Leachy19 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2025 10:10 pm
On a totally unrelated topic, I have two questions for folks given there are some collectors with some pretty impressive collections here.
1) What are your top 10 Lotrek decks of all time and what makes them stand out to you?
Your second question is much harder and I can't see myself boiling my collection down. Your first question was already hard enough.
• Venexiana Gold (1/200) - Lotrek's first attempt at hot foiling has a place in the history books. The art on the cards is wonderful and truly opened up the path for everything we know today.
• ICONS Imperial or Reverse - The amount of effort it took to make this deck a reality was painstaking and the velvet tuck adds another layer of elegance
• Liturgy Treasure (1/130) - The silver and gold on these backs are phenomenal and I remember being taken aback when I first saw them.
• Golden Oath (1/250) - This is a deck that I fell in love with when I first started collecting and I definitely overpaid for one. Nothing but foil. When I explain it to people, they don't understand at first but are wowed when they witness it.
• Damask Blue (1/120) - So much foiling and probably the most in-demand and coveted Lotrek deck to exist. I don't even know how he pulled off so much foil to the degree of accuracy needed. I can spot this tuck from a mile away and have inquired if an uncut tuck exists. I get happy every time I look at it. I sent a deck to the card guy to review and it's forever immortalized for others who may never own it to enjoy.
• Arabesque Silver (1/160) - My favorite of the series. The Japanese silver foil used is an added layer of shiny that is blinding. I'd say the pinnacle of the series.
• Silk Blue (1/380) - Probably my favorite tuck and the use of white on the art really adds a unique element I've never seen on another deck.
• Crypt (1/500) - Oh man, I've told the backstory and shown this deck to people in real life. It makes them feel special and it does for me too. I can't speak much about it but those backs are one of my favorites ever made.
• Redemption Series Vol. VIII - Mystery III Craft Edition (1/750) - I was the first person to ever see this deck in person when I visited Lotrek. I am a huge fan of the stock and honestly find this deck to be perfect minus the courts being a tad too dark.
• Royal Silk Red - Gold/Silver (Gift deck) (1/180) - Another deck I find to be perfect. The silver adds another layer to break up the monotony of the gold foil in the alternative version. It's remarkable.
Others were honorable mentions, of course, but each of these decks in the list, I open and admire from time to time and the feeling of awe does not dissipate. While I understand keeping decks sealed and the rewarding feeling of having a certain deck in one's collection, I can't fathom doing that with Lotrek. There's a few duplicates I have to try to keep some pristine. Those include the Damasks, Blue Silk, Arabesque Silver, Crypt, Golden Oath, and any deck released 2022 onward except a few Redemptions now.
@playingcardophile
. I love 99% of his stuff but not a fan of the discoloured edges.
