Mastermind's Acquisition

Sorcery

Choose one -

*Search your library for a card, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.

*Choose a card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Historic Brawl	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Modern Beyond Horizons	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (50)

kamarupa on Cumulative Fire

1 month ago

hmm, I'm not sure I see what you see, Cloudy2024. I can't know how familiar you are with the Turbo Fog archetype, but typically, it relies not just on packing a ton of Fog spells, but also a lot of draw card (usually group draw), which are an essential component to keeping your hand full of Fog spells. It's just not enough to have lots of Fogs in a deck. A deck must also have a way of getting all those fogs into our hand. There's simply no avoiding the need for land, so even if a deck had 40x Fog and 20x Land, there's a 33% chance every draw step yields a land. Which means that it's likely an opponent is going to get to hit us eventually. Unless we can draw more cards each turn. So in my mind, adding more Fog spells at the expense of draw card will actually make the deck work less well.

I did consider dropping Ghostly Prison or cutting it back to fewer copies, but that doesn't yield a lot of slots and more importantly, the advantage Ghostly Prison gives the deck is a static defense that allows us to have a chance of tapping more mana on our own turns without being completely defenseless. I'm not 100% sold on that strategy, namely because I really don't like dropping 3 mana on it, but I know it works, so the real question is how much weight can it pull in this brew.

When it comes to other non-fog spells, the most slots are devoted to Ashling, Flame Dancer and Leyline Tyrant, which are basically 33% of the combo. Without those creatures, the cumulative mana we get from Braid of Fire evaporates before we can use it to cast Banefire at Sorcery speed. Since neither red nor white really have anything I'm aware of for creature tutoring, there's no way I can see cutting them.

I really don't like Idyllic Tutor as it's not only quite narrow in a deck that requires more than just an Enchantment to win, but it also costs 3 to cast. At least with Ghostly Prison we can a static defense. With Idyllic Tutor, we get a single use out of that 3 mana while also exposing the card we need, which, in many cases, won't get cast until the next turn. If I could grab anything and not reveal it (like Mastermind's Acquisition, I could see the possible value of adding more tutors. But it's just too inefficient to add more tutors that are so specific. I'd have to devote space in the deck for Sorcery, Enchantment, and Creature tutors. Which bring us back to the value of simple card advantage spells. I need all the spells in the deck. United Battlefront gets us slightly closer than Idyllic Tutor, but still misses on creatures (and my essential creatures are too big anyway). So my verdict is still out on that spell, but I'd likely not choose to run a full set if I thought there was even room for it at all.

I suppose I could try to run more creatures like Kami of False Hope and go the Tocasia's Welcome route, but that seems... I dunno... convoluted.

So to sum up - in my mind, "focus[ing] more on the strategy of the deck is probably the opposite of what you suggested - not more fog and white control spells but less. I could drop the Fog spells altogether and resort to creature based defenses. Not the worst idea, but I think it would come at a higher mana cost, which slows down Banefire.

The only other thing I'd add to all this is that the biggest issue Turbo Fog faces is decks that aren't creature driven. Things like Burn, Mill, Life-drain, etc go right through Fog. That's the primary reason I included Riot Control - because it doesn't just stop combat damage - it stops ALL damage. I mainboarded it because it also has the potential to result in a big lifegain, which is a good stall tactic against lifedrain (keep in mind this is intended to be a multiplayer brew, so it could very easily be facing threats from both creatures and lifedrain in the same game). And that's the other major issue with going in even harder with the Fog strategy (which is itself a secondary, defensive strategy). Granted, the sideboard can help a bit to shore up Turbo-Fog weaknesses.

Bottom line - While I really don't expect this brew to be top tier in any sense, I do like exploring with brews and try to make them the best I can. It's probably clear that I think about strategy, uh, let's just say, "enough." I want to be clear about this though - I'm not saying "I'm right and you're wrong" or that I don't appreciate your advice. It's quite the contrary - I write all this because I'm [overly] interested in these things and want to have conversations about all of it. I understand if you're not interested in that. I just don't want you to feel like I have any intent of antagonizing you, etc. It's just so easy to give/get the wrong impression over the internet.

kamarupa on Darkest Heart Challenge - Horror Tribal

1 month ago

Wow, Andramalech, it's been so long since anyone's offered such thorough comments on one of my decks. I have so much gratitude for the time and thought you put into it. My sincerest thanks!!

You're probably right that I ought to add Dismember - it's certainly useful and the deck would benefit from it's ability to get around indestructible. I kind of half-consciously considered it when I was adding Tragic Slip and [tragically?] it's usefulness slipped my mind.

I have to say, I'm not really a fan of the flavor of Chart a Course (or really quite a few sets in the last 5 years) I like my MTG to be Goblins, Elves, Dragons, and the ilk. So I've decided to swap out CaC for Sign in Blood, which is much more flavor-aligned.

