Jericho Resource Denial

Thank you all for input.

Sorry if I am repeating what has already been written elsewhere. I am new to the game and would rather play than read :-)

While my rating drops I keep trying to make this deck work consistently. Oh, don't worry I am sure it cannot drop much further.

Agreed; If I go first it is all fun and games (until someone looses an eye - but thats usually the opponent, so who cares :-)

If I go second its uphill - and quite steep at that - until I get to go Wave, Plague, Retreat, Plague, Puwen, Jasmine, Plague .... If I survive that long.

What I have learned so far is: Wizen't staffs usually have a very short lifespan. People really do not like them. Opponents are much more forgiving of a Bazar. And I really need the extra draws to keep the plagues coming consistently. So I added a few Bazars and the deck is doing better for it - not great yet though.

Current line-up:

1 Jericho

3 Jasmine
4 Puwen
2 Blake - I am getting les and less fond of this guy - being an MtG oldtimer I thought he was outrageous when I first saw him. Direct attack on allies however makes him less so
4 Aldon
2 Tidal Wave - Just the thing you need when going second
2 Destroy Arms - These I very rarely use, but I dare not take them out yet..
4 Plague - The funnest card yet! The opponents turn after the first Plague is almost always three-four times longer than the turn before it :-)
2 Curse - would like to add another, but the deck is bloated enough already
3 Retreat - mixed feelings about this, it has yet to prove its worth. Most times I think it could be substituted with an Extra sharp, or maybe even an Inner Strength (but I strongly dislike cards that have a potential 2-1, or worse, card disadvantage build in, so I'll probably never use my Inner Strengths - there Sold em' all)
3 Bazar - Lets be friends and both have cards
4 Wizen't Staff - All the cards to me and me alone - what, you have a problem with that?!

Regarding the original purpose of the deck; to stop turn five mind control and other Elemental nonsens like that. It works! I have not had a single ally mind controlled with this build of the deck. And I am pleased as punch about that :-)

Btw. it seems turn four is too soon to gain XP, as I have had quite a few quitters after a turn four Plague.

Man, I hope they change Sandra in the next release. Compared to all the other human allies (even Blake) she just sucks!

So if you are unlucky enough to face Elementals then you are glad to have this deck, but if you are lucky enough not to then you are probably not glad you have this deck.

I used a Plague deck a few times, but ended up going second each time, so I didn't want to play the Plague when I had no board control.

I think a deck with just cheap allies would be enough to limit the Mind Control. Who wants to pay 5 to steal a Puwen or Blake? In the mean time, you can hit hard with either your Hunter/Warrior Weapons or Mage DD.

Unless it's a tournament, I'd be tempted to just quit when I see my opponent using Elementalis. The games are long and dull and not in the least enjoyable, whether you win or lose. Zaladar is at least vaguely interesting.

"I am curious if any plague players have suggestions on beating Boris"
if a deck can win any others, it should be overpower.

I have only met a couple of Boris decks, and they must be poorly constructed, or played, because I have not had much difficulty with them - removing a Puwen or Jasmine every 4 rounds does not seem to stop this deck. The only tactics I can contribute is that I make sure to keep board control, and not let him build up any allies.

However the Gwenneth deck that seems to be the most popular right now; 4 Beetle Demon Bows, 4 Soul Seeker Bows, Wennie allies and Rapid Fire, I cannot beat unless I go first, and then it is only if there is no hickup in the order I get my cards. I'll have to come with a new "counter" deck for that soon - it is starting to get on my nerves as much as the Elementalis deck used to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GondorianDotCom

So if you are unlucky enough to face Elementals then you are glad to have this deck, but if you are lucky enough not to then you are probably not glad you have this deck.

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Call me infantile, but I still enjoy that pause the first Plague gives my opponent. And my deck only has a few straight-down-the-path plays, usually I have to think about what to do and what might happen next, so I am actually happy to play it even when not facing Elementalis

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GondorianDotCom

I used a Plague deck a few times, but ended up going second each time, so I didn't want to play the Plague when I had no board control.

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Sometimes, especially when going second, I have to wait until I have 7 or 8 resources, Tidal Wave and two Plagues before going for the first Plague. The good thing about this is that some players have "forgotten" to ressource one or even two round by then. Making the Plague even funnier :-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GondorianDotCom

I think a deck with just cheap allies would be enough to limit the Mind Control. Who wants to pay 5 to steal a Puwen or Blake?

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I disagree; It's not just the stealing of the Puwen or Blake, it's the stealing of the Puwen, killing my Blake, eating my (stolen) Puwen, setting me back at least one round, and gaining five! health. That is worth five CC and a card any day!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GondorianDotCom

In the mean time, you can hit hard with either your Hunter/Warrior Weapons or Mage DD.

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Sure, but you need to do five! more damage and the stolen Puwen (if there is no Blake for it to kill) tears into you, bringing your health down and wearing out your weapon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GondorianDotCom

Unless it's a tournament, I'd be tempted to just quit when I see my opponent using Elementalis. The games are long and dull and not in the least enjoyable, whether you win or lose. Zaladar is at least vaguely interesting.

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I see your point - but I hate when people just quit on me, so I have decided not to do that to others, even Gwenneth going first (which I have yet to beat)

Jericko plague decks just suck! My opinion.

Total agree with heldor. Players playing Jericho decks are a pain in the a__. That's because they drag the game with plague cards.

I run Zhanna,but I think im gonna use Jericho, I think 4 cobraskin wraps instead of the 4 plagues, I run only 1 plague and 4 corbaskins bcuz I run into bad situations after using plague too often. I like the fact with cobraskin u draw 1 plus ur opponent goes down 1 along with u and u can play another on top of it. Playing the staff after this, 5th turn, pretty much game. Honestly its a lot safer

i tried a Jericho resource denial deck... but I prefer these changes (probably not better in any way, but it's a preference thing):

fewer tidal-wave (maybe just 1), and more ice-storms. ice-storm only costs 3, so you can slip one in before the resources-bank hits 4 and you playing your plague. if you played cobra-skin, then you can still throw in the ice-storm next turn.
since the game is going to be resource limited, there shouldn't be big-life monsters (the most annoying one probably will be gargoyle), so a global 2-point damage to enemies, while hitting with your own Puwen and Blake should win you board control. (or maybe just a level playing field).

And still along the same line of thought,
since everyone is resource contricted, small mobile creatures is the hype. but how to put more punch into those little critters? more inner-strength. Jericho, IMHO, plays well with this, since he can dispell any buffing your opponents play on their allies, but you keep yours.

so... I removed my Bazaars in favor of eternal-strength

I haven't played against a clone of my deck... so I can't really say what happens when 2 jerichos meet up though.

that said... I've also found my deck to be difficult to win consistently. It's very reliant on having a good starting hand (little critters to play in turns 2 and 3), and a plague or skins by turn 4. If that doesn't happen, and the game draws long, it could go either way. a good player expecting a resource-denial deck could probably counter anything I have.

what you think?