Dark Return
x2
1
Spiteful Strike
x4
1
Suffocate
x2
2
Annihilate
x3
2
Argenport Instigator
x3
2
Blackhall Warleader
x4
2
Cull the Deck
x3
2
Ripknife Assassin
x4
2
Vara's Favor
x3
3
Desecrate
x4
3
Kerendon Merchant
x4
3
Rhysta, Acantha's Herald
x3
4
Memory Dredger
x3
4
Vara, Vengeance-Seeker
x4
5
Tasbu, the Forbidden
x4
Shadow Sigil
x13
Amethyst Waystone
x4
Cabal Standard
x4
Emblem of Makkar
x4
View Deck on Shiftstoned
The AI has some strong aversions to ever attacking or blocking deadly units so they do a lot. For that reason, I also like having Kerendon Steward instead of things like suffocate. Even if they just sit there dissuading attacks until you find your other threats I'm happy.
Marionette Cross is also a great card. 5/5 for 3 power is just a beating. I think they're better than Instigator, but I can see an argument for either one.
I use 2 copies of Surgeon's Saw instead of the Dark Returns since I really like having the extra sources of lifesteal to catch up in losing matches.
Lastly, I run Amethyst Monument out of the market instead of the sigil. If you merchant on 3, there isn't much else you can play the same turn anyway if you had an active power and having yet another source of lifesteal is a great way to stabilize games. On the topic of markets, Slimespitter Slug is good tech against the occasional flyer heavy deck.
I never did like Marionette cross, dunno why, can't really call it competition for instigator just because, having no 1 cost units, we certainly need 2 costs with some blocking ability to stop blitz attacks.
I did state in the main text that you can use ripknife instead of warleader. Might switch it to half and half to make it clear to people.
That all said, this deck has been absurdly reliable according to me and many others. I
I appreciate the feedback. Not sure i'd put cross in, or surgeons saw (although I do like lifesteal a lot). but i'll think about it, and put a note in the text saying people can try out your suggestions if they want to.
Also, check out my Kairos Gauntlet OBLITERATOR for easy rolling through gauntlet!
I'll check out the subreddit thx.
I agree about adding Emblem of Makkar, that card is a lifesaver. Also, I know that Devastating Setback is more flexible, but I usually go with Malediction since it's more DEVASTATING lol.
Yeah I just scooped up another Emblem of makkar from draft, so might stick them in.
The emblems are good - saved me from power flood in some games. Emblems of Makkar and Grodov are the ones I use most often because both their abilities are great! Sorry for hijacking the thread btw! Will try this deck once I get the Kerendons LOL
If you really insist, you could try an extra of annihilate and suffocate (from 3 of each to 4 of each). Then add 2 "in cold blood" i guess.
Do you just not have any desecrate? Pretty top shelf card.
------------------------- All that said, this deck is playable without desecrate, but its an important card ------------------------
Not used to having no 1-drops. Your thoughts on Street Urchin? Marionette Cross? Bloodseeker ( https://i.redd.it/mnk1hdf3r6q31.png )?
Still, if you decide to test it, I'd be curious how it goes for you.
Also, check out my new gauntlet obliterator! Kairos Gauntlet Obliterator! Works wonders!
Marionette cross I just never really liked. It's stats are good, but it's got tough competition for that spot.
Urchin now I like. Haven't used it in this deck but I use it in Argenport decks. Feel free to try it in this deck although I'm not sure what you would take out to make room for urchin. Suppose you could experiment by adding a few and a power to have 78 cards - just to experiment - but this deck is pretty fine tuned!
Happy you like it.
If you want, check out my other decks - specifically "Experimental Equaltaurs". It's not exactly the version of the deck I'm using because as the name says, I experiment a lot with it. That said, it's a great template to see how to deck works and you can then make changes as you like.
