Earth has always been cool in that it generally had a little bit of everything. Between Overwhelming Strength and Unknown Force, Earth had so many fun things it could do, making it the most idealistic balanced symbol (and in my opinion, its versatility was more focused than All). Well, come cycle, Earth experienced a death like none other, and in my opinion, hasn't truly had the boost it needed until Set 12.

And so, I present to you the character I feel will be the poster boy of Earth's success:

*Yi Shan*

*Yi Shan*

Characters: 3

3x Yi Shan** 6/6 +0-MID

Actions: 5

3x Tag Along 5/4
2x Tieh Lei, Iron Thunder 2/5 +1-HIGH

Assets: 5

2x Mysterious Stance 3/4 +1-MID
3x Olcadan’s Mentoring 0/6 +0-LOW

Attacks: 16

4x Striking Thunder 5/3
4x High Plasma Beam 4/3 +1-HIGH
2x Demon Cradle 4/3 +1-MID [Reversal]
3x Yi Shan’s Tiger Claw 4/3 +3-HIGH
3x Rising Hilt 3/3 +3-HIGH

Foundations: 34

4x Program Malfunction 3/5 +1-MID
3x Criminal Past 3/5
2x The Ways of Punishment 2/5 +0-HIGH
2x Inhuman Perception 2/5 +1-HIGH
3x Atoning for the Past 2/5 +3-MID
3x Atoning for His Wicked Deeds 2/5
3x Journey of Repentance 2/4
3x Blinding Rage 1/6 +1-MID
4x Torn Hero 1/5
4x Battle Prowess 1/4
3x Dancing Battle Kabuki 0/4 – 0/4 +1-LOW [breaker: 2]

Sideboard: 8

4x Calming the Mind 3/5
4x Undisputed Ruler 2/4

Earth's Toolbox:

Yi Shan(s): Yi Shan is stupidly good. Giving all attacks either -X or +X based on how many characters are in play is just too good, because that is at least a free E of +2/-2, but it can only increase with each stacked character. Yi Shan** gives me the Water symbol, a bit of a damage boost, and most importantly, the ability to have my attacks face-up, which works well with Tiger Claw and Striking Thunder, as well as momentum discard control. One major thing that influenced me to pick him (besides the obvious 29 vitality backed by an awesome free E) was Dan placing 5th at Worlds 2007. He stated that, not only did Mortal Strike kill over half the decks he played (which in this case, is Calming the Mind), but most opponent's couldn't keep up with Dan's free E. I used the same mentality.

Tag Along: Ironically Yi Shan's biggest weakness is also a big strength. Tag Along gives him decent tutorage, as well as the ability to shut down any irritating characters like Akuma, John Herr, Chun Li, Donovan, etc etc.

Tieh Lei, Iron Thunder: Gives me abuse of Yi Shan, Tiger Claw, and mostly, Striking Thunder. Provides nifty boost and of course, lovely anti-discard.

Mysterious Stance: Easily one of the best cards in the game. With Good on my starter, I can use Yi Shan's beefy reduction and vitality in conjunction with Mysterious Stance to make damaging me much more of a feat.

Attacks: Striking Thunder is hawt. It already has amazing stats for an attack, and is a minimum of 4 speed 8 damage, which, again, can only increase. While face-up in my momentum, my attacks get +2 damage per copy! High Plasma is High Plasma. Demon Cradle is somewhat the opposite of Striking Thunder and works well with my E. Tiger Claw has STUPID stats for it's difficulty, and a great effect to boot. Stun: 1 on all my attacks gives Earth a decent control edge. Rising Hilt is the best weenie attack ever IMO. I don't see why people are investing so much in Raging Gnomes when they could simply get Rising Hilt...

Criminal Past: Amazing foundation, it sucks that it doesn't see enough play as it should. Never the less, more conjunction with my tank of a character.

Atoning (Past): Free momentum generation, works with Striking Thunder, awesome card all around. It's the closest we have to Kunai.

Atoning (Wicked): Yummy. Permanently handles BRT, Red Lotus, Bitter, or anything else Evil that screws with me. If it comes down to it, I can also use the Life ability =D.

Journey: Since my deck has no care about low checks, I decided to throw in a little Journey (don't stop, belieeeevin). Handles Olcadan's, Chinese, etc.

