MLG's Managrind tournaments returned this weekend for more constructed action. Check out the four best decks from both EU and NA.
For a third time in a row, Rogues ruled the Europe Managrind, this time taken by Timbolt's van Cleef-less early game combo deck. Timbolt's Rogue defeated mk3's aggro mage in the final, the two leaving Teede's Druid legendary ramp and another Rogue deck in Teede's on 3rd/4th.
Meanwhile, NA's Managrinds continue to have a different winner every time. After a Rogue victory last week and a Paladin triumph the day before, the November 9th tournament saw a Warlock trample through the opposition. Luigezz's aggro Warlock - built around 1-2 mana drops and Knife Jugglers - defeated Luthlol's Paladin, also featuring a similar playstyle. Drakonicrage's Pyrofrost Mage control and Jotto's budget Druid finished 3rd/4th.
?Place: 1st
Class: Rogue
Player: Timbolt
Decklist breakdown:
Spells: 7
Minions: 27
Basic cards: 12
Commons: 9
Rares: 7
Epics: 0
Legendaries: 2
Total crafting cost: 4260 dust
Mana curve:
An Edwin van Cleef-less Rogue, Timbolt's deck revolves around minions that are strong by themselves. A low-cost 2-4 mana curve with the support of Backstab allows the deck to easily set up combos for Defias Ringleader, Eviscerate and SI:7 Agent, the latter two of which work as the early-game removal or to chip away at enemy's health. The minion pool also has cards that are generally tough to deal with such as Faerie Dragon and Harvest Golem as well as some of the best buffers in the game: Defender of Argus, Shattered Sun Cleric and Dark Iron Dwarf. Sylvanas, Argent Commander and Eviscerate are used to remove late-game threats.
?Place: 2nd
Class: Mage
Player: mkr3
Decklist breakdown:
Spells: 10
Minions: 20
Basic cards: 12
Commons: 12
Rares: 4
Epics: 2
Legendaries: 0
Total crafting cost: 1680 dust
Mana curve:
mk3 is running a version of the aggro mage that is gaining more and more popularity in ranked constructed play. The early game is focused around early but powerful drops like Leper Gnome (a card that usually hits for 4 damage, sometimes even more), Mana Wyrm, Faerie Dragon and Amani Berskerker that is getting enraged through Mage's hero power. The 3-5 drops feature card drawing (Acolyte of Pain) two-for-one minions (Harvest Golem), buffers (SSC and Defender of Argus) and the bread and butter of Mage decks Azure Dreak and Water Elemental. The late-game sweepers and burns are used to finish the opponent off.
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?Place: 3rd/4th
Class: Druid
Player: Teede
Decklist breakdown:
Spells: 10
Minions: 20
Basic cards: 7
Commons: 10
Rares: 7
Epics: 2
Legendaries: 4
Total crafting cost: 8300 dust
Mana curve:
The most expensive deck of the top four EU finishers, Teede's Druid is aims to ramp (i.e. gain extra mana crystals) into his poweful legendaries. All six three ramping spells - Innervate, Wild Growth and Nourish - are used.
Wrath, Earthen Ring Farseer, Swipe and Keeper of the Grove help him stay alive in the early game while he builds towards the end-of-the-curve legendaries. Once there, the Ancients of Lore and War help to stabilize the health pool (and be massive 5/5 bodies themselves) while Ragnaros and his two dragons serve as the finisher.
?Place: 3rd/4th
Class: Rogue
Player: ImWicked
Decklist breakdown:
Spells: 7
Minions: 23
Basic cards: 12
Commons: 12
Rares: 6
Epics: 0
Legendaries: 0
Total crafting cost: 1080 dust
Mana curve:
A cheep to craft deck, ImWicked's Rogue is a version of the last ManaGrind tournament winners, just a little more than 1000 dust to craft.
The idea of this deck is the same as the Rogue on top of the article. Cheap 1-3 drops apply early game pressure and set combos for Defias Ringleader, Eviscerate and SI:7 while buffing minions come in later to make their allies powerful. The mana curve ends at 6 with the ubiquitous Argent Commander.
Compared to Timbolt's Rogue, ImWicked's removal is a bit different, using Betrayal instead of Assassinate.
?Place: 1st
Class: Warlock
Player: Luigezz
Decklist breakdown:
Spells: 5
Minions: 25
Basic cards: 10
Commons: 13
Rares: 6
Epics: 0
Legendaries: 1
Total crafting cost: 2720 dust
Mana curve:
As evident from the mana curve graphs, this aggro Warlock relies on spamming 1 and 2 mana drops through Knife Juggler to pressure his opponent early. Blood Imp, Demonfire and Defender of Argus are there to make the minions tougher.
Late-game-wise, the deck employs Sylvanas Windrunner, Venture Co. Mercenary and Argent Commander to be the heavy bodies that can finish the job. A single Power Overwhelming is there to serve either as a finisher or to set favorable trades (i.e. killing a big body through a small minion).
?Place: 2nd
Class: Paladin
Player: Luthlol
Decklist breakdown:
Spells: 12
Minions: 15
Weapons: 3
Basic cards: 9
Commons: 7
Rares: 10
Epics: 2
Legendaries: 2
Total crafting cost: 4380 dust
Mana curve:
This "a few of everything" Paladin is in its essence another Knife Juggler centered deck. Luthlol uses a lot of 2 and 3 mana drops as well as recurring Juggler triggers such as Imp Master to burn the opponent quickly. The deck fetures a lot of boosting power as well as means to keep the minions safe like Truesilver Champion, Argent Protector and Noble Sacrifice. An Equality/Concencration combo is there for board control.
If the enemy survives the early aggression, the deck comes in with the big bodies. Argent Commander, Cairne and Ragnaros are paired with Venture Co. Mercenary for late-game finishers while Lay on Hands is there for card draw and keeping yourself alive.
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?Place: 3rd/4th
Class: Mage
Player: Drakonicrage
Decklist breakdown:
Spells: 23
Minions: 7
Basic cards: 13
Commons: 4
Rares: 6
Epics: 4
Legendaries: 3
Total crafting cost: 7160 dust
Mana curve:
If you watched the Innkeeper's invitational, you will recognize this one - it's Reckful's Pyrofrost Mage.
Featuring barely any minions, this Mage control deck uses cold spells such as Frost Nova, Cone of Cold, Frost Bold and Blizzard to delay the game for as much as possible. Ice Barrier and Ice Block are put in as extra safety belts while Fireball and Polymorh are used to remove the big threats.
Once the deck survives until the late-game, it uses Alexstrasza to put the opponent down to 15 and burn him down using Pyroblas and whatever other burn spells that remain.
?Place: 3rd/4th
Class: Druid
Player: Jotto
Decklist breakdown:
Spells: 7
Minions: 23
Basic cards: 11
Commons: 15
Rares: 4
Epics: 0
Legendaries: 0
Total crafting cost: 1000 dust
Mana curve:
Another cheap to craft deck, this time a Druid one. Jotto relies on 1-3 mana drops to set up early threats and beat down his opponent early. Swipe, Wrath, Claw and Starfire are used to control the board or add extra damage to the opponent hero. Argent Commanders and Druids of the Claw are used as finishers.
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