Wait?!?! Rascal Does Not Dream of Comebacks?: Kaede’s Path of Choices (Budget Remix Rascal Does Not Dream Series Budget Deck 1)

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:  4SZD8

https://decklog-en.bushiroad.com/view/4SZD8

Quick Pilot Guide:

This deck focuses on running the 8 choice package that came in the Rascal Does Not Dream Series. Early game you will want to focus on using your utility and clock to get a copy of the 1/1 event and the 1/1 Kaede assist into your Level zone. This will allow you to early play your finisher, and in close game situations trying to prevent damage in a lane by activating the event’s 2nd ability. The Level 1 combo Kaede is what I went with for this build (see below for another option you could possibly swap in), and it’s nice that she can mill through your deck and has the updated profile of this climax combo that still allows you to grab the event if you need it. The wonderful thing about the 3/2 Kaede is you can start playing your end game at Level 2. Most of the time you’ll probably be attempting to push extra damage with her combo, but there are times when you may choose when early playing her to use 1 or 2 copies of her to recoup resources and compress your deck. In piloting this build, most of your choice triggers are probably going to want to go to stock to recoup costs unless you’re really short on hand.

Budget Swap-Ins:

This Mai plays similarly to the above Kaede, but it does it by powering over things and keeping this ability on your opponent’s turn as well.

If you find yourself short on hand or looking for a way to pay out choice triggers on an attack, this Uzuki may be a good fit. On reverse on the turn she’s played you can pay a 1 stock and rest a standing character (preferably backrow) to search for any character in the deck. 

If you find yourself wanting some extra stock, this 1/0 Mai hits decent power levels on play and synergizes well with our 8 choice deck. She gives you a chance at enabling a trigger step twice to push damage and generate an extra stock.

I opted to go with a different card, but this assist can help you constantly have a salvage on board to pay out choice triggers and get back whatever you need to continue the game. Given, though, that this deck wants to have the resources to early play its end game and has a 1/1 assist to play, I opted to go for the filter pay 1, ditch 1 salvage and search characters instead.

I decided that Kaede’s combo was a better fit for the deck, but I really like this Mai’s package as a second option. The 1/0 can search her out, be a decent front row attacker, and give her power and an extra soul, she early plays with 4 or more, and she either pushes damage or recoups your hand and her stock cost. Because the 1/0 Mai is Continuous, the 2/1 does retain power cross turn and if you can get out two of the 1/0 assist a 2/1 9500 is a decent defensive power.

Budget Swap-Ins from earlier sets:

An on theme climax swap if you’d like to make this deck more Kaede focused.

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.

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. Important Note: 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.

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.

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