Following Game Developer Ira Fay's recent constructed gameplay video, you might be dying to get some games in the Deathspeaker for Sorcery: Contested Realm.
To aid in exploring the Deathspeaker further, we caught up with Kevin Rodriquez, the host of the "All Things Contested Realm" podcast, to better understand how to build a solid Deathspeaker deck.
Scorched Earth Rebirth
You can view Kevin's full deck list on Sorcery TCG's official deck-building site Curiosa.io
Q: Deck Inspiration: What inspired you to create this deck? What theme or concept behind this deck do you think makes it stand out?
A: I love the mechanics behind the Deathspeaker Avatar. I play old-school TCG player, I found the sacrifice archetype interesting to build around, so when I saw Deathspeaker, I knew right away that I wanted to build a couple of decks around him.
Most of the time, Deathspeaker decks are constructed around Air and Fire due to the card draw and search opportunities available in Air with the wizards and Highland Princess. However, I wanted to try something different that people might not expect to see. That’s why I decided to build an Earth/Fire deck. Fire is an obvious choice to pair with the Deathspeaker, even though Earth lacks the spell draw of Air, it offers some solid ramping and removal spells. While I also have a Fire/Air Deathspeaker deck, I loved the challenge of making a Fire/Earth deck that could still try to hold its own on the battlefield.
Q: Key Card Choices: Tell us about some of the key cards in your deck and why you included them. How do they synergize with your deck's strategy?
A: I've included some key Fire cards that you typically find in most Deathspeaker decks, such as Imp for dealing damage, Crones for card draw and serving as a sacrifice outlet, Widow and Harpies for removal, and Death Dealer for that crucial board wipe. However, it's the Earth spells that truly set this deck apart, in my opinion.
Land Surveyor plays a significant role by allowing you to draw sites, sparing you from using your turn draw on them. This feature provides you with the opportunity to keep drawing your spells and maintaining your momentum.
Miracle Workers was a delightful addition because it enables you to retrieve minions that have been sacrificed or eliminated back to your hand, ready to be recast, all without relying on the Deathspeaker's ability. I've had a blast with this card because it's not commonly seen, and people are often surprised by how I use it to bring back my genesis minions to my hand.
Another unexpected surprise in this deck is the ramping capabilities of Alvalinne Dryads. Since they generate mana, the rule is that anything producing mana continues to do so during genesis and at the beginning of a turn. So, even though this isn't technically a genesis ability, it functions similarly. Dryads serve as excellent ramping tools that can also benefit from the Speaker's ability before they are banished.
I've also included Squirming Mass because it looked like a fun addition. Since I aim not only to remove my opponent's minions but also to sacrifice my own, it seemed like an enjoyable minion to experiment with, especially in terms of making it grow larger through those sacrifices.
Lastly, Wraetannis Titan was an irresistible choice as a powerful removal spell. It was simply too good to pass up, and I couldn't resist including a copy in the deck.
As for my magic cards, they mainly consist of lower-cost damage-dealing fire spells. Infiltrate is a staple in most Fire decks and is a must-have. Additionally, I've incorporated some low-cost Earth removal spells, with a Jihad card to assist in casting all my Fire minions to enemy sites.
This combination of cards and strategies creates a dynamic and formidable deck that embraces the synergy between Fire and Earth elements while capitalizing on the unique mechanics of the Deathspeaker Avatar.
Q: Playstyle Tips: What's the recommended playstyle for this deck? Are there any specific strategies or combos that players should be aware of when using it?
A: Deathspeaker decks typically follow a similar playstyle, focusing on casting and recasting as many genesis minions as possible. Personally, I prefer sacrificing mine early in the game to reuse them rapidly and frequently, aiming to gain an advantage. In this early-game strategy, tools like Miracle Workers prove invaluable, facilitating minion recovery. Additionally, the ramping effect of Alvalinne Dryads comes into play, helping me summon more minions during the early stages of the game. Beyond these unique aspects, the deck plays largely as expected from a Deathspeaker deck.
Q: Matchup Insights: How does your deck perform against popular archetypes in the game? Are there any particular matchups where it excels or struggles?
A: Pathfinder decks present a bit of a challenge for me, as they can be a hit or miss. The Pathfinder Avatar’s mobility makes it challenging to target with some of my projectile spells. Consequently, my strategy revolves around reaching their vulnerable sites through any means possible. Given that most of my minions have lower power, it’s crucial to strike quickly in the early game, preventing them from deploying their more formidable creatures that could pose greater challenges.
On the other hand, Battlemage decks offer an intriguing matchup. They often aim to attack and eliminate minions as part of their strategy to trigger the Battlemage’s draw ability. However, as I want things in my cemetery, it throws them off a bit because every card draw for them is another thing I can recast to get and utilize a genesis again. So those are fun matchups.
I’m still workshopping the deck against the wide range of playstyles out there, but since my deck aims to do its own thing regardless of what I go against, it mostly comes down to making subtle adjustments with how aggressively I approach self-sacrifice when facing different decks.
Kevin is the host of "All Things Contested Realm" a podcast dedicated to everything Sorcery: Contested Realm. You can listen to his program where most podcasts are found!
You can join in the discussion of the Deathspeaker in the Sorcery: Contested Realm Facebook group.
