Welcome to our 30th meta report! The “nerf” to King of Beggars didn’t change much and SY continues to reign supreme. While Assimilate and Battle Trance are in a good spot, Guerilla Tactics took a huge hit with the nerf to Milva: Sharpshooter. As such, the green faction is barely worth mentioning.
With ST out of the picture, we could see the return of NR and MO decks, namely Inspired Zeal, Blood Scent and Carapace. SK still has some greedier options like Rage of the Sea and NG players have a compelling reason to play Tactical Decision after the buffs to Roach and Knickers - be it Hyperthin or Cloggers.
We will update the report regularly in order to provide the community with a spot-on representation of the current meta. You can join our Discord if you have any questions.
Graphics: WellMax81
Editing: Wusubi, ShadowplayRed, Sebodunum
Writers: Andasama, Avades, EuronCrowsEye, Gravesh, Lorakko, Oliveira, Pajabol, Qnerr, SpyroZA, Zubedoo
Consultants: Bantonio, Cyberz, McP0yle, SpecimenGwent
While King of Beggars has become more costly to fit into SY decks, he still packs a punch and gives more value to Tribute cards. The Midrange take on Jackpot now includes more control tools in Philippa Eilhart and Moreelse, as the meta got a bit greedier. You always have the option of switching out Moreelse and Eavesdrop (or Philippa and Shakedown) for Ludovicus Brunenbaum and Saul de Navarette, sacrificing one of the removal cards for more proactive options. Salamandra Mage also found its way into the deck, making it easier to proc King of Beggars’ ability with Savolla. -Zubedoo
Strengths:
- Efficient control tools, favored against the majority of matchups in the current meta
- The deck has the most broken combo in the game with Savolla and King of Beggars providing a ridiculous amount of points
Weaknesses:
- While the deck got better on Blue coin, it can still struggle with a suboptimal hand
- Since you rely on playing Savolla, missing him will reduce your odds to win severely
Considerations:
- Ludovicus, Saul de Navarette
Despite SY having a wide variety of decks being played at the moment, Bounty still feels like one of the best options. Although we didn’t have a big patch this month, that didn’t stop the deck from changing. The Poison bronzes were replaced by Beggars and Tax Collectors. Moreover, Moreelse and Salamandra Mage offer more control options with their Tributes and they also help with reducing the Counter on King of Beggars. One thing that hasn’t changed is Savolla acting as a 30+ point finisher. -Oliveira
Strengths:
- The deck has an explosive short round with Sigi Reuven, Savolla and King of Beggars
- Jackpot sets up a bank full of coins for control tools such as Whoreson’s Freak Show, Moreelse and Witch Hunter Executioner
Weaknesses:
- Mismanaging your coins can potentially lead to King of Beggars staying in the deck
- Having Royal Decree and The Flying Redanian as the only thinning cards makes this deck draw dependent, which can lead to awkward hands
Considerations:
- The Brute, Graden
With the nerf to Milva: Sharpshooter, our favorite Ban Ard and Aretuza Students can often survive until the end of the semester. While Raffard’s Vengeance now costs 10 provisions and thus can’t be tutored by Amphibious Assault, the recent buff to Istredd is somewhat of a compensation, as he allows you to cycle through the deck. Other than that, the deck includes some removal options in Margarita and Boiling Oil. You can experiment with Cintrian Spellweaver to increase your engine-overload potential, or Royal Decree to improve the overall consistency. -Andasama
Strengths:
- Alumni and Seltkirk of Gulet are very efficient control tools against greedy opponents
- Palpatine-style unlimited power in the carry-over from students will often allow you to dominate a long Round 3
Weaknesses:
- While control-heavy decks aren’t as popular as they used to be, they’re still out there and can mess up your game plan
- Cards that interact with your graveyard can disrupt the carry-over synergy, so beware the likes of Xavier and Experimental Remedy
Considerations:
- Prince Anséis, Donimir of Troy
For yet another month, Assimilate remains one of the best decks in the meta, with this version including Jan Calveit proving to be the most successful. The deck runs 7 Tactic cards to ensure you will draw your Calveit in Round 1 most of the time. This gives you access to crucial golds like Artaud Terranova, Braathens and The Mushy Truffle. Blightmakers offer solid tempo in Round 1 and the deck offers a variety of tools that can interact with the opponent’s strategy, allowing you to compete with most meta decks in a long round. Due to Calveit’s ability and pointslam tools like Joachim, you have the potential to gain card advantage while defending the bleed. -Pajabol
