Harmony is a strong deck, but it’s vulnerable to the rise of Igni, which makes Deadeye Ambush a viable alternative. This Midrange version moves away from a full-Elf build to make room for more Harmony and Poison cards. Due to the departure of Radeyah, Feign Death and Isengrim, you can contest Round 1 and push the opponent in Round 2, without being shoehorned into forcing a long Round 3. -Gravesh

Strengths:

- The Poison package and high tempo cards often put you in the driver’s seat

- Unlike with older versions, you aren’t committed to a long round game plan

Weaknesses:

- Row punish and tech cards still hurt this deck

- Struggles to remove threats against strong Purify cards (Gremist, Kalkstein)

Considerations:

- Eleyas, Toruviel, Rebuke

The recent meta shift didn’t affect Draug decks too much. While you can’t always contest Round 1, you can defend the bleed with Queen Adalia, Caravan Vanguards and Draug, often winning the final round due to card advantage or preserving your leader. Combined with strong control options in Falibor, Baron and Prince Anséis, you’re looking at a flexible deck that can adapt to any matchup. -Jagdulf

Strengths:

- Great long round potential with Draug

- Uprising enables strong cards with the Inspired tag, such as Prince Anséis

Weaknesses:

- Vulnerable to row punish and tech cards like Tinboy

- You can get bled to the point where you have to play Draug without getting ahead in points, and thus losing your card advantage

Considerations:

- Try this version if you aren’t seeing a lot of Harmony

Hidden Cache got obliterated with the double nerf. On top of that, Madame Luiza also got a significant nerf and is now vulnerable to removal. However, Syndicate is still a great faction, so you can change your leader ability and do just fine. While we are showcasing Jackpot as the most popular leader that can be found on ladder, Wild Card and Blood Money are also viable options. -KingChezz93

Strengths:

- Powerful long round with lots of threatening engines

- Very efficient control tools in Ewald, Philippa Eilhart and the Poison package

Weaknesses:

- You can struggle in Round 1 on Blue coin

Considerations:

- Blood Money or Wild Card

- Tinboy, Geralt: Igni, Luiza & Savolla, Dire Mutated Hound

If you’re tired of Greatswords, this is a deck for you. Midrange Second Wind combines a few high value cards such as Svalblod Totem and Hemdall with a strong package of bronze ships that enable Wild Boar. It excels at playing out all three rounds due to abusing the Crowmother carry-over, while developing a powerful leader target with your golds. Compared to Greatswords, the deck has a much better short round and your long round is still decent. -Pajabol

Strengths:

- It’s easy to win Round 1 and you have great bleed potential

- The deck has a variety of flexible cards, allowing you to adapt your game plan

Weaknesses:

- While your long round power is nothing to scoff at, you will sometimes get out-valued by decks like Harmony

- You rely on drawing well in Rounds 1 and 2, because you need a solid leader target and Crowmother in the graveyard

Considerations:

- Skjall, Bomb Heaver

Since you don’t have to deal with Hidden Cache anymore, the mix of Masquerade Ball and the soldier package has become a very reliable deck. Posing a serious threat to the likes of Harmony, your soldiers allow you to apply a lot of pressure, while Imperial Formation represents both engine protection and a potent finisher. The deck omits Assire and thus cannot recycle the Scenario, but it makes up for it by including Ramon and Ffion. -Wusubi

Strengths:

- Powerful in long and short rounds alike

- Engine protection with your leader charges, the soldier package grants you some proactivity and allows you to abuse Red coin

Weaknesses:

- Susceptible to Bomb Heaver if Ffion gets answered

Considerations:

- Bomb Heaver

Other than the unfavored matchup against Soldiers Ball, you have good matchups all across the field. Hefty Helge, Stefan Skellen and Damien can be quite difficult to answer thanks to the protection from Ffion and leader charges. The soldier package and Poison will help you with securing Round 1, allowing you to bully the opponent in Round 2. For a slightly greedier build, you can consider Letho: Kingslayer instead of Damien. -Pajabol

Strengths:

- Excels at abusing Red coin with Ramon and soldiers

- Imperial Formation offers a solid finisher and protection for your engines

Weaknesses:

- Damien and Stefan are vulnerable to movement

Considerations:

- Letho: Kingslayer, Sweers, Assassination, Bomb Heaver

Most decks rely on their leader abilities, which is why some NG players opt for Lockdown. Other than dismantling the game plan of Lippy decks, you have a good shot against the top dogs of the meta if you draw reasonably well. Like most Midrange decks, you don’t have too much engine value of your own, which can result in simply getting out-valued if things don’t go according to plan. -Wusubi

Strengths:

- Shupe and Radeyah offer unique win conditions

- Negating leader abilities significantly limits the power of popular decks like Mystic Echo, Ursine Ritual or Uprising

Weaknesses:

- The lack of provisions is a severe handicap

- Missing one of your high-end cards can lose you the game

Considerations:

- Triss, Lacerate → Lambert: Swordmaster, Surrender

Propelled onwards by the weakened presence of Syndicate, Monsters have come crawling back, smelling blood in the water. The new list includes Korathi Heatwave as a necessary control option. Your game plan remains the same. Push to gain round control in order to bleed in Round 2, both literally and conceptually, only to send them back in a decisive final round, to where most will end up, covered in poisoned earth, awaiting merciful oblivion. -Minuano

Strengths:

- Scary red coin abuse potential with the combination of a Thrive package and the usual suspects in Yghern and Golyat

- The straightforward playstyle leaves little margin for error, besides the deck excels at executing its game plan thanks to Royal Decree and Matta Huuri

Weaknesses:

- The deck can be piloted in a way so that tall punish doesn’t affect it as much, but it is still weak to Poison shenanigans

- Orianna plays a crucial part in your Round 2 bleed, which means that if she is answered, it can leave a gaping hole in your game plan

Considerations:

- Protofleder, Parasite

While Greatswords may strike you as a binary deck, this archetype can be difficult to shut down. The bronze engines already pose a threat and you can usually secure round control with Wild Boar. If you have last say in a long Round 3, the deck can tackle any threat. With Avallach, Skellige Storm and Dimun Light Longship, the deck has multiple ways of deploying Greatswords and Dagur at high power, making them resilient to removal. -Wusubi

Strengths:

- One of the best long rounds in the game

- Wild Boar and Morkvarg: Heart of Terror give you amazing reach on Red coin

Weaknesses:

- Vulnerable to being bled

- The popularity of tall punish makes fighting for last say even more important

Considerations:

- Hemdall, Ermion, Delirium

Tailbot has dominated last month’s Top 16 qualifier, which has led to a resurgence of his trusted Gedyneith deck. Including a small amount of Druids alongside Gedyneith for a massive finisher, you can also rely on your bronze ships and Wild Boar. Having a win condition for long and short rounds alike makes the deck flexible, albeit a bit draw dependent. Greatsword enables cheeky plays with Second Wind and Morkvarg: Heart of Terror. -Wusubi

Strengths:

- The bronze core of ships allows you set-up a massive swing with Wild Boar, giving you enough power to win Round 1 or a longer Round 3

- For shorter rounds, you have the insane 30+ point finisher with Gedyneith, often procced in 1 turn using Second Wind, Ermion and Freyas Blessing

Weaknesses:

- Draw dependent, the versatility of Royal Decree is preferred over Matta Huuri, however there is a small chance you won’t find your Gedyneith

- While you have the tools to generate Bloodthirst, a few matchups can handily reduce Wild Boar of the Sea value, namely Imperial Formation and Uprising

Considerations:

- Dimun Corsair