It’s been quite some time since we last set foot in the lands of Runeterra, and in that time a new expansion has dropped. With it, new cards and new decks.
So let us give them a shot.
Decklists provided by Mobalytics:
- Zilean/Nasus: CMBQEAIFDUYQEBAFAMCAGBAHBUTS6BABAICQIAIEAUIAGBAHHNIWOBABAUARSKBQAEAQCBIT
- Azir/Irelia: CMCACAYCAUBACAQGFICAIBYDDIZV2BIEAICAKCILB4AQCBAHHEBACAQCBIAQIAQH
- Yasuo/Malphite: CIBQCAYJ3UAQGAICB4XDSAYEBEFA2DQEAEBAEBIBAMBBIAQEBECQQAYDBERVIVQDAECAEBYCAMEQSVICAQEQIBY
Out of the three decks I ran during this stream, the Irelia/Azir deck has been my most successful one. What we saw is indicative of what’s typical of a match using that deck. On its own, Blade Dance might not seem very powerful, only creating a couple of 1/1 blades to attack in for free. Naturally, we’re not using that effect on its own, we’re using it in concert with other effects that generate powerful synergies.
Our most valuable pieces are Sparring Student and Greenglade Duo, who get stronger with each creature summon during all of these free attacks. And with the Emperor’s Dai, or Azir himself, we create even more units per attack. It creates a scenario where we’re attacking multiple times in one turn in order to finish off with an incredible final flourish.
But the other fascinating deck was the one focusing on Yasuo and Malphite. At first, it seems like these two should have no synergy whatsoever, but once they’re both leveled up they turn into a powerhouse combination that can regularly sweep the enemy board to safely swing in for lethal. The real challenge is that the only card that levels up both of them at once is Eye of the Ra-Horak. For that reason, we need to make up the difference with Invoke cards to create the tool we need.
I’d talk a bit more about the Zilean/Nasus deck, but to be honest, it’s very similar to the Nasus deck you’ve seen from me already, just with a new partner. Our goal is to kill a ton of creatures to strengthen Nasus to level him up and swing in for huge damage.
If Irelia/Blade Dance got nerfed in some way soon, I would not be surprised. The deck feels uniquely powerful. That said, I’m excited to keep seeing how the meta shakes out.
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