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Circo's Gold - tweaked

Gauntlet Deck By
Verus355

+1

Cost Curve

Type

Faction

Information

So this is basically just a hybrid list between kc_bandit's and cuttlefist's elysian Circo decks.

I found myself wanting more fast spells for blowing out the AI and dealing with huge threats than kc's version; so I put two Equivocates into the main deck. I did like his Trail Maker change, but I found myself flooding out far too often so wanted to cut down on effective power sources.

Dusk Raider is an iffy card for me. I've won more than one game a round or two earlier thanks to a berserk, but it usually feels more like a "win more" card rather than something that makes the difference. Plus I'm always hesitant to put another card in the opponent's hands with nightfall. It is really nice when it works though. I never want to draw more than one or two so I cut it down to 3 rather than 4 in the deck. Needs more testing.

Beckoning Lumen is another card I'm not completely sold on. The draw is nice, but it's an expensive card with a "meh" body of 3 health. So again, needs more testing.

Lastly I like one copy of Circo in the market. It's what I pull most often with an Auralian Merchant. And very often the merchant ramps me right into playing Circo next turn.

Tips that helped me:
-I try to use False Prince to bait out removal and get in early damage/blocking before dropping more fatties. Always nice when it soaks a vanquish and I end up with a frog. The AI doesn't understand that a Torch or Vara's Favor would kill it.

-If you can get a two or more for one trade with False Prince, it's usually worth it. Especially vs decks that go wide. Try to trade before the Obelisk comes out or thin out defenders so Circo can get in with damage (three defenders kill him every time if not buffed).

-Unless you have a Jennev Merchant to give access to Crystallize on hand, it's usually best to trade aggressively.

There's probably more, but that's all that comes to mind for now. All in all I like the deck, but I find it equally effective as the other good gauntlet decks like Hooru Fliers and Tavrod. I tend to just bounce between the three as the mood takes me.

Details

Shiftstone Cost
Does not include campaign cost
60,000

Premium Cost
230,400

Influence Requirements
3 2

Power Sources
22 16 12

Power Calculator
Shiftstoned Icon View Deck on Shiftstoned

Deck Rarities
14 20 24 12

Card Types
43 4 7 0 26

Contains Cards From Campaigns
Dead Reckoning [Set1003]

Archetype
Midrange

Added
September 10, 2018

Views
1,388

Eternal Version
Balance Changes

BBCode For Comments

Deck URL

Revisions (Since last major patch) September 10, 2018


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Comments

MissionCreep Edited Eternal Version: 1.37.4
Why Equivocate over Polymorph?
Not in the Market, I get that two colors is better than one there.

I'm also surprised no one ever experiments with Mirror Image or Excavate in these decks.
If Cirso is so important, then copy or revive him. I'm not seeing Copy as necessarily being amazing, it just might be better than Dusk Raider. (So might Polymorph)
Excavate would presumably be a dead unit that traded and would also combo Beckoning Lumen (which the Lumen could use more of to justify).
Verus355 Edited Eternal Version: 1.37.4
I'd considered messing around with Mirror Image, but I'd say Equivocate is an absolute must over Polymorph. Mostly because it's a fast spell that allows me to blow out with Circo, deal with anything weapon'ed up, or clear a blocker off board for a faster finish.

Excavate seems like a good idea too, though I don't love the idea of slowing the deck down even more. There's enough good ideas here in the comments that I should probably swap this deck list to "Work in Progress", lol.
Mail Eternal Version: 1.37.4
I'd definitely run End of Hostilities over Mirror Image since tribute is easy to activate vs AI and trading a 2/1 or 1/1 for an extra Cirso/Carnosaur/Behemoth etc is usually worth it.
MissionCreep Eternal Version: 1.37.4
I hate Deepforged Plate SO MUCH. You've convinced me. :)
MissionCreep Eternal Version: 1.37.4
For decks that commit to 4x Lumen, Excavate MIGHT not slow you down, as you'd draw 2 cards.
Mail Edited Eternal Version: 1.37.4
seems neat but I still am not sure I buy the double merchant in a gauntlet deck since you wanna win fast
kcbandit uses striking snake formation over crystalize which I have to say I think is pretty great for these board stalls since it means you don't even have to win immediately afterwards

currently I'm actually running Aeva over champion of wisdom which feels pretty nice.
Verus355 Edited Eternal Version: 1.37.4
Generally if I'm casting crystallize the game is over anyway, but I hadn't seen the striking formation change in the thread that I linked. That's not a bad idea idea and could cut out jennev merchant entirely in that case. Think I'll try that out.

I'm less sure about the Aeva swap. Champion's won a lot of games for me as a 4 power 6/6 (which I usually go for first over flying.) But I'll give it a shot sometime.
Mail Edited Eternal Version: 1.37.4
Yeah, nevermind on the Aeva. I still think having two merchants is very slow for a Gauntlet deck that's trying to win as fast as possible. Currently, I'm running only time merchants (which are significantly faster because they also ramp you a power) with banner/equivocate/xenan initiation/striking snake formation/carnosaur. After your suggestion for Cirso I realized that having a unit threat in the market would be nice, but one with a more immediate impact could also work out well (carnosaur). I'm trying both Alhed and Worlbearer Behemoths in maindeck to test a bit and I think the behemoths are definitely staying because they not only ramp you super fast, they are just 5 mana 6/7 overwhelms that the ai usually can't deal with. KCbandit has been running Dawnwalkers alongside the Lunar Magus -- personally, I'm just swapping them out so I don't have to sacrifice any of the spells. Alhed could be a great choice as well if you plan on swapping out the Champions of Wisdom, but I'll need to test him more.