9.7.2023 Wilds of Eldraine - Let’em Cook Edition
Now that I let Wilds of Eldraine sit, I now am ready to make some additions from this set. Agatha's Soul Cauldron is a card that I knew was good when I first read it during spoiler season. However, the gravity of its silliness hit me recently and it needed to be added to the deck. Night of the Sweets' Revenge is a great outlet to use all the food tokens, transforming them into Mox Emeralds and providing a game-ending effect. Wooded Bastion is in for more access to . Astral Cornucopia is good but needs some set up, which is perfectly fine in this deck. However, Astral Cornucopia is not as good as Agatha's Soul Cauldron. Daretti, Scrap Savant is a redundant reanimator and discard effect. However, Daretti is clunky because I can’t fetch it and is a planewalker that doesn’t support it very well. Daretti comes in and out of this deck frequently, which makes it one of the first cuts I always make. Daretti isn’t bad, but there are better cards. Kodama of the West Tree’s ramp and trample is too good to not add to this deck. I like Cradle Clearcutter, but Crystalline Crawler is the better big ramp creature. Breya's Apprentice’s sacrifice ability is just better than Hedron Detonator’s. As Hedron’s single target ping is just underwhelming. Scrapyard Recombiner is the weakest of the modular creatures and the tutor is ok in the light of Mr. Fiddlebender. Pia Nalaar, Consul of Revival. Pia Nalaar, Consul of Revival is a card that really popped off during playtesting. Etali, Primal Conqueror
is clunky and doesn’t work in this deck.
8.30.2023 Wilds of Eldraine - Boom Boom Sauce Edition
In: Rocco, Street Chef, Liberator, Urza's Battlethopter, Academy Manufactor, Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin Took, Iron Apprentice, Escape to the Wilds, Etali, Primal Conqueror
, Hedron Detonator, Ghirapur AEther Grid, Astral Cornucopia, Cinder Glades, and Fire-Lit Thicket.
Out: Ick-Tekik, Salvage Splicer, Eternal Witness, Akiri, Line-Slinger, Blade Splicer, Maul Splicer, Ichor Wellspring, Meteor Golem, Darksteel Splicer, Expedition Map, Mana Vault, Solemn Simulacrum, Tree of Tales, and Gavony Township
No, there are no Wilds of Eldraine cards in the deck currently, but this is the set that influenced me to switch up my commanders. I’ll write a more detailed explanation above.
TL:DR
2. I'd rather play modular, cut the golem tribal, but I don't want to play Shalai and Hallar..
3. Not too many people play Rocco, Street Chef, which is wide open enough for me to play Naya Modular.
6.15.2023 - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth
I didn’t expect much from this set as it isn’t artifact focused. However, Arwen, Weaver of Hope caught my eye. This deck wants as many +1/+1 counter enablers as possible. At one point, I wanted to add Renata, Caller of the Hunt but she costs and just adds a +1/+1 counter. Grumgully, the Generous was another thought and is cheaper by , but still only adds a single +1/+1 counter. Arwen, on the other hand, adds +1/+1 equal to Arwen’s toughness. Thus, the floor is the same, but the ceiling is so much higher and easy to get there. Things like Filigree Vector, Yotian Dissident, The Ozolith, Ozolith, the Shattered Spire, The Great Henge and more all feed Arwen. Now, I’m not sure if cutting Rootwire Amalgam is correct, but it most likely is the correct choice. Yes, the golem token can get huge very easily in this deck, sometimes attacking players as a 30/30. However, the activation cost and the sorcery speed makes this card kinda clunky.
