{% 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"), 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"), 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 it has {{ force_of_personality }} for a combat ends and, more importantly, a {{ body_bag }} to be able to simply fail any rush attempt. And using {{ the_sargon_fragment }}, {{ angel_chavarria }} can fetch that {{ body_bag }} back every turn.

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 on a very unlike top-draw from a Baron. That's what happened during the Atlantic Cup finals.

Second, even if {{ body_bag }} offers a solid protection in the first turns (even {{ angel_chavarria }} can benefit from it on turn two provided he hits {{ the_red_question }}), it only stops one rush: two successive rushes can get rid of him.

So, in the end, this deck may be too focused to enter the first tier, but can it 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 %}