Hello rulers from around the world, greetings from Singapore. I’m Bearie or Tan Wee Leong as I was listed in Vietnam’s GP and I’ll be talking about the deck I played in the recent Converging Wills tournament. I finished 5-1 in swiss and lost my top 8 match to Steven on Asuka, Gravekeeper of Tsukuyomi (NWE-058).
Intro
The deck focuses on abusing some of the most powerful cards out of the latest set in Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) and Metal Lifeform: Dragon (TUS-075). Along with the powerful rulers in H1 that could pull in a cocoon for free. Another reason this deck became pretty oppressive was the recent ban of The Origin of the Seven Lands (PofA-112) which saw Dreiwing, Mechanized Wind of Destruction (GRV-040) being less accessible and not as viable anymore. Coupled with the fact that the Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) addition gives the J/resonator eternal if it’s the only one on the field, which makes it slightly more annoying to remove.
Decklist
Ruler choice
The deck could function with almost any other ruler from H1 just to pull in the Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) cocoon, but I felt that Aristella, Twin Prince (NWE-057) was the most effective choice. This is because the deck lacked much defensive tools, and Birth of the Twin Princes (HSD-001) provided the utility to dig for cards and to provide barrier to protect Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) from removals like Lumia, Princess of Rebirth // Wings of Light and Darkness (ROL-005), Divine Lightning (TUS-063) and Gradius (ADW-022).
For my moonchild choices, I went with Child of the Fire Moon (NWE-013) and Mysterious Messenger (TUS-020). As an aggro deck, I am the aggressor and I don’t believe I need to be the one limiting the amount of plays my opponents make, over preventing my own spells from being cancelled. Mysterious Messenger (TUS-020) always guarantees me one Metal Lifeform to RFG for Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061).
In my sideboard, I have the Child of the Wind Moon (NWE-033) mainly for cancelling Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) and Child of the Darkness Moon (NWE-051) for aggro matchups to stay alive.
The game plan
The most oppressive play this deck can make is to open with discarding two Metal Lifeforms to produce 2 fire Will to play Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023). This gives you the ability to produce 1 fire Will every time you call for stone. This also synergises with Red Wine and Bread (DSD-008) to produce extra Will and banishing the stone that was temporarily called to draw a card with Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023)’s activate ability.
The next part of the strategy is to play multiple ‘free’ resonators to kill the opponent with. Resonators like Melfee, Traveling Sorceress (ROL-017) and Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063) cost effectively 0 Will to play while also drawing a card, generating card advantage and getting a body on the board.
Finally, by playing Sprinting Steward (NWE-021), we give everything swiftness to finish the opponent off. This deck has FTK potential regardless of going first on second.
Mulligan
You want to start with at least one Metal Lifeform in hand, Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) and one Birth of the Twin Princes (HSD-001). Everything else can be drawn into later. The ideal opening hand would be the above three cards, one Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063) and one Red Wine and Bread (DSD-008). As the aggressor, you should always aim to mulligan for aggressive plays rather than defensive. If your opponent recognises you being a threat and chooses to mulligan defensively, this slows their own win condition down as well.
Card choices
When Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) banishes Memoria of Reincarnation (RDE-099), you get to draw two cards. This is one of the most powerful cards which manage to let me cycle through my deck quickly and draw into all the combo pieces I need.
Dolly, Olivia’s Electric Dolphin (ADW-032) provides a lot of utility in providing an answer to the Aphrodite, the Tenth Olympian (GRV-071) / Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) interaction or to push for more damage by returning Melfee, Traveling Sorceress (ROL-017) / Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063) to attack an extra time while under Sprinting Steward (NWE-021). One of the most popular interactions is to use Aphrodite, the Tenth Olympian (GRV-071), Excalibur Chronogear (NWE-082J), or Arthur Pendragon, King of the Round Table (TTW-003) with Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061). This provides the resonator with eternal, and they can assign all damage taken to Aphrodite, the Tenth Olympian (GRV-071) / Excalibur Chronogear (NWE-082J) or force resonators to attack into Arthur Pendragon, King of the Round Table (TTW-003). This provides a pseudo immortality which can be a pain to deal with if there is no addition hate or removals that can go through eternal. Dolly, Olivia’s Electric Dolphin (ADW-032) can return either Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) or the resonator (always return resonator to reduce the amount of blockers, only return the Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) addition if there is an Excalibur Chronogear (NWE-082J) in play).
