Casual/Legacy Player Since: 1997

MTG Arena Player Since: 2019 (ADD ME: Apollo_Paladin#83413)

My Favorite Color(s) to Use: (though I do dabble with others)

  • Black/Blue/White (Esper)

  • Black/White (Orzhov)

  • Mono-White

  • Mono-Black

  • Mono-Green

I love coming up with my own builds and discussing Deck Strategy with others. I don't do Netdeck builds of anything "Top Ranked" -- not on Paper, and not on Arena (at least never in Ranked matches). I don't have any problem with Netdecking as a concept, I just prefer the challenge of seeing how far I can get ignoring all the most popular combos in any given format.

Feel free to copy any of my decks though, I've got no problem with the concept & consider it a compliment!

Also, if you're on Arena, go ahead and add me if you want to play, test decks, or even just discuss deck strategy & different builds.

Please login to comment

Said on IXALAN_Crazy...

#1

Thanks for the upvote on my Menace deck for Arena!

Feel free to add me if you ever want to deck tech, run test games, or whatever. The info is on my profile - Good luck to ya either way!

September 19, 2023 12:04 p.m.

Said on Esper Solemnity...

#2

That's a fair assessment I suppose. Though, if you're really looking to exploit Bargain then I'd probably go up to 3 or even 4 Candy Trail's -- and probably drop your rare Scry dual lands for more copies of artifact tap lands. Since you have other means of Scry at your disposal in this deck anyway, plus Rowan's Searches that were missed when I initially looked at it, I don't think the Scry lands are helping your synergy all that much.

I'll admit it's tough to gauge without actually playing it myself, but at least in my own decks that use Bargain I find it's best to over-do your options for what to sacrifice since you never, ever, want to be in a position where you're forced to cast it without Bargaining (otherwise, you may as well have run a different spell entirely).

Either way it looks fun, hope the Grim Tutor works out for you at least!

September 14, 2023 1:50 p.m.

Said on Esper Solemnity...

#3

I had a similar build on Arena a while back using the more classic Solemnity + Nine Lives combo and this seems similar. One thing I found with my build was that Wishclaw Talisman can work against you, particularly if an opponent knows what you're up to. Idyllic Tutor will get you the same job done, but there's no opportunity for an opponent to Tutor their own deck for an answer. You could also go with Grim Tutor and it would open up the ability to fetch anything, but I'm not sure it's really needed here.

Beyond that, the only suggestion I'd make is moving away from all of those 'enters tapped' lands just to speed you up. The only real reason to use those indestructible Artifact lands is if you're trying to pull off a different "can't lose" condition with Majestic Metamorphosis + The Book of Exalted Deeds and since you aren't running that combo here I only see them inhibiting you.

Anyway, +1 for a neat build and feel free to add me on Arena if you want to deck tech further with it.

September 14, 2023 10:41 a.m.

Said on Down Down to …...

#4

Goblin Matron is another decent pick since you have a lot of 1-off's in your build here. A few of these can be helpful pulling more consistently across your deck (and without having to buy more expensive singles).

September 9, 2023 12:57 a.m.

Said on Down Down to …...

#5

I have a similar themed build from many, many years ago.

One thing you might look at, even just to sideboard, is Blood Lust. It can be useful against decks which can manage to land an early problematic blocker down (like, say, Gifted Aetherborn which can survive blocking & mitigate life loss each turn). Having to rely on Goblin Grenade as your only direct board control is about the only real downside to a build like this (at least it was mine), and Blood Lust is from all the way back in 5th edition, so hardly anyone will see it coming.

Again, I'd probably sideboard it as it's situationally useful and you don't have a ton of 1-drops in your build anyway, but it might be something to toy with as it can give even a 1/1 attacker the same hitting power as Goblin Grenade, but without losing your goblin.

Either way +1 for some nostalgic picks here

September 9, 2023 12:54 a.m.

MTG Decks

Historic Contract (MTG Arena Build)

Historic Apollo_Paladin

SCORE: 10 | 2 COMMENTS | 1021 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS

Kaya Control Brawl (MTG Arena Build)

Arena Apollo_Paladin

SCORE: 2 | 437 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER

Rakdos Menace (MTG Arena Build)

Historic Apollo_Paladin

SCORE: 20 | 7 COMMENTS | 2069 VIEWS | IN 5 FOLDERS

Ultra-Budget Speed Dredge (2x 5-Card "Gold Hands")

Legacy Apollo_Paladin

SCORE: 87 | 84 COMMENTS | 8524 VIEWS | IN 49 FOLDERS

Elderspell Exploits (Arena Superfriends)

Historic Apollo_Paladin

SCORE: 4 | 6 COMMENTS | 574 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS

Tae'rin Terror (Elf Zerg)

Legacy Apollo_Paladin

SCORE: 11 | 9 COMMENTS | 1057 VIEWS | IN 7 FOLDERS

Sick Pauper Divinity Rush

Pauper Apollo_Paladin

SCORE: 19 | 14 COMMENTS | 1295 VIEWS | IN 8 FOLDERS

Intense Aura Beatdown (with Infinite Defense!)

Legacy* Apollo_Paladin

SCORE: 31 | 28 COMMENTS | 3185 VIEWS | IN 8 FOLDERS

Finished Decks 24
Prototype Decks 3
Drafts 0
Playing since Revised Edition
Points 60
Avg. deck rating 13.05
T/O Rank 256
Helper Rank 202
Favorite formats Historic, Modern, Legacy, Arena, Casual
Suppressed formats Brawl, Pioneer, Commander / EDH, Pauper EDH, Canadian Highlander, Highlander, Duel Commander, Leviathan, 1v1 Commander, Pre-release, Penny Dreadful, Heirloom, Hero, Noble, Frontier, Tiny Leaders, Oathbreaker, Block Constructed
Cards suggested / good suggestions 338 / 204
Joined 5 years