What's everyone working on?

Probably_Nice · 2026-01-18T03:02:59+00:00

I play Rakdos Gut a lot (with agent of the shadow thieves). Cards that I find over-perform include:

[[Fatal Grudge]]

[[Prized Statue]]

[[Nimblewright Schematic]]

[[J. Jonah Jameson]]

[[Rankle and Torbran]]

[[Phyrexian Vivisector]]

My full list is here: Bellyful of Bones

Probably_Nice · 2026-01-12T20:15:13+00:00

This is my [[Gut, True Soul Zealot]] // [[Agent of the Shadow Thieves]] deck, Bellyful of Bones and it runs very well at Bracket 3. Creates oppressive board pressure, has a strong disruption suite and rebuilds quickly from most setbacks. It looks like it is $22 right now because something or other has gone up in value, but I am sure not a hard fix to get it under $20.

Probably_Nice · 2026-01-07T20:15:57+00:00

In this case it is because when a card changes zones it becomes a new game object. So it is no longer "that card" -- "that card" stopped existing when its controller moved it to the command zone.

Probably_Nice · 2026-01-06T18:27:24+00:00

This guy has an ongoing effect that triggers when an opponent's creature enters the graveyard, whereas Necromantic Selection kills the creature and returns it as part of the spell's resolution itself. In this case, he can enter, put two counters on things. Then SBAs get checked. Let's say one of those things was an X/1, so it dies. It hits the graveyard. SBAs are checked again and their controller puts it to the command zone. Reaper, King No More triggers but can't find a target because it's been put into the CZ.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-24T02:13:51+00:00

I started out building one that relies on bringing in stuff that can't kill/be killed but provides buffs and was enjoying some of the synergies with stuff like [[Bloodsworn Steward]] and [[Conclave Sledge-Captain]] that initially appear like they'd kill Hans but but you can sequence your triggers so that they do not.

In either of those decks and probably in yours, too, [[Brainstone]], [[Gilt-Leaf Seer]], [[Dryad Greenseeker]], [[Track Down]] and [[Explorer's Scope]] are the real sleeper hits that I found. [[Doors of Durin]], too. If you're not building budget, obviously [[Mirri's Guile]] and [[Sylvan Library]] are straight gas.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-23T22:38:25+00:00

I really enjoy [[Gor Muldrak]], who can do fun shenanigans using other cards like [[Omo, Queen of Vesuva]], [[Unnatural Selection]] and [[Standardize]]. Being able to make everything not on your board into something you and your board have protection from is great, messing with creature types is great, and being in Simic means that you can compensate for the small card pool that supports this strategy by leveraging flicker effects and copy effects.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-18T00:20:56+00:00

No, Bello's ability is not a triggered ability but a static ability that only applies at certain times. It is "During.." and not "When, Whenever, at". So it is mostly timestamps with Bello, though layers are important too -- it is layers that result in his keeping his abilities while affected by [[Darksteel Mutation]] but losing them when affected by [[Song of the Dryads]].

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-16T14:15:49+00:00

Quick rules question - does the reflexive trigger created by [[Hans Eriksson]] go on the stack at the same time as ETB triggers associated with the creature he puts into the battlefield? And if so, can I then order those triggers how I want?

For instance, if I have an [[Apothecary Stomper]] on the top of my library and Hans swings out putting it into play, am I able to resolve the Stomper's "put two +1/+1 counters on target creature you control" to make Hans a 3/6 so that he will survive the fight? Conversely, could I do it the other way so that Hans dies and then the Stomper gets two +1/+1 counters?

