I've been traveling for the holidays (so sorry to some of you where I missed curating your posts). I haven't been able to play much, and most of the games have been taking L's to dragon war and Atlantean magic. I've been trying to make nature work, but it just isn't (unless you have a $2k deck then it seems like it might work).
The one deck I have been having success with is HRD. I went 4-0 with a deck I ran into that was using cobra scepter. Even though I did well, it wasn't due to the random cards in that list, so I just took the odd ones out and ended up with this:
The Deck
I've hesitated to try HRD without Pyramid Wardens. I've also been trying out out the new ToF cards, and this doesn't use any. However, at a combined 6-1, I can't deny it is effective.
It also does feature one card that is new to me: Orfeo, Champion of Deception.
He was $10 when I picked him up. I never could justify buying him back when he was expensive, but he seemed like a nice addition at this price.
Of course, I'm running Shadow of Lethanon. Some significant % of the win rate comes from cheesing aggro light with Cat + Dark Knives. Every other god has answers these days, but if you can get in a few buffed swings, it's worth it.
Strategy
I've tried to take squid's advice to heart: against aggro I work to control the board first and foremost. Trading with Duelist and Armor Lurker, using Umber Arrow, etc. That was why I picked up Orfeo and added him. Having him drop in the first few turns for free can really swing the board to your favor.
This deck does sell out a bit though to try and finish fast with reach.
Also the 2x Shivs for even more reach and protected popping against magic.
I could be convinced that Lethal Prowler could be swapped out for Sneaky Bruiser (or something else). I haven't even drawn him in the 7 games I've played, so the deck can certainly win without him. Also, now that hiding enemy frontliners with your GP costs 3 mana, it's that much harder for him to hit board, hide their minion, and then go face. You don't want to be hanging around at 8 mana with this list.
Bruiser, on the other hand, stays safe for a turn hidden. Nothing can clear him on curve that I know of except nature - and as a nature player - LOL.
ToF Cards?
The only one that interests me for this list is:
However, I'm just not sure it makes the cut. It is like another Pietro, but without all the extra bodies. That makes it a dead card if you have no board - unlike Pietro.
HRD has so many reps and optimizations that I don't think it needs any new cards. It does what it does, and it does it well.
Conclusion
I don't have any gameplay due to travel, but most of us know how this deck works anyway. Especially after 's master class post on it.
If, like me, you are feeling a little beat down by the dragon/atlantean power decks, HRD might be our ticket to at least a few wins a day!