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For yet another week, our Runecraft and Havencraft remain solidly anchored at the top, waiting for the other classes to find a way to evict them from that spot. Unfortunately, except for Abysscraft Mode, which is very consistent as the third deck in this metagame, this other decks are either losing momentum, or fighting to be part of the playable decks.
Once again, there is a lot to say about Dragoncraft and Portalcraft Puppets, the two classes buffed in the last patch. Their lists keep improving, and so do their results. However, they are still miles away from reaching the top, so those improvements might solidify their spot as good decks, it also shows they lack something to progress any further.
Another deck is worth having a look at : Abysscraft Midrange. Just like it did during the Infinity Evolved set, the deck is slowly finding its perfect list, and proves to be one of the most reliable decks in the game. It lacks the ability to bring pressure without any prior board, especially in this metagame with the top decks able to heal back to full, but is competing with Modecraft to be picked in tournaments.
Last, the main shift in the metagame this week is Swordcraft not being part of the top tier anymore. Indeed, the match-up against Puppet is quite bad for the Loot synergy, which struggle to get any board going, and typically ends up forced to defend, fearing 10174120's damage potential.
This could be an opportunity to tech even more against Runecraft and Havencraft for those looking to target them. It probably is too risky on the ladder, but we could see very greedy builds emerge in tournament, from Dragoncraft for example, using some super creative builds in order to be competitive.
| Tier | Deck |
|---|---|
| A Tier | 🟣 Runecraft Spellboost |
| A Tier | 🟡 Havencraft Crest Control |
| A Tier | 🔴 Abysscraft Modecraft |
| B Tier | 🟠 Swordcraft Aggro Loot |
| B Tier | 🟢 Forestcraft Roach Combo |
| B Tier | 🔴 Abysscraft Midrange |
| B Tier | 🟤 Dragoncraft Ramp Fennie |
| B Tier | 🔵 Portalcraft Puppets |
| C Tier | 🟤 Dragoncraft Ramp Storm |
| C Tier | 🟢 Forestcraft Roach Tempo |
- A Tier: Decks with a well-rounded synergy, both able to pressure the opposing leader with damage or turn a threatening board around. Plus, they don't have glaring weaknesses, on top of the ability to adapt to popular matchups if need be.
- B Tier: Solid performers but lacking either some flexibility, or the ability to force the opponent into a reactive position once it is time to go for lethal. Typically, these decks will have a great core strategy, but might not adapt well if the game does not go according to plan.
- C Tier: Decks with limited potential or flexibility at the moment. These decks are either not suited to answer the popular decks well, or limited to one draw dependant gimmick for the majority of a match.
A Tier
Runecraft Spellboost
Most Runecraft builds have returned to one 10104120 only, except for those still expecting a lot of Havencraft in their pocket meta. In that slot, we typically see one more copy of a typical inclusion, most of the time to improve the deck's consistency with more draw. However, some have started to run 10132130 to add another AoE against Abysscraft and Puppet Portalcraft.
Havencraft Crest Control
The typical list will do just fine, but a new build is starting to emerge at the moment, after it existed mostly in China for the past few weeks. That deck cuts 10161210 to instead use 10303210 and 10164110 as its draw engine. At first, that deck also played 10104120, but it looks to be a tech for the mirror match rather than a staple inclusion.
It is still too early to say whether this build will replace the one we have grown accustomed to since the start of Heirs of the Omen. Yet, the win in Taiwan should give some food for thoughts to the Havencraft afficionados.
Abysscraft Mode
Modecraft has been on the rise up to reaching the top tier in our previous Tier List, and still deserves to be included in the competition for top contenders in this metagame. Around the world, the build looks to be relatively the same, with 10153310 now a staple to help with damage.
The only discussion point would be the inclusion of 10251310, used to anchor the board early and synergize with 10151310. Some also use 10252120 in that slot, as the 6-cost remains one of the most annoying cards to deal with.
To make room for those, 10154110 has returned to two copies only, although 10154120 could also be a cut, if we wanted the build to focus on damage once in the later turns.
B Tier
Swordcraft Aggro Loot
Still the best aggressive build around, Swordcraft struggles to improve and adapt when everyone around has those few flexible slots available. Plus, Portalcraft Pupper is proving to be both a very annoying and popular opponent.
In that context, we had to downgrade Swordcraft to the second tier. However, that deck will smoke anyone not answering an early board before 10123130 comes down to buff it, or going down to 12 health without a solid defensive scheme when Swordcraft reaches 9 play-points.
