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September 2023 Meta Report: A Mini With Major Impact

Tempo Meta Report Team

September 8, 2023

HOW TO USE THE META SNAPSHOT

This tier list shows the best decks to play on the ranked ladder to maximize the chances of winning the game and climbing.

Here are the various components of the Tempo Storm Shadowverse Meta Snapshot:

  • Introduction: Overview of the Tempo Storm Shadowverse Meta Snapshot; a guide on how to use the resource.
  • Thoughts and observations: General summary of the current Shadowverse meta, commentary about notable points of the Meta Snapshot, and any additional important meta-related information.
  • Deck popularity: Approximate popularity of the deck, rounded to the closest 10%, relative to the most popular deck on the meta, where the top deck represents 100%. (We will be reworking this section soon to make it more intuitive.)
  • Archetype explanation: Explanation of the archetype as a whole—presents playstyle strategies, variants of the deck, and tips on how to identify the deck on the ladder.
  • Weekly meta and featured deck: Analysis of the role of the deck in the current meta; focuses on the nuances of playing the current Meta Snapshot’s featured deck variant.
  • Match-ups: Approximate average percentage chance of piloting the deck and winning when facing another Tier 1 or Tier 2 deck.
  • View deck: List of cards required to construct Tempo Storm’s recommended variant of the archetype.

LEGEND

  • Tier S (“God Tier”): Overtuned decks that warp and control a large portion of the meta. (This tier may not always be present in the Snapshot if there are no overpoweringly imbalanced decks.)
  • Tier 1: Well-optimized decks with extremely efficient and overwhelmingly powerful combos and card synergies that makes losing against these decks feel helpless and unfair.
  • Tier 2: Competitive decks that have a few slight weaknesses (e.g., poor comeback mechanics or draw consistency); can still take games off top-tier decks with tech switches.
  • Tier 3: Average decks that aren’t bad, but also aren’t optimized or refined; decks that have styles not currently favored by the metagame.
  • Tier 4: Inconsistent decks that are unrefined, out-of-flavor, overly niche, or retired. Taking wins off upper-tier decks requires an intimate understanding of the role of every card in the deck.
  • Tier 5: Fun decks that should only be used if you play Shadowverse for the joy of the gameplay, rather than the joy of winning.

Thoughts and Observation

Welcome to the September edition of the Tempo Storm Meta Snapshot! This month saw the release of the Heroes of Rivenbrandt mini-expansion, which has had a huge effect on the meta. The new neutral gold Asuka & Shiori, Twins serves as a replacement for the rotated Angel’s Blessing, meaning slower decks once again have a powerful anti-aggro tool, and the meta has become less heavily first-favored than before. Pre-existing decks such as Magachiyo Forest and Fairy Forest have been heavily buffed by the addition of May, Budding Spring Wind; meanwhile, Loot Sword, which hadn’t been seen in quite some time, is back with a vengeance thanks to Rogers, Ruler of the Seas. Although Crystallize Haven is alive and well, Ghost Shadow has dropped off in popularity, with Fairy superseding it as the prime aggro deck available.

Overall, the meta has been broadened and diversified quite a bit by the mini-expansion, so let’s take a look at where we stand now.

Featured Decks

Crystallize Haven

Crystallize Haven remains completely unchanged, and its gameplan still involves playing at least 5 Crystallize cards to enable its Storm/Ward payoffs, such as Sapphire Priestess and Wingy, Chirpy Gemstone, building toward a massive swing turn with Diamond Master… all while hopefully drawing Skullfane, the Defiled, which greatly accelerates its combo potential. Jeanne, Worldwalker keeps games locked into a turn 7 clock, which is simply too short a timer for many other decks to deal with. With time and practice, players have continually become better at executing the Crystallize mulligan and gameplan—and have also realized just how dangerous the deck is when going first, which means terror in no-ban formats such as Ratings. Don't let the importance of Skullfane and the “go first” card fool you, though; the deck has a deceptively high skill ceiling and has stood the test of time.

