The Enlightened

Deck Clan: Phoenix

Total Cards: (85)

Total Conflict: (40) Total Dynasty: (40)

Total Influence: (10/10)

Stronghold:
1x Isawa Mori Seidō (Core Set #5)

Role:
1x Seeker of Void (Core Set #218B)

Province: (5)
Air (0/1) Earth (1/1) Fire (1/1) Void (2/2) Water (1/1)
1x Elemental Fury (Core Set #16)
1x Kuroi Mori (Core Set #12)
1x Shameful Display (Core Set #24)
1x Meditations on the Tao (Core Set #20)
1x Entrenched Position (Core Set #17)

Character [Dynasty]: (44)
3x Seeker Initiate (Core Set #126)
3x Meddling Mediator (Core Set #86)
3x Solemn Scholar (Core Set #83)
3x Shiba Yōjimbō (Core Set #89)
3x Shiba Tsukune (Core Set #93)
3x Shiba Peacemaker (Core Set #82)
3x Serene Warrior (Core Set #88)
3x Naive Student (Core Set #81)
3x Isawa Atsuko (Core Set #92)
2x Fearsome Mystic (Core Set #91)
3x Adept of the Waves (Core Set #84)
2x Asako Diplomat (Core Set #85)

Character [Conflict]: (10/10)
3x Tattooed Wanderer (Core Set #149)
2x Togashi Kazue (Core Set #150)
3x Ishiken Initiate (Core Set #170)
2x Seeker of Knowledge (Core Set #171)

Attachment: (12)
3x Grasp of Earth (Core Set #173)
3x Magnificent Kimono (Core Set #172)
3x Pacifism (Core Set #174)
3x Cloud the Mind (Core Set #202)

Event: (18)
3x Way of the Phoenix (Core Set #176)
3x Supernatural Storm (Core Set #175)
2x Know the World (Core Set #178)
2x Display of Power (Core Set #179)
2x Against the Waves (Core Set #177)
3x Court Games (Core Set #206)
3x Good Omen (Core Set #208)

Holding: (6)
3x Forgotten Library (Core Set #94)
3x Imperial Storehouse (Core Set #129)

That deck doesn't look legal unless I'm missing something. Looks like there are 50 cards in the Dynasty deck?

5 minutes ago, Klawtu said:

That deck doesn't look legal unless I'm missing something. Looks like there are 50 cards in the Dynasty deck?

Counted manually and got 34 characters instead of the 44 listed in the heading, so should be legal.

7 minutes ago, Klawtu said:

That deck doesn't look legal unless I'm missing something. Looks like there are 50 cards in the Dynasty deck?

I think you're counting the conflict characters by mistake, there's 34 dynasty characters + 6 holdings.

Edit: or the heading is wrong. That could be it, lol.

7 minutes ago, dbmeboy said:

Counted manually and got 34 characters instead of the 44 listed in the heading, so should be legal.

Ahhh there we go, I was just going off the numbers on the top rather than doing a manual count.

As for specifics I'm not sure about Togashi Kazue. It's a good effect but 3 fate for an attachment may be too much especially when Calling in Favors and Let Go look to be widely used. Also not really sold on lots of Holdings in non-Crab decks. They can offer interesting benefits but if you get 2 early or when your board was just wiped and you really need to rebuild that can just end you. I'd suggest 2-3 maybe 4 max but definitely not 6.

Perhaps you can give a bit of a description about what you like about the deck, and what your methods are? I know there is only 1 core, but I've found there are different ways to build the clans - knowing your play style and goals in the game would help me consider this deck.

The things I like:
Display of Power. This can really take the wind out of the sails of a player going first against you. I had 2 games where a Lion player attacked with Lion's Pride Brawler with Ring of Water to try and double bow my characters, only to have Display of Power ready the one he bowed giving me a strong advantage through the rest of the turn.

Ishiken Initiate. This character is one of the sneakiest cards in the set. When the opponent goes first, plays out the first 3 conflicts with finality, thinking everything is bowed out... and then BAM 2 fate and you swing for a surprise 4th conflict and she has 4-5 strength alone... Its awesome.

Things I don't like:
Too many holdings. I would recommend going either 2-2 or just 3 of the Forgotten Library. The FL is great because you can keep it next turn if you don't need the dynasty flips as much. You don't want to get walled off by 2-3 holdings tho...

Seeker Initiate. I love their power, but I don't like spending 2 for a 1/1 to get there... Granted Phoenix has a decent level of control to force the RoV when you want it, but the RoV is not always advantageous to take so you might be trading a more useful ring while adding the requirement to win the conflict just to be rewarded with a card after that conflict is done. I am always skeptical of cards that require you invest in them, and successfully overpower your opponent before they give you their reward.

Togashi Kazue. Against this character I would simply not buy any characters with fate. I've had several games where I'm able to slip in a turn or 2 without any fate placed on characters and maintain momentum. Its not easy, but in trade for the 3 fate you sunk into that attachment I just might come out on top...

