FOUR
Overview:
Today’s deck is a deck inspired by @DRK3 who has a remarkable way of milking cards to create unique memes. I must admit the focus of this deck is a card that has been the basis of many meme decks, but I use it in a way that, I believe, is completely new. That card is Syanna. Before I go further, let me emphasis that the deck presented here has been optimized for meme value – not playing value. I will discuss ways of changing that in the discussion below.
So, what new can be done with Syanna? How about playing it 4 times? Here’s my scheme: Use Syanna to double the deploy value of Arachas Queen (AQ). Yes, it works – both consumed units are then spawned when AQ’s deathwish is triggered. Make Syanna the second unit consumed. This is important, if you consume Syanna first, her effect is cancelled before it applies. Then proceed to trigger AQ’s deathwish up to four times with Weavess: Incantation, Abaya, and two consumes (one enabled by Witches’ Sabbath).
I have found that most of the extra Syannas are mainly for show as it is hard to get value from the order ability more than 2 or 3 times – after including the essential combo cards, tutors to provide reasonable odds of drawing them, and probably a defender to protect Syanna, there are not many spare provisions. And there are very few reasonable low provision Neutral/Monster targets.
If you want to play this deck seriously, you want to change strategy – go ahead and use Syanna on AQ but make AQ consume a second target that provides more value than Syanna. However, the deck list I have presented does not have a lot of strong choices for this second target: defender, Incantation (this will prevent incantation from triggering the second AQ deathwish summon), maybe Rot Fiend. And you have to be careful not to place too many defenders in your graveyard or Sabbath will no longer summon AQ.
I think the idea can be successful, but changing the deck to include more and better AQ targets is wise. A version I like swaps out Wererat and one Bridge troll for Prizewinning Cow and Slyzard. Another approach I’ve yet to try would ditch the bronzes and most of the tutors for Snowdrop / Troll Porter and strong Neutral targets for AQ. I have not tried this approach.
Playing the Deck:
In general, the deck is quite flexible depending upon what is drawn for round one. The Harpy/Egg package usually supply enough points to win a round with other bronze support. And AQ (because it will be consumed) can be set up in the same round it is re-summoned by Witches’ Sabbath. Thus, one can make the initial AQ play in round 1 (holding Sabbath for round 3), or it can be deferred to allow more pieces of the combination to be drawn. The deck does not absolutely have to win round one, but you do want to avoid being deeply bled in round 2 if at all possible.
Drawing critical combination pieces: Syanna, AQ, ideally Defender (to protect Syanna and serve as target for AQ), often Weavess: Incantation (to trigger AQ), and eventually Sabbath can be a little tricky, but the tutors help. Stratagem and Royal Degree can help you draw anything needed, Hillock helps draw AQ, and Whispess can draw either Hillock or Sabbath. Usually you have what is needed by round 3 if not sooner.
The tricky part of the deck is sequencing cards and making choices to avoid numerous hazards. Beware of placing so many high-power monster cards in the deck that Sabbath could fail to Draw AQ. Be aware of board space for AQ’s deathwish spawn; beware of bricking Whispess; never consume Syanna before another unit; don’t waste Whispess if you may need it later for Sabbath; protect Syanna (first with defender, then by baiting out removal, and finally by the Truffle order); balance deathwish units with consumes and having needed targets for consumes; save Syanna targets for when Syanna is available; try to play harpies in pairs for the bonded ability, etc. I typically reserve leader to consume AQ twice and Abaya for the AQ summoned by Sabbath.
Card Roles:
The deck can be found here.
Overview:
Today’s deck is a deck inspired by @DRK3 who has a remarkable way of milking cards to create unique memes. I must admit the focus of this deck is a card that has been the basis of many meme decks, but I use it in a way that, I believe, is completely new. That card is Syanna. Before I go further, let me emphasis that the deck presented here has been optimized for meme value – not playing value. I will discuss ways of changing that in the discussion below.
