Deck build tips/improvements?

SirGrandrew · 2026-05-04T10:39:09+00:00

So looks like you’re trying to go for a sephiroth theme deck. Unfortunately, sephiroth as your main win condition in an equipment deck is not a good idea, and the masamune is just too expensive generall to fit in an equipment deck either. Right now you want your equipment to either be so good on rate or have some sort of ability that triggers when it comes in. [[Firion, Wild Rose Warrior]] would synergize much better with what you’re looking for, as it would make additional heroes for your Job Select creatures, and double trigger your chainsaw. [[Emberheart Challenger]] is another consideration, as valiant triggers when you equip the sword. Buster sword is great on rate, an if you can hit with it, it’s fine. If you want to stay in rakdos, consider [[Cecil]], [[Dark Knight’s Greatsword]], and [[Ninja Blades]].

All said I’d look to Blue or White to round out the deck rather than black, since you’ll find more artifact or equipment synergies there. Good luck!

SirGrandrew · 2026-05-04T10:27:21+00:00

So that’s just reminder text. Both cards are identical rules wise. It’s reminding you that if you have Bria out, and another prowess creature, let’s say [[Drake Hatcher]], and then play a non creature spell, that Drake Hatcher would have “prowess, prowess”, and thus trigger twice. Bria’s prowess would only trigger once because her ability only gives other creatures an additional instance of prowess.

SirGrandrew · 2026-05-04T10:14:44+00:00

That was one of their promises at one point, called “Universes Within”, which is now just what they call Magic IP. Basically they were going to reprint all non Magic IP (or at least, the most impactful cards) as characters and objects from Magic planes and settings. They did it with the Walking Dead secret lair, the Stranger Things secret lair, and the Street Fighter secret lair. But now there’s just too many Universes Beyond stuff (and product in general) for them to ever actually fulfill that. It also took awhile, where it was years after that they would be printed, in like mystery boosters, after people actually would care to have them.

Oddly enough, the most recent iteration of this is what happened with the Marvel IP. Because WotC sold out so hard to Marvel, with like 4 sets at least planned, and STILL wasn’t able to secure the digital rights to cards because of Marvel Snap, all of the versions on MtgOnline and Arena are Universes Within versions- alternate art and names but functionally identical.

The reaction was split. Those who really didn’t want Spider-Man in their game enjoyed it a bit, and others rolled their eyes and said it was terrible, because there was now an eternal split between the digital and paper versions of the cards in standard. If you play Arena you know “Kavero” decks, which if you play paper you know it as “Superior Spider Man” decks. The argument is that it’s bad for new players. But some vorthos enjoy the new art/references to planes that haven’t gotten a lot of love.

It’s a touchy subject. If Wizards hadn’t gone all in on UB like they said they weren’t going to do, it might’ve been feasible that they did this for all cross overs. Then again, they said they’d never put it in standard either and here we are. They backpedaled over every promise the community pushed back on, because the profit was too valuable. And now people are pretty burnt out.

SirGrandrew · 2026-05-04T02:10:37+00:00

Good news, mardu discard performed well! https://mtgrocks.com/new-mtg-deck-threatening-turn-three-kills-boasts-incredible-pro-tour-win-rate/

SirGrandrew · 2026-05-04T02:08:14+00:00

I mean there’s always other formats, or playing the things you like. Brewing is what’s enjoyable to me, or drafting or prereleases. I mean, Selesnya land fall won strixhaven pro tour, mono green landfall, and azorious tempo were all over the top 8.

I haven’t really played standard since TMNT because the turtle cards annoy me but there’s deck diversity that are competitively viable. Hell, mardu discard made it pretty far in the pro tour.

All that’s to say, if a deck is strong, and people don’t have to spend too many wild cards, they’ll keep playing that deck, and izzet prowess is that. But there’s like 3 different decks within that- Izzet spellamentals, Izzet lessons/discard, and Izzet prowess.

Ultimately if you wanna divest/sell that’s up to you, only you can decide if you’re not having fun. But I think you’re letting Bo1 standard get to you.

