Swartbron Awesomesauce

          So...how many of you guys have actually seen this card before? Oh, Hikeda had a contest with it? Well, let me rephrase myself: How many of you have actually used this card before? That's better.

          I don't blame you for not trying. Giving your opponent energy, sometimes in the triple digits, is definitely not the most pleasant thing. Swartbron costs 3 which, even counting in Fluidmorph, can be a pain to get to. On top of all this, Swartbron Battlesong is a M'arrillian Mugic, which makes it highly susceptible to Najarin FF. Why would you ever want to use this card?

          As I stated in my last post, my specialty is synergies. What can you use to make this card work for you? How do you get this card to give you the high end, triple digit energy, and leave the opposition in the dust? Well, say hello to my little friend:

          This battlegear is a key to unlocking the true potential of Swartbron Battlesong. If your M'arrillian can last long enough to cast a Swartbron, you'll already be gaining 30+ energy! Imagine your energy after 3 more attacks. Now how do I last long enough, and have enough Swartbrons to get into the triple digits, even the quads? Well, that's what this deck is for. Make sure to check it out on the back-up forum for discussion!

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45
6
1. Part'soa/Riverland Moon
2. Nunk'worn/Riverland Moon3. Na-inna/WEV
4. Na-inna/WEV
5. Lomma DW/Riverland Star
6. Najarin/ Azaia Mindprobe

2 Swartbron Battlesong
1 RoD (Overworld)
1 Cadence Clash
1 Trills of Diminution 
1 Notes of Neverwhere

1 SCR
1 Ice Disks 
2 Flood Force
2 Eidolon Advance
2 Invader's Tactics
2 Outfreeze
2 Ghost Gouge
2 Marksman's Prep
2 Acid Rain
2 Tidal surge
2 Inner Flood
2 Delerium

1 Ulmar's Projecition Cavern
1 Vidav's Refectorium
2 Gigantemopolis CotO
2 The Riverlands
2 The Everrains
2 Rao'pa Sahkk Chimegrid

          So, are you having some difficulty understanding how the deck works? Well, there's an explanation of the strategy and card choices below. And if you do know how the deck works, you might as well read on anyways; you've made this far.

Strategy: Your two fluidmorphers, Nunk'worn and Part'soa, will be your main combatants. Conduct combat as normal with them, and when you get low on energy, pop off a Swartbron Battlesong to keep the fight going. Sure, you'll be giving your opponent energy too, but soon you'll be gaining astronomical amounts of energy. Once out of Battlesongs, start using Najarin to return them. He should have a good number of counters from the Na-inna's, Inner Floods, and Chimegrids. Lomma DW will defend your 3 supports, and you'll just have an easier time winning as the game goes on...


Card Choices: Creatures:

Part'soa: I know people don't like long and drawn out battles, so I figured I'd save them some time and lower their disciplines every once in a while.

Najarin: I wanted to take full advantage of Swartbron Battlesong, and what better way to do that than by having multiples? Yeah, Najarin takes a lot of effort to keep in the deck, but he pays off so well. Also, it's nice to return a refrain every once in a while.

Battlegears:

Riverland Star: Lomma won't have access to Swartbron, so I had to find another way to give her energy. I don't have Xerium Armor or a Droskin...

Mugics:

Trills of Diminution: I use this mugic to take care of LVBSoA; he's a real pain to this deck without it. Also, I found it difficult to get my M'arrillians to 3 counters against elementalist decks, so I use Trills to remove element X.

Notes of Neverwhere: There are 3 common locations that come to my head when I use this mugic: Illusionary Lake, Numin Voidland, and Azaia Mindscrying Chamber.

Attacks:

Ice Disks: As you all know, Najarin FF is the bane to any deck with a fluidmorpher, so I added Ice Disks over say, another SCR, to stop him from countering the Battlesongs. Also, it stops any of that annoying overworld healing stuff.

Outfreeze: These were initially Riptides, but I realized that this deck would be extremely weak against Gan'trak decks without Outfreeze, so in it went.

Locations: 

Ulmar's Projection Cavern: This is used over another Refectorium because I don't really like giving my opponent the opportunity to cycle attacks, but this deck needs the Refectorium because of all the 0 bp attacks. 

And that's the deck. As usual, feel free to comment on anything about the deck that could improve it. Thanks for reading!

-Ziro207

Card Review: Katharaz

                                      Stats: (Unavailable, but I'll put the stats of mine once I get him)

          Katharaz...where to begin? The Danian elementalist has a lot going for him. He has 3 elements, 2 mugic counters, decent stats and energy, and a great creature type. The question has to come to mind: why wasn't he used more? In my opinion, many people looked at his ability and said, "meh." The first time I saw him I did too. There were better combatants with better stats and energy like Nimmei, and better Muges with more counters and abilities like Lore. But one of my specialties is finding the niches and combos that you can use with cards like Katharaz. With that, let me tell you some of those ways.

          The first nifty combo I'd like to tell you about is one with Danian Element Choral. It's a simple combo where you target an opposing creature who's engaged with Katharaz. Now, if Hive is on and you only have Katharaz's elements, Katharaz will gain 45 energy right off the bat! If you manage to fit a creature with fire into your army, he gains 60 energy! Just make sure you have ways to protect Danian Element Choral from Mugic negation.

          A location some of you may know, Stronghold Mourn, is another card that combos very well with Katharaz, giving both him and his opponent all the elements. That's an instant 60 energy! the only problem with this is that stronghold mourn is a unique location, meaning you only have a 10% chance of pulling it from your location deck. Try adding Ulmar's Projection Cavern to your deck to better your chances.

          The final card I'd like to tell you about is one that requires you to expand from a pure Danian deck: Jaidwarl. He' just like Danian Element Choral, but is much more abusable. You can get more counters on to him vie MBF, Na-inna, The Rao'pa Sahkk Chimegrid, etc. He's also a bit easier to use than the first two cards, as he's already on the field, and ability negation is far less common than mugic negation. burn mugic might get him though...

          Like every card, Katharaz has his downfalls. Low disciplines will cause him to get smacked around by discipliners, and they also leave him open to LVBSoA. you can use Citadel Fragments to improve his stats and energy, but if you're worried about Katharaz's elements, use a Scarab of Kilhai.

          Another downside is that Katharaz relies on his ability to make him a front liner. Say your Danian Elemental Choral gets negated, Stronghold Mourn isn't up, Jaidwarl is mugicless or dead, or the worst: you have no way to activate hive. Katharaz would only have 45 energy on average; he'd be beaten to pulp quick.  To give yourself some hope when this has happened to you, have another combatant available to fight with. Good front line partners for Katharaz are Mhein, Nimmei, and any elementalist with Pauldrons.

          In my opinion, cards like Katharaz are made to be discovered. Some people will forget cards like this even exist because of superior or easier choices. But sometimes, you just have to look for the combos and synergies to unlock a cards full potential. Katharaz is ultra for a reason.

Apprentice: 1.5/5. His elements are his only redeeming factor
Master: 3.5/5. He takes more devotion than some of simpler cards, but Katharaz is very potent when the effort is put in to base the deck around him.

Thanks for reading guys. Please leave comments below, as they will encourage me to write more (yes, even the hate comments, 'cause then I'll know someone came to the site...).

-Ziro207