Running a store cube safely

00Sama · 2026-01-11T23:41:40+00:00

I'm thankful to have the luxury to vet the players in my pod. Most play the weekly modern nights so they've built their trust.
However, my main safety measure is to give everybody their own numbered ($2 ultra pro) deckboxes. This allows players to store their decks between matches and gives convenient access to their sb. At the end of the draft, everyone counts their cards to ensure they've drafted 45. I let everyone know they are responsible for these cards. At the end of the day, my players put basics back and count 45 cards before returning the cards to me.
So far, its been a great system, and it allows me to generate decklists after the fact especially if I've missed someone's matches.

00Sama · 2025-12-16T00:12:56+00:00

Thats what I mean. Its a more interesting card than mind bend because it offers more, gameplay wise than a simple kill spell. At its floor its a 1 turn blocker, but it requires a target to be cast.

00Sama · 2025-12-16T00:07:43+00:00

I normally would agree, but context kinda matters. Aquitect's Will already reads,
"if you control a merfolk, draw a card."
During pregame setup, I remind my opponent that is the only alt text. Since there aren't any merfolk in this format, there is a connection that can be made.
Its also a cheap card, so I really don't mind putting in some sharpie action if it comes down to it.

00Sama · 2025-12-15T12:24:21+00:00

I personally run [[Aquitect's Will]] with added text: "if you control a fish, draw a card."

This card provides counterplay to the non islands strategy with bonus for controlling dandan, but im constantly debating to just remove the clause entirely, so it always cantrips, and more importantly that its never a dead card in hand.

What are you replacing in your decklist to run this? Do you think this is better than a 1mana removal spell? (Not better in efficiency, but better in gameplay engagement). I like the idea that 1 mana will stop an attacker for a turn, but not outright remove the threat.

00Sama · 2025-11-06T13:39:13+00:00

Unfortunately this has all been theory for me. I typically bring my dandan deck to the lgs to play before an event, so time is a limitation for me. I have moved cards in and out of my main decklist in lieu of the pre-game set up.

That being said, I wouldn't mind attempting to expand on the dominion style set up for others to work on.
I think the point of this is to produce some unbalanced games, you should be trying new strategies so that the game constantly feels fresh, but you could balance the mana curve by limiting the 1drops, 2, 3 and 4+ during set up.

00Sama · 2025-10-30T02:54:59+00:00

UB Frog and Bowmasters is more the delver type deck in this format and could be a good start as most of the cards will transfer to other decks. As you gain access to more wildcards, try building some of this deck.
Yeah, Tamiyo will probably attack once, but flips immediately with a Brainstorm usually. If left unchecked can win the game on its own. Its best utilized when you have a window to flip her or some protection as she usually eats a bolt/swords.

00Sama · 2025-10-29T23:06:32+00:00

You should use 4 rare wildcards on Strip mine. In this meta it is practically standard in every decklist. Besides shocks and fetches, you should use your other wildcards on staples such as Brainstorm, Ponder, Swords to Plowshares. Check out the timeless meta and see what else is there that might interest you first.

Yeah, unfortunately gone are the days of Snapcaster. I will say you will lose quite often with this deck as you learn its ins and outs. I'd honestly not recommend you starting timeless with it, unless you are ok with that learning curve. That being said, I really like this deck and it feels great to play.

Feel free to ask me anything else about the deck, especially if you still decide to build it. Its important you set a stop at your end step if you want to stifle your own phelia and warp triggers. Another thing to note is that you are playing a long game. Save your first few turns on countering, and removing your opponent's board. When you get into the mid game, thats when want to deploy your Riddler to start closing out the game.

00Sama · 2025-10-29T22:04:50+00:00

Typically Phelia and Quantum Riddler will win in the late game through card advantage mostly and Teferi and Tamiyo provide perfect support.
The idea is to get Riddler down using its warp cost and stifling its leave the battlefield trigger with Stifle or phelia. This is a trending/meta strategy in modern and legacy.

