Notes & Combos

D5->D1->D2->M5

Actually got to M5 on the 16th during my stream, but hadn't gotten around to typing out the decklist info.

Overall, it took 96 games (with 2 games disconnecting before the game started and giving me a loss each time in D2 and D1).. which puts this climb close to, if not at the top of my worst Diamond climbs yet from what I can recall.

My D1 demote came from losing against SHS going second and then losing to 3 Tenpai games in a row.

• The first one opened Veiler + Magnamhut to turn zero me.
• The second one opened Magnamhut + Maxx C and... I used Shifter (when I was running it) so they turn zero'd me
• The third one opened Heavy + Red Reboot when I used Iron Thunder...

So that was pretty disappointing.

Regarding deck choices (really just handtraps):

• Shifter: I did run Shifter, however, while it did win me a few games when I went first and my opponent basically passed their turn, I felt like I rarely opened it and it hurt more than helped overall. (I think the only time I opened it going second.. it was against a Kash deck)
• Retaliating "C": I ran it very early on and dropped it pretty quickly. I wasn't seeing enough Azamina combos to justify it. Heck, I opened it against Snake-Eyes who opened One for One.. and they were able to banish it with S:P, summon Oak, and get back their banished monster to do normal combo plays afterwards...
• Nib: Nib honestly never did enough. The one time I opened it against Kash, they ended their turn on Arise-Heart in 4 summons. Even when I got to use it against a White Forest deck before they went into a potential Apo, they still had a board that I couldn't deal with.
• Belle: Belle was ok. Definitely nothing to write home about. She wasn't horrible, but she felt too low impact.
• Ogre: I rarely saw her going first, but she's still probably better than most handtraps. She can get a body off the field/clear Deception if needed.
• Maxx: Maxx is great.. when it actually resolves unsurprisingly.
• Ash: She's always iffy.. but even if she doesn't do much, I feel safer opening her.
• Droll: I'm always torn about Droll. It can stop a turn completely, do nothing, or not do enough while your opponent still builds a board you have issues breaking.
• Imperm: It's still solid enough.. but is definitely a bit weak when you open multiple going first. Hopefully you draw something else alongside it though when going first.

Here's to hoping the DC is somehow able to make ranked a bit more manageable