Icaria Blue (Top 10 in Ranked)

This is the deck I had the most success with as a f2p player.
I'd like to share with you my thoughts in building and polishing this deck.

1. Why splash primal instead of shadow?
Originally I was running Tony Geeee's FJS Armory list. His list splashes shadow for efficient spot removals (Slay,Annihilate), the late game value of Smuggler's Stash, and Tavrod, Auric Broker. His list lines well against linear mid-range deck that dominated the ladder. However, as the meta shifts, a removal heavy control meta has taken over. Splashing blue gives us access to four important things in this meta: card draw, counter spell, face aegis, early and mid game board wipes, while still having a sufficient number of good spot removals.

2. Card draw spells choice
Access to good card draw spells is the greatest advantage to stay in blue. Wisdom of the Elders and Strategize are staple 4-ofs in almost all blue control decks. I'd like to mention Channel the Tempest, it has a particularly strong effect, but the 8 cost and 4 primal influence requirement is too hard to meet for a 3-color deck, plus it can be countered by all counter spells in the game.

3. Why play Eilyn's Choice?
Running counter spells in ladder decks is risky. You find them often end up stuck in your hand. (The same applies to relic destruction, to a greater extent.) However, their ability to interact with your opponent is strong. What often happens is that your opponent plays one and ruins your day. This is what makes Eilyn's Choice exceptionally good, as it works not only as a counter spell, but also a spot removal.

4. Other counter spells choice
FJP also has access to Unseal and Kaleb's Choice, they are cheaper than Eilyn's Choice and can often surprise your opponent. Kaleb's Choice has bonus relic destruction effect, which unfortunately can be countered by face aegis, but it still lines up well against decks that run Xenan Obelisk, Auric Runehammer, Sword of the Sky King, Temporal Distortion. Bring it in when obelisk decks are in the meta. Unseal can counter multi-faction spells (Rise to the Challenge, Haunting Scream, Stand Together), and curses (Permafrost, Azindel's Gift). Overall I think unseal fits the current meta better, a 2-of is the number I would run in a ladder deck)

5. A unit count of 7?
On one hand, I want my Icaria buff to go on my relic weapons or another Icaria, every Icaria armory player wants to see a 9/9 Starsteel Daisho off the top of their deck. On the other hand, with no units vulnerable to early removals, you net card advantage, as your opponents' removals are all dead cards in their hand. Throne Warden and Icaria, the Liberator both have aegis, which often results in your opponent 2-for-1 in order to get rid of them, and even so they generate value immediately when they are played. Throne Warden buffs your relic weapon, while Icaria, the Liberator has charge and warcry 5. Btw, I think Tavrod is not good in this meta, especially in armory decks, as you don't play as many early units to run your opponents out of removals.

6. The number of Icaria, the Liberator
I started with 2 Icarias and gradually moved up to 4, but if you don't have as many, more Throne Warden, Valkyrie Enforcer,Rakano Artisan can be a good substitution. In fact, if the meta is aggro based, you should cut the number of Icaria, the Liberator and Rise to the Challenge for more early game spells or units.

7. Why play Rise to the Challenge?
Rise to the Challenge is a great tutor spell, it's cheaper than the other tutor spell Celestial Omen, the +2 attack buff synergizes well with the immunity Auric Runehammer provides and the ability of Starsteel Daisho to attack twice. I recommend having 4 copies in your armory deck if the meta is not aggro based.

8. Removal spells choice
Lightning Storm and Hailstorm are good early game board wipes, adjust the number according to the meta. In an aggro based meta, I would run 3 Lightning Storm and 3 Hailstorm. Do remember that Hailstorm requires 2 primal influence. You don't always get to cast it on turn 3 in a 3-color deck. Harsh Rule, the best removal in the game, a staple 4-of in a deck that runs 7 units. I run 4 copies of Vanquish, because you want to clear the board proactively so that your relic weapon can hit your opponent's face, it also prevents units like Tavrod, Auric Broker and Worldbearer Behemoth from getting their value. Eilyn's Choice on the other hand, deals with charge units, and blows your opponents out when they play weapons such as Deepforged Plate on their units. It also counters spells such as Channel the Tempest or saves you from Obliterate. Try to preserve the more valuable removal spells according to the match up. Polymorph is expensive and doesn't synergize well with relic weapons but gives answer to Dawnwalkers and Inquisitor Maktos, bring it in if needed.

9. Relic weapons choice
Auric Runehammer acts as an additional removal spell. In combination with Torch it can kill a 7 health unit, and is often 2-for-1 for your opponent to deal with. Rising for a Runehammer kills most of your opponent's threats that have aegis (Champion of Cunning,Icaria, the Liberator). Starsteel Daisho is a good finisher at 6 in mirror and control match ups, it can end a game very quickly with removals to back it up. In an extreme control based meta, Sword of the Sky King can be a good option to increase the number of threats, but would normally be too slow otherwise. I'd like to talk about Staff of Stories, in my opinion, do not play this card, it's most of the times a win-more. It doesn't survive a single swing from an opposing Auric Runehammer, and if your opponent can't deal with your relic weapon, you should equip a Starsteel Daisho instead.

10. Faction requirement
The final requirement for this deck is FFFJJJPP. FJJPP is needed in the early game. Being stuck on primal means you can not cast card draw spells and early board wipes. Meeting the justice requirement is more important. If you're stuck on justice, you can not Harsh Rule, and Rise to the Challenge becomes a dead card, as every unit or weapon requires double justice. So when making mulligan decision, do take faction requirement into consideration.

And that's it for the deck. Hope you enjoy it.