Notes & Combos

I got a seven-win streak from Master 5 to 4 with this pure Kashtira build somewhat focused on countering the most popular decks that use the grave as a second hand.

The Kashtira engine is pretty standard so here’s the brief run-down of the build:

• Max copies of Theosis and Birth, one copy of Preparations. Birth is great in the current meta for the banishing effect when the opponent activates a spell while you control a Kashtira on field. Preparations has won me a few games against Tenpai where I could ambush my opponent during their battle phase with a Scareclaw Kashtira. I cut Big Bang since I only used its mass-banishing effect once in maybe 20 games and never used its second effect.

• I played Riseheart, Fenrir, Unicorn, and Ogre at max copies, and Scareclaw Kashtira at two. Unicorn’s ability to disrupt the Extra Deck cannot be understated—I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets hit next on the ban-list. Fenrir is often the primary target for removal so the timing for its effect depends on whether your opponent is getting ready to kill it. I found myself saving its activation for after I’ve revived it with Preparations in response to removal. Orge is a bad opener but is necessary for searching Preparations. I run Scareclaw Kashtira at two over one Tearlaments Kashtira. I really like Scareclaw for the current meta and I've found myself taking advantage of its quick-play summoning mechanic to banish another Kashtira card for its summoning cost. This mechanic enables some great interactions with Theosis and resummoning with Preparations.

The Extra Deck is somewhat superfluous. I avoided going into Shangri-Ira and Arise-Heart lines to avoid Nibiru on Turn 1. I think it can be worth the gamble if you don’t open Shifter, Fissure, or Macro, but Arise-Heart is a big resource commitment if not summoned through Shangri-Ira. Baronne is possible at the cost of an Ash Blossom and your normal summon. Big Eye and Dark-Armed came up in one or two matches. Garura and Infinitrack are for the rare occasion where they’re banished with Extravagance and you absorb them with Arise-Heart or ZEUS.

As far as non-engine goes: I limited the handtraps to those that don’t conflict with Fissure, Macro, or Shifter. Cosmic Cyclone is a great tech against a Sequence or Requiem in the back row. It also hits lock-down cards in control matchups.