Hello everyone! This blog will introduce you to the Maelstrom deck.
Maelstrom is a fairly popular deck from Stoicheia that debuted in D-BT08. Plus, it’s a deck that isn’t good enough to get into the Top Tier, but this deck has a unique style and it’s a very fun deck to play. In order not to stretch further, let’s get into the matter.
Maelstrom’s Ride Line first.
Maelstrom is a pretty simple deck where it’s attacking four times or more. Typically, the Vanguard will attack the fourth battle. Along with our multi-attacking, we will receive additional abilities.
Before starting, this is a rough decklog. If the picture is not clear, you can put the code in the Bushiroad deck log website.
Code: 5ZP31
Let’s start with the protagonist of our deck, Maelstrom.
[ACT] (VC) [1/Turn]: COST [Discard a card from your hand], choose a unit card with only <Aqua Force> for its clan or a <Tear Dragon> from your soul, call it to (RC), it gets “[AUTO] (RC): When this unit attacks, if your opponent’s vanguard is grade 3 or greater, and it is the first battle of that turn, COST [Counter Blast (1)], and [Stand] this unit.” until end of turn, and at the end of that turn, put it into your soul.
[AUTO] (VC): When this unit attacks a vanguard, if it is the fourth battle of that turn or more, draw a card, choose one of your opponent’s rearguards, and retire it.
It can be seen that our Maelstrom has some abilities that are quite dependent on our rearguards. Relying on rearguards to attack allows Maelstrom to use his skills more effectively.
Let’s continue to the Ride Line.
The Ride Line that we recommend is the typical one with Theo and Algos. Theo can find Storm of Judgment and Algos checks the top 7 to find an Aqua Force or Tear Dragon and call it to RC.
The key units in this deck are Grade 3, Grade 2, and Grade 1 because they have skills that help make more rounds of attack and have better skills, each with different advantages and disadvantages. which we will introduce. The pros and cons are summarized as follows:
[AUTO](RC):At the end of the battle this unit attacked a grade 3 or greater vanguard, if it was the first battle of this turn, and your vanguard is “Flagship Dragon, Flagburg Dragon“, COST
[Soul Blast (1)], and [Stand] this unit.
[AUTO](RC):At the end of your turn, if the total number of attacks this turn is four or more, COST
[put this unit into your soul], and draw a card.
Flow Strike Brace Shooter
[CONT](RC):This unit gets [Power]+5000 for each Blue Storm Armada card in your order zone. (Active on opponent’s turn too)
[AUTO](Back Row RC):At the end of the battle your other rear-guard in the same column as this unit attacked, if you have a vanguard with “Maelstrom” in its card name, COST
[Counter Blast (1)], choose one of your rear-guards, and swap the position of this unit with that unit.
Blue Artillery Dragon, Inlet Pulse Dragon
- Pros: Skills that do not consume both SB and CB make it possible to draw a card from the deck and also fill the soul.
- Cons: Can’t stand with own skills; must use a vanguard to gain stand ability.
- Pros: Swap the position of this unit with that unit in another rearguard for 1 CB. Power up per Blue Storm Armada card in your order zone.
- Cons: To power it up, you need a Blue Storm Armada in the Order zone. Not an Aqua Force or Tear Dragon unit.
[AUTO](RC):When this unit attacks, COST
[Soul Blast (1)], choose one of your vanguards with “Maelstrom” in its card name, and it gets [Power]+5000 until end of turn.
[AUTO](RC):At the end of the battle that this unit attacked, and if it is the second battle of that turn, if you have a [Stand] vanguard with “Maelstrom” in its card name, COST
[Counter Blast (1)], [Stand] this unit.
Wheel Assault
[AUTO](RC):At the end of the battle this unit boosted, if you have a vanguard with “Maelstrom” in its card name, COST
[Soul Blast (1)], choose two of your rear-guards, and swap their positions.
- Pros: Stand with your own abilities on the second attack. Pay costs with 1 CB. Give power to Vanguard with 1 SB.
- Cons: The cost overlaps with Wheel Assault; sometimes it’s impossible to use the skill to give power to Vanguard; otherwise, then Wheel Assault can’t use its skill.
- Pros: Swap positions for 2 rear-guards with 1 SB.
