The Pharaoh's Curse (Platinum Grinder)

[rainingblood]

I toyed around with this deck concept a while back. It performed admirably at the time. But now,  given the new shard upgrades, I dare say it's devastating, especially for farming platinum. If someone's already covered this deck, just ignore this post.

I present to you, the Pharaoh's Curse:

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710 710 710 710 71b 71b 71b 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 71u 71u 72i 72i 72i 72i 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7qu 7qu 7qu 7qu 7qu 8ps

?? are Shards of Sacrifice

What I like about this deck:

• Pharaohs can be brought into play quickly with the mummy/reverse time combo.
• Takes advantage of SoR upgrade to generate more scarabs and speed-up creature control.
• Requires very little quanta to operate thanks to SoRs.
• Pharaohs and scarabs are hard to kill in most cases
• Obviously, the SoS is a no brainer for survivability (I'd add more if I had them). 
• Extra reverse times are usually on hand for added creature control
• Permanent control has little effect due to bone walls and lack of permanents
• Works well against mono-fire, GotP/nightmare, and most other decks
• It has a nice win rate (over 50% on my last count)

So far, I've found the biggest weakness to this deck are bad draws, shields, and early reverse times or lobotomies. Those haven't been too common. The AI seems pretty dumb and in most cases will target a random scarab with CC rather than a Pharaoh or buffed-up scarab. All in all, this is still one of the best decks I've used for farming arena.

[I8SumOrangesNItWasK]

I have used a deck similar to yours for quite some time now, and definitely win more than 50% of the time with it. I don't have as many Shards of Readiness as you, and I use a couple cards that you don't: Eternity and Chmiera. I also use Gravity mark.

I love using RT not just on myself, but on my opponent too, so, now I can do so without worry as I have the Eternity. Plus, it's something different to do with my and I don't have any other weapons. (I don't see what card you have after Shards of Readiness that you have 2 of, and it might be a weapon. If it is, I don't have it.)

Chimera is perfect for that glaring weakness you have: shields (especially Dimensional Shield). And, since Gravity is my mark, I almost always have 7 by the time I need to use the Chimera. I admit, it doesn't always come in handy, but it's there for when I need it.

As far as itself goes...as I said, I don't have as many Shards of Readiness. Maybe you use them on scarabs, or at least some of them. Maybe you don't. I need a way for my scarabs to devour thing sthough. THAT's my creature control (and my deck laughs at people who use Immortal creatures, as they have no way past my bone walls but I easily chimera past their dimensional shields).

Just a few suggestions there. Take them or leave them at your leisure. It's a great deck to have though, fun to play with.

[rainingblood]

I have used a deck similar to yours for quite some time now, and definitely win more than 50% of the time with it. I don't have as many Shards of Readiness as you, and I use a couple cards that you don't: Eternity and Chmiera. I also use Gravity mark.

In my old deck I used  mark too, with  and  towers. I also tried chimera and you're right, it's definitely a nice feature in this kind of deck. There's nothing like a 400-500 defense chimera The reason I prefer this version is because it can decrease bad draws by simplifying the quanta supply. I'm essentially using  quanta to power most of the deck. And it would probably work just fine without the added pendulums; yet another advantage to the shards. As for eternity, that would certainly be nice to have, but I already use reverse times. And besides, I'd be losing a lot in terms of efficiency since I'd have to restructure the whole deck to make it work.

I love using RT not just on myself, but on my opponent too, so, now I can do so without worry as I have the Eternity. Plus, it's something different to do with my and I don't have any other weapons. (I don't see what card you have after Shards of Readiness that you have 2 of, and it might be a weapon. If it is, I don't have it.)

The 2 hidden cards I'm using are shards of sacrifice. These are just amazing in this deck and one of the main reasons I can win against mono-fires, speedbows, and the like. Provided I get one early, I can use it to survive long enough to get an army of scarabs goings with a bonewall. The opponent is completely locked in after that.

Chimera is perfect for that glaring weakness you have: shields (especially Dimensional Shield). And, since Gravity is my mark, I almost always have 7 by the time I need to use the Chimera. I admit, it doesn't always come in handy, but it's there for when I need it.

