Raph's Pop-up Tourney Winning deck "Ninja Darkclaw"

[Raphael Majere]

It has been some time since I posted any Competitive deck, so I look forward to interacting with all of you again; new or old players.

The deck won this tourney: http://www.shadowera.com/showthread....28th-23-59-GMT

This deck is definitely strong in QM and in select Tournaments.

http://sedeck.mygamesonline.org/show...a4d4c455542d25

***HERO***
Darkclaw

***Allies (4)***
4x Lightning Hunter

***Abilities (27)***
1x Captured Prey
3x Now You're Mine
4x Speedstrike
4x Full Moon
3x Shadow Font
4x Rain Delay
4x Bad Santa
4x Blood Moon

***Weapons (8)***
4x What Big Teeth
2x Jeweler's Dream
2x Spectral Sabre (remove Warrior's BF)

TOTAL: 39 cards + Hero

Basic Stuff:

1. Do not go over 40 cards for this deck when tweaking the deck. Drawing a SStrike early is absolutely critical and hence don't lower your chances of winning by having a deck over 40 cards. I have Boris/Zal/Zhanna decks that run 42 or more; but not for this DC deck.

2. This deck is called "Ninja Darkclaw" for many reasons. Know your cards inside out. Imagine your cards are your ninja weapons. If you can't master your weapons; you can't win. Lightning Hunter is the one card to highlight; know its drawback. If you activate your abilty and is left with no SE, then LH has no SE to deduct. If you need to cast a Blood M or FM or RD, make sure you cast the LH out THEN cast the ability you want. Also, naturally, be aware the LH will kill a Blood M in play.



BP Conquestadore has a similar deck at BP Forums which is based on my even earlier version. http://wotbp.proboards.com/thread/32...zling-darkclaw

Since his write-up is so excellent, I am going to plagiarize his work. Saves me time. To make up to him, I'll have to brew his tea. He drinks a lot of it; and also serves it to many people.

When using "Ninja Darkclaw", players should focus on the following Ninja strategies:

1. Hitting the throat as often as possible
2. Knowing which allies need to be eliminated from the board to ensure a smooth victory
3. Identifying keycards and work your draw to achieve said keycards
4. Utilising Jeweller's Dream with Speedstrike to achieve super-resource-acceleration
5. Timing Lightning Hunter's play

Notes: This deck works better when going first.

When going first, a good start may look like the following:
T1: -
T2: Bad Santa/Blood Moon

(New players: Learn about Santa Bomb here: http://www.shadowera.com/showthread.php?8415)

(It's important)

T3: Speedstrike/WBT
T4: Jeweller's Dream + Lightning Hunter
T5: Shadow Font + Blood Moon + What Big Teeth


When going second, a good start may look like the following:
T1: -
T2: Blood Moon/NYM
T3: Speedstrike
T4: Jeweller's Dream + Shadow Font
T5: Shadow Font + Blood Moon + What Big Teeth

Mid-Game:

Maximise your draw, and pay attention to your saccing! Do not sac unnecessarily, but also sac enough for you to do ninja combos later. (WTF does that mean? As I said, it take new players some time to learn and pilot this deck, so the more you play, the more you'll understand when to sac and when to hold back) Try to keep spare keycards (SStrike/WBT) in hand against MUs that will threaten them. Deal as much damage to the opponent hero as possible.

Late-Game:

Start negating damage because whilst ignoring board for this long, opponent allies must be getting a lot more abundant. Rain Delays, Full Moon and Lightning Hunter is the core of synergy for late-game, and when merged with damage from weapon and ability, deadly. Finish the opponent off.

Match-ups:

Darkclaw faces a hard time against item destruction and attachment removal, since they remove the keycards needed for Darkclaw to win.

Good Match-ups:
Hunters, Mages, Elementals

50/50 Match-ups:
Warriors, Wulven, Rogues

Bad Match-ups:
Priests, especially Jericho and Zhanna with Mass Purification.

Key combos and card synergies:

1. SStrike + JD: Generates 4 extra resources per turn. (LH, SF, Blood Moon/BS + Rain Delay)
2. Rain Delay is out; you cast a LH out, it kills the RD you casted last turn, so your LH's haste attack is not affected.
3. 8 resources: LH + FM = 5 massive damage

Card suggestions and tweaks:

1. Fangs of the Predator - Some synergy with LH. Fangs has amazing dura and potentially a lot of damage.
2. Switching around NYM and CP. Why I like NYM: 2 cc gives a better chance of winning if I am playing 'going second'. In QM, there are a lot of heroes that will drop a t2 ally on t2 when they are going first.
3. Removing 1 card to add 1 more SF.
4. Swapping out some cards for Acid or shrieks.

That's it, if I need to add more to this post, I will.

For sample games: Just search IGN: BP RaphaelMajere

Enjoy pwning your opponents on QM with this deck! Try it out! Looking forward to questions and a vibrant discussion on this deck.

[1ndeed]

Cool deck. I saw Emigor playing something similar and got interested. My version is still ally-light but has a bit more allies. Gargs and DMTs are great because you can spam them with JD, and they distract your opponent long enough for you to go for the throat with hero.

I would also run 4x NyaM as I love that card for 1-1 removal. Cheap to cast, and important when dealing with Gargs or Acolytes

[Conquestadore]

I approve this plagiarism. Lol

[Biasair]

decent deck and good writing.
I don't want to meet deck like this in tourney anymore...
When I played with Senyong at final of zhou's tourney, he used a similiar deck and beated my Zaladar.XD
this deck can beat some of good tier heroes easily, so frightening in tourney.
I'd say add Hunters to good - even match-ups.

Btw, I want to read conq's deck and writing too.:/
The link don't work for me!

[Raphael Majere]

I approve this plagiarism. Lol

Thanks! Have some tea, Master.

Cool deck. I saw Emigor playing something similar and got interested. My version is still ally-light but has a bit more allies. Gargs and DMTs are great because you can spam them with JD, and they distract your opponent long enough for you to go for the throat with hero.

I would also run 4x NyaM as I love that card for 1-1 removal. Cheap to cast, and important when dealing with Gargs or Acolytes

Yeah, i have a deck like that, it's also tourney worthy.

Captured prey vs NYM will always be a topic of discussion: Rain delay cannot stop PB and if opponent has 2 on board, it's almost gg. CP, of course, also for worms.

Btw, I want to read conq's deck and writing too.:/
The link don't work for me!

lol, only BP guild members can read that.

[Jo3yb0i]

Btw, I want to read conq's deck and writing too.:/
The link don't work for me!

Well we both know the only way you can read is if conqy donkey posts it in SE forums =P

[SET Colosal]

You should upload the videos from the finals, specially 3rd game

[Raphael Majere]

Anyone tried deck?

[Direwulven]

I've never known you to be a DC user. Will try it, thanks.

[Master_Savage]

Looks good Bro! congrats on the win! your the best.


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