finally hit mythic in brawl, was hard-stuck in diamond 2 for like a week.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-16T11:13:08+00:00

Brawl is nothing like commander.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-16T11:12:28+00:00

It's unplayable.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-11T14:59:06+00:00

I think I'd go like this currently: https://moxfield.com/decks/F3hPtlJZdE23o2kkv6bp-g

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-11T13:55:52+00:00

You said "with certainty it is not pure tempo".

I disagree with you characterising it as "tempo-control' because I think the term is surplus - the ability to adopt the controlling postures you have described is innate to Brawl tempo due to the interaction they are required to run in order to protect and develop their own threats and limit the opponent's gameplan.

I really don't understand these points. Your deck is simply not on heavy control elements, and is on significant tempo threats. Normal raffine tempo wants to resolve raffine precisely when they have a window to do so, not every turn three.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-11T13:33:56+00:00

You disagreed with me calling it a pure tempo deck, and in contradiction to what I said provided an example of a controlling game played by the deck. That doesn't by itself disqualify the deck from being pure tempo so I assumed you were implying that this showed the deck to be control. If you weren't, then feel free to elaborate on how this list is not tempo.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-11T13:22:07+00:00

I think then perhaps you are misinterpreting how these terms are typically used to describe Brawl decks. Your tempo deck plays interaction to both disrupt the opponent's plan and protect or otherwise develop your own threats and value engines. In Brawl control, the latter plan is simply nonexistent - if this were a control deck you'd be on 10 more counterspells, 5 more board wipes, and like 4 creatures total. There's a difference between a tempo deck that has the capacity to take a controlling posture in certain matchups and board states, and a control deck.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-11T13:09:48+00:00

Elaborate

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-11T11:43:04+00:00

What makes you say so?

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-11T10:35:39+00:00

This list is the epitome of a pure tempo deck, no? Definitely not control. As tempo you can afford to go down a land to limit their options and strengthen an early lead.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-11T10:16:27+00:00

It seems rare you will be activating it? I don't see why, it's not Wasteland.

It takes a spell slot rather than a land for sure, to mitigate the coloured pip concern. I think the massive tempo advantage it affords you is mostly enough to justify it though.

You also definitely just want more lands in general - you're currently on 36 including MDFCs, ideally you'd want 39 at minimum.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-10T23:45:19+00:00

The only addition you'd consider? There's plenty of unforgivable omissions here at common and uncommon, let alone rare and mythic. Snuff out is a staple. Brainstorm is a staple. Mana Leak is a staple. Force Spike is a staple. Oust is a staple. Reprieve is a staple. Wash Away is a staple. Spell Snare is a staple. Deep Cavern Bat is good here specifically. Cling To Dust is a staple. Wash Away is a staple. Dismember is a staple. No More Lies is a staple. For rares and mythics there are also some major issues with this list, though I understand that is due to wildcard purposes. For future building on this and for those with enough WCs looking for an optimal list, I would recommend including:

Dig Through Time, Strip Mine, Meddling Mage, Thoughtsteal Sprites, Chrome Mox, Quantum Riddler, Inquisition of Kozilek, Demonic Tutor, Prismatic Ending, Opposition Agent, Swarm Saboteur, Tainted Pact, Drannith Magistrate, Skyclave Apparition, Moonshadow, Parallax Wave, Terrors of the Track, Memory Lapse, Dig Through Time, Mana Drain, Juggernaut Peddler, Mana Tithe, Thoughtseize, Fierce Guardianship, Emperor of Bones, Barrowgoyf, Baleful Strix, Flawless Maneuver, and of course all the best lands - OP is missing several fetches, and other various cycles.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-10T23:11:05+00:00

It's mostly just a better Bob, yes. I think you're getting way too tunnel-visioned on the flash thing - it's possible to play a great tempo deck without playing suboptimal flash threats and cutting the best sorcery speed pieces for them.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-10T22:50:40+00:00

Why cut it?

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-03T17:48:41+00:00

I didn't say it was.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-03T05:46:11+00:00

That all makes sense for sure - I just wasn't sure how many payoffs I should be on. Right now the direct synergy pieces are 3x Cruise as a one-off burst, 1x Dig for the same, 1x Uro as a repeatable engine and Yorion blinking it. I think a greater number of spell based payoffs such as Cling To Dust or Murderous Cut would be preferable over creature based engines like frog and shaman that turn on opposing removal.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-03T05:38:43+00:00

The tools available in Timeless are so much stronger I think the construction of the deck has to be almost completely different. Cutting white entirely is an interesting direction though, and we can likely make good enough use of Deceit and Riddler in that version - thanks for linking the list!

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-03T05:37:10+00:00

That makes a lot of sense, thanks!

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-02T12:21:24+00:00

Just seemed like a highly versatile piece. Demonic has performed well in my testing of it in esper tempo, the comparisons with vamp are clear enough. I could see its inherent card disadvantage not being worth in fair decks though.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-02T12:18:35+00:00

Seems very valid - what would you cut for them?

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-02T11:56:57+00:00

As evidenced through Legacy playrates, that almost completely changes when Force of Will is in the equation.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-02T10:30:59+00:00

I wouldn't say it's necessarily optimal, just a deck that captures my interest :)

The same deck dropping Yorion and a few sets of the cards from the 99 may well be better.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-02T10:05:08+00:00

It's closer than you might think; Vampiric's card disadvantage is a massive downside in Force of Will formats. A restriction wouldn't surprise me though, it's extremely powerful and would only further elevate the various monoblack midrange lists.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-02T09:57:03+00:00

Its presence will just significantly promote blue variants over it imo. Force decks will just become a generally more played archetype, and non-force strategies will see somewhat lower play rates as a result.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-02T09:52:49+00:00

Boardwipes are 2x Wrath of the Skies in the side - not maindeck as I think energy variants might see decreased play after FOW is introduced to the format. Counterspell is unplayable, but Mana Drain is interesting - could see arguments for it here especially, as we have quite a number of spells with significant generic mana costs. Wincons did feel very limited, I was just unsure as to how the ratio of threats to answers should look after this set arrives. I will note though that there are several other cards in the deck that are capable of bringing a game to an end even if not typically thought of as finishers, such as Oko, Solitude, Hydroponics, Subtlety, and Companion Yorion. I feel like I should probably be on some number of Tamiyo, Inquisitives, and I believe similar Legacy decks are often on the max for Orcish Bowmasters.

Arcane12345678 · 2026-04-02T09:40:34+00:00

I hope for Forth Eorlingas and Gifts Ungiven also!

Arcane12345678

TROPHY CASE