Hello friends! The Dusk Road is upon us, which means it is time to launch into expansion fever! I know some of you may not know where to start with all these new cards, but I am here to try and help you out! I have cooked up a series of new decks to play with, and although they are all totally unplayed and untested, I am very interested to see what each of them has to offer. Try things out and let me know how things fare in the Reddit thread! But without further ado….

Feln Nightfall Aggro

4 Permafrost (Set1 #193)

3 Sabotage (Set1 #252)

4 Twilight Raptor (Set1 #379)

2 Vara’s Intervention (Set3 #207)

2 Annihilate (Set1 #269)

4 Argenport Instigator (Set1 #268)

1 Darkbolt (Set3 #159)

4 Darkveil Agent (Set3 #160)

4 Miris Nightshade (Set3 #217)

1 Daring Pioneer (Set3 #170)

4 Midnight Gale (Set1 #378)

4 Skywalk Enforcer (Set3 #276)

3 Deadly Confrontation (Set3 #225)

4 Rindra, the Duskblade (Set3 #277)

2 Crystallize (Set1 #232)

4 Zelia, the Vain (Set3 #244)

6 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)

7 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)

4 Feln Banner (Set1 #417)

4 Seat of Cunning (Set0 #62)

4 Diplomatic Seal (Set1 #425)

Many fell in love with Nightfall the moment they saw the mechanic. It is a very interesting tempo-centric mechanic, and I can’t wait to play with it. This is a more aggressive take on the deck, omitting card draw entirely, and skipping on the Champion of Cunning. It is hard to tell if Feln will want to be this aggressive, or if we want to be a little more midrangy, so I have included another list below that is a bit more conservative. I have also really pushed the Unseen synergies in this deck to enable Zelia, but it is hard to tell what number will be needed to dependably power her out. Skywalker Enforcer is definitely a borderline inclusion, but I think it is worth trying out.

Feln Nightfall Midrange

4 Permafrost (Set1 #193)

1 Suffocate (Set1 #251)

2 Annihilate (Set1 #269)

4 Argenport Instigator (Set1 #268)

4 Miris Nightshade (Set3 #217)

4 Strategize (Set3 #165)

2 Unseal (Set3 #167)

4 Vara’s Favor (Set0 #35)

4 Midnight Gale (Set1 #378)

1 Deadly Confrontation (Set3 #225)

1 Deathstrike (Set1 #290)

2 Devastating Setback (Set3 #226)

1 Feeding Time (Set1 #381)

4 Rindra, the Duskblade (Set3 #277)

4 Champion of Cunning (Set1 #371)

4 Black-Sky Harbinger (Set1 #385)

4 Zelia, the Vain (Set3 #244)

6 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)

7 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)

4 Crest of Cunning (Set3 #267)

4 Feln Banner (Set1 #417)

4 Seat of Cunning (Set0 #62)

Very similar to the list above in some respects, but have pulled back on some of the tribal synergies and some of the low drops in exchange for more absolute card quality. Strategize is an easy inclusion as it gives better access to all the powerful tools in the Feln faction. The optimal mix of removal is very hard to guess right now for obvious reasons, though Permafrost is a pretty solid 4-of given the synergy with Miris Nightshade. Here we have opted for Unseal over Backlash, though I can see backlash being better if this deck ends up slanting more aggressive.