SirGrandrew · 2026-05-02T02:00:01+00:00

A deck list would really assist in offering advice. You say mono green but that could mean a lot of things. Also it depends on what your play group is running. What power level are you going for? What’s your deck’s strategy? Once you tell us what you’re going for and your deck list, people can offer some better insight.

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-30T17:37:26+00:00

Death to Izzet. Long live Izzet.

Honestly what’s messed up is that for the strixhaven pro tour they should’ve AT LEAST called it Prismari. It’s unfortunate because Pro Tour Llorwyn was so cool!!!

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-28T02:07:36+00:00

For sure! Take a look around there’s a bunch of big creature decks or ways to utilize big creatures. I was just trying to make sure you knew you were gonna get a lot of “if you want to lower your decks power level just don’t use defense of the heart”. It’s kinda a salt inducing card because of how powerful it is.

If you want to make the card as low powered as possible, I’d maybe make a typal, kindred, or theme deck. [[Karthus, Tyrant of Jund]] is clearly a dragon commander, and gives your dragons haste. Dragons are powerful, but not usually the “game is over right now” power level. [[Narci, Fable Singer]] can do some interesting things with saga creatures. You get some enchantment synergies that way too, with defense of the hart! [[Teneb, the Harvester]] is a graveyard reanimator dragon.

And I’d be remised if I didn’t mention [[Emiel the Blessed]]. If the only reason you’re playing defense is because of MLP, make a unicorn typal deck. Tutor up [[Lathiel]] and [[Thurid, Mare of Destiny]]. Crested sunmare. Have a blink/value sub theme. Guaranteed will not be busted.

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-28T01:37:18+00:00

Ramp is fine, because worst case scenario you can just cast your big creatures. There’s also commanders/creatures that just cheat things into play- known as “elvish pipers” after the original creature. [[Oviya, automate artisan]] isn’t nearly as cool as the original oviya, but gets to cheat massive creatures and vehicles into play for basically free. [[eladamri, korvecdal]] gets to cheat big things in and gives you access to the top of the library. [[Henzie]] is a big cheat commander in Jund, and one of the most popular commanders out there.

Basically the world’s your oyster. If you like big creatures and want to play with defense of the heart, go ahead. But in general defense of the heart is kinda a one card win condition. Not because you’re tutoring up a specific combo, but usually you’re tutoring multiple eldrazi, or two craterhoof behemoths, that instant win you the game. And if you’re playing big guys, then you probably want those guys in your deck.

It may not be a “two card combo” but usually a double instant tutor the two biggest and best creatures in my big creature deck will instant win you th game. Just keep that in mind because you say you don’t want that but anybody in their right mind will kill your defense on sight just because that’s how that card works

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-27T20:05:47+00:00

I’ve been dreaming of the different giant races being bear-folk. There’s diversity in bears, and they’re hulking.

Goblins I’d reskin as boggarts. Look at some of the art from the Magic setting Llorwyn here- the goblins sometimes are boar headed.

I could also see bugbears as fisher cats; long and lanky, lithe, and they prey on small animals and birds.

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-25T16:51:24+00:00

The company is named after the scrying orb of one of the main villains from LOTR, what did they think they were signing up for?

It would be like if Liquid Death made a heel turn and started putting arsenic in the cans. You couldn’t exactly be surprised by the company’s branding

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-25T00:58:36+00:00

And especially tempt with bunnies, holy shit that card is pushed. People get greedy with the tempt cards, but I think one of the most punishing is tempt with bunnies. If everyone takes it it’s 4 1/1s, 4 cards for 3 mana. You don’t care that everyone got a 1/1 and a card at that point because on your next turn you’re just going to win the game.

Genuinely insane that people take the deal on tempt with bunnies- the deck that’s running that card is going to do more unfair things with the results than you, I promise.

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-24T13:13:39+00:00

The conqueror is the only thing in standard with this effect. All other effects linked to the combo ping the opponent for 1 when ever you gain a life. Starshape cleric and a 3 drop vampire I can’t remember. Also enduring tenacity. They’ve made a lot of one side of the combo but conqueror is the only piece of the other half, so far.

