Cactus Game Design Message Boards

John's cheese thought process still seems to work this year even with Sheol running rampant. My only issue is would you rather have another cheese rescue with Valley of Dry Bones, or Mayhem? So I will post the deck with both with a slash in between to show I need to test the deck with both. My thought process as of right now is that Mayhem should be played a lot more than Valley. Valley can be inconsistent, and if drawn early it will take up a spot in your hand. Mayhem can be a game changer, Valley can be a battle winner, Mayhem can be a block or a battle winner as well, depending on the draw factor, which this deck build ensures a higher potential for return on Mayhem. I will also explain Valley as a cheese block later. I'll just get to the deck list.

Abigail
AutO
Gideon (6/6)
Samuel
David the Shepherd (even though the love the new one)
Asahel
Mighty Men (he can be swapped with Caleb maybe)
Ahimelek (mr cheese himself)
King Jehu
King Saul

Faith of David
Samuel's Edict
Ambush

Covenant of Prayer
You Will Remain

The Ends of the Earth

Scapegoat
The Amalekite's Slave
The Deceiver
The Serpent
Fire Foxes
Egyptian Magicians
Gomer
Judean Magicians
KoT (PoC)
Red Dragon
Astrologers
Damsel

Great Mourning
Mourn and Weep
Besieging the City
Divination
Scattered
Wages

Besieged

Magic charms
Unholy Writ

SoG
TSC
AotL
CM
FA
Valley/Mayhem
3W

7 lost souls

Reserve:
Doomed Conspirators
DoU
Gib Delegates
Uzzah
Blasphemies
Gates of Hell
Did God Really Say
1/1 evil gold king?
Haman's Plot
I have room for one more, not sure about my reserve just quite yet, I guess this shouldn't be in complete decks yet. 

It's at 51, I would like it to be 50. This is more so a fun deck, I am not sure how consistent it is. Some chumpy cheesiness includes:
The obvious ones,
Asahel band right after you converted their pesky hero to an EC. This takes out a hero plus is almost an auto rescue
Speaking of Auto...Auto Giden Edict is always a tough block, especially early on.
Faith of David, Jehu Ahimelek swap (I still think this is brilliant and I am mad I never thought of it)

A little different approach but just as cheesy:
Asahel band choose their Gibeonite Delegates from reserve as well as their Doomed Conspirators mid game of when needed.
If Ahimelek is captured or discarded, you can also Magic Charms him yourself to set this up, RA, opponent blocks, Valley band in Ahimelek
Ambush Ahimelek or a band hero, band in or just flip over Ahimelek.

So yeah, Ahimelek is in the deck...
I want Wool Fleece in the deck to throw on Gideon but the deck is already a little flimsy on paper. I have a much more consistent defense but this one is so fun to play.

The defense is all over the place but it seems to work. The Amalekite's Slave is not always used right away for soul gen/ec search, I like to block with him and then play Great Mourning or BtC, or Mourn and Weep whatever, and then Magic Charms, Besieged, Writ or dom block you, if scattered will not work. I love to underblock and play a stop you from rescue, in this meta, and t1 in general, that's a huge swing of momentum, especially against these insanely strong offenses. Mourn and Weep is amazing, I wish I made that card (sorry Justin I can't help myself) Divination helps with the set up, it has just enough blocks to stall until a stop rescue card comes out, the speed also helps. Numerous times I was able to draw a matching EC with one of the 3 rescue stoppers, (not including Scapegoat) off an initial surge of drawing first turn, pretty easy to do with this offense, and that gives me a first turn rescue, sometimes a block if I have it, but then I get to rescue again, hopefully another cheese, then it's my turn again. They can rescue once by the time I am on my potential game winning rescue. The band, choose the blocker, protected Gideon, all help me from not getting dom blocked plus Valley and YWR help to extend the battle. Ambush looks dumb but seeing an opponent see you play that card (hats off to E-Large) then not knowing how to block it or even the rules against blocking it are worth the slot, especially for a deck I do not plan on playing at Nationals.

Like I said, I have another build with a better, more sturdy defense, but this one is fun and annoying. Scapegoat can also be used in a pinch for a drought or to stop momentum. I love Mayhem and Valley and was, still am, considering 3Woes out in order for both. They are so versatile, but 3W is probably the most versatile card in the game, but with the strategy of this deck not being blocked or being attacked, both Valley and Mayhem help immensely. 3W helps both sides when needed, Valley only helps the offense. Any suggestions are appreciated, just go easy on this old type 2 player, this is just a fun deck mind you.

Is there a consideration for Queen Vashti on defense? She's an extra draw/negate good, and bands to Gomer or Damsel for even more bands/drawing.

Caleb is definitely good, but Mighty Men is honestly better a lot of the time. Caleb's power is in no small part to the cities he can take, as well as the ability to grab a weapon from reserve. Mighty Men's negate and draw serves a lot better early on, but Caleb is often more versatile.

Vashti can’t band to Damsel because she can only band to an OT female; Damsel is NT.

Yeah you’re right Josiah, that’s the concept behind the defense. Stop a couple rescues and prevent them from rescuing altogether a couple times, then play Scattered DoU although I am ok with playing BtC or M&W without playing a battle winner, it’s the same concept of blocking just a turn before. I also agree BtC is severely underrated and stronger than FO. I also think Charms and Writ are squishy but it helps with self capture and valley set up.

I agree, but just the restraints it has on it means Mayhem is easier to play but my stance was Mayhem can, and ideally want to be played, at the beginning while Valley holds a spot in your hand. But Valley is currently in the build over mayhem and I think the playability on and what it can do is awesome.