Praxis Sentinels

4 Torch (Set1 #8)

4 Power Stone (Set1002 #4)

4 Purify (Set2 #176)

2 Sauropod Wrangler (Set1 #83)

2 Xenan Initiation (Set2 #44)

4 Amber Acolyte (Set1 #93)

2 Amber Ring (Set2 #45)

4 Mysterium Orb (Set3 #252)

4 Seasoned Spelunker (Set3 #72)

4 Monolith Guardian (Set3 #253)

4 Sandstorm Titan (Set1 #99)

4 Worldbearer Behemoth (Set3 #87)

4 Heart of the Vault (Set2 #183)

2 Great-Kiln Titan (Set3 #49)

2 Novaquake Titan (Set3 #100)

7 Fire Sigil (Set1 #1)

6 Time Sigil (Set1 #63)

4 Amber Waystone (Set3 #51)

4 Crest of Impulse (Set3 #251)

4 Seat of Impulse (Set0 #54)

The Explorers + Sentinels archetype is very interesting, but it is really unclear what it should actually look like. Novaquake Titan and Great-Kiln Titan are clearly powerful top end cards, but what mix of Explorers and relics are optimal to power these guys out? This particular version pushed really hard in the tribal synergy direction, going so far as to include Amber Ring, even though it is pretty sketchy. It is a good way to power up Mysterium Orb, but it is also a good way to do nothing. Emerging Colossus is probably supposed to be in here somewhere, but I can’t figure it out just yet. That card is actually a spicy combo with Bad News in case you haven’t figured that out yet.

Rakano Gunslingers

1 Elder’s Feather (Set1 #128)

4 Finest Hour (Set1 #130)

1 Protect (Set1 #132)

4 Steady Marshal (Set3 #105)

4 Torch (Set1 #8)

4 Champion of Glory (Set1 #314)

4 Rakano Outlaw (Set1 #20)

4 Vanquish (Set1 #143)

4 Milos Izalio, Heir to Rebellion (Set3 #19)

2 Shogun’s Scepter (Set1 #26)

4 Stella, the Shotcaller (Set3 #120)

4 Valkyrie Enforcer (Set1 #151)

2 Auric Runehammer (Set1 #166)

2 Lawman’s Sidearm (Set3 #130)

2 Deepforged Plate (Set1 #317)

4 Jekk, Hunted Fugitive (Set3 #36)

7 Fire Sigil (Set1 #1)

6 Justice Sigil (Set1 #126)

4 Rakano Banner (Set1 #427)

4 Seat of Glory (Set0 #56)

4 Diplomatic Seal (Set1 #425)

It’s backkkkkk!!! Dusk Road gave Rakano a lot of new tools to play with, particularly concentrated in the Gunslinger tribe. This deck attempts to maximize on those synergies, chiefly on the back of our new Jekk card. This particular version doesn’t run Whirling Duo, which are clearly a very strong contender, but I feel I would want to know the meta better before playing something like that. I am higher on Stella than many so I went deep there, and it is possible the deck needs to be build around her more deliberately, but I want to start by seeing how this goes.

Hooru Control

1 Permafrost (Set1 #193)

4 Seek Power (Set1 #408)

4 Lightning Storm (Set1 #206)

4 Strategize (Set3 #165)

2 Unseal (Set3 #167)

4 Vanquish (Set1 #143)

3 Eilyn’s Choice (Set2 #220)

3 Valkyrie Enforcer (Set1 #151)

4 Wisdom of the Elders (Set1 #218)

2 Auric Runehammer (Set1 #166)

1 Rain of Frogs (Set1 #221)

4 Harsh Rule (Set1 #172)

4 Throne Warden (Set1 #514)

1 Celestial Omen (Set1 #241)

2 Eilyn, Clan Mother (Set3 #263)

2 Channel the Tempest (Set1 #244)

1 Sword of the Sky King (Set1 #186)

9 Justice Sigil (Set1 #126)

8 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)

4 Cobalt Waystone (Set3 #151)

4 Hooru Banner (Set2 #216)

4 Seat of Order (Set0 #51)

Not a deck that really changed a ton in terms of actual cards, but the additions that we did get could be incredibly impactful. Many people aver very excited about Strategize, and I am one of them. One of the most important advantages of Strategize in a deck like Hooru is that we are now allowed to run a few more situational card, like Rain of Frogs or Unseal. This situational package is probably a little too unfocused right now, but a shell like this could be exceptional if it is tuned properly.