Loot Sword

Having disappeared from the meta several months ago with the rotation of Octrice, Hollow Usurpation, Loot has returned thanks to Roger, Ruler of the Seas, who grants a leader effect that damages the enemy leader and provides play point recovery, hugely buffing the deck’s burn and combo potential. Loot Sword aims to play or fuse 7 Loot cards, then finish the opponent off with Storm followers and direct damage using Dread Pirate’s Flag tokens. Loot Sword boasts early-game presence, a powerful midgame, and explosive late-game reach with high OTK potential, which is why it’s the most popular deck at the moment, fully deserving of its place at the top of the meta.

Magachiyo Forest

Magachiyo Forest is the strongest it’s ever been thanks to the addition of May, Budding Spring Wind, having claimed two JCG wins and the best results in Pro League. The deck is pure combo, aiming to play four cards per turn to set up a lethal with Magachiyo, Barbed Convict around turn 7 by playing her and attacking with a horde of buffed Storm Condemned followers. Magachiyo has a very good matchup spread and is the fastest and most consistent combo deck in the current meta, essentially filling the role that Mysteria Rune did before the mini-expansion.

Evo Portal

Evo Portal, a combo-control deck, can reach Evolve counts never seen before, which is what allows it to take advantage of the tremendous payoff Shin, Enemy of Chaos: once you've evolved 10 times, he will destroy three random enemy followers, deal 6 damage to the opponent, heal you for 6, and reduce the cost of all cards in your hand by 3 at the end of the turn. Needless to say, in more aggressive matchups, the healing and board clear is often enough to win the game on the spot, and against control decks, the cost reduction helps to assemble huge combos that can be used to OTK. The addition of Asuka & Shiori, Twins has made the deck objectively stronger than it was before the mini-expansion, but the current meta suits it less well than the last one: Ghost Shadow, which Evo Portal preyed upon, has become a lot less popular, and decks which can threaten a quicker OTK, such as Crystallize, Loot and Magachiyo are plentiful. Thus, the deck finds itself in Tier 2 now.

Fairy Forest

Fairy Forest is an aggressive deck that aims to go wide and push damage with cheap followers in the early game, transition into the midgame with Nobilis, Sable-Lily Queen, then finish the opponent off with Storm followers such as Shining Valkyrie, Tam Lin, Fey Knight, and Aria, Dutiful Fairy. The deck had previously seen some success thanks to the buff to Plumeria, Serene Goddess, which made it slightly faster and more consistent. Now, the addition of May, Budding Spring Wind pushes it to greater heights still, helping the deck with its lack of draw and setting up Castelle, Budding Mage’s effects a little faster. Though it remains in Tier 2, the deck has largely taken the place of Ghost Shadow as the go-to aggro deck in the current format.

Deck Recommendation

As far as climbing the ladder goes, there are a lot of options in this meta: any deck in Tier 2 or above can climb quite comfortably, provided you know how to pilot it. Notably, the current ladder has a relatively high number of people playing Bahamut Dragon, which is easily punished by any deck that has the ability to OTK: Loot, Magachiyo, Crystallize, Evo Portal and more can all farm plenty of free wins from Bahamut decks. On the other hand, you could always join the dark side and give Bahamut a try yourself: the deck is rotating next expansion, so this will be the last chance to play it, and it’s very difficult to misplay, so it’s a comfortable pick for grinding away without having to think much.

Conclusion

This month’s meta has been quite a shift from the last; the mini-expansion has proved extremely impactful. There is more deck variety in general, with many different archetypes seeming viable, and while games are still first-favored, the introduction of cards like Asuka & Shiori have eased the pain of going second somewhat. Ghost Shadow’s fall from grace means that decks that struggled against it before may continue to rise in popularity; in particular, we expect Magachiyo Forest to see even more play in the coming weeks, and for other decks to develop as they try to tech against it. Crystallize, which has remained at the top of the meta despite being more or less unchanged by the mini, isn’t going anywhere either.

Keep an eye out for further developments in tournament play by following @zhiff_sv on Twitter, and we'll see you all in next month's edition of the Tempo Storm Meta Snapshot!

TIER 1

1. Loot Sword

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Loot Sword is a deck that aims to get 7 Loot cards played or fused and finish off the opponent with a combination of Storm cards and Burn damage with Dread Pirate's Flag Token.

