Welcome to the Flesh and Blood Classic Constructed Power Rankings, a bi-weekly update brought to you as we traverse the Road to Nationals season globally. Find out what decks are rising and what decks are falling in the metagame, keeping your finger on the pulse.

Yes, this update is three weeks after our first, but if you do want to check out the breakdown after week two you can listen to that on Arsenal Pass here where all the stats were broken down through the first two weeks in-depth!

Week four of the six weeks of Road to Nationals is now done and dusted, with just two weeks to go of the Roads season which leads into the final Monarch Constructed event, the Calling Vegas. We’re certainly seeing some shifts and a metagame solidify after a bit of a shake up post the week two results. I personally can’t believe we’re about to see the release of the next set in Tales of Aria – this Constructed season feels like it is passing at a rapid pass. So, what does the meta look like after week four? To the power rankings!

WEEK ONE RANKING: 2nd – Up One Spot

Chane shoots right up into first place, and really with a pretty clean break between himself and the peloton at this point. Week one was a shaky start, but since week two, it’s been a fairly dominant performance from the Shadow Runeblade on almost every metric of the results and shown in data we have available.

In terms of win share, Chane leads the way, taking out a staggering 35 percent of all Road to Nationals so far. That share is more than double Katsu, in second place with just shy of 17 percent win share. This has looked pretty consistent for Chane week to week, with the past weekend seeing Chane with another eight from 30 events for a 27 percent share, down on the average but still holding strong overall. From a conversion perspective Chane is turning 15.5 percent of its Top 8 spots into wins. It’s important to note though that there’s a significant number of Top 8s with multiple Chane players, so this statistic can be a little misleading if you compare it to heroes with less representation in top cuts. Regardless, it’s still an impressive number. We also have total entry and metagame data from almost half of Road to Nationals so far. In these 47 events, we see 32 percent of Chane players entering into the event make it all the way to Top 8.

The Chane decks we have seen from week one to week four have been fairly similar, although players have certainly adapted to the early control metagame with some shifts in card choice. The core of Seeds of Agony, Rift Bind, Art of War, supporting blood debt cards and a smattering of complimentary generics has remained the same. I expect we will see mostly iteration rather than overhauls of the Chane decks as we move towards the Calling Las Vegas.

Brendan Patrick – Chane, 1st Place Edmond Unplugged, Road to Nationals August 14th

1 Chane, Bound by Shadow
1 Nebula Blade
1 Aether Ironweave
1 Arcanite Skullcap
1 Carrion Husk
1 Crown of Dichotomy
1 Grasp of the Arknight
1 Snapdragon Scalers
3 Bounding Demigon (Red)
3 Command and Conquer
3 Enlightened Strike
3 Ghostly Visit (Red)
3 Howl from Beyond (Red)
3 Meat and Greet (Red)
3 Plunder Run (Red)
3 Rift Bind (Red)
3 Rip Through Reality (Red)
3 Seeds of Agony (Red)
3 Shadow Puppetry
1 Soul Reaping
3 Unhallowed Rites (Red)
3 Art of War
1 Ninth Blade of the Blood Oath
3 Rift Bind (Yellow)
3 Seeds of Agony (Yellow)
2 Seeping Shadows (Yellow)
1 Eclipse
2 Invert Existence
3 Mauvrion Skies (Blue)
3 Meat and Greet (Blue)
3 Plunder Run (Blue)
3 Seeds of Agony (Blue)
3 Shadow of Ursur
3 Unhallowed Rites (Blue)
3 Vexing Malice (Blue)

Austin Yost – Chane, 1st Place Mr Bill’s Collectible World, Road to Nationals August 21st