Grenadin

4 Combust (Set1 #392)

4 Grenadin Drone (Set1 #5)

4 Torch (Set1 #8)

4 Combustion Cell (Set3 #7)

4 Devour (Set1 #261)

4 Grenadin Bellower (Set3 #214)

2 Into the Furnace (Set3 #9)

4 Spark Hatcher (Set3 #12)

4 Assembly Line (Set1 #29)

3 Madness (Set1 #267)

2 Recycler (Set3 #269)

2 Devious Drone (Set3 #227)

4 Scraptank (Set1 #391)

2 Stonescar Scrapper (Set3 #236)

3 Gearcruncher (Set3 #46)

7 Fire Sigil (Set1 #1)

4 Granite Waystone (Set3 #1)

6 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)

4 Crest of Chaos (Set3 #268)

4 Stonescar Banner (Set1 #419)

Everyone’s favorite tribe of suicidal robots! A lot of people pointed to Gearcruncher as an exciting pay off for Grenadin from the moment it was spoiled, and I for one am still excited about its possibilities. Playing the event I was actually quite impressed with Combustion Cell. Though that environment was not optimal for it for a lot of reasons, the new ranked ladder is probably a little friendlier. Scarp Heap and Toppletower didn’t quite make the cut, but they are certainly interesting. Recycler is probably loose, but I wanted a cheap way to give Gearcruncher overwhelm, and this works.

JPS Feast-Caller

3 Sabotage (Set1 #252)

4 Seek Power (Set1 #408)

2 Annihilate (Set1 #269)

2 Lightning Storm (Set1 #206)

4 Strategize (Set3 #165)

2 Unseal (Set3 #167)

2 Vanquish (Set1 #143)

4 Vara’s Favor (Set0 #35)

4 Slay (Set2 #236)

4 Wisdom of the Elders (Set1 #218)

2 Deathstrike (Set1 #290)

2 Rindra, the Duskblade (Set3 #277)

3 Steward of the Past (Set1 #287)

4 Harsh Rule (Set1 #172)

4 Jotun Feast-Caller (Set3 #187)

3 Black-Sky Harbinger (Set1 #385)

1 Azindel’s Gift (Set1 #306)

3 Justice Sigil (Set1 #126)

4 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)

4 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)

2 Seat of Order (Set0 #51)

2 Crest of Vengeance (Set3 #264)

2 Seat of Vengeance (Set0 #55)

4 Crest of Cunning (Set3 #267)

4 Seat of Cunning (Set0 #62)

This deck idea came from conversations with LightsOutAce and some of the others in RNG chat. What if JPS became a deck based entirely around Feast-Caller? All you do it kill stuff, protect Feast-Caller, and draw cards? All you need are like 2 turns of attacking with Feasty before the game spirals out of control for your opponent. I have loaded the deck up with basically as much removal as possible, as well cheap interaction in the form of Sabotage and Unseal. A deck like this will totally depend on the other things happening in the format, but this is much more powerful than it looks initially.

Dinosaurs

4 Permafrost (Set1 #193)

4 Twilight Hunt (Set3 #59)

4 Evelina, Valley Searcher (Set2 #48)

4 Sauropod Wrangler (Set1 #83)

2 Strategize (Set3 #165)

4 Trail Maker (Set3 #65)

4 Avirax Familiar (Set2 #46)

4 Avisaur Patriarch (Set1001 #13)

1 Clutchmate (Set3 #179)

4 Sandstorm Titan (Set1 #99)

4 Hunting Pteriax (Set1 #363)

4 Worldbearer Behemoth (Set3 #87)

4 Predatory Carnosaur (Set1 #118)

2 Serasaur Bull (Set3 #92)

1 Clutchkeeper (Set3 #200)

5 Time Sigil (Set1 #63)

4 Amber Waystone (Set3 #51)

4 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)

4 Cobalt Waystone (Set3 #151)

4 Elysian Banner (Set1 #421)

4 Seat of Wisdom (Set0 #63)

Dinos actually got a surprising amount of powerful stuff. Worldbearer Behemoth is clearly a monster, and is likely a cross archetype staple, but other tools like Serasaur Bull or Twilight Hunt are pretty powerful additions to the deck. Clutchkeeper is certainly a bit of a stretch to fit, but I have gotta believe she is worth the risk. Clutchmate on the other hand is probably more cute than good, but I’m content with it right now. The power base for this deck does not currently have Crests, which I am torn on. I feel like you are going to really want your power undepleted, but the scout effect is really good. Certainly something that will be subject to future adjustment.