The early game revolves around generating Loot cards with its multitute of early-game generators, while also drawing for the powerful Rogers, Rulers of The Sea that gives your leader the effect of recovering play points for the first Loot played in the turn and dealing 2 damage to the opponent's leader when the second one is played. When 7 Loots played or fused is reached, it is possible to start generating Dread Pirate's Flags, a powerful token that deals 3 damage to the board and to the enemy leader for just 1 play point; when combined with Barbaros, Briny Convict's Enhance effect or Tidal Gunner's pings, it is possible to deal massive amounts of damage, even surpassing 20 in one turn.

The mulligan for Loot should aim to make a smooth early game and maximize the chance of getting Rogers on the evo turn, so keeping early card draw is good.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Loot Sword is back to prominence after it went away with Octrice's rotation. This was due to the very powerful Loot support that was printed: Rogers, Ruler of The Seas, sporting a leader effect that gives your deck damage patterns that come down a turn earlier, extra reach due to the play point recovery, and 2 damage to the enemy leader. Loot Sword has early-game presence, a powerful midgame, and explosive late-game reach, and that's why it's the most popular deck at the moment.

The list chosen is the generic deck at the moment, choosing to run two copies of Opulent Strategist for midgame survivability, two copies of Seeker of Love for early-game presence and late-game damage potential, and two copies of Asuka & Shiori to improve the deck's healing capabilities and draw.

The featured list was used by モリア to win the September 3 JCG.

2. Crystallize Haven

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

United we lose, together we fall. Crystallize Haven was the de facto jumbo hotdog of the meta before the mini-expansion, and the deck has not changed in the slightest. When a deck can go through an entire expansion with new patches and various meta shifts, and still stay at the top while having really no build adjustments to speak of, it may simply be time to succumb to the grasping abyss and become a Crystallize abuser.

Jeanne's notorious ability to lock games into a turn 7 clock is simply too overwhelming for many decks to deal with when there is still Skullfane, multiple live Diamond Masters, and massive Meus Jester midgame pushes to consider.

While the deck itself has not changed, players have become increasingly proficient at maximizing Crystallize's various lines to truly make the most of what is effectively still a dice-roll deck. If nothing else, it has been interesting to see the level of depth and gameplay progress a deck can attain when the build doesn't change for so long.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Crystallize Haven cannot escape Tier 1 no matter how those who remain free of mind may will it. Crystallize does not lose—it simply wins on an alternative plane. There are no such things as bad matchups—only moments of repose where one's faith in He Who Must Not Be Accelerated must be tried more arduously.

No matter how many times we see it, the chart of five fully identical Crystallize lists in Pro League shakes us to our core. The featured list was borne from Jeanne herself, as it was for each and every Crystallize player who still clasps their autonomy on this Earth.

3. Magachiyo Forest

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Magachiyo Forest is a pure combo deck, aiming to play four cards per turn to keep its engine going, ending the game with multiple Condemned followers buffed by Magachiyo, Barbed Convict around turn 7.

Starting turn 4 (or turn 3 with the help of Winged Inversion), the deck can play four cards per turn to set up Magachiyo's effect while invoking both Rayne, Divine Smith and May, Budding Spring Wind, and drawing Whirlwind Assault at the end of the turn. This is equivalent to drawing four cards per turn, thus automatically refilling hand size to keep triggering all the key effects while controlling the board.

Budding Initiate serves as a tutor for Magachiyo and Warden of Recurrence, as well as additional reach and Ward removal. A single copy can be used multiple times thanks to all the bounces available: Thicket of Gnarled Hands, Floral Breeze and Gerbera Bear. Canon, Yearning Heart and Plumeria, Serene Goddess round up the core of the deck due to their low cost, synergy with Rayne, and healing capabilities.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Magachiyo comes back in its strongest iteration yet, reaching Tier 1 after a recent surge in popularity and two JCG victories, as well as the best results in Pro League. Aside from a difficult matchup against Crystallize Haven, Magachiyo has a very good matchup spread and is the fastest and most consistent combo deck in the meta, essentially replacing Mysteria Rune's role before the mini-expansion.

Era53 had an impressive 6–1 run in Pro League using this list, paired with Loot Sword. While Lily, Crystalian Brilliance is not an ideal addition to the deck due to her cost, she is necessary to deal with various threats, and she is a key factor in mirror matches, so most lists now feature two or three copies.