We have seen the arrival of 10022110 in the deck to help with the Puppet problem. So far, this has not turned Swordcraft around in tournaments, as the class still struggles to consistently reach the top cut.
Forestcraft Roach Combo
One of the few decks able to deal 20 damage at once, although it requires an expect pilot, Forestcraft Roach probably is the best yet not popular deck of this set. At the moment, the build is trying to find some health gains in order to buy that one turn against other damage heavy decks. 10304120 has been the most consistent card to fill that role, although 10111130 sees play occasionally, and doesn't require to be evolved.
That extra turn is crucial against the likes of Havencraft, Puppet Portalcraft or Swordcraft. Indeed, it allows the deck to find that extra card to use in its combo, and gain the 2 damage it can sometimes miss for the win.
Abysscraft Midrange
The deck on the rise at the moment, although Modecraft remains the best performing build for the class, Abyss Midrange has a lower ceiling, but never fails to pressure its opponent. The big change this week is the return of 10254110 in order to win those late game battles once both players used up all their evolves. Plus, a board filled with 90054130 is extremely menacing when you know three copies of 10154110 are in that deck.
Slightly worse than Modecraft when the draws align, but probably more reliable, Abysscraft Midrange managed to post a 21 games winning streak in the Beyond ranks.
Dragoncraft Ramp Fennie
Dragoncraft didn't progress that much with the patch, that only slightly improving the deck's flexibility. However, a few bold players managed to craft a reliable list when it comes to finding 10244120 with 10343310. The key was simply to cut most Dragoncraft followers, to instead play neutral ones.
At first glance, this looks like a gimmick one would play to have fun, not win. Yet, that would be true for the entire Dragoncraft class at the moment. Then, playing 10244120 to enable a 10304110 plus 10104120 turn is currently the best way to win with the class, it seems.
Another way to win is to play 10244120 after 10104120 to have our Apocalypse cards discounted.
It is a gimmick of course, but the results have been just as good, if not better, than what Dragoncraft managed to do during Heirs of the Omen. This build posted a Top 8 in the Rage Japan Championship and a win when piloted by DFM ミル in the Otayado Cup
Portalcraft Puppets
Still struggling when it comes to tournament results, the Puppet synergy is quite popular on the ladder, and amongst the 5 most played deck in the recent Taiwan tournament. Builds have started to stabilize, with those neutral fillers slowly going away while the deck focuses around finding 10174120 as much as possible.
The main change is the arrival of 10272110 in the list, designed to save our Evolves for aggressive purposes mostly, which increases our damage potential as a result.
So far, even if the Puppets deck still has a lot to prove, it is a great pick to counter Swordcraft, another extremely popular class. Plus, it is forcing a few midrange decks to reconsider the amount of healing they are running, as Puppets tend to be the second-fastest deck when it comes to pure damage, second to Swordcraft Loot.
C Tier
Dragoncraft Ramp Storm
This is basically Dragoncraft Aggro with some ramp in the early game, but those extra play-points allow overwhelming certain opponents. However, we can see the deck is now packing more early game, both to help against decks punishing for a turn three 10042310 and to chip away at your opponent's leader if they would start slow.
As for many decks before, we can see 10304110 thrown in the mix. The 4-cost has become the default card to enable a Plan B, in case throwing all our cards at our opponent's face wasn't enough. Some like to run even more damage in those slots, but Crest Havencraft and Modecraft tend to pack so much healing, damage alone doesn't win those encounters.
In tournaments, Rune and Haven remain the two classes to beat, which explains why the more combo oriented 10244120 build is in the tier above. Yet, Storm Dragoncraft has proved enough to deserve a spot on the tier list, earning a top cut spot in Taiwan.
Forestcraft Roach Tempo
Similarly to the deck above, Forestcraft Tempo will step on the gas pedal and never let it go until one of the two players gives up.
This deck is very reliable early in a match, able to quickly turn a couple of cheap cards into a lot of damage with 10111110 or 10213110, or drop a 5/5 or 6/6 10114130 on turn three.
Compared to Forestcraft Combo, this deck has lost quite a bit of momentum since it can't win from afar with a huge 10113140. Yet, this is a much easier deck to learn for anyone looking to play Forestcraft, while it managed to post a few top cuts placements in recent weeks, showing it is good enough to compete.