One of the most annoying things to be printed in TUS. Apart from being discard fodder to produce Will with Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061), the activate ability of this card is amazing. The ability to rest target entity means it can target magic stones apart from resting resonators to prevent them from blocking. Apart from that, the target does not recover the next recovery phase. Finally, the icing on the cake is that it deals 200 damage to your opponent for each card in their hand. This card is both offensive and disruptive as it can reduce your opponent’s usable Will by 1 on their next turn when you play this on your turn or before their recovery phase.
Another amazing thing is that because it’s an activate ability, it bypasses things like Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) or Child of the Light Moon (NWE-003)’s god’s art. For example, I would bait those out when I play Melfee, Traveling Sorceress (ROL-017). Opponents would often play the above spells/ability to prevent me from making use of the Will produced from Melfee, Traveling Sorceress (ROL-017). However, I would then declare fire and water Will to play this ability, which lets me push for more damage and rest one of their stones.
One of the best cards to be printed. I don’t have to talk about how good this card is, but the activate effect to come out from the graveyard can be triggered via paying 300 life when Memoria of Reincarnation (RDE-099) comes into play. This could be used both to dig for cards or as a 600 damage burn spell.
Apart from being a great card with Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) where Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) would banish the stone temporarily called to draw and producing 1 red Will, playing this would enable me to have 2 additions and getting to draw off Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063). The stat buff is also no joke if you manage to play multiple copies in 1 turn and stacking with Sprinting Steward (NWE-021).
One of the most powerful cards around and possibly banned on the next banlist. A blanket effect to provide swiftness as well as an attack buff. After Sprinting Steward (NWE-021) is played, J/resonators that enter the field after this spell has been resolved will still gain swiftness and the stat buff. This allows Melfee, Traveling Sorceress (ROL-017) / Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063) to attack multiple times when they get returned to hand with Dolly, Olivia’s Electric Dolphin (ADW-032).
The best 1 Will counterspell that bypasses Child of the Fire Moon (NWE-013)’s God’s Art. Honestly, this card wasn’t as amazing as I had expected. This is because during the tournament, Child of the Light Moon (NWE-003) was more popular. Instead, a better choice would have been to play Fiethsing, 100 Years of Wizardry (GOG-047) instead.
This card offers great utility in being able to dig for cards and also to give barrier to Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023). The best part, this can be played without using Will and at quickcast speed.
Resonators that essentially cost 0 Will to play. I chose Melfee, Traveling Sorceress (ROL-017) over Prototype Magi Trooper (NWE-095) partly because she could produce Will of any attribute, which could be used to play activate abilities when opponents use their Child of the Light Moon (NWE-003) God’s Art or Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001). I could then choose to produce fire and dark/water Will to play the activate abilities of Sealed One-Eyed Dragon (NWE-079) or Metal Lifeform: Dragon (TUS-075).
Sideboard
I had mixed feelings about this card as it was mainly for Ethereal Defense Trooper (TUS-027) in Reinhardt, Descendant of the Ethereal King (TUS-078). The damage reduction it provided was really good against my deck, but I did not manage to use this card as I did not match up against him.
Another card that I did not use from my sideboard. I originally played this for control decks as it could prevent spells like Memory of Worlds (TUS-043) and The Wind of Zeus (GRV-046) which can bypass Child of the Fire Moon (NWE-013) to cancel my spells. However, I did not run into anyone using those cards so this was another unutilised card in my sideboard.
Addition removal that is not a spell played, and a resonator that essentially gives me 1 Will when played. This was my choice of addition removal as it had more than one purpose and I sided this against my opponents who were running the Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) / Aphrodite, the Tenth Olympian (GRV-071) combos.
The reason why Hero cluster rulers are so dominant. Having the utility to swap to different God’s Arts based on matchup is amazing.
One of the strongest cards around now. This card can be played defensively or offensively. You can play this before recovery and pop off so that your opponent cannot do anything on your turn. Else, you can play this on your opponent’s turn before draw and prevent them from doing anything on their turn.
This bald man seems to be in everyone’s sideboard right now. The prevention of life gain is great in the meta against Aphrodite, the Tenth Olympian (GRV-071) and Lumia, Princess of Rebirth // Wings of Light and Darkness (ROL-005) to name some of the popular cards people are using for life gain.
