Like a Jedi from the 80s, the Throwdown returns with another cardboard-dropping entry and another exclamation mark at the end of its name.

Feeling like we've established ourselves and the format of the article fairly well, TCGPlayer writers Borbwab and myself decided that we wanted to edge this next entry towards the bright light (or is that an oncoming train?) of competitive Constructed play, but we didn't want to just bring any old netdeck with a top 8 wreathed around its neck to the table.

This was no small task, for the meta is a formidable creature, but for the love of the game we did what we set out to do and brought two very respectable and original decks to the game.

But not all that is gold is the Spectral Tiger, and not all those who misplay are lost. The deck that is strong will not falter, a good play will recoup its cost. A new deck in the meta shall spring, and the Throwdown again shall be king (argh, my nerd-senses cry blashpemy... forgive me, Tolkein!).

So grab some popcorn, pull up a chair and clear a place at the table, for today is the day of reckoning.

This is the part where the Throwdown returns:

Borbwab's Decklist

HERO

Plague Demonsoul

ALLIES

4x Bloodsoul 

4x Kagella Shadowmark 

4x Tarn Darkwalker

3x Tatulla the Reclaimer

2x Dread Infernal

3x Ulrac Bloodshadow

2x Sek Grimlash

ABILITIES

4x Eye of Kilrogg

3x Cannibalize

2x Shred Soul

4x Banish to the Nether

3x Ripped Through the Portal

EQUIPMENT

4x Greatsword of Horrid Dreams

QUESTS

4x The Haunted Mills

4x Torek's Assualt

3x Finkle Einhorn, At Your Service

3x Information Gathering

SIDEBOARD

2x Silea Dawnwalker

3x The Bringer of Death

3x Shadowbolt

1x Tatulla

1x Banish to the Nether

Madjinn and I had been meaning to do another version of Throwdown for some time, but the biggest hurtle was what to play. I think everyone knows the top decks of the format. Hopefully, we’ll see something new from the DMF in the next couple of weeks, but for right now the metagame is pretty settled.

Mad and I both agreed we didn’t want to just play one of the top tier decks of the format like Desecrator or Aleyah. So we decided on trying to bring something a little different to the table. I racked my brain for a while on what to play and I tested an updated version of Boomkin. The rise in popularity of Aleyah, however, makes Boomkin a somewhat dangerous play choice currently. Scratch that idea.

Well, like any good writer with a case of writer's block, I decide to steal someone else’s idea. My friend and teammate Jeff Grose (“It’s a 9 drop and it swings for free”) piloted a his version of Warlock to a local tournament win recently so I kindly asked him if it’d be alright if I “borrowed” the idea. He posted up a decklist which I copied and tweaked it to my liking.

It’s a deck I’ve seen Jeff working on for a long time. The basic idea is to get Apocanon out and abuse the fact that he makes everyone Demons. Tarn Darkwalker gives everyone Ferocity (hence the Greatsword because he gives Ferocity to the other side as well), Ulrac lets you bring guys back to hand, and Sek Grimlash can allow for a late game beating (essentially allowing you to recycle through your heaviest hitter to attack or abusing coming into play powers like Tatulla).

He’s been pretty successful with this deck and I’ve been on the receiving end of a beating from it more than once.  His build is slightly different, employing Life Taps for additional draw. I cut them as I’m not a huge fan of the card but I’m wondering if they aren’t more important to the deck than I first realized.

HERO

Ressa Shadeshine

ALLIES

3x Bakaar

4x Angelista

4x Arcanist Dayvana

3x Narthadus

4x Magistrix Larynna

ABILITIES

4x Purloin

4x Shiv

3x Pilfer

4x Blade Twisting

EQUIPMENT

4x Whispering Blade of Slaying

4x Perdition's Blade

3x Felstriker

3x Predatory Gloves

QUESTS

4x Totem of Coo

4x Orders from Lady Vashj

3x Preparing for War

3x Corki's Ransom

SIDEBOARD

4x Wound Poison

3x Kick

3x Gouge

You've seen this hero before but not in a build like this, though there has been much talk and musing over the potential power of Blade Twisting from various different outlets. There's a little bit that's unorthodox about this build, which I want to address first. I had for the longest time been testing a Horde version built around Daspien Bladedancer and Solanian's ability recursion but recently switched over to Alliance and Ressa for Bakaar, Corki's and Angelista/Predatory Gloves bouncing tricks.

