Top 50 Nod in October: Chem / Drones / Jade meta deck

Every month, I analyze the decks of the Top 50 Nod and GDI players in Rivals. This is the October 2019 issue for Nod. You can find the GDI variant here.

• Please find the raw data here, incl. a full list of the decks including nicknames
• Average deck level went up by +0.1 to 14.1
• Average deck composition is 2.2 infantry (+0.1), 2.3 vehicles (-0.3), 1.2 air (+0.2) and 0.3 (+0.1) tech units. In the chart below, you can see how often decks have which unit type in the deck. As you can see, the typical deck has 2 Infantry units, 3 vehicles and 1 Air unit. In contrast to last months, no deck has 3 or more air units anymore.

Now to the main data, the unit frequency table. How to read the table below:

• "Frequency" is the share of Decks that run this unit or commander. First, the frequency in % over last months is shown. Then, a bar chart visualizes the June frequency, and a +/- number shows the change to the previous month. Lastly, there is a small line chart that shows the trend over the last 4 months.
• "Δ vs average winrate" is how the winrate decks utilizing this unit/commander deviates from the average (e.g. Fanatic decks had a 5% higher winrate compared to the average)
• "Δ vs average levels" is how the levels of decks utilizing this unit/commander deviate from average (e.g. decks utilizing the Marauders are 0.3 levels lower than the average)

Observations:

• 8 decks were the "new Jade meta deck" consisting of Militant, Lasers, Chem Troopers, Bikes, Laser Drones, Phantom and Jade
• This made Chem Warrior usage jump from 14% to 28%, Laser Drone usage jump from 12% to 26%, Phantom usage from 20% to 34%, and Jade usage from 16% to 28%
• There's calls to nerf this deck, and I tend to agree. Primarily, I'd do this by reducing Jade base damage (especially direct Catalyst missile, less the Clouds). Omeleet makes this point on reddit.
• Whilst Banshee usage dropped from 56% to 38%, Venom usage stayed constant. This makes sense as the strong Laser Drones (esp with Phantom) can take the Banshee's role. Whereas the Venom stayed popular in the 2-2-2 Aggro deck, and as a role player in some other decks.
• Bike usage increased from 86% to a record 98%. They are now often the single factory unit played, e.g. in the above-mentioned Jade deck.
• Fanatics usage stayed constant, but it's notable for it's strong win rate (5% higher than average), and it's popularity in tournaments
• Within commanders, Jade is still in third place despite the increased popularity. Oxanna is very useful for Tech decks, Giga decks, and even some aggro decks. Seth is still very powerful overall and a preferred choice for the lower-level players that make it into the Top50.
• Chem Buggy usage dropped from 30% to 14%. This might partly be driven from the nerf, and partly driven from their weakness to Laser Drones. 
• Scorpion Tank usage is at an all-time low of 36%

Click here for the GDI variant of this analysis.