1 Chane, Bound by Shadow
1 Aether Ironweave
1 Arcanite Skullcap
1 Carrion Husk
1 Ebon Fold
1 Grasp of the Arknight
1 Nebula Blade
1 Snapdragon Scalers
3 Bounding Demigon (Red)
3 Command and Conquer
3 Enlightened Strike
3 Flock of the Feather Walkers (Red)
3 Howl from Beyond (Red)
3 Plunder Run (Red)
3 Rift Bind (Red)
2 Rip Through Reality (Red)
3 Seeds of Agony (Red)
3 Shadow Puppetry
1 Soul Reaping
3 Unhallowed Rites (Red)
3 Art of War
2 Ninth Blade of the Blood Oath
3 Rift Bind (Yellow)
3 Seeds of Agony (Yellow)
2 Seeping Shadows (Yellow)
1 Eclipse
3 Ghostly Visit (Yellow)
3 Invert Existence
3 Mauvrion Skies (Blue)
3 Meat and Greet (Blue)
2 Rift Bind (Blue)
3 Seeds of Agony (Blue)
3 Shadow of Ursur
3 Unhallowed Rites (Blue)
3 Vexing Malice (Blue)

WEEK ONE RANKING: 1st – Down One Spot

Katsu, the Wanderer has been a force throughout the Monarch Classic Constructed Season, although dropping that number one spot to Chane from week one of the Roads season. If we look at the numbers, Katsu ranks second for total wins in the Road to Nationals season so far with 17 percent of events. Katsu also boasts the third best entry to Top 8 conversion when we look at our 47 events with full event meta data, sitting at just over a quarter of entrants making Top 8. Where Katsu has dropped from week one significantly is in converting top cuts to wins. With just 12 percent conversion rate on Top 8 to wins, Katsu ranks number six in that metric.

We have seen a shift away from the control decks to more midrange and aggressive lists (which can be seen below). This feels like a natural transition as we see Chane rise and decks like Dash fall away somewhat. Katsu control tends to be a good solid week one choice into an unknown meta, but now that the meta is starting to really take shape, we see its entry numbers and results taking a dip. Instead, last weekend, four aggro Katsu took first place in Roads events, utilizing the ever-powerful Surging Strike, Whelming Gustwave¸ Mugenshi: RELEASE and Lord of Wind combo line, paired with the Leg Tap line and strong non-attack actions such as Plunder Run (Red), Art of War, Razor Reflex (Red) and Ancestral Empowerment.

Tyler Brotton – Katsu, 1st Place Blue Post, Road to Nationals August 14th

1 Katsu, the Wanderer
1 Breaking Scales
1 Fyendal's Spring Tunic
2 Harmonized Kodachi
1 Heartened Cross Strap
1 Mask of Momentum
1 Snapdragon Scalers
1 Time Skippers
3 Ancestral Empowerment
3 Command and Conquer
3 Enlightened Strike
3 Flic Flak (Red)
1 Fluster Fist (Red)
3 Head Jab (Red)
3 Leg Tap (Red)
1 Open the Center (Red)
2 Plunder Run (Red)
1 Pounding Gale
3 Razor Reflex (Red)
2 Rising Knee Thrust (Red)
3 Scar for a Scar (Red)
1 Sink Below (Red)
3 Snatch (Red)
3 Soulbead Strike (Red)
3 Surging Strike (Red)
3 Torrent of Tempo (Red)
3 Unmovable (Red)
3 Whelming Gustwave (Red)
2 Art of War
1 Hurricane Technique
2 Mugenshi: RELEASE
1 Salt the Wound
2 Surging Strike (Yellow)
3 Captain's Call (Blue)
3 Head Jab (Blue)
3 Lord of Wind
3 Lunging Press
2 Plunder Run (Blue)

