Ahrimanes Newsletter #7 01.11.05
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[ AHRIMANES NEWSLETTER ]
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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
*
