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[New Players] Ultra-Budget Xenan Killers

Throne Deck By
FallenChameleon

+8

Cost Curve

Type

Faction

Information

This is a Xenan Killers deck built using only commons and uncommons, intended for new players who may be interested in the archetype. Ageless Mentor gives the deck quite a bit more power, and lets Praxis Displacer be another way to trigger Friendly Wisp's draw.

Some synergies the deck has is the ability to Dark Return a Twinbrood Sauropod that had Killer from Xenan Initiation, giving you two new copies, both with killer. Friendly Wisp with a Beastcaller's Amulet will trigger the draw effect if you are able to infiltrate. Also, if your opponent permafrosts one of your units, you can use Praxis Displacer to return it to hand, and remove the permafrost.

When you are ready for a full version, rares to add would be Dawnwalker, Argenport Instigator, Banish, Auric Interrogator, Xenan Obelisk, and Predatory Carnosaur.

Legendaries to add would be Sandstorm Titan and Ayan, the Abductor.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Details

Shiftstone Cost
Does not include campaign cost
5,800
Premium Cost
92,800
Influence Requirements
2 2
Power Sources
17 13 8 4
Power Calculator
Shiftstoned Icon View Deck on Shiftstoned
Deck Rarities
14 51
Card Types
24 3 22 0 26
Archetype
Midrange
Added
November 10, 2017
Views
6,488
Eternal Version
The Pale Riders
BBCode For Comments
Deck URL
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Comments

jackal003 Eternal Version: 1.27
How would the deck look if one could have all the legendaries,rares and epics? I assume as below

3 Dark Return
2 Seek Power
4 Argenport Instigator
4 Friendly Wisp
4 Vara's Favor
4 Xenan Initiation
2 Ayan, the abductor
4 Auric Interrogator
4 Banish
3 Beastcaller's Amulet
3 Deathstrike
4 Sandstorm Titan
2 Xenan Obelisk
3 Twinbrood Sauropod
4 Predatory Carnosaur
5 Time Sigil (or 1 and 4 amber waystone)
4 Amber Monument
5 Shadow Sigil
4 Seat of Mystery
4 Xenan Banner
4 Diplomatic Seal
FallenChameleon Eternal Version: 1.28
I'm actually not sure, we just had nerfs today to Argenport Instigator and Dawnwalker which now needs TTTT influence to recur, which isn't feasible for xenan killers. I would probably try a mono Time deck packing Dawnwalker, Sandstorm Titan, Worldbearer Behemoth and Predatory Carnosaur, something like this:
4 Sand Warrior (Set1 #64)
4 Initiate of the Sands (Set1 #74)
2 Twilight Hunt (Set3 #59)
4 Talir's Favored (Set0 #11)
4 Temple Scribe (Set1 #502)
2 Xenan Initiation (Set2 #44)
4 Ageless Mentor (Set1 #90)
4 Dawnwalker (Set1 #86)
2 Scorpion Wasp (Set1 #96)
4 Praxis Displacer (Set1 #100)
4 Sandstorm Titan (Set1 #99)
4 Xenan Obelisk (Set1 #103)
4 Worldbearer Behemoth (Set3 #87)
4 Predatory Carnosaur (Set1 #118)
17 Time Sigil (Set1 #63)
4 Amber Monument (Set1 #420)
4 Amber Waystone (Set3 #51)
jackal003 Eternal Version: 1.28
Yeah, just saw the nerfs today, but it's not that harsh (i think). Sometimes you won't be able to play argenport on 2 (a really strong play, made you play sometimes like aggro), but i never used dawnwalker with this deck so it didn't make much difference this nerf for me. Still, gonna try this monodeck you suggested, thanks for all this viable builds you make on this site, it really helps to figure out some strong things while you don't have many cards.
Rumpel Eternal Version: 1.27
The deck is fun to play. Made my first ranked wins with it. Many thanks
FallenChameleon Eternal Version: 1.27
Glad to hear you're enjoying it!
Comment Deleted
katie Edited Eternal Version: 1.27
I just played one game of gauntlet just now with this deck to try it out, and omg I couldn't believe the synergy.

I put a Beastcaller's Amulet on a wisp and attacked, I got the 5/5 and drew 2 cards on turn 3!

I had one Dawnwalker, and I drew it that game, and it came back 4 times. He killed the 5/5 beast, but I used a Dark Return to bring it back on the board, or played a +2/+2 Twinbrood Sauropod, and it just kept coming back despite the AI using removal on the Dawnwalker, lol.

Game was not close. Will keep exploring!

EDIT: Wow, let's say you put Xenan Initiation on a Twinbrood Sauropod and then it dies. Dark Returning it gives you 2 more +1/+1 killer Twinbrood Sauropods. Like wow, that's such an insane combo.
FallenChameleon Eternal Version: 1.27
It's a really cool archetype, glad you are enjoying it!
Patches Eternal Version: 1.26.3
Hey, thanks for the deck list! I just started playing last night and this is the second deck I've built thus far but the one I am having the most success with. So kudos! I already had a couple of the rares (Predatory Carnosaur and Xenan Obelisk). What cards should I be swapping out for? And to expand on that further, is there any particular order I should focus on crafting the rares/legendaries? i have just almost enough dust at the time of posting to craft a legendary or a full set of rares, so I'm curious what might take priority and help me ultimately gain a bit more stability going forward.