You've got a good point. Shields are a pain, but I haven't lost too many games because of them. In general, there tends to be a break in the enemy defense, one long enough to land the kill. There are a few unusual cases where they'll string phase shields together, although that hasn't been too common recently. I can overpower most other shields in the long run (e.g., fire buckler, bonewalls, dissipation shields, etc). What I hate most are spine carapace and permafrost shield, especially when they're combined with massive healing. However, the only reason I lose in those cases is a result of decking out. In the end, I think this is a fair trade considering the success I've had overall.

As far as itself goes...as I said, I don't have as many Shards of Readiness. Maybe you use them on scarabs, or at least some of them. Maybe you don't. I need a way for my scarabs to devour thing sthough. THAT's my creature control (and my deck laughs at people who use Immortal creatures, as they have no way past my bone walls but I easily chimera past their dimensional shields).

Well, the SoR's are the cornerstone of this deck. The first one I get fuels the Pharaoh and usually the second I use on a scarab. I can't overstate how useful that is. With a SoR I can pull out three scarabs in one turn using a Pharaoh and can even string these together to get an army out quick. Double-devour on a scarab is also very nice for managing creature swarms early. Once you get more shards you should definitely give it a try. Maybe compare your deck with this one in the trainer and see for yourself which is  strongest . I'm sure the deck I'm using now could be improved, possibly by getting up to 4 shards of sacrifice. But I'll have to wait till the arena graces me with 2 more copies before that can happen. Meanwhile, any other suggestions or comments are appreciated 

[I8SumOrangesNItWasK]

I find Eternity to be fun to use, as I like to use it for stuff other than changing my mummies to pharoahs -- "controlling" Otyughs, "tricking" the AI into drawing the same card every turn, "tricking" the AI into stealing it to replace a better weapon, and resetting almost-dead poisoned Scarabs when I have plenty of  -- just to name a few. Keep in mind, my deck allows for more  than yours, so it's not a big deal if you're structured for that. If i had a 2nd one I'd put it in my deck too (anymore than 2 would be unnecessary) but I don't have it yet.

I don't have any SoS, and only 1 SoR. When I get more SoR's, I will certainly use them in my deck. It may convince me to stop using  mark and chimera, and make my deck a duo deck. I've acctually already thought about it. As far as decking out goes, I've honestly helped prevent that a little simply by having 32 cards. Having a couple more cards than your average opponent seems to help a lot in not decking out, so, maybe I would be fine without Chimera. I only have 1 in my deck, but with more SoR's I could see how getting rid of  would simplify things.

I know our deck has little tricks for lots of decks out there, but mono-gravity users that are high in cards with Momentum are our main weakness, in my opinion...especially that freakishly strong weapon!

[TribalTrouble]

This is basically the same deck made back in september. http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,31194.msg423327#msg423327

found this through advanced google searching so it only searched this site and then googled the code for the SoS and the mummies.

[JonathanCrazyJ]

I have been enjoying Pharaohs with SoR for a while with this deck:

by jonathancrazyj

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6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 74d 74d 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7qc 7qc 7qc 7qc 7qc 7qc 7ri 7ri 7ri 7ri 7ri 8pl

so i thought i would give "The Pharaoh's Curse" a try... and i wish it had worked better for me, because I love the premice and idea... my findings were:

Pharaoh's Curse:
- 2nd turn Pharaoh is common, but in order to ready it the same turn you need 3/8 pillar/pends on 1st turn (3 mummy, 1 RW, 3 SoR). This did not happen often at all, so turn 3 was more likely, turn 4 usual.
- required 3 card combo
- needed SoR on scarabs to use their ability, where it could be used on Pharaoh as an extra 2xScarab, so harder to catch up creature heavy deck (in my experience)

other deck (I called it Ready, Set, Pharaoh)
- Most likely draw hand is 1 SoR, 1 Phar, 5 pill / pend.. then a pill/pend next turn... this gives phar + ready 2nd turn (almost always) or phar 2nd turn, ready 3rd turn (very likely). (2nd turn ready phar = 5 play quanta + 5 on turn + 1 from mark + 1 pillar played turn 2 = 12 (11 time 1 grav = 9time phar + 2 time, 1grav SoR.)
- 2 card combo
- mark and pends provide for scarab food quanta
- GF can either kill large / early creatures, or use fat scarabs as buffers.

I love the idea of a mum/RW deck, but i think in practice the QI of decks like these need to be on the high side, because early combos and setups are more important than a late Pharaoh, when you already have a 7-10 swarm up and running.