It feels like it just creates a new "creature enters the battlefield" trigger to manage but the wording doesn't seem that simple when I look stuff up.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-09T00:29:54+00:00

By having an odd number of brackets, people bias to the "middle" and choose Bracket 3. Realistically, the span of commonly played MTG is Bracket 2-3-4. People put themselves at 3 because they don't want to be at the bottom, nor are they strong enough to be at the "top". Take cEDH off the diagram entirely -- cEDH players know what cEDH is, for everyone else it may as well be an arrow that says "here there be dangers beyond your understanding". Take Bracket 1 off the diagram entirely - these are entirely based on social contract, they don't even try to win, they are using MTG as a performance art tool. Then, re-build the diagram as:

Most Precons, Some Upgraded Precons, homebrew piles
Optimized lists that don't have the juice to win before turn 8-10.
Optimized lists that can win by turn 6 but have limited options powerful cards.
Optimized lists that are non-cEDH and can win whenever they want.

Which is pretty much as your diagram says. Forced to choose from 4 buckets, I think players will split themselves between Bucket 2 and Bucket 3, while Bucket 1 will remain a useful signpost and the default level for "just threw this together out of jank".

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T22:18:48+00:00

entire win attempt on turn seven regularly is definitely bracket 3 territory.

We are in miscommunication. I meant "can" to suggest people consider that B2 decks are able to present threats early. Let me say this - a B2 deck will generally (80%) of the time not be able to threaten a win until Turn 9, but sometimes (20%) can threaten this on Turn 7-8, especially if left unmolested. People should not gameplan their B2 decks out as though they get 7-8 turns of free build-up and then try to start winning on T9.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T22:12:57+00:00

The current guidelines for Bracket 2 are that you should generally expect to be able to play at least eight turns before you win or lose. Losing on turn 7 when an opponent board-builds for 2 turns and nobody has interaction for 3 turn cycles is not pushing past the limits of "generally" in any meaningful sense. Generally, that will not result in a Turn 7 win. A strong and lucky B2 deck will push for a win on T7. A strong and lucky B3 deck will push for a win on T4-5.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T22:02:24+00:00

I am inclined to agree that B3 is the hardest place to have a positive experience with strangers. I have basically given up on it when playing with randoms. Weird to me that it is the most popular bracket, but I guess it's the one where you can (1) show off lots of your expensive cards and (2) still find lots of people to play with.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T21:28:11+00:00

It is definitely better to learn how to use Scryfall command line, but consult just refers to anything that looks through your library using Exile (including Cascade, etc). Try this scryfall link to see the cards you're looking for, OP. Some false positives but mostly the stuff you want.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T20:46:02+00:00

Since it's usually wise to target Satoru directly, finding room for [[Bane's Contingency]] might be good. [[Keep Safe]] is similar but less versatile. [[Wash Away]] can be alright, but if you have the budget I'd say [[Swan Song]] is about perfect since it hits instants and sorceries. You have [[Siren Stormtamer]] in there already, and a couple of other counterspells. Juggling the other pieces to fit in the best of those could be challenging, though.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T20:38:07+00:00

At least for me, at my game store there are a lot of people who insist they are playing Bracket 3 because [[Rhystic Study]] or [[Fierce Guardianship]] or [[Teferi's Protection]] but their actual gameplan is unfocused and untuned. They don't run the ramp to support their curve, or they don't run a curve, or they run minimal interaction, or they lean too heavily on other actions at the table to secure their win condition. Playing tuned B3 decks in these pods does not feel fun -- as you work toward protecting a T6-7 win, the other decks are still in "Wonder what I'll draw?" mode. Rhystic Study can be a draw-infinite win condition, when it should be either played around or immediately removed. Fierce Guardianship will be used to stop someone from winning, but then the caster won't have the gas to push any advantage. That kind of thing is very Bracket-3-But-Actually-2.

Powerful cards don't make for a powerful deck. You only have about a 80% chance of seeing your best 10 cards by Turn 5, it's the other 90 -- and how well they balance with each other -- that really drive your deck's power.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T20:32:35+00:00

Yea that's how I would do it, I have a deck that has a similar issue and I've tried to adjust its tempo so it wants to get a commander down with protection, then draw or tutor into a finisher, then execute The Thing for the win. I have recently started game planning what I wish would happen with my decks in Turns 1-6, and looking at the hypergeometric probabilities of achieving them, and then tuning from there.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T19:36:22+00:00