5.4.23 - Aftermath Update
It’s funny because I was looking for a spot for The Mightstone and Weakstone
as a gap filler at . I want the nice curve of mana rocks from to to . As well, I wanted another big rock to launch me to bigger plays like Portal to Phyrexia or Triplicate Titan. Karn, Legacy Reforged is the big mana rock that I was looking for. Blinkmoth Urn is cute, but I’m not trying to give my opponents mana even before I get to use my own. Because he scales with the amount of artifacts on my side of the field, Karn should produce plenty of to play artifacts or spend on abilities. The Mightstone and Weakstone
is still an option because it is ramp, draw, and removal. Smothering Tithe has some consistency issues. Thus, Tithe gets replaced.
4.18.23 - Love For
I’ve always pushed the limits with my mana base. With the addition of more , I need to sure up my mana base. Ancient Den and Great Furnace are off color artifact lands that only produce one color. They are both good for looping, but Tree of Tales and possibly Power Depot covers that. Nature's Lore is in over Pir's Whim because it is just better ramp. If I need Tron, Expedition Map has it covered. Though it is a steep , Tribute to the World Tree is a busted enchantment, either buffing the team or drawing cards. Bronze Guardian is always on and off the chopping block and its day has come. Granted, Bronze Guardian can get huge, but so can Akiri. Overall, Triplicate Titan and Cityscape Leveler are better bruisers.
4.11.2023 - March of the Machine - Where Are All the Splicers Edition?
Ozolith, Shattered Spire: Throughout this variation of the deck, I’ve bounced around from switching Hardened Scales and Branching Evolution for two reasons. First, Hardened Scales becomes more attractive if I’m playing cards that have instances of adding one +1/+1 counter. Second, both are enchantments and aren’t as accessible as artifacts. Thus, I don’t want to play them both. However, Ozolith, Shattered Spire solves both of these problems. Yes, Hardened Scales is cheaper, but this isn’t Modern so playing doesn’t hurt as much. The removal of Chromatic Star is worth it for Ozolith, Shattered Spire. Chromatic Star has fixed awkward mana situations a few times and plays a piece in an infinite combo that I never use. Filigree Vector replaces Arcbound Shikari. Yes, I’m losing a modular creature and Filigree Vector costs more. Let me explain. For , Filigree puts a +1/+1 counter on all my creatures, not just artifact creatures. Though it might not seem like much, these are additional counters to be absorbed by The Ozolith. As well, Filigree acts as another copy of Throne of Geth. Filigree is also the better target over Shikari for Feldon activations or Goblin Welder loops. Darksteel Splicer is the only splicer that is playable from this set and it is kinda crazy. Darksteel Splicer, though very expensive at and competes with Maul Splicer, creates three golems when it or any other Phyrexians enter the battlefield. Also, golems gain indesrubcible. Yeah, ok, that’s dumb. Do you know what has the Phryexian subtype? All the splicers and Mitey Mom. You know what else has the Phyrexian subtype? Anything reanimated by Portal to Phyrexia!
3.14.2023 - Waiting for March of the Machine Edition
All Will Be One is kinda silly in this deck. This provides a respectable burn option that triggers often. However, here’s the question. Do I really need more burn? Unfortunately, the answer is no. After playtesting, I came to the conclusion that Terror of the Peaks, Walking Ballista, Alibou, Eternal Witness, and Reckless Fireweaver is more than enough burn. I’m not even counting Lux Artillery, mainly because it is here to pump out +1/+1 and the burn is just the cherry on top. However, what I did need is another Goblin Welder-effect. Goblin Engineer is excellent, but I wanted something that refurbishes artifacts bigger than . Thus, Daretti, Scrap Savant is back in the game. As well, Daretti provides another way to draw and discard cards. I don’t mind if Daretti gets punched and taken away if I can Trash for Treasure something immediately.