Derek Watring – Katus, 1st Place Baseline Inc, Road to Nationals August 21st

1 Katsu, the Wanderer
1 Breaking Scales
1 Fyendal's Spring Tunic
2 Harmonized Kodachi
1 Heartened Cross Strap
1 Mask of Momentum
1 Snapdragon Scalers
3 Ancestral Empowerment
1 Blackout Kick (Red)
3 Command and Conquer
1 Crane Dance (Red)
3 Enlightened Strike
3 Flic Flak (Red)
1 Fluster Fist (Red)
3 Leg Tap (Red)
3 Plunder Run (Red)
3 Razor Reflex (Red)
3 Rising Knee Thrust (Red)
3 Scar for a Scar (Red)
3 Sink Below (Red)
3 Snatch (Red)
3 Soulbead Strike (Red)
3 Surging Strike (Red)
2 Torrent of Tempo (Red)
1 Unmovable (Red)
3 Whelming Gustwave (Red)
3 Art of War
1 Hurricane Technique
1 Leg Tap (Yellow)
3 Mugenshi: RELEASE
3 Surging Strike (Yellow)
2 Crane Dance (Blue)
2 Find Center
3 Lord of Wind
2 Lunging Press
2 Rising Knee Thrust (Blue)
3 Whelming Gustwave (Blue)

WEEK ONE RANKING: 3rd – No Change

Bravo has established himself as the premier control deck of the Monarch Classic Constructed meta, and he isn’t going anywhere. Since week one, Bravo players have continued to put up solid results. Looking at the numbers, Bravo ranks third in win shares to date at 15 percent, second in Top 8 to win conversion at 16 percent and fourth in entrants to Top 8 conversion from the 47 events with full meta data.

These Bravo decks are primarily built with the core game plan of controlling the game and managing life totals through defense reactions, a smattering of large attack actions and a heavy blue count to pay for Anothos and the attack actions when needed. The control plan looks to use cards like Sigil of Solace (Red) or Blessing of Deliverance (Red) for life gain along with Fate Foreseen (Red), Sink Below (Red) and even Staunch Response (Red) and (Blue). The plan to see out the early and midgame and take over with the power cards like Crippling Crush late game. We have also seen these lists opt for a package that can take them a bit more aggressive where needed, siding in Zealous Belting (Red) or (Yellow), Pummel (Red) and Monarch’s gift to Bravo in Rouse the Ancients.

Christopher Smith – Bravo, 1st Place The Comic Book Shop, Road to Nationals August 21st

1 Bravo, Showstopper
1 Anothos
1 Arcanite Skullcap
1 Crater Fist
1 Nullrune Boots
1 Nullrune Gloves
1 Nullrune Hood
1 Tectonic Plating
1 Time Skippers
3 Crippling Crush
3 Crush the Weak (Red)
3 Fate Foreseen (Red)
3 Sink Below (Red)
3 Spinal Crush
3 Disable (Yellow)
1 Remembrance
3 Righteous Cleansing
1 Tome of Fyendal
3 Zealous Belting (Yellow)
3 Blessing of Deliverance (Blue)
3 Buckling Blow (Blue)
3 Chokeslam (Blue)
3 Cranial Crush
3 Crush the Weak (Blue)
3 Debilitate (Blue)
3 Pummel (Blue)
3 Rouse the Ancients
3 Show Time!
2 Snag
3 Stamp Authority
3 Towering Titan (Blue)
3 Staunch Response (Blue)
3 Unmovable (Blue)

Timothy Grant – Bravo, 1st Place Most Excellent Comics and Gaming, Road to Nationals August 21st

1 Bravo, Showstopper
1 Anothos
1 Crater Fist
1 Helm of Isen's Peak
1 Ironrot Legs
1 Nullrune Boots
1 Nullrune Gloves
1 Nullrune Hood
1 Tectonic Plating
3 Blessing of Deliverance (Red)
3 Command and Conquer
3 Crippling Crush
3 Fate Foreseen (Red)
3 Sink Below (Red)
3 Spinal Crush
3 Disable (Yellow)
3 Pummel (Yellow)
3 Remembrance
3 Zealous Belting (Yellow)
3 Buckling Blow (Blue)
3 Chokeslam (Blue)
3 Cranial Crush
3 Crush the Weak (Blue)
3 Debilitate (Blue)
3 Disable (Blue)
3 Energy Potion
2 Last Ditch Effort
2 Pummel (Blue)
3 Rouse the Ancients
3 Show Time!
2 Snag
3 Stamp Authority
3 Staunch Response (Blue)
3 Towering Titan (Blue)

WEEK ONE RANKING: 5th – Up One Spot

Ser Boltyn, Breaker of Dawn has really powered on from his breakout week one and two performances to be a major meta player in Monarch Classic Constructed, currently laying claim to the second highest entry to Top 8 conversion percent right now at 26.1 percent, only being outdone by the dominance of Chane. Boltyn has also converted well on Top 8 showings, with 13 percent of those players going on to win a Road to Nationals, ranking higher than Katsu. Boltyn’s win share sits fourth at nine percent for the Roads season so far.

