Second Seraph

For some reason, this deck doesn't inspire me to take it out of the box and throw pool at it. What changes would convince you?

Deck Name : Second Seraph
Author : Lasombra
Description :
Having two Seraphs in the same grouping in the same clan? Brilliant!

Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 6 max: 9 average: 7.66667

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3x Izhim abd Azrael 9 5
3x Djuhah, The Bronze Bow 7 5
2x Nizzam al-Latif 9 5
2x Joe "Boot" Hill 7 4
2x Reza Fatir 6 4

Library [90 cards]

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Action [18]
4x Haqim's Law: Leadership
4x Khabar: Glory
8x Loss
2x Web of Knives Recruit

Action Modifier [18]
5x Faceless Night
5x Lost in Crowds
8x Seraph's Second

Ally [1]
1x Ghouls of Plaza Moreria, The

Combat [12]
2x Blur
5x Selective Silence
5x Taste of Death

Master [16]
2x Alamut
1x Black Throne, The
1x Khabar: Community, The
1x Market Square
1x Underworld Hunting Ground
6x Villein
4x Wider View

Reaction [22]
7x Black Sunrise
4x Delaying Tactics
3x Foul Blood
4x Nest of Eagles
4x Truth in Ink

Retainer [3]
1x J. S. Simmons, Esq.
1x Mr. Winthrop
1x Tasha Morgan

QuicK, terse suggestions before I head to bed.

Please consider:

Tattoo Signal x2-3. Far better than Seraph's Second, it hangs around forever and can be used out of turn if needed. You have the obf to get it on too. This is the REAL reason to be a Seraph.

Add Guarded Rubrics, Robert Carter and Heidleburg. Move the bleed enhancers and blood to pay for Bobbie around to maximize the benefit. More ousts and more Alamut counters.

Find something potentially useful for those 1 million Alamut counters you'll get and your extra untaps from Tattoo and Seraph's 2nd. Black Forest Base is an easy, persistent choice.

1-2 Hide the Mind. You're really a bleed deck, stopping a bounce or two is great when crunch time comes. Almost doubles as stealth.

Night!

I think Assamites work better as a clan deck with lots of weenies or mid-caps. but paying all that extra pool for Black Hands and Seraphs gets you Truth In Ink (a great card), and Seraph's Second (a freak drive with too many restrictions - you can't even play it until you have 2 vampires out) and that's about it. and they don't even have titles.

I would probably turn this into a Flurry of Action deck for constant attack and bloat. ideally you bleed & untap, then gain 2 pool from Leadership, Reunion Kamut, or Black Forest Base. Alamut can pile up counters for Cardinal Benediction or even some KRCs. add 2x laptops to bleed for 3 consistently in the late game.

swap some delaying tactics for Confusion of the Eye, it mixes nicely with the other reactions.

I think Taste of Death is a bad combat package to rely on. WWS + Bloody Talons works better. or even Disguised guns and bows could take those card slots.

You have hit me on the right spot with this topic, Adonai!
Black hand Assamites 4/5 is a deck which i have been playing non-stop for the past 2 years, and i think i have tried every imaginable angle to them :

Stick/talons combat
Stake/strike at true flesh combat
CEL gun combat
Wall (with media locations, ministry)
Stealth/bleed (much like the one which is on twda now, only with different wachtowers, and without gehenna)
Voting (my favourite, if you are interested, i will post decklist).

1) no tattoo signal - bad thing. Tatoo signal is like a free freak drive, forever, and with 2 seraphs, and two tatoo signals, they can act 4 times, which gives you the edge over other players.
2) No watchtower? Watchtowers are bautiful. Especially my favorite Four ride forth, as it leaves your vampire untapped at the end of the turn. It saves on wakes, it leaves you ready to play truth in ink, or block, or whatever. (and with abbot, a location, and ministry, you can be pretty blocky if you desire so)
3) With all the losses, i feel you are going on a bleed route. In that case, Art of memory is invaluable, as it lets you return cards that you need into your hand. Return loss after bleed, then bleed again. Blocky predator - return needed stealth. Great stuff!
4) At least a copy or two of deeds that heart desire, and especially Blood awakening. Izhim does not pay for those, and occasionally Blood Awakening's intercept can save your skin.
5) In my experience, web of knives recruit is plain bad, and should always be replaced with embraces, or not put in at all. They take to long, and only offer basic quietus (which is as good as nothing on embrace). Plus, they cost pool.
6) Your combat package seems weak. If you have so little slots to put in combat, i would forgo it altogether, or at least go with disguised weapon/ivory bow/magnum and some pursuits/resist earth's grasp
7) You have no reunion kamut. In this deck, it is potentially much, much better than haqueem's law, as it speeds up influencing vampires. Plus, you are not screwed if somebody pulls Thetmes cross-table
8) You have Alamuts and Black Throne in, with no apparent reason. Those are great cards, but for another type of build. I would definitely switch those for Watchtower: Four ride forth, and maybe Dreams ( to fasten the influence of your vampires, and improved cardflow). If you decide to stick with selective silence/taste of death type combat, one or two Ebony fox hunts could be added. Excellent card.
9) I have a practice to ALWAYS put archon investigation in Assamite decks. You cannot bounce, let them fear the burning! Also, when they do not bleed for more than 3, your truth's in ink work much better
10) I think it is been mentioned, but Confusion of the Eye is excellent in any deck with OBF. It reduces bleed and is easily recyclable that way, and stops evil Alastor/archon/ Parity shift votes dead.
11) Yoruba shrine is a must if you are a bleeder Assamite. It stops not only rushes, but evil Banishments which can end your game when you are low on blood.

Enough for now, when Assamites are concerned, i could write novels! B)
Make the deck, play with it. Black hand assamites are versatile, interesting, and with a lot of options and various actions! You will have fun, i now i have had mine for the past 2 years (and still going strong)!
I hope that i have been of some help, at least!

@Pendargon,

Please please please shhhhhh about Art of Memory

The fewer people that are aware of that tech, the less I'll be forced to play [AUS] or [DOM].

Right now, I think there are maybe a half a dozen people on the tournament scene who really know what the value of that card is. Good. We only have to eliminate four other people and the tech is ours alone!

Thank you in advance

TryDeflectingThisGrapple wrote:

@Pendargon,

Please please please shhhhhh about Art of Memory

The fewer people that are aware of that tech, the less I'll be forced to play [AUS] or [DOM].

Right now, I think there are maybe a half a dozen people on the tournament scene who really know what the value of that card is. Good. We only have to eliminate four other people and the tech is ours alone!

Thank you in advance

No problem! The secret is safe with me!
[insert evil cackle and mustache twirling]