So, what new can be done with Syanna? How about playing it 4 times? Here’s my scheme: Use Syanna to double the deploy value of Arachas Queen (AQ). Yes, it works – both consumed units are then spawned when AQ’s deathwish is triggered. Make Syanna the second unit consumed. This is important, if you consume Syanna first, her effect is cancelled before it applies. Then proceed to trigger AQ’s deathwish up to four times with Weavess: Incantation, Abaya, and two consumes (one enabled by Witches’ Sabbath).
I have found that most of the extra Syannas are mainly for show as it is hard to get value from the order ability more than 2 or 3 times – after including the essential combo cards, tutors to provide reasonable odds of drawing them, and probably a defender to protect Syanna, there are not many spare provisions. And there are very few reasonable low provision Neutral/Monster targets.
If you want to play this deck seriously, you want to change strategy – go ahead and use Syanna on AQ but make AQ consume a second target that provides more value than Syanna. However, the deck list I have presented does not have a lot of strong choices for this second target: defender, Incantation (this will prevent incantation from triggering the second AQ deathwish summon), maybe Rot Fiend. And you have to be careful not to place too many defenders in your graveyard or Sabbath will no longer summon AQ.
I think the idea can be successful, but changing the deck to include more and better AQ targets is wise. A version I like swaps out Wererat and one Bridge troll for Prizewinning Cow and Slyzard. Another approach I’ve yet to try would ditch the bronzes and most of the tutors for Snowdrop / Troll Porter and strong Neutral targets for AQ. I have not tried this approach.
Playing the Deck:
In general, the deck is quite flexible depending upon what is drawn for round one. The Harpy/Egg package usually supply enough points to win a round with other bronze support. And AQ (because it will be consumed) can be set up in the same round it is re-summoned by Witches’ Sabbath. Thus, one can make the initial AQ play in round 1 (holding Sabbath for round 3), or it can be deferred to allow more pieces of the combination to be drawn. The deck does not absolutely have to win round one, but you do want to avoid being deeply bled in round 2 if at all possible.
Drawing critical combination pieces: Syanna, AQ, ideally Defender (to protect Syanna and serve as target for AQ), often Weavess: Incantation (to trigger AQ), and eventually Sabbath can be a little tricky, but the tutors help. Stratagem and Royal Degree can help you draw anything needed, Hillock helps draw AQ, and Whispess can draw either Hillock or Sabbath. Usually you have what is needed by round 3 if not sooner.
The tricky part of the deck is sequencing cards and making choices to avoid numerous hazards. Beware of placing so many high-power monster cards in the deck that Sabbath could fail to Draw AQ. Be aware of board space for AQ’s deathwish spawn; beware of bricking Whispess; never consume Syanna before another unit; don’t waste Whispess if you may need it later for Sabbath; protect Syanna (first with defender, then by baiting out removal, and finally by the Truffle order); balance deathwish units with consumes and having needed targets for consumes; save Syanna targets for when Syanna is available; try to play harpies in pairs for the bonded ability, etc. I typically reserve leader to consume AQ twice and Abaya for the AQ summoned by Sabbath.
Card Roles:
- Key Combination: Syanna, Arachas Queen, Witches’ Sabbath
- Tutoring: Royal Decree, Whispering Hillock, Whispess: Tribute, Cursed Scroll (stratagem)
- AQ Deathwish Triggers: Weavess: Incantation, Abaya
- AQ Consume Targets: Syanna (but never as first target), Defender (beware of getting too many in graveyard before using Sabbath), Weavess (may prevent full trigger of AQ deathwish from Weavess ability), Rotfiend
- Syanna Protection: Cave Troll, order from Mushy Truffle
- Syanna Targets: Arachas Queen, Whispess Tribute, Werecat, Bridge Troll or consume unit (maybe)
- Harpy/Egg Package (good point output): Harpy Egg (x2), Celaeno Harpy (x2), Mushy Truffle
- Other Deathwish Cards: Rotfiend (x2), Werecat, Bridge Troll (x2)
- Consumes: Arachas Queen, Weavess: Incantation, Wererat, Cyclops (in effect), Celaeno Harpy (x2), Endrega Warrior (x2)
- Removal: Parasite, Cyclops, Rotfiend, Werecat
- Whispess Targets: Witches Sabbath, Whispering Hillock, Parasite
The deck can be found here.