We’re continuing to see a mix of Raydn, Duskbane and Cintari Saber builds, with some lists even opting to have both options in the 80. Sabre builds look to generally setup a one-turn-kill finish with a combo of two or three Lumina Ascensions plus Courage of Bladehold and Gallantry Gold to swing in with each Saber three or four times for six to eight buffed attacks! Beacon of Victory has really shone as a powerful tutor effect for the combo decks and a strong source of damage for the more aggressive Raydn, Duskbane focused lists.

Boltyn still feels like it has a lot more to give and that there could be some real inroads to be made in tuning this hero ready for the Calling. Could we see Ser Boltyn continue to climb the power rankings?

Jason Lai – Ser Boltyn, 3rd Place Shuffle n Cut, Road to Nationals August 15th

1 Ser Boltyn, Breaker of Dawn
1 Raydn, Duskbane
1 Arcanite Skullcap
1 Braveforge Bracers
1 Fyendal's Spring Tunic
1 Snapdragon Scalers
3 Bolt of Courage (Red)
3 Command and Conquer
3 Courageous Steelhand (Red)
2 Cross the Line (Red)
3 Express Lightning (Red)
2 Illuminate (Red)
3 Sink Below (Red)
2 Steelblade Shunt (Red)
3 Take Flight (Red)
3 Valiant Thrust (Red)
3 Battlefield Blitz (Yellow)
3 Beacon of Victory
3 Bolt of Courage (Yellow)
3 Bolting Blade
3 Celestial Cataclysm
3 Courageous Steelhand (Yellow)
3 Express Lightning (Yellow)
3 Lumina Ascension
1 Remembrance
3 Soul Shield
3 Take Flight (Yellow)
3 V of the Vanguard
3 Valiant Thrust (Yellow)
3 Bolt of Courage (Blue)
1 Energy Potion
1 Steelblade Shunt (Blue)
3 Take Flight (Blue)

Martin Hechtberger – Ser Boltyn, 1st Place Spielraum GmbH, Road to Nationals August 21st

1 Ser Boltyn, Breaker of Dawn
1 Arcanite Skullcap
2 Cintari Saber
1 Courage of Bladehold
1 Gallantry Gold
1 Snapdragon Scalers
3 Bolt of Courage (Red)
3 Command and Conquer
3 Courageous Steelhand (Red)
3 Engulfing Light (Red)
3 Fate Foreseen (Red)
3 Illuminate (Red)
3 Sigil of Solace (Red)
3 Sink Below (Red)
3 Take Flight (Red)
3 Valiant Thrust (Red)
3 Beacon of Victory
3 Bolt of Courage (Yellow)
3 Bolting Blade
3 Celestial Cataclysm
3 Engulfing Light (Yellow)
3 Express Lightning (Yellow)
3 Lumina Ascension
3 Raging Onslaught (Yellow)
2 Remembrance
3 Soul Shield
3 Take Flight (Yellow)
3 V of the Vanguard
3 Engulfing Light (Blue)
3 Lunging Press
3 Take Flight (Blue)
3 Timesnap Potion

WEEK ONE RANKING: N/A – First Time into the Top Five

Rhinar, Reckless Rampage had a very slow start to the Road to Nationals season with just eight Top 8s in the first two weeks and a solitary win. However, weeks three and four have seen a bit of a breakout for Rhinar picking up more Top 8 appearances and three more wins. The total number of wins don’t rank Rhinar inside the top five with Dorinthea, Dash and Prism sitting higher. The impressive numbers, however, come in the conversion for Rhinar, ith a Top 8 to win conversion of 22.2 percent, ranking Rhinar in the number one spot for turning those top cuts into wins.

