Well, I was bored today, and I came up with this deck when throwing stuff together. It has really solid fundamentals, so let me know what you think of it:

The Hero

Starting Character:

Siegfried* (6 HS 28 Vitality) (Earth, Good, Life)

Actions (2):

2 No Forgiveness! (2/5 +3M) (Earth, Good, Life)

Assets (2):

2 Ymirfang (3/4 +2M; Unique, Weapon) (Death, Earth, Fire)

Attacks (20):

4 Rising Hilt (3/3 3M3 +3H; Weapon) (Earth, Good, Life)

4 Double Grounder Beta (4/2 3L5 +2H; Combo) (Earth, Good, Life)

4 Hades Ax (4/3 3M5 +2M; Weapon) (Earth, Evil, Fire)

4 Hilt Impact (4/3 3H3 +1M; Stun: 2) (Earth, Good, Life)

4 Yi Shan's Tiger Claw (4/3 3H5 +3H; Stun: 1) (Earth, Life, Water)

Foundations (36):

4 The Man Behind the Mask (0/5 +3M) (Earth, Good, Void)

4 Brooding (1/5 +3H) (Death, Earth, Fire)

4 Torn Hero (1/5) (Earth, Good, Life)

4 Hungry for Battle (2/4) (Earth, Evil, Fire)

4 Ka Technique (2/5 +3M) (Death, Earth, Void)

4 Killer Android (2/5 +2L) (All, Earth, Void)

4 Maniacal Laughter (2/5 +3H) (Chaos, Death, Earth)

4 Stand Off (2/5 +3M) (Air, Earth, Fire)

4 Undisputed Ruler (2/4) (Death, Earth, Void)

Side Deck (8):

2 Needs no Ally (3/5) (Earth, Good, Life)

2 Soul Calibur* (4/5; Siegfried Only, Unique) (Earth, Good, Life)

4 Strange Fashion (3/5) (Earth, Good, Water)

General Card Strategy:

I like to think of this as Earth's version of rush-down offense (a la Paul Phoenix*). The Double Grounder Beta sequence is the main kill condition here, and it is supplemented by a solid Stun game, which IMHO is Earth's premiere way of pushing damage through for non-Throw attacks. Don't fall into the trap of thinking this is a simple "RAWR HULK SMASH!!!" deck, though. The wrinkles offered by the action and foundation cards here make this deck very versatile and capable of overcoming many a situation. All in all, I think this deck is a very viable alternative to the traditional Throw-oriented Earth deck, and it's definitely capable of making some real noise.

Card-by-Card Breakdown:

Siegfried* - The motor of this car. 28 vitality is a good number to have, and he puts out plenty of damage, with the option of cutting some of your own vitality in order to deal even more damage.

No Forgiveness! - Essentially a universal answer to anything that may be bothering me. It can turn the tide of battle in my favor quite dramatically.

Ymirfang - Big damage potential, and some solid asset hate. Good stuff.

Rising Hilt - A Mid Weapon "poke" attack with solid stats, an E that can make use of momentum, and it can set up Double Grounder Beta.

Double Grounder Beta - The deck's designated finisher. Multiple: 2 with Siegfried*'s E is a match made in heaven, especially with Earth being able to conjure up momentum for you.

Hades Ax - Another Mid Weapon for the Double Grounder Beta Combo, and this one packs big damage plus some hosing for the control check boosting cards (Cervantes*, Jin Kazama*, Chasing After the Power, Communing with the Ancients, For the Money...).

Hilt Impact - An attack with solid stats for its difficulty, a Stun: 2, and a great block. Not flashy, but gets the job done in outstanding fashion.

Yi Shan's Tiger Claw - It has big damage for its difficulty, a Stun rating, and allows other attacks to Stun. A very strong piece here.

The Man Behind the Mask - Easily one of my favorite foundations in the meta right now. This beauty hits play easily and has a nasty effect once my vitality gets low (which is something I can control to some extent in this deck).

Brooding - A 1-for-1 vitality-for-damage trade is a solid deal, especially with the benefits the deck can gain from being nicked up.

Torn Hero - Punishes commit effects like no other card in the meta, and can serve as foundation spam to set up the early-game rush.

Hungry for Battle - No such thing as too much damage in my opinion.

Ka Technique - Blanks anything that may be getting in your way. An excellent (and versatile) piece.

Killer Android - While its uses for this deck are rather limited outside of the sweet Low block it provides, it at least protects you from Kazuya Mishima*'s F.

Maniacal Laughter - Blows stuff up for Stun, and it hands out some free momentum if you blow it up.

Stand Off - Not so sure it's worth running without Stun power, but at least it's good damage pump and reduction in a single foundation.

Undisputed Ruler - A great insurance policy to have against annoying keywords like Combo, Multiple, Stun, and even Weapon.

Needs no Ally - Makes problem matchups less problematic by hacking unneeded symbols off my character card, thus maximizing Siegfried*'s E.

