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  1. #1
    1.27 Tournament Champion Raphael Majere's Avatar
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    My 230 Zaladar Deck - "Mega-rush"

    Edit: A lot of changes has been made to the original post. In order to make this clear for new visitors, I've decided to do a major overhaul of the post.

    Firstly, I would like to thank several people. Everyone who took their time to build and play this deck, thank you!

    Special thanks to people who have tested and posted suggestions to make this deck even better: Gondorian, Giskard, Morphalath, Rizla79, . Thanks to people who gave compliments, they inspire me: yuming09, otto7, ertai88.

    Thanks to Killtrend who pointed me to his own Zaladar deck, providing greater insight and deeper thoughts.


    This deck started out as a fun deck, but evolved to be a real contender.

    It surprised me and after a lot of tinkering and suggestions, it actually worked quite well competively.

    You can track its growth - please refer to the end part of this post


    ORIGINAL BUILD

    1 x Zaladar

    4 x Keldor
    3 x Infernal Gargoyle
    4 x Plasma Behemoths
    3 x Chimera
    3 x Medusil
    4 x Mind Control
    4 x Shriek
    4 x Dimension Ripper


    Total: 30.

    12th July - 17th July 2011 BUILD

    1 x Zaladar

    4 x Keldor
    4 x Infernal Gargoyle
    4 x Plasma Behemoths
    3 x Chimera
    2 x Medusil
    4 x Mind Control
    4 x Shriek
    2 x Soul Reaper
    2 x Life Infusions (or 2 x AoA - Godorian and Risla)


    21st July 2011

    1 x Zaladar

    4 x Keldor
    4 x Infernal Gargoyle
    4 x Plasma Behemoths
    4 x Chimera
    4 x Mind Control
    4 x Shriek
    2 x Soul Reaper
    2 x Life Infusions
    1 x Dimension Ripper (It's back!)


    CURRENT/PROBABLY FINAL BUILD 16 Aug 2011


    1 x Zaladar

    3 x Keldor
    4 x Infernal Gargoyle
    4 x Plasma Behemoths
    2 x Chimera
    4 x Mind Control
    4 x Shriek
    2 x Soul Reaper
    2 x Life Infusions
    2 x Blood Lust
    2 x Dimension Ripper



    First things first, build the deck and try it out - it's devilishly effective.

    Strategy

    Board control - 2 words. When playing for this deck, you will want to control all aspects of the game as much as possible. You'll want to kill off all of your opponents' allies, while having a few on your side to deal damage.

    Shrieks are used on crucial items such as cards that allow your opponent to draw more cards. (Research, Wizient Staff, on some occasions, Bazaar). In the late game, Shrieks can also be used on opponents' weapons and armor. (Amour of Ages, Snow Sapphire)

    The deck has no card draw engines or spells hence you will need to restrict the number of cards your opponent can draw.

    The deck has a feature that I always put in my decks. The ability to deal damage in multiple ways. For example, Mages (human and shadow) can deal damage through burn spells and allies. Hunters/Warriors can deal damage through weapons and allies.

    My Zaladar "Mega-rush" can deal damage through 2 ways. Allies (lots of those!), and direct damage (Plasma Behemoths and Zaladar ability).

    Key Strategy: Patience and Board presence.

    When faced with a choice of eliminating opponents allies/removing threats or dealing damage, always (ok, almost always...) destroy the threats first.

    For this reason, the deck has Plasma Behemoths, Keldor (who can kill of 4 Life enemy allies) and Chimera (who can deal a nasty 5 damage when pumped up) (5 damage can kill of enemy Plasmas and Gargoyles). And of cos, Zaladar's hero ability.

    Turn 3! Mega-headache!?

    At turn 3, there are many allies to summon. Which is the right choice? The advanced players should have no problems. For the new players, as a general guideline:

    Vs Majiya: Gargoyle
    Vs Any opponent who already has a 4 life ally in play: Keldor (Keldor's pump-up can kill them off in turn 4.)

    - exception: vs a possible scenario of Blake + Aldon combo. If you feel that the Keldor is going to be killed by the Blake/Aldon combo, obviously do not summon Keldor in turn 3, summon Gargoyle instead.

