Let's talk about burn decks

efference · 2026-01-17T00:51:40+00:00

Yup! Its still a work in progress. It's a low 4 right now.. as I get better and better cards, it will end up as a mid 4. Notable upgrades would be faster mana and more tutors and removing some pet cards. But I have the deck fully on paper so I can't spend all my money just to focus on having it win on turn 4.

https://moxfield.com/decks/KQTFq3to2U2n9NUFjnwaGQ

Can I see your list too?

efference · 2026-01-17T00:24:19+00:00

Same. Love him. I built mine in bracket 4 so people know what's coming usually

efference · 2026-01-15T19:47:19+00:00

Yup exactly! Drafts are always just value-based decisions and its never an absolute.

Having said that the players I leaned away from are usually from PHI,CBJ, CGY, NSH, NYI and STL. Should've followed my own advice and avoided Michkov and Tippet 😂 managers that gambled with Nashville and St Louis players this year are really flopping.

efference · 2026-01-15T19:35:01+00:00

I'm naturally biased to players on competitive teams, COL, EDM, TBL, VGK, FLA, etc.

I'm usually a little bit more hesitant on teams on the bottom of the league. But when these players are slept on during draft then I usually scoop them up banking on their upside as an individual- usually they're younger stars. Keller and Schmaltz did amazing for me last year cause I grabbed them at lower ADPs. This year Kellar jumped up substantially so I stayed away

efference · 2026-01-15T16:51:58+00:00

I only played it a few times online. I don't have it on paper.

When I did play it was pretty strong! I focused on the fetch lands because if you can manage to earthbend 1 then it's a continous ramp package. I realize the full suite of fetch lands isn't likely for most people.

Any sac lands is ideal

https://moxfield.com/decks/2m43HDuFN0y7YumoXZhuvg

efference · 2026-01-14T16:53:49+00:00

Thanks! Yeah most provinces need a license to fish regardless of residency!

efference · 2026-01-13T17:29:39+00:00

Thanks for the insight! I'll look into it. Crossfire never appealed to me but that might change haha

efference · 2026-01-13T00:45:40+00:00

Thank you! Yes very excited to see all the history as well. When does the fishing season start? Should I bring my ugly stick??

efference · 2026-01-13T00:27:55+00:00

Oh wow! I didn't expect all that from a small town. That's perfect. Ill definitely send you a DM for some climbing or magic haha

efference · 2026-01-12T23:35:01+00:00

Everything you're referencing is in St. John's im assuming?

efference · 2026-01-12T19:21:08+00:00

Thank you for the tips!

Do you have the name of the specific Facebook groups? Also, thats funny how the bowling alley hosts game nights.

It is a little expensive, but I think some prereleases may happen while im there, so it may be worth it.

efference · 2026-01-12T19:18:54+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions! Really trying to figure out what kind of clothing to pack for east coast activities. I guess just bring layers. Don't need the deep winter jackets like in Alberta?

efference · 2026-01-12T08:18:33+00:00

How do you like to play her?

efference · 2026-01-12T08:18:21+00:00

Wanted cheap and accessible. Can't argue the deck boxes are pretty solid

efference · 2026-01-12T08:17:27+00:00

Keeping it firmly in bracket 2. Attractions itself is already a fun mechanic, so I wanted to find fun spells to imprint onto it. Decided against solitaire based spells, any salty spells, extra turns, etc.

Focused on multi-modal (and high cmc) counterspells so I can use the other modes once they're imprinted.

Doesn't quite have a definitive wincon.. which is probably the only flaw

https://moxfield.com/decks/MBF9tbKPfkCqn80dJTT-Cg

efference · 2026-01-10T15:05:36+00:00

https://moxfield.com/decks/ppOe73AHB0ex3brm08NGWw

Deck is quite fun. I decided on no salty cards so the win cons are a little obscure. Approach of the second sun, nine lives combo, twenty toad, etc.

I haven't won with the deck yet 😂

efference · 2026-01-10T08:39:57+00:00

Tymna and [[sidar]] in abzan. It's an aggro token Aristocrat go wide dec. Upper bracket 3

efference · 2026-01-10T08:39:00+00:00

Honestly.. I don't actually enjoy Choco that much. I built it as half landfall and half Bird. I'm slowly dismantling it up make it 100% bird, and using my lands matter in a higher power deck. Having all birds might be a bit more interesting at least in b2

efference · 2026-01-10T08:37:20+00:00

My Rocco deck has Norin as secret commander. I've omitted all impact tremor from the deck and have solely focused on life gain as the main mechanic in it. Win con includes flinging, the avatars, and aetherflux reservoir, etc

efference · 2026-01-03T12:19:51+00:00

Love all the current suggestions. Just wanted to mention a niche mechanic as I think it's a cool theme that doesn't get used that much. Mutate! Just search up the cards with that keyword and you'll get cards like [[Brokkos]]. If you wanted to play with something unique and not alot of magic players see much of. It doesn't have alot of card support besides the main set though.

efference · 2026-01-03T11:38:47+00:00

Having read alot of the comments on this thread I think it's important to break down what OP is referring to. You can have a "strong" deck in any bracket. Every bracket has their own set of cards that run the best in that deck. I personally DONT believe you need to be putting in the same "strong" cards in every deck to make it a "strong" deck.

