
I’d like to introduce my list. I can’t complete my Climb to S-Rank with family in town but the deck is tech’ed against the current meta and has been performing very well. Winrate a little below 70% in Diamond.
Overview
This deck is a modified smash list that performed well pre-RoB. With the aggressive meta and out-of-hand damage I’ve made several changes. I needed to beat Magmar, Abyssian, and Argeon consistently. Control Faie and Abyssians running necrotic sphere are the toughest matchups but when piloted well this deck can go wire to wire with most anything on the ladder. Control the board at all costs and set-up lethal by 8-9 mana. Outlasts most aggro. Has enough draw and tempo to beat all but extreme control lists.
Pitfalls would be going face too early, misusing Dampening Wave/Martyrdom, playing into Plasma Storm/Necrotic Sphere/Enfeeble.
Most card choices seem obvious so I’ll touch on what’s given me an edge.
Azure Herald
Pre-RoB this was a Sundrop Elixer but bodies on the board is a must. The 4 HP synergies with afterglow and battles wraithlings well. The additional 9 healing is often the difference between winning or losing against decimus spike. Herald is poor against Makantor and Revenant but other tools exist for them.
Windblade Adept
I would be very happy when Lightchaser would get to 4/3 as I felt that body was impact full enough. With that benchmark Adept is simply better. I get that body on board guaranteed and trade up most times. I’ve been playing Healyonar since release and I’ve won a single game because of snowballed Lightchaser but having the Adept early game power has won me plenty.
Silverguard Knight
Serves several purposes. Extra 3-drop to combo with player 2/turn 1 3-Drop + Dampening Wave. The provoke controls space. 5 HP is a big break point for this deck as Knight baits hard removal.
Blistering Skorn
Heavily boosts the effectiveness of Afterglow. With a minion on board this is a guaranteed heal trigger. This card keeps Lilith under control and stops Chrysalis Burst shenanigans. Two or three copies is an internal debate. When I see less Lilith, I’ll drop to two. Survives Plasma Storm and potentially Makantor.
Dancing Blades
I’d rather use Blades + General attack to clear a minion over Circle of Life. Better tempo, I can heal the life back, and Blades lives through Makantor and Elucidator. The 4/6 statline is important for the deck as I don’t lose to Plasma Storm either. Good card to finish off Revenant.
Ruby Rifter
Yes, I still run Rifter with 3x Trinity Oath. This list is midrange and I’ll take all draws. Once again the 4/6 statline matches well against Magmar. Skorn and Dampening Wave create additional draw & lethal opportunities.
Dampening Wave
MVP card. Faster and more consistent than Lucent Beam. Incredible early game tempo. Kills nearly everything (sup Decimus) with Kelaino being a notable exception but her healing can be used to this decks advantage. Three copies put me in the red too often but two has worked out well. Being able to target ANY minion has created some obscure lethals.
Martyrdom
Criminally underrated. This meta requires hard removal. People are too concerned with giving the enemy general health. That HP gained is often negated by our own heal procs. This deck wins on board control. How often has the opponent dropped that Ironcliffe, Juggernaut, Mandrake, etc in top-deck mode which is just enough for them to win? Of course we can Martyrdom our minions to get that extra Sunriser/Lancer proc.
Notable Cuts
Circle of Life: Too slow and this deck is midrange, not control.
Lucent Beam: Still a great card but I wanted the unconditional 4 DMG even at the cost of life.
Arclyte Regalia: Pings are everywhere. Didn’t want to overload the 4 mana slot.
Slo: Not worth the slot just for the Holy Immolation combo.
Excelsious: This deck has better things to do with 8 mana.
Tempo: Great card at the moment but Ziran needs bodies AND effects so I’ll rock Skorn instead.