Metagame Minute: Road to Nationals 2025, Week 4

Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads. Well, not anymore...because that's a wrap on Road to Nationals 2025! Four weeks of skull bashing, chant slinging, sword swooshing, and a whole bunch of other thematic play on words have all culminated to this. Major congratulations are due for everyone who secured their seat at the National Championship later this year. For those who missed the top cut, don't sweat it. You'll get 'em next time!

Naturally, no Road to Nationals would be complete without a massive metagame shake-up. This time, it came courtesy of the OG Purple Man, who made such a powerful showing that he ended up blasting himself into oblivion in the process. While Viserai is out vibing to sultry sonatas, the rest of the field stepped up to stake their claim at the top of the leaderboard.

Despite fewer events in this final week, Runeblade enthusiasts of all color shades can take comfort in knowing they still dominate the scene. The meta is undeniably fast-paced and aggressive, but Aurora continues to set the pace with Lightning-fast efficiency. Meanwhile, hard counters to speed demon decks like Zen and Cindra are emerging, proving that Assassin and Illusionist disruption are ever-lurking threats.

Let's take a look at the results from our final week of Road to Nationals to see who's best positioned to pave the path forward...

I Wanna Go Fast

Aurora is the embodiment of lightning and has plenty of access to creating them as well. Utilizing the resource-friendly redline Runeblade strategy originally pioneered by Briar, Aurora matches its power while also dealing more arcane damage than her Living Legend Earth/Lightning counterpart. Cards like Arc Lightning paired with a perfectly timed Flicker Wisp can quite literally combo so hard that you might think you're up against a Wizard. While her strategy focuses more on a "no blocks" mentality, it takes a very skilled pilot to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. Aurora faces a slight Ranger-esque paradox in that sense because her strongest cards tend to have the best blocking value, such as Gone in a Flash. Block and give up your powerful utility cards or take 10 to the face knowing you can dish out twice as much for zero resources?

It's not always about dropping every card in your hand and going light speed. With Nuu and Arakni relentlessly dishing out on-hit effects and a certain beefy ice wielder handing out early Christmas gifts, sometimes you need to be ready to seek Shelter from the Storm. With go-wide aggro strategies coming from other top heroes like Zen and Cindra, Aurora often faces a race to the gritty finish. Packing a few defensive options can buy you a few extra turns to set up your combo. Or you can go out like a real Runeblade and drop a Sigil of Suffering to close the game.

It's Not a Phase, Mom

Florian hasn't necessarily been on either end of the metagame since his entrance in Rosetta and that can prove beneficial for him. While most people expect Assassins or Ninjas on the other side of the table, coming across a Florian can be a bit confusing. Is this a CYB fatigue strategy? Maybe it's the OTK Runechant plan. Or maybe it's an expertly crafted midrange tactic that utilizes tall attacks when the pressure is on and wide attacks when your opponent draws a stinker hand. Such is the dichotomy of a hero who's always so caught up in their feels.

In the absence of Viserai, somebody has to keep the mauve-colored cards from getting too dusty. When Florian isn't benefiting from the effects of Decompose on his slower, taller attacks, he can exploit the lower to the ground aggressive cards that utilize Go again. Swarming Gloomveil and Runerager Swarm give credence to cards like Malefic Incantation and can leave your opponent facing down an unhealthy dose of split damage when they least expect it. With "Mordred Tide lite" woven into his DNA, he can pull off 3-cost 5's turn after turn with Grasp of the Arknight and Reaping Blade, making him more than capable of going toe-to-toe with aggressive and fatigue decks alike.

Keep Off the Grass

Verdance is one of those exceptionally unique heroes that takes a special breed to master. Much like a garden, patience is her virtue and only when the time is right will you be rewarded for your labor. At the end of the day, Verdance is still a Wizard, even if she prefers to play the long game unlike Kano or Oscilio. Setting up a Ring of Roses early game can mean consistent life gain and once her hero ability is online, the Burn Them All-style ticking time bomb is unlikely to go in your favor. Introduce Heartbeat of Candlehold into the mix and you've got yourself a little Spring themed gift exchange.

It's not always about stopping to smell the roses with Verdance. She might be elegant and graceful by nature, but she has a thirst for your demise. In a meta where Aurora and Cindra are calling the shots, disruptive arcane attacks become your bread and butter to take them down a peg. There just isn't much either can do when they're gripping a hand full of red pitch cards while you threaten to Scour their beloved auras. Stripping cards with Mind Warp might be one of those big brain meta calls into pitch-light decks who desperately want to keep their whole hand for a massive volley. Though, Verdance doesn't always have an answer for Assassins, so you'll have to get pretty crafty when timing your instant speed shenanigans against expertly timed attack reactions.

Once again, congratulations to all of our Road to Nationals winners! We can't wait to see what you cook up and bring to the table in your country's National Championship. Now the tone shifts as we approach Skirmish Season 11 where Blitz and Living Legend take precedent. And you thought you'd seen the last of Viserai...