Soul Calibur* - The ultimate punishment for a committing effect. This can really put a dent in your opponent's plan to pick apart your defenses.

Strange Fashion - Hoses Throw attacks, and helps you out when you block attacks partially.

So there it is. Got any suggestions to make him better?

I'd go to 3 Drossel and toss in 2 Robes. +4 speed and usually +3-4 damage on everything is just too good, and in my opinion, immediately places Siegfried in the A-tier bracket.

Also, as per attacks, I happen to like both Swing Kick and Dragon PAWNCH. Swing Kick is a 2 diff +0-Low block that can deal up to 7 damage, which is stupid good for its 2 diff and off-zone. Dragon Punch serves a similar purpose, except it's 4 diff for 10 or so damage.

Siegfried does something very well: pukes up damage for usually no cost. At +3-4, committing 1 foundation is even better than Stand Off, and when backed-up by Drossel and Robes, we go back to the days of **Twelve** weenie rush, where every attack comes for stupid high damage.

Also, make a sideboard, and put in some Soul Calibur*. Sieggy's weapon makes Stun-users pay (lol@idiot who uses Stun vs Torn Hero + Soul Calibur*)

I think I'll go for 3 Robes and 3 Drossel; they are very important to this deck's success, and I sure don't want to play a game where I don't draw into any of them...

As far as attacks are concerned, I was going with the Leg Sweep because of the potential card-pool clearing, plus the synergy with Tiger Claw, but I agree; I'm likely overthinking on that one. In goes Swing Kick*, then. I love Dragon Punch (really, I do), but 2 checks don't agree with me (I ALWAYS check them early, mostly at times when a 3 would have passed...). I wish I could run 'em...

Yeah, Soul Calibur* HAS to go in the sideboard. Thanks for the wisdom.

Well, if I can't convince you to run PAWNCH, then may I try to convince you to not run Close Throw.

Siegfried relies on his ability, and checking 4+ is easy. However, you're kinda edging it close with 18 attacks.

Close Throw can go for a few reasons:

-No block
-Threatens Siegfried's "free" E
-Throws are meant to be blocked, not speed pumped lol
-You aren't running any "if this attack deals damage" cards that Throw-runners love

Tien Lei is enough to lace your momentum with Stun-a billion Tiger Claws, and +2/4 to all your attacks, in this block, sees to it that only one will be blocked if even, I promise you

EDIT: Also, god dam it, BRING BACK THE DRAGON TAIL LEG SWEEPS!

3 Diff
Commits Regretful existence
Card pool clearing
Adds other Dragon Tail/Tiger Claws to momentum face-up

Come on dog

Point taken; the Dragon Tail Leg Sweep goes back in. However, I'm gonna have to trim my assets to 2 of each to accomodate them...

...>:|

NO! -4 Leaping Snack Pack
+1 Robes
+1 Drossel

Snack Pack simply doesn't serve much a purpose in here.

Really? I kind of like 'em; I lose no stat power, I pound the High zone a little more, they have a +1M block, and they can bug some people during their turn, especially if they hit, cause then they got smacked and still have a card in their card pool, which allows me to save Know When to Talk... for the next attack and really end their turn then and there.

Well, I (finally) gave up on Yi Shan**, so this is gonna be my main deck from now on. I switched it to Earth; let me know if you have any comments on my choices.

Gave up? why? I will keep playing him for atleast a while longer

Well, if you're going to run both Maniacal Laughter and Atoning for the Past for momentum generation, why not consider losing Rolling Sobat for Double Grounder Beta and perhaps lose Reborn Slasher for a mid weapon, such as Shield Breaker, Hades Axe, or Backhanded Axe Slash. If you don't want to upset your line-up, why not give Siegfried's Earth Divide a try? Gives Rolling Sobat a real use <3

@Mordai: He's just a step too slow, and his strategy is too fragile. If he had 30 vitality, an actually decent damage-boosting momentum-based E (aka if it were free or were at a Commit 1 cost), and a half-decent way to actually protect his momentum from Mishima Zaibatsu Leader and War Between Sisters, he would be worth running. Also, would it kill them to print cards that actually appreciate his E by having an effect while face up in the momentum, yet are unable to get there themselves? I think he's just been given the shaft too often to be truly good, which is a shame, because I loved the character concept and I tried my **** best for him to be good. Probably the only time I can say I'm pissed at James Hata.

@Shinji: I don't own any Double Grounder Beta or Siegfried's Earth Divide; otherwise, I'd think seriously about having them in the deck. I like your ideas, but I'm not 100% on them because they disrupt my scheme. Reborn Slasher has usually come in for 10+ damage without my having to commit anything, and it provides a Low block on defense, so it's a pretty underrated card IMHO (comparable to Lion Slayer as far as raw damage goes in this deck, and it's less risky and costs less resources).