    Going to cast a Chimera in turn 4? Resource Keldor and cast Gargoyle or Medusil

    Hence, knowing which ally or card to resource in turn 1 and 2 is somewhat important - but all it takes is just some games to figure it out and learn. You will be sacrificing some allies in turn 1 and 2.

    Mega-interrupt!


    NEVER EVER sacrifice the Shrieks! (unless you have 3 in your opening hand) They are only 4 in the deck and you'll need them later. Hold them in your hand to be used later.

    Card selections (Why these cards make the deck and others don't)

    Multiple Choices at Turn 3 creates a lot of flexibility. Where are the Fire Snake/Brutalis and Sparks?!

    IMO, too weak and virtually useless at mid-game and late game. I only want to draw effective cards in the mid to late game.

    4 Plasmas + 2 Life Infusions


    PBs are the darlings of the deck.

    The Life Infusions are good too with Gargoyles (2/9 Super-hard Stone) and Chimera (5 Damage Monster)

    GAME ACCOUNT - TORAK IRONFIST

    I created another game account to document the growth of this deck.

    You can view all my games using the in-game search.

    My Game Handle: Torak Ironfist - I will only play this deck with Torak Ironfist

    12th July 2011

    Boris - Win
    Nishaven - Win
    Elementalis - Win
    Majiya - Lost
    Victor - Win
    Gwen - Win
    Gwen - Lost
    Gwen - Win
    Amber - Win
    Majiya - Win
    Eldawen - Win
    Dark Claw - Win
    Gravebone - Win
    Nishaven - Lost
    Nishaven - Win
    Dark Claw - Win
    Dark Claw - Win
    Elementalis - Win
    Zaladar - Win (playing Mega-rush!) Mirror match. Very interesting.

    13th July 2011

    Zhanna - Win
    Dark Claw - Win
    Victor - Win
    Majiya - Win
    Gravebone - Win
    Majiya - Lost
    Amber - Win
    Amber - Win

    Ratings: 224

    14th July 2011


    Gwen - win
    Gravebone - win
    Gwen - win
    Eladwen - win
    Nishaven - win
    Majiya - win
    Nishaven - win
    Nishaven - win
    Majiya - Loss
    Baduruu - Win
    Majiya - Loss (very close loss)
    Gwen - Win

    Ratings: 238.

    15th July 2011

    Elementalis - Win
    Zaladar - Draw - Game Glitch
    Majiya - Lost (Made critical mistake in late game)
    Gravebone - Win
    Jericho - Win

    Ratings: 236.

    16/17th July 2011

    Eldawen - Win
    Serena - Win
    Boris - Win
    Majiya - loss
    Jericho - Win
    Ter adun - Win (Adun?!)
    Majiya - Win
    Majiya - Win
    Grave bone - loss
    Nishaven - loss due to bug (I hate this!)
    Zaladar loss
    Gwen loss
    Nishaven - Win
    Majiya - Win
    Serena - Win
    Gwen - Win
    Majiya - loss
    Dark claw - Win

    Large drop in ratings: 219

    UPDATES:

    CURRENT/PROBABLY FINAL BUILD 21st July 2011

    1 x Zaladar

    4 x Keldor
    4 x Infernal Gargoyle
    4 x Plasma Behemoths
    4 x Chimera
    4 x Mind Control
    4 x Shriek
    2 x Soul Reaper
    2 x Life Infusions
    1 x Dimension Ripper (It's back!)



    21 July 2011

    29 Wins - 1 Loss (To Bashere's Boris deck)

    Amber - Win
    Elementalis - Win
    Zhanna - Win
    Zhanna - Win
    Gwen - Win
    Gwen - Win
    Zaladar - Win
    Dark Claw - Win
    Dark Claw - Win
    Gravebone - Win
    Amber - Win
    Boris - Loss (To Bashere's 247 Boris Deck)
    Majiya - Win
    Nishaven - Win
    Eladwen - Win
    Nishaven - Win
    Gwen - Win
    Lance - Win
    Zhanna - Win
    Moonstalker - Win
    Gravebone - Win
    Jericho - Win
    Amber - Win
    Gwen - Win
    Boris - Win
    Amber - Win
    Zhanna - Win
    Boris - Win
    Boris - Win
    Nishaven - Win

    Ratings: 240.



