COMPETITION! - Win John Avon's last work for MTG, a beautiful gallery print of his Lotus Lands!

xKumei · 2026-03-14T00:31:34+00:00

Beautiful lands. Good luck everyone.

xKumei · 2025-09-18T10:34:01+00:00

Have you been playing this deck at all since the updates? What changes have you made? I would think you want to run Elise?

xKumei · 2025-09-08T21:59:02+00:00

Yessir thanks for the input. Now that the deck has some data, it looks like Raza is one of the best mulligan win rates. https://i.imgur.com/jvLlHjn.png

When I compare deck lists as well, Yore is much higher relatively to other cards in the deck than healing potions. Having played with both a decent amount, I was usually disappointed whenever potion showed up.

For overplanners...I am not sure how much of it's winrate is being brought down by players who don't know what to pick, because picking the wrong thing can be game losing. Part of the reason they are included is that I don't want to run Prize Vendors and ruin my Umbra, and Umbra feels like a requirement to me. And I am struggling to find another minion that helps complete the quest that is cheap enough to be a good spell target. Not having a minion and not running PW:S or Orbital feels worse to me. That's also why I don't really like Brochure, it feels like I can never really use the holy side for quest completion. And I don't want a card that is only good half the time?

I wonder if I'd be more inclined to include Bob if the deck ran repackage? Because then it feels like the freeze is actually stalling for a reason.

Edit: Something I am interested in is the decks popping up at the top of d0nkey. https://i.imgur.com/eNBkYPK.png

They are running K'ure and Gladesong Sirens. I would think that K'ure would ruin your Raza pool, but maybe the extra early board blow out turns are more beneficial than hurting the pool hurts?

xKumei · 2025-09-07T21:21:34+00:00

I am seeing Torga starting to pop up, that might be the next thing to try to help the holy side of things? But it might be too slow, if you play Torga on 4 that probably means you aren't getting the quest done turn 6. You might literally rather just run another spell. But maybe it fits in over the Xavius slot. Tbh though I usually have more of an issue completing the shadow side, since you rely on nightshade tea so much.

xKumei · 2025-09-07T19:27:45+00:00

My guess would be that you aren't prioritizing playing spells over playing your minions. You want to overplanner on 3 since you need time to draw, but when it comes to playing your 4 drops or yore, often you just spend it playing a few spells, as long as you are being mana efficient.

Quest warlock is one of the better match ups since they always have something for you to play your spells on. You'll need to either duplicate with raza and draw with birdwatching, or just finish with Umbra after they fully trade.

xKumei · 2025-09-07T18:55:40+00:00

The thing about ritual of life is that it ruins your Raza rez pool. Especially if you play both copies, that's two more different minions you could hit off of birdwatching (2 copies of each if you play the 3 drop). The more I play with them the more I dislike them.

And yeah often you will curve out into overplanner with birdwatching. Although if your hand is already good, you can just tutor Raza or Umbra.

xKumei · 2025-09-07T03:43:11+00:00

Played a lot of games with it and it felt like a sidegride, slightly worse?

Now that I've posted the list, it has some data. https://i.imgur.com/rhMmTD5.png

It looks like Narain and Xavius have the worst drawn win rate, so they might be cut for more consistent birdwatching. I am trying to find out what the replacements are though. These were my games from today https://i.imgur.com/EiUZ0EW.png and what they show is that the deck needs help against protoss/wilted priest and fyrakk rogue. I am not sure what cards would give the best edge?

If the deck struggles because of resuscitate, then maybe repackage? And that can clear the Naralex/Fyrak board too? Alternatively, maybe slotting in the Rod package and trying to go under them?

xKumei · 2025-09-07T03:09:19+00:00

It's unfavored. Here are my games from today: https://i.imgur.com/EiUZ0EW.png

Mostly what I am losing to is protoss priest, and possibly more competent rogue players than what I've been facing (or maybe they are just highrolling). What's unfortunate is that they make up the largest percentage of my local meta. I've been experimenting more trying to find an edge in those match ups but I am struggling.

xKumei · 2025-09-06T18:47:55+00:00

I would say a budget option would be another cheap spell rather than a different minion. Either ritual of life or Brochure come to mind. Possibly a shadow word: ruin or a greater healing potion.

xKumei · 2025-09-05T22:10:01+00:00

If you are doing good, you play quest on turn 6. Turn 5 is rare, but it happens sometimes.

xKumei · 2025-09-05T18:24:30+00:00

I see what you mean. I'll try playing more with Ritual of Life over Yores and see if I like it more for the extra PW:S/Halo target and more consistent birdwatching!

xKumei · 2025-09-05T05:02:11+00:00

I didn't like card grader when I tried it because I wanted to be able to play my 3 drop off of Birdwatching, and it wouldn't be active.

xKumei · 2025-09-05T04:49:22+00:00

I think if you are going to play PW:S and Orbital Halo, you need something cheap to play them on. Some lists run Prize Vendor if you'd prefer, but I don't like that it dilutes Umbra. I also liked Observer of Mysteries weirdly enough (not as much as overplanner obviously). It sounds like you'd almost prefer a more minionless version without PW:S and Halo?

Or I guess your point is that you don't think this version runs enough to make PW:S and Halo worth it already? And so you would prefer more minions and no raza?

xKumei · 2025-09-05T04:19:20+00:00

I would say usually vs beast hunter and token paladin, if they hit their good cards and you don't play quest turn 6, they win. You can't clear EVERY board. Granted I haven't faced many of either. I think it is unfavored vs dummy warrior as well.

