My friend PizzaofDeath turned me on to this list from Konan:
Skycrag Rally King
4 Grenadin Drone (Set1 #5)
4 Oni Ronin (Set1 #13)
4 Permafrost (Set1 #193)
2 Pummel (Set2 #6)
2 Pyroknight (Set1 #16)
2 Snowcrust Yeti (Set2 #105)
4 Torch (Set1 #8)
4 Champion of Fury (Set2 #187)
4 Rakano Outlaw (Set1 #20)
2 Rockslide (Set2 #189)
4 Assembly Line (Set1 #29)
2 Censari Brigand (Set1 #34)
4 Rally (Set1 #33)
4 Shogun’s Scepter (Set1 #26)
4 Vadius, Clan Father (Set2 #191)
7 Fire Sigil (Set1 #1)
4 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)
2 Cobalt Monument (Set1 #418)
4 Seat of Fury (Set0 #53)
4 Skycrag Banner (Set2 #186)
4 Diplomatic Seal (Set1 #425)
To read about the deck from the creator check this out.
I picked this up towards the end of last season and blew through Diamond with it, which led me to start with it for the August season. I hit Masters in very short fashion, with an estimated 65%+ win rate. It felt like if I didn’t have influence problems I was only losing to opposing Skycrag decks and ideal draws from other decks. In general, this style of aggro deck is favored vs other non go-wide aggro decks because of how the Grenadin match up to opposing 1 health units. Rally also allows you to win races and generally provide huge burst damage that other aggro decks can’t muster. The card that has jumped out to me in laddering is Champion of Fury, both in my deck and opposing decks. This card feels too good in its current form, especially when it picks up a Warcry trigger prior to being drawn. It puts huge pressure on the opponent and can lead to some very quick wins if they stumble. On turn 5, you can combo it with Rally for a huge amount of unexpected damage. Vadius gives you a chance in the late game if things don’t work out as planned, and he wears Shogun’s Scepter amazingly well.
The meta game that I saw in Diamond and Master so far felt like Skycrag Aggro, Praxis Mid-Range, various flavors of Armory(FJS or FJP Relic weapons), and a grab bag of other decks. The best weapon against Skycrag is seemingly Lightning Storm but Lightning Storm is pretty terrible against the other good decks, so it is hard to justify playing 4 copies in most decks. This lets the aggro decks run wild in the format, which already have massive incentive to being played as they are the most efficient Ranked climbing decks.
Some other decks I have been having fun with and will be working on now that I am in Masters are below. The first is something that I ran into while climbing that got me excited immediately, Means to an End combo! Here is my take:
Means to an End
4 Combust (Set1 #392)
4 Slumbering Stone (Set1 #255)
4 Dark Wisp (Set1 #264)
4 Devour (Set1 #261)
4 Quarry (Set1001 #15)
4 Sporefolk (Set1 #262)
3 Vara’s Favor (Set0 #35)
4 Means to an End (Set2 #154)
3 Shadowlands Guide (Set1 #280)
2 Memory Dredger (Set2 #159)
4 Grasping at Shadows (Set1 #292)
2 Direwood Prowler (Set2 #166)
4 Infernal Tyrant (Set1 #390)
4 Vara, Fate-Touched (Set1 #307)
4 Fire Sigil (Set1 #1)
9 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)
4 Seat of Chaos (Set0 #60)
4 Stonescar Banner (Set1 #419)
4 Diplomatic Seal (Set1 #425)
The idea is to get a Means to an End in play, cast or Grasping at Shadows a Vara, ideally with other Varas in the void, and start chaining Shadowlands Guides/Slumbering Stones, into Infernal Tyrants. Let’s say you have 3 Varas in play, a Slumber Stone, and an Infernal Tyrant hits play. The units all take 2, and Means to an End puts 8 cards into your void. The Stone dies and the Entomb trigger then triggers 3 Vara triggers. You can then get back say a Shadowlands Guide, a Tyrant, and another unit. The Guide trigger then triggers 3 more Vara triggers…it doesn’t take long to start looping Tyrants and putting your whole deck into the void, which should kill your opponent with Means to an End. The Entomb/Sacrifice shell gives you a fighting chance against the aggro decks and the deck seems naturally built to compete with mid-range and controlling decks. The combo finish means you are going over the top of many other decks in the late game. Ultimately this feels a little too inconsistent to be a great Ranked choice, but it is a blast to play.
Makto Combrei
4 Seek Power (Set1 #408)
4 Annihilate (Set1 #269)
4 Desert Marshal (Set1 #332)
4 Combrei Healer (Set1 #333)
4 Knight-Chancellor Siraf (Set1 #335)
4 Slay (Set2 #236)
2 Stand Together (Set1 #334)
4 Banish (Set2 #207)
4 Sandstorm Titan (Set1 #99)
2 The Great Parliament (Set1 #338)
4 Harsh Rule (Set1 #172)
4 Inquisitor Makto (Set2 #242)
2 Mystic Ascendant (Set1 #116)
4 Time Sigil (Set1 #63)
5 Justice Sigil (Set1 #126)
4 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)
2 Combrei Banner (Set1 #424)
4 Seat of Progress (Set0 #58)
4 Seat of Vengeance (Set0 #55)
4 Seat of Mystery (Set0 #61)
2 Xenan Banner (Set2 #201)
This has felt like the strongest slower deck I’ve played so far. You can certainly play around with the removal suite but I think 4 Slay is a must in this faction combo. Inquisitor Makto is a great way to win games and feels amazing against the control decks.
