Welcome to our 31st meta report! The other factions have finally caught up to SY after a 2-power nerf to King of Beggars. Jackpot has lost a provision and Off the Books has gained a fourth charge, making it a more viable leader ability for both Midrange and Bounty decks.
While NR can still rely on its menacing Alumni deck, Siege is also an interesting option due to the multitude of buffs to Siege Engines and the rework of Resupply. Nothing has changed for NG, with Assimilate being the best choice as usual.
Sigvald and Knut the Callous have received significant buffs, finally turning Self-wound into a relevant archetype. As such, SK is the most flexible faction, since you can also opt for Battle Trance or Onslaught to target different matchups.
With the four best factions being clear-cut this season, there’s no reason to play ST and MO. That said, we’re still including Guerilla Tactics and Blood Scent - they’re annoying to deal with and can give several decks a run for their money.
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: Avades, EuronCrowsEye, Gravesh, Oliveira, Pajabol, SpyroZA, Zubedoo
Consultants: Andasama, Flavko, Inayesel, Kerpeten96, Lorakko, McP0yle, SpecimenGwent
Inspired Zeal once again makes an appearance in Tier 1, with Alumni still being the go-to deck for NR. The key difference with this iteration is that it’s no longer a Devotion deck, as it now uses either Vigo’s Muzzle as a neat control tool or Royal Decree to make the deck more consistent. Leticia was replaced by Knickers or Necromancy to improve your odds against control decks. Siege Masters will Summon themselves from your hand and draw a card when you play a Siege Engine, creating a pocket for Raffard’s Vengeance. Flexible gold cards like Chapter of Wizards and Gerhart of Aelle provide you with a multitude of options, while Seltkirk of Gulet and Margarita Laux-Antille allow you to deal with the opposing threats. -EuronCrowsEye
Strengths:
- You have a lot of power in the carry-over from Ban Ard and Aretuza Students, making the deck strong in long and short rounds alike
- Alumni and Seltkirk remain as the staple removal options, with Vigo’s Muzzle adding the spicy opportunity to yoink one of your opponent’s engines
Weaknesses:
- Graveyard disruption cards can sometimes hinder Shani (e.g. Experimental Remedy)
- Control decks can answer Students, preventing you from getting the Zeal on Alumni
Considerations:
- Royal Decree, Necromancy
Although NG has received some buffs in the latest patch, Assimilate hasn’t changed at all. As such, it’s one of the best decks in the meta, constantly surviving the test of time. The deck includes 6 Tactic cards to ensure you will draw Jan Calveit in Round 1 most of the time. This in turn gives you access to golds like Artaud Terranova, Braathens and The Mushy Truffle. Blightmakers provide tempo in Round 1 and the deck offers a variety of tools that can interact with the opponent’s strategy. Due to Calveit’s ability and pointslam tools like Joachim, you have the potential to obtain 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 top-end cards after committing Calveit can be devastating
Considerations:
- Lydia van Bredevoort, Bribery
After a significant buff, Off The Books became a solid alternative to Jackpot, offering a multi-use ability which also makes your Tributes cheaper. This version of the deck was built by Mistikal, and it includes enough control tools for the opposing engines, with Whoreson Junior being the ultimate Devotion pay-off. Jacques and Philippa Eilhart are efficient spenders that solve the issue of over-profiting, since you can’t rely on Jackpot’s passive ability. You often have a better Round 1 presence than Jackpot, with flexible leader charges and a few more provisions at your disposal. -Pajabol
Strengths:
- Higher ceiling than Jackpot, as Off the Books provides you with three more provisions
- Very good at removing the opponent’s engines while still having an insane amount of proactive points thanks to Savolla and King of Beggars
Weaknesses:
- Potential awkwardness with over-profiting and spending coins due to the lack of the safety net that’s Jackpot’s passive ability
- Not being able to protect Whoreson’s Freak Show and Salamandra Mages with your leader ability can prove to be problematic
Considerations:
- Casino Bouncers, Tax Collector
Despite yet another nerf to King of Beggars and therefore SY as a whole, Bounty is still one of the strongest decks in the meta. The buffed Off The Books now rocks 4 leader charges, granting you 8 coins throughout the match, as well as cheaper Tributes. Bronze cards like Slander, Witch Hunter and Witch Hunter Executioner provide cheap ways to remove the opponent’s engines. The high-end control tools such as Professor, Whoreson Junior, Moreelse and Graden allow you to deal with the bigger threats. Savolla acts as a great finisher in Round 3, offering a high-tempo play in tandem with King of Beggars. -EuronCrowsEye