Here's the link. It might not be as tottaly fine tuned for Gauntlet as this mono shadow, but it's SUPER FUN.
https://eternalwarcry.com/decks/d/0joDImcoLr8/experimental-equaltaurs
This deck is downright VICIOUS. I've played it for a month straight, and it just won't lose if you get a turn 2 unit and don't get land screwed (which are both not that common).
The AI never sees spiteful strike or cabal tactic comming, but the truth is... players rarely do either...
Absolutely insane against the gauntlet. As long as you don't play the gauntlet twice in a row (when the AI ups the difficulty without telling you, which I would, have, and do consider cheating), this deck doesn't just beat the gauntlet every time, it absolutely eviscerates it (and, yes, that includes all except MAYBE one of the bosses).
On top of that, it's the number one go to for easy PvP wins for packs every day (at least, in casual).
If you're out there trying to find the first (or best) deck to beat the gauntlet with, do yourself a favor and look no further.
biologynut99, maybe this deck is just up my alley to pilot, I don't know, but from my experience, you've tapped into gold here. Well done!
And yeah; I put spiteful strike in any Gauntlet deck which has shadow. The QuickDraw the AI never sees coming, allowing one big unit to wipe the enemy board sometimes (as AI seems to love trading lots of small guys for one of our own big guys), plus the lifesteal sometimes saves the day !
Enjoy
On the topic, I think the Madness is the best card in the market, though I agree with every card in there, too.
The only one that might be exchangeable would be Umbren Reaper, though he's definitely been the right choice at times. We should keep that in mind while considering Flame of Xulta cards.
AI just herps the derp and treats it like an enemy unit.
As far as Reaper you are right it's the one card I most try to experiment changing.
Pros - flying, pretty much guarantees +5/-5 for you/enemy
Cons - so many other cards can fit here, reaper gets permafrosted or silenced, has no board impact on player turn
------------
If you find a good fit for that spot lemme know. I'm starting to craft fox cards as I see which ones work in top decks, but I'm not shiftstone rich so I'm going carefully.
Thanks
Thanks so much for the feedback!
The deck took influence from previous mono shadow decks, but I found this particularly fine-tuned.
Now that FoX is out and we're all gonna Gauntlet back to masters (get those sweet platinum chests on the way!) I think this deck will be quite useful!
Speaking of FoX, I'd be very careful swapping anything in from this new set. Not saying that appropriate switches aren't there, just that I can't imagine what to take out. Even the argenport instigators, when played right, seriously leverage an already dangerous situation for the enemy. Curious, though to see what could become of it with any new options.
Anyway, congrats again!
I thought u might want to take a look at this other deck I made. Uses Yisha the Equalizer along with Tavrod/minotaurs, and I find it extremely fun to play, and pretty succesfull (maybe a little less statistics wise than this mono shadow, but not bad). I call it Equaltaurs, this is a work-in-progress version
As far as FoX goes, I did have some trouble with the cultist deck (i still won both times tho).
Lastly, if I had to give kudos to a gauntlet deck that WRECKS the AI its this one Called "Here Be Kairos I guess it only works if you have Kairos (I was using the deck with only kairos in market, but it was so good I crafted 3 more). This deck is so powerful because all you have to do is survive long enough to pop Kairos out, and then just play units to burn the enemy health.
Wish I could claim I created this last one, but its amazing deck worth sharing.
So see if you like the Equal Minotaurs deck I made (if just for fun!), and if you ever want another deck to smash through gauntlet, this "Here be Kairos" deck is top of the list of other peoples gauntlet deck!
Thanks again for the kind words, it WILL be difficult finding anywhere to swap cards out for FoX, but we'll have to see what purple cards turn out super powerful!
Havent crafted a full set of them, but am thinking about putting 4 in here as a test.
Also, if I decided to take the plunge and craft them, would be Incarnus, the shadow listener with Invoke. Not sure what she would replace, but unblockable and +a card sounds pretty sweet.
Thoughts?