Second month masters, second deck design. I initially put this together because new Azindel is one of my favorite cards, and ramping into him seemed the best way to get full use of his abilities. So I did some research and built and refined this by injecting shadow into the combrei ramp shell. Early on in the process I figured out that Telut is the better top end here. He immediately affects the board the turn he comes down so long as you can attack, and he synergizes beautifully with worldbearer and ironthorn ramp. I've had more than one game where I was able to turn 3 merchant, turn 4 ironthorn, turn 5 play 1 copied sigil to drop telut, and swing netting 2-4 additional power on top of the amazing buff and debuff.
The lower end and removal suite went through many iterations. I was running dawnwalkers for a while, but despite minimal silence they just weren't performing. This combined with two early identified big weaknesses--skycrag/praxis fast aggro and temporal control-- led to ditching the dawnwalker plan and retuning. Teacher helps against aggro, but shines against temporal decks if you can land an early one and connect. Ayan helps against control thanks to ambush and card advantage by bringing back a huge unit, but really swings the aggro matchups in your favor.
Devastating Setback has been an integral part of this lists success. I have been consistently impressed with how much leverage I get out of that card in any non midrange mirror, and even there its usually worth 3 power to know whether or not your opponent has removal/weapons or force a stand together into your vara.
I'm ok with the market as is, but I go back and forth on every slot but the find the way. Ill never drop that card from this market. Azindel could be carnosaur. I like passage despite its steep cost to get silence and relic removal in one market slot, but this could be disjunction. I think banish stays, unless I forgo the removal slot entirely and add a parliament. Sword isnt very synergistic with vara, but tutorable lifesteal, overwhelm and a buff have bought me time when I've been overrun by aggro, but it's probably the most flexible slot.
Always open to suggestions and comments!
::Edits::
Above is the current iteration of the post balance changes meta version of this deck. As I've improved with it, I've learned that playing Siraf and Ayan in the same list is exceptionally powerful and flexible. For some longer explanations of how the deck got to it's current place, feel free to check out a slightly longer talk about it here: https://www.a-space-games.com/tjs-midrange
My warcry list will definitely continue to evolve though, so feel free to check back every now and then!
**Edits 10/24/18**
Next iteration of this decklist. Goal: 65%+ against the field seems to be achieved. Aggressive midrange deck with disruptive must answer threats and a wide ranging removal package.
Detailed comments forthcoming
Dark Return
x4
1
Seek Power
x4
2
Awakened Student
x4
2
Desert Marshal
x4
2
Vanquish
x2
2
Vara's Choice
x2
3
Auralian Merchant
x4
3
Banish
x1
3
Devastating Setback
x3
3
Knight-Chancellor Siraf
x4
3
Slay
x4
4
Sandstorm Titan
x3
4
Vara, Vengeance-Seeker
x4
5
Reality Warden
x3
6
Caiphus, Wandering King
x4
Justice Sigil
x3
Shadow Sigil
x3
Time Sigil
x3
Diplomatic Seal
x4
Seat of Mystery
x4
Seat of Progress
x4
Seat of Vengeance
x4
View Deck on Shiftstoned
1. Is this a meta call card? If yes, what does it combat? I am thinking scream, caiphus graveyard shenanigans and dawnwalker? Or do u need the big body?
2. Is there any budget alternative to this? What about vanquisher blade?
Vanquishers blade is the best alternative, but there is also steward of the past in shadow.
In addition, in list development for a long time I'd been focusing on mutifaction bodies to make the commonly played annihilate a dead draw, and I wanted a strong market 5 drop for auralian merchant to fetch. Warden filled all the holes nicely.
Now that caiphus has cemented himself in the meta nulling annihilate matters a little less so I'm moving the list to a more 50/50 split of multi and single faction units, and I'll update once I climb 300 or so ranks in masters. That's the benchmark I've been using to post updates
Great deck btw! Been toying around with it to some success. I added a diplomatic seal and the power base feels solid
Playing good cards and removal is a great way to get to masters, but this list is not really amazing. This list looks like it's worse than any of the other 2 color combinations in it (xenan, argenport, combrei), I would recommend to anyone looking to play this list to try one of those instead
Not even saying the fact that if something i Really love...is Big Big midrangy decks...with especially 80-90k+ dusts :P ...thx very much
With all the ramp some great parliaments are also very nice to recover from a harsh rule.
I think there are three ways you could replace ayan: with an aggro unit to pair with teacher, in which case I'd go with awakened student; with more answers to help stave off aggro, in which case I'd run a 4th setback and 3 shakedowns, or 4 dawnwalkers to hedge against removal pile.