Thank you much!
FallenChameleon Eternal Version: 1.26.3
I normally don't recommend crafting rares since you are likely to get them in packs/draft eventually, but for your first competitive deck it's certainly fine. 4 Dawnwalker would be the highest priority for this deck, but you really need a Sandstorm Titan substitute to realize the full benefit (Titan is far and away the most important Legendary for the deck, Ayan can wait). Though the full version wants 4 Sandstorm Titan, a decent budget rare would be Impending Doom which can bring back Dawnwalker. The next priority rare is Predatory Carnosaur and then Argenport Instigator after that. I would not run Xenan Obelisk until you have Auric Interrogator which is only available from The Tale of Horus Traver Campaign.

This might be a little over your shiftstone budget but you could go -4 Ageless Mentor -4 Praxis Displacer -1 Lumen Defender, +4 Dawnwalker +4 Impending Doom, +1 Predatory Carnosaur and if you have more Carnosaurs, sub out the other Plated Goliath.

The last Lumen Defender is sort of a flex slot now, and I had them because aggro decks were really tough and with Ageless Mentor in the list, a 3/7 deadly blocker could wall off midrange too if they didn't have removal. If you want to run the 1 of Xenan Obelisk you could, or another Suffocate or Annihilate depending on what decks you are facing.

Hope that helps!
Patches Edited Eternal Version: 1.26.3
Indeed it does! Thank you for the detailed reply. At current the changes are a bit above my budget, but considering I had amassed like 7k dust over the course of a couple of days I can't imagine it'll be too difficult to replicate that.
FallenChameleon Eternal Version: 1.26.3
Another option would be just crafting 4 Argenport Instigator and taking out Friendly Wisp. Wait on 4 Dawnwalker until you have 4 Sandstorm Titan or 4 Impending Doom to go with it. This would help out your early game, but you miss out on the card draw of Wisp and it's harder to infiltrate Amulet, but i'd go this route if you are facing a lot of aggro.
Patches Eternal Version: 1.26.3
Actually not long after I replied I did an arena run that came up rather lucky, dusted most of the rares, ended up with 7300 or so. Crafted all the impending dooms, dawnwalkers, and an extra predatory carnosuar. This is where I'm at right now.

4 Dark Return (Set1 #250)
2 Seek Power (Set1 #408)
2 Suffocate (Set1 #251)
3 Annihilate (Set1 #269)
4 Blistersting Wasp (Set2 #202)
4 Friendly Wisp (Set1 #82)
4 Vara's Favor (Set0 #35)
4 Xenan Initiation (Set2 #44)
3 Beastcaller's Amulet (Set1 #282)
4 Dawnwalker (Set1 #86)
3 Deathstrike (Set1 #290)
4 Impending Doom (Set1 #286)
2 Lumen Defender (Set1 #115)
4 Twinbrood Sauropod (Set1 #113)
2 Predatory Carnosaur (Set1 #118)
5 Time Sigil (Set1 #63)
4 Amber Monument (Set1 #420)
5 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)
4 Seat of Mystery (Set0 #61)
4 Xenan Banner (Set2 #201)
4 Diplomatic Seal (Set1 #425)
babelrouser Edited Eternal Version: 1.26.3
Really enjoy this deck so far. Thank you! I've been able to make a couple of the upgrades already. Using it for my Gauntlet runs (only started the game about a week ago). One question: Do you run into dead draws from time to time with this deck? I've had more than just a few matches where my opening hand and my redraw both lacked the Power cards I needed to get onto board any time before turn five or so -- and by then I'd already lost most of those.
FallenChameleon Eternal Version: 1.26.3
The deck runs 26 power + 2 Seek Power and 4 Vara's Favor. With the redraw we are guaranteed 2-4 power (1/3 chance each), and that does not include Seeks or Favors, so you are actually more likely to flood on power than screw, though both happen occasionally. I actually took this list to a 7-0 Masters Level Gauntlet run, so it can definitely work for gauntlet grinding.

The deck can struggle in the early game, and can have some awkward hands if your 2 drop gets torched and you have an Amulet in hand with no target, also Ageless Mentor can sometimes have hands that are spell heavy and only 1 or no 4+ drops to buff. In those sorts of hands, you want to use Praxis Displacer to stall (even if you just bounce a 1 or 2 drop), and try to get to a board where you can start to play Sauropods and get your killer-dark return value engine going. The 2 Lumen Defenders can also help stabilize against aggro.

When you are able to craft Sandstorm Titan and Ayan (which will happen sooner than you might think) and get Dawnwalkers and the other rares mentioned, your early game will be quite a bit better and the deck's power level goes up so much!
babelrouser Eternal Version: 1.26.3
Thanks!
Comment Deleted
lilhense Eternal Version: 1.26.3
Hi - What cards would you replace, say i have all the rares you mention, except Dawnwalker (yes i agree this is the first card you would want to add).
FallenChameleon Eternal Version: 1.26.3
I would run a list like this:
3 Dark Return (Set1 #250)
2 Seek Power (Set1 #408)
1 Annihilate (Set1 #269)
4 Argenport Instigator (Set1 #268)
4 Friendly Wisp (Set1 #82)
4 Vara's Favor (Set0 #35)
4 Xenan Initiation (Set2 #44)
2 Ageless Mentor (Set1 #90)
4 Auric Interrogator (Set1002 #13)
4 Banish (Set2 #207)
3 Beastcaller's Amulet (Set1 #282)
3 Deathstrike (Set1 #290)
2 Praxis Displacer (Set1 #100)
2 Xenan Obelisk (Set1 #103)
4 Twinbrood Sauropod (Set1 #113)
3 Predatory Carnosaur (Set1 #118)
5 Time Sigil (Set1 #63)
4 Amber Monument (Set1 #420)
5 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)
4 Seat of Mystery (Set0 #61)
4 Xenan Banner (Set2 #201)
4 Diplomatic Seal (Set1 #425)

If you don't have Auric Interrogator (from Horus Traver Campaign) go +2 Ageless Mentor, +2 Praxis Displacer