INTRO:
This is one of the most synergistic tribes to date in Shadow Era. This is probably due to having available Undead tribe cards as early as Call of the Crystals and constantly adding them with each of the expansions. The tribe in general has a feeling of interacting with graveyard, this is depicted with cards like Cryptspawn Hound needing a certain number of undead allies in the graveyard, and Shadow Knight removing cards from the graveyard. While not all cards seem to fit this theme, as can be seen in cards like Keldore and such which were released in CotC well before the design team was implemented. There are lots of synergies and conflicting synergies within the tribe, which will branch out the types of builds we will start to see develop. All in all this will be a heavily played tribe and is certainly my favorite.
ALLIES:
Frostmare (2cc - 1/2) {ice} Haste. While an opposing player controls more allies than you, Frostmare costs 1 less resource to summon.
Notes: One of the best new allies in the game. Provides a nice haste option for shadow and can replace DMT in some builds
Favorable Pairing: Vess, Raikka, Majiya, Banebow, Baduruu, Skervox, Darkclaw, Zaladar, Paraxix, Elementalis, Scheuth Tombstone, Cryptspawn Hound, Der'Kan
Harbinger of the Lost (2cc -1/3) When Harbinger of the Lost enters play, each player discards a card from their deck. If at least one ally was discarded this way, Harbinger of the Lost gains +1 base attack and +1 health.
Notes: one of the best 2 drops in the game, however if your deck is not designed to benefit from discarding via graveyard requirements or graveyard recycling the cost is to great
Favorable Pairing: Gravebone, Piraxix, Braxnorian Veteran, Reserve Weapon, Undying Bond, Arthyls Crypt, Shadow Knight, Eternal Renewal, Necro Shroud, Helm of Saymeth, discard builds
Deathbone (3cc - 2/2) When Deathbone is killed, its killer takes 2 damage.
Notes: He may actually become a useful ally. Before SF he was limited in usefulness, but with increase options of haste and pseudo-haste he has some really decent potential
Favorable Pairing: Vess, Raikka, Gravebone, Portal, Will to Fight, Necro Shroud, Charred Cowl of the Damned
Keldore (3cc - 2/4) 2: Keldore has +2 attack until the start of your next turn.
Notes: the forgotten one could make a comeback with the new heroes, but that might be it
Favorable Pairing: Vess, Raikka, Skervox
Death Mage Thaddeus [Unique] (3cc - 0/4) When Thaddeus is summoned, target opposing hero or ally takes 1 damage. 0: Target opposing hero or ally takes 2 damage.
Notes: the original pinger, still has same usefulness, but will lose some play spots in favor of frostmare and Der'Kan
Favorable Pairing: Raikka, Majiya, Banebow, Baduruu, Skervox, Piraxix, Zaladar, Frostmare, Der'Kan
Death Collector (3cc - 3/4) {electric} 2: Target ally in a graveyard is exiled (removed from the game) and Death Collector gains +1 base attack and +1 health.
Notes: this guy is still the bomb. By far the best 3cc ally available to this tribe for those decks wanting some meat on the board (non-ping build). He can be considered an alt/mini fatty and has nice graveyard control
Favorable Pairing: All undead builds, auto include except ping builds
Cryptspawn Hound (3cc -3/4) {ice} When Cryptspawn Hound is killed by an ability while there are at least 2 Undead allies in your graveyard, Cryptspawn Hound is returned to its owner's hand.
Notes: This guy is a nice option. He's generally ok early provided you can get to graveyard requirement fast, but late games he's fantastic. Considering most types of removal are abilities he essentially becomes auto recycler. Played best onto a board that expects a tidal wive or wipe and laugh at your opponent as they bounce back to your hand. He's also got great 3cc stats.
Favorable Pairing: Frostmare, Doomsayer, Sac Lamb, Necro Shroud, Charred Cowl of the Damned, Evil Ascendant, Furrion Terror, Supernova, Energy Discharge, Conversion, other similar types
Corpse Hurler (4cc - 2/6) 0: Target Undead ally in your hand is discarded: Target opposing hero or ally takes 3 damage.
Notes: Nice high Heath ally. Ability is really nice because it can target hero or allies. Cost of ability can empty your hand so some form of undead recycling and good deck drawing is needed to help fuel the ability.
Favorable Pairing: Gravebone, Majiya, Raikka, Banebow, Baduruu, Skervox, Moonstalker, Darkclaw, Zaladar, Shadow Knight, Arthyls Crypt, draw cards
Der'Kan, the Bone King (4cc - 3/4) {ice} When Der'kan is summoned while there are at least 3 Undead allies in your graveyard, target hero or ally takes 2 ice damage. When Der'kan is killed while he is the only ally you control, he is returned to your hand.
Notes: This guy is kinda hard to use. He is excellent at what he does, but general mean you want to combine him with low cost and squishy allies so you can get to his graveyard requirement much sooner.
Favorable Pairing: Raikka, Majiya, Banebow, Baduruu, Skervox, Zaladar, Piraxixx, Frostmare, DMT, Falseblood Cultist, Necro Shroud, Sac Lamb, Bone Saber
Shadow Knight (5cc - 5/4) When Shadow Knight is summoned, the top ally in your graveyard is returned to your hand.
Notes: Body plus pseudo ally draw makes him one of my older favorite allies. I pretty much use him in most of my builds but he works against allies that need graveyard requirement to achieve their abilities. He has no real synergy with any undead allies.
Favorable Pairing: Gravebone, Portal, Bone Saber, Will to Fight
Dakrath [Unique] (7cc - 5/5) Dakrath can't be frozen or disabled. When Dakrath is dealt damage while your deck is not empty, that damage is reduced by 2 and 1 card is discarded from your deck.
Notes: At such a high cost he has to be considered an ally designed with Gravebone in mind. This guy is a sandworm on steroids and if you build your deck properly you can get him on board by turn 3-4. While he doesn't have steadfast he has some nice built in features that help with some specific matchups. The continuous discard exchange for damage reduction means he will not pair with any DoT cards.
Favorable Pairing: Gravebone, Abomination Factory, Falseblood Cultist, Living Armor, Stomeskin, Fatebreak Familiar, Bone Saber
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