Premium Budget Deck: Genesis (Iwanagahime combo)

With Premium Collection 2020 finally being released, a lot of interest in the format is being revitalized. Since the most expensive base rarity card in set is Tempest Sphere @ $10, upgrading your Prem decks right now is super cheap. Because of this, it's also a great time to get into the format. Our list today doesn't showcase its Premcolle 2020 stride, but it's still a very low-cost and efficient deck to pick up: Iwanagahime Beats!

Firstly, a brief explanation on how the deck functions. The best beater rear that the clan has access too is Iwanagahime. She can give herself upwards of 40k power (or 60k once the clan gets their respective Crit Sentinel). Our main stride is going to be last year's Premcolle stride, Amaruda Aphross. We will be utilizing both of her skills, her first one to give Iwanagahime an even fatter number, in addition to the draw and soulcharge, and then her second skill to restand Iwan and add a blanket sentinel restrict for the turn. We then extend the attacks by soulblasting Tahro with the skills of our other rears. 

In total, the deck should be swinging with a 63k 3-Crit Iwanagahime three to five times, with each attack after the first unguardable by sentinels. The deck aims to secure the combo first stride, and I've found that it usually kills if it goes off. 

Grade 3

Of course, we're running a full set of our main G3, Iwanagahime. Spiritualist Sorcerer, Croute is the other G3 that we run a set of. This card single-handedly made this deck functional when it was released. Assuming 3 soul from riding up, 5 soul from Aphross's skill, and 6 from Croute, a total of 14 soul will be achieved and Aphross is pretty much prepped. Croute doesn't have a gift, which is unfortunate, but without him Aphross's SB15 cost is almost impossible to pay. 

I also run a copy of Perseus of Probity. My list had wiggle room for another G3 and more gift ride targets are always good. His skill is pretty strong, giving you a nice +1 and usually putting either a Tahro or Valencia in soul for later. 

Grade 2

Mutsuki contests the G2 game really well with continuous pressure from Force 2. It's just all fun and games until the opponent starts trying to 1-pass guard you. 

Ulixes is the second G2 we're playing for a few reasons. Him going to soul after attack is really important, because you're going to be clearing an attack target for the opponent and it'll be more difficult for them to damage deny. Additionally, the skill itself is pretty good. 2 soul can often be the difference between being able to combo and not, so we really appreciate the attached soulcharge. Digging for more parts is always helpful in a combo deck like this, as well.

Other G2 options include Prometheus and Angelic Wiseman (V). Prometheus is similar to Ulixes, except its pro being that it gets a selective soulcharge. The cons, though, are that it soulcharges less and that doesn't tuck itself in soul, allowing your opponent to damage deny you, so we're not going to be playing it. Wiseman is an attack extender. His actual skill is pretty whatever, but it can soulblast a Tahro in the middle of the battle phase, which means another attack. I've chosen to forgo him, Astraia does his job far better. 

Grade 1

Astraia is the most important G1. It procs Tahro to restand, but it also filters, soulcharges, and adds itself to hand for extra shield. Mihikarihime is more or less filler, but V shield numbers are nice and making the SB15 cost easier is always appreciated. Valencia makes sure you have the soul to extend attacks, as Astraia needs to SB2. 

Because of the wonky trigger lineup (which I'll address in a bit), the deck needs to slot 2 Sentinels into the G1 lineup. I've opted to use Kibitsuhime in this slot. She definitely feels suboptimal to run, with Revelation on guardian circle being pretty meh. Regardless, she can swing under 7k for some damage denial in a pinch, so it isn't the absolute worst thing. 

Grade 0

something something Wiseman loop

Obviously, we have to fit in Heals. We also need to run 4 Tahro. 

Stride Fodder criticals are really good because our G3s are important rears and we don't want to be forced to discard them as a stride cost. I've opted to run Dreaming Dragon at 2. After first stride, the SB15 cost will have caused you to almost deck yourself. So, in order to keep playing the game after that first stride, Dreaming Dragon is mandatory. I've been considering dropping Derg because the deck often doesn't survive the opponent's stride turn anyway, as the deck's defenses are quite poor. Alas, I'm keeping it for now. 2 Kushinada take the last trigger slots. 

Finally, I have a spicy tech to round out the list. We're running Leyding at 3, because his toolboxing ability helps make the combo more consistent. The deck gets a massive soul first stride, and being able to call anything under the VG is incredible. Leyding usually ends up calling more Astraia to board, but also makes Dreaming Dragon at 2 much more viable.

We don't forerun Leyding, though. Still running the V starter. Draw and Quickshield are just too strong to pass up.

Grade 4

Amaruda Aphross is literally the only thing we care about, honestly. The rest of the Gzone hardly matters. Marduk rarely comes up, but there's space. Muspell and Vanargandr are our go-to CBless options. Zeroths and Progenitors exist, I guess, but far from integral. I've actually strode into the Progenitor a couple times, but forgoing him for budget is completely fine. 

                                                                                                                       

Decklist:

NOTE: This is only an example decklist and should be used as a base. I recommend that you create your own decklist through your own testing. I found this decklist to fit me, but it is up to you to find a decklist that fits you. 

Grade 0:
1x Pan of New Style

3x Fetter of Leather, Leyding

4x Witch of Big Pots, Laurier (V)

4x Dragon Ancestral Deity of Progression, Musshussu

2x Goddess of Self-Sacrifice, Kushinada (V)

2x Dreaming Dragon

4x Goddess of Sound Sleep, Tahro

Grade 1:

4x Astraia of the Full Heavens

3x Battle Maiden, Mihikarhime

4x Witch of Oranges, Valencia

2x Goddess of Fort, Kibitsuhime

Grade 2:

4x Battle Maiden, Mutsuki

4x Strong Bow of Starry Night, Ulixes

Grade 3:

4x Eternal Goddess, Iwanagahime

4x Spiritualist Sorcerer, Croute

1x Perseus of Probity

Grade 4:

3x Complete Beauty, Amaruda Aphross

1x Hero Deity of the Polar Extremity, Marduk

2x Mythical Destroyer Beast, Vanargandr

1x Ultimate Regalia of Crimson, Muspell

1x Progenitor Dragon of Total Purity, Agnos

1x Ultimate Regalia of Affection, Eir

2x Witch Queen of Accomplishment, Laurier

1x Goddess of Seven Colors, Iris

1x Sky-dome Battle Maiden, Hanasatsuki

1x Air Element, Ractome

2x Flex spots (Hellsky Fenrir, Ultima, more G Guards)

                                                                                                                       

Price: $45-60

Effectiveness: 8/10. I'm really confident with the price/effectiveness ratio this deck has, and can easily steal wins. The combo is pretty damn consistent, surprisingly. 

Competitiveness: 6.5/10.  It sucks at damage denying and sucks at being damage denied, so might not be fully suited for the competitive scene, but it can still hold it's own well enough. 

Final Words: If the combo goes off, and the opponent doesn't have a Denial Griffin (or some other battle retire), they're usually gonna be dead. Getting to that point is the only challenge this deck has.