2.8.2023 - New Phyrexia: All Will Be One - Where are my Splicers, Wizards? Edition
No, seriously. There was one splicer in this entire set and it isn’t in these colors. As well, the golems in this set do almost nothing for the deck. Soulless Jailer is good, but messes too much with what the deck is trying to do and there isn’t enough oil synergizes to play Ichorplate Golem. Incubation Sac is interesting, but slow.. Sigh, maybe next set. Skrelv, Defector Mite is an artifact Mother of Runes. Though Arcbound Mouser has modular, I can’t pass up on good, low-cost utility creatures. All Will Be One is insane in any kind of counter deck. It pains me to do this, but Ugin, the Spirit Dragon is the cut here. Most of the time, Ugin is pluses then gets punched in the face. This deck isn’t equipped to protect Ugin like he needs. As well, there are more than a handful of times that Ugin’s minus hurts me too much. All Will Be One does the same thing and more. To continue to fill the void that Ugin, the Spirit Dragon left, I added Portal to Phyrexia. Though it was just added, this replaces Sun Titan. is tough on my janky mana base and I already have plenty of recursion. Wurmcoil Engine is also cut because i always pick basically any other big artifact creature instead, primarily Triplicate Titan. Mirrex replaces Power Depot because of the artifact token creation.. Though it is similar to Hall of Tagsin, Mirriex is preferred because creature production is better than tapped powerstones. This may or may not be correct but I switched Goblin Engineer with Lux Artillery. Because most of the important creatures in this deck are artifacts, this is going to add plenty of additional +1/+1 counters. Pir's Whim is land based ramp and utility.. Per usual, Hardened Scales gets switched with Branching Evolution due to counter production.
12.12.2022
It’s funny because these changes occurred to attempt to support Kodama of the West Tree. Through my adjustments, I ended up cutting Kodama. Why? For the exact reasons I stated before when Kawigama:Neon Dynasty release and I clearly forgot. Thank God for keeping a log. Don’t get it twisted; Kodama is very good. However, the deck already does the things that Kodama offers. It was true before and it is even more true now. Though sometimes it does seem like it, this deck has plenty of forms of ramp. As well, Kodama gets outclassed hard by Meria, Scholar of Antiquity. The additional provide plenty of mana and card draw when Meria gets played. Through playtesting, I always played Meria over Kodama, in general. As for Kodama’s trample, it isn’t needed. All of my creatures don’t need trample. The heavy hitters, like Triplicate Titan, Cityscape Leveler, and all golem with Maul Splicer on the battlefield already have trample. As for any other creature, like Hangarback Walker, that have a tendency to get huge can just use Shadowspear. Kodama just isn’t needed. As for Golem Foundry, there are better golems now so Foundry isn’t needed. Power Depot is in over Hall of Tagsin because the modular is more valuable to me.
11.29.2022 - More Brother’s War Updates
Branching Evolution and Hardened Scales will continuously hold the same spot, depending on counter distribution. Without Verdurous Gearhulk, most of the +1/+1 counters are being generated one at a time. With this in mind, I would rather have a counter doubler at than to get started earlier. Blaster, Combat DJ
is in because I learned how to read and saw the shattered art version. Blaster makes all of the artifact creatures into Arcbound Worker and can provide double modular triggers for those that already have the ability. Haywire Mite because it does everything that Nature's Claim did for . However, it is stapled to a body that is recurrable and it exiles. As well, the noncreature cause doesn’t matter because that’s all I was target with Claim anyways. Scrapyard Recombiner is another modular creature and grabs most of the powerhouse cards, like Walking Ballista are constructs. Sun Titan, though it is , is the recursion that I’ve been actually wanting.
