Arcane Duels Episode 10 - Adramelech Warlock vs Johktari Beastmaster

[Coshade]

Hey guys!

We had this match a couple of weeks ago. I play the Adramelech Warlock that is using lots of imps and Nathan plays a canine creature heavy Hunting Bow build. This is his book he built from episode 4 in action! It's a really close game. Enjoy!

Let me know what you guys think. I always appreciate feedback on how I can play better.

Here is a link to the episode --------->https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ItY9lH_G8

Here is the Adramelech Warlock book I used

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Adramelech's Wife[/spellbookname]
[mage]Adramelech Warlock[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1a06]2 x  Flameblast[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFA01]1 x  Devil's Trident[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a04]2 x  Fireball[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a12]1 x  Ring of Fire[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1j12]1 x  Mana Crystal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j17]1 x  Pentagram[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j04]1 x  Battle Forge[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC02]2 x  Blood Demon[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c01]1 x  Adramelech, Lord of Fire[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC13]4 x  Wildfire Imp[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c15]1 x  Firebrand Imp[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c16]1 x  Flaming Hellion[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1e01]1 x  Bear Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e19]2 x  Ghoul Rot[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]1 x  Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE07]1 x  Rust[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE01]2 x  Adramelech's Touch[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE02]1 x  Circle of Fire[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e25]1 x  Maim Wings[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE02]1 x  Akiro's Favor[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e40]2 x  Vampirism[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e27]2 x  Marked for Death[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e09]2 x  Agony[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e04]1 x  Chains of Agony[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e31]1 x  Poisoned Blood[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e14]1 x  Enfeeble[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e20]1 x  Harmonize[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE03]1 x  Falcon Precision[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ06]1 x  Eagleclaw Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q23]1 x  Regrowth Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q15]1 x  Leather Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q10]1 x  Fireshaper Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q11]1 x  Gauntlets of Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q07]1 x  Elemental Cloak[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q06]1 x  Dragonscale Hauberk[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x  Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q08]1 x  Elemental Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ01]1 x  Adramelech's Torment[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ06]1 x  Morning Star[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ02]1 x  Bloodfire Helmet[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q14]2 x  Lash of Hellfire[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI01]1 x  Combustion[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i11]2 x  Explode[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i24]1 x  Seeking Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]2 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x  Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI05]1 x  Ignite[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i12]2 x  Force Push[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i02]1 x  Battle Fury[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]



Nathan will post his book soon. It is a revamp version from the one he made in episode 4.

Hope you guys like the video!

[sdougla2]

As the Beastmaster, I would have placed the Lair in NC or FC, then spammed Timber Wolves as quickly as possible. That would have put the Adramelech Warlock under more pressure. I probably would have opted for NC because of how strong some of the Adramelech's rush options are, but either would have allowed you to apply more pressure and given better board control than one zone from the start corner. Attacking with a few creatures at a time was the main reason that the game lasted as long as it did. You either needed to get in your opponent's face much faster or build up a stronger force to attack in concert. If you had built up a strong enough force and moved in together in a concerted attack, you could have quickly gained board dominance. In addition, you had little reason to attack piecemeal because the Beastmaster was in a stronger economic position than the Warlock as long as neither of you engaged. Bitterwood Foxes would have been a good followup after getting the more resilient wolves down. It ended up playing out well for you due to a combination of your opponent leaving vulnerable imps scattered around and rolling poorly when attacking your Bitterwood Foxes, but it wasn't the most reliable option when you did it.

As for the Adramalech Warlock, I've stated in the other thread with your build why I think the Pentagram is relatively weak. Since you were using it, you needed to start getting attacks in earlier. You needed to keep your imps together, or at least away from where they could be attacked by much stronger Bitterwood Fox attacks. Firebrand Imps would have been much stronger than Wildfire Imps in that situation because they are stronger defensively and because you need to get burns on creatures before attacking with Wildfire Imps. Wildfire Imps are good to start playing just before you're going to start stacking Burns on your target. If you're on the defensive, consider other options.

As for rules, you made a number of mistakes that I saw. You did not consistently roll the correct number of dice. I particularly noticed this with the Hunting Bow. You also placed 2 mana on the Pentagram in a round when you attacked and damaged the same creature twice. You should only get 1 in that situation. In addition, you let the Blood Demon move out of a zone with a damaged Living enemy creature in order to attack a creature in a different zone, ignoring the restriction on Bloodthirsty.

[Wise fool]

Can't wait to watch this once I'm done with work.  Keep the videos coming.  If I only get to play once every two months, at least I get to watch a match every week this way.

[Mystery]

I just add, if you want to play pentagram and burn stacking start with firebrand imps first or maybe an helion if mana allows on some following turns. And later wildfire ones, as was suggested by sdougla
 If you want to go wildfire directly (maybe not best idea), forget bloodfire first and set something with curse+tormet or ignite on fire, so you get +2 melee at least to use it and generate mana to pentagram
(better +2 melee direct as +1+2 maybe later and imps just garding around in the corners)

I think there are better options for a deck or playstyle but i like the idea of the build with pentagram, i thought if one could efford to add gate of hell to further push your swarm like idea. But not an awesome tourney build


There where some mistakes, but i wrote most in the youtube channel directly

[krj]

i would wear armor if i were Warlock. You did good that you cast damage barrier but more armor against quite a lot of creatures would help too. i didn't play Adramelech Warlock yet, but i wonder if there was occasion to transfer some burn on different creatures? for example from timber wolf to opposite Mage? he was going to die anyway (i know that is not game changer but i think good option for next games).