You might think the ally selection is a little odd. Bakaar is a no-brainer and should be a four-of, though he wasn't at the time of printing. Angelista's in there for the oft-overlooked stealth as well as the ability to bounce opposing and - more importantly - friendly equipment into their owners' hand to reap the enters play benefits of Perdition's Blade and the Predatory Gloves. Arcanist Dayvana saw some hype around Preview time, but didn't see much play after that. Partly because of the power of Aldor and her pingable one-health, people left her out of their lists.

Let me try and dissuade you.

First, it's about time to break the Aldor habit. Xanata is still a beast of a two-drop, but people are main-decking answers to her left and right. On top of that, she is built only to stall. Rarely will she facilitate any kind of trade and if there aren't cards you're planning to drop turns three, four and five that are worth stalling for (read: Myriam Starcaller) you're playing a turn two that has the momentum of a very heavy rock.

An Arcanist Dayvana played on turn two can be a boon of a card against control. True, she dies to a Vexmaster, but she takes him with her. Unanswered, she's three points of damage turn three or - even better - she will bite into the opposing player's card draw. If you're on the play, a turn three stolen Information Gathering can be profitable if your hand's strong. The tempo gain, however, from stealing a Torek's Assault or throwing a Corki's Ransom back into the controller's hand is just awesome. Plus, when you're running a non-draw quest like Preparing for War - as I am - the extra draw is helpful wherever you can get it.

Wait, Preparing for War?

It looks to be a very control heavy meta today (though, I admit, I'm not always the best reader of the pulse of the game) and red pally control in particular is seeing a bit of a popularity boom. Recursion cards like Chasing A-Me 01, Redemption and Sunken Treasure target the card they're trying to pick out of the graveyard. One resource and a Preparing for War locks those cards out of the game.

This deck is its strongest against control. Rush matches are definitely winnable, especially if you draw into Blade Twisting and some daggers. The mirror match is tougher, because other solo decks are built faster than this. I think, right now, that's those decks are Gnome Twisting's weakest match-ups, but I look to shore those up with a little more creative deck building.

The sideboard, as usual, is the toughest part for me. I found that Greater Heal and Lay on Hands were the absolute deck killers for me in the testing I did, so Wound Poison is in there to help shore up that match-up. Gouge and Kick are in there against solo and ability heavy decks, but I know there are better choices out there... I'll just need time to get those straightened away.

Return of the Throwdown! Game 1

Borbwab wins the dice roll.

  vs. 

Borbwab's Opening Hand:

Banish to the Nether, Kagella Shadowmark, Information Gathering ,Tatulla the Reclaimer x2 ,Eye of Kilrogg ,Greatsword of Horrid Dreams

I like the Tatullas against rogue and the Eye is sure to help.  I'll try to keep this one.

Madjinn's Opening Hand:

Whispering Blade of Slaying, Predatory Gloves, Purloin x2, Perdition's Blade, Arcanist Dayvana, Orders from Lady Vashj

Double Purloin, two daggers, a quest and Dayvana… that’s a nice opening line-up. I'll keep this, now I just need to ponder what'll be a better opening play on the draw... Purloin or Whispering...

Borbwab, turn 1: Drop my Information Gathering and pass.

Madjinn, turn 1: Draw a Blade Twisting, which is most excellent. I'll be able to start netting myself some card advantage in a few turns if I play this right. That's going to be my game plan, I think. I imagine he's playing some kind of control and Blade Twisting will gain me both card advantage and tempo. I drop Orders and play Purloin to take a peek at his hand and grab any Eye of Kilroggs that I'm sure he's packing, which are certain to give me fits. He shows me a Greatsword and Banish to the Nether among other things, but it;s the Eye that concerns me the most. I ship it to his graveyard and pass.

Borb, turn 2: I bet he's got something he doesn't want me to see. I draw Sek Grimlash. Sek isn't a huge help right now so down he goes. I drop a Kagella.

Mad, turn 2: I draw a third Purloin, which I don't need to keep around. I row it, then play Whispering Blade and another Purloin. This time I opt to take out a Banish from the Nether. The Greatsword doesn't worry me overmuch.

