The Path of Lee Sin – Entry #2: Ascending the Nexus 🥋

After my first post, [**“The Path of Lee Sin – The Beginning”**](https://piltoverarchive.com/decks/view/373b90d8-ae4a-4ba8-89c3-b3a0a35bdac8), I finally took my **Lee Sin, Ascetic** deck to its first real test — my very first **Nexus Night**. I went **2 Wins, 1 Draw**, finishing **3rd out of 22 players**, and learned a ton about how the deck performs under pressure. As a reminder: this entire deck is being built **only from cards I personally pull from packs, or trade and buy locally** — from friends, players at the shop, and other Nexus Night participants. No Cardmarket, no TCGPlayer — just real trades and real luck. --- ## The Matches It was my first tournament ever, so the first round went a bit slow — I had to read quite a few of my opponent’s cards 😄 But once I got into the rhythm, everything started to click. - **Round 1 – Draw vs. Viktor:** Both sides played carefully and defensively until the match went to time. - **Round 2 – Win vs. Lee Sin (Mirror Match):** The mirror was a real battle of timing and patience, but I managed to secure the win. - **Round 3 – Win vs. Kai’Sa:** A fast and aggressive match — I adapted quickly and took control of the board. --- ## Deck Overview The list I used for this Nexus Night is the one from my first post: 👉 [View the original Nexus Night decklist here](https://piltoverarchive.com/decks/view/373b90d8-ae4a-4ba8-89c3-b3a0a35bdac8) The list attached to this post is **not the one I used at the event**, but rather the **updated version I built afterward** — based on what I learned during those matches and the new cards I managed to **trade for or pull** since then. --- ## 🔁 Post-Event Deck Changes ### ➕ Added - **+2 Lee Sin, Ascetic** (now 3 total) - **+1 Qiyana, Victorious** - **+1 Sett, Brawler** - **+1 Zhonya’s Hourglass** - **+1 Clockwork Keeper** - **+1 Spirit’s Refuge** ### ✂️ Removed - **-1 Lee Sin, Centered** - **-1 Rune Prison** - **-3 Meditation** - **-1 Challenge** - **-1 Wizened Elder** --- ## 💡 Sideboard Strategy **Against Kai’Sa and similar spell-heavy decks:** My *Lee Sin, Ascetic* often gets removed instantly, so I need to rush the field and hold it. For that matchup, I side in **Lee Sin, Centered** and **Stand United** to keep my attackers strong and maintain board control. **Against Viktor and similar board spam decks:** I bring in **Flurry of Blades** — I really wish I had more copies of this card. It’s one of the few tools that lets me apply pressure through reactive decks. --- ## Reflections This Nexus Night was a true milestone. I learned how *Ascetic Lee* performs in real competition and where the deck still needs refinement. Every new card added — whether pulled from a booster or traded across the table — feels earned. There’s something special about slowly improving the deck **only through what the local community and luck provide**. The changes have made the deck more consistent, more flexible in the mid-game, and more resilient against removal-heavy matchups. *The journey continues.* *The Way of the Dragon never ends.*