I brought this deck to the Wednesday A.W.O.L. weekly on 2024-12-11, going 3-3 for 21th out of 48. Today’s event captured all the highs and lows of the deck: to play Nevenka, you have to embrace the fact that some of the games will be decided by the roll of the dice.
I ran into an eclectic set of decks on the other side of the table, so even when my deck wasn’t the one going off, my opponents managed to pull off some pretty cool things!
The deck
The last time I played this deck.
Just this week, I got ahold of a Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U-6599) for Nevenka & Blotch that’s stronger on T1 than any other 1-drop unique I’ve come across. I slotted it into my dice-rolling deck and leaned into the aggression, pulling the curve down a bit.
In particular, I cut the Ouroboros Croupier (C). It’s a bit expensive, and the card advantage it provides can be redundant with Loki (R) and the full playset of Magical Training (F).
I’ve mentioned Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (R) not doing quite enough for me, so I swapped the last copy for removal in the form of Off You Go! (F). Since I’m playing the lower hand-cost Yzmir spells, it’s a no-brainer to add the third Hathor (C) for its aggressive statline and support ability.
I’ve also added another Lyra Thespian (C) because it plays well with the Mage-Dancer (U-6599) for the same reason it works with Ouroboros Trickster (C).
Takeaways
I like this deck for the consistency with which it can open with a strong 1+2 opener, even if these types of hands were a bit shy on the day.
Especially as the build starts to lean more aggressive, I’m thinking about adding in more finishers like an additional copy of Twinkle, Twinkle (C) or a Small Step, Giant Leap (F).
If the deck doesn’t see its card advantage tools, its very possible it can peter out due to its low curve (see R5). To hedge against this, you can use support abilities more conservatively and prioritize keeping Magical Training (F) even if it means a less explosive start.
Uniques
Kadigiran Mage-Dancer: 7/7
The Hatter: 6/7
Kadigiran Mage-Dancer: 6/7
This Ouroboros Trickster-wannabe offers the most stats for 1 mana on T1 that I’ve seen from a unique. Yes, it’s just stats, but a rate this extreme on a 1-drop is notable if it lets you 2-0 on T1.
The key with this one is that the arrow ability activates the triggered ability, so even if you low-roll, it’s a 1/1/1 at its absolute base. After the die roll from Nevenka’s hero ability, this will either be a 2/2/2 or a 3/3/3 that you can play alongside a 2-drop. Bonus points if that 2-drop is an Ouroboros Trickster to give this another +1/1/1 or a Lyra Thespian which gets boosted due to this having three base stats of 0.
The games
Round 1 (W): Lindiwe & Maw
Loki (R) in the opening hand was a snap-keep in the Yzmir matchup and let me play more loosely with my resources this game.
The Hatter (U) helped anchor itself with on T1, then again on T2 with the help of a Martengale (R) for a massive early-game advantage.
My opponent disrupted my curve with a Tooth Fairy (C) sabotage on my Ouroboros Inkcaster (R), but I still had a strong tempo turn. With the some help from The Hatter (U), Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U-6599) was a 1-mana 3/3/3 that ensured a 2-0.
On 6 mana with the Loki turn on the horizon, I replayed the Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U). Setting into motion a plan to keep it anchored for three turns barring any disruption, I used The Hatter (U)’s support ability to anchor it through next turn, then played The Hatter (C) to set up an anchor for the following turn. I even managed to hit the risky die roll to bump the Mage-Dancer up from a 2/2/2 to a 4/4/4 and block my opponent’s Kuwat, the Dissenter (U).
Loki (R) is game-winning against Yzmir.
On my 7-mana turn, I used The Hatter (C)’s support ability to reanchor the Mage-Dancer then discard both of our hands and reserves. I only discarded one card while my opponent lost four from hand and one from reserve. To add insult to injury, I rolled a 6 on Loki, leaving me with two anchored 5/5/5s.
My opponent drew into an excellent three cards, however, and their Studious Disciple (C), Boom! (F), and Off You Go! (C) answered my entire board, leaving a solo Maw to 1-0 me.
Still, this left them empty-handed while I had a fresh hand of three cards, and The Sandman (C) let me easily 2-0 for the win on the following turn.