Matchups
Round 1 vs Yggdrasil, Malefic Verdant Tree (ENW-068) (Win)
A really fast game. My opponent bricked by calling Magic Stone of Moon Light (MPR-099) for his first 2 stones in the first game and for his first stone in the second game. Apart from only getting to play Horn of Sacred Beasts (SKL-099) to recycle his deck to prevent death (Which I returned to his hand with Dolly, Olivia’s Electric Dolphin (ADW-032)).
Round 2 vs Asuka, Gravekeeper of Tsukuyomi (NWE-058) (Win)
My opponent was playing the Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) / Arthur Pendragon, King of the Round Table (TTW-003) combo where I couldn’t hit him with my resonators. In game 1, I opened amazingly and manage to close the game on turn 2 after he used his Child of the Light Moon (NWE-003)’s God’s Art on turn 1. With Red Wine and Bread (DSD-008), Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063) and Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023), I manage to draw cards and play them to draw into my other cards and close the game promptly. Before he managed to really do anything, I closed game 1.
In game 2, he managed to play Gloria’s Round Table (AO3-069) to pull Arthur Pendragon, King of the Round Table (TTW-003) out from his deck. This made it impossible to deal damage to him with my resonators. However, even if my Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) had to attack into Arthur Pendragon, King of the Round Table (TTW-003), she had eternal from the Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) addition. I eventually drew into Dolly, Olivia’s Electric Dolphin (ADW-032) on turn 3 thanks to Birth of the Twin Princes (HSD-001) and quickly pushed through for lethal.
Some closing comments that my opponent made was that he had no idea what I was playing and didn’t know how to play around my deck.
Round 3 vs Viga, Steadfast Steward (NWE-085) (Win)
One of the most aggressive decks around. He played 4 Phantasmal Ascendant (GOG-026), 4 Prototype Magi Trooper (NWE-095) and at least 4 Painter Gears (TUS-097). His game plan was to get The Great Wall of the Twelve Sacred Knights (NWE-083) in to give himself barrier, play Sprinting Steward (NWE-021) and pay 3600 life and just go face with all the resonators. This prevented him from dying to Sealed One-Eyed Dragon (NWE-079). I was completely caught off guard in game 1 and died.
Going into game 2, I added my Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) from my sideboard and took the Child of the Wind Moon (NWE-033) to cancel his Sprinting Steward (NWE-021) if he plays it off mastery. Choosing to go second so I can have the extra energise Will to stay alive. I manage to play Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) by RFG’ing two Metal Lifeforms off of my Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) addition to be a blocker. Unfortunately, I did not open with Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001). I barely survived his first turn with only 500 life remaining. He dropped multiple Prototype Magi Trooper (NWE-095) and Painter Gears (TUS-097) which had a buff from Kirik’s Training Grounds (ROL-007) and despite me canceling his Sprinting Steward (NWE-021) with Child of the Wind Moon (NWE-033) as he played it off mastery, he played his Child of the Fire Moon (NWE-013)’s God’s Art and made me realise that I had miscalculated that. With some bad luck on his rolls off of Kirik’s Training Grounds (ROL-007), I lived. Going into my turn, I proceed to FTK him on my turn with two Red Wine and Bread (DSD-008), two Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063), a Sprinting Steward (NWE-021) and an extra attack buff with Birth of the Twin Princes (HSD-001).
Game 3, I swapped my moon child again into Child of the Darkness Moon (NWE-051) for more defence. As I chose to go second on game 2, my opponent might have thought that going second would be more favourable for me so he chose to go second. Unfortunately, he had near 0 interaction in his deck. Apart from playing Phantasmal Ascendant (GOG-026) to block some of my attacks, it was not enough. I promptly FTKed him with a combination of Sprinting Steward (NWE-021), Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023), Red Wine and Bread (DSD-008) and Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063). Being able to draw more cards by banishing stones and from Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063) let me dig into Sealed One-Eyed Dragon (NWE-079) and Dolly, Olivia’s Electric Dolphin (ADW-032) to allow me to swing twice with Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063) for 1700 damage thanks to the buffs from Red Wine and Bread (DSD-008) and Sprinting Steward (NWE-021). And Dolly, Olivia’s Electric Dolphin (ADW-032) being a body herself, swung in for 1300 damage.
My opponent commented that he didn’t think my deck would have been more aggressive than his.
