[Darkstone]

I find tarts to be too much of a standard strategy (though I admit I've never used them outside of one SP game). If I used them, I most likely wouldn't sit here trying to come up with some different methods of winning battles or strategies to win the game. I find that by being forced to do the unexpected, I both grow as a player, and it gives a minor advantage tactically.

I also find going for tarts somewhat significant of an investment, you really need to summon a decent number of them to get the really good ones, and you need to get either the GOH global, or the chalice to make the most out your investment. Not to mention the huge amount of nature gems you'd likely be going through.

Rushing artifact construction was definitely not part of my strategy, (I haven't even gotten around to it yet, though hitting 6 early was very important), and my nature income is rather limited.

All of this would be a much bigger problem for me, if I wasn't reasonably equipped with some Anti-SC capability... as Abysia blood and astral are relatively common.