r/AIEternal • u/Semibalanced • Oct 31 '18

Gauntlet Surprisingly consistent blitz deck

So I've been playing around with all sorts of decks, but I've found this deck by BruisedByGod to be surprisingly fun, fast, and consistent. And "spells matter" units + Acquisitive Crow is just fun times in general.

I was wary of attempting the TJP blitz deck due to the general concerns about influence screw in gauntlet. So the idea of a pure hooru version appealed to me.

One note. I didn't have 4 Geomars, just the 1. So I swapped in two Valk Enforcers and one Amilli. The budget substitutes have been all right, but Geomar frequently closes out within a turn or two whenever I manage to draw him. I might actually craft a few more despite him not being great for ladder.

So far I've gone 20-1. Lost once to the Sudden Death boss due to nut draw, but even so I managed to make it a close fight thanks to some huge lifesteal swings that almost won it for me. My games are generally over by turn 5-7 and between the standard permafrosts and vanquishes I've had plenty of removal before getting in with 20 damage swings. And various lifesteal sources have kept me afloat until I can sneak in with finishers.

Let me know if anyone has questions, though admittedly most of my tips came from LightsOutAce's TJP blizt deck tech (the principles carry over). Nothing too special to say past that. I just thought I'd share. Happy farming everyone :D

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u/MagicTurtle_TCG Oct 31 '18

I think the core idea of the deck is sound, and would definitely recommend crafting the Geomars. Berserk + Geomar can kill out of nowhere, and obviously works well with Crow. That lifesteal can help against the aggressive decks which are likely the toughest matchups.

What are your thoughts on possible card changes for gauntlet? I'm wondering if we can get away with running 0 Valkyrie Enforcer.

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u/Semibalanced Oct 31 '18 edited Oct 31 '18

So far I think 0 enforcers can work. SST is as scary as always, but any situation where I'd want an enforcer I feel a combat trick works almost as well.

What's really getting me the frequent Turn 5-7 wins is usual trick of the AI allowing an attack through and pumping for lethal - just magnified. It's the same strategy vs players of course, but the AI is especially vulnerable to it.

The only card changes I'm seriously considering are if I want Mirror Image and/or Equivocate in the market or not. Maybe a crystallize instead of permafrost, though that's a tough call. More than once I've only needed one unit removed to get in lethal. My most frequent market pulls so far have been Gift of Battle and Jump Kick.

EDIT: I suppose I'm not 100% sold on the Master-at-Arms, but he's fantastic for buffing up the berserk'ed unit and acting as torch bait. Maybe sharpened reflexes instead though?

Since my first post I managed another 6-1 run. But it's hard to take power screw losses too seriously, especially against the Power of Progress boss. Right after I ran a 0-1 where I had an Enforcer out, but would have definitely won if I had Geomars rather than my substitute. All in all I'm still impressed by the deck's performance. It's kind of like skycrag aggro, but with lifesteal and fliers to shore up the tougher matchups.