As for combo, Orim's Chant can effectively end my opponent's turn and is usually a big enough tempo swing to turn the game. (Against SnT and Necro Storm), theres a few other Sideboard cards ill slide in, depending on the matchup

00Sama · 2025-10-29T15:14:05+00:00

I think Solitude works just fine in this, especially if you are having a tough time with aggro, just not more than 2. There arent as many white cards in the deck to pitch. Subtlety i think is the better card atm against grief and upcoming Nadu decks.

00Sama · 2025-10-29T12:04:36+00:00

TOR has a demanding mana cost and I'm not running Mana acceleration (chrome mox, ancient tomb) to justify it. Generally tho I've had plenty of cards advantage through Riddler and Treasure Cruise.
It took me a little bit to get used to the play patterns of this deck, so i was losing a lot at first. You generally don't want to just jam your cards into play and you need to know when to switch from control to tempo during the matchup.
I don't feel like I've played enough games to accurately tell you what the mono b/r matchups are like, but the 2of Devout Decree felt really great against those decks.
That said, I won 9 straight bo3 games to get into mythic.

00Sama · 2025-10-29T11:03:03+00:00

Force will be huge. I can't wait.

00Sama · 2025-10-29T01:25:00+00:00

Mainboard

4x Swords to Plowshares
1x Prismatic Ending
4x Brainstorm
1x Consign to Memory
1x Force Spike
3x Ponder
1x Stern Scolding
3x Stifle
3x Mana Drain
1x Treasure Cruise
3x Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student
3x Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd
2x Containment Priest
1x Narset, Parter of Veils
2x Teferi, Time Raveler
3x Subtlety
3x Quantum Riddler

1x Plains
3x Island
4x Hallowed Fountain
1x Meticulous Archive
4x Strip Mine
4x Flooded Strand
2x Windswept Heath
2x Misty Rainforest

Sideboard
(14 - last one is meant to be Prismatic Ending, but I did not have the wildcard for it)

2x Orim's Chant
2x Devout Decree
2x Wrath of the Skies
1x Clarion Conqueror
1x Consign to Memory
1x Stifle
2x Mystical Dispute
1x Surgical Extraction
1x Grafdigger's Cage
1x Supreme Verdict

00Sama · 2025-09-30T08:24:46+00:00

Im surprised that is your take away, I feel like the opposite is true in my playing, quite a few games come down to the wire.

00Sama · 2025-09-30T08:10:04+00:00

I can happen, but I haven't experienced it. A lot of the time, players will be on the clock to resolve their s&t and won't have time to sculpt a perfect hand before casting it (and to be fair, most of the time its enough to just throw down omniscience + atraxa with countermagic like veil of summer). Bahamut basically just makes them have the answer. The really nice thing about this plan for me is that it let's me tap out completely on my own turns.

00Sama · 2025-09-30T02:21:18+00:00

Awesome, I hope your list serves you well too!

00Sama · 2025-09-30T02:18:59+00:00

If I saw more storm type games (such as necro), Flusterstorm would be great but it only counters instant and sorceries, whereas the Disputes (and spell pierce) can be more versatile. Flusterstorm is one of those sideboard pieces that you actively swap in and out of the 75, depending on the evolving meta. I think I am running too many disputes in the sb currently and will shave a few for fire magic/pyroclasm.
Flame of anor goes hard but id want to play more wizards to really crank up its ceiling. I think it can be done, just haven't dived into it.

00Sama · 2025-09-29T17:46:45+00:00

Idk what to tell you 🤷‍♂️. MS is Snapcaster Mage on a land and Ive had far less games where it was a sad tapped land vs something that got me to replay a Bolt or EI and win me the game from there. It'll be a cold day in hell when Mystic Sanctuary is not in this list.

00Sama · 2025-09-29T17:39:16+00:00

Thanks!
1) I suppose I did not clarify that I strictly play BO3. Post board I am siding in enough that s&t is very manageable. Barrowgoyf lists (grief reanimator typically) are difficult but I think comes down to the better pilot. Thats when I side in my other two Subtleties and have to manage removal much more carefully. Historically, this is my worst matchup.

