Don't Touch My Pool or Block Shalmath!

Ohlmann wrote:

* Why AK-47 and not Assault Rifle ? To hose some prevention cards ?

The only scenario where I find an AK worse than as Assault Rifle is when dealing with Nephandi that play Glancing blow. In every other scenario hitting for 2 twice beats hitting for 4 once.

Izaak wrote:

The only scenario where I find an AK worse than as Assault Rifle is when dealing with Nephandi that play Glancing blow. In every other scenario hitting for 2 twice beats hitting for 4 once.

If your opponent play ranged aggravated damage like Burst of Sunlight or Breath of dragon, isn't it better to do the full 4 damage and not only 2 ?

(that's a real question, the deck interest me, and it's way better to understand decks mechanisms instead of copying them)

Well, maybe.

However, at that point I'm not really concerned about the damage anymore but more interested in how I will salvage a 5-pool investment before some 1-cap nerd comes and eat it.

Exposer wrote:

Did I understood right?
You offer me to put some mega-ultra-rare cards to my deck (waste slots), then during a game I should hope that SH will appear after Ankara Citadel will be in my ash heap, then succeed this action under 1 stealth only for potential economy of 8 bloods (4 LiT, 4 RT - waste slots again)?

No need for indignation. I'm offering you an idea that may or may not be integratable to your deck concept with little or major modifications. I have no clue about your card collection. I don't have a lot invested in your deck list and I have never played it. It is therefore in my interests to leave those issues for you to solve rather than type a new deck list for you.

It should also be noted that Summon History searches from ash heap or library.

First, thank you for questions and spending your time and thoughts on my deck.

* Why AK-47 and not Assault Rifle ? To hose some prevention cards ?

Without any opportunity of additional striking AK-47 better in a row of situations (against Mylan Horseed, Carlton, Dodges strikes, etc). AK-47 looks nice in combo with Kiss of Lachesis. So in most cases I just discard AK-47 the same turn I get it. Also it looks wonderful against allies.

* No way to enter combat at all while you have plenty combat permanent ? Isn't it a little risky to invest 5 pool in a weapon and discovering that your opponent stop blocking ?

As I said before, we can play Kiss of Lachesis to lower cost, or just play Ivory Bow.
Also after some setup we can get 2 intercepts with Arenthebes and wakes once each turn. There will be some combat later in game.

What do you do if your prey play 12+ redirections ?

I suppose it will be:
- Free States Rants
- Banishments
- Horseshoes
- A lot of bleed actions for little with Enkil Cog
I think it is a real problem for pure bleed, not for toolbox deck.

5 library cards and two vampires to punish your predator ? It does not seem too vindicative, especially without intercept. What do you do to avoid Appius Claudius Corvus for example from bleeding you dry ?

Again, complex blood damaging from different sources as Shalmath acts twice.
1 action Free Stats Rant, 2 Horseshoes or Frozen Object, 3 Touch of Pain
Also we have Retribution, pair of Banishments, with some stationary intercept also.

Creating deck on Shalmath I think everybody faces a problem with absence defensive disciplines or methods. I thought rather a lot and found this choice very suitable. To gain pool and blood from political action and in the same time to stop predator - thats the way. Free States Rant lower other's votes by 1 and gains 2 vote for Edge. It is the card for Shalmath: 1-st action - bleed maybe for three, 2-nd - FSR.

I cannot help but comment with vampires that do not have defensive disciplines.
Try Protected Resources and the Event Scourge of the Enochians.
Damage your prey only and hold your bleed actions for the ousting lunge.
The Resources will protect you from bleeds above 2 and the Scourge will keep weenie rush bleed down.
I would even think of adding a Arenthebes, the Immortal as well.

Bloat and bloat some more.
With his Superior Presence, I think cards like Enchant Kindred etc would work well.

I think touch of pain doesn't help much as it doesnt stop or reduce or bounce bleeds.
With Shalmath, I think 2 Lost in Translation is good.

If your not going to oust with bleeds but with votes, then I would run more than 1 Protected Resources.

DR. Strange