Borb, turn 3: Draw Eye of Kilrogg. Well, I'll use that. I row the Greatsword as I haven't seen any allies yet. I drop the Eye on him. He's got Arcanist Dayvana, Perdition's Blade, Predatory Gloves, and Blade Twisting. Tough choice but I gotta grab the Twisting as that'll give him too much card advantage against me. The Gloves will probably knock one of my Tatullas out next turn but, ah well. Kagella attacks for two.

Mad, turn 3: Losing Blade Twisting was most unfortunate. I top-deck another Dayvana and play the Perdition's Blade to ping his hero and then swing to kill Kagella with my Whiserpering-boosted P-Blade. At this point, I know there's a Tatulla coming my way next turn, so I brace myself for the Reclaimer.

Borb, turn 4: Draw: Tarn Darkwalker. Sorry, Tarn, but I need you face down and hope he again doesn't play the Gloves.  I drop my first Tatulla and net the destruction of his Perdition's Blade. Hmm, does that mean he has another Perdition's? We'll see. I pass.

Mad, turn 4: I pull a Perdition's, which is very nice to see, but I don’t know if he’s holding that other Tatulla still or not. One way to find out is by dropping the Predatory Gloves and turn him to top decking. The Gloves go down and I pick up an Angelista, which I facedown a little too quickly without, I realize after I place it, thinking that through enough. He was holding onto the second Tatulla, though, and I happily see it dropped away into his graveyard. At this point, I'm still holding onto another Perdition's and an Arcanist Dayvana, but with only one resource left open I swing into his hero for one.

[Damage Totals: BORB, 2 ; MAD, 4] 

Borb, turn 5: I draw the Eye of Kilrogg and attack in with Tatulla for 2 (gloves!!!) and finish Information Gathering. I see a Dread Infernal, Information Gathering and a Banish to the Nether. Nether goes to the bottom and Infernal goes to the top. I drop the freshly drawn Info and then Eye him again. I choose the Perdition's to RFG.

Mad, turn 5: Even when I was planning for it, the Eye of Kilrogg still wrecks havoc on my gameplan. Hmm, well, I draw a Pilfer but Borb’s out of cards for that, so Pilfer gets rowed and I put down Dayvana to complete Orders for my now empty hand, which draws me another Whispering blade and Dayvana, which makes me a relatively happy gnome. I swing into his hero for another measly one and pass over to him, a glimmer of hope beginning to show on my horizon, despite all his hand disruption.

Borb, turn 6: I draw the expected Dread Infernal, attack with Tatulla and play Infernal to kill the Arcanist and ping his hero with the Infernal's coming into play ability. I pass and hope he hasn't found another Blade Twisting. That one card will give him a huge advantage right now. If I can avoid that card, I think I'm in good shape.

Mad, turn 6: My draw is Corki's, which I play and follow it up with a Whispering Blade from my hand. At this point, I really need a Blade Twisting, or a Shiv or Perdition's Blade to do an extra point of damage after I would swing into the Dread Infernal for four. I complete Corki's and hold my breath. But all I get is another Whiserping Blade, damn. I swing into Tatualla to kill that it, then await with dread the Infernal smacking.

Borb, turn 7: I draw a lucky third Tatulla. I attack with Dread Infernal and then the Reclaimer. He pitches a Whispering Blade over the Predatory Gloves. which leads me to believe he's got another...

Mad, turn 7: Bah, things are looking grim. I draw a Purloin, which does me little worth talking about. I put Corki's back out, play Dayvana and a Whispering, then swing into his ridiculously good third Tatulla to kill it, taking another two damage (preventing one with the gloves).

[Damage Totals: BORB, 3 ; MAD, 18]

Borb, turn 8: Draw: Shred Soul. I don't really want to Shred the Arcanist, but I will if I have too. I attack with Infernal to bring him to 23 and I insure he can't attack Infernal on his turn and live. I complete Information Gathering and take a Banish to the Nether. I put a Finkle on top then pass. I'm holding back on the Banish in case he's got a Blade Twisting. I can hero flip to prevent any damage to my Infernal.

Mad, turn 8: I draw another Corki's. I've taken way too much of a beating from his allies this game, especially Dread Infernal, to live, which is something to keep in mind for the next game. I try to attack the Infernal with Dayvana but Borb just flips on me to keep Dread Infernal untouched. Not even a Bakaar could save me at this point. That is, as they say, game.