TIER 2

4. Evo Portal

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Evo Portal has been objectively buffed in a vacuum with the addition of Asuka & Shiori, also known as new age Angel's Blessing. It goes without saying that a draw 2, heal 2 for 1PP is ridiculous in a combo-control deck, but the unfortunate reality is that Evo Portal is suffering a net loss in viability due to the overbearing hostility of Loot Sword, Magachiyo, and Fairy Forest.

The game plan of surviving and accumulating evolves until popping off with 10-evolve Shin remains strong, but only when Portal does not get hit with an OTK or get rushed down by aggro too quickly. Being able to generally survive until turn 8 going first and turn 7 going second is the sweetspot for Evo Portal to be meta-relevant, and sadly that is a serious struggle in the current environment despite being blessed by the Twins.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Evo Portal has fallen to Tier 2, owing to its unfavorable matchups across the board in Tier 1. Ghost Shadow's sharp drop in popularity has in turn severely damaged Evo Portal's viability despite being a deck that many players are now rather acquainted with. Fairy Forest, the new aggro hotness, is fast enough with a good draw such that Evo Portal really struggles, even with Asuka & Shiori. As always, Cassim and Rosa are the best cards in the deck for such matchups, but they frequently aren't enough on their own when Fairy has a similarly good draw.

The featured list is the self-explanatory standard list where Badb Catha and the second Olivia are replaced by three copies of Asuka & Shiori. This was the list that most players naturally gravitated toward, and it is exactly what Takumi and Tabata brought to Pro League.

5. Fairy Forest

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Fairy Forest is an aggressive deck that aims to go wide and push damage quickly in the early game, transition into the midgame with Nobilis, Sable-Lily Queen, and finish with Storm followers such as Shining Valkyrie, Tam Lin, Fey Knight, or Aria, Dutiful Fairy.

Salvia Panther and Windflower Tiger are the main power plays early on, increasing follower count while dealing damage and bouncing Fairy generators like Canon, Yearning Heart and Aqua Fairy. Nobilis and Valkyrie are the main evolution targets. If the opponent survives beyond turn 6, Aria and Castelle, Budding Mage can either set up high burst or strong defensive walls. May, Budding Spring Wind is a solid addition to the deck that somewhat fixes its lack of draw and sets up Castelle's effects a little faster than before the mini-expansion.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Fairy Forest remains in Tier 2 after the mini-expansion; it had a strong showing at first but is slowly losing ground despite a decent matchup spread. Aside from May, which is commonly played at two copies, the deck has not changed after the patch.

This list brought by Vodka, who made top 4 in JCG with it. The one-of Gerbera Bear has become pretty standard since it gains Storm easily with Rayne and May invocations.

6. Machina Portal

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Machina Portal players across the world seem to have finally found the true value of Animal Puppeteer, as its adoption rate rises—accordingly, Kyrzael is often reduced to two copies. Goblin Genius is an excellent Academic pick that offers efficient trade power and an effective way to consistently spend all your playpoints on stacking your 10-Machina/Academic quest.

To make room for these techs that have effectively risen to pseudo-core status, some players are cutting Warden entirely, as it's rather situational to play; yet even the best-case scenario isn't necessarily better than filling the board with Robotic Rampage. Puppet Workout continues to see play as a one- or two-of that brings additional lethal lines and is particularly useful against Crystallize Haven.

While Machina Portal is not a complicated deck, maximizing the OTK lines with Lyelth's Marionette, Draconitron, and others remains vital to keep the deck even partially relevant at the highest level.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Machina Portal doesn't see much change, as it remains in Tier 2. On paper, its pre-mini matchup spread was not inspiring, and it isn't any better today. Machina Portal is still a deck that can potentially win against anything when it draws the right cards at the right time and the opponent lacks effective counterplay lines, though at the highest level it arguably should lose the majority of the time against nearly the entire field. Notably, while 5PP Robotic-Arm Rescuer is almost never a good play in Evo Portal, that 5PP main body is a major reason why Machina still wants to run the card to survive against the likes of Fairy Forest.

