I don't think we get around doing a budget series without tackling Rakano.
It feels like this archetype / list is the most basic list a beginner in Eternal could potentially run.
Simplistic gameplay and an effective strategy makes this very easy to pilot and very rewarding to play.
Let's pretend for a second, that there is an actual budget meta out there.
Rakano would probably the best and most consistent option you could run with the least convoluted gameplan but also the least ínteresting choices to make.
Yet, i can't hate on this deck, nor on its archetype because it is just so efficient.
If you are on a serious budget, consider running Rakano for best possible results aka bang for your buck.
Im 100% sure that this list can reach the highest tier in ranked and works also well in a gauntlet farming environment, due to heavy synergy and just raw power.
Gameplay Video on Youtube
here Feel free to hit me up on eternalwarcry, my youtube, twitch or ingame.
Thanks for all the positive feedback and the constructive criticism and the fun I had on ladder against you guys.
I hope to catch you soon again :)
PS: Let me know what I should tackle next, weird brews or different approaches to another budget list?
I'd have a 5 Faction Brew that doesnt do what it should but feels amazing to play :p
Possible Upgrades to this deck
Champion of Glory has a decent stateline, quickdraw and is a gunslinger! Nice value and everything we are looking for.
Also counters
Permafrost which could slow this deck down just enough to draw more answers.
Milos Izalio, Heir to Rebellion Shugo Standard &
Crownwatch Standard could both put in work for our gameplan since we are topping at 3 mana with this deck. This results in less 'dead' draws when we are in topdeck mode, maybe even granting us lethal instead of drawing a Seat of Glory or Fire / Justice Sigils.
Audacious Bandit could work well in this deck, providing yet another quickdraw gunslinger unit. Powerful card, hard to get rid of with blocking and trading, general annoyance.
Milos Izalio, Heir to Rebellion seems interesting and I haven't really tried him yet, but I saw Milos do work in similiar strategies in a stonescar gunslinger deck. Double Deck is hard to deal with if it doesnt get removed.
Stella, the Shotcaller looks amazing in a deck like this, if you got her laying around put her in and try if she works out for you. Could potentially snowball really hard. Aegis Units are amazing!
Hotbarrel Revolver &
Lawman's Sidearm would work as another weapon that provides additional bonuses.
Sheriff Marley is a VALUE machine! If you got her ready, make sure to try her out in a deck like this, the way she snowballs your board while being protected with aegis is amazing and puts you in really good spots to win the game from.
Rakano Sheriff snowballs in a the same way marley does, combining both of them is insane value in the mid to lategame. Give them a try and report back on if you like it or not, in the end we delay our gameplan and go for a more midrange approach instead of pushing hard early on with our units.
Finest Hour
x4
1
Oni Ronin
x4
1
Steady Marshal
x4
1
Torch
x4
2
Crackshot Fugitive
x4
2
Crownwatch Longsword
x4
2
Crownwatch Paladin
x4
2
Ornate Katana
x4
2
Rakano Outlaw
x4
2
Unpredictable Outlaw
x2
3
First-Shot Rioter
x4
3
Sword of Icaria
x4
3
Whirling Duo
x4
Fire Sigil
x5
Justice Sigil
x4
Diplomatic Seal
x4
Granite Waystone
x4
Rakano Banner
x4
Seat of Glory
x4
View Deck on Shiftstoned
Is so fun to see people full of foil ragequitting after 4 turns :D
Can i suggest a little improvement with Oni Quartermaster, is a really good speed up in this deck.
Shogun sounds cool as long as you dont have to craft him.
The thing is though, you make the deck less consistent since his effect doesn't support anything we try to do with this deck but creating more Oni Ronin
Finest Hour is a core staple of this deck and you will definitely feel the downgrade from 4 to 3.
Also, this deck is strictly budget, I wouldn't advise you to craft anything specific to make this better or stronger.
Use this to just farm your shiftstone, there is nothing in the top end that would fit the theme and keep it flowing like it does.
Basically, if you got any of the recommended cards from the list above, that I tagget as upgrade-worthy, go for it, but DONT craft them.
Im sure you can rack up many cards by just playing, getting your daily packs and playing forge to get the rank-up rewards.
You'll be better off crafting a better deck with a less aggressive gameplan, like any Rakano Valkyries list running around on this website.
You can even have a look at the ones that i posted thus far, all work and they all have a stronger gameplan that doesn't get wiped out by AoE damage like Hail storm.
If you have time, i would really appreciate a section on how to improve the deck once you get the stone or the cards.
I could potentially drop the Gunslinger Thematic or just put some better-in-slot rares in there.
This deck is only really good because of the synergy, cutting off enough Gunslingers could potentially hurt more than help 'improving' the deck.
Your best bet might be a standard rakano midrange list once you transition out of a budget theme.
I will think about something in around 20 minutes, maybe i can follow up rather quickly.
The main thing about the budget lists im putting together is trying to hit a specific shiftstone value OR not using any rare cards at all.
About standards in general: I think decks that top the curve the same way this deck does, benefit heavily from adding in additional powersources but be careful because having depleted power most likely means losing tempo and not being efficient with your power, keeping you with floating power that hasnt been put to work. There is a specific sweetspot you can find / hit by playtesting.
Feel free to tinker with this deck in any way you like, I even want you to try and explore every possible avenue you could take with this, maybe making it even more consistent and devastating.
Also, feel free to share upgrades you put in and how it worked out after playtesting :)