Last Minute Deck Decisions - Ascent Taipei - Article

Last Minute Deck Decisions – Ascent Taipei

This weekend is the next Major in the Distorted Reflections season and I wanted to put out a short article about potential decks you’re going to see if you’ve made the trip to Taiwan and touch on some hot singles (in your area) that you should be considering in your list before round 1 starts.

Let’s Talk about the top decks we’ve seen since the B&R update. Although everyone is complaining about the Specter Package and Rile the Abyss, we are seeing one of the most diverse meta games that Grand Archive has ever seen.

In this next section I’m going to individually break down some of the decks that I think you should know about and have a game plan for going into this weekend as well as give you a list of cards that could help you fight against them.

Rile Ensoul https://silvie.gg/decklist/16618

The Boogeyman of the format. Rile Ensoul brings an old time combo that dominated in the DoA format when the game started, and super charged it with the best value package in the game and incredible support in cards like Fluffy Shopkeep, Votive Runeblade and Spellward Scepter. This deck is incredibly linear and doesn’t stray too far from the beaten path, but you NEED to be prepared for quick kills from combos that have started to be played like Hone by Fire and Sword of Saint’s Vow partnered with Rending Flames. Some lists have even started to play Looking Glass and Chamber of Reflections to fast speed cheat in Varuck, Sundering Spire to counter people relying on Veiling Breeze or Resolute Stand.

Card Suggestions: Censer of Restful Peace, Resolute Stand, Song of Frost, Veiling Breeze, Sovereign Sanctuary, Fracturize, Zephyr, Cleansing Reunion, Tariff Ring, Under Fire, Purifying Thurible, Corhazi Trapper, Cerulean Decree, Wand of Frost

Rile Merlin https://silvie.gg/decklist/17696 or https://silvie.gg/decklist/17695

Ensoul’s cooler older sister with tattoos and an edgy haircut… oh and fireballs. Merlin is a deck that has thrived in any environment once a meta has started to settle. It’s also a deck that gets played more in SEA than any other region by a LARGE margin. If I was going to Taipei this weekend, I would be expecting to see at least a Merlin deck or two. More versatility and a higher ceiling than Ensoul Lorraine. Nothing new or flashy truly. Just good ol’ fashion Ghosts of Pendragon, Incarnate Majesty and Fireballs.

Card Suggestions: Censer of Restful Peace, Cleansing Reunion, Purifying Thurible, Incapacitate, Water Negates, Blanche Sheltering Saint, Safeguard Amulet, Immolation Trap, Smoke Bombs, Varuck, Molten Pinnacle, Crystalized Destiny

Rile Ciel/Baleful Ciel https://silvie.gg/decklist/17702

Another Specter Package deck looking to grind incredible value into the late game. Understanding that they can Baleful Oblation you at fast speed for 10 (15 if they play Advent of the Storm Caller) multiple times if they have the influence is terrifying. Orb of Sealing plays a huge role in them being able to control their Baleful math, so being able to deal with it can be pretty solid depending on the game state. 36 health is also SO MUCH. Although very powerful, this deck can take a lot of setup to actually get into their end game, but once they are there they are pretty hard to beat. Kill them while you can.

Card Suggestions: Censer of Restful Peace, Cleansing Reunion, Purifying Thurible, Incapacitate, Water Negates, Blanche Sheltering Saint, Safeguard Amulet, Crystalized Destiny, Reduce to Ash (responding to the activation of Baleful Oblation by blowing up their Orb of Sealing can be back-breaking tempo loss for them) Fiery Interference

Rile Serene Jin: https://silvie.gg/decklist/17549

Jin is still around and if you aren’t used to playing against it, you should at least know how the deck operates. Typically, they flirt with death while they set up an OTK turn. If you can disrupt this by blowing up their Berserker Plate or taxing their attacks you can usually get them to take awkward turns that, without a ton of heal, can potentially kill them.

