{% extends "archetypes/_layout.html" %} {% import "archetypes/_layout-erratum.html" as erratum with context %} {% import "archetypes/new-kids/heshas-emporium.json" as deck_json %} {% block meta %} {% endblock %} {% block archetype_name %}

{{ ministry }} Hesha's Emporium

{% endblock %} {% block archetype %} {% trans trimmed angel_chavarria=card("Angel Chavarria"), approximation_of_loyalty=card("Approximation of Loyalty"), archon_investigation=card("Archon Investigation"), bait_and_switch=card("Bait And Switch"), body_bag=card("Body Bag"), flaming_candle=card("Flaming Candle"), concoction_of_vitality=card("Concoction of Vitality"), horrific_countenance=card("Horrific Countenance"), force_of_personality=card("Force of Personality"), hag_s_wrinkles=card("Hag's Wrinkles"), heidelberg=card("Heidelberg Castle, Germany", "Heidelberg"), hesha_ruhadze=card("Hesha Ruhadze (G6)", "Hesha Ruhadze"), hide_the_mind=card("Hide The Mind"), i_am_legion=card("I Am Legion"), kaymakli_fragment=card("Kaymakli Fragment"), learjet=card("Learjet"), monocle_of_clarity=card("Monocle of Clarity"), nod=card("Nod"), perfect_clarity=card("Perfect Clarity"), revelations=card("Revelations"), ritual_goblet=card("Ritual Goblet"), the_red_question=card("The Red Question"), the_sargon_fragment=card("The Sargon Fragment"), the_textbook_damnation=card("The Textbook Damnation"), veneficorum_artum_sanguis=card("Veneficorum Artum Sanguis"), vial_of_elder_vitae=card("Vial of Elder Vitae") %}

Highlights

This is a Ministry {{ ministry }} combo powerbleed deck using {{ hesha_ruhadze }} as star. The goal is to influence {{ angel_chavarria }}, fetch all the equipments possible using {{ hag_s_wrinkles }} to stealth and unlock, the influence {{ hesha_ruhadze }}, give him the equipments with {{ nod }} or {{ heidelberg }}, so he can bleed for something like 20.

This deck is a masterpiece of deckbuilding finesse, and has attracted a lot of attention when Sérgio Louçã Martins played it in the 2024 Atlantic Cup finals. He was first seed there, with a brutal 3GW13 score. Yes, this deck sweeps tables.

At first sight, this thing is a crazy idea. What stops the prey to just bounce this awful bleed and simply win the game thanks to the help of their predator? Well, the deck has a few tricks: First it can check for bounces or an {{ archon_investigation }} with {{ monocle_of_clarity }}. Second, it can use {{ vial_of_elder_vitae }}, {{ the_textbook_damnation }}, {{ veneficorum_artum_sanguis }} and {{ ritual_goblet }} to have access to {{ dai }} and {{ tha }}, so he can play {{ perfect_clarity }} and {{ i_am_legion }}. Of course, he can also use {{ hide_the_mind }}. As a last resort, {{ approximation_of_loyalty }} and {{ revelations }}, that {{ angel_chavarria }} can play with a {{ vial_of_elder_vitae }}

So, maybe you can just block him, right? But {{ hesha_ruhadze }} has a whole arsenal of block denial: with {{ flaming_candle }}, {{ concoction_of_vitality }} and {{ horrific_countenance }}, that's three bleeds that vampires cannot block, and that's enough to win the game.

One would think you can just rush {{ hesha_ruhadze }} and be done with him then. But he has a {{ body_bag }} to be able to simply fail any rush attempt.

Does it seem unlikely the deck gets all the cards it needs at the right time to be able to land his bleeds? Well, with {{ learjet }} and {{ angel_chavarria }} performing 20 or more actions on turn 2, no it's not. The deck can basically get all the equipments out in a turn or two, and construct the perfect lunge hand while doing it.

Isn't it slow to set up? In fact, no, it's very fast. That deck can sweep tables in 20 minutes. {{ angel_chavarria }} gets a {{ learjet }} early during his {{ hag_s_wrinkles }} chain on turn 2, allowing him to plow through the deck and fetch a {{ kaymakli_fragment }} and {{ the_textbook_damnation }}: that's why they're both doubled in the deck. Once he has those, he can use {{ kaymakli_fragment }} to help bring {{ hesha_ruhadze }} immediately at the end of the turn. And the next turn should start with either a {{ nod }} or {{ heidelberg }} and {{ hesha_ruhadze }} can bleed for 20 or more on turn 3.

Considerations

This is a piece of art but, of course, as well-designed as it is, it's still a pretty fragile combo deck. First, it can simply hit a bounce it cannot cancel. That's what happened during the Atlantic Cup finals. Given all the solutions against bounce the deck has, it's unlikely, but against {{ bait_and_switch }}, it really only has {{ revelations }} and {{ approximation_of_loyalty }}.

Second, the deck needs exact precision to be played: it has three unblockable bleeds to offer: {{ flaming_candle }}, {{ concoction_of_vitality }} and {{ horrific_countenance }}. To land them quickly, one needs to make the exact right choice on each {{ learjet }} discard and order all actions and card plays correctly. That sad, {{ the_sargon_fragment }} can still be used to bring back a card if not everything goes according to plan, so it is not completely flimsy.

So, in the end, can this deck win a tournament? There's no doubt. And make sure to credit Sérgio for this beautiful build once you do. The problem, of course, could be to find enough {{ hag_s_wrinkles }} to build it: given it's a not-yet-reprinted rare, that might prove difficult.

{% endtrans %} {% endblock %}