What is this deck about?
This deck is a midrange approach to the Millstome deck from last patch. So far it has performed great against Dragon aggro, Dragon Midrange/spells, Elysian flyers, Cultist aggro, Combrei aggro, Strangers, Sacrifice and Armory control.
The deck has taken me to top 3 and I found it real fun to play because it combines a midrange strategy with inevitability. You can be the aggressor or the controlling deck depending on the matchup. It also highlights some of the new toys we got in EoE.
My opinion on the new cards
*Two-face: absolutely insane card. Proactive, deadly unit that offers 4 mill or can chump twice.
*Condemn: excellent card. Look at it like flexible trick. You sometimes 2-for-1 yourself, but there are so many applications that the tempo gain is worth the extra card. We only need 3 because we don't have a very proactive market.
*Strange Broker: defensive body, compounding mill and late game power dump? Yes please.
*Darktalon Wyvarch: good proactive play. Use it to test the waters for your Elder uhh Heartstopper. Usually mills 2-3 cards and sticks around. You can replace him with the 3-drop 1/4 Feln bird which comes down earlier and is more defensive, but doesn't highroll or stick around.
*Savage Incursion: Absurd at 10, gamewinning at 20. This card is the biggest reason why this deck wins against control decks. 3 copies is enough because of the steep influence and graveyard requirement.
*Makkar's Stranger: it's a more threatening Incarnus. I like it, but it isn't particularly necessary for this deck. You can replace him.
*Essence Feast: try not to use it before your opponent's graveyard has reached 20. In that case, we are happy with a lifestealing Harsh Rule at 2 mana. Otherwise it is a mediocre card against aggro. Usually you can stack the graveyard around turn 5-6.
*Defile: the baby brother of Death Ripple, Annihilate and Eremot's Design. Has anti-synergy with stacking your opponent's graveyard, but instant speed removal is premium. You can opt for Eremot's Designs.
Tips
*Grodov's Stranger: the absolute bane of this deck. Luckily we have Devouring Shadow, Permafrost and Edict of Makkar to deal with him.
*Numbing cold or Tome?: you only need 1 tome at any given time in most matches. In long, drawn out games you have inevitability on your side, so more tomes are better. In shorter games you may want to use Numbing Cold so you are less vulnerable against aggro opponents. Against opponents with large hands or when topdecking, Tome is better.
*Savage Incursion: if your opponent has 19 cards in the graveyard and you kill something with Savage Incursion, it will spawn the 3 dragons. I'm not sure if this is intended.
*Darkmask Stalker?: good in draft, awful in this deck. He won't get off his ultimate and doesn't impact the board or further our gameplan.
what would you replace makkar with?
I have a Throne version that just took me from Gold to Masters: Savage Outcast
I had some trouble versus Dragon decks lately, did you fare any better?
2x Numbing Cold and Darktalon feels odd. Im debating going 4 tome and 3 Darktalon. Is Condemn - transpose (market) - darktalon (market) too crazy an idea for anti-unitless?
How is your draw without wisdom of elders?
Don't forget to make me a new throne deck too :)
- Condemn-Transpose is a really cool idea! You'll have to exchange a 4-cost card in your hand or always keep Darktalon in your Market. I think I'll experiment with it, since it ensures our Market also has a proactive option besides sabotage.
- You have 4 sources of draw: Tome, Heartstopper, Savage Incursion and Makkar's Stranger. You could try to squeeze in Wisdom, but we shouldn't compromise our early game. Maybe replace Darktalon and Numbing Cold?
I'm going to try your deck but I'll go 4 tome, 3 swindler. I'll trust you on the draw. You made top 5 after all.
Don't be afraid to be greedy. Thanks to Essence Feast you can recover quickly and every one of your units is a threat or a source of card advantage.
PS: I don't think Mill will be viable in Throne. There are some really nasty OTK decks out there.