Flesh and Blood: What is Project Blue? + Deck Examples

Last week, LSS launched a new sector called "Legend Story Labs", centered around experimentation, tests, and introducing new formats.

To kick it off, a new format was instantly brought up, already attached to an organized tournament: Project Blue.

Project Blue (or PB, as we'll call it from now on) is the idea of a new format, still currently in a testing phase, so, everything we say in this article may change in the next few months, until its final version is released. The idea behind it is to be a budget-friendly format, but with a higher power level, particularly compared to Commoner.

This format uses Young heroes (usually with 20 life) and a 55-card deck (40 cards in the main deck plus 15 cards considering inventory, equipment, and weapons). The main difference is that all cards (including the main hero) must be common or rares.

What stood out the most to me, in particular, was the initial banlist, though.

Unlike Living Legend, when it was first developed, PB already has an extensive banlist. Keep in mind that, when a card is available in more than one color, all versions of it are banned, and that promo cards (like Go Bananas and Cracker Bauble) are also not allowed.

When you look at this list, you'll notice a few familiar suspects that also show up in other formats. Cards like Belittle (1), Stubby Hammerers, and Drone of Brutality (1) all have a problematic history in Flesh and Blood.

You'll also see cards that have already been banned in Blitz and/or Commoner and that could create problems in a format with less life involved, like Aether Ironweave, Heartened Cross Strap, and Amulet of Ice (3).

However, PB also banned a whole different set of cards, and this could make it quite unique: in fact, it banned multiple defensive tools.

Without lifegain and the best Defense Reactions (notice that this format still includes excellent Defense Reactions, like Reduce to Runechant (1) and Sigil of Suffering (1), it just doesn't have the best), the idea behind it is clear: a value-focused meta, with fast matches, and very little space for fatigue lists.

As it will be more accessible, many people in the community have compared PB to Commoner, and they're truly similar. But how will it be different, considering it includes rare cards?

Some decks won't be able to play a whole lot of new, relevant cards, but a few lists will change considerably.

Illusionist can now play an excellent array of rare auras already known in Classic Constructed. Passing Mirage (3) is one of the best tools against poppers (attacks that activate Phantasm), but this is not the only relevant aura. Essence of Ancestry: Body is great against aggressive decks, Astral Etchings (1) is one of the best aggressive cards for Enigma, and Prism can now access Light auras like Merciful Retribution.

However, the Illusionist that will benefit the most in this format is, without a question, Dromai, which now can play all 0-cost and 1-cost dragons, like Invoke Miragai and Invoke Cromai.

Decks with talents will also gain a lot in this format. Briar, for instance, can now use Rosetta's Meld cards, besides other Earth and Lightning rares.

Speaking of Runeblade, this class will be able to use incredibly strong cards, like Malefic Incantation (1), Reduce to Runechant (1), Mauvrion Skies (1), and Deathly Wail (1). This will make decks like Viserai and Vynnset a lot more viable.

Ranger and Assassin will also benefit a lot from rare cards. Ranger will be able to use the Lace cycle, Traps, and arrows like Bolt'n Shot (1), while Assassin will be able to use Shred (1), Art of Desire: Mind, Orb-Weaver Spinneret (1), and the Spike cycle. This will make heroes like Azalea, Riptide, and Arakni, Web of Deceit, a lot more viable.

This format includes a few other excellent rares for certain decks. V of the Vanguard, Snatch (1), T-Bone (1), Up Sticks and Run (1), Art of the Dragon: Fire, and Summer's Fall (1) are a few of them.

As this new format is still in the early stages, its meta isn't set in stone yet, but a few decks do come to mind when we think of a less defensive environment with such powerful rares.

Dromai

Dromai could really shine in this format. Rake the Embers (1) is banned, but Dromai can still play all the 0-cost and 1-cost dragons she played so much in Classic Constructed. Furthermore, Snatch (1) is a great addition, as are a few other new cards: Drop of Dragon Blood and Rake Over the Coals (1).

Dromai will not only be able to punish more defensive decks but also punish anyone who wants to stall the match or simply doesn't have the tools to deal with all her dragons.

Briar

We all know how strong Aurora is, but what if we used Earth and built a Briar list instead? Unlike Commoner, PB includes more cards than just "zero for four" attacks.

Lightning Press (1) and Burn Up are the main additions, but a few other cards, like Snatch (1) and Static Shock (1) (and maybe Skyzyk, even without Skyward Serenade), can be quite useful.

As this format doesn't include all Defense Reactions, we'll be able to set up our breaking points more easily, but the absence of Snapdragon Scalers and Rosetta Thorn might be too big. Still, Briar is an excellent aggro hero, and will benefit from the variety of Runeblade cards available in this format.

Ira

What if we used the best generic common and rare cards to build a deck? The good old Ira, Crimson Haze is still efficient, still with the same "Kodachi for one, Kodachi for two" strategy.

Once again, as this format doesn't include many Defense Reactions (particularly Flic Flak (1)), this Ninja will have to be even more aggressive, but that won't be an issue. Cards like Snatch (1), Bleed Out (1), and Looking for a Scrap (1) are excellent aggressive breaking points, particularly when you combine them with this hero's ability.

Project Blue is still young. A lot can change in the next few months regarding rules and bans, but, straight away, this format should be a lot more offensive, and less centered around fatigue.

Classes like Ranger, Assassin, Illusionist, and Runeblade, whose card pools were more restricted in Commoner, have a bright future ahead. A higher power level in such an accessible format like this might attract not only those who enjoy Commoner's simplicity, but also those who want to start playing without spending so much money at first.

What did you think of this new format? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!