Spirit Blossom Master Yi
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Excellent (9/10)
High Investment Required
Epic Relics
Paid Relics
Spirit Blossom Master Yi is widely considered a top-tier powerhouse capable of Turn 1 or Turn 2 kills ('OTK monster'). However, this power comes with a caveat: he is heavily reliant on specific setups. His 'fun' factor is divisive; some enjoy the 'Exodia' power fantasy, while others find the gameplay loop repetitive or 'brainless' once optimized. He requires significant investment (C4 is a major spike) and specific Epic/Paid relics to fix his high mana cost and awkward curve.
The Perfect Technique
The absolute core relic. It doubles the stats from his 'Practice Makes Perfect' and other buff spells, leading to exponential scaling on his Ephemeral units.
Essential for granting Overwhelm to his massive Ephemeral units, preventing them from being chump-blocked.
His signature relic. Reduces his high 8-mana cost, allowing him to be played much earlier to finish the game. If unavailable, use a Plunder relic like 'The Scourge's Stash'.
Strategy
This is the premier 'Exodia' build. Focus on casting 'Practice Makes Perfect' to buff your board. Secret Technique doubles these buffs, and C4 makes them permanent. By the time you drop Yi (discounted by Timehonored Blade), your units should be massive enough to end the game instantly with Overwhelm.
Triple Plunder Turbo
Reduces cost by 2 when Plunder is triggered. Stacking these allows for a Turn 1 or Turn 2 Master Yi drop.- Second copy for further cost reduction.
Alternative Plunder relic that grants stats and cost reduction. Can be replaced by a third Scourge's Stash or 'The Beast Within' if Overwhelm is needed.
Strategy
A speed-focused strategy that bypasses his high mana cost entirely. Use a 'Spell Burn' rune or cheap units to trigger Plunder, then drop Master Yi immediately. This build relies on ending the game before the lack of scaling relics becomes an issue.
Budget Beatdown
- Crucial for mana reduction to get him on the board before the game is over.
Provides Overwhelm to all units, ensuring his high-stat Ephemerals connect with the Nexus.- Additional cost reduction.
Strategy
A viable setup for players without Epic relics. Focus on triggering Plunder to play Yi, then use his high stats and the Overwhelm from Troll King's Crown to push for lethal.
Other Relic Options
A strong alternative for the third slot, providing consistency and synergy with his spell-heavy playstyle.
Situational. While it generates spells for triggers, it can clutter the hand and pool with non-synergistic cards.
Offers incredible mana acceleration but has negative synergy by killing your Ephemeral units on play unless they are buffed enough to survive.
A solid alternative to The Beast Within, granting Overwhelm and other keywords to his 1-cost Ephemeral units.
Avoid 'Stalker's Blade' or powers that grant free attacks on summon, as these can cause Spirit Blossom Master Yi to obliterate himself or his units due to board space/mechanic interactions.
Constellation
Spirit Blossom Master Yi's constellation is powerful but controversial. It is criticized for 'gating' significant Quality of Life upgrades (like 'Chosen by the Stars' for support champs) behind expensive C5 and C6 nodes. Despite this, he is functional at C3 and becomes a monster at C4.
Lesson One
Each Round, the first time you play a spell targeting only allies, animate it.
Fruits of Wisdom
+1 Starting Mana. Each round, the first time you play a spell, refill 1 spell mana.
Lesson Two
When you play a spell targeting only allies, animate it.
Can't Stop; Won't Stop
Allied buffs (except Barrier) are permanent.Review
The 'Real' Power Spike. This power makes temporary buffs permanent (except Barrier). This is crucial for his kit, allowing the massive stats from 'Practice Makes Perfect' and Hallowed buffs to stick around, turning him from a temporary burster into a scaling juggernaut.
Manaflow
Game Start: Get a mana gem.
Final Lesson
When you target an ally with a card, grant it stats equal to that card's cost.Review
Powerful but often considered 'win-more'. It grants stats equal to a card's cost when targeting allies. While strong, he is typically already winning by the time this matters if you have C4 and Secret Technique.
Gameplay Tips
Practice Makes Perfect
His champion spell is his primary win condition. Prioritize casting it whenever possible to scale your board. Aggressively cut other spells from your deck during the run to ensure you consistently draw and generate this specific spell.
Ignore the Flip
Do not focus on leveling him up as a primary goal. His Level 2 form is strong, but the game is usually won through the sheer stat-checking power of his Ephemeral units before he even needs to flip.
The Disciple of Shadows Warning
If running
disciple-of-shadows, be aware that it deals damage to allies before buffs are applied. This will instantly kill his 1/1 Ephemeral spawns unless you have other passive buffs (like Hallowed or global stat increases) to keep them alive.Drafting for Synergy
His base deck lacks targeting spells. Draft cheap spells that target allies to fuel his engine. Avoid high-cost spells that clog your hand, as his engine generates plenty of value on its own.
Plunder Management
If running Plunder relics, ensure you draft a way to deal Nexus damage easily (like the 'Prankster' rune or 'Spell Burn' effects) to guarantee you can drop him at a discount.