cards (0 points)
Add 1 monster with divine epiphany (100 points)
Add 2 neutral cards with normal epiphanies (60 points)
Total: 160 points—fits in Tier 13
Aggressive deck with minimal setup
The "Economy Fortress"
Add 5 economy cards (100 points)
Add 2 neutral cards with divine epiphanies (100 points)
Total: 200 points in modifications
Over cap, but economy cards guaranteed to save
Stable, predictable deck
Conclusion: Plan, Calculate, Dominate
Deck building in Chaos Zero Nightmare is a game of resource optimization. The difference between good players and great players isn't just card knowledge—it's point efficiency.
By following these 10 tips, you'll:
✅ Save 50+ points per build through optimization
✅ Avoid costly mistakes that set you back hours
✅ Create more powerful decks within the same tier caps
✅ Understand the math behind every decision
Remember: Every point matters. Every conversion counts. Every build should be calculated.
Ready to optimize your next deck? Try the free Save Data Calculator and see how these tips transform your builds.
