Way of the Burning Brush [Oni Tribal] [Tempo]

Are you ready to study the Way of the Burning Brush?

I'm really into Tribal decks. This one's probably not going to be rocking any worlds, but I'm just looking for fun, fair game play and I'm down for just skipping all the horrible 50-Legendary cheese decks the veterans are rocking. So, how do these Oni get down?

This deck is all about curving out and snowballing from tempo. Early on, you're trying to get in a few quick hits with Oni Ronin and Oni Samurai (clearing the way using Torch) before transitioning into a swarm-based approach that uses Weapons to overwhelm the opponent. Jishu, the Burning Brush is our main passive source of Weapons, and the only non-combat Unit we're running in this build. She's helped in her task by the Oni Forgemaster to make sure you're never running out of Weapons, and, thanks to Oni Quartermaster, hopefully never out of cards, period. Ornate Katana and Shugon's Scepter are my pure weapons of choice because they're just good cards that work great for us. A few Auric Runehammers give us a few Relic Weapons to boot. There's a lot of damage-based removal running around (like Torch and Hailstorm), which is why I've opted for high-health 3-drops in the form of the excellent Frontier Bard and Oni Stalwart and our top-end consists of the efficient Hellfire Oni and Oni Combatant, who synergize amazingly with the established game plan. The only non-Power card I haven't mentioned is Warbrush Oni, and that's because I intend to replace it with Acclaimed Artisan once it comes out. For now though, it's a decent value card.

My Power base is very solid. Due to our low curve, we can afford to run the minimum 25 Power, of which only 5 enter play depleted (Crownwatch Standard and Shugo Standard). These are worth their drawback though, because these Oni love having a few combat tricks around in the midgame, especially because of my lack of Quickdraw. Everything else just makes sure I get the appropriate spread of Influence, and enough Power to get up to 6 or 7, and that's about it.

Keep playing Oni, keep pushing damage, and win!

PS: If you have Kyojun, Grand Shugo, go ahead an play it over the Hellfire Oni, but I think its 2 health is just too low to be worth it. Ijin's Workshop is in a similar boat, in that I think it's too vulnerable and slows the deck down too much. Put it in your Black Market and fetch it with a Red Canyon Smuggler if you're in a grindier match-up.