Strengths:
- The deck is very consistent, as Jan Calveit gives you access to all of your gold cards
- Great long round potential thanks to Assimilate value and many ways of using your opponent’s strategy against them
Weaknesses:
- The lack of control tools can sometimes be an issue against engine-overload decks
- Getting bled out of your high-end golds after committing Calveit can be a problem
Considerations:
- Dead Man’s Tongue, Fercart
Hyperthin fell short last season, and despite the buffs to Roach and Knickers, it still can’t have a comfortable spot in the meta, not while Assimilate exists. Your game plan is still the same: try to play the leftmost card in your hand to increase the value of Sunset Wanderers and thin down to one card in deck: Imperial Golem. This allows you to generate an insane amount of points with the Triss Merigold, Yennefer: Divination and Xarthisius trifecta. However, several bricks and Blue coin can be your downfall, as many decks out there are more than capable of Red coin abuse. -Oliveira
Strengths:
- The deck has one of the most explosive short rounds in the game with its Reveal cards
- Tactical Decision provides you with a ridiculous amount of points, as it synergizes with Snowdrop, Affan and Mage Assassin
Weaknesses:
- Relies on drawing Dead Man’s Tongue and Snowdrop in order to execute its strategy
- With a high amount of bricks and pay-off cards, the deck often struggles with winning Round 1 or defending the bleed
Considerations:
- Albrich, Nilfgaardian Knight
No-unit strategies are barely seen after the nerf to Milva: Sharpshooter, which allows this deck to raid the ladder once more and pillage that lovely MMR. It boasts several ships of the notorious Skellige clans, as well as some of the most ruthless lads ’n lasses the Isles have to offer. If that isn’t enough, the legendary sea beast Fucusya can replay your high-end Pirates or even Birna Bran if you want to improve your hand quality. -Andasama
Strengths:
- Powerful warriors of the Isles will send the enemies off the plank
- Assembling the fleet doesn’t only daunt the opponent but also synergizes with your leader ability and Pirates
Weaknesses:
- The Discard package is awkward if you don’t draw Birna Bran
- You can generate armor, but your damage cards are useless against no-unit decks
Considerations:
- Korathi Heatwave, Djenge Frett
It wouldn’t be a meta report without Battle Trance; this month, the deck returns to its roots with Sunset Wanderers. The power in this deck comes from the ability to adapt to every matchup, as the cards included here are quite versatile. Two Neutral cards stand out: The Mushy Truffle works in tandem with Gedyneith to overload the poor opponent with Crow Clan Preachers, while Dwimveandra synergizes well with these cards, too. The Discard package offers tempo and thinning, and Fucusya can resurrect a variety of cards, either a low-provision unit for more Rain value (or a Scenario proc) or a card like Birna Bran or Coral for dealing with awkward hands. -EuronCrowsEye
Strengths:
- With the addition of Heatwave, you have a potent mix betwen control and pointslam
- The deck is flexible - it can apply a lot of pressure in Round 2 and win the short round, but it also has great long round potential
Weaknesses:
- You have to retain two Druids to proc the Scenario, which can sometimes be awkward
- Despite having a decent amount of thinning, the deck is a bit draw dependent, as you don’t have direct access to Gedyneith
Considerations:
- Bride of the Sea, Gremist
If greed is your game, look no further than Rage of the Sea, one of the greediest decks on ladder. With Messengers of the Sea, Fulmar and Rioghan the Undying, this deck is capable of doing 100+ point swings with the right set-up. Additionally, with the help of Melusine, you are able to build up a lot of carry-over and potentially have a secondary win condition, should all of your other threats get answered. -SpyroZA
Strengths:
- Easily beats engine-based decks that don’t have the sufficient removal
- The deck can generate an absurd amount of points in a long Round 3, while having some short round finishers in Fucusya and Melusine
Weaknesses:
- Vulnerable to being bled, struggles against control decks like Jackpot
- Relies on drawing the Discard package, otherwise you will miss your combo pieces
Considerations:
- Royal Decree, Gutting Slash
Have you ever wanted to play a deck with which you can slam your golds in Round 1? If so, then Salamander is a perfect choice. You fight for round control at any cost, this means using Sigi Reuven, Caesar Bilzen, Saul de Navarette, Whoreson’s Freak Show; commit whatever you can in order to force your opponent to pass. If you succeed (which is likely), simply take the long Round 3 and get ready to see your friendly two-headed amphibian absolutely popping off, mate! -Lorakko
