Decided to try and give myself a challenge to see if I can brew something up for Rakano. For a faction that's reached meme tier for the combination of nerfs and neglect it's received throughout Eternal's history, almost consistently, and considering what a husk of a neglected mess this stricken pairing is and has been ever since it got absolutely cratered by nerfs in set 9, I wondered if there was any way to actually find some sort of shell in this miserable hellscape.
I mean let's see--no paintings, no marks, no set 15 support...no problem? (Lies.)
The results are...actually kind of interesting? Lystia might actually be the missing piece for J midrange decks hoping to go a little longer. You know how we meme on DWD not letting Rhysta block? Well, Lystia is...kind of a Rhysta that...can do just that! (Terms and conditions apply.)
Anyhow, the plan with this deck is to silence and murder utility dorks with impunity, use market removal on the big stuff, and smack face with some pretty good relic weapons.
That said, is all well in Rakano land? Good heavens, no. The missing painting is obviously painful,
Bulletshaper still in nerf hell prevents this deck from running the set 9 Marley, who'd be an absolute house if the influence could work out for her, the smuggler having 1 point of health from nerfs back in **SET 5** in a meta of
Autotread in a ton of decks on ladder is just frustrating to no end, and the fact that Rakano doesn't have some sort of smuggler's stash-like card that might draw units from your void is irritating, etc. etc.
But for one of the objectively worst factions in the game stemming from both nerfs and neglect (nerfglected!), the fact that there's something playable here is an interesting little tidbit.
It also gives me some ideas as to a possible FJS brew, but the speed at which you need a bunch of influence in that deck is just...painful.
In any case, feel free to take this deck for a spin. It's definitely nothing tier 1 amazeballs, but it has some play to it, and shows that even the worst of factions isn't completely out of it.
Justice Etchings
x4
1
Torch
x4
2
Combrei Lawmage
x4
2
Rakano Artisan
x4
2
Watchwing Support
x3
3
Helena, Skyguide
x4
3
Jadehorn
x3
3
Lystia, Flighty Mistral
x4
3
Monarch Cloak
x4
3
Red Canyon Smuggler
x4
3
Valkyrie Enforcer
x4
4
Foxfang Katars
x4
4
Ossuar Longbow
x4
Fire Sigil
x4
Justice Sigil
x6
Rakano Banner
x4
Rakano Cylix
x4
Rakano Insignia
x4
Seat of Glory
x3
View Deck on Shiftstoned
Ironthorn, Lawman used to be a 3/2. (Can use a revert.)
Ijin, Walking Armory used to play the 4/4 armor on herself if she was your first unit at 6J.
Sediti used to be a 6/6 and his curse said if the player didn't take damage for the turn, draw a card. It made it such that if you played a 1/1 grenadin from the granite waystone, your opponent absolutely HAD to kill it (including with a harsh rule on an otherwise empty board!). It was that obscene. The nerf to the curse had to happen. 6/6 to 5/5 I'm not so sure about.
Rizahn, Greatbow Master used to gain lifesteal on 3 spells in the void, while he's at 6 now. This could be reverted, and he'd still see no play.
Ossuar Longbow used to be a base 3/3 instead of a 3/2. If it hunted 2, you could kill a 4/X unit (like Ziat), and have it survive the attack.
Privilege of Rank used to cost 3J and draw 2 justice sigils.
Red Canyon smuggler used to be a 2/3 double damage -> nerfed to 2/2 -> nerfed again to 2/1. She can stand at least a revert to 2/2, but I'd like to see a revert to 2/3.
Silverblade Intrusion used to need 4J influence to draw the valkyrie denouncer. Furthermore, if the opponent had 4+ cards in hand when you cast it, you PLAYED one for free. The nerfs to influence and removal of playing the second denouncer absolutely had to happen.
Friends in Low Places used to need 6 fire and 6 justice respectively, for its effects and had plunder. And the justice mode actually PLAYED the unit with aegis if it cost 4 or less. It was an incredibly and obscenely busted card.
Telut, the Iron Gate's surge ability used to be PERMANENT (-1 attack to opp's entire board for each influence gained), but now only lasts for your turn.
Steyer's Tower used to cost 4J, now costs 5J.
Heavy Artillery (5/1 overwhelm relic weapon for 4FF) used to play the raildriver on Valkyrie Warp. Valkyrie Warp means that if you have a valkyrie, a card gains warp AND does something when you warp it.
Those are the salient ones, IMO.