Concept

The neutral core of this deck has a lot of overlap with my recent midrange Cass list, and it does play somewhat similarly, but with different faction comes a different focus. Since Songhai lacks hard removal and instead has access to versatile burn, this build eschews healing in favor of more damage sources, all of which can go face if necessary. This makes the deck worse at playing the long game and dealing with big threats, but better at closing games out quickly.

Cards

Bodies

• Cryptographer
• Shiro Puppydragon
• Ki Beholder
• Wild Tahr
• Primus Shieldmaster
• Blue Conjurer

Minions that provide decent bodies, together with some additional utility. You have a good mix of backline threats (mostly ranged units) and frontline big bodies. For the first few turns try to establish Heartseekers and Beholders in the rear, supported by Shiro. Tahr and Shieldmaster do a great job protecting them. Conjurer is your sole source of card “draw”, so try to get some value out of it the turn it’s played, but it is also your biggest base body so you need to be hitting things with it as well. You don’t have to eke out too many cards from it since you can close out games pretty fast.

Burst

• Inner Focus
• Mist Dragon Seal
• Phoenix Fire
• Killing Edge

The spells. Most require a minion on board, so try to be a little careful with your positioning so as to keep things alive. Dragon Seal is useful at all stages of the game, to rescue a unit that’s being threatened or to move a out-of-place unit into good position. Focus + Edge on a Heartseeker is your easiest of killing a large threat out-of-hand.

• Primus Fist
• Coalfist
• Dust Wailer

The minions. OK bodies on their own and good chunks of extra damage.

Gameplay

The Songhai way: control the board early, go face late. The key thing to master is the timing of when to transition.

Upgrades

Stronger 3-drops in Lantern Fox and Battle Panddo, better removal in Onyx Bear Seal, Sunset Paragon, and Eternity Painter.