j Shalmath History

VDB

Highlights

This is a True Brujah j toolbox using Shalmath as a star: he uses Summon History to fetch powerful equipments and allies.

It's definitely a control deck, and maybe the "toolbox" label is a bit misleading here, although with Shalmath stacking a new tool or two every turn in an obnoxious one-man-show, it definitely feels like he has a whole toolbox he can tap in here.

Since it's a one-man-show kind of deck, Shalmath's ability to unlock is essential to the deck A&B. It's supplemented by the powerful Domain of Evernight, that can also be used at inferior ? for a dreadful combination with Outside the Hourglass, delivering a very punishing 2 aggravated damage that cannot be dodged or avoided with a combat ends.

The typical starting point of the whole thing is for Shalmath to use Summon History to go fetch Ankara Citadel. This first step greatly reduces the cost of all the other Summon History.

The cheap sidekicks in the rest of the crypt are brought in to bleed for one and finish the prey once Shalmath and his allies have cleaned up the board of any opposition.

As the whole thing is rather blood-intensive, even with Ankara Citadel, the Master module focuses on blood regeneration for Shalmath, to the point of even doubling Giant's Blood, a rare choice.

Tips & Tricks

One key combination is to fetch a damage-resistant ally like Ponticulus or Tye Cooper, then equip Shalmath with a Talbot's Chainsaw. This provides him with a useful rush, and the weapon's downside can be nullifed by putting its damage on the ally.

Remnant of the Endless Storm and Muddled Vampire Hunter are useful additional rusher to improve the overall control and dispatch the weakest minions on the table.

The Slow Withering is a smart inclusion, since Ankara Citadel, that Shalmath will get as his first action, completely nullifies the downside for him, while it stays crippling for the rest of the table.

Rewind Time is a strong counter, and its cost is eased by Ankara Citadel.

Variants

Using Majesty in the combat module is also common, since the Outside the Hourglass, Majesty, Disarm combination is an almost-guaranteed way to send someone in torpor when acting.

Some modern variants have included Emerald Legionnaire but, since its nerf in 2024, it's not viable anymore.