I'm a tyro when it comes to Commander, so if you're saying Mastermind's Acquisition wouldn't be allowed in a tournament, I'll defer to your experience. That said, Wizards lists it as Commander legal. And the text of the spell doesn't require its caster to search outside their library, it just offers that as one of two options. Truth be told, I've gotten so used to including it instead of Diabolic Tutor I really didn't think about how Commander decks aren't allowed a sideboard for it to search. Given that it's 4MV cost is really higher than I want for a tutor, I'm happy to just cut it. It makes room for Dismember anyway. Also, I have no interest in playing any tournaments, so there's really no issue there anyway.

I hear what you're saying about the decision to include Shapeshifters. I wouldn't say your conclusion isn't rational or fair, but I would say that it's an opinion. I mean, they are Horrors, if not exclusively, then undeniably by choice - "...choose a creature type. This creature is the chosen type..." I have to say, when I view other people's decks that claim to be tribal in both their deck title and hubs and I see significant numbers of creatures that are not only not that tribe, but not even thematically adjacent or relevant - I'm usually pretty off-put. However, given that spells like Adaptive Automaton and Metallic Mimic are strictly printed to enhance tribal builds and are very frequently included, especially in tribes that lack tribal support, I'd say I consider them fair game, if not of the best flavor. It's a good debate if nothing else.

Andramalech on Darkest Heart Challenge - Horror Tribal

1 month ago

kamarupa I finally got around to my review! Let's break it down piece by piece, but lead our review with gratitude and praise. You've completed the challenge! That's awesome because completing any task is worthy of a high-five. Now let's break it down:

• "..To round it out, I included a number of ramp spells, draw card, lots of removal, and a bit of counterspell.." and you did! I'm rather impressed not only by the frequency and presence of your spot removal, but by it's costs, and efficacy and expansive supply. The level of removal reflects that you understand how to protect your deck, play a good game, even if the pieces you're protecting are glaringly out of meta. Who cares about that? We don't. I care about your competitiveness. And it shows. Solid 9/10 for this category, the category of competitive choices.

• I'm going to personally comment on the artistic value of your choices, as it corresponds to the artworks in each card. Your choices are (to me) very apparent, and I refuse to complete this review without bringing special attention to the various printing choices you made, which led to a cohesive list of cards that reflect horrors, and horrific events. It's seriously worth checking out you guys. Infernal Grasp is a choice selection. And surprisingly? Hurkyl's Recall is also pretty impressive, from an artistic standpoint. It invokes eeriness, an unsettling swirled nature.

• This series of collected cards and the artwork attached to them, reflects a lot of advanced choices and a critically-influenced line of decisions. You could use things like Dismember, and is only thwarted by the occasional off-choice like Thoughtseize. Not like it's the worst thing.. but I'm a critic for artistic decision. Some of your choices are fantastic, others like Chart a Course kind of break the illusion. I can't stand by this principle 100% because competitive choices needed to be made. I think overall for artistic value, I provide your deck with a 9/10.

• I now need to address a fundamental issue with Mastermind's Acquisition; the gatherer ruling references that in Casual play this card provides no issue, but in a tournament setting- you would need to fetch a card '..from the sideboard..' of which, in EDH.. there is none. I reference this in some of my rule zero EDH builds. A sideboard DOES NOT exist in EDH, womp womp. I mean, it doesn't affect how I review or feel about your build, but I couldn't do this justice without mentioning this on the off-handed chance you attempt to go to an event with the deck.

• Construction wise, I have a small gripe with including creatures that nowhere include the typing of Horror. This is because with my builds (albeit Wacky Arm, which was a joke of a build.) I chose only creatures that were Horror typing by one way or another. The typical typal support in Adaptive Automaton and Metallic Mimic are not unwelcome for their competitive edge, but rather how I personally feel that it goes against the principle of the challenge. I will consider this a mark against.

• Considering what I said above, I also want to acknowledge that you technically still included exactly 25 Horror Typed creatures. So you did it! My gripe above can't really stand outside of priniciple. Is it allowed? ...yeah, it's just frowned upon.. but what a deck otherwise! Time to wrap up this compliment sandwich.

• Alright! Lets review; Aesthetic, Construction, Competitive. 9/10 in all categories. With regards to how you favored the challenge, I feel confident in giving this deck a solid 9.8/10. So little to comment about what to change.. it's obvious this deck is perfectly suited to the duelist who created it, and it's a great deck at that. Clap for you, and congrats- I'm definitely gonna say your build wins! (imo)

Thanks for inviting me to take part in this challenge with you! I've really enjoyed it.

kamarupa on

2 months ago

Great deck. I only have one suggestion: Perhaps cut Idyllic Tutor in favor of Mastermind's Acquisition? While I see the primary impetus for wanting the tutor is Unbound Flourishing, limiting your tutor to strictly Enchantments for the relatively high MV of 3 AND including a 4th color for just that spell doesn't seem that "ideal" to me. For just 1 more mana, you can tutor any spell in your library - which seems like a big upgrade for almost no extra cost - while also keeping your deck sultai, thereby saving you a lot of manafixing. The biggest argument against Mastermind's Acquisition that I see is the double black casting cost. But you already have such a casting cost with Torment of Hailfire, so that argument seems rather weak.

