Metagame Minute: Pro Quest: London, Week 4

And that's it for Pro Quest: London. Invites have been locked in, champions have been crowned. And yet once again the tables turn once more to bring us further surprises in the metagame.

Viserai appears out of the purple to challenge the throne, and with World Championship: Osaka only days away, this is sure to cause some unrest. Will he become the Arknight this weekend? It's impossible to tell.

The Rosetta Runeblades aren't far behind, and neither are Nuu and Enigma, holding down the Mystic fort. While Dash I/O throws a spanner in the works that's sure to keep players on their toes, the original Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire, has miraculously survived the chopping block this season. If anyone was planning on cooking something with the OG Mech for Worlds, it might be a good time to count your blessings.

The three heroes we're covering today have already been featured in Metagame Minute this season, but with World Championship: Osaka right at our doorstep, we're taking a look at where this week's Big 3 (sorry Florian, but Aurora's been top of the charts for longer) have landed...

Purple Man, Take Me by the Hand

Viserai steps into the fray this week to challenge the top spot, after a season where he was considered to be a strong deck, but not necessarily dominant. He has the advantage that there are several approaches to build, and this can drastically alter the number of avenues different heroes have to attack him. For example, some matchups he will rely on go again attacks to output aggressive turns with mad value, while other matchups he can play slow, stack up Runechants with cards like Malefic Incantation, and pump out a massive Ninth Blade of the Blood Oath. An interesting tech piece popping up lately is Amethyst Tiara, offering some instant speed arcane protection in a pinch. Those who know Viserai inside and out have the advantage here, all they need to do is make the right call.

Nuu Holds Barred

She knows the task. Find the Runeblades. Kill the Runeblades. Nuu started off in rogue deck territory this season but has carved out her position as a top deck heading into the World Championship. If Enigma players swell back into the mix then she might encounter some turbulence, but when squishy aggro/combo decks are running amok, then you can bet she'll be here to soak up the free wins. Erase Face is the all star player this season, but there are some cheeky 1-cost tech choices making it into the sideboard as a single copy to pair with Spider's Bite and/or Codex of Frailty, such as Smash Up and Eradicate.

Ride the Lightning

When we last saw Aurora in Pro Quest season she had made an instant name for herself by claiming the top spot. While she fluctuated throughout the season, Aurora has landed in a very strong position. She's a premium aggro deck with a lot of great tools such as Electromagnetic Somersault, which allows her some great defensive flexibility against disruptive decks. She also has the added benefit of not getting as hosed by Warmonger's Diplomacy as other Runeblades, and we're seeing some Aurora decks even pick up this tactic themselves. Making a name for yourself does also come at a price - it makes you a target. While Aurora's matchup spread is relatively decent, she is susceptible to decks with a certain desirable allure.

Congratulations to our final round of Pro Quest Champions! You've earned your seat at the Pro Tour gaming tables in London next year. Now we turn to Osaka as players prepare for the greatest Flesh and Blood tournament of the year...