Crypt: 12
Matata x3
Uchenna x2
Nkule Galadima x2
Amavi x2
Kamiri wa Itherero x1
Kamiri wa Itherero (Upgrade) x2
Library: 90
Combat: 36
Devil Channel: Hands x9
Carrion Crows x12
Hidden Strength/Indomitability x6
Unflinching Persistence x3
Rolling with the Punches x6
Master: 16
Fortschritt Library x1
The Rack x1
Giant's Blood x1
Mapatano Utando x1
Trophy: Hunting Ground x1
Trophy: Retainers x1
Trophy: Clan Respect x1
Trophy: Revered x1
Trophy: Domain x1
Trophy: Library x1
Elder Library x1
Leadership Vacuum x1
Tension in the Ranks x1
Fame x1
Depravity x1
Protected Resources x1
Reaction: 9
Predator’s Communion x3
Familial Bond x3
Sense the Savage Way x3
Action: 13
Red List x9
Big Game x3
Wise Spider x1
Action Modifiers: 6
Freak Drive x3
Predator’s Transformation x3
Gehenna: 6
Fueled by the Heart’s Blood x1
Thirst x1
Restricted Vitae x1
NSA Trio x1
Urban Jungle x1
Anthelios, the Red Star x1
Retainers/Allies: 4
Elephant Guardian x1
Duma Rafiki x1
Jackie Therman x1
Procurer x1
Explanation:
Here we have a deck I've been working on for quite a while. It seemed to me that some of the "destined" purposes of the Akunanse were all about burning minions either in combat or via diablere of some sort. Then it occured to me that I really never made a Red List deck before, though the trophies always intrigued me. Rather, it seemed interesting because it's basically playing a few games at once, firstly to stay alive and perhaps take out your opponent, but also to Red List and burn minions while gaining trophies in the process. Anyways, here's a couple of ideas that went into this. This is the latest edition, partially inspired by the Lasombra's Red List deck.
Firstly, Gehenna Events: Fueled by the Heart's Blood combos nicely with Kamiri wa Itherero (10 cap) and the five other Gehenna cards in play. Also between Kamiri, Thirst, Restricted Vitae, smaller vampires are going to wish they were never born. Thirst + Restricted Vitae + Kamiri. Thirst burns blood off of smaller minions (capacity less than the number of Gehenna cards in play) who did not hunt in that minion phase and with Restricted Vitae Supply in play Vampires cannot hunt unless forced too, and even if they can, they have to steal it off of other minions as a (D) actions. This doesn't really matter unless you have like six Gehenna cards in play, but if you do...Kamiri (upgrade) would be an instant torpor delivery system for these poor bastards with his ability to deal 2 damage to minions as a (D) action, because chances are, if this scenario ever rises, smaller vampires will be in-stealing, stealing from larger minions controlled by the same Methesula. God bless them however if they attempt to come at your Familial Bond wielding Akunanse to sate their hunger. NSA Trio is a no brainer if you're looking for Gehenna cards to run in an Akunanse bruise deck, seeing as how Combat Ends is a weakness for them. Unfortunately it only solves this problem if someone was blocked, and only on the first round. But it's still better than nothing. Anthelios, the Red Star--aside from being another Gehenna Cards to bolster your Thirst/Fueled by the Heart's Blood-could possibly allow you to recycle your Fame if something should happen to that poor celebrity that's landed in torpor. Urban Jungle: it's like Fueled by the Heart's Blood Lite. Gives anyone who has committed diablere 2 extra votes against the Blood Hunt referendum when/if it is called. It may be all this deck would need to start eating people if Nkule Galadima is out (2 votes (Magaji) and can burn the edge for 3 votes instead of the usual 1).
Retainers: Duma Rafiki/Jacki Therman/ Elephant Guardian. Jacki Therman, I thought I'd never draft you in a deck. But with Trophy: Retainers, you make more sense than running IR Goggles for that permanent manuever, which helps nuetralize gun and flee decks with big Celerity. Get in close, Use the Duma Rafiki to make sure that that Sniper Rifle that's been bothering the piss out of you is no longer an issue (you'll have to wait until Round 2 if they blocked you, and hopefully they won't play Combat Ends on Round 2...I wish Immortal Grapple was a non-discipline card). And of course if you can manage to keep it close, there's also the damage from Elephant Guardian.
Reaction: Once the vamps are in torpor, it's a hop skip and a jump with Depravity/Predator's Transformation into making them go by by.
Combat: In case you didn't know, this deck's combat module runs on pressing and carrion crows. Carrion Crows is amazing, mostly because it's not a strike, short of Soak effects, it's hard to get around, because neither maneuvering nor dodging can escape it, and it's 2 every round, until that vampire is good and low, and then BAM, Devil Channel: Hands for the coupe de grace. Hopefully they were Red Listed first. Having this said, Matata is the star of the combat show, and that's why there's 3 in the crypt. He has 2 hand damage and an optional press every combat. He's just what the doctor ordered, because he can easily (with Hidden Strength/Devil Channel Hands) pull of 4 rounds with carrion crows (8 damage) and if he actually hits with his hands another 8 damage, and if you play your cards right, on the third round you'll drop a Devil Channel Hands and because normal damage resolves before aggravated, the carrion crows + 2 aggravated should send the largest of vampires to hell. Assuming that is you've kept Matata around through the duration with damage prevention. Unflinching persistence, one of my favorite combat cards. It's good for when they've got like 5 maneuvers in a single combat and you can't outlast them alone with presses (as range resets to close each new round unless it's been set to long for the entire combat...ewww...), you can just manuever to close and say "Gotchya bitch!"
Master: Mapatano Utando/Protected Resources. Permanent bleed reduction is almost as good as having the edge, if you're downwind if a stealth bleed deck and aren't packing bounce. Combine that with Protected Resources, which reduces the largest possible amount you can be bled for to 2, and you're all of a sudden much more viable for the long haul. Of course Protected Resources requires you to not bleed while it's in play or it goes away, but that shouldn't be a huge issue for at least a little while...because this is not first and foremost, a bleed deck. Fortschritt Library helps me pull out Fueled by the Heart's Blood as well, or the next best thing if I've already run into it. Tension in the Ranks/Fame/Leadership Vacuum: go forward power. Yes, that's right, I'd like to do more than just burn minions.
Trophy: Hunting Ground/Procurer/The Rack. Self explanatory. Keeps your minions alive longer than they would otherwise be. Also, use Familial Bonds to protected The Rack.
Let me know if I missed anything or if there's better choices out there than what I've chosen! Hopefully I can test out this build Wednesday or Friday this upcoming week and post the results here!