The featured list is from TS Essia. It's a largely standard list, though he opts for zero Wardens and only one Puppet Workout in exchange for triple Goblin Genius and the mighty triple Cassim.

7. Ghost Shadow

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Ghost Shadow is an aggressive deck that utilizes, as the name implies, Ghosts and early-game pressure to deal large amounts of damage.

The gameplan revolves around dealing a large amount of chip damage in the early game, then aiming to play Masquerade Ghost around turn 5 to make boards that are very hard to deal with, while also increasing the amount of damage each Ghost does. And if the game is not over by then, you can play Ghastly Banishment to finish the opponent off.

In the mulligan, a common mistake is to only look for Masquerade Ghost; aiming for a stable curve is more important, so you should look for cards such as Metatron, Baccherus, Peppy Ghostie, Loyal Ghost Pup, Lucius, Travelled Trainer, and Freyja; Masquerade Ghost is a keep going first, or situationally going second.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Ghost Shadow has fallen out of Tier 1 in the mini-expansion meta; the new hotness, Loot Swordcraft, has a positive matchup into Ghost Shadow, and some of the new cards—such as Asuka & Shiori—make it easier for several decks to outheal some of Ghost's aggression. Although the deck is not Tier 1 anymore, it can still pose a serious threat to any deck if it rolls well enough.

The featured list runs a very generic list; before the mini-expansion, most people opted for three copies of Cerberus, Infernal Hound and up to two copies of Huginn & Muninn. However, the most popular composition right now forgoes that small Last Words package for a more Ghost-focused package from the start of the expansion: it uses three copies of Baccherus, Peppy Ghostie and Freyja.

The featured list is from くもの上のソウマ, who got top 16 in the September 3 JCG.

TIER 3

8. Artifact Portal

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Has Artifact truly been revived by the mini-expansion? We at Tempo Storm do not think so, and its 0% playrate in Pro League seems to reflect that analysis. Unsurprisingly, Artifact Portal did receive at least one very strong card in Carnelia, Amnesic Attendant. Despite being a remarkable talking point for power creep in the current year, the new Carnelia doesn't quite do enough to fully open the gates for Artifact as a deck. Her ability to evolve for free has inspired many gamers to build Evo Artifact, which is primarily an Artifact deck with Alice and Shin inserted, as the deck has numerous self-evolves already in Evamia and Robopup—who is extremely live.

Artifact Portal in general is capable of highrolling some obscene boards on their first evolve turn with 1PP Radiants and Retrafia pop, but such feats are reserved for the most powerful of gamers. Some top players who experimented with Artifact actually cut Retrafia to one copy in exchange for more Zerk, relying far less on going all-in with early boards.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Artifact Portal simply cannot escape Tier 3—the deck is not complete meme territory like those below it, but it is hard enough to justify playing the more consistent Portal decks in a competitive setting with how strong other classes' offerings are. Artifact Portal remains in the dark limbo of having objectively absurd cards but no clearly defined win condition that ties the deck together. Evo Artifact is an attempt to give the deck some relevant late-game potency, but it's simply less consistent than the real Evo Portal.

The featured list from dawn_sv is one such Evo Artifact build, with one Zerk and the simple Alice Shin package for evolve payoffs. Some of these turn 5 boards are not legal in most states.

9. Heal Haven

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Heal Haven had its moment of glory while Ghost Shadow was still at its peak, but without its prime foodstuff on the table, Heal immediately fell in usage. It still sees some play, and the two players who brought it to Pro League both went a respectable 4–3 to finish second and third in their group. There are boardlock lines with Agent of the Commandments that can potentially work in both matchups, but ultimately there is still a lot of control in the hands of Loot and Magachiyo players to prevent these lines from consistently succeeding.

The most significant build adjustment in the current meta has been running multiple 3PP Jeanne, Salvation's Maiden with triple Arriet and triple Metatron to more effectively combat aggressive curves from Fairy Forest and Loot Sword. Many players have cut Orchid's Examination Hall entirely, which really speaks volumes, considering the card was designed for this archetype then buffed to ensure it would be played—yet it still isn't. Pureflame Lady is also frequently cut, as it's very bricky, and 3PP Jeanne is the premier answer to the current aggressive decks.

