08/19/2019: Nevermind the other deck page, I just edited this one. Reached Masters in August 2019.
Climbed from Diamond III up to ~rank 600 Masters with this deck after Set 6 release (although it contains no cards with Dark Frontier atm).
Tips:
Can start with pretty much any hand as long as it contains a pledge and 1 or 2 non-power. If possible, first choice for pledge is Apex Predator.
Try and wait to play certain units until you have the power to interact with them the same turn, for example:
- 3 power for Glasshopper + Bayonet so Glasshopper doesn't get torched first, leaving you with no pledge cost reduction and no target for Bayonet
- 6 power (5 if Praxis Arcanum on field) for Worldbearer + Twilight Hunt, guaranteeing 1 power and usually a kill.
Buff units (i.e. Twilight Hunt/Accelerate) before playing Clutchmate.
Unless you need removal/stun break, first market pull will usually be Praxis Arcanum for that sweet, sweet charging Worldbearer. After that, it's nice to get a free deadly unit or a Glasshopper with extra sticking power, but it's usually not worth losing all units to maintain the site (which can also act as bait and soak 10+ dmg from players who are scared of it).
Example of fun play that has happened:
- Turn 5 Worldbearer
- Turn 6 merchant for Clutchkeeper, Twilight Hunt on Worldbearer for kill
- Turn 7 Clutchkeeper bond
- Turn 8 Clutchmate on Clutchkeeper, GG
Bear Guard Bayonet
x4
1
Initiate of the Sands
x3
1
Permafrost
x3
1
Swift Refusal
x2
1
Twilight Hunt
x3
2
Equivocate
x4
2
Glasshopper
x4
2
Strategize
x3
3
Great Valley Smuggler
x4
4
Clutchmate
x3
5
Cliffdiver Mantasaur
x4
5
Colossal Pteriax
x4
5
Worldbearer Behemoth
x4
9
Apex Predator
x4
Primal Sigil
x5
Time Sigil
x10
Crest of Wisdom
x4
Elysian Insignia
x4
Seat of Wisdom
x3
View Deck on Shiftstoned
The power base in general still seems a little off, as it can sometimes be difficult to get up to Dino Power, but I haven't done too much tweaking with it just yet.
I’ve actually made a substantial amount of changes to the deck at this point - I’ll come back and edit this post when I’m off work and have access to my Eternal account (don’t have new decklist off the top of my head).
How much do you like the eggs? I’ve actually removed them from my newest version but could think about adding them back in.
I feel like the eggs contribute a lot. There's not a lot going on early game and when it pops then immediately being able to turn it into a 6/6 killer or 2 5/5s is pretty nice. I think it's power requirement and general fit into the curve is really nice. If you can't get a Glasshopper down, it can still move first-dino to 4. I have never been disappointed to have it in my hand and I think I get a good amount of value out of the hatched araktodon. This may come with a grain of salt, though, as I've long thought the eggs have potential and this may be me overestimating their value.
For the record I'm still low/climbing. Silver I rn from Bronze 3, but it doesn't seem to be slowing down or losing effectiveness and it's a blast to play.
I look forward to seeing the edits you made!
I swapped the eggs for Initiate of the Sands to ramp out of low power faster, and some card draw in Strategize. I do sometimes miss the Lightning Storm though. I also added a 4th Pteriax because, while I don't actually want a 4th copy of the unit, I did feel like I was getting no pledges in the mulligan a little too often.
Let me know your thoughts and suggestions! It's been a little bit since I've busted this deck out, been trying some new stuff.
I empathize about the lightning storm and have thought about whether it has a place in the market, but I feel like the market is already very tight with the only real candidate for replacement being the Clutchkeeper as I don't pull it often.
Missing pledge on the mulligan is definitely an issue and I feel similarly about Pteriax, it's not that great but it is slightly necessary.
Call for Aid has been serving me nicely. I'm not finding that I need draw very often, but that need may increase with ramp (fewer draws before you can play things) and I agree Wisdom may be a little steep on influence.
These are all preliminary thoughts, though, so I'll let you know when I've actually given it a whirl!
I also tried out Scaly Gruan before Initiate. It's a sticky body (good for BGB) that becomes a 3/5 killer with Twilight Hunt if you get it. It also stops aggro well. It doesn't offer too much past the early stages though, except for being a dino to trigger Serasaur Bull charge.
I was experimenting with switching the Ice Bolt to main instead of Equivocate, but I think it's better in the market as I usually want to hit smaller things to disrupt their strategy and ramping them in that scenario is undesirable. I'm considering Polymorph in place of Ice Bolt, but haven't tested that yet.
Overall I agree with the changes you made and I'm liking it quite well.
Let me know if you find some tweaks you really like!