Ahrimanes Newsletter #7 01.11.05 ==================================================== [ AHRIMANES NEWSLETTER ] ==================================================== 1.0 - Editorial 1.1 Word From the Editor 1.2 Next Issue 2.0 - Concepts 2.1 Crypt Card Focus 2.2 Library Card Focus 2.3 Deck by Andrew 'WES' Weston 3.0 - Deck Design 3.1 Ahrimane's Share 3.2 Sign Off --[1.1 - Word from the Editor]----------------------- Truly it is an exciting time to be writing about, and playing Ahrimanes as Legacies of Blood (LoB) promises to bring all sorts of new cards such as Aiyana, The Wolfcatcher and Ahrimane Protectorate. This should open up the possibilities within the Ahrimane clan, and provide more overlaps with other clans, so even working within the grouping rule there should be new ways to rule the Jyhad! --[1.2 -Next Issue]------------------------------------- Next issue will cover the LoB in more detail, as there should be a full spoiler list by then. As such the format of this newsletter may change as I put deck construction on temporary hold to concentrate on new cards. --[2.1 - Crypt Card Focus]--------------------------- This month we can look at the first of the new LoB vampires, Muricia. Muricia 7 ANI PRE SPI Group 4 Sabbat. During your untap phase, a ready Gangrel Antitribu you control may burn 1 blood to become a Sterile Ahrimane and gain 1 level of Spiritus. +1 Strength. Sterile. Now Muricia is the founder of the Ahrimanes as far as I know, and her various abilities show that. Currently there are no other Ahrimanes that she can be played with as we haven't seen the full LoB listing, however she seems set to take top place in any group 3-4 crypt as she has all the skills at superior, and +1 strength. She also has the ability to convert !Gangrel to Ahrimanes, this is also slightly limited at the moment, as the skill base overlap is small. You can only use her !Gangrel converter once per vampire (excluding changing clan back), so you are limited to basic Spiritus, although perhaps being an Ahrimane will be enough - especially if there are some new Clan cards. At the moment I am thinking PRO !Gangrel playing Shadow of the Beast, converting, and playing The Wildebeest. Perhaps Celeste LaMontagne and Janey Pickman , who tooled up with her special could be lethal, we will have to see what can be done. Basic Spiritus does give quite a few options as well, not least of which is Nose of the Hound with two optional maneuvers and the maneuver/press of Swiftness of the Stag. This could give us a very proactive combat deck, but would need a way to overcome Strike: Combat Ends, perhaps one of the LoB cards will help out with that. --[2.2 - Library Card Focus]------------------------ This month we look at two cards that will improve almost any Ahrimane deck that they are inserted into: Swiftness of the Stag Type: Combat/Action Modifier Requires: Spiritus/Celerity [cel] Press. [spi] Maneuver or press. [SPI] +1 stealth. Rarity: BL:C2 The utility of this card is awesome, and can be fitted into any suitable deck in good numbers. The basic spi allows you to control combat, while the superior gives you access to stealth that can help force through actions, so whether you are a rush, wall, toolbox or vote deck you need this card in it. Owl Companion Type: Retainer Requires: Animalism Animal with 1 life. [ani] When the minion with this retainer is in combat, the controller of the opposing minion plays with an open hand. [ANI] As above, but the Owl Companion has 2 life. Rarity: Jyhad:U VTES:U CE:U/PN Anarchs:PG BH:PN KMW:PG Now Owl Companion (OC) is not obviously aggressive, as usually suits the Ahrimanes, but it allows you to be more aggressive when you have it in play. The reason for this is you can see what your victim can do, and thus play or save cards as