Shizuku 419 (Akiagari Variant)

This is an improved variation of my Shizuku 419, posted here https://netrunnerdb.com/en/decklist/57120/shizuku-419

"Akiagari" translates to "Rises in the Fall." Sake is traditionally brewed in the Winter, and while some sake is best enjoyed freshly brewed others improve with a little patience. "Akiagari" sake is released in the Fall after ageing at the brewery during the Spring and Summer months. The name is both a reference to the refinement process that is time spent playtesting and a play on words on our Downfall and soon-to-be-released Uprising meta.

The game plan is to play passively early, allowing your drip cards to slowly build an economic advantage. 3x Rezeki, 1x Beth and 1x Symmetrical Visage are your early drip investments. Just one of these cards installed on turn one can net you around 15 credits over the course of the game. Installing two of them early is devastating. Don't feel bad about clicking for draw or credits; keep your focus on getting your drip cards installed and your credits up. And don't be tempted to run early against kill decks as taking a Hard Hitting News too soon will ruin your long-term goal.

When time time is right, usually after the tempo hit of scoring out a 3-pointer, hit HARD with a Diversion of Funds or two to send the corp straight to 419 credit hell. After multiple turns of dripping 3-4 credits into your account while dripping 1-2 credits away from the corp with 419 and Grant you will be at a massive economic advantage. Now that your investment has paid off, play aggressively, dripping even more with Paragon, Amina, PAD Taps and Daily Casts while you load your Turning Wheel for the win.

Here are some notes about the card choices

Swift is out. The old Shizuku deck had more early pressure in the form of 3x Inside Job, but as stated the deck is better when played passively early. With only six run events in this list Swift makes no sense. Paragon is a generally better console because it doesn't need any support cards, you only need to run which will happens plenty in the mid and late game.

Maemi is out. If you count the credits on events from the old Shizuku deck, not including Sure Gamble, we get 29. Here, that number is 20, which is not enough fuel for the mystical companion. Replacing her is 1x Beth and 1x Symmetrical Visage. Beth may seem like an odd choice given the credit denial plan but any corp worth it's salt can stay above five credits against 419. And if they can't, don't worry about Beth not dripping because you're winning the game.

Symmetrical Visage may seem like another odd choice because I haven't seen it played in some time but it works like a charm for our game plan. We are going to click for a card most turns anyway and combo'ed with The Class Act our click is now doing serious work.

Same Old Thing is out. With Maemi gone we are no longer under pressure to clear her with SoT on Sure Gamble. I have also cut power events like Embezzle and Legwork. In this build SoT is not worth the slot.

For our silver bullets, No One Home is replaced by Citadel Sanctuary, Hunting Grounds and Caldera. While installing No One Home for a zero cost Grant trigger is great, HHN protection not needed with our strategy of playing a passive early game. Using Citadel Sanctuary and Hunting Grounds to clear single tags is more effective against decks like Argus and CtM because getting out-tempo'ed is more of a threat than getting killed.

The one flexible slot is the Stimhack. With this deck's econ I don't think it is necessary. The 45th card could be better slotted as a second Special Order because when you reach the turn when you're econ allows you to play aggressively you will need your breakers installed. Or, because Stimhack is best against glacier, you could try Hernando Cortez or Baklan Bochkin.

With this deck's economy, credit denial, silver bullets and one of the best breaker suites in the game you will find that you have very few weak match-ups. No Inside Job means getting rushed is a problem, but if you can survive the early game while you build your drips you will be on your way to an overwhelmingly strong mid and late game.

Kampai!