Tired of getting stomped over and over by Ramp, Reanimator, Temporal and FJS? I've got the solution for you, the deck that brought me to Masters this month. Proof:
Main Combos: -
Oni Quartermaster +
Statuary Maiden - one of the classics and the combo that named this deck. Quartermaster with Maiden's Cudgels (and Obsidian Armors) is the main source of card advantage for the deck while disrupting the opponent's strategy.
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Auric Interrogator +
Dark Return or weapons - the secondary draw engine that puts a lot of pressure on the opponent. If you can make it to the midgame, those two combos will provide enough card advantage to overwhelm your opponent.
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Combust +
Madness - another classic that (hopefully) removes the two biggest threats on the opposing side of the board and provides additional burst damage
-
Combust +
Ixtun Merchant - instantly removes any opposing unit if played on turn 4+
Main deck explanations.
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Combust - very strong removal that combos with
Obsidian Golem,
Ixtun Merchant,
Granite Waystone and
Jawbone Greatsword -
Dark Return - creates a draw engine with
Auric Interrogator, burst damage, removal and lifesteal with
Vicious Highwayman -
Torch - nothing to see here, best card in the game
-
Annihilate - serves as main deck
Combust #4, you can swap it for another
In Cold Blood but I wouldn't recommend it because it weakens the aggro and Time matchups
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Obsidian Golem - one of the unsung heroes for the deck. Great utility, doesn't mind dying and puts up an early body on the board to pressure or block aggro dorks
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Vara's Favor - so damn good right now... Gets rid of everyone's favorite paladin, ramp units, breaks weapons and provides combat tricks
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Auric Interrogator - one of the units that fell out of favor with the recent power creep, but he can shine with the right support
-
Ixtun Merchant - herjob is to grab
Bore -
Madness - classic combo with
Combust and additional source of burst damage. Nice
Red Canyon Smuggler with a
Deepforged Plate ya got there.
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Oni Quartermaster - main draw engine of the deck. If you're not in dire need to put bodies on the board, hold her in your hand until you have a weapon to play the same turn
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In Cold Blood - slow but needed in this meta. Two is the right ammount
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Statuary Maiden - best card in the deck and absolute MVP in the meta. Disrupts recursion, stonewalls bigger units, combos with the card draw units and can create some nice burst wins
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Vicious Highwayman - one of my favorite cards in the game. He does it all - kills small units, breaks weapons, gains life, pressures the opponent and wins games out of nothing
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Xo of the Endless Hoard - everything has been said about this dragon. While I consider him a mistake and definitely overpowered, he is an essential part of the deck
Market explanations.
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Bore - nothing to see here, best market card in the game
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Combust - a must in the market
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Factory Quota - puts pressure on Temporal and non-red control and midrange that has a full hand of removal, prevents lifegain
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Bandit Queen - additional source of burst damage, can end the game with a single grenadin and Golem on the board. To be honest, I haven't pulled her much from the market because the deck has a descent amount of burst damage, but she has won me a few games. This could be a flex spot, but currently I don't see anything to run over her
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Jawbone Greatsword - the unsung hero of the market. Very versatile and if you manage to activate the tribute, the opponent will be forced to some though decisions because of Brand
Hope you like the deck, feel free to ask anything in the comments!
Combust
x3
1
Dark Return
x4
1
Torch
x4
2
Annihilate
x1
2
Obsidian Golem
x4
2
Vara's Favor
x4
3
Auric Interrogator
x4
3
Ixtun Merchant
x4
3
Madness
x4
3
Oni Quartermaster
x4
4
In Cold Blood
x2
4
Statuary Maiden
x4
4
Vicious Highwayman
x4
6
Xo of the Endless Hoard
x4
Fire Sigil
x3
Shadow Sigil
x6
Crest of Chaos
x4
Granite Waystone
x4
Seat of Chaos
x4
Stonescar Banner
x4
View Deck on Shiftstoned
On a side note, i've found that if you don't have all/any of the Vicious Highwayman or Xo of the Endless Hoard, then Vara, Vengeance-Seeker works really well in this deck as well. There is just something very satisfying about making you opponent choose between giving you another Cudgel, or making Vara bigger.
I haven't played the deck after the Xo nerf because they ended up as shiftstone. 8 power is a big stretch for the deck, and by playing only 4 merchants we can't cycle them for treasures. I'll probably rework the deck, so thantks for your input on Vara, she'll probably be in the deck, especially with Palace/Aegis running wild. Also, other things I'd like to fit in are Desecrate and Dizo's office.
The market seems pretty solid. In my limited sample, Bandit Queen was actually my most common pick. A couple of games against Jennev and Winchest, I was able to do my best Haunted Highway impersonation and curve Obsidian Golem into Ixtun Merchant followed by Queen or Highwayman.
I agree with your assessment on In Cold Blood. The deck is a bit heavy at the 4-drop slot, but it seems necessary.
The Oni Quartermaster is actually my least favorite aspect of the deck. It's obviously good when you have any weapon in your hand, but does stone nothing when you're getting beat down or need to apply pressure. I wonder if moving one copy to the Market would work?
Regardless, super fun. Great job.
Regarding Quartermaster - I agree, in most games she's just an overcosted 2/2. I mainly let her sit in my hand until I have a weapon to follow up (Jawbone Greatsword works too!), but I think cutting numbers would be a mistake. One interesting aspect of using her is like removal bait (to follow up with Highwayman or Dark Return + Interrogator), because 99% of opponents will kill her ASAP, and if I have one less Slay to worry about, she has pulled her weight.