Strengths:
- Salamander and Roland Bleinheim can produce a burst of around 40 proactive points, not to mention the Poison value
- Jackpot and The Mushy Truffle can protect Azar Javed’s Scarabs, making it difficult to answer the Defender in one turn
Weaknesses:
- Vulnerable to decks that can get through the Defender and answer Roland Bleinheim
- An experienced opponent will adjust their game plan, fight for Round 1 and bleed you, which greatly reduces this deck’s potential
Considerations:
- Gellert Bleinheim, Sea Jackal
Get your plungers ready, it’s clog time! After the buffs to Rience, Knickers and Roach along with the downfall of Guerilla Tactics, the deck can hold its own. The power of Tactical Decision and Snowdrop allows you to win Round 1 and get more time to clog your opponent during a Round 2 bleed. Unlike the past variations, we’re playing Rience instead of Renew and Letho: Kingslayer. With this version, pushing for a 2-0 with Ffion and Kolgrim will leave Rience unprotected, but with a much higher value ceiling. Having said that, you’ll do best clogging in the first two rounds while saving all of your finishers for a shorter Round 3. -Avades
Strengths:
- Can be very abusive against decks that lack direct answers or simply don’t draw them
- Tactical Decision can help you secure Round 1, or more ideally, apply a lot of pressure while bleeding the opponent in Round 2
Weaknesses:
- If your opponent answers the Defender and Kolgrim, the deck completely falls apart
- High consistency opponents with awkward clog targets such as the Discard package within SK or Jan Calveit in Assimilate can mess up your game plan
Considerations:
- Renew, Letho: Kingslayer
To everyone’s surprise, Vampires are actually good! This version of the deck is Lord Mya-Mon’s creation, who took it all the way to 2700 fMMR last season. Given the nerf to Milva: Sharpshooter and the downfall of Guerilla Tactics, the deck should perform even better this month. It’s centered around creating multiple Fleders and applying Bleeding to the enemy units whenever possible. With Witches’ Sabbath, we’re able to revive the Fleder package, then threaten to 2-0 the opponent. She Who Knows offers even more carry-over potential since fulfilling its Sabbath condition is almost too easy with this deck. -Zubedoo
Strengths:
- The deck has a strong Round 1 presence with Fleders, allowing you to be aggressive and potentially win on even
- Your engines can generate a lot of passive value, forcing the opponent to overcommit if you manage to time your pass right
Weaknesses:
- Multiple forms of tall punish can disrupt your game plan
- Not finding the Fleder package in Round 1 can be a problem since you need to set up your graveyard for Witches’ Sabbath
Considerations:
- You can try out this version with Old Speartip: Asleep
With the nerf to Milva: Sharpshooter, the ladder seems to be free of Guerilla Tactics, and therefore row-locked cards like Keltullis can breathe a sigh of relief. The deck utilizes most of the key cards from older versions such as Cave Troll, Nithral and The Beast. In Round 1, you should play Ciri: Dash behind the Defender to get card advantage or threaten to win on even. Witches’ Sabbath allows you to play your best cards again, making your Round 2 bleed stronger or a short Round 3 easier to win. -EuronCrowsEye
Strengths:
- When going first, Ciri: Dash can flip the coin to your advantage, when going second, she can grant card advantage
- Witches’ Sabbath allows you to replay your highest-powered cards - the best targets are Keltullis, Old Speartip and Cave Troll
Weaknesses:
- Susceptible to tall punish and control-heavy decks
- Fairly draw dependent, missing out on 1-2 key gold cards will usually result in a loss
Considerations:
- Imlerith’s Wrath, Squirrel
Guerilla Tactics is nothing but a shell of its former self. Since ST as a whole sadly has no promising alternatives, nothing about the deck has changed, but it’s weaker overall. You can still get round control by just slamming your Saskia: Commander while accumulating a lot of carry-over in the form of Orbs of Insight and The Mushy Truffle. However, the nerf to Milva: Sharpshooter made the control potential much worse, which limits your ability to compete with the rest of the meta. -Gravesh
Strengths:
- Saskia: Commander remains untouched and still takes over the round she’s played in
- Alzur giveth and Alzur taketh away; if you manage to high-roll, you can beat any deck
Weaknesses:
- With Milva nerfed, the deck feels like a wet noodle compared to last month’s version
- The deck can struggle with proactivity and can also end up bricking some of its cards
Considerations:
- Heatwave, Dwarven Mercenary