Hi, I would like to share with you the decklist which brought me to S rank this season. I started the climb with an Arcanyst Vet and I decided to try Dervish aggro when I reached silver. The decklist is pretty similar to some others you already seen on the forums: Grinch decklist and J's decklist, but this decklist reflected better my playstyle. I wasn't sure at first if making a guide was necessary since others had already done one but each player has a different way to play his deck, his own style, so I decided to share with you the way I play with this deck.
A few words about card choices:
Siphon Energy: I chose to play this card rather than a Lightbender because I realized that the body finally wasn't very helpful and it was really good only against Vetruvian. Moreover, I use a dispel on a taunt most of the time when I'm about to finish my opponent so I thought the spell better fits in my deck rather than a minion. A few words about Ephemeral Shroud, I think it's a good compromise between Lightbender and Siphon Energy, you'll have a body on board for a reduced mana cost. Even if I never tried to run them in my list, I think they can be really good.
Why no First Wish ?: For two reasons. First because I feel that it's not as good in a dervish deck because of the structures. Then because I like to use this spell on a minion who has a "even number of health points". Here is how I see the thing when I play: I calculate how many damages a minion can put to the opponent hero. For example, a mystic (2/3) can attack twice so it can potentially put 4 damages. A Dreamgazer (2/2) can attack once so it can potentially put 2 damages. Running First Wish on the Dreamgazer rather than the Mystic is most of the time better because he'll gain one attack on the general and since this deck have almost all his minions with 1, 3 or 5 health, that's why I don't think First Wish is good enough to be include in.
Wind Shrike: As all aggro decks, the Dervish Vet tends to run out of steam pretty fast. Wind Shrike is here to cycle a card and will almost deal at least 4 damages to the face of your opponent. A really good addition when you consider a 2 turn kill.
Matchups and Mulligan
Good
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Abyssian (all archetypes): The main reason is because they have to real way to deal with STW. The recent nerf of Assassin increases even more the winrate since it's not an auto include anymore and they don't have efficient way to deal with obelysk too.
Mulligan: all two drops minions, fireblaze obelisk, sand howler, STW, one siphon energy, one rasha's curse (optional), one Second Wish (if the hand is good)
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Magmar (control/midrange): Generally, the faction is too slow and his removals cost too much. Metamorphosis is their only out to deal with a buffed Sand Howler. Watch out for an early Saberspine Tiger + Diretide Frenzy which can completely annihilate your board though !
Mulligan: all two drops minions, fireblaze obelisk, sand howler, STW, one siphon energy, one Ayamara (if the hand is good), one Second Wish (if the hand is good)
Even/Good
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Vanar (tempo): Against all factions, if you have the possibility to T1 sand howler + T2 STW, you are going to do it. Vanar is the exception. Chromatic cold will be the most annoying card for us. If your opponent use them on obelysks, it's a good thing. Vanar can snowball really fast and hit pretty hard, try to be ready for an eventual Jax with a Stars Fury or with a good positioning.
Mulligan: all two drops minions, sand howler, STW, one siphon energy, one Second Wish (if the hand is good), one Star's Fury (optional), one Saberspine Tiger to answer a potential Glacial Elemental (optional)
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Vetruvian (Dervish/Midrange): Against the Dervish archetype, you want to be able to answer a potential Sand Howler threat. Against that there's generally one answer: Saberspine Tiger. The matchup generally turns in a board control matchup. Try to set up you obelisks and denies his own ones.Try to be prepared for a potential Ayamara threat, this card can be game winning even if you have the board control.
Against midrange, you really want to push fast because Zenrui is a big threat for your obelysks and a dominate will on your own Ayamara would seal the game.
Mulligan assuming we don't know the archetype: all two drops minions, fireblaze obelysk, sand howler, STW, one siphon energy, one Second Wish (if the hand is good), one Saberspine Tiger
Even/Bad
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Songhai: the Tusk Boar is really annoying against our decks and provide the Songhai player generally a good value, you'll have to play this matchup in a more defensive way in order to protect your obelysks or Sand howler. Moreover, Songhai hits really hard and our only efficient heal is Ayamara: try to play it as fast as you can.
Mulligan: all two drops minions, sand howler, STW, one siphon energy, one Second Wish (if the hand is good), one Saberspine Tiger (optional), Ayamara (if the hand is good)
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Lyonar: the worst matchup in my opinion. The faction has good way to deal with your stuff and have great burst in the same time. Obelysks have generally a good value though and it's often tough for the Lyonar to deal with a early buffed Sand Howler.
Mulligan: all two drops minions, fireblaze obelysk, sand howler, STW, one Second Wish (if the hand is good), Ayamara (if the hand is good), Rasha's curse (optional)
Here you go, I hope you'll enjoy the list. Feel free to ask questions, suggestions ...