Combat Chains that Don't Fit on the Mat

Hello everyone, Ashlyn here! Coming at you with another Fai-related… Article!? Today, I will discuss all things Fai when it comes to Nationals Season. We’re gonna get you up to speed on decklists, matchups, and how the meta might shake up for our favorite, fiery boy. But first, I think an introduction is in order :)

Wait, Content Creators can Play!?

If Nationals weekend was your first exposure to my lovely self, hello! But if not, then you probably know me from my YouTube channel (AshlynV3). My Flesh and Blood journey began around the time Part the Mistveil released, but I got my first real start on Fai after purchasing some marvel Phoenix Flames at the Rosetta World Premiere. After the 2025 Road to Nationals Season, I ended up with a Fai build that I was really proud of. I turned on the camera, yapped about it, and the rest is history. Although my upload schedule could use some work… all of my competitive energy as of late has been solely focused on Fai, regardless of meta viability. So my reason for picking Fai for US Nats was laughably simple: He’s my favorite! That doesn’t mean I didn’t have any inkling of the raw power of this hero. Every game I played and every iteration of the decklist I constructed kept pointing to the conclusion that Fai was a serious meta contender. Apparently, a Minnesota local felt the same way. Matthew Gump and I both successfully sent Fai all the way to the final day of competition, which was on nobody's bingo card heading into the event. So, how did we get here? Let's catch ourselves up on how an old powerhouse of the meta game rose from the ashes to conquer some of the United States’ greatest competitors.