I haven't been playing GU much lately, but this deck seems to be really fun for me. This deck is a Strength Steal Deception Deck(according to GUDecks), and it is a really budget deck that costs around $24 currently. The WR is also 50% which is also decent. However, I would rent some more expensive cards if I want to be competitive.
Deck code: GU_1_2_IAoIAoMBVMBVIAlMBgMBgBHMKCZKCZCEQCEQGBpGBpMBcMBcMBdMBdCCgCCgCAJCAJMBjMBjPAmPAmCFQCFQBANIBy
This deck has a lot of small combos that is in this deck. Crooked Quartermaster has a lot of combos with most of the low cost creatures in this deck. But it also requires to play Guild creatures, so I'm running Iron-tooth Goblin instead of Counterfeit. You can also use Shore Leave to generate more value.
Another combo is A Toast to Peace and Sartonian Spymaster. A Toast to Peace makes the cost of Sartonian Spymaster 0 which makes it free to play.
For the 4 mana creature, you can choose to add 3/5 Frontliner that adds bombs for opponent's unused mana.
At the high cost range you have 2 Ember Oni, 2 Witherfinger and 1 Charm and Polyhymnia. Adding a 9 mana creature can be bad if you draw it early, but at the endgame it pays off.
This game is a really long battle against Nature. The opponent seems to be not playing until 5 min 30 second into the battle.
They finally play a creature, but Blade Borrower makes its strength 0. Also I use Shore Leave to return Diligent Architect and Blade Borrower back.
Guerilla training is not a really good card for me now. I use Echo of Blade borrower and play it again after playing Crooked Quartermaster and I get a Stoneskin Poison.
I use the structure from Diligent Architect and use Stoneskin Poison against the growing creature.
CTI reveals basically nothing, and I use Blade borrower since I have 2 of it. The structure's ability also gives it +3 strength.
I was planning to use A Toast to Peace but Since they gave it +2 mana this turn, I use Blade Borrower + Shore Leave combo to reduce the creature's strength. It doesn't work well against Nature and Light, but that was my move.
They get a big 8/8 but I get Shore Leave again which gives me an opportunity to reduce more creature's strength. I was able to make the 8/8 get -2 strength and make opponent's strength to 0.
Burn +6 is added to the structure and it would die in 2~3 turns. But I gave +3 strength to my 1/1 which takes down 6/8. I kill the badger using my GP and sends Blood in the Water away with second CTI.
The Badger goes to the wrong creature which makes my gameplay different than I planned to(Toast+Spymaster).
I use Hunting Trap and finally uses A Toast to Peace and plays 2 6/6.
I make a misplay which makes the enemy 5/6 alive, but I am still able to steal the enemy relic removal.
I get a free Divine Coronet from Diligent Architect, and I'm able to play the board. The next card from my opponent is not really great.
Henver is a strong end. However, against Deception it is less powerful and I have all the answer ready. Next turn I'm planning to remove the ward with Primal Guidance and kill it by Hunting Trap.
Another big 9-drop and now we're in trouble. I have a lot of single-target removal but I need to remove the ward from Henver. Instead of relying on 50% chance, I play safe with Hunting Trap and Witherfingers. Getting the Svart Basilisk from the Sanctum is also important.
Polyhymnia still dies to Henver, so I remove it by Imperious Smite. I try to take less damage by playing the last Blade Borrowers.
They have no card on their hand but they have Create GP and I only have 3 health left. I finally play Polyhymnia. Getting a Transform spell from Create such as Grass Roots is GG for me, so that was really anxious turn.
Raptune Dance clears the board. I also get +2 regen card for backup.
Blessing of Nature gives Polyhymnia more health, so I play it, and remove the enemy creature.
That 2/4 with regen deals damage to my god, so I took it down quickly. I almost milled a card by Blood and Bone, but I got Aspect of the Axolotl which is a pretty useless card for most of the time.
I really think Strength Steal Deception is the main budget option to experience control type decks since there are more 7 mana options than the other domains without using the expensive Neutrals. Only playing Aggro is not really fun when it is repeated.