- Cons: Cost overlaps with Tidal Assault; sometimes unable to switch positions for rearguards.
Besides having units that increase the number of attacks. There are other types of units that help support smoother play, such as the following cards:
Play this card if you have a vanguard with “Maelstrom” in its card name!
[AUTO]: When this card is put into your order zone, perform all of the following.
• Choose up to one unit card with only <Aqua Force> for its clan or
a <Tear Dragon> from your drop, call it to (RC).
• Choose one of your rearguards, and it gets [Power] + 5000 until end of turn for each other “Storm of Judgment” in your order zone.
Prized Trident
[AUTO] (RC): When your other unit attacks, if it is the fifth battle of this turn, [COST] [put this unit into your soul], and Counter Charge (1).
Both Storm of Judgment and Prized Trident are examples of other card types that have support skills to make the deck easier to play, such as superior calling rearguards from the drop zone, giving power, and resource management.
As for PGs (Perfect Guard), you also use Elementaria Sanctitude or not; it’s up to you. The chances of encountering decks that can triple drive are not as high as before. Because in the Box-10 meta, there is quite a variety.
Triggers in the Maelstrom deck
Triggers in the Maelstrom deck can be organized in different ways. Depending on the deck, what units are there, or the playing style of each player. The recommended ratios in this decklist are Critical 8, Heal 4, Draw 3, and Over 1.
The Critical can be a Normal Critical or Dual Pressure Dragon. Remember Algos’ skill may not always find an Inlet Pulse, Tidal Assault, or Wheel Assault. So sometimes we may want to call a trigger.
The Over Trigger can be replaced with the new Over Trigger in DSS-05 because it has one additional attack cycle, but it is a very powerful attack.
As for the draw trigger, it’s still recommended. While Maelstrom decks run the risk of deck out, adding Draws still makes it easier to find combo pieces.
[AUTO]:When this card is discarded from hand during your ride phase, COST
[Soul Blast (1) & put this card on the bottom of deck], and draw a card.
[AUTO]:When this unit is placed on (RC), if you persona rode this turn, COST
[Counter Blast (1)], and your opponent cannot intercept until end of turn. All of your opponent’s front row rear-guards cannot [Stand] during the next stand phase.
Performing Petal, Diantha
[AUTO]:When this unit is placed on (RC) from hand, if your vanguard is grade 3 or greater, COST
[Counter Blast (1)], choose a grade 3 or less card from your drop, and call it to (RC).
[CONT](RC):During your turn, if you have two or more back row grade 1 or less rear-guards, this unit gets [Power]+5000.
Shoreline Raise Dragon
[AUTO](RC):When this unit attacks, if it is the fourth battle of this turn or more, and your order zone has a Blue Storm Fleet card, this unit gets [Power]+10000, and at the end of that battle, put this unit into your soul. (This effect is mandatory)
There are also other units that I haven’t put on my deck. But those units have different benefits, so they can be adapted to each other.
[ACT](RC):COST
[Retire this unit], choose one of your rear-guards, and it gets [Power]+10000 until end of turn.
Consort Strike Brave Shooter
[AUTO](Back Row Center RC):When your rear-guard attacks, if it is the first battle of this turn, that unit gets [Power]+5000 until end of turn.
Tide Line Dragon
[ACT](RC)1/Turn:If you persona rode this turn, COST
[Soul Blast (1)], choose one of your other units, and that unit and this unit get [Power]+10000 until end of turn. (“If you persona rode” is active even if persona ride activated outside normal riding)
Conclusion
Coming to the last part and summing up the pros and cons of the deck itself.
Pros:
- It’s a deck that’s fun to play and win all the time.
- You can retire your opponent’s rearguards.
- The power is okay.
- The deck has some degree of flexibility in playing and deck building.
Cons:
- This deck isn’t as friendly to new players due to finding a balance between keeping a unit in your hand, calling a unit from your hand to attack your opponent, reading the opponent’s board and what cards to keep, etc.
- You must know your opponent’s deck or play style.
- Cost management for the next turn
Okay, that’s it for the Maelstrom deck introduction. What do you think? You guys try to play and have comments or suggestions. Feel free to share your opinions.
See you again. Have fun playing cards. Bye-bye
Rogue of the Seven Seas 