Card Suggestions: Censer of Restful Peace, Cleansing Reunion, Purifying Thurible, Incapacitate, Water Negates, Safeguard Amulet (For Relentless Outburst), Crystalized Destiny, Reduce to Ash, Fiery Interference, Spurn to Ash, Meltdown, Song of Frost, Under Fire, Tariff Ring, Suited Trickery, Water Barrier, Spellshields

Rile Serene Luxem Zander: https://silvie.gg/decklist/17548

The last of the Advanced Element Rile the Abyss decks. Luxem is sitting in a pretty solid spot in the meta currently, with even matchups across the board and more high roll potential than they have ever had. Unlike the other Rile decks, Luxem Zander can muscle through graveyard hate with ease and doesn’t rely on the Specters as much. This deck can be built to fight pretty much anything and with it’s linear endgame that overpowers most decks, you need to end the game before they get set up.

Card Suggestions: REGAL INQUISITION, Nullifying Lantern, Censer of Restful Peace, Cleansing Reunion, Purifying Thurible, Incapacitate, Water Negates, Blanche Sheltering Saint, Safeguard Amulet, Spellward Scepte, Fiery Interference, Rending Flames, Heavy Slam, Fractal of Intrusion

KFC: https://silvie.gg/decklist/17697

A deck that a large portion of the player base thought would die out, but with such a resilient game-plan and hybrid damage output, Fire Suzaku has taken the slot as the premier Fire Aggro deck in the DTR Format. This deck utilizes the Rile Package as an early game value engine, similar to Increasing Danger, sacrificing a little bit of consistency for more explosive openers. High Rolling is a common theme in the DTR Meta, so being able to disrupt Guo Jias ability to do so is very important in this matchup. A well-timed Nullifying Lantern also obliterates their end game combo of Pepper Chef and Suzaku.

Card Suggestions: Nullifying Lantern, Resolute Stand, Safeguard Amulet, Clarent, Reimagined, Flamewreath Call, Blanche, Sheltering Saint, Tariff Ring, Throne-keeper Bullfrog, Awakened Deacon, Unyielding Wraith, Veiling Breeze, Frostsworn Paladin

Suited: https://silvie.gg/decklist/16578

Now this is one of my favorite decks in the format. The first true Tribal themed Ally deck, Suited aims to abuse the synergy of their Cardistry effects while also rocking the Unique Fire Ally graveyard package of Arthur, Red Hare, March Hare and Dazzling Courtesan. Incredibly resilient, Suited can rebuild a board as fast as you get rid of theirs. Pay attention to the different costed Suited allies they have in the graveyard to avoid having a Verita hit the board. If you can keep the board clean, they will have a hard time actually killing you. If you’re on a big attack deck, look out for Trump Set, especially if they are playing Tony as their champion as it reduces the cost of it to (1).

Suggested Cards: Resolute Stand, Veiling Breeze, Peaceful Reunion, Flamewreath Call, Tariff Ring, Nullifying Lantern, FLAME SWEEP, Purge in Flames, Hurricane Sweep, Polaris, Twinkling Cauldron, Yuan Shao, Crown General, Lunette, Frostbinder Priest, Mad Tea Party, Xuchang, Frozen Citadel

Fiza: https://silvie.gg/decklist/17551

HE’S BACK BABY. Fiza is finally showing his face at top tables around the world in the DTR season. Nothing too crazy with these lists except they now have March Hare to help with even more explosive Poisoned Dagger turns. Armed with a decent amount of burn and the stopping power of Fiery Interference, this list is looking to kill you fast and call it a day. If you’ve played competitive GA, you’ve probably played against a Fiza or two. DO NOT underestimate their damage output on their kill turns.

Suggested Cards: Suggested Cards: Resolute Stand, Veiling Breeze, Peaceful Reunion, Flamewreath Call, Tariff Ring, Safeguard Amulet, Yuan Shao, Crown General, Lunette, Frostbinder Priest, Xuchang, Frozen Citadel, Frostsworn Paladin, Throne-Keeper Bullfrog, Fast Cure, Restorative Flame, Blanche, Sheltering Saint, Awakened Deacon, Stalwart Shieldmate, The Majestic Spirit.

