Oncology in reverse: a hybrid deck

Multiplayer Discussion
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So I made a “new” deck that I’m pretty darn happy with. Some inspiration goes to Schyla, who said something about Sludge Warlocks just getting greedier and greedier. Well, about the least greedy thing you can do is recklessly destroy potentially valuable cards in your deck. What if we took Waste Remover and Chaos Creation out, and still kept as much of the rest as possible while adding another combo win condition?

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2 Felstring Harp
2 Fracking
2 Miracle Salesman
1 Smokestack
2 Tour Guide
1 Void Virtuoso
2 Baritone Imp
2 Crescendo
2 Elementium Geode
2 Shallow Grave
2 Encroaching Insanity
2 Forge of Wills
2 Sludge on Wheels
2 Gloomstone Guardian
1 Ignis, the Eternal Flame
1 Imposing Abunisath
1 Pop’gar the Putrid
1 Lady Darkvein

If you’re not familiar, the Darkvein OTK is ten mana for the full version, although you can do a partial with less. You play Insanity at least once on a previous turn. On the combo turn you Darkvein, Void Virtuoso, then play two Shallow Graves to have your opponent take Fatigue damage 8 times, which is 52-68 damage. Smokestack is a backup for Shallow Grave if you have to burn one to Fracking.

Notes on specific cards:

  • Fracking: the only way the deck has to destroy Sludges on the bottom, and the only one it needs. Even when I was playing pure boring Sludge Warlock, Fracking always felt amazing when exactly two Barrels were at the bottom. Remember that this is removal so don’t cast it before Wheels if you can help it.
  • Encroaching Insanity: this card combo is actually quite strong against other Warlocks. They’re almost always running parts of the fatigue package as well, so instead of being 3 damage it’s often 5 or 7 to the face, while you gain 4. It’s not uncommon to get a surprise lethal with this.
  • Imposing Abunisath: filling the role formerly filled by Waste Remover. It’s very easy to underestimate how good this card is because even the control decks of the format normally have weapons like Staff of the Primus or Craftsman’s Hammer that they want to swing with. Plus it can delay Odyn Warrior and Naga DH OTKs a turn if you’re lucky. Taunt is very strong in this meta, it’s just a shame it isn’t on more good cards.
  • Defile: not in the deck, because it’s a Shadow spell and messes with Darkvein.

Please share any comments, criticisms, concerns, or your own experiences with this deck. :slightly_smiling_face:

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I’ve been running encroaching insanity and void virtuoso just for the mirror, cause you can catch your opponent off guard for a lot of damage if they’ve leveled up their fatigue damage.

Maybe I’ll try this version that goes all in. I feel like it might work better with the excavate package then the sludge package, tho.

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I mean, it’s a two pairs and a Legendary sludge package, and one of those pairs and the Legendary are Fracking and Pop’gar which, let’s be honest, you’re running regardless. It’s really just Sludge on Wheels giving those Frackings a little spice and fueling Pop’gar. It’s too good of a card not to run.

It’s mostly an Insanity deck with a Forge of Wills package. And Forge of Wills is another of those “too good not to run” cards.

And every Warlock deck is an Insanity deck on some level. Point me to a Warlock that doesn’t run Baritone Imp and I’ll take that back.

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https://www.vicioussyndicate.com/deck-library/warlock-decks/sludge-warlock/

Looks like the current iteration of sludge warlock on VS doesn’t run it. I don’t recall seeing it many other sludge warlocks before, tho I’ve been mercifully saved from their plague by tanking my mmr playing around at diamond 5 with deathrattle beast hunter and elemental mage.

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