[Intangible0]

Here's the revamp of the Pack Master build from episode four, and obviously the one I used in episode 10.

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname][/spellbookname]
[mage]Johktari Beastmaster[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1a09]1 x  Jet Stream[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA02]1 x  Force Hammer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a08]1 x  Geyser[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNA01]2 x  Acid Ball[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1j10]1 x  Lair[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1w02]2 x  Wall of Stone[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ10]1 x  Stranglevine[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1w04]1 x  Wall of Thorns[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1J01]1 x  Rajan's Fury[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j22]2 x  Tanglevine[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC02]1 x  Dire Wolf[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c04]5 x  Bitterwood Fox[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c29]1 x  Redclaw, Alpha Male[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c38]4 x  Timber Wolf[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1e32]1 x  Regrowth[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE02]1 x  Akiro's Favor[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]1 x  Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e20]1 x  Harmonize[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e25]1 x  Maim Wings[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e09]1 x  Agony[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e14]1 x  Enfeeble[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e36]1 x  Rhino Hide[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e01]2 x  Bear Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e07]1 x  Cobra Reflexes[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e21]1 x  Hawkeye[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE06]1 x  Lion Savagery[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e16]1 x  Force Hold[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]1 x  Nullify[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ02]2 x  Hunting Bow[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ06]1 x  Eagleclaw Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q07]1 x  Elemental Cloak[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q06]1 x  Dragonscale Hauberk[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI06]1 x  Defend[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i15]1 x  Knockdown[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]2 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i04]1 x  Charge[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i03]1 x  Call of the Wild[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i23]2 x  Rouse the Beast[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i10]1 x  Evade[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x  Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]2 x  Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i14]1 x  Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i12]2 x  Force Push[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

[Mystery]

I'd add leather gloves and another tanglevine for the strangelvine

what you do vs lord of fire?

[Biblofilter]

Another great video! Thanks a lot.

I liked this mostly because of all the positioning, movement and timing issues.

I did think the early lone wolf attack was a pretty bad start for the Jokhtari Beastmaster.
Moving into combat against a guarding mage equiped with lash of hellfire, which still had´nt used her action seemed suicidal. Especial when there was still another imp nearby who also had´nt used its action, the Beastmaster did´nt really need to attack but could just summon her bow and start firing.

I know the rolls where in favor of the beatmaster, but there did´nt seem to be much the warlock could do vs the hunting bow. I guess Explode showed its weakness here - 17 mana to cast a dissolve+flame blast at once.

Wall of Fire might have helped in the Warlocks spellbook - with flying creatures and flame immune creature it seems to help.

[Coshade]

@Sdougla - Thanks for the response. I think I am going to stray away from using Imps because of things we talked about in the other tread. The rules catching is always helpful! Hopefully I'll get all the rules right in one game someday

@Wise Fool - Once every two weeks! I'm sorry man. Thanks for the positive response.

@Mystery - I agree with you that my equipment choices were not the best. The curse and Torment combo is probably where I will stop comboing. I think I really should have gone more armor. I've been looking at the build up it takes to get Wildfire Imps going and I just don't really like them in comparison to the Firebrand Imps. The teleport is really nifty but they just dont give the kind of punch I'm looking for. I tried out Gate to Hell in a bunch of matches. The cost was just way to much to make it worth using. I suppose against a Druid it could have it's uses but otherwise I would prefer the 6 spellbook points to be in curses or equipment.

@Krj - Yeah armor would have been really useful. I think the Demonhide might go into the book. I need to play her a lot more to get a sense of when to transfer burns. I'm finding a lot of times I don't want to risk it, and that might be my problem.

@Biblofilter - I think timing is my strength in the game, but positioning is my weakest. I can call when I need something like a Lash of Hellfire or a damage barrier. But the knowledge of when the right time to attack was really hard for me to grasp. I think right around the time my Pentagram was destroyed, I should have just teleport the enemy mage into my zone and attacked the Johktari like crazy. That would have really helped to defend against the bow attacks as well. I think I should have moved out of range of the bow most of the time.

I agree with the Wall of Fire. I might end up putting one in or a Wall of Thorns. I like explode a lot but I find it hard to use. I'll probably replace an Explode for a Dissolve

[Moloch]

There was a lot of promise in the matchup. Sadly the rolls transformed such an exciting match into a comic tragedy. The loss of the harmonised pentagram in one turn and the loss of your imp's to the hero fox was game over against all odds rigth there.
Since I watched all episodes in a rather short time I have to congratulate on the quality, it has improved much and I second the Idea with ligth colored dice for damage. 

[Mystery]

one more thing that came to my mind: isn't it better if you have all the imps to get a bear strength before the lash?
4 dice 7+ burn vs 3 dice 5+ burn but you save early 3 mana, ok dispel is 0-2 dissolve 0-1 but will the oponent use the disples if curses are expected and you probably keep the damage barrier then.

I don't know if you have enough actions gauntles of strength+bear strength net you more than just lash against non flyers (can get lash later anyway), but u get maybe early burns for imp more likely

what do you think burning tuch+bear strength vs lash of hellfire?

[sdougla2]

It might be better to cast Bear Strength on a Necropian Vampiress rather than Lash of Hellfire, but it is much better to use Lash of Hellfire than to cast Bear Strength on a 5-6 life imp. Your opponent doesn't have to Dispel the Bear Strength in that case to get rid of the damage, just kill the imp.

[Mystery]

bear strength on the mage, I know vampiress is cool, but this should be demon based and burn loving

[sdougla2]

Oh, I misunderstood what you were saying.