    I am going to continue to play and post the deck's growth here.

    I will still continue to answer your questions and provide tips. As of now, I am happy with the deck and my job is pretty much done.

    Thank you for the journey - it was a "Mega Rush!"

    15th July 2010 - I have started on another project:

    Boris - Fun deck "Captain Carnage"

    Please check it out too! It's really fun to way with it!

    Last edited by Raphael Majere; 08-16-2011 at 01:49 PM.

  2. #2
    Lead Developer / Designer Gondorian's Avatar
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    Thanks for sharing this. I will definitely give it a try.

  3. #3
    1.27 Tournament Champion Raphael Majere's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GondorianDotCom View Post
    Thanks for sharing this. I will definitely give it a try.
    Yup, give me some feedback! For some strange reasons, I am not pitted against Amber in the games. So I do not know how it'll work out against weapon-heavy Amber.

    But the deck does well against all other decks. (An important criterion when I build decks.)

    Against Majiya, sometimes I lose on a thin margin. (If my opponent did not kill me on his turn, I would have killed him on my in-coming turn.)

  4. #4
    Lead Developer / Designer Gondorian's Avatar
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    I just had 2 quick matches against Majiya and Amber. I won both. However, I think this deck needs some draw and one Eternal Renewal.

    Changes I will make: -3 Dimension Ripper, +1 Eternal Renewal, +2 Bad Santa.

  5. #5
    Member Manuvit's Avatar
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    Every time I see the title of this thread ("my 230-cards" Zaladar deck), I get closer to a heart attack.
    Mainly an Elemental player:

    1.24 - Zaladar "Classic" deck;
    1.25 - Elementalis "Infinite Recursion" deck;
    1.26 - Zaladar "Gotta draw 'em all!" deck;

    Member of the Inventor's Guild

    "Who nerfed MC? who? WHO? WHO????????? SHOW MEEEEEE!!!"

  6. #6
    Senior Member Giskard's Avatar
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    Ok, you got me into build it for 4 reasons:

    - I never played with Zaladar against other than the AI.
    - You made it looks fun.
    - Dimension ripper was the only card that I didn't had 4, because I never felt it was a good card.
    - I miss playing with Mind Control and I wanted to see how it is working now.

    I don't have test accounts, and I don't care about my rank, so I'll be playing in my only account, RGiskard. I'll be back here when I get something to say about it.
    Last edited by Giskard; 07-10-2011 at 03:42 PM.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Lahiri's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manuvit View Post
    Every time I see the title of this thread ("my 230-cards" Zaladar deck), I get closer to a heart attack.
    Ahahaha I had the same reaction xD
    ~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~

    IGN: 17 Shining

    1lluminati in 7enebris


  8. #8
    1.27 Tournament Champion Raphael Majere's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Giskard View Post
    - I miss playing with Mind Control and I wanted to see how it is working now.
    The change of mind control from 1.25 to 1.26 is super for zala and a nightmare for elementalis.

  9. #9
    Senior Member CHLBRK's Avatar
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    i would suggest:
    -1 dimension ripper
    -1 keldor
    +1 gargoyle /medusil
    +1 soul reaper

    maybe

    - 1 plasma behemoth
    +1 gargoyle /medusil
    -1 dimension ripper
    +1 gamechanging card, maybe energy discharge

    you said you want every card to do damage, but if youre losing / going second ... its not that optimal
    i played zaladar very much a while ago
    BACK (well, i try )
    Overlord of Darkness

    A1:
    http://www.shadowera.com/showthread....e-Padawan-Pete

    Marksmen:
    http://www.shadowera.com/showthread....nters-Marksmen


    Ingame-Names: CHILLABREAKA = test account and CHLBRK = rating account

  10. #10
    Senior Member arebelspy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manuvit View Post
    Every time I see the title of this thread ("my 230-cards" Zaladar deck), I get closer to a heart attack.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lahiri Lars Cristofori View Post
    Ahahaha I had the same reaction xD
    Thirded.

    Also I built the deck, -2 ripper, +1 bad santa, +1 soul reaper. 1-0, beat a majiya.

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