Valkyrie

2 Suffocate (Set1 #251)

3 Wanted Poster (Set3 #106)

2 Annihilate (Set1 #269)

4 Battlefield Scavenger (Set3 #209)

2 Vanquish (Set1 #143)

4 Vara’s Favor (Set0 #35)

3 Inquisitor’s Halberd (Set3 #273)

4 Rooftop Vigilante (Set3 #274)

2 Sadistic Valkyrie (Set1002 #14)

3 Silverwing Smith (Set3 #119)

4 Slay (Set2 #236)

4 Valkyrie Enforcer (Set1 #151)

2 Auric Runehammer (Set1 #166)

4 Valkyrie Spireguard (Set2 #90)

3 Amilli, Cloudmarshal (Set3 #136)

3 Inquisitor Makto (Set2 #242)

1 Valkyrie Harvester (Set3 #249)

6 Justice Sigil (Set1 #126)

4 Emerald Waystone (Set3 #101)

7 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)

4 Crest of Vengeance (Set3 #264)

4 Seat of Vengeance (Set0 #55)

If the event this weekend taught us anything, it is that undercosted big flyers are powerful. I know this may come as a shock to all of you, but 6/6 flyers for 4 are good. This deck lets you finally play Spireguard on ladder and have it dependably turned on. I am pretty high on Amilli, even though it is something of a tough sell to opt for her over Tavrod. It totally possible to adopt this into a Tavrod deck, but I first want to figure out where the Valkyrie stand.

Cauldron Riddle Cradle

2 Sabotage (Set1 #252)

4 Seek Power (Set1 #408)

2 Suffocate (Set1 #251)

4 Torch (Set1 #8)

3 Annihilate (Set1 #269)

1 Kaleb’s Choice (Set2 #188)

3 Lightning Storm (Set1 #206)

4 Strategize (Set3 #165)

2 Unseal (Set3 #167)

4 Vara’s Favor (Set0 #35)

2 Extract (Set2 #155)

3 Feln Cauldron (Set1 #380)

4 Wisdom of the Elders (Set1 #218)

3 Calderan Cradle (Set2 #192)

3 Deathstrike (Set1 #290)

2 Feeding Time (Set1 #381)

3 Riddle Game (Set3 #194)

1 Encroaching Darkness (Set3 #247)

4 Fire Sigil (Set1 #1)

4 Primal Sigil (Set1 #187)

4 Shadow Sigil (Set1 #249)

2 Crest of Fury (Set3 #266)

1 Seat of Fury (Set0 #53)

4 Crest of Cunning (Set3 #267)

1 Seat of Cunning (Set0 #62)

4 Crest of Chaos (Set3 #268)

1 Seat of Chaos (Set0 #60)

I had to end on this pile. As soon as I realized that Feln Cauldron and Riddle Games was a combo I knew I would need to pitch away the 12000 Shiftstones to try it There is obviously a number of ways to get extra mileage out of Riddle Games in this deck via chaining together a bunch of draw spells, but it is going to be hard to break 3 cards until the ultra late game. Feln Cauldron gets you all the way up to 6 cards as early as turn 7. This is probably awful, but I gotta give a shout out to my boy Feln Cauldron. Probably still my favorite jank relic.

ALLLLLLLLRIGHTY! That is it for this article, but there is soooooo much more to do so I will leave things here. Lots of crazy stuff going on in this set that I haven’t even scratched the surface of yet. Be sure to share your new and bold brews in the Reddit thread. Can’t be worse than Cauldron + Riddle Games right? Next up will be my set review of Fire. See you all soon!!!

Love,

Neon

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