Monday, February 15, 2021

Kaldheim Constructed

 

Arena is running a Kaldheim Constructed event (build a 60-card deck following normal construction rules using cards only from the Kaldheim expansion) right now. It was cheap to enter and fun to play; you had to use the same deck until you won four times or lost twice. You could then re-enter with another deck, paying the cost do to so again. I participated four times.

Deck 1
Record: 3-2
Deck: Mono-red dwarves & dragons
Description: use Magda's ability to pump your dwarves and create treasure tokens. Use those tokens as mana accelerators or dragon summoners (using another of Magda's abilities). This worked pretty well- when Magda survived. I could have used a fourth copy of her.
4 Goldspan Dragon (KHM) 139
3 Magda, Brazen Outlaw (KHM) 142
2 Seize the Spoils (KHM) 149
4 Frost Bite (KHM) 138
4 Fearless Liberator (KHM) 135
1 Dragonkin Berserker (KHM) 131
4 Breakneck Berserker (KHM) 124
4 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
2 Squash (KHM) 152
4 Funeral Longboat (KHM) 238
3 Raiders' Karve (KHM) 242
1 Reckless Crew (KHM) 146
12 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 282
12 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283

Deck 2
Record: 0-2
Deck: Golgari (black/green) Elves
Description: use the self-milling ability to leverage Return Upon the Tide and other cards that like your graveyard. This one fell flat; couldn't tell if it was the construction or execution.
3 Elderfang Disciple (KHM) 93
1 Skemfar Avenger (KHM) 109
4 Koma's Faithful (KHM) 102
2 Skemfar Shadowsage (KHM) 110
4 Return Upon the Tide (KHM) 106
1 Elvish Warmaster (KHM) 167
4 Roots of Wisdom (KHM) 190
4 Harald, King of Skemfar (KHM) 212
2 Harald Unites the Elves (KHM) 213
1 Tyvar Kell (KHM) 198
3 Elderleaf Mentor (KHM) 165
4 Village Rites (KHM) 117
2 Weigh Down (KHM) 118
2 Poison the Cup (KHM) 103
5 Snow-Covered Swamp (KHM) 281
5 Snow-Covered Swamp (KHM) 280
4 Snow-Covered Forest (KHM) 285
4 Snow-Covered Forest (KHM) 284
1 Skemfar Elderhall (KHM) 268
4 Woodland Chasm (KHM) 274

Deck 3
Record: 1-2
Deck: Azorius (white/blue) Foretell
Description: Use Vega and Cosmos Charger to take advantage of the foretell mechanic. This control deck didn't work as well as I'd hoped.
4 Vega, the Watcher (KHM) 233
2 Gates of Istfell (KHM) 256
5 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 277
1 Doomskar (KHM) 9
3 Iron Verdict (KHM) 17
4 Ravenform (KHM) 72
4 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
3 Behold the Multiverse (KHM) 46
2 Cosmos Charger (KHM) 51
2 Niko Defies Destiny (KHM) 226
2 Starnheim Unleashed (KHM) 33
4 Karfell Harbinger (KHM) 65
3 Revitalize (KHM) 23
4 Ascendant Spirit (KHM) 43
5 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 278
5 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 279
5 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 276
2 Glacial Floodplain (KHM) 257

Deck 4
Record: 4-1
Deck: Orzhov (white/black) Angels
Descripton: Use the life-gaining ability of Righteous Valkyrie to pump your life total and (once you hit 27 life) your creatures. This one worked very well, especially if you could get two Righteous Valkyries out early.
4 Youthful Valkyrie (KHM) 382
2 Starnheim Aspirant (KHM) 380
11 Snow-Covered Swamp (KHM) 281
4 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
1 Doomskar (KHM) 9
1 Starnheim Unleashed (KHM) 33
3 Vengeful Reaper (KHM) 116
3 Hailstorm Valkyrie (KHM) 97
4 Firja's Retribution (KHM) 210
3 Rampage of the Valkyries (KHM) 393
13 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 277
3 Revitalize (KHM) 23
2 Iron Verdict (KHM) 17
2 Invoke the Divine (KHM) 16
2 Village Rites (KHM) 117
2 Poison the Cup (KHM) 103

Thoughts
I liked this event- a lot. I enjoy the Kaldheim set, but have had a hard time figuring out how to be successful with it in Standard (or draft . . . or sealed). This constructed event helped me focus on the set's mechanics in a different way, which I appreciated. I was disappointed in how decks 2 and 3 fared, but learned a few things along the way. I still think this is a hard to set to master. But it's fun.

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