Calibrate
x2
2
Dinosaur Nest
x4
2
Exploit
x4
2
Kelmak's Spear
x4
2
Lethrai Courtier
x4
2
Power Stone
x4
2
Shardbinder
x4
2
Trail Maker
x4
3
Celestial Discovery
x4
3
Great Valley Smuggler
x4
3
Sodi the Metamorph
x4
3
The True-Sight Map
x4
4
Severin, the Mad Mage
x4
Primal Sigil
x3
Shadow Sigil
x2
Time Sigil
x5
Crest of Mystery
x2
Crest of Wisdom
x3
Feln Painting
x3
Seat of Mystery
x3
Seat of Wisdom
x4
View Deck on Shiftstoned
I played an exploit to clear the way for my shardbinder, in case he had a damage spell. He didn't and only had one turn 2 unit, so I ripped that to give me more time.
Somehow after only drawing two cards (over two turns), he got the damage spell and two units (pyroknights), and played them all.
I always knew it, but now I have personal proof, at least. Anyway, just wanted to share that tidbit.
It doesn't matter, 'cause it's still just a fun deck to play with, but I haven't won the Gauntlet with it once over about 7 attempts (got close once).
And the Gauntlet is pretty brutal, you can just get some awful losing streaks sometimes.
I am 100% convinced, though, that The Gauntlet manipulates its draws when it thinks you've won too much too quickly. I think my main deck is either just that good against Gauntlet or somehow the Gauntlet's "cheat mode" approach isn't as triggered for some underlying reason against it. Maybe both. That deck hardly ever loses to Gauntlet, and it's reasonably quick at it, too (it's not an all out aggro deck. Those rarely work against the Gauntlet). I'm just scared to share it for fear of something in it getting nerfed, lol.
Maybe that fifth spot should be something that at least has the option to deal with that card alone, because "Send an Agent" won't do it.
I just kept trying to search with "The True-Sight Map" for anything that could help me or gain life, but it didn't quite get there.
Was still super fun, though!
You really want to try and ramp toward a 4 power play on turn 3. That can either be Severin, or double spelling with Shardbinder + Kelmak's Spear (probably the most powerful play at stabilizing), or Courtier + any relic, or two relics.
Sodi is extremely powerful at letting you go over the top of the opponent in the mid-to-late game, but is pretty awkward to cast. Totally fine to plunder her or trade her away early.
Trail Maker is necessary for the tough influence requirements in the deck, but I will often use it to get a Justice and/or Fire influence to increase the options of True-Sight Map.
Thank you again for sharing! It's certainly a lot of fun!
Also, Chronostorm? I've never seen that before in a build, but I get, totally, why it's there. I can't wait to shove a fistful of blitz creatures back in the Gauntlet's ass, lol.
Only market choice, I guess I'm not sure of is Thunderstrike Dragon. A beat stick when you're set up? It makes sense.
One question, though, why Send an Agent over something that can kill any unit? What relics are you worried about? There has to be a reason I'm not aware of. Every other choice you've made seems very well thought out, so I have to assume you know what you're thinking there, too.
[edit]: Oh, Send an Agent for the option to stop Relic Weapons probably, huh? [/edit]
Send an Agent is there because a lot of the largest or priority kill targets are monofaction, and being able to hit relics of all kind can be super helpful as well. It also is cheap enough to double spell with a merchant often; more expensive alternatives are clunkier, and the cheap stuff is usually not available to Great Valley Smuggler.
Thunderstrike Dragon is definitely not set in stone; It can serve as a finisher or to help you stabilize against slower decks. Something high impact like Bazaar Stampede would probably go further, even with the deck's reduced emphasis on aggression.
[edit] Oh, Elvish Swindler probably wouldn't be bad in that slot, either.[/edit]
Yeah, even as I typed my question I thought, Chronostorm is probably not very often fast enough to stabilize, but I could see it happening. Still want to do it, at least once, though! lol.
Interesting choice suggestions on Bazaar Stampede and Elvish Swindler. Swindler into the spear has to feel pretty good, though you're not going to get the plague. Bazaar Stampede is faster than the dragon, but the faster it comes out, the less effective it is. Not sure on those choices myself. I'd be interested to hear other suggestions, as well.
Grodov's burden? I know the deck doesn't really need any more card draw, but it can't hurt, and exalted is a bitch to deal with when everything you have gets it.