Strengths:
- As usual, the deck has a very powerful short round with Savolla and King of Beggars
- The Witchfinder and Off the Books provide more support for Whoreson’s Freak Show and Witch Hunter Executioner
Weaknesses:
- The deck relies on drawing multiple combo pieces in order to execute its game plan
- Having a multi-use leader is offset by the fact that you can over-profit, which means that a good understanding of coin management is needed to succeed with this deck
Considerations:
- Philippa Eilhart, Savvy Huckster
King of Beggars got nerfed again, but still proves to be one of the best cards in Gwent. With Jackpot now being 12 provisions, you have to downgrade Eavesdrop, which makes the deck even more draw dependent. However, you can rely on a myriad of efficient control tools such as Professor, Whoreson Junior, Philippa Eilhart, Moreelse and Whoreson’s Freak Show. Combined with the pointslam potential of cards like Sigi Reuven, Savolla and King of Beggars, Jackpot continues to be one of the most flexible ladder decks, with both long and short round powerplays. -Zubedoo
Strengths:
- With a good hand, you’re favored against the majority of decks in the current meta
- The deck has the most broken combo in the game with Savolla and King of Beggars dispensing a ridiculous amount of points
Weaknesses:
- While the deck got better on Blue coin, it can still struggle with a suboptimal hand
- The deck is a bit draw dependent, as Vivaldi Bank and The Flying Redanian are your only consistency options
Considerations:
- Caesar Bilzen, Eavesdrop
Do you enjoy watching your opponent sitting helplessly as you crush their hopes and dreams with a 30-point Melusine and a 50-point Restore? Do you want to show off your big brain and outplay the opponent so hard they uninstall the game? Do you enjoy playing solitaire decks? Then this is the deck for you. Sigvald and Knut the Callous are incredible additions to a deck that already wants to play Melusine and Covenant of Steel. Self-Wound is now the latest contender in a plethora of viable SK decks, giving you yet another viable approach to playing the faction. -SpyroZA
Strengths:
- You have many threats that can overwhelm your opponent and win you the game
- Flexible game plan thanks to cards that are powerful in both long and short rounds, such as Melusine, Knut the Callous, Sigvald and Restore
Weaknesses:
- Vulnerable to control decks, e.g. Onslaught with Heatwave and Vigo’s Muzzle
- The deck can be very difficult to pilot, as it offers more lines of play than usual
Considerations:
- Bride of the Sea, Mardroeme
Alchemy can be a viable choice in a control-heavy meta. For example, the pointslam provided by Gedyneith, The Mushy Truffle and Dwimveandras can outpoint decks that try to target Alumni. On the other hand, Crow Clan Preachers can be a big threat against decks that have a limited amount of answers. After the 1-provision nerf to Gedyneith, Battle Trance cuts Coral and opts for Bride of the Sea. Gremist can be used to deal with Defenders, Locks or Poison. Sunset Wanderers and the Discard package provide tempo and thinning, while Fucusya can be used on Bride of the Sea in a short Round 3, or as a way to resurrect one of your Crow Clan Preachers with a lot of additional Rain value. -Pajabol
Strengths:
- As a pointslam deck, you can outvalue most of the control decks in the current meta
- Very flexible in its game plan, can either take a long round with Crow Clan Preachers, or bleed with Sunset Wanderers and Gedyneith while keeping Fucusya as the finisher
Weaknesses:
- You have to retain two Druids to proc the Scenario, which can sometimes be awkward
- Lacks the control tools for prevalent engine-overload decks like Alumni or Self-Wound
Considerations:
- Coral, Maxii Van Dekkar
Pirates opted for Non-Devotion, replacing King Bran and Skjordal Drummond with Sunset Wanderers and The Mushy Truffle. After Patch 10.2, Vigo’s Muzzle is another excellent addition to Onslaught’s repertoire of control tools. Crach an Craite supports Terror of the Seas and your bronze ships, while the Discard package offers some Round 1 tempo and thinning. You can rely on Fucusya’s flexibility, allowing you to resurrect a card such as Morkvarg: Heart of Terror or Junod of Belhaven. As a control deck, you’re favored against Alumni and Self-Wound (especially if you have Heatwave). Serving as a replacement for Reckless Flurry, Onslaught is a powerful option for SK, so don’t hesitate to pillage the landlubbers. -Wusubi
Strengths:
- You have some engines, a lot of removal and a huge finisher in Fucusya, allowing you to succeed in long and short rounds alike