Round 2 (L): Teija & Nauraa Hydracaena ramp
I saw The Hatter (U) in my opener again but this time wasn’t quite so lucky to be able to anchor it. Since my opponent was the second player, they were able to freely ramp with a Tiny Jinn (F).
They ramped a second time on T2 with an Aja (R), but my Martengale (R) and The Hatter (U) gave me excellent odds to get the boost I needed to go 2-1. I didn’t expect the symmetrical ramp and somewhat regretted keeping an Ouroboros Trickster (C) instead of a Magical Training (F).
Not firing off the A Cappella Training (C) would come back to bite me.
I winced when my opponent ran out a T3 Hydracaena (C). Fortunately, the combo of Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U-6599) and Ouroboros Trickster (C) was enough to secure me a 2-0 and put me ahead at 2/5.
Replaying the Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U-6599) alongside the Ouroboros Trickster (C) generated 6/6/6 in stats for 3 mana, letting me win one side against double Physical Training (F) while also anchoring an Aloe Vera (F). Unfortunately, my work would be cut out for me, as all of the Physical Training boosts landed on anchored characters.
In addition to the two support abilities, this Loki (R) hit a Mana Reaping and Beauty Sleep from hand.
I was looking for Twinkle, Twinkle (C) or The Sandman (C) as an out, but I found the next best thing: Loki (R). Critically, the ultra-sabotage hit two anchor support abilities from my opponent’s reserve. I would go on to lose this day but have one more chance on the next.
My Ouroboros Trickster (C) low-rolled, but let me play a 3/3/3 Lyra Thespian (C). Meanwhile, my opponent all but drew dead, and Loki from reserve would bring me up to 9/9/9 against their 8/10/8. Nevenka’s hero ability would give me a 2/3 shot to win the game.
The first - but not the last - "low-roll" 6 of the day.
I rolled the die… and it was a 6. Usually the best outcome, here it denied me the boost to prevent the game from going to tiebreakers, where I had no way of winning against my opponent’s Hydracaena.
Interestingly, I did draw into the Cloth Cocoon (C) which would have let me remove the Hydracaena had I cast A Cappella Training (C) on it back on T3. I had a card in hand when I played Loki, so the card disadvantage wouldn’t have mattered after all.
Round 3 (L): Kojo & Booda Foundry
I was once again greeted by The Hatter (U) in my opening hand, and I was happy to run it out absent a strong 1+2 sequence, though again it wasn’t able to anchor itself.
My opponent led with The Foundry, Axiom Bastion (F), and I started to get nervous, as there are some uniques with pretty terrifying from-reserve abilities.
Foundry builds need their pieces to come together in the right order, but at their best, they look as good as any top-tier deck.
Sure enough, my opponent exhausted The Foundry and played a 2-mana Haven Trainee (U) with a from-reserve ability to put the top two cards of their deck into mana. Worse still, none of my characters could block its 3/2/2 or Booda’s 2/2/2 in water, so they advanced on both sides. I was able to prevent them from ramping a second time with an A Cappella Training (C) on their Haven Trainee (U), but its first trigger already had me on the back foot.
Rolling a 5 with a Martengale (R) out had me questioning whether it was more important to anchor The Hatter (U) or turn an 0-2 into a 1-2. I went for the anchor, figuring the only way I could turn this around would be to keep my characters anchored with a persistent Ouroboros effect.
I have an outside chance to win if the Kadigiran Mage-Dancer is able to stay out for one more turn.
Drawing into my Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U-2604) let me anchor two characters, but their Tanuki (U) sabotaged my Martengale (R) to reduce the odds I could anchor it with Nevenka, then gave the Mage-Dancer fleeting.
With no way to anchor my board a second time, my opponent used a Physical Training (R) for card advantage to overwhelm me on the final turn.
Round 4 (W): Teija & Nauraa
I didn’t have the option of a 1+2 sequence, but an Aloe Vera (F) let me trade on T1 against my opponent’s aggressive Sneezer Shroom (C) + Spindle Harvesters (C) start. On T2, my opponent was ready with the Cloth Cocoon (F) when I went to anchor the Aloe Vera, securing them a 2-0 thanks to their anchored characters.
A disastrous low-roll on an Ouroboros Trickster (C) and 1 from Nevenka meant I was only able to 0-1 on a turn I had a reasonable shot at going 2-1 on.
This Kadigiran Mage-Dancer can completely swing a losing game.