11.13.22: The Brother’s War Update
Yotian Dissident isn’t an artifact, but it plays the same role as Patchwork Automaton; generate +1/+1 counters. As a matter of fact, Yotian does it much better because it is an enter the battlefield trigger, not a cast trigger. Patchwork Automaton shines in a 1 vs 1 format where it is more profitable to play spot removal over boardwipes. Though the ward 2 is nice, I rather have the overwhelming amount of +1/+1 counters Yotian Dissident provides. Ideally, Treasure Vault is an infinite mana outlet to make infinite treasures. Since I’ve added Treasure Vault, this has happened once. It isn’t that Treasure Vault is bad. It's just replaceable. Now, this deck has Hall of Tagsin, a powerstone producer and outlet . Rootwire Amalgam seems perfect for Ich-T. First, it's a golem that makes a golem for , so it synergizes with a major element of the deck. Second, the size of the golem token depends on Rootwire Amalgam’s power. With all of the +1/+1 counters being created, both Rootwire and the golem token will be huge. Cradle Clearcutter is a golem Marwyn, the Nurturer that scales with its power. Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle was best used to reanimate Dockside Extornist. However, the sacrifice piece was removed so it just became a secondary recursion piece. That’s fine, but cuttable. Cityscape Leveler is Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger at home and Stonecoil Serpent is the weakest of the scalable +1/+1 counter creatures. I still think that Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes is one the the strongest planeswalkers available. However, there just wasn’t enough reason to keep it over the newer cards, especially with artifacts sets being released. Slagstone Refinery seems like a free reward for cracking and recycling artifacts. With the release of more golems, Metallic Mimic felt cuttable. As well, Yotian Dissident just does it better.
8.30.2022: Dominaria United Update
There is only one new addition from this set and it is Merla, Scholar of Antiquity. I think this card is very good, especially Uzra, Lord High Artificer in . I’m brewing Merla Tron at this point, with more cards from the modern prototype. Everyone, I just can’t quit Verdurous Gearhulk. Though Halana and Alena, Partners is great for +1/+1 counter strategies, Verdurous Gearkhulk fills the same role and is more abusable. Mindless Automaton is in over Greater Good. With modular and the multiple ways to shuffle around +1/+1 counters, Mindless Automaton has a greater draw potential than Greater Good. As well, Automaton can drop cards in the graveyard in a more controlled fashion than Greater Good and is an artifact.
6.6.2022
I am trying to wait for the news sets to come out, but Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes is too silly not to add immediately. Bootleggers' Stash is significantly better in the Jinnie Fae list so out it goes.
6.6.2022
Beast Within is in place over Dromoka's Command. Besides the +1/+1 counter mode, Beast Within does everything that Dromoka's Command does for instead of . Normally, I prefer lower mana cost but Beast Within is a catch all removal piece. Branching Evolution is in the deck over Hardened Scales because this is EDH and I’m greedy. If I feel like Branching Evolution is too slow, I’ll put Hardened Scales back in. It is the same slot and they play the same role. Stonecoil Serpent replaced Chromatic Sphere because I wanted another cheap artifact creature that used +1/+1 counters. Chromatic Star is better than Chromatic Sphere, anyways. The Great Henge replaces Ancient Stirrings. Eventhough Stirrings is , The Great Henge acts as a mana rock, puts +1/+1 counter for non-token creatures that enter the battlefield, and draws a card. It is the repeatability of Great Henge that is the selling point. I have enough ways to go infinite so I’m cutting the Basalt Monolith and Staff of Domination. Instead, I’m adding Halana and Alena, Partners and Crystalline Crawler.
4.18.2022 - Streets of New Capenna Update. We Caberetti Tron Now?
Jetmir's Garden is a tapped land that I don’t mind playing. Due to its typing, it is the perfect fetchable land on turns where I don’t need the mana right away. I’m testing Ornithopter of Paradise over Fellwar Stone. It is slower, but it can become a flying threat over time. This deck actually doesn’t need Sunbaked Canyon or Horizon Canopy. Though it draws a card, it is more hurtful than helpful. This slot can be filled with any land, but I’m choosing to put a Plains in. This is to accommodate for Bootleggers' Stash and cycling Solemn Simulacrum. Speaking of Bootleggers' Stash, Cryptolith Rite is moved out for this busted artifact. Cryptolith Rite is still really good. However, Bootlegger’s Stash is easier to tutor, is cheatable, and produces treasures tokens, which ramps and synergizes with all the artifact shenanigans. Greater Good and