[JonathanCrazyJ]

OK!! how is this for 1st turn readied Pharaoh?

by jonathancrazyj

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4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 710 710 710 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 72i 72i 72i 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 8pl

Pros = high chance of a first turn readied pharah (2 pillars, 1 nova, 1 RW, 1 Mummy, 1 SoR), the grav mark allows for NOMNOMNOM! If you get a good draw... it can be devastating.

Cons = lacks the bone walls for immaterial or massive creatures, lacks the SoSa for very fast rushes. (although if u get a turn 1 readied pharoh i challenge a rush to get out of your devour trap), 4 card combo, faildraw possible.

Infact if you go second and  your hand is 2 pillar, 1 nova, 1 RW, 1 mummy, 3 SoR... you can get a readied mummy with SIX scarabs on your 1st turn!!

[omegareaper7]

Doesn't

OK!! how is this for 1st turn readied Pharaoh?

by omegareaper7

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4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 710 710 710 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 72i 72i 72i 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 8pl

Pros = high chance of a first turn readied pharah (2 pillars, 1 nova, 1 RW, 1 Mummy, 1 SoR), the grav mark allows for NOMNOMNOM! If you get a good draw... it can be devastating.

Cons = lacks the bone walls for immaterial or massive creatures, lacks the SoSa for very fast rushes. (although if u get a turn 1 readied pharoh i challenge a rush to get out of your devour trap), 4 card combo, faildraw possible.

Infact if you go second and  your hand is 2 pillar, 1 nova, 1 RW, 1 mummy, 3 SoR... you can get a readied mummy with SIX scarabs on your 1st turn!!

Doesn't need the gravity mark, thats what the shards were for.

[JonathanCrazyJ]

i suppose, i do like being free to use the ability without the need of a shard, and i personally prefer being able to see a shard as a double extra scarb / size. Its a personal choice one, could have it either way what do you think of the version anyway?

[Calindu]

Doesn't

OK!! how is this for 1st turn readied Pharaoh?

by calindu221

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4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 710 710 710 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 72i 72i 72i 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 8pl

Pros = high chance of a first turn readied pharah (2 pillars, 1 nova, 1 RW, 1 Mummy, 1 SoR), the grav mark allows for NOMNOMNOM! If you get a good draw... it can be devastating.

Cons = lacks the bone walls for immaterial or massive creatures, lacks the SoSa for very fast rushes. (although if u get a turn 1 readied pharoh i challenge a rush to get out of your devour trap), 4 card combo, faildraw possible.

Infact if you go second and  your hand is 2 pillar, 1 nova, 1 RW, 1 mummy, 3 SoR... you can get a readied mummy with SIX scarabs on your 1st turn!!

Doesn't need the gravity mark, thats what the shards were for.

Nope, the shards are for fast scarabs.

[omegareaper7]

Doesn't

OK!! how is this for 1st turn readied Pharaoh?

by omegareaper7

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4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 4vj 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 710 710 710 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 71d 72i 72i 72i 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 7q4 8pl

Pros = high chance of a first turn readied pharah (2 pillars, 1 nova, 1 RW, 1 Mummy, 1 SoR), the grav mark allows for NOMNOMNOM! If you get a good draw... it can be devastating.

Cons = lacks the bone walls for immaterial or massive creatures, lacks the SoSa for very fast rushes. (although if u get a turn 1 readied pharoh i challenge a rush to get out of your devour trap), 4 card combo, faildraw possible.

Infact if you go second and  your hand is 2 pillar, 1 nova, 1 RW, 1 mummy, 3 SoR... you can get a readied mummy with SIX scarabs on your 1st turn!!

Doesn't need the gravity mark, thats what the shards were for.

Nope, the shards are for fast scarabs.

And for the scarabs to eat.

[bmd]

I have been enjoying Pharaohs with SoR for a while with this deck:

by bmd

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6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 6rq 74d 74d 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7q0 7qc 7qc 7qc 7qc 7qc 7qc 7ri 7ri 7ri 7ri 7ri 8pl

so i thought i would give "The Pharaoh's Curse" a try... and i wish it had worked better for me, because I love the premice and idea...

That looks very good--more stable than Pharaoh's Curse. With Pharaoh's Curse I had trouble getting the whole combo going fast enough, and with mono aether too. With this deck you can add chimera for MA since it's a duo with gravity. Which one do you like playing better, this deck or your version of Curse with novas?