Wait?!?! Rascal Does Not Dream of Comebacks?: Dreaming of a Love Not on Standby (Budget Remix Rascal Does Not Dream Series Budget Deck 3)

This series strives to build with the cards from the latest Rascal Does not Dream Series Booster in English only. There’s no denying how strong Mai and the 8 Comeback (Door) trigger deck is in this set. It’s been a force to reckon with in both languages despite restriction lists. Let’s take a moment, though, to appreciate some of the other fun playable decks that can be found in this set! I will include a limited amount of bulk upgrades to consider from the other sets below, but believe it or not, Bushiroad DOES design these sets to be playable within themselves. They can always grow to be more powerful with past sets, but that’s something that can always be slowly expanded on over time!

Check out the Philosophy of the Budget Deck Remix Series here if interested!

Deck Code:   1VP0W

https://decklog-en.bushiroad.com/view/1VP0W

Quick Pilot Guide:

This Nodoka isn’t the most explosive finisher, but she can come out at Level 2 and/or dodge her on play stock cost. Her standby combo can power up the stage for a turn, and then she can swing for a finish ability on your next turn. While most standby decks prefer to be 8 standby trigger to capitalize on their effect (see below for a swap in option from an earlier set if you prefer), a Gate (Pants) trigger can often help with getting the standby triggers back in hand to reuse their ability (and help with deck consistency for the Level 2 and on game. Level 1 features the Knapsack Kid combo, which while she doesn’t have the most reliable refill hand effect, she can go to memory at the end of her attack and come back at the beginning of the next turn to either repeat the combo or to help with building resources by merely attacking. The Level 0 and Level 2 assist are making the best out of what is available in this set, so feel free to upgrade over time to something that’s a better fit from the earlier sets.

*Notes: 1.) If you don’t have access to the RR 0/0 Rio consider replacing her with two more of the search  Knapsack Kid or maybe two of one of the other cards: 0/0 R Green Rio, 0/0 Yellow Uzuki or Green Tomoe damage filter cards below in the Budget Upgrades for this set.  2.) After the 1/0 Knapsack Kid has gone to memory, if your 2nd or 3rd attacks trigger a standby trigger and your back row is full it is possible to standby into those empty slots. However, she will come back out at the beginning of the next draw phase to an empty slot, so you may have to make the decision to sacrifice another slot when she comes back out (or to let a copy of her go from memory to stage, and then play over it with the next one coming out of memory).*

Budget Swap-Ins:

Due to needing to be careful with color ratios, this Level 0 didn’t make the cut. However there’s an argument that its reverse ability can help with getting events or key cards stuck in clock to hand, and another chance from deck to color fix your clock.

This deck isn’t quite as concerned about Level up to 1 for an on reverse combo, especially since getting a Standby Climax trigger check or in hand to play can mean that you’d rather just standby in some wall characters to further your own game. Both of these can help out with mill and deck consistency if you find you need more to set up.

This Level 0 didn’t make the cut due to how much stock it’s ability costs, but the fact that it bounces itself and another character back to hand makes it a solid consideration for saving a character you want to play again and also deny on reverse effects in at least 1 lane.

This didn’t make the cut due to space and its 4 or more condition, but this Alarm 1/0 could be an interesting way to filter and draw into whatever you need to play the game.

Budget Swap-Ins from earlier sets:

A climax swap if you’re unable to get the RR 0/0 from the most recent set. Watch the color ratios if swapping in.

If you would rather filter from hand than from stage, this Kaede may be a better fit for some players. She’s basically a guaranteed brainstormer filter that can stick around on your stage or attack as necessary in a pinch after using her ability.

This Mai has a popular on play pay a stock, ditch a card from hand salvage that can also give a character +1000 power. Her on play mill effect can put salvage or standby targets into the waiting room which can also be a huge help for game set up.

These two are another option over the Kaede 1/1 as an early standby target if you prefer.

Here it is! The set’s only other Standby trigger climax and combo! It’s very common for standby decks to try to capitalize on the power of the standby effect by running 8, and this Level 1 combo Kaede from set 1 actually saw some play back in the day. While she definitely needs help if you go to Level 1 second to accomplish her on reverse effects, that’s not totally impossible with some of the updates we’ve seen to the series over time. Fun History Note: This was one of the preferred climax combos in builds for set 1's release back in the day.*

This card is a good way to control triggers or, as a first turn going first attacker, a chance to get something in your backrow for later.

If you want a more pinpoint search cost 0 to stage instead of looking at the top 5 of your deck for an Adolescence character look no further! This Shoko may be an option for some who’d like a different type of game set up option.

Finding a Level assist for this deck was actually tricky, as the set actually has gotten very little in the way of support for a solid standby assist and many of the other Level assists (including the one in this deck) better synergize with other combos in the series. These both may be solid options for various playstyles over the one included. Use the 2/1 if keeping the Gate (Pants) Trigger. Use the 1/1 if upgrading to an 8 standby build.

I’m just going to address the elephant in the room. You’ll notice that the above decklist isn’t using a traditional brianstorm, and instead is opting for a pay a stock, put this in waiting room Kaede that can check top 4 for an Adolescence character. That’s actually because in all of the sets this series has gotten, they only have 6 brainstormers total! (No wonder the 0/0 Kaede RR is so expensive!) Even though there are 2 RRs in this list, they’ve fallen to budget prices because of how powerful the new brainstormer is in this set. Any of these can work in different builds to fit different needs. The Level 0 Shoko from set 1 is actually a very good fit for both of these lists due to her ability and her blue color. Important Notes: The 0/0 yellow Kaede above is a filter brainstormer. She doesn’t plus to hand, but the flip side is you can use her ability more than once to get out of a deck jam if you have stock to burn. This was an older playstyle tactic that was popular in a different era of Weiss where refilling your hand wasn’t such a guaranteed thing, so be careful if opting to use her and pilot her. The Blue Shoko brainstormer was often paired in Set 1 with the original Level 1 on reverse standby combo. Mostly because it was the only solid brainstormer the set had, but it's second ability sometimes made a difference in that era.

Upgrades for when there’s some extra change in the wallet after payday:

Since this is a guaranteed 3 or 4 of in the main competitive deck, this Kaede is going to be a very expensive investment upgrade. When you’re ready, she’ll help even out deck consistency and climax triggers can help power up a character and set up the next trigger.

This Rio is a tech 1 in the competitive Mai list, but she still shouldn’t be too bad price wise. Her two on play abilities can let you climax swap from deck, and allows for some optional mill/filter when  she goes from stage to the waiting room. I’ve included 2 copies in this deck version, but you may wish to add more if you like how the ability plays in the deck.

This Shoko also ends up as a Tech 1 or 2 (sometimes more) in the competitive Mai list, so her price could be higher. She has some sticking power especially as a first turn attacker, as well as a useful ability to hand filter/send her to the waiting room to salvage an Adolescence character. Even just a 1 or 2 of her would be a deck upgrade worth considering.

Be sure to check out this and other Budget Remix Series possibilities at: https://level4weissschwarz.wixsite.com/lvl4ws