required. Another advantage of OC is that it can be acquired via Pack Master, and being free, is a good sacrifice for superior Pack Master. Fortunately the wording of both cards allows you to see your victim's hand even if you play the OC during combat! --[2.2 - WES's JOL tournament winning deck]------ This month we look at a deck that may not have existed in actual card format, yet has won a tournament in the Jyhad Online format. Deck Name : Ahrimanes WES JOL Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 2 max: 8 average: 5.9 4x Howler 8 ANI PRE SPI obf Ahrimanes:2 3x Siamese, The 7 PRE SPI ani pro Ahrimanes:2 2x Cynthia Ingold 6 SPI ani for pre Ahrimanes:2 1x Dani 2 ani !Nosferatu:2 1x Gillian Krader 2 ani dem Pander:2 1x Zip 2 ani Ravnos:3 Library [90 cards] Action [14] 1x Aranthebes, The Immortal 2x Army of Rats 2x Engling Fury 1x Entrancement 2x Heart of the City 1x Muricia's Call 3x Nose of the Hound 2x Summoning, The Ally [4] 1x Carlton Van Wyk (Hunter) 1x Mylan Horseed (Goblin) 1x Neighborhood Watch Commander (Hunter) 1x Procurer Combat [20] 4x Aid from Bats 6x Carrion Crows 2x Drawing Out the Beast 3x Pack Alpha 5x Taste of Vitae Combat/Action Modifier [8] 8x Swiftness of the Stag Equipment [1] 1x Leather Jacket Master [18] 1x Animalism 5x Blood Doll 2x Direct Intervention 1x Fame 1x Guardian Angel 1x KRCG News Radio 1x Pentex Subversion 3x Perfectionist 1x Powerbase: Montreal 1x Rack, The 1x WMRH Talk Radio Reaction [18] 4x Cats' Guidance 5x Falcon's Eye 9x Speak with Spirits Retainer [7] 3x Murder of Crows 1x Owl Companion 3x Raven Spy The strength of this deck is its adaptability, it can go forward with big bleeds and rushes, it can wall up with various intercept cards. It can also bloat nicely with Master cards such as The Rack, PB: Montreal and Perfectionist. I don't think there is anything that needs changing, without changing the decks premise so we will leave it at that. --[3.1 - Deck: Ahrimanes Share ]------------------------------------- Well in an earlier issue I mentioned that it could be difficult to use Fortitude in an Ahrimanes deck, of course a problem shared is a problem solved so Shared Strength it is. This is a bruise/bleed deck again, but the prevention and Pulled Fangs should really help the bruising. The main problem is you need two combos in hand at once, the attacking side, and the defensive side so some bluffing maybe needed. Deck Name : Ahrimanes Share Crypt [13 vampires] Capacity min: 2 max: 7 average: 5.39 4x Antonino 6 FOR ani pre pro Gangrel:3 2x Siamese, The 7 PRE SPI ani pro Ahrimanes:2 2x Cynthia Ingold 6 SPI ani for pre Ahrimanes:2 2x Nettie Hale 5 ani cel pre pro spi Ahrimanes:2 2x Juanita Santiago 4 ani pre spi Ahrimanes:2 1x Zip 2 ani Ravnos:3 Library [90 cards] Action [12] 3x Engling Fury 3x Heart of the City 4x Nose of the Hound 2x Wildebeest, The Action Modifier [5] 3x Aire of Elation 1x Freak Drive Combat [33] 4x Pulled Fangs 8x Scorpion Sting 6x Shared Strength 4x Skin of Steel 2x Soak 4x Song of Serenity 5x Taste of Vitae Combat/Action Modifier [8] 8x Swiftness of the Stag Equipment [1] 1x Flak Jacket Master [15] 5x Blood Doll 1x Dreams of the Sphinx 2x Fortitude 1x Guardian Angel 1x KRCG News Radio 2x Perfectionist 1x Zoo Hunting Ground Reaction [14] 4x Falcon's Eye 4x Guard Dogs 2x Instinctive Reaction 4x Speak with Spirits Retainer [2] 2x Raven Spy Event [2] 2x NSA Trio I haven't tested this deck, so any play feedback would be appreciated. --[3.2 - Sign Off]----------------------------------- Well the Ahrimanes have already got a win in the Return of Nergal storyline, and are currently the highest placed Bloodline other than the Baali who you would expect to do better. Can the Ahrimanes gain any more wins; would the get anything if they are the highest placed BL clan? We will have to see. Sam *