MASTERS Stonescar Control

I wanted to do a breakdown of this deck since I believe it is a serious contender in the meta so here it is.

Removal-

Outside of Worthy Cause we are playing the best removal cards in the format in Edict of Shavka, Conflagrate, and Cremate along with a suite of other removal.

Edict of Shavka is capable of dealing with T1 Akko, Trailmaker, Resolute Monk, Albon Roa, almost every unit in Hooru, 3 different sites, can tag team x/4’s, and so much more. In matchup where it’s not great, it’s perfect market fodder.

Conflagrate deals with a most 2 and 3 drops in the format. Varret, High Priest of Sol, Akko, Smugglers, Temple Shihan, Incarnus etc. and late game it can 2 for 1 opponents. Great card.

Voprex’s Choice is on the weaker side in this deck but generally we can keep the board down to one unit anyways so being able to handle 2 drops, weaponized units, Cozin, Aegis units and not being dead late when we want to rebuy Karvet makes this more than acceptable.

Vara’s Favor is well know already so I won’t cover too much but popping Aegis, fixing power/influence to help us get to 6/7 and pinging units to death make this card fantastic.

Streets Aflame is the most controversial card in the list but it really is great. It’s a removal spell to fill the gap on turn 3 that kills the same units as Conflagrate but can also deal with Xenan Temple and other sites, and occasionally even kills the opponent all while scouting for what you need.

Cremate again it’s pretty self explanatory. Fast speed unconditional removal that also gives Voidbound and kills sites. Mandatory 4 of.

Malediction is a great sweeper to deal with “go wide” strategies coming from Xenan and Rakano Oni.

Units-

Cen Wastes Smuggler is our Smuggler and of course we play all 4. Rarely do I play it out on turn 3. I’ll usually save it until the game develops and I know what I need, unless having a blocker or attacker is important.

Incarnus, Makkar’s Listener, wow this card is just incredible and possible the best card in Expedition. Invoke upon entry in Shadow means we have powerful cards to grab like Fell Ritual, Eviscerate, Cut Ties, Sabotage, Karvet, Azindel’s Gift, Malediction, Lethrai Falchion, Lethrai Dead Drop, Devour, Immortalize, Beastcaller’s Amulet Devouring Shadow, Surgeon’s Saw, Unspeakable Torment (no joke I’ve won many games because decks are not prepared to handle this card), Hostile Takeover, Spirit Drain, Eremot, Nametaker, Touch of the Umbren, Umbren Occluder. It’s absurd how often you hit a very relevant and powerful card. And it handle sites well with Unblockable. Of course it also Invokes for the same pool if you deal 9.

Karvet, Solar Dragon is another insane unit in a removal light format. It leaves a 1/1 behind even if it dies and takes over the game if it doesn’t. Curves great into Dizo’s Office. Fantastic card to reanimate with Vara.

Sites-

Dizo’s Office is very powerful in this deck. Since you can essentially keep the board clear against all decks it’s usually a 7 cost removal spell that then takes over games through Lifesteal and digging for what you need.

Market-

Edict of Makkar, when this card is good it’s amazing. One cost removal against most of the decks that we need to slow down or deal with haymakers.

Fell Ritual is our 4 cost unconditional market removal since Cremate is in the main. The most grabbed market card.

Siege Breaker is our Relic hate. It’s an overstated body that curves out after Smuggler too which is great and most decks don’t have relics to grab if they get him off the board. Very happy with this card so far.

Slimespitter Slug is the LOA special. It’s really the flex card of the market but it’s reasonable. Mostly shrinks fliers and is a good body to have on board, this could become a Hostile Takeover or something of that sort.

Vara, Fate-Touched, ever since I added this my won rate has dramatically increased. It effectively works the same as in Xenan where you play it to bring back Karvet which brings back Smuggler or Incarnus in most cases. It just ends games on the spot.