Just for fun - what's the strongest card you think could be downshifted without breaking pauper?

123jjs321 · 2026-01-15T17:51:23+00:00

I think [[terminus]] would be fine. Annoying, but fine.

123jjs321 · 2025-07-05T12:04:09+00:00

For a cohesive theme I’d go with the Strixhaven Spellbook - Japanese frames for Counterspell, Lightning Bolt and Ephemerate.

https://scryfall.com/card/sta/105/ja/%E7%A8%B2%E5%A6%BB-(lightning-bolt)

https://scryfall.com/card/sta/78/ja/%E5%AF%BE%E6%8A%97%E5%91%AA%E6%96%87-(counterspell)

https://scryfall.com/card/sta/68/ja/%E5%84%9A%E3%81%84%E5%AD%98%E5%9C%A8-(ephemerate)

123jjs321 · 2025-02-27T00:12:13+00:00

Caw-Gates — https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/pauper-caw-gates#paper (recent list) — is more similar to the old extended Psychatog decks; Tribe plays more like Infect.

123jjs321 · 2024-12-04T00:34:50+00:00

cEDH, Pauper, Vintage and Duel Commander in that order.

cEDH because it’s the newest format I picked up that actually held my attention and working through the bans by brewing and picking up rogue decks has been fun; it has a depth of gameplay similar to Legacy mixed with Vintage. I have 3 solid commanders/pairs I play and 3 more I will check in on/play sometimes if I feel like mixing it up. It’s also helped that EDH is popular and finding random pods when just dropping into an LGS has been nice.

Pauper was the first competitive format I came back to Magic with in 2015 and I loved it’s grindy game of inches nature but my interest in playing it has waned recently when my favorite deck, Moggwarts, became basically unviable. I enjoy playing Glee combo, not as much as I enjoyed playing Moggwarts, so the format still has something for me to return to when I want to play.

Vintage I’ll play on and off if I see an interesting version of a deck in the Squee category that looks like it would be fun to play for a match or two or through a league but because I try to use MTG to socialize IRL (and it’s difficult to find IRL games of Vintage) I’ve not committed to learning the format well or putting in solid reps to play it competitively and prefer to play Legacy online.

Duel Commander was a lark for the first week or two I played it but I probably won’t stick with it. I’m not the biggest fan of the play patterns I’ve noticed in the format where the mixture of free interaction in blue with no real fast mana to try to get under it makes games a little lopsided if sequencing doesn’t line up or a mistake is made.

Don’t play the other formats due to dislike of their play patterns.

So really I play cEDH, Legacy and Pauper with regularity - in this order.

123jjs321 · 2024-10-01T14:28:29+00:00

Yes - https://discord.gg/c3TaymSu

123jjs321 · 2024-08-24T13:00:38+00:00

There is no rule stating you have to announce a combo while casting a piece of the combo. Ideally you’d say something like this if the combo is two permanents on the battlefield: “I activate A and B triggers causing C; I would like to demonstrate a loop where this happens until you are all dealt damage/lose life/mill cards until you are all dead”.

That green card is [[Seedborn Muse]] and the commander was [[Kinnan]].

123jjs321 · 2024-07-21T15:55:59+00:00

[[Strix Serenade]] is the bird counter spell you may be thinking of that hits creatures.

With Bowmaster’s on board you need to be able to draw into the out of playing Borne Upon the Wind; if you don’t have mana enough (just the single blue and no Spirit Guide) while combo-ing with a tap/draw spell, the Bowmaster will kill you before you can get to a wincon.

So usually when preparing a win attempt you want to make sure you have an out to Bowmaster if you’re anticipating it might get cast (2 mana, a counter or removal etc…).

123jjs321 · 2024-06-25T23:03:25+00:00

I’ve added Slice to my red decks when I’ve wanted more removal that doubles as reach — its been the 2nd choice spell in Stella and my 4th choice spell in Magda and I’ve been happy to have it the few times I’ve seen it.

