What to play... What to play (unicorn edition)

MotoKCI wrote:50 ivory games under the belt so far, around 40-10 currently, have issues against dueling in general.

Won a local 12 man tourney recently with this (Battlecry 2014 Ivory Tourney). 6-1 in tourney.

v1.6 - some changes made after feedback from Silme, JM, MeiMei, Damasko and Kinou

The Golden Plains of the Unicorn

Dynasty [40]: - I look at it as pseudo 34 cards, because of Famous Bazaars/Jade Pearl Inns and Wattu, this dyansty should be VERY reliable, dont hesitate to discard any card(s) you don't think you can purchase immediately (specifically Famous Bazaars, Kharmic holdings and multiple expensive peeps).

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Holdings [18]: - 17 + Oracle xp(not being treated as holding)
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2x Deep Harbor - for Jade Pearl Inn, also good with Productive Mine in 1st turn
3x Famous Bazaar - dig, dig, digging
3x Jade Pearl Inn - the combo with deep harbor is not just great, it is EPIC, dont worry about not being able to fetch anything with only 2 deep harbors, just play 3 anyway, the deck thinning + production is too Godly
3x Stables
2x Traveling Market - 3 for 3 is good for our scheme
2x Productive Mine - super silkworks, i like it, make Deep Harbor better to have something big to buy, but it's not a must include
1x Temple of Tengen - i love cheap cycles
1x Bamboo Harvestor xp - replaced counting house, needs consistency as i have meta cards
1x Oracle of the Void xp - upgraded from very good to SUPERB


Event [1]:
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1x Dark Audience - this had been working better than the conqueror event

Personalities [21]:
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1x Moto Ming-Gwok xp - the high chi against duel had been a GODSEND, wins me crucial games
1x Shinjo Kinto xp - this look to be the stronger kinto to me
1x Shinjo Kinto xp2 - he's cav and have a battle action, enough said
3x Moto Alagh - conqueror is the new black
3x Utaku Sang-Ju - I took out Sujikaro, HATED bowing 4F for melee 3, may opt for something bigger in near future
3x Shinjo Okiau - better than Utaku Sang-Ju
3x Shinjo Yoshie - card draw, best peep we have
1x Utaku Sayaka - needed the extra cav body, so she's it
1x Iuchi Wattu - deck thinning only, works exactly as advertised

Infantry section (reduced massively):
1x Iuchi Karasu inxp
3x Moto Okano - MVP infantry guy

Fate [40]:
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Items [10]: - I went for the best force to gold ratio way, instead of more powerful abilities
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3x Justice of the Crane - been solid, the gold can support this
3x Storm-Forged Blade - this card is really AWESOME, move home a bowed, move back in with SH
3x Ominous Armor - anti RA/MA and DUELS
1x Blade of the Maharaja - so it can be fetched with event

Followers [0]:
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Ring [2]:
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1x Ring of Earth - mixed success, good enough overall
1x Ring of Air - unbow is still good

Strategies [29]:
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1x Creating Order - still very good even with MRP
3x Unsettling Gathering - does not always work, but when it does, this wins games
2x Coward! - card draw, plus so many options! Works like a free Game of Dice frequently.
3x Entrenched Position - very solid as expected
3x Discretionary Valor - replaced False Route, semi anti duels + free retreat!
2x Versatile Army - been solid, can bow the duelists
2x Breaking the Rhythm - very good!
2x Incapacitated - send home is always good, can be something else
3x Expensive Achievement - MVP for many game! Replaced Sudden Movement, which was too restrictive
2x Advance Warning - this had been MRP'd to EPIC
2x The Crystal Tear - may cut this altogether
3x Tactical Setback - this had been a very solid performer, i ended up prefering this to both Vigilant Eyes and Uncertainty, try it out if you haven already done so

I opted for the most efficient cards i can throw together, there is no strong theme.

In reality, there are 13 attachments (which is a lot, so cheaper is better), i treat Unsettling Gathering as an attachment, it is one of the best attachment in the game, because on top of gaining an item, you also destroy the opponents' item. This swing is sufficient to win games.

General item stacking rules:
1. If Ming Gwok in play, stack everything on him (he's anti duel with 5 chi)
2. If MG not in play, stack everything on Alagh (Wep + Ominous)
3. If MG and Alagh not in play, spread everything out (1 on everyhing, Ominous on Yoshie, in the off chance of Purge of Fudo).

Every time you are dueled, focus 4 cards from the top of the deck (always), only focus 1 from hand if you have discretionary in hand. It is important to focus 4 times, to maximize top decking discretionary and also to get expensive achievements into the discard.