If you’re looking for unfiltered passion, creative deck-building, and a healthy dose of humor, look no further than Shaun - better known as Neatherlingz in the Sorcery: Contested Realm community. A self-proclaimed “all-around nerd,” Shaun brings a mix of gameplay, comedy, and hands-on projects to his YouTube channel, Neatherlingz_TCG.
Whether he’s crafting custom gaming tables, piloting his favorite decks, or cracking jokes with viewers, Shaun’s energy is infectious.
We caught up with Shaun to talk about his journey with Sorcery: Contested Realm, his favorite Geomancer deck, and the strategies that will make you a rock star! Here’s what he had to say:
Get to Know Shaun
Shaun: What’s up, nerds! It’s your boy Shaun; aka Neatherlingz. I’m an all-around fellow nerd - big into games, D&D watching, statue collecting, and anime enjoying (adjusts glasses I don’t have). Cards have been part of my life since I was a wee lad, and I’ve been playing Sorcery since it hit Tabletop Simulator - crazy to think it’s been two years already!
I love teaching new players and throwing hands in the Contested Realm, so if you’re ever looking for a match, hit me up on Discord. Let’s play!
Explore Shaun's Deck on Curiosa.io, Sorcery's official deck builder.
Tell us about your favorite deck - what’s it all about?
Shaun: My favorite deck to pilot is my Geomancer deck, which I’ve lovingly titled I Wanna Rock! (because, you know, Geomancer). The deck is all about burrow and void walk, with the goal of completely outmaneuvering your opponent. I want them to never feel comfortable leaving their side of the map.
The deck revolves around summoning in the void and crawling your way underground. It’s built to overwhelm opponents with a swarm of creatures—34 minions in total! Most of them avoid damage while burrowed, and others are tanky enough to withstand spells. Even if your board gets wiped, this deck has the draw power and staying power to keep the pressure on.
What are some of the key cards in the deck?
- Tactical Move: This spell is a cornerstone for positioning. Paired with burrowed creatures, it lets you ambush from beneath your opponent’s feet or you can scout their hand with Lookout and spread out or borrow to avoid things like Poison Nova. If nothing else, you can always just bash face with it—barbaric but effective!
- Conqueror Worm & Lord of the Void: These are absolute powerhouses. Combined with the deck’s movement spells, they slowly drain your opponent’s mana while shifting the battle in your favor.
- Game-Changers: Cards like Earthquake, Queen of Midland, Death Dealer, and Ultimate Horror give you ways to regain control when you’re falling behind. Whether it’s burying your opponent’s board, stripping their card advantage, or gaining the
- Unique Plays: This deck utilizes moment spells to allow your end-of-turn minions to be more effective. Use Blink or Tactical Move to immediately put your Conquerer Worm or Lord of the Void into position or create a surprise splash attack using Infernal Legion.
A special shoutout to Secret Tunnel—it’s an MVP for maneuvering burrowed creatures across the map. It’s like running a Seal Team 6 operation underground, and your opponent will never know what hit them! Again it can't be said enough, thanks to Secret Tunnel, Tactical Move allows you to move to the sites bordering your opponents, unburrow, and then you can attack! Your opponent can never be comfortable unless they want to feel the might of your superior movement.
What are the deck’s strengths and weaknesses?
Shaun: The deck excels in positioning - it’s all about outsmarting your opponent and keeping them guessing. The overwhelming numbers and quick movement create constant pressure.
The biggest weakness? Water and flying units. You’ll need to carefully position your sites to mitigate their advantage, and cards like Earthquake and Bury become essential for dealing with flyers.
What inspired this deck, and why do you love playing it?
Shaun: If you couldn’t tell from my username, I’m a massive Starcraft fan - my name is a mix of “Shaun” and “Zerglings.” This deck embodies the Zerg playstyle: quick movement, overwhelming numbers, and hitting your opponent in unexpected ways.
It’s also super satisfying against certain strategies like Drums of Doom Druid decks. Plus, there’s nothing more thrilling than using movement spells to land a surprise attack or secure the final blow with your Avatar!
What’s next for you in Sorcery?
Shaun: I’m looking forward to just playing Sorcery! Each Avatar brings a unique set of tools and with more and more cards being added the combinations are already insane. We are only going to get more to play with in the years to come and I’m here for it.
Thank You, Shaun!
Whether you’re looking for creative deck ideas, unhinged humor, or just someone to play Sorcery with, Shaun is our guy! Check out his channel, Neatherlingz_TCG, and don’t forget to challenge him in the Contested Realm - just be ready for some burrowing chaos!
Have you got a Sorcery deck you’ve been finding success with or just think is really cool? We’d love to hear about it! Share your decks in the Sorcery: Contested Realm Facebook group and join the Sorcery Discord community.
