Shadow Paladin - Ildona's Chaos

Sometimes you only need to ride a unit once to know that you've found something great for yourself.  In my case, I borrowed a Shadow Paladin deck from a store employee at my locals after that day's tournament and played quite a few games with it.

Despite the fact that I usually lean toward the build with the dragons, I discovered that I don't like Phantom Blaster Dragon at all!  But I instantly took a liking to Origin Mage, Ildona.

Enough to make the damn deck apparently...

Underrated Badass

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Grade 0
1x @#%$!
4x Grim Reaper
4x Death Feather Eagle
4x Abyss Freezer
4x Abyss Healer

Grade 1
4x Black Sage, Charon
4x Gururubau
2x Witch of Nostrum, Arianrhod
4x Dark Shield, Mac Lir

Grade 2
4x Knight of Fighting Spirit, Dordona
4x Cursed Lancer
2x Skull Witch, Nemain
1x Darkness Maiden, Macha

Grade 3
4x Origin Mage, Ildona
3x Dark Mage, Badhabh Caar
1x Dark Metal Dragon
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3x Caar and 2x Nemain...yeah, I know, they're bad rides.  I'm totally dicking around here btw.
If you don't like getting abused while sitting on that, take out one of each and put in Dark Metal Dragon (or Dark Dictator) and one of many great grade 2 options this clan has.

Actually, If you want to use only Ildona's skills with your counterblasts (I prefer options), you can take out Macha for Rugos.  Vaha is another suitable alternative (she's a lot cheaper than Macha and has great card art).

VIABLE STARTER WITHOUT RIDE CHAIN?

WHAT VIABLE STARTER!??!

Not even the damn goat is good for this deck since it uses a CB, but I guess it retreats at least.

Well, my incomplete deck currently has a Blaster Dark and 4 Javelins (instead of expensive as all fuck perfect guards).

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Another deck that you really have to play to experience.  The hand...it just grows, out of nowhere.

I count the skill plusses, and it doesn't add up.  Why are my games finishing with over 10 cards in hand all the time!?

Actually, I need to examine this more closely.  It does have to do with how most guards are really optimal and non-wasteful, and how Ildona does the field replacements really well.

The deck performs very smoothly, that's for sure.