n Haqim Royalty
Highlights
This is a toolbox deck using Banu Haqim n Princes and Justicar.
The deck revolves around Haqim's Law: Retribution to provide strong bleeds from a very heavy combat module. As most royalty builds, defense takes the form of Second Tradition: Domain for blocks.
The combat module is dreadful. Hunger of Marduk coupled with additional strikes from , can consistently empty the blood from opponents vampires, and the maneuverability should guarantee the range choice most of the time (and avoid Immortal Grapple or aggravated Claws of the Dead).
Tips & Tricks
The main weakness of the deck is its light defense. Intercept does not often go above the 2 from Second Tradition: Domain, and this might not be enough to stop well-stealthed vote or bleed decks. The absence of bounce makes bloat necessary: here Villein, Anathema and the excellent Priority Contract. Although unique, it will not stay in play for long if the target is chosen well given the heavy combat module, so it's an almost guaranteed 3 pool. It also works if the prey gets ousted (since their vampires leave the game), and it's a trifle!
Resist Earth's Grasp and Swallowed by the Night are versatile here: aside from combat, they can provide stealth and, in case the prey does not even try to block, they can be discarded to Haqim's Law: Retribution for additional bleed.
Hunter's Mark provide rushes that can be used anywhere for table control, but mostly as a countermeasure to slow down a strong predator, since Priority Contract cannot be used backwards.
Variants
The combat module varies depending on the expected meta. Psyche, Hunger of Marduk and Pursuit can be run in much more copies.
Anathema is a tricky vote to pass, and it might require sending some voters in torpor first. The deck often includes Parity Shift as en easier vote to negociate, but given the deck's dreadful reputation it might not be that much easier and the pool gain is far lower.
Another variant of this deck has been inaugured by Karl Schaefer and focuses on a lower capacity crypt. The idea is to build more of a swarm using The Embrace (Web of Knives Recruit or Third Tradition: Progeny could also be considered), and rely on a bloat with Consanguineous Boon instead of trying to block with Second Tradition: Domain or rush backwards.
Finally, it's worth mentioning there's a more political approach to this build, leading to quite a different archetype, Banu Politics.