MTG thread

Now that Arena has decent eternal formats in the form of Explorer and Historic, it's a lot more fun. I can't remember the last time I played Standard. My Historic deck changes by maybe 1-4 cards with each expansion, which I of course can easily cover with wildcards.

Historic Metagame challenge has been hitting the spot today. Haven't hit 7 wins yet but I've been going infinite as far as buyin vs reward.

my current historic deck on Arena

COMPANION​

1 Yorion, Sky Nomad

PLANESWALKERS (2)​

2 Professor Onyx

CREATURES (9)​

3 Thief of Sanity
2 Murderous Rider
4 Rusko, Clockmaker

INSTANTS (25)​

3 Fatal Push
1 Erebos's Intervention'
1 March of Otherworldly Light
2 Drown in the Loch
2 Vanishing Verse
2 Argivian Welcome
2 Sheoldred's Edict
3 Absorb
3 Void Rend
3 Teferi's Contingency
3 Memory Deluge

SORCERIES (4)​

3 Supreme Verdict
1 Hour of Revelation

ENCHANTMENTS (6)​

4 Omen of the Sea
2 Phyrexian Arena

LANDS (38)​

1 Snow-Covered Island
1 Snow-Covered Plains
1 Snow-Covered Swamp
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Isolated Chapel
1 Field of Ruin
2 Castle Ardenvale
2 Castle Vantress
2 Hive of the Eye Tyrant
4 Watery Grave
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Raffine's Tower
4 Godless Shrine

84 CARDS​

SIDEBOARD​

1 Yorion, Sky Nomad
1 Fatal Push
1 Erebos's Intervention
1 March of Otherworldly Light
2 Tale's End
2 Test of Talents
1 Vanishing Verse
1 Void Rend
1 Summary Dismissal
1 Supreme Verdict
2 Day of Judgment
1 Hour of Revelation


my deck was already bloated above 60 cards before, but functional. Control decks don't always need to be exactly 60 cards, a deck that can dig for answers can be better off with a bit over the minimum. i was sitting at like... I was sitting at 67 cards (with 29 lands) and was doing well in Platinum and Diamond, so i thought fuck it... not a big fan of Yorion decks but i may as well add him in if i'm already that bloated. And it improved my deck a LOT. the only permanents worth blinking are Rusko and Omen of the Sea, but blinking Rusko a single time can be a huge board swing.

Rusko rules because it's a two for one. I don't know why I never see anyone else playing him. He's amazing. Even if they remove Rusko you've still got your clock to refresh you in a few turns. Even if they remove the Clock, you've still got a decent body on Rusko and a 2 point life swing (1 minus for them 1 plus for you) every time you cast a noncreature spell.. which is what control decks do all the time anyway,

Get a Professor Onyx and a Rusko both on the board and you're gonna win. 6 point life swing every instant and sorcery haha.

Argivian Welcome is another card that I am surprised I never see anyone else playing. Being able to add Flash to any card in your hand is very, very powerful, especially since you don't need to cast Argivian on the same turn as the spell you add Flash to. Can use Argivian welcome on turn 2 and give flash to a board wipe, and then hit opponents with an instant speed board wipe on turn 4. Can flash in Rusko on opponent end step or as a combat trick. Can give flash to Murderous Rider and flash him in from exile after he goes on his adventure, for another combat trick.

Deck can really dig for answers if you need to, between Omen of the Sea and Memory Deluge. Another reason why being over the minimum card count for the deck isn't as big of a deal with a deck like this.

Deck can also function essentially as a midrange deck if you need and get the right draw. Which is nice -- you can have the option of biding your time and controlling the opponent's board until they run out of steam, and then start going to town. OR you can go the other way and press the opponent early with creatures, and at worst force them to spend their mana on removal.

There might be better options than Thief of Sanity, but damn I love that card. i used to run Sedgemoore Witch, she might actually be a good addition...

Through most of my Magic career I've sort of built my own decks but always used netdeck lists as a guide to help me along. This deck, tho, is 100% my own, completely. And I'm very proud of it. It is probably hard to run until you get used to it. You have to really understand the metagame to be able to understand what your opponent's deck is doing. Making wrong decisions early on can lead to a quick defeat.

Another fun thing -- it's got huge potential for dramatic "comebacks" as far as the life counter is concerned. I OFTEN end up down in the 1-5 life range why my opponent is still at 20, and then set up my board and come back and beat them. Which is a really enjoyable experience. =)

Teferi's Contingency is another one that IDK why i never see anyone else playing it. it can really disrupt the opponent's game plan if you hit the right card with it.