Which Fractured Domains starter deck should you buy?
Everyone keeps asking which Set 2 starter box to grab for release week on November 20. Every box is 63 cards with 8 foils and a playmat, so pick by how your brain likes to win.
Pick Water (STT06) if you want the cleanest first deck
Hei Lian and Rainworn Gate are 1 out of 3 complexity on the box, and the plan makes sense on game one. Puddle Abduction, Lowtide Jack, Back Alley Abductor, Gabu and Tidal Wave shove their Garden back into their Alley without letting their effects go off, and they can only portal one card a turn back out. Easy W.
At sealed release events, where your 4 booster packs can mix every element into your main deck, Rainworn Gate shrinking enemy costs sets up every cost-based removal spell you open.
Pick Earth (STT07) if you hate losing to aggro
Kaene the Reclaimer and Tanglehold Gate sit at 2 out of 3 complexity on the box. Kaene has no max health cap, so Barleytail, Thornbloom Melon and Wandering Herbalist push you past 20 life while each portal with Tanglehold Gate Roots one of their entities with base health up to the portaled entity’s Gate Power. Once their board is stuck, Wind Drawn Archer, Priestess of Sanzu and Silence clear Rooted targets one by one.
Pick Lightning (STT05) if you love setting up combos
Indra and Skyreach Gate are 3 out of 3 complexity because every turn is a setup puzzle: peek at your top card, stack a weapon there with Temple Apprentice, Nicky, Master Kuroda or Senior Disciple, Enshu, then portal so Skyreach Gate plays that weapon for 0 IKZ. When Overcharge Shiv jumps off the top of your deck for +2 attack, you feel like a genius.
Pick Fire (STT08) if you want fast games
Scarlett and Sanguine Gate are also 3 out of 3 complexity because your bodies are fragile, so sequencing matters. Swing with Alley Dog, Steel Talon, Raider Captain and Ruin Raider Grunt, deal combat damage to their leader twice, and pay 1 IKZ so Scarlett pings them for 1 more. Hit your curve and the game is over fast.
Fractured Domains is out November 20, 2026. Card text is Azuki’s; the read is ours, not an official ruling.