[Rank 5] A Life for a Combo

Post Balance patch edit: This deck really does not function the same way after the changes made to Grenahen and Crafty. There will need to be updates made, but I still think there is a shell that can support First Flame

This deck is a modified version of something Spiffirific brewed on day two of the new set release. Even though the bellows revolt didn't have all the tools needed to work in expedition, I saw a lot of potential in some of the deck's elements and wanted to keep exploring it. This deck has two separate strategies, which play very well together. The first is the obvious interaction of Life for a life with First Flame and the second is setting up long term "I win" effects on Davia.

We are using some of the best incremental card advantage cards in the format, which allows this deck to grind out the game very effectively. Cards like Crafty Occultist and Grenahen, and in conjunction with some of the other cards, like Privilege of Rank, we are really taking full advantage of them. Shorthopper is an extremely efficient unit, which single handily sets up Davia, without needing to pack our main deck with dead cards. The first one grabs a card that is very strong in the matchup, the second grabs Prosperity most of the time.

Scrapfind skimmer is fantastic. It's a great blocker and attacker, it sets up the next turn very effectively and it mills a boatload of cards. Collapse is a fantastic removal spell, and also deals with cards that would typically be a problem for decks like this.

Even though turn 4 First Flame, doesn't happen every game, there is still a tension that always exists when playing against this deck. At any point, the deck can send 15+ damage coming your way out of nowhere. Now, lets talk about Davia. I think the obvious deck that card is good in is a control shell, but I think this is probably the best Davia deck you can be playing right now (short of maybe some other combo deck we haven't discovered) At a very minimum, Davia can play a life for a life into your First Flame later in the game for a second or third time. Because of Shorthopper we can set Davia up as a one sided board wipe, gain an extra turn, draw 4 and deal damage. It really is very often and "I win card"

In order to avoid unfortunate influence situations, I think it is most important to have Menace colors in your opening hand. It's very likely that there is a better power/influence base for the deck, but this has been working well enough.

I used this deck to go from Masters rank 80ish up to rank 5. I will post the deck I used to get to Masters separately, since it's also quite the brew.

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