Notes & Combos

FLEX SLOTS ARE LONEFIRE, EVENLY, AND KANZASHI

I played a slightly less optimal list on my grind to diamond, but this is the winning stack of cards.

Most decklists I've seen are trying to be too cute, in my opinion. Rosewhip, Cactus Bouncer, and Regulus can all win you games, but require you to open bonkers to set up without sacrificing too much on your end board. My testing has convinced me to leave them out until events with a sideboard.

Your goal with this deck is to put forward a board that interacts with the opponent well enough to simplify the gamestate. In a sprint, some decks will be able to output more power than you, but if you can make it a marathon? Petal, Konkon, and Sheet will carry you across the finish line.

Some notes:

If you have reason to believe the opponent has Maxx C, then just play Rikka control. Mudan, Konkon, and sheet will often get the game back to your turn. If they're coupled with a Princess or a handtrap, it's even better. Be willing to give them a draw or two if it gets you to Mudan and Konkon, but don't go throwing the Loci line into the Maxx C blender. You're normally better off passing and hoping the play comes back to you.

Second, Strenna on turn 2 is incredibly powerful. Using your second copy of Strenna to recur Sheet in a simplified gamestate is one of your most common win conditions. If you resolve Sheet twice under Konkon, you have won.

Third, Strenna is also your answer to Evenly and other board breakers. Being able to tribute her with a quick effect (Like Teardrop, for example) in response to Evenly lets you keep a second monster next to whatever you think will help most (typically Beng in my experience).

Fourth, if we don't open a special summon, our boards cap out lighter than we'd like. You can definitely win from that position, but it not only leaves us open to disruption, but if they don't have disruption, they can often play through with their resources. As such, we run 2 Loci and max out on Unexpected Dai and One for One.

Finally, Lily is an important card that can be easy to miss. If you don't make Snowdrop on turn one oftentimes you will end up needing to use Glamour to tribute an opponent's monster before it can use a negate. Lily lets you search Snowdrop when doing so. In addition, with any other plant in hand for Snowdrop to summon, she's an extra body to extend through disruptions.

Thanks for reading and enjoy.