Name:    Monkey's Paw (Cursed)

Card:    SC #134 (Super Rare)

Points:  17

Masts: 5

Cargo: 3

Moves: S+S

Guns : 3L,3L,3L,3L,3L

Hit %: 250 (S), 250 (L)

Ability: Fear.

The Monkey's Paw was one of two Cursed ships that came out in the South China Seas release. She is faster than most Cursed ships. That's where the good news ends.

Fear is another one of those abilities that gives a little and costs a lot. It does nothing 2/3 of the time, which isn't much to build a strategy on. As if that wasn't enough of a problem, this ship's cargo is small for her size, her cannons are adequate but not great, and her point cost is too high. The same 17 points would get you the Executioner, which is faster and has better cannons, more cargo, and the same ability. Or you could save a point and use the Divine Dragon, which is superior in every way.

If you use her for fighting, she needs some kind of Captain crew. What she really needs is a reroller, both for her cannons and for the Fear ability, but the Cursed don't have any. A costly solution would be the following crew: OE Cavendish (any nation's crew can serve), OE Griffin (captain and reroll), and OE Crimson Angel (SAT and Pirate world-hater).

That's 31 points on one ship and her crew; that's what it would take to make her really effective. I'm sure even the Cursed can do better than that.

If you were lucky enough to get the Monkey's Paw, keep her unpunched and use her for trade bait. She's an okay ship, but her point cost is just too high for what you get.

Goldship rating: 3.0 / 5

Gun Ship rating: 3.8 / 5

Boarding rating: 3.5 / 5

Value for points: 2.9 / 5