Winner: Borbwab 

Mad, turn 4: The Tatullas again... I draw an Arcanist Dayvana. I think the thing to do now is keep the pressure on him, though I pray he doesn't have a Dread Infernal for his turn five. I row the Magistrix, kill his Tatulla with the Dayvana I have down and play another Dayvana and Angelista. Next turn, I'll begin the Predatory Gloves bounce.

Borb, turn 5: I draw Tarn Darkwalker and he gets rowed.  I drop another Tatulla and pass.

Mad, turn 5: I ready everything a draw a Purloin. The Predatory Gloves go down first and while I was hoping to find a quest I draw a Whispering Blade instead, which is just fine with me. I row the Purloin, drop the Whispering and swing into his hero for 1 with Angelista following closely behind. Dayvana trades again with his Tatulla and at the end of my turn I put the Predatory Gloves back into my hand.

Borb, turn 6: I'm regretting keeping this hand at this point. I draw a Ripped Through the Portal which I don't resource as I could Ripped a Tatulla later on.  I drop my last Tatulla and get his Whispering Blade. I pass.

Mad, turn 6: This is the turn where my Predatory Gloves recursion is starting to come through. He missed a resource drop which puts tempo in my favor. I draw a Shiv and then play Predatory Gloves to grab another Bakaar. I row Shiv, then play Bakaar. Not having enough to kill Tatulla with one card, I attack into his hero with Angelista, passing the turn to him after returning the Gloves into my hand... yet again.

Borb, turn 7: My draw is Torek's Assualt. I drop the quest, remove a Tatulla with Haunted Mills and draw a Kagella. I kill Angelista with Tatulla to prevent the loop and play Kagella.

Mad, turn 7: I draw a Shiv and play the Gloves to draw into a Perdition's Blade. With that, I play the P-Blade to kill Tatulla with the ping and then swing into Kagella for two and use the Shiv to finish her off. Bakaar attacks Plague for two and I pass the turn over to Borb.

Borb, turn 8: I pull a Bloodsoul but there's not much use for that right now so he gets rowed.

Mad, turn 8: It's looking pretty good for me, but I need to make sure I keep drawing answers for his plays. A Blade Twisting would be perfect right now. I get an Angelista, which is alright with me because I can keep the Predatory Gloves cycle  going. I attack into his hero for two and end my turn sending the Gloves back into my hand.

Borb, turn 9: Well, I draw the Haunted Mills and complete it to pull a Bringer of Death and an Eye of Kilrogg. I Eye him get rid of the Gloves and still see Narthadus. Then I pass back. I hope he drops Narthadus so I can make a clean sweep with the Bringer...

Mad, turn 9: At the end of his turn I complete a Corki's, and draw a Purloin. The start of my turn yields a Totem of Coo, and I play a Narthadus, attack for 4, then play Purloin to see if there's anything I can get. I see a Bringer... which I quickly send away and then pass the turn over to Borb.

Borb, turn 10: He of course draws his Purloin and kills my Bringer. I'm just dishearted at this point. I probably shouldn't have kept my start and I'm paying for it now. Everything I had he just answered. It was just a solid wall and I just don't want to fight anymore. I end the game after my draw reveals another Banish to the Nether...

Winner: Madjin

***

Borbwab:  

Well, I like the theory of the Demon deck but I think it needs more ways to make cards Demons.  I only hit an Apocanon in one of the games and he was promptly killed.  He’s really the lynch pin of the deck and without him the deck becomes Warlock rush. I think the Demon deck will have to wait and see what new toys it’ll receive in the Hunt for Illidan.

Madjinn:

I really liked how my deck performed under the circumstances. Borb drew an astounding number of two-for-ones with Tatulla the Reclaimer, but when I was able to get it out, Blade Twisting brought me just as much card advantage (especially paired with Bakaar) and the Predatory Gloves played like a better Drain Mana in game three. It's tough to say, but I feel the Alliance version of the Blade Twisting deck is the stronger of the two. I question somewhat the inclusion of Magistrix Larynna... but she can be incredibly powerful in the right circumstances and I still want to try to make her playable in this type of deck.

Tags: Warcraft Throwdown

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