Round 4 vs Typhon, the Infinite Monster (GRV-085) // Order of Infinity (GRV-085J) (Loss)
Perhaps because I knew this was my worst matchup, I wasn’t really expecting to win this. Typhon, the Infinite Monster (GRV-085) // Order of Infinity (GRV-085J)’s 10k (Or in this case 11k) starting life makes it really difficult for me to close games. Apart from that, I was extra greedy when I made this deck, having no actual water Will sources apart from moonchild Will fixing. With Typhon, the Infinite Monster (GRV-085) // Order of Infinity (GRV-085J) having easy access to Dreiwing, Mechanized Wind of Destruction (GRV-040), it would probably be a miracle for me to win.
Game 1 I started second and manage to open decently. However, my opponent played The Final Battle (ENW-084) and paid 3k life to debuff my board as I played my second resonator. This resulted in both Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) and my second resonator to die. However, this 3k life lost was actually what led me to win game 1 as I somehow managed to find another 8k in damage in 1 push.
Game 2, I started first and my opponent energised and ordered The Witch of the Fallen Kingdom (ADW-072) as I played Mysterious Messenger (TUS-020)’s God’s Art. This completely screwed me over as I could not search my deck for a Metal Lifeform and my Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) addition could no longer produce Will due to Typhon, the Infinite Monster (GRV-085) // Order of Infinity (GRV-085J)’s auto effect upon order to reveal Dreiwing, Mechanized Wind of Destruction (GRV-040). I was eventually losing hard with 2 cards in hand as he slowly whittled me down using a myriad of discard spells. I chose to gamble and concede to try for a win in game 3 rather than stall for a draw.
Game 3, I tried to emulate my success on game 1 by choosing to go second. I also removed all the water cards as much as possible as I had no way to play them. Unfortunately, I would be hit with discard spells like Look of Corruption (NDR-093) very early on and failed to come back.
Round 5 vs Mika, Saint of the Solaris Order (NWE-070) (Win)
I underestimated Mika, Saint of the Solaris Order (NWE-070) the moment I saw the ruler. Game 1, my opponent played Child of the Light Moon (NWE-003)’s God’s Art and had multiple Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001). As my deck did not have much disruptive plays other than Memory of Worlds (TUS-043), I quickly got destroyed as all I had was these aggressive cards that I could not play.
Game 2, I swapped my Child of the Fire Moon (NWE-013) for Child of the Wind Moon (NWE-033), obviously to cancel Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001). This game was a bit more technical where my opponent tried to destroy my Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) by giving me tokens so that the eternal buff would be gone as I would have more than one resonator. I used my Sealed One-Eyed Dragon (NWE-079) to kill my own token to keep the eternal buff going but he still managed to remove my Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) in the end. Luckily, I manage to play a second Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) on my opponent’s turn and proceeded to OTK him. My opponent hard casted Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) to outplay my Child of the Wind Moon (NWE-033), but I played Memory of Worlds (TUS-043) to cancel it. He attempted to recast it after my second spell but I cancelled it with Child of the Wind Moon (NWE-033).
Game 3, I went in with no other changes to my deck. The game played out similarly to the previous games where he tried to push into the later parts of the games with his Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) and removals in Angel of False Glory (TST-065) and to try and gain advantage with the two punishers. Thankfully, I manage to close the game on my final turn as time was called.
Game 6 vs Aristella, Twin Prince (NWE-057) (Win)
In my final game of swiss, I played against Jeremy from Ruler school! Jeremy was playing Aristella, Twin Prince (NWE-057) control where he gave Aphrodite, the Tenth Olympian (GRV-071) / Arthur Pendragon, King of the Round Table (TTW-003) eternal via Neverend, Fairy Tale Dragon (MSW-043) or Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) and prevented himself from taking damage.
In game 1, Jeremy managed to drag the game into turn 4 thanks to Academy Guard of Lykeion (EDL-039) which was extra annoying with eternal from the Deathmetal, Sea of Metal (TUS-061) addition. He awakened his The Flight of the Holy Sword (NWE-082) which completely destroyed my board and chances of winning.
