JPS Tavrod (Master, 12/24)

Updated 12/31

This was the deck I used for the majority of my first journey to master rank (I made the final push with a Combrei Midrange variant after facing a slew of Armory). Honestly, I am a thoroughly average player, so this list is nowhere near optimized. Regardless, here are some thoughts on the individual cards:

Core
- Strategize (4x): This card lives up to the hype; replacing dead cards with answers and/or threats at 2 mana feels great.
- Wisdom of Elders (2-4x): Staple card draw.
- Slay (4x): Staple removal.
- Tavrod (4x): Staple threat (with 11 potential targets to draw).
- Sword of the Sky King (1-2x): This card stabilized and/or closed-out so many lategame slogs that 2x seems reasonable.
- Lightning Storm (2-4x): Staple anti-aggro sweeper.
- Harsh Rule (4x): Staple board-clear.
- Seek Power (4x): Staple mana-fixing (especially handy in this influence-intensive shell).
- Crests (2-4x of each): These provide more consistent quality of draws while smoothing out your influence requirements. My 4x of each may be overzealous but being able to scout so often feels great.

Flexible
- Annihilate: Fast, 2-mana removal is invaluable in this fledgling meta where mono-faction threats are abound (though YMMV depending on the prevalence of Jekk/Worldbearer/Amilli/Mystic Ascendant/Sandstorm Titan/etc.).
- Steward of the Past: Solid 4-drop, functioning as a fantastic blocker across many match-ups (with the added bonus of graveyard hate against Midrange Dawnwalker strategies or the occasional jank deck).
- Kothon: Great early blocker, with the potential to draw out valuable removal in the midgame or ultimately function as an 8 mana, 6/7 flier in the lategame.
- Copperhall Bailiff: Another anti-aggro tool that provides some respectable synergy with Tavrod in the mid-to-lategame. Its ability to remove Aegis in preparation for a Lightning Storm or Harsh Rule is also useful.
- Deathstrike: Staple removal.
- Valkyrie Enforcer: Staple silence that can also double as a mild threat in boardstalls.
- Auric Runehammer: This was honestly just a "curve + Tavrod synergy" call.
- Staff of Stories: To my surprise, this card performs many roles phenomenally. Primarily, it provides another trigger for Tavrod (pulling a 5/4 Staff, which can simply serve as another piece of removal, simple "lifegain", or providing a huge threat in a boardstall scenario).


Tested and found to be bad
- Jotun Feast-Caller: My initial builds included 3x, but I slowly came to realize that this card is simply not doing much. Too frequently I send it to the bottom of my deck with Strategize or a Crest because its stats are pitiful for blocking on curve (and especially later). Of course, in a stabilized lategame where you and the opponent are down on cards, then Feast-Caller provides an enormous, "answer me or lose" threat (perhaps even more than Tavrod). However, those situations are relatively rare, and Tavrod does provide a formidable statline.

Considerations
- Devastating Setback: I love the flexibility that this card affords, but it may simply be overkill.
- Sabotage: I can see the merits, but I think the meta may need to settle more before this is a necessity.
- Channel the Tempest: A fine, alternative finisher for the lategame. However, one should be mindful of the increased prevalence of Aegis and Negates (with cards like Cobalt Waystone and Unseal).
- Azindel's Gift: In a control-heavy meta, this is obviously a potent silver bullet (but again, be mindful of Cobalt Waystone, Unseal, and the recent rise of Disjunction).
- Protect: Effectively, a 1-mana counterspell for securing your Tavrod or rejecting an Azindel's Gift.
- Feeding Time: If you're running into a ton of Echo-Makto or recursion-based strategies, then go for it.
- Vanquish: Total meta-call (vs. Annihilate).
- Privilege of Rank: Primarily for the Tavrod synergy (but be sure to add more Justice Sigils accordingly).

Tested and found to be bad
- Jotun Feast-Caller: My initial builds included 3x, but I slowly came to realize that this card is simply not doing much. Too frequently I send it to the bottom of my deck with Strategize or a Crest because its stats are pitiful for blocking on curve (and especially later). Of course, in a stabilized lategame where you and the opponent are down on cards, then Feast-Caller provides an enormous, "answer me or lose" threat (perhaps even more than Tavrod). However, those situations are relatively rare, and Tavrod does provide a formidable statline.

Any questions or general feedback would be appreciated!