Kothon Father Plate
4 Inspire (Set1 #129)
4 Seek Power (Set1 #408)
4 Torch (Set1 #8)
2 Hooru Stranger (Set2 #247)
4 Kothon, the Far-Watcher (Set2 #218)
4 Rakano Stranger (Set1 #411)
2 Tinker (Set2 #75)
3 Vanquish (Set1 #143)
4 Silverwing Familiar (Set1 #152)
4 Vadius, Clan Father (Set2 #191)
4 Valkyrie Enforcer (Set1 #151)
4 Hammer of Might (Set1 #170)
4 Deepforged Plate (Set1 #317)
1 Icaria, the Liberator (Set1 #329)
3 Fire Sigil (Set1 #1)
7 Justice Sigil (Set1 #126)
3 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)
2 Rakano Banner (Set1 #427)
4 Seat of Glory (Set0 #56)
2 Hooru Banner (Set2 #216)
4 Seat of Order (Set0 #51)
2 Seat of Fury (Set0 #53)
This is a fun brew that I am experimenting with. When the influence requirements are met, this can have some outrageous plays, but it has been tough to meet those requirements. The current build is experimenting with some Strangers to help on that front. I like their utility as speed bumps against aggro while allowing less depleted Power sources. The numbers certainly need more tweaking, but the power level when this deck works is quite high.
Skycrag Yetis
4 Permafrost (Set1 #193)
4 Snowcrust Yeti (Set2 #105)
4 Torch (Set1 #8)
4 Yeti Spy (Set1 #191)
4 Champion of Fury (Set2 #187)
4 Yeti Snowchucker (Set2 #113)
4 Yeti Snowslinger (Set1 #203)
2 Polymorph (Set1 #211)
4 Vadius, Clan Father (Set2 #191)
4 Wump, Party Starter (Set1 #511)
4 Hunter’s Harpoon (Set2 #193)
2 Yeti Troublemaker (Set1 #222)
4 Scouting Party (Set1 #488)
6 Fire Sigil (Set1 #1)
9 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)
4 Seat of Fury (Set0 #53)
4 Skycrag Banner (Set2 #186)
4 Diplomatic Seal (Set1 #425)
This is probably just less efficient than the other good Skycrag aggro decks, but it is a lot more fun. My favorite new combo is Yeti Snowchucker with Hunter’s Harpoon. This lets you draw a card when the Yeti trigger happens and when you connect with the opponent. The Harpoon also goes great on a Vadius, which is why he is in the deck aside from his undeniable rate alone. This deck of course also sports the Wump/Scouting Party synergy which is amazing when it happens.
Hooru Mentor
4 Inspire (Set1 #129)
4 Permafrost (Set1 #193)
2 Dragonbreath (Set2 #108)
4 Kothon, the Far-Watcher (Set2 #218)
2 Lightning Storm (Set1 #206)
4 Trailblaze (Set2 #111)
4 Vanquish (Set1 #143)
4 Spellshield Architect (Set2 #221)
4 Valkyrie Enforcer (Set1 #151)
4 Wisdom of the Elders (Set1 #218)
4 Shelterwing Rider (Set2 #223)
4 Watcher of the Big Ones (Set2 #130)
4 Nostrix, Lord of Visions (Set2 #229)
7 Justice Sigil (Set1 #126)
8 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)
4 Hooru Banner (Set2 #216)
4 Seat of Order (Set0 #51)
4 Diplomatic Seal (Set1 #425)
This is a solid deck, but it struggles a bit with Harsh Rule decks and sometimes is too slow against the aggressive decks. You can go way over the top of other Mid-Range decks with Watcher of the Big Ones and Nostrix. Shelterwing Rider also can provide some quick wins.
HornRod
4 Copper Conduit (Set1 #66)
4 Cult Aspirant (Set2 #35)
4 Seek Power (Set1 #408)
4 Dawnwalker (Set1 #86)
4 False Prince (Set1 #356)
4 Shepherd’s Horn (Set2 #49)
4 Cirso, the Great Glutton (Set1 #362)
4 Shatterglass Mage (Set2 #181)
4 Divining Rod (Set1 #109)
4 Plated Goliath (Set2 #64)
4 Adaptive Predator (Set2 #135)
4 Steelbound Dragon (Set1 #60)
1 Lavablood Goliath (Set1 #62)
2 Fire Sigil (Set1 #1)
4 Time Sigil (Set1 #63)
2 Amber Monument (Set1 #420)
2 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)
4 Praxis Banner (Set2 #171)
4 Seat of Impulse (Set0 #54)
4 Elysian Banner (Set1 #421)
4 Seat of Wisdom (Set0 #63)
This deck is more fun than good, but when it works it is very hard to beat. The biggest weakness is Harsh Rule and aggressive decks killing you before you get to go off. One of the coolest things about Shepard’s Horn is playing it on turn 3 and then playing Cult Aspirant for zero which then triggers the Horn and makes it a 2/2. It gets nuts if you have a second Aspirant! The interaction between the Horn and Dawnwalker is also fantastic and can gain you a ton of life. There is probably a more balanced version of this deck that plays some interactive cards, but I wanted to push the idea to the limit and make the Divining Rod as good as possible. Feel free to experiment with this shell!
I hope you have fun trying out some of these brews! If you want to hit Master, I highly recommend the Skycrag Rally King deck though.
Thanks for reading,
Ben Chapman