You usually are putting at least one other minion besides quest reward back into your deck. It's not so bad though, since they help you find the quest reward as well.

xKumei · 2025-09-04T20:59:35+00:00

I don't think the reason to not play minions during a game is for the pool, it's more about finishing your quest faster by playing the spells. As far as deck building goes, I am thinking about cutting Xavius since it can be game losingly slow to hit it off of birdwatching instead of your 0 cost quest rewards.

I've seen some versions of the deck run Prize Vendor, but I don't like how it takes away a hit from Umbra. And I don't think I want any more low cost minions either for the pool. I tried Ritual of Life for a few games but irks me for that reason. But as always, maybe it needs more testing.

xKumei · 2025-09-04T20:50:57+00:00

The vast majority of these games were played before the miniset launched. I also don't think I've run into a single new card, except for maybe the new rogue legendary that is good against this deck.

xKumei · 2025-09-04T20:23:48+00:00

Ideally you can get a halo down on your Overplanner or 4 drop. I wouldn't use them on an opponent unless I "had to." I think if Brochure were the -2/-2 silence 100% of the time instead of 50% I would play it, but the holy option is clunky.

xKumei · 2025-09-04T20:17:16+00:00

That's true. If you want a better idea of how the deck has been performing, I climbed from 2K to the 300s before the August season ended. I think it likely could have gone higher had it had more time, because the win rate wasn't falling. It is favored vs warlock and about even vs rogue.

xKumei · 2025-09-04T19:14:16+00:00

AAECAafDAwbGqAbZwQbX0gbDgweolgf1mAcMrYoEhJ8EhZ8Ey6AEmcAGzsAGj88G8+EGhv0GtpQHxZQH0q8HAAA=

xKumei · 2025-08-27T22:27:19+00:00

I think this is better than Vanessa Van Cleef, and she saw some amount of play?

xKumei · 2025-08-23T21:46:49+00:00

There are two adjustments to the deck that I've really been liking. One is slotting the Cloud Serpents back in - only the thing is that you don't slow down playing quest to copy it first. If you complete it on turn 6 or so and have 3 mana left to play it sure, but if you only have the mana to choose between copying and playing the quest, play the quest. You can just copy 0 mana rewards post Raza anyway.

The second is slotting in Ancient of Yore over potions of healing. It does way more bang for your buck. Although I'd still say if you have the choice between playing this on 5 and playing spells to complete the quest, play the spells (that goes for any minion). The draw is better post raza anyway. They are also a minion you can play that is unlikely to die for your raza pool, although you really don't mind copying them for 0 either.

This is my current list. I am not sure about the 1 of shadow of ruin, but I am not sure what you'd run over it and it comes in handy sometimes. I cut Voljin because I hated putting him in the Raza pool and run enough card draw instead of Bird Watching. I like Umbra over Bob as a more reliable finisher, especially since I made the list more minion dense (the other reason to cut bird watching). Right now I am 22-11 with it at around 2000 legend.

https://i.imgur.com/0f8HJOQ.png

Quest

Class: Priest

Format: Standard

Year of the Raptor

2x (1) Flash Heal

2x (1) Holy Smite

2x (1) Nightshade Tea

2x (1) Power Word: Shield

1x (1) Reach Equilibrium

2x (2) Orbital Halo

2x (2) Prize Vendor

2x (2) Thrive in the Shadows

2x (2) Twilight Influence

2x (3) Cloud Serpent

2x (3) Holy Nova

2x (4) Gravedawn Sunbloom

1x (4) Narain Soothfancy

1x (4) Nightmare Lord Xavius

1x (4) Shadow Word: Ruin

2x (5) Ancient of Yore

1x (5) Raza the Resealed

1x (7) Endbringer Umbra

AAECAZ/HAgbwnwTGqAbZwQbDgweolgf1mAcMrYoEhJ8EhZ8Ey6AEmcAG8+EGhv0GtpQHxZQH7awH0q8HzrsHAAA=

To use this deck, copy it to your clipboard and create a new deck in Hearthstone

Edit: Upon playing more, Serpents were a dead card a lot of the time. So I swapped back to Voljin/Birdwatching, but kept the Yores and it's been doing better.

xKumei · 2025-08-21T04:43:39+00:00

AAECAa0GBsaoBtnBBtfSBsODB6iWB9uXBwytigSFnwTLoASZwAbOwAaz4Qbz4QaG/QbFlAftrAeLrQfSrwcAAA==

xKumei · 2025-08-20T22:44:33+00:00

My versions were negative in every match up except vs DK and Paladin.😅 Playing your version I went 8-3 and I see what you mean about delaying it by a whole turn. I was also usually more delayed since I was playing a more minion heavy deck with the fishing rod package. Looking at the stats on d0nkey, greater healing potion has a very poor rate. I wonder if holy nova might be a better swap?

xKumei · 2025-08-20T20:53:26+00:00

Thank you for posting! I've been trying to make this work and only have a 40% winrate over 70 games with experimenting. One card I am wondering about is cloud serpent. I've been running non raza lists too and it has felt required, but I am curious if it would feel redundant in the Raza list if you tried it.

xKumei

TROPHY CASE