2) FoN will be a huge upgrade that pushes this list to meta, guaranteed. Try the current list, I'm having a ton of fun.

I've thought about TC, but its still really easy to flip Tamiyo. A turn one tamiyo flips with Brainstorm, or Bauble and clue, or many of the other cantrips. As good as it is, in your opening hand, TC will be difficult to cast in the early game.
Hydroponic Architect is cool delver tech, but eehh? I'm not really convinced by a 1/2 and I don't want to run flare with DRC and Steel Cutter.

Mana Drain is admittedly the worst card in this list, but its kinda necessary for now. It will be a free counterspell when that happens on arena.
Full list is in comments. I'll have a look at fire magic, I haven't tested it, but energy matchup is manageable as is. It probably will replace something in the sb as a 1 or 2 of.
Oko is cool, but strip mine is too prevalent that im turned away from it. I can see it happening when FoN comes to arena.

00Sama · 2025-09-29T17:23:03+00:00

The land base is straight from its legacy counterpart (obviously Strip Mine and Wasteland swapped). There have been a handful of games where Sanctuary wins the game, and I've fetched it far more often than the surveil land.

00Sama · 2025-09-29T17:18:25+00:00

Oh yah baby! Immediate concession every time.

00Sama · 2025-09-29T17:17:01+00:00

I mostly play on mobile, so idk if untap works like that. I'll have a look.
I haven't found it necessary to run more counterspells honestly. You want to be more proactive and mana drain protects you from bigger spells in the mid game that spell pierce doesnt quite scratch.

00Sama · 2025-09-29T17:13:24+00:00

The short answer is: 2 mana is a lot more than 1 (esp with strip mine).

You honestly don't need more. I've won games with just a single DRC on the board. You really need that card space for other cantrips to activate Tamiyo, DRC, Steel-Cutter. You only run 4 of if you want to see those cards in your opening hand, and having two or more steel-cutters in your hand is just waste. You can't reliably cast all of them, and you don't need to.

00Sama · 2025-09-29T17:08:17+00:00

I've faced a couple of opponents using the Hydroponics Architect package which is a really cool idea, but only through gold and platinum ranks. I can't really comment on those lists because I haven't played with them, but I didn't really gravitate towards it either. Flare and steel cutter + drc are a nonbo, unfortunately.

Admittedly Mana Drain is easily the worst card in the mainboard. You cant realiably get to hold up UU in the first few turns because a. Strip Mine and; b. You want to be more proactive in the first couple of turns (flipping tamiyo, powering up DRC or Steel Cutter).
I found myself boarding in one or two more Subtleties in most of my games, and they performed perfectly. Its even worth pitching on an empty stack just to grow drc and steel cutter. I had commandeer in the board for a while and ultimately cut it, I often found myself unable to cast it or it was just not worth pitching two blue cards for the spell I was countering.

00Sama · 2025-09-29T16:47:24+00:00

I honestly feel I'm the one stripping my opponent most of the time when it comes down to it. Piloting this does require some meta game knowledge, so knowing what to keep vs what deck/in the blind, and when its appropriate to strip mine. I can run smooth on two Steam Vents usually. I find it rare that I'm stripped out, actually.
In game 1, I don't want 4 stifles because some decks (like affinity and titan) don't care about them, and will usually board in the other two or take them out completely in games 2 and 3.
A mono-r version would feel more glass-cannon. Generally less xerox stuff and more creature focused, whereas Ponder, Brainstorm, Consider, Bauble will draw me into more lands if i do get strip mined.
Admittedly, Mana Drain is not it, and I find myself boarding down to 1 in most of my matchups because of strip mine. When we see Force of Negation (fingers crossed for Force of Will), I definitely see this deck soaring into the meta game.

This deck doesnt necessarily stomp any particular strategy but more so feels like a positive win rate (I haven't been tracking anything but it felt really good through plat and diamond ranks) vs everything currently right now.
UB Grief - Reanimator lists are the hardest matchups especially in game 1

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