The Rhinar builds putting players into top cut have been fairly traditional builds, opting to field both Romping Club and a set of Mandible Claws, the former for aggro matchups and the latter for control matchups and where explosive five-card hands are the focus in pairing with Bloodrush Bellow and even Art of War. It’s very reminiscent of the Rhinar deck played by Jasin Long at New Zealand Nationals last year. The matchups in which Romping Club is played is where Barraging Beatdown becomes one of the most important cards, and in conjunction with the weapon, presents significant damage off two-card hands.

It will be interesting to see the arc of Rhinar heading towards Vegas as Chane continues to maintain its dominance, often making up over 25 percent of the field at events. Chane is traditionally a tough matchup for Rhinar, so I wouldn’t expect to see him journey up the rankings with how the wider meta is shaking out currently. However, as a day one Brute fan, I would be more than happy to be proven wrong!

Erik Baalhuis – Rhinar, 1st Place Friends and Foes, Road to Nationals 15th August

1 Rhinar, Reckless Rampage
1 Arcanite Skullcap
1 Fyendal's Spring Tunic
1 Gambler's Glove
2 Mandible Claw
1 Nullrune Gloves
1 Romping Club
1 Scabskin Leathers
3 Alpha Rampage
3 Barraging Beatdown (Red)
3 Breakneck Battery (Red)
3 Command and Conquer
3 Fate Foreseen (Red)
3 Massacre
3 Pack Hunt (Red)
3 Pulping (Red)
3 Savage Feast (Red)
3 Sink Below (Red)
1 Argh... Smash!
3 Barraging Beatdown (Yellow)
3 Barraging Big Horn (Yellow)
3 Beast Within
3 Bloodrush Bellow
1 Remembrance
3 Riled Up (Yellow)
3 Smash Instinct (Yellow)
3 Wrecker Romp (Yellow)
3 Awakening Bellow (Blue)
3 Barraging Beatdown (Blue)
2 Last Ditch Effort
2 Reckless Swing
3 Sand Sketched Plan
2 Snag
1 Tear Limb from Limb
3 Wrecker Romp (Blue)

Todd Rowe – Rhinar, 7th Place Modern Table Top Gaming, Road to Nationals August 21st

1 Rhinar, Reckless Rampage
1 Arcanite Skullcap
1 Fyendal's Spring Tunic
1 Gambler's Glove
2 Mandible Claw
1 Nullrune Gloves
1 Romping Club
1 Scabskin Leathers
3 Alpha Rampage
3 Barraging Beatdown (Red)
3 Breakneck Battery (Red)
3 Command and Conquer
3 Fate Foreseen (Red)
3 Massacre
2 Pack Hunt (Red)
3 Pulping (Red)
3 Rally the Rearguard (Red)
3 Savage Feast (Red)
3 Argh... Smash!
2 Art of War
3 Barraging Beatdown (Yellow)
3 Barraging Big Horn (Yellow)
2 Beast Within
3 Bloodrush Bellow
3 Savage Swing (Yellow)
3 Wrecker Romp (Yellow)
3 Awakening Bellow (Blue)
3 Barraging Beatdown (Blue)
3 Pummel (Blue)
3 Reckless Swing
3 Sand Sketched Plan
1 Timesnap Potion
3 Wrecker Romp (Blue)

Week four of six is complete and the Classic Constructed meta game is solidifying, with the number one question now being will Chane’s reign at the top continue into Vegas or will we see a usurper rise to the crown?

I want to give a special thanks to Davis “TowerNumberNine” Kingsley from the FAB Discord who has been putting together a summary of the Road to Nationals results, thus allowing me to present a lot of these numbers in the Classic Constructed Power Rankings.

If you are off to a Road to Nationals event this weekend, best of luck and battle hard!