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The Patented Mantis Speed Deck (MSD)
By Nick Zube
Stronghold: Kyuden Yoritomo
Personalities
Doji Chomei x3
Kitsune Diro x3
Mukami
Mukami (Exp)
Ryosei (Exp)
Seppun Kossori x2
Yoritomo
Yoritomo (Exp)
Yoritomo (Exp.2)
Yoritomo Masasue x3
Holdings
Island Wharf x3
Large Farm x3
Master Smith
Pearl Divers x3
Small Farm x3
The Hiruma Dojo x3
Regions
Farmlands x3
The Otaku Meadows x3
Events
Doom of the Brotherhood
Kisada's Funeral
Restoring the Doji Treasury
Sacrifices For Our Future
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Dynasty Total: 42
Followers
Imperial Legion x3
Medium Infantry x2
Shireikan x3
Shiryo no Osano-Wo
Items
Die Tsuchi x3
Kitsuki Kaagi's Journal
The Jade Throne
Kihos
Flee the Darkness x3
Actions
Charge x3
Confusion at Court x3
Deadly Ground x3
Lies, Lies, Lies... x2
Rallying Cry x3
Strength of Purity x3
Superior Tactics x3
Test of Might x3
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Fate Total: 40
Sure, this deck could be better if it was shifted for Open, or even Jade Extended, play. But that's when every faction starts to get better. Strict Jade is where this deck excels the most, simply because it can take better advantage of the weaknesses of the Lion and other military Clans.
A deck with three copies of Doji Chomei, as well as all the Yoritomos, may not seem like a "speed deck." But that's where appearances can be deceiving. With the 5 gold production of Kyuden Yoritomo, Chomei is very easy to get out: an Island Wharf, Large Farm, or Pearl Divers, along with the stronghold, gets him out cheaply. But, most of the time, you'll be able to bring him out at full price! Why? Well, first of all, there's that wonderful gal by the name of Seppun Kossori. If you get a Kossori out on turn one, by all means, bring her out as fast as possible, since she can bow to get all but three of the holdings in this deck into play with her. With Kossori and any of the 1-cost holdings described above, you'll have yourself a second-turn Chomei and three honor. That's just one away from Yoritomo! Another way is that fine holding by the name of The Hiruma Dojo, the cost reduction ability of which, combined with the 5 gold production of the stronghold, gets a full-price Chomei.
Why Chomei, you ask? Well, in a word...Strength of Purity. With his hefty-hefty 4 Force, Chomei with a SOP can steamroll over almost anybody's Provinces. Of course, there's the threat of Refugees, which is why this deck has not only Farmlands, but Otaku Meadows, giving you two sources of Follower madness, aside from the wild 'n wacky selection of Followers in the Fate deck.
But Chomei isn't the only cool cat in here. Yoritomo Masasue is a great first-turn Personality, if you don't mind tossing a few cards (many of the Followers don't mind being lost). In later turns, he can be discarded, himself, but, early on, he gives you quick defense, as well as a candidate for a Die Tsuchi. Kitsune Diro should always be a shugenja, although his high Force makes him another reason to play Die Tsuchi. Ryosei's "-" honor requirement can dig you out of a Scorpion-dug hole, although Sacrifices For Our Futures can do the same thing. And Mukami's just cheap and defensively stellar.
Then there's the real powahouse of this deck: Yoritomo. You'd be surprised how fast and easily he can come out, smooth as butter and twice as sweet. With all three versions in your deck, you're bound to get at least one sometime, and, if you need to, you can discard one in the hopes of getting another. It's quite easy to skyrocket up to 7 honor with the variety of Personlities in here and the deck's versatile gold production, so that's not a problem. Shiryo no Osano-Wo is definitely for Yoritomo, as are at least one Die Tsuchi and a Master Smith token (speaking of which, always get that sucker out with Restoring the Doji Treasuries!). You have more than enough Follower-producing cards to make him immune to Refugees, and Flee the Darkness can insure his safety from nasssty cards, like Block Supply Lines. Once Da Man is out, you can start to really move. Let Yoritomo attack alone, form the rest into a motley army, and start popping Provinces like there's no tomorrow. Oh, and Kitsuki Kaagi's Journal belongs on Yoritomo (can't have arrows hitting the Mantis Man, now can we?), but only after he's suitably pumped up.
In Jade Extended or Open, there are all sorts of cards you can include to make the MSD even more effective. Crushing Attack is a given. Forced March can just rock. The Mantis Toys, the Battle Standard, Yoritomo's Armor, and the Ancestral Weapons, may be included in lieu of Die Tsuchis. Isawa's Helm is a tad more economical than Kitsuki Kaagi's Journal. And you should never, ever forget Mantis Samurai, which give you a mini-Otaku Palaces against that Unicorn player. Experiment. Have fun. And tell me how you do.