Blinding Rage: Is more than just Olcadan's protection. If I have Journey out, Blinding Rage will tutor another copy.

Calming the Mind: Mortal Strike.

Undisputed Ruler: Stops Feline dead.

Striking Thunder gives +2 damage not +2 Speed.

The deck is pretty good.

Sol Badguy said:

TOASTY!

I'll edit. Also, I'm stupid; Criminal Past is superior to Prince of Darkness in almost every way! *replaces*

What exactly is Dancing Battle Kabuki in there for? The Draw? Because Hulking Brute is so much better draw for earth.

I'm assuming the draw if it's in the staging area, or fuel for Torn Hero otherwise.

Needs more throws! Seriously look at Ragnar's and Rashotep's throws... Crushing Embrace of the Jotun and Dry Nile Throw (the one that gives ranged attacks damage pump) are hawt in both stats and abilities (Crushing Embrace has desperation)

All right, another Yi Shan user! I run him off Life, but we concur the character is made of win.

Here's some feedback I have from my play experiences with Yi Shan:

1. You probably don't need all 4 copies of Yi Shan**: I used to run all 4, and it slowed the deck down somewhat. 2 is fine in my experience.

2. The number of attacks seems to be rather low. I'd want all 4 of every attack there, except for Demon Cradle, which I'd run at 2.

3. Have you considered Revenant's Calling and Memories of a Nightmare? The latter may seem like a poor man's Atoning (Wicked), but it's actually quite useful, as it shuts down Death, Evil AND Void foundations, thus widening the scope by a lot. The former is just awesome.

4. Some Yi Shan support I think you should take a look at is Tieh Lei, Iron Thunder (allows for stacking of multiple Tiger Claw and/or Striking Thunder in your momentum, especially because you can use Dancing Battle Kabuki to kick-start yourself with 2 momentum), and Yi Shan's Dragon Tail Leg Sweep (it has a Kunai-esque effect when it is face up in your momentum, which allows you to send your Striking Thunder/Tiger Claw there, even if it was blocked or will be blocked).

Never mind, already said what I wanted to say...

Sol Badguy - Both draw and momentum. Momentum can go relatively far in here, and I need it quick. Also, unlike Hulking Brute, it's a 0 difficulty, nice block, and Breaker: 2, all of which you neglected to mention. I'm not the hugest fan of the card, but it's certainly a goody.

B-Rad: I had Flooded Nile Throw AND the Jotun throw, but see, they don't do anything but partial damage; I'm not running No Forgiveness! or Ka Technique, otherwise I'd probably run them no questions asked. I know Throws are awesome, but I'd like to think I'll be OK without them.

Lord Aggro:

1. I agree, no need for an over-60 card deck to be over 60 because of chars.

2. I realize my difficulties are low and my checks are good, but I don't want to check attacks too frequently, or draw them at malopportune times. I'll see what I can do though.

3. Revenant's, from my experience, requires either a large printed handsize, or reliable card draw. My deck has neither, and ought to have decent enough control otherwise than to need Revenant's. Memories is a good card, but I think Atoning covers what I need to cover.

4. Yi Shan's Dragon Tail thingy is already in the form of Atoning for the Past, which is a foundation and thus more useful. Tieh Lei is really good I agree, and I'll try finding room.

Thanks!

Sign me up on the camp that says throws may not be necessary. This deck isn't a speed demon. He can take his time and set his attacks up with his committing effects and other shenanigans.

You're probably right; 16/60 attacks seems to be the way to go, because again, you're playing versatile.

You're also likely to be right on Revenant's Calling; the only reason I brought it up is because of the sheer variety of threats it can stop.

I guess the Dragon Tail is not that important for you, given your setup. Might I suggest taking a look at Hilt Impact instead? Sure, it's vanilla, but that Stun: 2 can go a LONG way.

I'm not sure if you're trying to tell me Throws are important to this deck, or that I'm right in that they don't really do anything >_>...

Revenant's IS a great card, but again, it requires card draw or a handsize, both of which I lack. We'll see, I'm still missing a few cards, but I plan on completing this deck soon for testing.

I considered Hilt Impact, but much like Throws, effects are essential, and while Stun 2 is cool, especially with Tiger Claw, that's all it can truly amount to.

I think the throws won't do all that much for you. I agree with your attacks overall.