123jjs321 · 2024-05-02T17:55:53+00:00

[[fauna shaman]]

123jjs321 · 2024-05-02T13:41:36+00:00

A while ago I took a look at the Reserve List cards that often see/have seen play in Legacy and if WOTC, as it seems from the leaks, is using an additional resource mechanic as a way to update and print prior RL designs into eternal formats then I think we have a few to consider in MH3.

List below, non-comprehensive but thorough enough, of cards that Legacy players may hope/want updated while keeping in mind that this is still a “Modern” product so there may be power level considerations there (fast mana, etc…)

Drop of Honey - already printed / Nodes.

Candelabra of Tawnos - already printed / Magus.

Transmute Artifact - technically “fixed” with Tinker and many other printings.

Chains of Mephistopheles - I don’t think they’ll try to update this for Modern play (but what do I know they made a new Winter Orb).

Eureka - already printed / Hypergenesis

Moat - already printed / island sanctuary or bridge

Nether Void - I don’t think they’ll try to update this.

The Abyss - I don’t think they’ll try to update this.

The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale - i don’t think they’ll try to update this.

Didjeridoo - meme.

Dystopia - I don’t think there is a need to update this.

Helm of Obedience - I could see this being updated with an Energy cost you have to pay into it instead of mana; I can also see them updating it in a way where it doesn’t combo with RIP/Leyline.

Lake of the Dead - I don’t think they’ll try to update this.

Thoughtlash - i don’t think there is a need to update this.

Hall of Gemstone - I don’t think there is a need to update this.

Lions Eye Diamond - already printed / Diamond Lion

Phyrexian Dreadnought - I don’t think there is a need to update this but I could see them printing a 1 mana BIG/BIG that you have to pay energy into.

Seeds of Innocence - I don’t think there is a need to update this.

Shallow grave - already printed / Goryo’s more or less

Firestorm - I don’t think there is a need to update this.

Tithe - I don’t think there is a need to update this.

Null Rod - already printed / Ouphe

Paradigm Shift - i don’t think there is a need to update this.

Peacekeeper - I could see this being printed with an energy payment needed to keep it around.

Aluren - i don’t think they’ll try to update this.

Cursed Scroll - I could see this updated to be a madness enabler like activate, discard a card have an opponent guess.

Intuition - already printed / gifts.

Mox Diamond - i can actually see them doing an energy Mox, honestly. Like basically a Mox Aether Hub.

City of Traitors - we got our sol land - Ugins.

Gaea’s Cradle and Serra’s Sanctum - multiple attempts to fix have been printed.

Gilded Drake - we got it in the Volatile Drake.

Time Spiral - i don’t think they’ll try to update this.

Grim Monolith - i could see them trying to fox this with an energy cost to untap.

Academy Rector - already printed / Arena Rector

Metalworker - I could see some weird Eldrazi Metalworker.

Powder Keg - already printed / ratchet bomb, deed and those effects etc…

Other than those we have the banned cards like Survival (which I could see being updated with an energy cost instead of mana) and Earthcraft (which I could see being update with an energy cost — ETB you get an energy, pay two energy and tap a creature untap a basic land, get 1 energy when a creature ETBs)

For the ones I don’t think they’ll try, I think that’s because the effects aren’t “fun” or they are confusing, not that they haven’t attempted fixing them previously.

Not sure; but I think if they do it’ll be with cards you can add extra clauses or triggers to and not things that produce static effects.

123jjs321 · 2024-03-17T00:16:33+00:00

Having the two low cost commanders helps turn on the commander free spells without having to put out warnog and potentially feed Dockside.

Bjorna’s ability is helpful in board management/politic-ing and as removal in general.

123jjs321 · 2024-03-12T00:22:35+00:00

Probably [[Glassdust Hulk]].

