Concept

Maehv’s main decks are Dying Wish and Xor, both of which use her BBS more for the fact that it’s a sacrifice effect than for any particular synergy with the Husks themselves. But Husks are actually pretty threatening in the early game, especially turns 1 and 2. This deck follows the tempo plan of powering out Husks as early as possible while they’re still relevant, and then riding them to victory, with burst damage effects to finish things off.

Cards

Bodies

• Redsteel Minos
• Primus Shieldmaster

Big fat minions. Minos should mostly be treated as a 4-drop because you really want to trigger it the turn it’s played.

Sacrifice Support

• Prophet of the White Palm

Pseudo-healing, plus random hosing of some opposing strategies (especially in Lyonar, Songhai, and Vanar). Played straight it’s a 2 mana 4/4 (which can happen as early as turn 1 with the help of Cryptographer), and of course it’s even better if you can BBS multiple times in a turn.

• Azure Horn Shaman

The key card of the deck. The toughness boost makes all your minions better, especially the Husks.

• Cryptographer

More Husks earlier on.

Removal

• Bloodtear Alchemist
• Gnasher

Bloodtear is nice as a 1-drop that can be upgraded into a 4/4, while Gnasher provides some decent AOE.

• Grasp of Agony
• Demonic Lure

Lure is the best generic Abyssian removal spell. Grasp helps with early-game tempo, which is vital since this deck really wants to grab control of the board early, while also being a way to push damage lategame.

Card Advantage

• Blaze Hound
• Bound Tormentor

Card draw that leaves behind bodies.

Finishers

• Furor Chakram

Amazing card – with just a couple of medium-sized minions, can give you complete board control.

• Saberspine Alpha

Big source of burst.

Gameplay

Play out lots of relatively large bodies early on, then rely on your burst cards to close out the game. Ideally, you want Shaman as the first thing to sac to Malice, followed up with Chakram on curve.

Upgrades

Sidegrades: actual healing (Void Pulse, Azure Herald, Healing Mystic); more big minions (Horror Burster, Sellsoul); more value minions (Sojourner, Xerroloth, Bloodtide Priestess); smaller finisher (Tiger). See https://duelspot.com/deck/2k-spirit-maehv/ for Niklaren’s similar budget build.

Upgrades: Desolator for more healing + inevitability, Revenant as a better finisher, Mirkblood Devourer as a tech choice. See https://thebadmagmar.wordpress.com/2018/05/10/deck-spotlight-tempo-maehv/ for AlphaCentury’s build.