Fortunately, I drew into my Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U-2604) and The Hatter (U) for the best possible shot at turning things around. I was able to match my opponent’s anchor-giving Tiny Jinn (U) with two anchored threats of my own. The resupply off the Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U-2604) was relevant, as the A Cappella Training (C) that was put into reserve let me prevent their Tiny Jinn (U) from anchoring anything else on the following turn.
A second turn with the Mage-Dancer turns Ouroboros Trickster into Parvati.
They played a Meditation Training (C) on their Daughter of Yggdrasil (R) which opened it up to my Cloth Cocoon (C). I was able to 2-0 while reanchoring my two threats off of the die rolls from my hero ability and an Ouroboros Trickster (C).
When my opponent demonstrated that they couldn’t contest my anchored board, I was able to sleep The Hatter (U) with The Sandman (C). Even better, an Ouroboros Inkcaster (R) let me return The Sandman (C) to hand for an overwhelming advantage that let me win on the following turn.
Round 5 (L): Arjun & Spike Festival
I led with the Ouroboros Inkcaster (R), planning to use A Cappella Training (C) on whatever my opponent would play next. It was only a Sneezer Shroom (C), and since it wouldn’t hit reserve next turn anyway, I went for the 2-0 with a Martengale (R).
Unfortunately for me, the Nevenka roll was a 6, the only outcome that wouldn’t give me a boost, resulting in a 1-1 instead of 2-0.
My opponent took their entire T2 off to get down a Lyra Festival (F), so I figured this would be an easy opportunity to anchor an Aloe Vera (F) and go 2-0. I figured wrong, because the Nevenka roll on the Martengale (R) was another 6, so I could at best go 1-0 by anchoring the Aloe Vera (F) on the opposite side. This also meant I wouldn’t advance out of a forest-only region, which ended up being problematic later.
Notably, I burned an Ouroboros Inkcaster (R) support ability and an A Cappella Training (C) to ensure my Arjun opponent wouldn’t have anything in reserve, but this was a mistake in retrospect since it left me empty-handed. Giving Festival builds access to the Arjun’s ability isn’t too scary until they’re able to combo.
I drew into the Cloth Cocoon (C) for the Festival, but the downside of being low on cards was that I didn’t have the luxury of waiting to fire it off until they attempted to go for the win.
What Muna 2-drop punishes me for playing to the companion expedition?
My opponent’s Verdantback (R) held down one side. I debated whether it was better to fight it on water, knowing that my opponent couldn’t progress even if they beat me, or whether I should play to the open expedition for a better chance at winning myself. My decision to play to the open forest-only region was punished by my opponent’s Mowgli (C) whose 3 in forest prevent me from progressing.
My opponent played out a second Lyra Festival (F) on the following turn while Mowgli stonewalled progression in the forest-only region.
I can't remove both fleeting characters, so an anchor and sleep from hand will win the game.
Resupplying into my Off You Go! (F) gave me access to the removal I needed to disrupt their Festival win, but a near-empty hand of 3-drops as the starting player meant I couldn’t after-you long enough to remove a target that actually mattered. My opponent’s Spindle Harvesters (C) gave them the anchored character, and their Mowgli (U) let them sleep a character for the win.
Round 6 (W): Akesha & Taru
I was glad to see Magical Training (F) in the opening hand for this matchup, which I kept alongside an Ouroboros Trickster (C) + Lyra Thespian (C) combo.
After going 1-0 on T1, I went for an anchored Aloe Vera (F). The chance they have the Off You Go! (C) is only going to get higher over the course of the game. Luckily, they didn’t have it yet, and the Aloe Vera put me massively ahead, especially after a risky hero ability let me trade with a Kadigiran Alchemist (R).
On T3, I was able to keep up on board and on cards by playing out two Ouroboros Inkcaster (R)s. I had the option to return both to hand, but I chose to leave one in reserve for the cost reduction.
The low costs of my characters let me slow-roll even Akesha.
The Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U-6599) made way for a flood of low-cost characters with an incredble stat-to-cost ratio. Despite low-rolling, it was a 1-mana 2/2/2 that turned my Lyra Thespian (C) into a 2-mana 3/3/3 earning me a 2-0.
Returning the Kadigiran Mage-Dancer (U-6599) to hand with the Ouroboros Inkcaster (R) let me do it all over again on the following turn to close out the game.