Xenan Surprise

This deck is odd. Not in the sense that it does anything odd, it's just better than I thought it had any reasonable right to be.

I have decks I like more, decks I feel like I know how to play better, decks that I'm convinced are more tuned and strong. And they're floundering in Gold League while this deck seems intent on getting me to Diamond. I don't even know, it's just a solid, fair deck with a good aggro matchup due to a shitload of lifegain.

And that's with me drastically unconvinced by, like, half the cards that cost more than 3 power, and the entire Market.

Current overperformers are removal spells (duh), Ebon Dune Smuggler, but only in the sense that I've found the 2/2 ambush body more use than I expected, Ayan, the Abductor is as dope as I remember him, never brew a deck that runs Xenan Insignia without Ayan in the 3-drop slot, he's great against aggressive decks and has solid value in the late-game if he survives a turn. Sandstorm Titan and Vara, Vengeance-Seeker are as awesome of cards as ever, and you occasionally goozle people with Teacher of Humility, but I've honestly found more often that it's just fine as a 3/3 for 2. Oh, and Street Urchin is frankly the only card advantage in the maindeck right now, and is absolutely sweet. Gets on the board early for aggressive matchups, and trades itself to steal several of your opponents cards in longer value games. Sweet card, hilarious when you steal a Sword of Unity and start smashing face with 'em, gets sweet incidental damage as well. 100% recommend trying them if you haven't yet, I'm very impressed.

Early underperformers were Dark Return just not having the most amazing units to grab, other than Vara, Saber-Tooth Prideleader, Xumucan, the Surveyor and some of the old Market.

In Mk2, I updated the list a bit with Umbren Reaper, which is not only real solid in its own right, but is just as backbreaking to combine with Dark Return as its been since the beginning of the game, arguably better since there's less silence in the meta these days. Still looking for a replacement for sabertooth, tbh.

The Market is in a transition spot still, but it has some card advantage, some long-game, a defensive play, a removal spell, and some fixing/power just in case, which is usually what I want from a Market. Would love an alternative to Lumen Defender if anyone has suggestions.