Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) has experienced quite some coverage on fowlibrary via top 8 spots and decklist articles. However due to the natural power creep in TCGs it is worth asking if older rulers do keep up to the current meta.
The following article will explore Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) regarding uncommon tech cards, unexplored deck choices and possible play lines with given cards. Since I do have the option to record in decent stereo, I will add a video at the end of the article (in English) to elaborate on the possible Wolfgang play lines. I do think there is merit to this discussion for several reasons.
Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) is a straightforward ruler, focusing around one theme. His activate ability to tutor a Demonic World to the field adds consistency to the gameplan and the needed cards for the core of the deck are pretty budget friendly. This makes Wolfgang a perfect ruler to start and learn the game.
To discuss Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J), it is necessary to cover basics and talk weaknesses.
The Basics
Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) is all about his Demonic Worlds. Since Wolfgang can consistently add one Demonic World to the battlefield per turn it is easy to gain value over time and advance the game state in a favourable position to the Wolfgang player. There are 14 additions with the Demonic World with the subtype and the J/ruler side of Wolfgang himself as well as Alice, Zeus Incarnate (DBV-091) may be counted as a demonic world. I would advise to consider the slots for the Demonic Worlds wisely, since not all additions are equally impactful to the game. The Sixth Boon: Requiem, Jewel (TST-092) is a definitive staple, allowing you to ramp ahead. In addition will hinder the popular moonchild rulers to use their gods arts for free. Acheron, River of the Dead (TST-064) is a neat anti-aggro tool to slow down the pace of the game until Wolfgang reaches his win condition. The Graveyard of Amadeus (TST-011) and Permafrost (ADW-040) head in the same direction as Acheron but are easier to bring to the board because of the lower will cost and allow to flood the board faster with diverse sets of Demonic World and therefore make each Demonic World more impactful. Furthermore, Oil Pond (ADW-025) is a decent turn 1 target which holds potential for spot removal, especially when used before and after upkeep to rag up some damage on a resonator. Temple of the Dead (ADW-069) may be used to chump block aggression as well as adding pressure, while adding to the Demonic World for only one will. Plains of Raging Winds (ADW-056) is a decent tempo card with the potential to ramp while adding to the Demonic World count. Swamp of Sorrows (ADW-068) is a control finisher, that might be used prior to the judgment to ensure that the opponent has no more options to interact with your win condition. Scorching Mountain Trail (ADW-090) is spot removal with the upside that is directly counters the very popular Warhorse (NWE-011) plays by its permanent effect to reverse life gain. Amadeus, Fallen Kingdom (ADW-077) is basically a sweeper to counteract unfavourable board states. The Forest of Darkness (ADW-092) is an anti-aggro tool for sure but also comes with a cool control element especially snipping decks that rely on flooding the board with small creatures.
Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) may be played with 2 different win conditions, however the option to tutor The Paradise of Fallen Angels (ADW-095) and swing with Fallen Angel of Terminus (ADW-063) protected and enabled with one to two Fallen Angel of the Chasm (TST-016) is the most common. But a Wolfgang deck with four copies of The First Layer of the Demonic World (ADW-070) and control and burn assisted win condition with enough fog cards [1] is thinkable. I mention the second one because new players might be inclined to use experiment with this budget friendly alternative and pauper players [2] that fancy control decks might gravitate to that strategy.
Wind of the Demonic World (ADW-074) is a tempo efficient removal with integrated card advantage and Necronomicon Barrier (ADW-066) is a flexible card that allows do deny enter effects with the flexibility to search for needed Demonic Worlds. The Wolfgang theme is completed with the Fallen Angel tribal adding to the toolbox potential of Wolfgang supporting various strategies from control to burn. Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) comes also with ramp for his own ability by Residents of the Demonic Worlds (ADW-067), however in the current Wanderer meta this feels awfully slow and a little outdated, even if the grave recursion is a decent mechanic to deploy, especially to counter aggression with the imprinted bane of the resonator.
Weaknesses
Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) is heavily reliant on his activate ability to tutor one addition to the battlefield each turn. Subconsequently blocking his ability via The Witch of the Fallen Kingdom (ADW-072) or Shackles of Ice (VIN003-040) will likely put him in a game losing disadvantage. Countering his ability with Laurite, Seven Luminaries Astrologian (TSW-094)-like effects will also hurt the gameplan significantly. Given his win condition via The Paradise of Fallen Angels (ADW-095), a protected Exorcist Mage at the Academy (EDL-003) might also straight lose Wolfgang the game. Enough inherent addition hate [3] in any given deck will also result in Wolfgang having a hard time to establish his win condition. Counteraction to those weaknesses should be strongly considered in the sideboard choices and if possible, in the mainboard choices beforehand.
Synergies
Now that we know what Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) is about, let us investigate some cool synergies. Let us start with Wolfgang’s core mechanic. His abilities profit from Mariabella, Sincere Engineer // Heart-to-Heart Talk (ROL-013) for the permanent cost reduction to provide more explosive turns. Paired with the cantrip this card is a staple for most Wolfgang players. A new addition to the Wolfgang Deck is Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063). The effect to play him for free is basically guaranteed and potentially being able to cantrip starting turn 2 is also pretty decent. Another new card is Mikey, Jack of All Trades (NWE-027), potentially cloning a Demonic World for value, while giving a good alternate win condition in grind games. Due to his ability, Mikey may pump himself before upkeep and swing in for damage multiple times with his ability to recover by tapping down two additions. Maybe the most important addition to Wolfgang is Warhorse (NWE-011). Tutoring up one Warhorse for free each turn complements the value engine of Wolfgang by adding defensive and increasing survivability against aggro. Warhorse may also further exploit the effective card advantage of Wolfgang with Dark Alice, Rabbit Princess (DBV-009), turning the tutoring of one The Sixth Boon: Requiem, Jewel (TST-092) into a two-card draw and 1000 life points. Adding Dark Alice, Rabbit Princess to the Wolfgang Deck may also enable Wolfgang, Prince of Amadeus (TST-093) to bring back additions from the graveyard. Since Wolfgang, Prince of Amadeus is pretty slow compared to the low costed META, with many cards basically costing nothing, his integration will require a really slow and grindy control environment [4].
While populating the battlefield with additions, Fiethsing, 100 Years of Wizardry (GOG-047) is a control card to look out for, incentivizing Wolfgang players to consider green as secondary colour.
Some Play Lines
I will explore some play lines in the linked video below:
However, following the play lines you should always consider their viability with the opponent’s possible interaction in mind. Sometimes making the best play to advance a board state is simple not the best playline in general. Counter spells and the possible backswing on the opponent’s turn while tapping out should always be considered in respect to the deck the opponent plays. Luring your opponent into tapping down on his own turn should always be desirable, since Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) is able to close out the game with Fallen Angel of Terminus (ADW-063) anyway.
Example Decklist
I will share 1 example Decklists for Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World (ADW-075) // Wolfgang, Guide of the Demonic World [J-Ruler] (ADW-075J) by myself. Due to the new banned list format with combination bans Wolfgang faces some interesting choices.
| Heiko Jacob |