Final thoughts - swap out 3 Imperial Storehouse and 3 Seeker Initiates for 3x Radiant Orator and 3 Seppun Guards (1 drops can be useful.) In the Conflict take out Grasp of Earth, Kazue, and Good Omen. Put in 3x For Shame, 3x Ornate Fan, 3x Fine Katana, and 2x Indomitable Will. You can drop 1 of Supernatural Storm, Magnificent Kimono, and Pacifism to make a bit more room. I would also switch to 2x Ishiken Adept and 3x Seeker of Knowledge.

The extra equips will help you build taller so cards like Against the Waves, and Indomitable Will carry you harder. The For Shame can combo with your stronghold so if they dishonor they'll feel the penalty even if they don't bow. Remember that Seeker of Knowledge is a courtier so she can help you trigger For Shame.

I would never splash Dragon and leave Mirumoto's Fury at home. That card is godlike.

Deck is meant to honor out or win through changing the goalposts on the opponent.

I dont plan on keeping holdings on play, so at 2/15 chance of drawing one I dont feel too worried, but It might be better with less.

Mirumoto's fury is useful, but needs to be in my opening hand, and is pretty steep to run a playset. I'm planning on a low card draw strategy, so I don't think there is a lot of value there.

The thing with the character count. I used card game db and its a quirk of tge parsing. It's telling me 44 characters are in the build, then listing the one's in the Dynasty deck as a group.

A note on Tagashi Kazuu. You either can play him with fate on him, or he doesn't count as a character when he is an attachment (let's not fight about it here, it's goona need to be FAQed), so he isnt just a one turn card. In addition. Both cards that get rid of him are faction specific, so it's more a matter of being careful in those matchups.

I will likely make the swap of Storehouses or Libraries for Oraters. For shame also seems pretty useful for the deck, I'll figure out how to make room.

Tagashi Kazue: clarification; looked at rulings. He is either a 3/3 character or an attachment, not both. So if I'm character starved he's a .5 fate overcosted vanilla. Or if I have good board state he's a slightly expensive attachment to help keep my champion or a fearsome mystic in play

51 minutes ago, Corrinmana said:

Tagashi Kazue: clarification; looked at rulings. He is either a 3/3 character or an attachment, not both. So if I'm character starved he's a .5 fate overcosted vanilla. Or if I have good board state he's a slightly expensive attachment to help keep my champion or a fearsome mystic in play

Let me know how well that works for you. I haven't felt it was good enough. I prefer Ishiken Initiate and Seeker of Knowledge (but I play Scorpion, so I also have Shadow Adept.) If you think she makes a good switch character I'm interested to know!

Just a reminder, Miya Mystic is a neutral Dynasty character that can also remove Togashi Kazue through her sacrifice ability. While Miya Mystic may not see much play after we get more cards out, she looks to be favored by clans that prefer not to splash the clan-specific options for attachment removal.

2 hours ago, Corrinmana said:

Tagashi Kazue: clarification; looked at rulings. He is either a 3/3 character or an attachment, not both. So if I'm character starved he's a .5 fate overcosted vanilla. Or if I have good board state he's a slightly expensive attachment to help keep my champion or a fearsome mystic in play

Just a clarification: Togashi Kazue is a woman.

Replace Entrenched Position and Elemental Fury with Rally to the Cause and either Fertile Fields or Manicured Garden.

Replace Seeker Initiate with Isawa Masahiro.

Replace Good Omen, Grasp of Earth, Ishiken Initiate, Seeker of Knowledge, and one Way of the Phoenix with Fine Katana, Ornate Fan, Banzai!, and Assassination.

Replace Togashi Kazue and one Tattooed Wanderer with Let Go.

@shineyorkboy So play an entirely different deck, gee thanks. Would also help if you said why you suggest those cards. You are also telling me to run honor loss cards in an honor deck.

@Togashi Gao Shan Thanks, wasn't paying attention

@Zesu Shadaban If attachment removal is actually that common in the meta, I'll switch her for Let Go.

@shosuko Well I am running those guys too. We'll see, may not be worth the fate.

You should have mentioned that in the OP. In that case my primary thought would be, don't go for honor it's an unreliable victory condition.

The Earth provinces are redundant since you already have the Phoenix province for the Stronghold. I prefer Rally for Water since it cab help you win a conflict/save a province. For Air I prefer card draw personally, but your deck is pretty fate hungry.

Seeker Initiate costs 2 for a 1/1 with an ability that only activates if you win a conflict of a specific ring, hard pass.

Good Omens too unreliable, Grasp of Earth's ability is underwhelming, and the Phoenix conflict characters are overpriced. The Katana, Fan, and Banzai! are free skill boosts and Assassination is free board control.

Kazue is overpriced and Let Go is the whole reason you splash Dragon.

I (and some other people I've talked to) have actually had more success with Dishonor Phoenix than with honoring out.

13 hours ago, Togashi Gao Shan said:

I (and some other people I've talked to) have actually had more success with Dishonor Phoenix than with honoring out.

Second this. My only wins from the handful of games I've played so far were straight up dishonor, though still attempted to break provinces when feasible. Definitely was playing strong defense though to prevent my opponent from breaking provinces.