Asuka & Shiori is a somewhat controversial card in the deck, as one might assume an Angel's Blessing effect would be good in a deck that wants to constantly heal—but it's troublesome to use when the best turns to play the Twins are already occupied by other predefined plays, and especially when the deck can't restore evolution points. The key argument is that Ascended Prism Priestess may be more consistently good and specifically on turns that are less congested with existing strong plays, though it's clear that both options are quite viable.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Heal Haven is in Tier 3 for this Tempo Storm Meta Snapshot, though it could easily be Tier 2 deck, as it's still a strong anti-aggro pick and can perform well enough against Loot Sword via Agent of the Commandments.

The featured list from rikka/LVS runs triple 3PP Jeanne and triple Ascended Prism Priestess as a card-draw follower over Asuka & Shiori. While Asuka & Shiori have straightforwardly high value as a 1PP card, the flexibility of 0PP Fount of Tranquility as simple card draw or an on-demand heal buff given enough evolves is not to be underestimated. Even when used primarily for the draw, the Countdown reduction on Fanfare means you don't need to play it immediately and can make a better-informed decision on turn 5 or 6.

10. Mysteria Rune

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Mysteria Rune is a combo deck that revolves around performing an OTK with Majestic Sorcery, a 20PP spell that will summon a horde of Mysteria followers and give them Storm ability—they can then be buffed further with Mysteria Exchange Party. The cost of Majestic Sorcery can be reduced by Spellboost and by playing Mysteria cards. To achieve this OTK smoothly, the deck emphasizes two important cards: 1) Anne & Grea, Royal Duo, which is the only way to generate Majestic Sorcery, and 2) Mysteria, Magic Originator, which can change all the spell cards in your hand and deck into the Mysteria trait, which will effectively reduce the cost of Majestic Sorcery even faster.

While the Majestic Sorcery OTK is the end goal, the interesting part of Mysteria Rune is navigating the midgame with limited resources: players need to accumulate Mysteria names before playing Majestic Sorcery. Royal Duo and Originator are obvious cards that need to be summoned, but Craig, Palla/Miranda/Heinlein from Arcane Instruction, and the old version of Anne & Grea from Dual Barrier also need to be summoned for more names.

Always keep Royal Duo and Magic Originator in the mulligan: they are the literal win condition. Freyja, Hanna, or Mysteria Exchange Party are also good keeps since they can draw into the two key cards. Going second, evolve Magic Originator on turn 4 followed by Royal Duo on turn 5. Going first, evolve Royal Duo on turn 5, and Magic Originator on turn 6. Survive and go all out with spells and followers on turn 6 and reduce the cost of Majestic Sorcery as fast as possible, while adding more Mysteria followers into the destroyed-card pool. With the right hand, it is very possible to perform OTK on turn 7, while a turn 8 OTK is almost guaranteed.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Mysteria gets nothing from the mini-expansion, so the decklist trend for Mysteria stays the same. However, as other notable decks receive upgrades, Mysteria's position in the meta has steadily declined. This list was known as one of the most consistent OTK decks, but at the moment, Magachiyo Forest is simply the better option if an OTK is the aim. The latter is faster and more consistent than current Mysteria.

Furthermore, Mysteria's strongest matchups have dropped in popularity, which is enough to bring this list down to Tier 3. There is not enough to justify running this deck unless you really want to target a certain matchup.

The featured list is from ギャラクシー藍沢GX, who managed to win the 30/08 JCG. It's a standard Mysteria deck with two Dual Barriers for more stability, as it can be used as an early play or as a turn 8 Enhance to end the game.

11. Chess Rune

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Chess Rune is an archetype that revolves around Mystic King and his Magical Pawns. The aim is to get eight Magical Pawns to leave play in order to reduce the cost of their big boss card: Mystic King. With Mystic King, every Magical Pawn will become more powerful and gain Storm and Ward: your main win condition. The deck has a pretty midrange playstyle, as Magical Pawns will constantly fill your board and be able to trade with opponent followers.