Vani: https://silvie.gg/decklist/15770

This deck is here to stay. Horse and Taxes is an incredibly linear list that punishes greedy level 3 decks. If they’re able to get you in the tax loop, they can lock you out of the game. Although the deck aims to beat down with 3 damage stat Horses and Vanitas, Dominus Rex, they also have a surprising amount of burst damage being a Cleric than can utilize Searing Rebuke in combination with Fractal of Sparks and Impact Hammer. Intercepters and Taunters go HARD against Vani and because they go so low on influence, they’re typically stuck relying on the top of their deck. If you can keep their Champ from connecting with yours, you should be able to pull out ahead here.

Suggested Cards: Suggested Cards: Resolute Stand, Veiling Breeze, Peaceful Reunion, Tariff Ring, Safeguard Amulet, Frostbind, Cerulean Decree, Tidal Lock, Lunette, Frostbinder Priest, Xuchang, Frozen Citadel, Frostsworn Paladin, Throne-Keeper Bullfrog, Unyielding Wraith, Fast Cure, Awakened Deacon, Stalwart Shieldmate, Swift Recruit, The Majestic Spirit, Corhazi Trapper, GENBU BABY!

Tristan: https://silvie.gg/decklist/17458

Tristan has been silently taking down events all around the world, including our own Regional. A well-rounded midrange deck, Tristan can be aggressive when she needs to or play the long game with incredible value built into her kit. The big difference between Tristan and Wind Luxem is that Tristan can kill in a hurry when she needs to, and that’s very important into this incredibly aggressive meta. Tristan truly has answers for every situation and even without the Rile package, is in the discussion for BDIF (Best Deck in the Format).

Card Suggestions: STAGGERING STRIKE, Peaceful Reunion, Song of Frost, Crystalized Destiny, Tariff Ring, Water Barrier, The Majestic Spirit, Regal Inquisition, Cry for Help, Trump Set, Under Fire, Vanish from Sight, Shroud in Mist.

Wind Seiryuu: https://silvie.gg/decklist/16619

With Wind Luxem being nowhere to be seen, everybody’s favorite Arcane Dragon is making waves in the DTR Meta. With Thurible being released early through the Proxia Vault system, this is a deck that can utilize cards such as Beseech the Winds to get it out early and fight the turn 1 and 2 of a rile deck. A very flexible wind deck that can fight like a Wind Allies deck with a big boss monster end game, or turbo level to 3 and rebuild with cards like Incandescent Reliquary. Watch out for the wide range of defensive spells that help this deck get to it’s endgame. Pay attention to the cards they’re banishing with their Fatestone Ability. Love seeing this deck finally get the respect it deserves.

Card Suggestions: Ensnaring Fumes, Immolation Trap, Dream Fairy, Song of Frost, Incapacitate, Crystallized Destiny, Tariff Ring, Peaceful Reunion, Exploit Vulnerability, Water Barrier, Taunters/Intercepters

Water Allies: https://silvie.gg/decklist/17461

The last deck I’m going to touch on is one that has been around since FTC meta. I can’t tell you how many times a conversation on meta gaming for a format or particular event ends with, “Water Allies would destroy this Meta”. A tempo-based deck that leverages aggression with disruption (Frostbind, Song of Frost, Xuchang, Lunette, etc.). With the printing of Snow White, we are seeing some very oppressive builds of Water Allies meant to pray on level 3 decks that are banking on being able to level up. She also has lots of synergy with Halocline Scout and Freezing Hail, which were already staples in the archetype before.

Suggested Cards: Viridian Protective Trinket, Xuchang, Frozen Citadel, Seeking Shot, Tariff Ring, Resolute Stand, Lunette, Corhazi Trapper, Polaris, Twinkling Cauldron, Luxem Sight, Yuan Shao, Crown General, Gildas, Chronicler of Aesa, Throne-Keeper Bullfrog, Unyielding Wraith


Closing Statement

If you are making it out to Ascent Taipei this weekend, we over at True Champion Gaming wish you luck! Hopefully this will help you get a little more insight into decks that are currently doing well across the world and help you plan accordingly with your deck lists.

Until next time.

Terry