- The inclusion of Sunset Wanderers and The Mushy Truffle provides more tempo and some carry-over, making it easier to win Round 1 and bleed the opponent
Weaknesses:
- The matchup against Assimilate is hard; they can copy your ships while Double Cross and Artaud Terranova allow them to use your best cards against you
- You invest a lot of provisions into Sunset Wanderers and the Discard package, which leaves you with a modest amount of control-based golds that need to find good value
Considerations:
- Korathi Heatwave, Hammond
Hyperthin found a way to stay in the meta due to its great matchup into Jackpot. 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 a ridiculous 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 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 can struggle with winning Round 1 or defending the bleed
Considerations:
- You can try out this version with Vigo’s Muzzle
NR had their annual faction rework which focused on Siege Engines. With the change to Resupply and multiple buffs to cards like Foltest’s Pride and Reinforced Ballista, you can gather your men-at-arms and Siege the opponent with King Henselt’s help. The deck can build tempo with Amphibious Assault and answer the opponent’s engines with Vigo’s Muzzle and Siege Engines. You also have powerful thinning options in Raffard’s Vengeance and Siege Masters. The Scenario can wipe the opposing board, which is especially threatening when you have the first say. -Oliveira
Strengths:
- The deck packs an abundance of removal and is favored against other engine decks
- With the explosiveness of Siege, you can outpoint most decks in a mid to long round
Weaknesses:
- As an engine deck, you struggle against control decks such as Jackpot and Onslaught
- Susceptible to being bled, as your opponent can force you to play Siege and then pass
Considerations:
- Queen Adalia, Cintrian Envoy
Can you believe it? Are we dreaming? Or has Stockpile finally become a viable ladder deck? With a few buffs to Siege Engines and the rework of the Resupply keyword, Siege is a force to be reckoned with. Cards like Foltest’s Pride and Reinforced Ballista provide a scary amount of removal when combined with your leader ability. King Radovid V offers two extra Stockpile charges, which makes Siege Engines even more powerful. Finally, Siege Masters now Summon themselves from hand and draw a card from your deck when you play a Siege Engine, providing the deck with some tempo and thinning. -EuronCrowsEye
Strengths:
- Incredible long Round 3 potential with Siege, Foltest’s Pride and Reinforced Ballistas
- Favored against other engine-overload decks, as you make it impossible for them to stick their own engines
Weaknesses:
- Susceptible to being bled, as your opponent can force you to play Siege and then pass
- Without Inspired Zeal, you can’t include Raffard’s Vengeance, which makes contesting Round 1 or defending the bleed more difficult, especially against control-oriented decks
Considerations:
- Battering Ram, Cintrian Envoy
Guerilla Tactics is nothing but a shell of its former self, yet with another hopeless patch for the ST enjoyers, the faction doesn’t have promising alternatives. You can still get round control by just slamming Saskia: Commander while developing carry-over in the form of Orbs of Insight and The Mushy Truffle. The nerf to Milva: Sharpshooter made the control potential 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: Sharpshooter’s ability dealing 1 damage, the deck feels like a wet noodle
- The deck can struggle with proactivity and can also end up bricking some of its cards
Considerations:
- Korathi Heatwave, Red Haze
With no changes to MO this patch, Blood Scent is still the go-to deck for the pointslam faction. The current meta requires you to be able to answer specific cards, such as Ban Ard or Aretuza Students and Whoreson’s Freak Show. As such, we’re including lerio2’s variation of the deck with some control options. Still, you’ll need to know the matchup to understand your best targets and timing for each of your removal tools. With Sunset Wanderers, Regis: Reborn and Mammuna, it’s easier to win Round 1 and bleed the opponent, ideally threatening to 2-0 them. You can also catch the opponent off guard with a well-timed pass, as your engines generate a significant amount of passive value. -Avades
Strengths:
- Strong Round 1 presence with Fleders and Sunset Wanderers, which allows you to be aggressive and potentially win on even
- The inclusion of the Mammuna package makes it easier to bleed the opponent while retaining some juice for a short Round 3
Weaknesses:
- The deck can run into some consistency issues, as Naglfar is your one and only tutor
- Engine decks like Alumni or Self-Wound are hard to beat due to limited control tools
Considerations:
- Parasite, Natural Selection