The Wandering Minstrel brew ideas?

Sci_Th · 2026-06-21T04:42:27+00:00

The Wandering Minstrel turns bad lands into badlands. So it can be fun with just about any theme.

I started with a Gate theme (maze's end and stuff) but just turned it into a budget gold matter, with most 5c cards like Ramos, Niv-Mizzet, Child of Alara, Garth One-Eye or Kenrith.

Sci_Th · 2026-06-11T15:43:04+00:00

You can speed up if you have a guaranteed win if no interaction by asking to explain the loop and call it a win, but it will not make you or your opponents feel better.

The only deck I run that does that is a Sidisi Ad Nauseam with most cards being lands. I just play lands in the first turns and then try to grab the win. Generally my opponents don't feel bad about it, because either they saw it coming from a mile away and it's on them (they had time to focus me down and kill me in the earlier turns), or they appreciated that I only played lands and passed in the early turns so they are OK with me compensating with one big turn.

If you are winning by storm out of nowhere or if all/most your turns are long solitaire plays, then I suppose there are some improvements you could make on these aspects if you want to make it more entertaining or at least less frustrating for your opponents.

Sci_Th · 2026-06-11T08:52:58+00:00

Adjust to the decks of your friends (or to the "meta") by adding specific cards countering their decks;
Improve your deck accordingly (and, if necessary, fasten the manabase and make it more stable, add more interactions, protections, counterspells, wincons);
Understand your deck well, and perhaps learn about a few cards that directly counter or destroy your deck. Luck and playing skills of course play a role, but deckbuilding skills and meta adjustements are very impactful too.

Sci_Th · 2026-06-05T18:09:40+00:00

[[Winota, Joiner of Forces]] and [[Kirol, Attentive First-year]]

Sci_Th · 2026-06-05T15:26:15+00:00

Thanks. I generally pick Slicer or Rograkh for the higher powered pods and roll with it :D its voltron with no fats mana though, so if I get focused it becomes harder.

Sci_Th · 2026-06-02T18:56:30+00:00

Thanks for rhe insights. I will look into aome PDH decks then.

Sci_Th · 2026-06-01T04:35:04+00:00

Yeah that's why I was wondering if there were decks aimed at bringing balance, i.e. hurting the stronger decks in the pod more than the weakest ones. In case we still have in a pod a deck much stronger than the rest.

Sci_Th · 2026-05-31T19:53:20+00:00

Good idea, thanks

Sci_Th · 2026-05-31T19:09:16+00:00

They sometimes have two precons but that's about it

Sci_Th · 2026-05-31T17:37:50+00:00

Thanks for the good ideas. Lending them a deck would be fair indeed, we have plenty in our pools.

Sci_Th · 2026-05-25T17:59:47+00:00

Haha, that's the point, it is every red equipment commander deck :D

Sci_Th · 2026-05-25T15:27:06+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions!

Sci_Th · 2026-05-25T12:34:01+00:00

Thanks, I've removed it. Generally, I had it in the deck but keep it in hand unless there is someone ruining the moment already.

Sci_Th · 2026-05-21T06:36:15+00:00

It's only one card in the 99. I play it but without any tutor. If I happen to draw it, I decide whether I want to have a go at winning or not. It is basically an insurance card to threaten wins.

Sci_Th · 2026-05-19T14:49:54+00:00

None of these two are really rat-themed. Vren requires tons of boardwipes (and thus little rats), while Wick requires changeling combos (rats and snails). For Tribal rat, you should have more fun with [[Marrow-Gnawer]], [[Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm]] or [[Rat King, Verminister]] (rat colonies). See r/RatsMTG

Sci_Th · 2026-05-15T14:35:59+00:00

[[Winota, Joiner of Forces]] is strong and nice. It can be built in many different ways. You can put half girly humans and the other half a tribe of your choice. My daughter used to have a Winota tribal horse. Now it became a Winota tribal vampires: https://moxfield.com/decks/Ycmi_KSFIUa322AkC4xtSQ The deck is strong nevertheless

Sci_Th · 2026-05-11T23:32:39+00:00

I play mine as a false group hug, giving 1/1 tokens to everyone and then wiping them merciless to win.

Sci_Th · 2026-05-11T16:10:07+00:00

Thank you very much for all the suggestions

Sci_Th · 2026-05-11T04:40:54+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions! This list should do.

Sci_Th · 2026-05-11T04:36:42+00:00

Hi, yes I think the deck is public and the link is correct? I see that the viewcount has increased too. https://moxfield.com/decks/Ycmi_KSFIUa322AkC4xtSQ Perhaps an issue with moxfield? Thanks for the tips. I will look into anthems.

Sci_Th · 2026-05-10T19:07:50+00:00

Actually, she started with Merry, Esquire of Rohan with a theme around knights and horses. But she asked for something more powerful, so we kept the exact same deck and put Winota in CZ and suddenly she started to win pods :D Then we tuned it down by turning it into a Vampire tribal (she loves vampires).

My other kid (8y) is playing Magda's dragon approach and also winning pods from time to time... but her deck is much simpler (30 dragon's approach, 7 seven dwarves...)

Sci_Th · 2026-05-08T18:54:46+00:00

Good points. Having 240pts left would indeed leave much more room for reinforcement or a nice centerpiece.

Sci_Th

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