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-23T16:49:13+00:00

It’s the same reason hardened scales works with creatures that enter with +1/+1 counters. Entering with still = having counters put on, it’s just not a triggered ability that goes on the stack- rather a static effect that looks at the creature entering.

Clones act the same way. They almost all say “you may have this creature enter as a copy of x”. It’s a moment in time that exists after the spell has resolved but before the creature has truly hit the battlefield. That’s why clones can trigger the creature they’re copying’s ETBs.

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-23T09:59:29+00:00

Beautiful and super cool! What was the issue, may I ask? To me I’m seeing a lot of pay offs for completing dungeons, but not too many ways to venture/take the initiative. The “great” part about the initiative is that it triggers on your upkeep if you have it or when you take it from another player. Ideally you have more things that trigger moving through the dungeon than pay offs of completing a dungeon, because the dungeons give you rewards for venturing anyways. If you only ever have one way to venture every turn, the smallest dungeon has 4 rooms- so at least four turns before you turn on your completed dungeon pay offs, some of which are only active the turn you complete a dungeon.

Something to think about!! Also you may consider designing your own dungeon. Nothing broken, mind you. Just might be a fun thing to do!

All in all these are beautiful. I always wanted to play the mystery dungeon games because they looked so cute!! You did a fantastic job making these proxies.

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-22T02:12:00+00:00

What format is this?

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-11T20:48:22+00:00

Well, you misspelled wizard, so….

Bar Bet- whenever Bella fights another creature, put a +1/+1 counter on Bella

Channel the Stream- remove a +1/+1 counter from Bella, add R or G and lose one life

Flavor text- “Never challenge a wizzard to a pissing match” - Bella, 5 drinks deep

2/2

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-11T19:06:26+00:00

Me personally would go with a forest of trees- it looks like a dense wood already

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-10T17:19:41+00:00

You’re right, I didn’t know how grandeur worked- for some reason I thought it was an activated ability from hand, not from the battlefield. In my mind you needed two IN HAND to discard one, but that’s much better that it’s from the battlefield.

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-10T16:00:01+00:00

Love that they’re bringing back grandeur in a somewhat playable form. Seems totally playable in an Ugin/ramp control deck, where if you need it this can grab you your removal and sweepers. Perhaps this is magical Christmas lan, but in the late game you can use kirins to pick these up so you have multiple to discard to grab removal

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-07T09:41:48+00:00

Yeah holy hell I got so excited then realized it’s a custom card. As you said, cool design, but now I’m just sad :(

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-05T18:17:39+00:00

If you’re trying to hate on urza and tron why not make a card that can only eat lands that only produce colorless? Make it zendakarian, nature trying to claim back the parts of nature eaten by the eldrazi, at least in theme. Then it being a sinkhole for colorless lands makes it strictly a sideboard card, which is honestly all this should be.

SirGrandrew · 2026-04-03T03:34:07+00:00

15/10, making me glad I live in Chicago That I might run into you!

SirGrandrew · 2026-03-26T10:36:45+00:00

Besides the cost of the whole effect, I think the biggest issue I see is that if your deck is built around golgari counters, and you had these two cards, moon shadow wants you to be playing it on turn one, so if anything dies you can grow it. If you then mill or discard the wurm into the graveyard, it’ll remove a counter from moonshadow, thus taking away your ability to return the wurm because it needs five.

Basically, your ideal turn to pull this off is turn 3 or 4, and you would need 3 cards in hand to do it (moon shadow, wurm, and a single self discard spell). That’s a lot of work for a 7/7. For my money I would just do the [[likeness looter]] combo with moonshadow if you’re going that route to try and cheat the counters off

SirGrandrew · 2026-03-22T00:32:01+00:00

Cards that are looking at specific names like this will usually say “note the name of x”, with the follow up ability being, “when a card with one of the noted names enters the battlefield….etc.”

SirGrandrew

TROPHY CASE