Cactus Game Design Message Boards

I did a write-up on the offense here:
https://www.cactusforums.com/type-1-deck-advice/prophets-with-exodus-support/
I created a defense that I love and is very fast and underrated in T1, IMO. I would like to bring the deck down to 50, but a larger defense at 56 with this speed and consistency is fun to play. You could add the black brigade fool (Doomed Conspirators) to the Reserve for an additional draw 1 off KoT and a set up for an additional Elijah target, but I can't fit that for the value. Demetrius can get out a negate and have initiative for a CBN Darkness and CBN Seized, both amazing cards in their own right, but that much better against bands that rely on specific heroes and Darkness can hit an entire band in the current colorful meta. Also, grabbing Baal Worship is amazing against a Jeremiah when you can then toss Baal Worship and follow that up with Seized by Righters for a CBN, ItB (which gets back your negate) and set aside two heroes. Both PoZ and The Outsiders were in here, but I think they can be targets, increase my evil brigade count, and PoZ is easily negateable. When it came down to cutting to 56, I regrettably had to take them out.
From the linked deck at the beginning, I moved Elisha to Reserve and took out Hur since I was having trouble getting to him, and ultimately, there are stronger bands.

1   Moses, Friend of God
1   Jeremiah, Hope Bringer
1   Aaron, God's Mediator
1   Phinehas, son of Eleazar (FoM)
1   Jehoshaphat, the Seeker / Jehoshaphat, the Meek (LoC)
1   Zechariah, the Renewer
1   Mighty Men
1   Noah, the Righteous / Noah (Rest and Comfort) (LoC)
1   Zadok (PoC)
1   Cherubim (PoC)
1   Daniel, the Apocalyptist (PoC)
1   Elijah (PoC)

1   Offering Your Son
1   Death of Firstborn (PoC)
1   The Emmaus Road
1   Numerous as the Stars (PoC)
1   The First Sacrifice
1   Two Bears (PoC)
1   Urim and Thummim (PoC)
1   Faith
1   Covenant with Moses (PoC)
1   "I AM" Has Sent Me

1   Delivered
1   Fifth Bowl of Wrath (RoJ AB)

1   Endless Treasures
1   Flying Scroll (PoC)
1   Broken Covenant (CoW AB)

1   King of Tyrus
1   Abimelech, King of Gerar (LoC)
1   Commander Phicol (LoC)
1   Goliath (LoC)
1   Philistine Armor Bearer (LoC)
1   Philistine Commanders (LoC)
1   Demetrius the Silversmith

1   Philistine Garrison (LoC)
1   Sheol

1   Seized by Rioters
1   Darkness (FoM)
1   Scattered Sheep
1   Stricken
1   Plot to Kill (RoJ AB)
1   Baal Worship (FoM)

1   Lost Soul (Distressed)
1   Lost Soul "Darkness" (Job 30:26) (Promo)
1   Lost Soul "Oppressed" (II Chronicles 16:10) (LoC)
1   Lost Soul (Prosperity)
1   Lost Soul "Forsaken" (Hebrews 10:25) (CoW AB)
1   Lost Soul "Lawless" (Hebrews 12: (CoW AB)
1   Lost Soul (Punisher) (FoM)

1   Angel of the Lord (Promo 2018)
1   Falling Away (Promo 2018)
1   Three Woes (RoJ AB)
1   Son of God "Manger" (Promo)
1   Chronicles of the Kings (LoC)
1   Mayhem (FoM)
1   The Second Coming (CoW AB)

Reserve:
1   Tested by Fire
1   Gathered Together
1   Word of Their Testimony (CoW AB)
1   Foreign Spears (LoC)
1   Ishbibenob's Sword
1   Betrayal (PoC)
1   King Achish (CoW AB)
1   The Herdsmen of Gerar (LoC)
1   Abandonment (EC)
1   Elisha (PoC)

I'd be curious to know what is negating your PoZ. As long as he's down before Distressed, he is pretty tough to negate. The bigger problem is usually something like Joshua.

Is Joshua still running rampant without Throne? I honestly haven't seen him a whole lately outside of mono-red.

Played a game against my brother the other day and Joshua is still tearing it up. I kinda want cut all targets except artifacts out of my deck. Cut evil forts and territory EC because he is so annoying. He really answers everything it feels

I legitimately feel Joshua is OP.  I think it was Gabe who mentioned on a podcast that there are similar cards in GoC and I am wondering if any defense is even worth using unless you can somehow protect from Josh and however many similar dudes come out with GoC.

I hope it is some sort of use limit because having to deal with Joshua over and over again is the biggest thing that make him OP.  It makes it impossible to set up anything that takes more than 1 or 2 cards.

I think that is true but the wide nature of what he can snipe is also a big factor when he can continue doing it turn after turn with very little to stop him.  He's pretty much a good version of Abom without the need to set it up.  He could easily get banded in at the end of a big band even if you don't want to exchange him.  Is there a better board control Hero?