Here Be Kairos! (271-7)

271 - 7 (33 successful runs, 7 incomplete)

- Brought back Sandstorm Titan to help with defense. While Crimson Firemaw enables explosive plays, I think the deck benefits more from being able to stall until we get to the big boys.

***This was discussed in the comments below: Crimson Firemaw is perfect in this deck. I didn't lose any games because of it. I just felt that my games went smoother with Sandstorm Titan - which is ideal when farming AI. If you want more exciting games, keep that dragon in :)

***For runs 23-27 (FoX Gauntlet reset all the way to Masters), I was using Teacher of Humility instead of Temple Scribe.



FLAMES OF XULTA UPDATE:

* Edict of Shavka (x2)
- This allows us to trim Scorpion Wasp, which is really important since we now have Ramba, Arena Showman crowding up the 3 slot.
- I can't state how good this is in Gauntlet. It's a clean answer to a lot of threats: Knight-Chancellor Siraf, Marshal Ironthorn, Black-Sky Harbinger, Jotun Feast-Caller, Jekk, the Bounty Hunter (we can't Teleport).
- And if we don't get those colors, it can still kill "problematic" units like Direfang Spider, Initiate of the Sands or even temporarily take care of Dawnwalker without wasting a Torch.
- Any unit in those colors that it can't answer cleanly (Hello Amilli, Cloudmarshal) still brings it within Torch range so that's a good backup plan in case you don't get any good answers.

* Ramba, Arena Showman (x4)
- Don't be tempted to play him over Tocas, Waystone Harvester VS aggro or Devour decks - hosing battle tricks is still a much better play so you can block safely.
- This card allows us to eliminate Initiate of the Sands, which makes this FoX version more faithful to the original Here Be Monsters! deck.
- I haven't faced Defender of the Spire in a while so I have yet to see how the lack of Scorpion Wasp in the main deck will affect that matchup.
- 10/23 UPDATE: I just won VS Defender of the Spire. I was stuck on 5 power and Ramba's cost reduction + a few spells were key to pulling a win.

* Edict of Grodov (NOPE)
- Very good card but I don't have any slot for it. Scorpion Wasp is still a much better card for majority of Gauntlet threats.

* Kairos' Choice (NOPE)
- Both modes are very limiting.
- I prefer the 3 damage from Purify because silence for me is premium in Gauntlet.
- I prefer Teleport for the bounce effect since it can target opposing units.



ABOUT THE DECK:

This is a version of my Here Be Monsters! gauntlet deck with Kairos, Grand Champion.

The original Here Be Monsters! is still a very good gauntlet deck even without Kairos, Grand Champion. It's great at cycling through your cards faster than AI. But for those of you who want the new Praxis top-end - this is the list that works best for me.



LOSSES:

1st loss: 3rd boss = Labyrinth Treasury
- I drew power. Lots of it. By the time the game ended I only had Initiate of the Sands, Auralian Merchant and Talir, Who Sees Beyond in play and I couldn't hold off the onslaught.

2nd loss: 8th boss = Sudden Death
- I always start losing at T4 Bandit Queen. It just stumps my comeback. Sudden Death has been very consistent recently.

3rd loss: 13th boss = Defender of the Spire
- Used up 3 Scorpion Wasps and 2 Purify, but AI just kept dropping units. Couldn't hold off Champion of Progress and Forsworn Stranger (buffed with that stupid Mantle of Justice).

4th loss: 5th game of 15th run = Rebel Forces
- AI curved Deepforged Plate on a lifesteal unit, which I took care of with Scorpion Wasp. AI then dropped back to back Jekk, the Bounty Hunter, which was a good way to stop my ramp and leave me with no blockers. Then to top it all off, proceeded to drop another Deepforged Plate on Jekk, then dropped 2 more quickdraw units. WTH.

5th loss: 16th boss = Mindless Aggression
- My first unit was Worldbearer Behemoth. I expected to lose.

6th loss: 29th boss = Feln Ritualist
- Bad matchup. All units (including ramp) got destroyed at T6 by Black Sky Harbinger.
- I should've saved my 2x Torch for Champion of Cunning and Black Sky Harbinger. Lesson learned!

7th loss: 34th boss = Limitless Possibilities
- AI got destiny on a Mistveil Drake. I was able to kill it (one instance where Scorpion Wasp is better than Edict of Shavka), but I couldn't catch up.
- It's payback for AI though: on my 33rd run, Kairos, Grand Champion got destiny so game was over in 2 turns LOL.



BOSSES:

1. Defender of the Spire (5 influence per faction) - 9 turns

2. Power of Progress (2 power per turn) - 10 turns

3. Labyrinth Treasury (units cost 1 less) - Lost in 7 turns

4. Company of Exiles (spells into units) - 14 turns

5. Highly Skilled (+1/+1 for each battle skill) - 8 turns

6. Limitless Possibilities (random battle skill) - 6 turns

7. Defender of the Spire (5 influence per faction) - 10 turns

8. Sudden Death (double damage) - Lost in 6 turns

9. Mindless Aggression (charge) - 9 turns

10. Labyrinth Treasury (units cost 1 less) - 10 turns

11. Mindless Aggression (charge) - 12 turns

12. Highly Skilled (+1/+1 for each battle skill) - 8 turns

13. Defender of the Spire (5 influence per faction) - Lost in 11 turns

14. Company of Exiles (spells into units) - 13 turns

15. N/A

16. Mindless Aggression (charge) - Lost in 5 turns

17. Company of Exiles (spells into units) - 5 turns

18. Power of Progress (2 power per turn) - 12 turns

19. Labyrinth Treasury (units cost 1 less) - 7 turns

20. Company of Exiles (spells into units) - 6 turns

21. Mindless Aggression (charge) - 11 turns

22. Company of Exiles (spells into units) - 8 turns

23. Limitless Possibilities (random battle skill) - 7 turns

24. Nikki's Grab Bag (random card per turn) - 9

25. Xenan Power (players start with +3 maximum power) - 11

26. Power of Progress (2 power per turn) - 6 turns

27. Labyrinth Treasury (units cost 1 less) - 8 turns

28. Mindless Aggression (charge) - 5 turns

29. Feln Ritualist (units start with 1 health) - Lost in 8 turns.

30. Power of Progress (2 power per turn) - 8 turns

31. Sudden Death (double damage) - 8 turns

32. Company of Exiles (spells into units) - 9 turns

33. Limitless Possibilities (random battle skill) - 2 turns

34. Limitless Possibilities (random battle skill) - Lost in 7 turns

35. Labyrinth Treasury (units cost 1 less) - 14 turns

36. Highly Skilled (+1/+1 for each battle skill) - 9 turns

37. Defender of the Spire (5 influence per faction) - 8 turns

38. Defender of the Spire (5 influence per faction) - 7 turns

39. Company of Exiles (spells into units) - 9 turns

40. Labyrinth Treasury (units cost 1 less) - 7 turns