Welcome back to Meta Monday! To be completely honest, the meta game hasn’t changed much, if at all. Most, if not all, of the decks mentioned in last week's Meta Monday are still completely viable. However, I would be remiss not to highlight Scream, as it truly deserves its own spotlight—it's that good, provided you have all the necessary cards.
Instead of merely repeating what I covered in last week's article, I'll focus on the best decks to use in this meta if you're primarily a free-to-play player. This means that the decks will not include season pass cards from the last four seasons or four months. While they may include cards featured or currently in spotlight caches, I've limited the list to exclude season pass cards for now.
The good news is that there are plenty of viable options available, even without the season pass cards. So, let’s get started!
Discard
Currently, one of the best decks to be running is Discard for anyone who is just playing the game in general. Currently, a pretty cheap deck that only includes 4 cards above series 3. Discard is a powerhouse of a deck that has been and will continue to be viable for many seasons. So if you have all of the pieces and are still without the latest season pass cards, discard is the way to go.
Bullseye Discard
Discard
The best part of these decks is that they have well-defined snap conditions. Either the pieces come together, or they don’t; when they do, it’s clear to both players. This can sometimes lead to a slight loss in cube value, as opponents might retreat more often. However, in my experience, players tend to stick around against discard decks longer than they should. Honestly, this is a case of player hubris. Discard is such a well-known strategy in the game that many players think, "Why would I ever lose to such a basic deck?" In reality, discard decks win more often than people realize or are willing to admit.
Ajax/Affliction
Affliction strategies have been around for quite some time, with Ajax being a prominent contender that consistently offers impressive tools that often go unnoticed. Furthermore, Luke Cage is declining in popularity, making Affliction a more viable option. Although it is not a budget-friendly choice, as it includes multiple Series 5 cards, many of these cards have been part of the game for a while. If some are newer, decent alternatives are available.
Ajax
HE Ajax
If you happen to own Galacta, which was released four months ago, you can also try this hybrid Ajax Surfer list, which is full of surprises and fun.
Surfer Ajax
Agent Venom
Once a very common deck seen across all parts of the ladder, this low-cost yet high-powered list remains a completely viable strategy. Currently, the meta includes a lot of control via Juggernaut, Scream, Discard, and Arishem many of which do not utilize Shadow King, the main counter to this deck. These decks often rely on higher-cost cards for their power, making US Agent a solid choice that won’t negatively impact your strategy. Overall, if you have access to these cards—many of which have appeared in spotlight events or have been in the game for a while—this deck is a good option to run right now.
Agent Venom 1
Agent Venom 2
The primary advantage of this type of deck is the ability to utilize high-impact 3-cost tech cards that can be swapped out based on the deck types you are facing. This approach allows you to apply pressure with low-cost threats that strengthen over time. It enables you to be proactive, forcing your opponent to respond quickly, which can create significant pressure, especially if they have even a slightly awkward draw.
Managing priority is crucial with this style of deck; gaining or losing priority on turn 6 can be the difference between winning or losing 4 to 8 cube games.
Thanos
Historically, Thanos has been part of a heavy Series 5 deck, making it a costly option for players. However, there are performing alternatives that don’t rely heavily on hard-to-get cards. With the release of Firehair, Thanos Destroy has begun to make a slight resurgence in the meta.
It is possible to substitute some of the newer cards, such as Misery and Makkari, with more traditional Destroy cards like Venom and Lady Deathstrike. However, these cards may not synergize as effectively with Firehair. Regardless, Venom and Lady Deathstrike are relatively common cards, so if you haven’t purchased the season pass but have access to Firehair, it’s worth trying this strategy.
Destroy Thanos
If you’re not particularly keen on a Destroy deck but still want to incorporate Thanos, there is a more control-oriented deck list that has been performing well. This list is also relatively affordable, featuring only a few cards that are harder to obtain.
Control Thanos
Either way, Thanos getting a slight buff, and the myriad of new cards that have come out over the last few months. There is an option for most players to use the Mad Titan.
Other Options and Meta Health
Negative, Clog, Mill, Bounce, and Destroy are all decent options. I have even seen some Nemora combo-type decks being played that don’t include many of the new cards. The meta game is relatively healthy at the moment, as the mass popularity of certain strategies has toned down a bit over the past week. However, this is mostly because players have moved on, as the meta hasn't changed much in recent weeks.
There really haven't been significant shifts in the meta for a while, so players are either sticking with their tried-and-true decks or experimenting with new ideas. This can be frustrating for many players, as it can either be disappointing when new strategies don't work or boring to repeatedly play the same decks week after week. What are your thoughts on the meta game? Have you tried anything new this week?