Going into game 2, I noticed that he did not play any counterspells so I chose to go in with Child of the Wind Moon (NWE-033) to cancel Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) or Birth of the Twin Princes (HSD-001) instead. Jeremy used two Sealed One-Eyed Dragon (NWE-079) to draw cards which lowered his life total to 2.8k to try and dig for Aphrodite, the Tenth Olympian (GRV-071) possibly, which was what he played but my Rogue Spectator (GRL-021) from the sideboard appeared to prevent him from gaining life. I played Dolly, Olivia’s Electric Dolphin (ADW-032) to return Aphrodite, the Tenth Olympian (GRV-071) to his hand and managed to push through for lethal.
Game 3, I didn’t make any changes to my deck and I started first. The game was going pretty well for me as he did not have any of the cards that could make him pseudo immortal. Thanks to Child of the Light Moon (NWE-003) preventing me from playing Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) on turn 0, slowed me down significantly. Fortunately, I had all the tools I needed and the moment he tried to cast Charlotte, Inheritor of the Seventh Power (TST-004) to play Intimidation (PofA-001) from outside the game, I played mory of Worlds (TUS-043) to cancel it. That was the game winning play where he conceded seeing that I probably had lethal on the board.
Top 8 vs Asuka, Gravekeeper of Tsukuyomi (NWE-058) (Loss)
I had the most amazing opening where I just won on turn 2 as he played his Child of the Light Moon (NWE-003)’s God’s Art on turn 1. Despite him playing multiple Phantasmal Ascendant (GOG-026) to try and block my attacks, I still manage to close the game with multiple Dolly, Olivia’s Electric Dolphin (ADW-032), Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063) and Melfee, Traveling Sorceress (ROL-017).
Going into game 2, I did not have much information on what he played so I decided not to change anything in my deck. I think a minor misplay would have been that I should have just added Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) seeing that he was playing Asuka, Gravekeeper of Tsukuyomi (NWE-058), and Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) is just great against End of Night (NWE-072J)’s enter effect. However, I was a believer that I was the aggressor so I should not add cards that does not contribute to dealing damage to my opponent. I promptly got destroyed on his turn 2 where he managed to play Phantasmal Ascendant (GOG-026) on the end of my turn, and into one more Phantasmal Ascendant (GOG-026) on his turn. He proceeded to play his contract 3 times, build an incredible board and play The Witch of the Fallen Kingdom (ADW-072) on seal 5 as he played Phantasmal Ascendant (GOG-026) multiple times through End of Night (NWE-072J)’s enter effect, calling extra stones. This pulled more Witches and into Pumpkin Witch (CMF-088), finally swinging at me for lethal.
With the information of how his deck worked, I added Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) into my deck and swapped my moonchild to Child of the Wind Moon (NWE-033) to cancel his Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) and Lore of Tsukuyomi (NWE-055). However, I bricked pretty hard with my hand full of Metal Lifeform: Dragon (TUS-075), one Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) and one Engineer of Eternal (NWE-063). I didn’t manage to play Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) on turn 1 and apart from playing Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) to prevent him from popping off on his second turn, I couldn’t delay the inevitable on turn 3 and lost. I tried to dig for my Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) by playing Isis, Heat of the Sand (GOG-023) in response to his Child of the Light Moon (NWE-003)’s God’s Art and proceeded to banish my stones, played Birth of the Twin Princes (HSD-001) and used two Sealed One-Eyed Dragon (NWE-079) to draw cards. I was down to 500 life when I finally drew into my Angelic Battle Barrier (NWE-001) but I promptly got shot down by his own Sealed One-Eyed Dragon (NWE-079).
Closing thoughts
Apart from some misplays in my sideboard choices and glaring weakness against Typhon, the Infinite Monster (GRV-085) // Order of Infinity (GRV-085J), I felt like this deck had the potential to go all the way. If I had to make some changes to the main deck, I would play Fiethsing, 100 Years of Wizardry (GOG-047) over Memory of Worlds (TUS-043). In my sideboard, I would have removed Setting the Stage for Providence (GRL-034) for some Exorcist Mage at the Academy (EDL-003) which is great against Asuka, Gravekeeper of Tsukuyomi (NWE-058) and any deck that relies on Seal 5 The Witch of the Fallen Kingdom (ADW-072). Mumu Tribe Straggler (TUS-005), despite being my regret that I did not need to use it, I would still continue to include as I think Reinhardt, Descendant of the Ethereal King (TUS-078) is a pretty difficult match up for me. Finally, I think I did great as I don’t usually play on the wanderer banlist as I usually play with the Asia banlist which is pretty different from the official list. Thank you to Dennis for giving me this great chance to write this article!