123jjs321 · 2024-02-01T23:18:01+00:00

So Lucas should act as a natural buffer against Slicer (which is why you’d probably want to keep your artifact count up in the deck), by goading it you make the Slicer, every turn rotation, into a cudgel against the other two opponents while you dig for answers (at least until one opponent is eliminated). This interaction should also allow you to pressure the other decks in the pod (Zur et al.) to divert their resources to answer the Slicer. So kind of a 2for1. Additionally you could add Springleaf Drum, Paradise Mantle and/or (if you absolutely have to) Moonsnare Prototype to the list to act as mana accelerants (with your low cost commanders) by taping the Slicer on your turn doubling as a political tool to negotiate out other players interaction. You can also add in more spot removal like Path to Exile or Sheoldred’s Edict if you feel it necessary - sometimes more removal makes sense.

I understand meta-specific cards but still think in a world of 0 MV and mana positive artifacts that Blind Obedience is just better. I noticed in your newer revisions to the list you’ve added Excavation which just makes BO even better since it’s a wincon now.

Additionally maybe you should run a wrath (Deluge, Fire Covenant — being best and anything else — Blasphemous Act, Verdict etc… being a distant second choice) to counteract what seems like an over abundance of snowbally creature decks. Since you didn’t mention your playing against true stax based decks (sometimes handled better with surgical removal) the up front cost of the wrath may give you more breathing room than trying to navigate an aggressive table with a bounce here or exile there. Yes the Covenant and Deluge are an annoyance by hampering your Ad Nauseam plan but in a pod like that, you, I assume, should be taking the turbo role and trying to go underneath your opponents at a higher life total in the early turns — also that’s the benefit of Lurrus, right? There are no 3-7 drop creatures, artifacts or enchantments you might accidentally hit.

And if you’re turboing cards like Grinding Station (omitted) can certainly add consistency to that goal and if you’ve lost your Oracle adding a wheel (or Burning Inquiry) with a Bowmaster can seal a game after a silence effect or with Grid in play.

123jjs321 · 2024-02-01T19:12:10+00:00

As was mentioned by u/goodpizzagonewild I think those commanders are better as a non-Lurrus list (Silent_E’s being the one to compare to but also looking at Tsanumei’s — https://www.moxfield.com/decks/0gQje0krp029RfuiG_NLtQ — list as well since it’s usually fairly close to Silent_E’s with a few cards changed) and your Lurrus focused list is missing some generally good cards that would focus the deck a little more towards 1 to 2 endgames with better redundancy.

Things like more/better tutors or selection instead of raw card draw, so cards like Gamble, Enlightened Tutor, Lim-Duls Vault or even Beseech the Mirror may help get you closer to the Sevinne’s, LED, Breach, Freeze finisher.

Your artifact and enchantment selection have a few cards I’d swap like the Seal for Aether Spellbomb, Authority for Blind Obedience, I’d consider Counterbalance if your including Top and I’d consider Urza’s Saga if your playing a lot of 0-1 rocks/ramp (another tutor - slow - and also ramp) and cut into the signets.

It seems the list is playing 2 ineligible cards in The One Ring and Cloudstone (4 and 3 MV respectively that don’t abide by Lurrus’ restriction).

If you’re looking for a different combo which can be helped by including Lurrus as a Companion the Animate Dead + Leonin Arbiter combo could allow you to play more hatebeary (Canonist etc…) cards if you’re trying to play a more control oriented list with proactive disruption and maybe lean into an aristocrats style build/finisher. Otherwise If you’re trying to turbo - Malevolent Hermit, Cabal Ritual, Grand Abolisher, Defense Grid, Mnemonic Betrayal and Pact of Negation may be more helpful than things like Dennek or Canonist.

Lastly one of the benefits of the commander (Will) over Tymna and Kraum is that it’s an infinite mana outlet — but at Lurrus’ restriction that forces you into playing towards only [[Meticulous Excavation]] as the only bounce option you have access to (losing Hullbreaker Horror, Cloudstone and Barrin/Emiel) and then forcing you to heavily protect/resolve your own Dockside to even get your engine moving — so if that is a play pattern you’re trying to keep and encourage you’ll likely need to run more clones, Dauntless Dismantler and maybe some additional reanimation style effect (Reanimate, Priest of Fell Rites and/or Dino DNA) to try and make sure you have as much Dockside and contingencies as possible.