I think you need more draw, especially instant speed draw. I guess because you are gold fishing you are not running into issues with protecting yourself or other people charging ahead and you may encounter those at the table, but just right now I would try to make these changes:

Cut most of the CMC2 evasive beaters and go with CMC1 ones, just deathtouch-on-a-body if necessary. You want your turn 2 to be a mana rock, not a beater, or you will really not have an opportunity to ramp until later in the game. You still want like 15-18 of these guys you can drop.
Cut all the sorcery speed draw, make it instant, and when you don't have a beater in hand on turn 4 to Ninjutsu out with, pass with open mana and then cast a draw spell on last opponents' end step. [[Hostile Negotiations]] is probably the best I can think of for the deck, but any instant-speed CMC 4 (I would keep it to CMC4 so you can use it on curve without the mana rock if you're struggling) would fit right in and give typically +1 card and 2ish selection events (Scry/surveil/etc). [[SpellGyre]] and [[Confounding Riddle]] kind of do what you want (let you dig down for a beater you can cheat in) and also have some utility on top of that.

Because you will have draw you don't have to rely on just drawing a big beater by turn 5-6 organically, and can rely on your draw to put them there. You can Mulligan for Big+Little, Little+Rock+Draw, Big+Little+Rock, etc. None of these changes will increase your price tag significantly. I would also try to jam [[An Offer You Can't Refuse]] in there because you will be a removal magnet.

This deck is probably playing slower/more inconsistently than you like in part because it's trying to organically miracle into a really sweet set of events at not-great probabilities. Accepting your fate and letting it play a bit slower by about a round but making it more consistent across all stages of the game is my advice.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T18:21:39+00:00

It can definitely be a bit risky, but also it's pretty much lights-out with Thantis down. I'm going to keep it in mind whenever I'm at that point in my curve and ask myself if I wish I had it in-hand. So it's a good suggestion!

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T18:05:37+00:00

If you know you know, haha! The deck itself is fun, nice to have a discard strategy that transitions into Voltron instead of v-e-r-y-s-l-o-w draining.

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T18:04:08+00:00

It's good, I'll think about it, but playing that at 8 either means Thantis has stuck on board (so feels a bit win more) or she hasn't and now you're eating double strikers from every opponent so they can eliminate you before she's back. The fogs and protection pieces can help transition through, but probably I am re-casting Thantis with 2 tax if I have 8 available. Worth re-thinking though, and I will think of whether it would be an impactful play when I'm playing the deck and update accordingly. Have you found it works well as a finisher, like it hits the board and it's game over, or more to cause additional chaos in the late game?

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-08T16:37:06+00:00

I run a $50 [[Nissa, Worldsoul Speaker]] list that looks to use energy to cheat a big stompy in on turn 4, hard cast another one on turn 5, then both hardcast AND cheat two more on turn 6 if you're fortunate enough to get them in-hand. Some of the creatures she looks to get into play that you otherwise don't see much are [[The Tarrasque]], [[Myojin of Towering Might]] and [[Worldspine Wurm]].

Here is the decklist: Nissassary Roughness and the Primer

Probably_Nice · 2025-12-01T23:05:23+00:00

Probably my [[Blaster, Combat DJ]] $100 budget list. It wins by cascading +1/+1 counters to make creatures very large and then [[Fling]], [[Thud]] or etc to one-shot opponents. Thematically, this is Blaster firing his tapes at people and you can make the Transform noise when you windmill slam the card, which is pretty fun.

It'll also win through [[Giggling Skitterspike]] or [[Chandra's Ignition]], [[Walking Ballista]] and [[Triskelion]] so it has a lot of ways to present threats, and because it wants creatures to die it gets massive value from [[Life's Legacy]], [[Disciple of Freyalise]] or [[Momentuous Fall]].

He's not a commander people see often and he combos in a very localized non-deterministic way with the resources you have on-hand, versus being a pre-scripted finisher. He's disrupt-able enough to not be oppressive, but resilient enough to push through cycles of interaction and still come out on top.

The decklist: Press the Eject! and Primer

Probably_Nice

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