Mercedes (B21)

## Overview

Written by: Bellac

Mercedes is a unique MC, in order to use her 5(3)’s revival skill you have to tap her and flip 2 bonds. However since the skill doesn’t have a OPT there are ways to use it more than once in a turn, primarily Tethys 3, which is what forms the basis for the burst builds of Mercedes decks. These burst variants operate in a similar way to Pelleas MC, where you go for hits in early game followed by a wave of strong low costs to finish the game on Turn 4/5. This write up will go over the 2 most consistent Tethys builds, Blue/Purple Mercedes.

## Gameplan

**General:** Burst/Aggro Mercedes Decks are built around ending the game asap, you will run out of resources fast and most decks will be able to stabilize if you fail to kill by Turn 5. Don’t be afraid to use Mercedes Crest Power to grab a Sothis from retreat should you reach 5 Bonds. With this in mind, face is the place.

**Blue:** In practice one of the best/most consistent builds for Mercedes, the game plan is to use a combination of Blue’s 1 Cost Ketes, Cordelia/Fallen F!Morgan 3(2), and Inigo to gain an overwhelming number of strong attacks on Turn 4/5. During the early turns you will be attacking with Mercedes and the 1 Cost Ketes to try and get rid of as many orbs as possible. Come Turn 4, you will want to either play Inigo, or in the case you are lacking him, play one of the 3 costs and one of the 1 costs, your plays will fully depend on your resources in hand and retreat. The big things to know for the deploy phase:

1. Inigo is one of your most important pieces, so only deploy if you have a Tethys/Cordelia in retreat, or if you have a second Inigo in hand to play next turn.
2. Never deploy Tethys first during the deploy phase unless you have no Tethys in retreat, Tethys can give a unit +20 when she is deployed to the front line and this can make the difference between hitting and missing.
3. Don’t deploy Ketes that you have in the retreat. Those ketes in hand can be crits which can make the difference between hitting and missing.

That covers the general gameplan of the Deploy phase.

During the Action phase you will be using Mercedes + Tethys to deploy a total of 4 units. At this point you have 2 choices, either go all face, which is generally the call if they are low on orbs, or clear board, which is best when they are low on cards in hand. Make sure to use Inigo’s ability to buff allies, this makes the difference between hits and misses.

**Purple:** The Purple variant is very similar to the Blue variant, the differences being having 2 Ketes + 1 archer emblem rather than 3 ketes, Galle as your only non-brown 3 cost, Gerrik instead of Inigo, and having Eliwood 5(4)as a possible 5 Bond play. Your plays will be mostly the same as Blue Mercedes, just more limited since your 1 costs have limited range. Gerrik is able to act as a pseudo second Mercedes Trigger should you lack Tethys in the Retreat, and Eliwood 5(4) can pull weaker MCs within range of your attackers.

## Strengths and Weaknesses

**Strengths:**

* Strong Early Game
* Burst Potential
* Retreat Deploying
* Brown

**Weaknesses:**

* 30 Base 1 Cost and 60 Base Main Promo
* Rhea
* B20 Lilith 2
* High Dodge MCs
* Runs out of steam fast
* Medeus
* Brown

## Key Cards

### **General**

#### B18 3 Tethys

The Main Piece for this deck to go off. Use her to Untap Mercedes to get more units deployed. In rare circumstances you can use her to untap a strong ally to punch face again.

#### B19 2 Sothis

Untap on miss, can be brought back by Mercedes in a worst case scenario. Good card.

#### B18 5(4) M!Byleth

+30 for Mercedes, can be used to either make early turns easier to hit, or increase survival in later turns.

#### P18 3(2) F!Byleth

One of the better Mercedes targets, she gives herself and a unit deployed after/at the same time as her +10.

### **Blue**

#### B14 4(3) Inigo

Tap to give a unit +20, 70 base body, he works well with Cordelia when the enemy has a frontline non-MC. He’s vital to getting hits.

#### B14 3(2) ??? (Fallen F!Morgan)

Probably the best alternative deploy to Inigo, she can sac one of your ketes that already attacked to gain +20, which Mercedes can then get back. This works best with Nowi, but can be used with Tiki if you happen to reach 5 bonds and use Sothis’ Crest Power.

#### B01 3(2) Cordelia

Untaps when it hits a unit, combine with Inigo for fun times.

### **Purple:**

#### B18 4(3) Gerik

+10 To Frontline and can bring back a 1 cost.

#### B13 5(4) Eliwood

+10 to all other frontline allies, can move enemies that have lower attack than him.

## Sample Decks

Purple Mercedes
4 Mercedes, Gentle-Auraed Holy Smile
4 Mercedes, Benevolent Soul
4 Wolt, Archer of Pherae
3 Gerik, Almighty Mad Tiger
3 Peony, Sweet Dream-Bringing Lass
4 Galle, Patriotic Black Wyvern Knight
2 Byleth (Female), Professor of Strategy (RP)
4 Byleth (Male), He Who Bears the Flames Within
4 Sothis, The Beginning
4 Tethys, Beloved Dancer
4 Myrrh, Girl of the Dragonkin
4 Fae, Innocent Dragon Girl
4 Eliwood, Blazing Knight of Valor
1 Mercedes, Kind and Cheerful Schoolgirl
MC:
1 Mercedes, Warmhearted Nun

Blue Mercedes
4 Mercedes, Gentle-Auraed Holy Smile
4 Mercedes, Benevolent Soul
3 Peony, Sweet Dream-Bringing Lass
3 Byleth (Female), Professor of Strategy (RP)
4 Byleth (Male), He Who Bears the Flames Within
4 Sothis, The Beginning
4 Tethys, Beloved Dancer
1 Mercedes, Kind and Cheerful Schoolgirl
4 ???, Mightiest Pawn of the Leal
4 Cordelia, Flawless Pegasus Knight
4 Inigo, Floral Scented Dancing Sword
4 Nowi, Long-Lived Little Dragon
4 Nah, Serious Manakete
4 Tiki, Sleeping Princess of Ancient Times
MC:
1 Mercedes, Warmhearted Nun