Pacta Arcana - The Yoggy Bottom Boys!

Welcome to the ninth edition of Pacta Arcana, in which we will explore the depths of deckbuilding with multiple factions in the Call of Cthulhu LCG. In each article of this series we will be looking at combining two factions (sometimes more) together to form a cohesive deck around a particular theme, combo, or strategy. This week we are treated to an article by guest writer, Wildefox.

Previously, on Pacta Arcana, we witnessed the terrifying machinations of Cthulhu and Hastur let loose upon a midnight world wrought with conspiracies and terror. This week, we take a look at the devious machinations of the mortal sorcerers in Silver Twilight, who reach out beyond the stars to draw on the limitless arcane power of Yog-Sothoth. Fueled by the powerful spells of the Lord of Time and Space (and the occasional sacrifice of one of their own members) the elite members of the Silver Twilight seek to gain power beyond the ken of their less ambitious rivals. Soon, all knees will bend before...

....The Yoggy Bottom Boys!


What do I get out of this deal

This deck is hyper focused on fielding sorcerers and casting spells. Silver Twilight gives us most of the characters that will be hitting the table, while Yog-Sothoth provides the arcane artillery. The combination of the two allows you to start winning stories early, mostly through a combination of surprise and intimidation. Being able to cast a wide variety of spells with a number of effects means that as long as at least one of your domains is left undrained, your opponents should always be worried about what arcane torment is hidden in your hand.


Key Cards



Magnus Stiles (SotM) is certainly the flashiest gentleman in the deck, and since you are almost always gaurenteed to be able to use his action he can really help you clinch those stories. However at cost five he typically comes out near the end of the match to seal the deal. The real heavy lifting is done by the nameless workhorses who serve under him (but don't tell Magnus that). Blood Magician (CoC) and Struggling Artist (TTotT) are excellent to field in the early game, and when joined by a Student of the Profane (SoM) can really lock down those first stories. Then, when their usefulness wears off, Magnus can find some ... other purpose for them.

Magical Theorist (TUP) makes it easier to play your already fairly cheap spells, while Carl Stanford (SoK) and Shadow Sorceress make sure that you never run out of magical firepower.

As far as non-character cards go, Casting off the Skin (WitD) and Fist of Yog-Sothoth (TWC) are star players. The ability to suddenly drop extra terror and combat icons on characters your opponent dismissed as a non-threat can not only help you win stories, but crush your opponents characters in the process. Dreams in Limbo (KD) and Temporal Slip (TKatG) can also manipulate the icon struggles to throw a wrench into whatever foolish plans the other side of the table puts forward.


Thoughts on Gameplay

Cast spells early and often. The deck works best by intimidating your opponent. You may only have a humble Student of the Profane (SoM) on the table in front of you, but with a Fist of Yog-Sothoth (TWC) and a Casting off the Skin (WitD) in your hand, there may be more to her than meets the eye. Of course, your opponent will only know to be afraid of your spells if you demonstrate that you have them the first chance you get. Don't worry about 'wasting' them too much, since this deck can pull spells from your discard pile relatively easily.

Try to always have at least one domain open for your opponents turn, so that they are aware that you can (and will) mess with their plans. It only costs one resource to play Dreams in Limbo (KD), after all.


The Deck

Characters (30)
Magnus Stiles (SotM) x3
Carl Stanford (SoK) x1
Erasmus Manor (TBJ) x2
Nigel St. James (TSS) x1
Mentor to Vaughn (KD) x1
Wilbur Whateley (DD) x2
High Wizard of the Order (TOotST) x3
Magical Theorist (TUP) x3
Arcane Hunter (TOotST) x2
Shadow Sorceress x2
Blood Magician (CoC) x3
Cultist of the Key (TWB) x2
Student of the Profane (SoM) x3
Struggling Artist (TTotT) x2

Support (4)
Flesh Ward (TWC) x2
Song of the Spheres (TKatG) x1
Elder Binding (AoA) x1

Events (19)
Speak to the Dead (WitD) x1
Temporal Slip (TKatG) x2
A Single Glimpse (Core) x2
Fist of Yog-Sothoth (TWC) x2
Casting off the Skin (WitD) x3
Gathering at the Stones (Core) x2
Calling Down the Ancients (SoA) x1
Vortex of Time (TKatG) x1
Journey to the Other Side (Core) x1
Dreams in Limbo (KD) x2
Dampen Light (Core) x1
Pushed into the Beyond (TbtA) x1


A few notes on the deck

• Be aggressive. Don't be afraid to expend powerful spells early on to secure initial wins, because the longer the game goes on the more likely you are to get the cards that bring those spells back to your hand.
• Erasmus Manor (TBJ) and Arcane Hunter (TOotST) are both boosted by Magnus Stiles (SotM)'s penchant for throwing underlings on the altar in the later rounds.
• Punish your opponent for comitting to stories. Temporal Slip (TKatG), Fist of Yog-Sothoth (TWC), and Casting off the Skin (WitD) can all easily ruin someone's day. The last one especially if you are playing someone who commits several characters to try and block you out.
• There is no one card, or few key cards, that are essential to win. Magnus may be great, but half the time I play this deck I've won before he shows up. The low cost non-uniques are extremely effective, especially when they can be buffed up by your spells on a whim.
• One of the best things about pulling spells out of your discard (or just overpaying for Fist of Yog-Sothoth (TWC)) is that your opponent now knows they are in your hand. That means whenever they commit characters to a story, they have to assume that you will be blasting them with magic and that changes their icon math.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the article!