You want to mulligan for Chess-related cards—except for Mystic King because you only need the King for later turns. Prioritize keeping high-value cards like Check and Magical Knights. Start summoning pawns with cards like Magical Strategy or Magical Rook. Use your discounted Magical Knight to chip in some damage while progressing your quest. End the game with Mystic King's powerful board presence or wait for an OTK chance as you buff your Storm-Pawn with a combination of Check, Winged Inversion, or even Odin.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Chess Rune received nothing from the mini-expansion: the deck remains unpopular, with barely anyone playing it in either the ladder or competitive scene.

Regardless, with a good draw, Chess Rune is a deck that can threaten even the strongest deck in the meta. Early Magical Knights followed up with a quick turn 6 Mystic King still wins the majority of the matchups. Good players will play around the Pawn, but a buffed Pawn with Checks and Let's Feast in Style might chip enough damage for an early lethal.

The featured list is from @maamusutafi, who managed to hit a 14-win streak with this list; it's a pretty balanced and straightforward deck, with a one-of Mikael as an additional heal source. Three Cardseers are really good in this meta, as popular decks like Loot Sword have early boards to trade.

TIER 4

12. Bahamut Dragon

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Bahamut Dragon is a control archetype that tries to survive until the late game until they can invoke Ultimate Bahamut and makes your opponent running out of cards. Ultimate Bahamut is a follower that will be invoked from the deck after you play 50PP during the match. Since Dragoncraft has access to additional play points, the deck is able to summon it faster than any other class can. Bahamut Dragon also has access to play point recovery, via cards like Kyrie and Olivia & Sylvia—which makes invoking Ultimate Bahamut even faster.

Mulligan for your Ramp cards like Dragon Oracle and Waterwyrm's Blessing. Azvaldt is also a good keep because of its ramp synergy with Hot-Blooded Marauder. Focus on playing control cards midgame and recovering enough defense to dodge opposing lethals, by way of heal cards like Drazael or Antemaria. Finally, boost up the 50PP quest by playing Terra Finis and Ultimate Bahamut on Accelerate, as play point recovery does count for the quest. After Bahamut is invoked, pray that your opponent doesn't have a way to kill you with their current hand.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

Objectively, Bahamut Dragon has become a much more consistent deck after the mini-expansion. The addition of Asuka & Shiori, Twins really helps, as the card counts as play point recovery while also healing some health when going second. Additionally, the buff to Antemaria last month adds another healing source for this deck, which improves their survivability.

Invoking Bahamut is simpler than ever, which makes Bahamut Dragon a rather popular deck on ladder. However, on paper, Bahamut Dragon simply loses to any decent Tier 1 or 2 deck with a way to end the game decisively. You can't really control them except by praying that your opponent doesn't see the lethal line or doesn't draw their necessary card. That weakness is why it is a bad deck in the competitive scene, as you need to rely on your opponent drawing or playing badly.

Having said that, it does have an advantage against slow decks like Heal Haven or Control Sword.

The featured list is a 15-win streak from @taruverse. It utilizes a one-of Flame and Glass as a stall tool, which might come in handy against a deck that is unable to clear the small Flame and Glass tokens from its Last Words.

13. Pazuzu Rune

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ARCHETYPE EXPLANATION

Pazuzu Blood is a combo deck featuring a lot of followers costing 6PP or more. The point is to survive to turn 6 and fuse multiple high-cost cards into Pazuzu, Noxious Gale. Combined with a second Pazuzu or Galom, Empress Fist, followed by Vulgus, Infernal Headmistress's giving Storm to Pazuzu, this is a potential OTK on 6PP. Unfortunately this combo can only be pulled off in Vengeance, which is why Waltz, Moonlight Wolf-King is necessary.

Asuka & Shiori, Twins have contributed greatly to the deck's card draw and survivability going second, and Odin, Advent of Ragnarok is a premium removal card that can be used on turn 4 or 5 without depleting resources before playing Pazuzu.

WEEKLY META AND FEATURED DECK

It says something about the state of Bloodcraft that its best deck is Pazuzu Blood, making a timid appearance in Tier 4. This is simply a gimmicky combo deck, extremely vulnerable to aggression and with several forms of counterplay on its OTK turns.

えのん somehow reached top 8 in JCG with this build, and we're not sure what to say about it, other than applauding the use of Hiker Gigas in competitive play. This archetype is hard to recommend, and it's not for the faint of heart.