Maybeboard


Why do I wanna make this deck?

I think I fell in love when I first saw Melek, Izzet Paragon. They were my first introduction to copying spells, which I found out I love to bits, and I really like the new option they add to the game to cast spells from the top of your deck.

The love itself doesn't have a goal connected to it, other than "copy instants and sorceries", which makes all this a little harder, but I have found over the years that the part I find so exciting about copying is that not only can I copy my own spells for more value, but I can copy my opponent's spells too for unexpected and interesting situations, and that excites me a ton.

So more definitively: I want to make a deck that copies instants and sorceries because I think that's cool and exciting, and I want that deck's commander to be Melek, because they're my first Magic love and I like the option to cast spells from the top of your deck.

How do I reach that goal/want?

The want behind this deck mostly results in creating value and interesting situations. Since the deck wants to benefit from what my opponents are doing, I think this should be a control-focused deck, buying me time to allow me to find that one thing I want to copy and create tons of value out of.

Other than that, the want is reached by copying spells and by playing Melek as my commander. Really straightforward.

What do I need to do that?

  1. A bunch of spells that allow me to copy instants and sorceries (my own and my opponents).
  2. Ways to buy time to find the right instant or sorcery to copy.
  3. A way to win from the value copying instants and sorceries is going to produce.

The first category is easy to choose cards for, with an side-syngergy reason to choose instants that copy instants and sorceries, since Melek can copy those.

The second category really just drives home that this is going to be a control deck, that tries to slow down the game enough to give me time to find a win, but since I don't like to slow down games too much, I think it's important here to focus on instant-speed removal, and to choose targeted removal over board wipes. Board wipes slow down the game a ton, and I kind of want my opponents to do things, just not something that wins them the game.

The third category is going to be the hardest. I need a way to turn my opponents value against them, but also have a backup in case it goes awry. Although I prefer copying instants and sorceries, I'm going to need ways to copy creatures (and maybe even artifacts and enchantments) too, since they could all help me build a win. The backup will come in the form of a couple burn spells, preferably ones that can function as removal, so I can aim them at my opponents face if necessary.

Other notes

  • Considering most copy effects have a static cost, it's best to copy high cost spells. I'd also just rather throw around "deal 5 damage" two times, than "deal 2 damage" five times. Not only is it harder to copy something multiple times, less decisions most of the time also mean easier decisions, which makes for a quicker game.
  • Magecraft scales wonderfully with copies, but there aren't all that many cards in blue/red with effects that would support the build, so we'll see how many we get to add.
  • I've found that adding both rituals and X spells that burn or copy make winning incredibly easy, so I'm not including any of those, since winning is no longer an exciting challenge, but a given if nobody has a counterspell (which not a lot of people play in my meta).

Suggestions

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Reasons for removal:

  • Aethersnatch is good, but too expensive and not all that fun.
  • I wasn't very excited about Glimmerburst when I added it, and I've barely seen it, but I'm just convinced it wasn't the right add.
  • Terramorphic Expanse in a two-color deck without landfall is worse than a tapped land that taps for both, so I'm replacing it.
  • Knowledge Exploitation is really expensive, and not all that fun or exciting.
  • Turnabout was really good when the deck wanted to make a bunch of mana, but since that plan is mostly out, it feels like a remnant of an old strategy.
  • Reasons for adding:

  • Insidious Will is kind of expensive, but a very versatile control spell, that even copies sometimes (no way, I know!)
  • Stock Up is probably one of the best card-selection spells in the game, and I think this deck desperately needs more card-selection.
  • Prismari Campus is the tapped land that's better than Terramorphic Expanse for this deck.
  • Chaos Wand is cheaper and more exciting than Knowledge Exploitation.
  • Spelltwine used to be in the deck and allows for some hilarious shenanigans from time to time. Aside from that, it's a good spell.
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