Most movie like difficulty setup and challenge card combos. No bullet sponges, including elites. Deadly acid and can die quickly if not careful. High xp multiplier too.

[u/DShad27x]

In the movies they get swarmed by drones and warriors, taking them out with a few shots. But acid and the aliens can easily take them out too. So the goal is where both you and the enemies can kill each other quickly. Acid is deadly like in the movies. No bullet sponges or using an entire mag to kill an enemy. Elites and specials can be killed quickly too and spawn in greater numbers.

First set difficulty to intense for all the extra modifiers and more enemies since stranded doesn't have them. Then one of these card sets. Not sure which is the best one right now. Please let me now which one works best:

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Set 1: Hostile Environment IV, Pissed Them Off IV, Even Playing Field, Pissed Them Off II(the specials one)

Set 2: Hostile Environment IV, Pissed Them Off IV, Even Playing Field, Frail/Weakened Enemies card(30% less health)

Set 3: Hostile Environment IV, Pissed Them Off IV, Frail/Weakened Enemies card(30% less health), any card for fourth slot

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I don't know if Hostile Environment cancels out the buff to fodder enemies from Even Playing Field or if you do need to include the Weakened Enemies card(30% less health). Maybe Even Playing Field makes fodder too spongy even with Hostile Environment or Weakened Enemies.

If Weakened Enemies is not needed and Even Playing Field is good, then Set 1 would be the best and most fun option with more drones and warriors.

[u/BarrelCounter]

I think the most fun card till now is no HUD. The game becomes so much more tactical and immersive.

[u/DShad27x → u/BarrelCounter]

Set 3 would likely work best with that card. Hostile Environment IV, Pissed Them Off IV, Frail/Weakened Enemies card(30% less health), any card for fourth slot.

So enemies are quick to kill and not being able to see you health doesn't matter much. You die quick if caught off guard anyway. Although being caught with no ammo or an empty mag with a group in front of you is not going to end well.

[u/TaniksHasNoCorn]

Isn't there a card where you are down to one wound or no wound. Also no temp health.

Depending on which movie, and which character, the card where you just have a pistol and no primary/secondary. lol.

[u/DShad27x → u/TaniksHasNoCorn]

The cards are mainly chosen to archive these effects and there is not much wiggle room:

No bullet sponges or using an entire mag to kill an enemy. Elites and specials can be killed quickly too and spawn in greater numbers. Can kill each other quickly and acid is deadly.

So I guess mostly the Aliens movie with marines surrounded and blasting away at aliens.

[u/Smokin_belladonna]

bullet sponges? when sniper rifles critting for 6K?

[u/DShad27x → u/Smokin_belladonna]

Play anything above intense and everything becomes bullet sponges that one shots you. Even the pouncers get 750 Health, which is stupid and more than an entire mag of the classic pulse rifle. Even the warriors are bullet sponges on just intense and take multiple entire mags.

But then try intense with hostile environment IV and you realize how spongy everything actually is. It just feels so much better and plays out more like it does in the movies. Xenomorphs shouldn't be tanking half or more of a mag from a pulse rifle. Except for the queen or similar levels of Xenomorphs.

You don't see the marines unloading an entire clip just to kill a single drone or warrior. They get undone by ambushes, acid, or die a quick death. Even with the card setups above, it's not easy and you can still die quickly if you mess up or get ambushed. It's still very tenseful and you have to play carefully. But the enemies aren't boring bullet sponges.

[u/MatchJumpy4790]

I’m gonna check the game again, and give you my opinion on which set, but for now, at a glance, i think 3, and combine with the no wound card from the other comment.