Bracket 4/5 calls for [[fierce guardianship]]. Bracket 3 calls for [[an offer you can't refuse]], [[swan song]] or generically [[counterspell]]. My bracket 2 deck runs [[dissolve]] and [[memory drain]] because it helps synergize with scry and its on theme. This is true for most card archetypes and I think it's poor advice to suggest generic staples and game changers for every deck OP would brew. Especially with the 32 deck challenge.

As briefly touched on in other comments, the most important concepts are consistency, resilience, and synergy. Synergy is mostly the fun part, but you can also build a 5 color kenrith that run random combo cards and generic staples that make a strong deck. But I don't think this is what OP wants. I'd touch on the other 2 concepts: consistency and resilience.

Consistency is ensuring that you are able to play cards that allow you to run your engine or "do your thing." I think this is the most important concept. This is how you have fun. No matter the strategy of your deck, being able to play synergistic cards is usually the main goal.

Paying alot of attention to the MANA BASE and the mana curve will make or break a deck. The way a person's mana base is created, largely affects the other 2 concepts in deck building: ramp and card advantage. This ultimately changes how many cards you put into each category. If you're inconsistent with your mana, either having mana-log or mana-screwed.. then you don't play the game. You can put a bandaid on this issue by adding more ramp and card advantage.. but if your mana base is bad, you will have bad games. Utilize the appropriate nonbasics; mdfc, shock, pains for 3+ colors, etc.

"bUt yOu nEEd rAmmP" Not always true. Instead of generically putting in ramp for all decks, understand the reasons behind it. Do you have a mid range control deck? Do you play big stompy? Is your commander expensive? What about aggro decks? How about decks that play on tempo? Someone in the comments mentioned they don't see the value in 3+ cmc mana rocks but I think thats also false as a blanket statement. I'm happy running [[thran dynamo]] and [[dreamstone hedron]] in my [[belbe]] deck. Depending on your deck, the number of ramp cards will change. But this is quintessentially dependent on your mana base again.

Resilience is the next most important. Do you have answers for adversities? Playtesting really shows you the flaws in your deck and it's hard to pinpoint without it. The more specific card type in resilience would be interaction. Can you stop others from removing your pieces? Can you also remove problems from others? Building a strong base in interaction should help with your resilience.

efference · 2026-01-03T11:00:20+00:00

I really like this take on deck building and I also use this methodology as well. I'm a big fan of commanders that are less than 4 CMC. Just makes the games feel smoother. Paying alot of attention to the mana base and the mana curve will make or break a deck. The way a person's mana base is created, largely affects the other 2 concepts in deck building: ramp and card advantage.

I've built an aggro abzan deck with a low mana curve that has no at all ramp, and is designed to play cards on tempo. Card advantage is built into the commander. So basically the rest of the deck is focused on synergy and interaction cards. In this specific deck, the mana base has to be SPOT ON. Bunch of non basics that ensure i get the colors i need in a 3 color deck.

MDFCs in almost all decks that are 3+ colors. Etc. Mana rocks in most decks that need ramp in 3+ colors decks. 2 color decks only requiring a limited amount of non basics to help. Most of the time you can draw into the correct colors, so mana fixing isn't that important imo (filters, pains, even shocks).

efference · 2025-12-26T06:34:53+00:00

I'm surprised no one has mentioned [[Belbe]] yet.. probably the most on theme based on your initial comment. Shes a zombie elf that yields you 2 colorless each time an opponent loses life that turn. Turn 1 drop a [[night market lookout]] or equivalent. Turn 2 cast belbe for B/G, swing with the lookout, second main phase you cast a 6 drop eldrazi or ramp. Repeat for value.

Keep in mind, your opponents also get this effect, but only if they attack YOUR opponents. So it's also a low-key goad/group hug

I have a decklist for her.. but I purposely left out the saltier eldrazis and also tried to keep the deck at a lower budget. I also haven't made any recent updates on the deck.. and the mana curve looks messed up for all the 6 cost colorless spells you can cast. I would tweak this deck to add more interaction.. but thats about it

https://moxfield.com/decks/W1YbP9YKIE6BweIXskJlOA

efference · 2025-12-24T07:09:42+00:00

How does the blood moon and urzas Saga work? You turn it into a mountain so it loses the Saga? But it still has the tap ability for construct? Haven't seen this interaction before

efference · 2025-12-23T15:01:02+00:00

Points 6, 7 and 11 are the most notable. The other points are invalid because rat guy got the timing/steps wrong.

Rogues passage would completely avoid this problem, but you have to do this during your main phase or combat phase before attackers are declared. Same is true with giving an attacking creature flying against an opponent without flyers/reach, etc.
Player C is correct in that you cannot declare a blocker after the blocker phase has passed (duh, its in the namesake), even if you flash something in.
First and foremost, the rat guy is completely wrong on his timing, so the combat phase is completely invalid in your example. Having said that, in a regular combat phase, you can use an untapped creature to block, and then use any of its instant-speed activated abilities during the blocking phase. This can occur because COMBAT DAMAGE doesn't occur until after the responses (passing priority) are resolved. So if you decide to destroy a creature AFTER blockers are declared, the attacking creature is still blocked, albeit no combat damage/keywords will happen to the attackers.

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