TheoryCrafter on Liesa but Angels

5 months ago

If an Orzhov Angel Stompy deck is your objective I concur with multimedia's suggestions about ramp and draw. To add to ramp abilities, may I suggest adding Starnheim Aspirant? It will not only feed into Righteous Valkyrie, but get yer angels on the battlefield sooner. I also concur about the removal of Legion Angel. As a non singleton format, you can't keep extra cards in your sideboard unless they specifically state that you can have any number in your deck.

Speaking of wish cards, some players get salty about wishboards. You may want to find an alternate card for Sparring Regimen to switch in just in the event you have problems with someone and decide it's not worth the arguments. To make wishboard access a tad stronger may I suggest adding Mastermind's Acquisition to your deck? It will allow you to pull another lesson from outside the game or to search your library.

Considering your commander enables casting and, by extension etb triggers, and you have a lot of blink effects, you should consider having Seraph Sanctuary in your deck for the lifegain. And since you have a death trigger in your commander, Teysa Karlov could be a help throwing off counter spells that target triggered abilities.

I also noticed the inexpensive controlling aspects of your deck are largely inexpensive exile cards that benefit the target's controller. I see two options for you. The first is to replace those out. Revoke Existence and Soul Tithe are examples of options if yer interested. In fact, these would make make great additions to what you already have. The second is adding Divine Visitation. If you end up having to use those exile cards on your own stuff then you'll be able the turn them into angels. It also will also allow Halo Fountain to feed into the Enchantment. All of this of course will feed into Seraph Sanctuary.

Speaking of control, I would recommend having Angels that can do that job would help to solidify the tribal aspect of your Angel deck. This would include, but not be limited to Angel of Finality(for decks strong in graveyard interaction) and Metropolis Reformer(Gives you hexproof).Since you already have an angel with landfall in your deck, that would give you the opportunity to add another. Admonition Angel will allow you to exile more creatures.

Speaking of landfall, if you choose to add Divine Visitation, May I suggest adding Emeria Angel? These cards together would feed into Seraph Sanctuary. Also, if you wish to lean a bit more into landfall you should consider more cards you can sacrifice for basic lands. These include, but are not limited to, Esper Panorama, Fabled Passage and Obscura Storefront. These should help with landfall triggers and maybe free up a card somewhere else.

I understand this is a lot. Regardless of which direction you choose to take for this deck you are off to an awesome start. Thank you for reading me out and I hope this helps. Happy Hunting!

SufferFromEDHD on Toshiro Umezawa Spellslinger Control

7 months ago

Per usual, the prophet of profitable suggestions comes through with a solid list! I will be making cuts to add these in this weekend.

Mastermind's Acquisition can get back instants that have been exiled by Toshiro effect.

Dash Hopes it's hard for me to not like this card but it never does what you want it to.

Liability when I was looking thru the collection this seemed like secret tech for a mono {B} spellslinger strategy. The oracle text is "Whenever a nontoken permanent is put into a player's graveyard from the battlefield, that player loses 1 life." The deck is 1/3 spells, very light on creatures/enchantments and only 1 artifact and 6 lands have sacrifice costs. My opponents will not have these same ratios.

Mirrorpool = Gravebreaker Lamia, Harvester of Souls and Sedgemoor Witch are the main targets along with all the instants. No big payoff just a clone effect.

keizerbuns on The Suspense is Killing You!

1 year ago

Thanks Imaginary_Friend777!

You make a good point with Clear the Mind, it’s not really vital to the game plan. I just had it there for the sake of having an infinite loop but it’s kind of a waste of main board slots, especially since I have two in the sideboard that I could grab with Mastermind's Acquisition if I really need the loop.

I like your suggestion of Aetherflux Reservoir over Grapeshot and I think you’re also right about needing more counter spells to protect my Omniscience once I cast it.

I think I’ll try taking out both main board copies of Clear the Mind, but I’ll leave the sideboard copies in because I’ll still need them since I’m probably gonna need the option of an infinite combo if I go with Aetherflux. Then I’ll take Grapeshot out completely and just replace the sideboard copy with Aetherflux, and then I’ll add one more copy of Mastermind’s Acquisition and two more copies of Test of Talents to the main board.

Thanks for the suggestions!!

Profet93 on Wilhelt and Sheoldred unite!

1 year ago

Mastermind's Acquisition/Diabolic Tutor, Demonic Tutor/Vampiric Tutor are solid options.

As far as puzzlebox, you don't want to add one card in your deck hoping you can draw into another (typically). If Sheoldred was your commander who you could reliably use then sure, otherwise not so much.

You have a very good starter deck, great average converted mana cost (cmc) and a good amount of draw which most new players usually forget. Unsure if you know but EDH REC is a good resource. Keep up the good work