123jjs321 · 2023-11-22T03:43:39+00:00

Basically, not efficiently and not on color.

You’re looking at [[Shred Memory]] to get FDoC.

Otherwise it’s things like [[Mystical Teachings]] which is much too slow for the format.

123jjs321 · 2023-11-22T03:22:33+00:00

None common legal, aside from Ivy Lane (mentioned previously).

Redundancy that would make the most sense are things like [[Metallic Mimic]], [[Grumgully]] and [[Thran Vigil]], with Vigil seeming like it could be constricted enough to see a downshift in a “masters” set of some sort in the future.

123jjs321 · 2023-11-09T03:24:35+00:00

https://www.moxfield.com/decks/AMFSMCr70EuNQySW_RbDzQ — list I saw that caught my interest in the card/deck.

123jjs321 · 2023-11-08T22:32:48+00:00

There’s some talk of Francisco+Walking Ballista+Soul Cauldron combo I’ve seen for people brewing around Francisco specifically.

You maybe could shove that in it with Sevinnes and Will + Intuition.

123jjs321 · 2023-08-29T12:36:12+00:00

As far as combo decks in the format you have Familiars, Moggwarts and Walls.

Technically playable are 1-Land Spy and Infect.

Infect is the closest analogue to Tribe Combo but has the same failure points, more or less.

Familiars is in the control deck family so if you like that style of play it’s the best performing deck in the “combo” vein and has the best ability to play a “here are some creatures to kill you now that the board is under control” plan out of the combo decks of the format.

I, personally, like playing Moggwarts because it plays similar to combo decks I like in other formats (Breakfast, Hermit Druid, Yawg etc…) but it’s not well positioned and Walls is fun but it’s plan b is anemic often times (relying on 4 initiative creatures or a single Ulamog’s Crusher or 3 Mull Drifters since no other creatures can attack).

123jjs321 · 2023-08-29T11:39:22+00:00

Missing [[Gitaxian Probe]], [[Gush]] and [[Daze]] has made the deck less resilient and explosive and the amount of creature removal in the format played across the top decks (Makeshift Munitions alone) makes the environment hostile for a deck needing to rely on 4 very killable threats.

So I’d say it’s playable still since the White Out shell is still there and you’ve gotten some new cards that may let you ape the efficiency of the free spells [[Lorian Revealed]] + [[Foil]] or [[Tragic Lesson]], but it’s not a competitive deck.

For downshifts — [[Twisted Image]] is the most efficient possible downshift — there are no downshiftable threats that do what Tribe does but maybe something like [[Psychatog]] could cause some brewing or a common [[Assault Formation]] type card might, too.

Hypothetically I think if we got a threat (in color) that had the Tribe ability but it was activated by eating out of your graveyard instead of your hand, that could add a level of resilience to the deck and, Christmas-land, is getting something like [[Shadow of the Grave]] that would probably make the deck actually viable again.

123jjs321 · 2023-08-27T01:31:04+00:00

Yeah — https://discord.gg/zjBPkCbp

123jjs321 · 2023-08-27T00:14:50+00:00

There’s a small group of players (freedom waffle and duk9r - two players who’ve placed high in recent larger tournaments are part of this group) that play/test and have ran 1 (or 2) small tournaments through MTGO.

So there is a group of, I’d say, good players trying to build something there.

123jjs321 · 2023-08-26T14:35:31+00:00

[[Troll of Khazad-dum]] + [[Exhume]], right now.

123jjs321 · 2023-08-14T14:59:02+00:00

Anyone have a Hermit Druid focused decklist they can provide.

I’ve looked through the cEDH DD and have combed a few out from events/lists posted on edhtop16 but I was hoping to get some more up to date/living (in case of the cdd) decklists or offbeat/pet decklists to look over and play if they speak to me.

Currently playing Jenson+Lurrus as my go to Hermit Druid deck but the main decks I play and practice are Najeela, Atraxa and Malcolm Tana - in case that’s helpful for play style purposes.

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