Well I agree with most of what you are saying Lordaggro, He is a bit slow. But I feel sorry to abandon him. He is alot of fun to play and have a very interesting mechanic compared to most other charachters, Hope next soulcal gives him atleast something, othervise I might retire him aswell

I am not sure if anybody suggested this yet, but undisputed ruler would be awesome in any deck that can run it. This foundation helps get ride of any keyword including weapon or stun. That would help out a lot in the meta that we are in right now.

Word on the Undisputed Ruler, riotmaker. What do you think should get the boot?

@Mordai: I agree in that he's a very interesting character, but the fact of the matter is that Tekken 6 shafted him with a whole plethora of cards (including a character in King*) that make it almost impossible for him to hang on to his momentum. The symbols that didn't get the momentum-shafting didn't need it; they were usually faster than Yi Shan** anyway. The man needs a do-over, IMHO. As I said, ive him 28-30 vitality, the damage E as a Commit 1 foundation, some attacks that can't send themselves face up for him to abuse, and a little bit of momentum protection, and I'll keep playing him. Otherwise, I'm through; Siegfried* deals with the meta much better (rings up most commonly played characters for +2 or +3 damage on everything, with basically King* as the only bad matchup) and he has better starting vitality. Also, you don't need a carefully coordinated theme; Leg Sweep into Reborn Slasher against an opponent who didn't share any symbols with you (surprisingly common: Astrid, James Hata**, Jin Kazama*, Kazuya Mishima*, Paul Phoenix*, I can go on) plus the First F is 18 damage for 2 vitality and checks of 3, 4, 5, and 4.

I would probably the maniacal laughter. I really don't think that you need stun that bad in deck because you can get if from tiger claw which you can use repeatedly then just one shot it. IMO if you are going to blow up a foundation in a deck, it needs to be something critical such as stopping keywords, or clearing your card pool. Blowing it up for stun one and get a free momentum that doesn't need that much momentum is ok.

Yeah, if you don't need quick momentum, don't run Maniacal Laughter.

Really? I've found that the extra Stun for just in case I don't draw into Tiger Claw or don't hit with it can be useful, but I'll give your idea a shot.

I would also say Killer Android, but it is one of the few low blocks that you have. I think you are going to be happy with being able to stop almost any keyword that is going to kill you.

The sad part is, I haven't seen any Earth deck with as many Low blocks as mine (12), and Killer Android DOES stop Kazuya Mishima* cold . With all the Stun power I have, I don't think I'll miss Maniacal Laughter, but you never know. I'm optimistic about Undisputed Ruler, though; I've seen how badly a well-placed negate can neuter a kill turn.

Well, boys, I've decided to pour some $$$ into this deck, so I'll be getting myself a playset of Double Grounder Beta. With that in mind, along with the card in the new set, I present you the new version. Rolling Revenge looks super hawt, but I'm undecided as to what I should toss. Help, maybe?

I can see why you'd be interested in a Rolling deck, but I only see that working in its own attack lineup in another deck.

Consider the following:

Double Grounder Beta
Yi Shan's Dragon Tail Leg Sweep
Crawling Stance
Lower Celtis

Picture this. Crawling Stance (+2 to the next check, adds Mist Stance-like goodness to low attacks, +2 damage) -> Lower Celtis (needed a 3 check), first E, Combo E (total of +5 to the next control check) -> Double Grounder Beta (needed a 1 check lol), multiple as much as possible -> Rolling Revenge, needs anywhere from a 7 to a 9 but this is the only high check needed.

This was pointed out to me in one of those Mulciber113 conversations where someone breaks something. He broke that.

I like that lineup (a lot), but it throws Earth's already fragile block arrangement all out of whack. And if you've ever had to tangle with Chaos Heihachi* or James Hata** in general (and we'll be adding Mitsurugi* to this list soon, I believe), you know that it's not wise to come in with the wrong array of blocks.

I have no clue what you mean.

Yi Shan's Dragon Tail Sweep = +2L
Lower Celtis = +1H
Rolling Revenge = +2M
Double Grounder Beta = +2H

That's a bad array of blocks? You'd have blocks for every zone... Or are you thinking that Crawling Stance doesn't have a block? Consider it's an action card, not an attack.

Well, Crawling Stance doesn't have a block, and that obviously hurts, but I'm talking more about the Low blocks. Since Earth's only good Low-blocking foundation is basically Killer Android, it means your attacks have to compensate for your only having 1 Low block foundation, which means I usually keep 2 attacks that block Low.

But yeah, this point is moot, since I'm returning the deck to its previous state; one Mid Weapon attack just ain't enough. I'll probably be running a variation of the deck off of Good in order to use the Dragon's Flame combo with Double Grounder Beta as a backup plan.

After much deliberation, I've decide to give Double Grounder Beta another shot. This deck is severely lacking in Low blocks, which (I hope) will be made up for by the awesome Strange Fashion. If anyone has any advice as to how I could incorporate Low blocks into this deck without hurting the core functions (Stun, damage, and Double Grounder Beta), I'm all ears.