After players complete the introductory questline for the new Elder Scrolls Online card game Tales of Tribute, half of the available Patrons in the game are unlocked. These are the Duke of Crows, Saint Pelin, Psijic Loremaster Celarus, and Grandmaster Delmene Hlaalu. Each deck has a unique theme, and Hlaalu is all about Coin.
Coin is vital in Tales of Tribute. Without it, players can't buy cards from the Tavern or appeal Patrons' favor. While the House Hlaalu deck in Elder Scrolls Online's new card game has trouble getting a win on its own, it can accelerate your route to victory with other Patrons thanks to its Coin-building and card acquisition effects.
Grandmaster Delmene Hlaalu: Patron Overview
- Favored: Sacrifice one of your cards in play to gain Prestige equal to its Coin cost minus 1
- Neutral: Sacrifice one of your cards in play to gain Prestige equal to its Coin cost minus 1 and Favored status
- Unfavored: Sacrifice one of your cards in play to gain Prestige equal to its Coin cost minus 1 and turn the Patron Neutral
Grandmaster Delmene Hlallu was a member of the Morrowind-based House Hlallu. Introduced with Tales of Tribute, Delmene Hlallu is described as having presided over a Golden, Gilded Age of House Hlallu towards the end of the First Era. Accordingly, their Tales of Tribute deck is rife with ways to make ridiculous amounts of Coin, as well as ways to get what you want without paying for it.
He Patron ability of Grandmaster Delemene Hlallu gives the player Prestige equal to the cost of a sacrificed card in play or in your hand minus 1. Unlike the Duke of Crows, though, this is converted directly into Prestige rather than Power, though relying on it can make your cards dry up.
Best Cards And Combos in the Hlallu Deck
|
Name |
Action Type |
Play Effect |
Combos |
Coin Cost |
Upgraded From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Currency Exchange |
Normal |
Gain 6 Coin and remove 2 Tavern cards |
2: Call on an additional Patron this turn |
7 |
N/A |
|
Ebony Mine |
Contract |
Gain 2 Coin |
3: Gain 4 Coin |
3 |
Kwama Egg Mine |
|
Hlaalu Councilor |
Agent |
Gain a Tavern card with up to 9 Coin cost |
2: Remove one card from the Tavern |
10 |
Hlaalu Kinsman |
|
House Embassy |
Normal |
Gain 7 Coin |
2: Gain a Tavern card with up to 7 Coin cost |
8 |
House Marketplace |
|
Oathman |
Agent |
Gain 2 Coin |
2: Gain a Tavern card with up to 5 Coin cost |
6 |
Hireling |
The Hlaalu deck is all about building massive amounts of Coin and getting things from the Tavern without spending any of it. This leaves plenty in the stash to spend on only the highest-tier cards and regular use of Patron abilities. The Delmene Hlaalu deck is good at supporting other decks to reach a win condition, especially when playing with Patrons who don't use Coin for their abilities like Saint Pelin or Ansei Frandar Hunding. Once the Hlaalu cards start to dry up in the Tavern (sped up by your free acquisitions), it's a good time to start leaning into another Patron.
Currency Exchange is a fantastic card that gives 6 Coin on use, and also lets you remove Tavern cards and call on additional Patrons, which can set up for a surprise win. Hlaalu Councilor and the Oathman have low Defense but great abilities that can expand your deck and hinder a Power victory for your opponent. The House Embassy gives a massive 7 Coin on use and lets the player choose a card as well. The Ebony Mine Contract card is one to use later in the game when you can reliably profit off of it - avoid it early when you can't trigger the Combo 3 effect.
Strategies And Synergies With Other Patrons
Grandmaster Delmene Hlaalu cards are incredibly effective at making money. If you can reliably get off at least 3 Hlaalu cards in a turn, chances are you're going to top 10 Coin. Lots of the cards in this deck get you things for free, too. Because of that, Hlaalu works well with Patrons that use Coin for their abilities, as its another thing to spend your Coin on rather than Tavern cards (and rather than let it go to waste).
The Duke of Crows' Patron ability lets you convert Coin to Power, which can be extremely useful late in the game. Don't get Favor from the Duke of Crows too early, as you cannot use its ability if you are Favored - wait for your opponent to garner Favor first, then you have two opportunities to spend Coin for Power. Another Patron to try is Rahjin, the Purring Liar. His Patron ability costs 3 Coin but can be used anytime with no drawbacks. Because you will generally have more Coin than your opponent with a Hlaalu deck, you can stuff their deck with Bewilderment cards each turn.
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Stadia, and Xbox One and Series X|S