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General Magic / Decktech - History of Superfriends (Esper Standard - WAR)
« on: April 27, 2019, 04:28:53 pm »
It was April 2018. Dominaria came out and MTG Arena was in closed Beta.
Dominaria brought a theme around legendary, "historic". Something to brew around. Ixilan already brought us the change to Planeswalkers, making them legendary as well. The deck started around Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain. Drawing cards added to big splashy spells in a Grixis shell seemed the way to dominate. Over time, the deck tuned towards cheating in the big legends with Thran Temporal Gateway and Planar Portal, aided by the ramp of Captain Lannery Storm and Storm the Vault. To compensate for the slower speed, a package of bounce spells and removal kept the enemy at bay. Aided by this control of tempo, finishers like Tezzeret the Schemer (AER) or Nicol Bolas God Pharaoh (HOU) became unstoppable houses causing many a frustrated opponent.
Now, War of the Spark brings us more Legendary Planeswalkers. While Planar Bridge has since rotated out of Standard, in comes M19's Tezzeret, Artifice Master. His ultimate mimics the Bridge each end step, while his thopters provide a mass of chump blockers. It seemed the idea of the deck could be remade in WAR's standard. Adjustments would have to be made, for there's new gems to be had for ramping with treasure outside of green. Smothering Tide (RNA). If it doesn't ramp you, at least it will slow down your opponent. Those pesky green decks ramping with lands? Ashiok says no. With token generation and draw being at odds, Lilliana Dreadhorde General both controls the board, creates chump blockers & draws when you chump. Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge fits; both in the theme of the deck and making your treasures ramp you double. Added bonus: ultimate as a +2? Yeah! I mean, there's only 1 artifact in the deck, a Thran's Temporal Gateway, so his other abilties? I'm only gonna threaten a bombshell with them.
While ramping into those things, you need things to do. But why would I put those things in my own deck, if I can just take my opponent's? Thief of Sanity has been my favorite card from Guilds of Ravnica, so much my Esper Control list starts out with them main. So, they'll be the early bombs. Getting card advantage in exile, taking what I need away from my opponent.
I did notice early on I do quite a bit of drawing in this build, so I went for Jace, Wielder of Mysteries (WAR) as a wincon. If I see 30 cards in a game without really trying, I might as well go all in. Just as well as generating 10+ treasures doesn't seem unlikely, so I'm thinking of throwing in Revel in Riches (XLN) as another way to win. For now, I'll be counting on recursion. Dumping down three to four permanents with Primeval's Glorious Rebirth (DOM) after your opponent already had to deal with them? Just sweet.
No, the deck is not very competitive. But it is fun to play. The Timmiest of decks. When you win, you obliterate your opponent. When you don't, you shrug and shuffle up again.
Mentioned decks:
Historical Superfriends: https://deckstats.net/decks/46179/1275382-historical-superfriends
Grixis History (Dominaria): https://deckstats.net/decks/46179/1003929-grixis-history/en
Esper Control (Traditional RNA): https://deckstats.net/decks/46179/1236418-esper-control-traditional-edit
Dominaria brought a theme around legendary, "historic". Something to brew around. Ixilan already brought us the change to Planeswalkers, making them legendary as well. The deck started around Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain. Drawing cards added to big splashy spells in a Grixis shell seemed the way to dominate. Over time, the deck tuned towards cheating in the big legends with Thran Temporal Gateway and Planar Portal, aided by the ramp of Captain Lannery Storm and Storm the Vault. To compensate for the slower speed, a package of bounce spells and removal kept the enemy at bay. Aided by this control of tempo, finishers like Tezzeret the Schemer (AER) or Nicol Bolas God Pharaoh (HOU) became unstoppable houses causing many a frustrated opponent.
Now, War of the Spark brings us more Legendary Planeswalkers. While Planar Bridge has since rotated out of Standard, in comes M19's Tezzeret, Artifice Master. His ultimate mimics the Bridge each end step, while his thopters provide a mass of chump blockers. It seemed the idea of the deck could be remade in WAR's standard. Adjustments would have to be made, for there's new gems to be had for ramping with treasure outside of green. Smothering Tide (RNA). If it doesn't ramp you, at least it will slow down your opponent. Those pesky green decks ramping with lands? Ashiok says no. With token generation and draw being at odds, Lilliana Dreadhorde General both controls the board, creates chump blockers & draws when you chump. Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge fits; both in the theme of the deck and making your treasures ramp you double. Added bonus: ultimate as a +2? Yeah! I mean, there's only 1 artifact in the deck, a Thran's Temporal Gateway, so his other abilties? I'm only gonna threaten a bombshell with them.
While ramping into those things, you need things to do. But why would I put those things in my own deck, if I can just take my opponent's? Thief of Sanity has been my favorite card from Guilds of Ravnica, so much my Esper Control list starts out with them main. So, they'll be the early bombs. Getting card advantage in exile, taking what I need away from my opponent.
I did notice early on I do quite a bit of drawing in this build, so I went for Jace, Wielder of Mysteries (WAR) as a wincon. If I see 30 cards in a game without really trying, I might as well go all in. Just as well as generating 10+ treasures doesn't seem unlikely, so I'm thinking of throwing in Revel in Riches (XLN) as another way to win. For now, I'll be counting on recursion. Dumping down three to four permanents with Primeval's Glorious Rebirth (DOM) after your opponent already had to deal with them? Just sweet.
No, the deck is not very competitive. But it is fun to play. The Timmiest of decks. When you win, you obliterate your opponent. When you don't, you shrug and shuffle up again.
Mentioned decks:
Historical Superfriends: https://deckstats.net/decks/46179/1275382-historical-superfriends
Grixis History (Dominaria): https://deckstats.net/decks/46179/1003929-grixis-history/en
Esper Control (Traditional RNA): https://deckstats.net/decks/46179/1236418-esper-control-traditional-edit
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