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Vargo's Gateway (AKA making Quicksilver Gateway work) (Masters)

Throne Deck By
TrivialThought

+2

Cost Curve

Type

Faction

Information

This is mostly a fun deck, but I was able to reach Master's with it, and as an old fan of Knucklebones I wanted a deck where Quicksilver Gateway could work. The crux of the deck is to get down Vargo's Pelt and Quicksilver Gateway, making any card you draw transformed into a +2/+2 unit for each pelt you have down. It's basically trying to outvalue your opponent while maiming their card-seeking efforts.

Decks that rely heavily on Markets or redrawing of units from the void will struggle against this as the card sought from the void or market will be turned into a random card (likely less helpful than what they would've chosen). Silence effects are effective until the silenced unit gets transformed into another unit (but most cards have summon effects so we've already received some of the value of the card).

Card Choices:
Calibrate helps find power or needed relics, and after gateway is down turns into a 1 cost card draw.
Unstable Form for the echo effect (2nd one turns to random card with gateway, and transforms )
The Plunder cards, Desert Alchemist, Maveloft Huntress are helpful removal along with helping to fix power issues or get card draw. After the huntress has done her primary job, a quick transform releases the imbued unit as well.
Reshape is a good card, but sometimes brings about frustration as transform effects do from time to time.
Yorja, The Tale Keeper does work on the field and when a card in your hand is transformed into a unit. Reshape on all your own units will of course transform her, so take that into consideration. All said thought, Yorja is a good addition to the deck.
Glen Fasciata is a great card, but you almost always want to transform it as soon as it comes down. The same thought process goes for the Customs Officer to remove the downside of the entomb effect.

The market is a bit of a work in progress, I've been grabbing the Linrei's Codex most often, least often grabbing Permafrost.

The deck is fully able to win games without the pelt-gateway combo, but that provides the most disruption & advantage. Of the two, the pelt should always be prioritized over the gateway, as an unremoved pelt provides massive value.

Any thoughts on making this more fine tuned would be appreciated.

Details

Shiftstone Cost
Does not include campaign cost
54,200

Premium Cost
285,600

Influence Requirements
2 3

Power Sources
23 21 17

Power Calculator
Shiftstoned Icon View Deck on Shiftstoned

Deck Rarities
8 21 25 5 16

Card Types
30 8 18 0 27

Contains Cards From Campaigns
Dead Reckoning [Set1003]
Into Shadow [Set1004]
Buried Memories [Set1105]
Stormbreak [Set1107]

Archetype
Unknown

Added
December 30, 2021

Views
1,665

Eternal Version
Cold Hunt

BBCode For Comments

Deck URL

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Comments

Antha1on Edited Eternal Version: 21.12.16
Love the concept, love the deck. I see a lot of 2 or 3-ofs, any particular rhyme or reason (notably, Quicksilver Gateway), or is this more of a trial period to see which cards are worth 4-ofs and which can be dumped?

Without playing the deck myself, how fast/slow have you found it? Would cheap threats like Shambling Sapsucker, Wildgrowth Druid, or Feral Mandrake fit into the gameplan, or dilute it?
TrivialThought Edited Eternal Version: 21.12.16
You really don't want to see more than one Gateway in a game, as the second's basically a dead card (if you really want Gateway action, bumping up the number is fine). The cards you suggested are interesting, and I may try them out. It's not particularly fast, but can end games quickly when reshape's start hitting the whole field. A turn five transformed Glen Fasciata can also lead to many concedes (especially if Vargo's Pelt is down).
Antha1on Eternal Version: 21.12.16
Gateway being redundant is a pretty good point, have you considered putting it in the Market instead? Maybe Temple Scribe and Smuggler up to 4, remove the Torgovs and the Gateway?