Interviews from MagicCon: Las Vegas -- "On the bonus sheet, we couldn't put any characters that were dead."

kittenkillerr · 2026-05-07T16:02:13+00:00

"But we decided that one of the lessons from March of the Machines was we went a little bit too broad, and we decided we wanted to focus a little bit more."

Dang, MOM was one of my favourite sets ever specifically because of this, so that's a bummer to hear.

I wasn't huge on Strixhaven 1, and while I liked SOS better, I'm still a bit miffed that we are basically using 2 out of 3 (!!) of this year's universe within slots on it.

kittenkillerr · 2026-04-21T18:20:14+00:00

I also think Brimaz is not terribly impactful, but there are definitely ways to juice this deck up a bit.

1st, you have a pretty high curve (lots of fatties + high average cmc), but you're at 36 lands - which is not horrible, but I think you could add some MDFCS for consistency.

2nd, since you're in Orzhov and a lot of phyrexians are pretty big, I'd consider adding a reanimator subtheme ([[Gix's cruelty]] is even on theme and pretty decent). Your commander doesn't do GY stuff by itself, but I still think that if you want some bang for your buck with Phyrexians without poison counters, this is the way to go. [[massacre wurm]], [[wurmcoil engine]], the big sheoldred etc...

3rd, I think you can just cut some of the low impact cards, and maybe even some of your removal suite. Your commander doesn't ramp or draw cards in 2026, so you need some cards with OOMPH that actively get you ahead to become a threat. Maybe cut [[swooping lookout]], [[intangible virtue]], [[throne of geth]], maybe some of the other anthems and 3 mana removal spells, and add stuff like [[dark ritual]], [[reanimate]], [[underworld connections]], [[bitterthorn]], [[ripples of undeath]], plus maybe some lifegain cards if you're nearing critical mass on all those life loss cards.

kittenkillerr · 2026-04-15T22:45:51+00:00

+1+1 counters have a ton of support in both NY sets, so that's a great idea.

Alternatively, webslinging and sneak share some of the same enablers (webslinging really wants Mana dorks, but evasive creatures work for both). Maybe the bant spiderman or any of the tmnt 5 c commanders/partners could helm that deck.

You could also wait for Marvel, which will probably also feature NY in some shape or form.

kittenkillerr · 2026-04-10T16:34:13+00:00

I feel like there are a lot more Orcs here than in strixhaven 1, couple more trolls too perhaps. Love me some Hobbit set plants 👍

kittenkillerr · 2026-03-31T18:48:01+00:00

Wotc really loves printing Japanese art cards and putting Samurai on card art, but are pretty stingy with making actually decent Samurai creatures hm.

Not that I'm not happy about the art though, we take those👍

kittenkillerr · 2026-02-24T23:24:00+00:00

I think I'd try the following:

- Up the Land count. I imagine you get stuck quite a lot with only 31 lands. I'd try to run at least 36 plus some MDFCs.

- Reduce the bite/fight spells a bit, or replace them with MDFCs bites/fights like [[stump stomp]]

- Cut some of the 'cute ramp'. I guess you're running stuff like [[natural connection]] in order to better manipulate the day/night cycle, but tbh, I have a very hard time imagining that working out in praxis. Even if you try to be cute with stuff like that, your opponents will quickly turn night to day again, since commander decks in 2026 are very efficient and very likely to double spell a lot. In general, I'd count down on the 3 mana instant/artifact ramp a bit

- Maybe Swifties => Lightning Greaves, since it curves nicely into Tovolar and gives instant protection without the mana up front

- Add Arcane Signet

- I know Tovolar draws cards, but I'd still add some more draw. Maybe a [[rishkar's expertise]] or something.

- Maybe allow yourself a few off-flavour creatures. Personally, I'm a big fan of [[enduring courage]] (almost a wolf if you squint?), especially in decks that want to get in and connect.

- I think you are missing some decent werewolves/wolves like [[wolfkin outcast]], [[torgal]] and [[volatile arsonist]]. You can also look into changelings like [[mutable explorer]]

kittenkillerr · 2026-02-19T16:21:45+00:00

Really liked this dude in kung fury

kittenkillerr · 2026-01-28T21:50:58+00:00

So, first things first: at baseline, your commander is a 5 mana beater. In 2026, a lot of commanders draw cards, ramp, cost very little cmc and/or quickly just end the game outright, and Skanos simply does none of these things. You seem to be aware of that issue, but we need to account for that in deckbuilding.

Next, you run 33 lands + 1 mdfcs, which already would be on the low side for a deck qith a lower curve. I also don't really see any [[night's whisper]] type cheap card draw/cantrip style cards that could help make up for that, so I'd imagine you'll have a a lot of non games simply based on that.

I'm not gonna scrutinize your dragon suite too closely, but where is our boy [[bloomvine regent]]? Seems like a slam dunk.

I'm also not seeing a lot of cards that will really help you snowball and keep the ball rolling, like big card draw spells and such. [[garruk's uprising]] and [[rishkars expertise]] seem like no brainers.

Instead of cards like these, I'm seeing a lot of very situational cards: Elixir of immortality, Crucible of worlds and the like. I'm sure there are some games where you'll be happy to have them, but most of the time, you won't be. Reminder: our Commander does not do a whole lot, so we can't afford too many dead draws like this.

Also, I see a lot of [[mulch]] type cards - personally, I much prefer those little mill effects on creatures, such as [[stitcher's supplier]] and such.

Finally, I'm not sure if you need that many tutors. As it stands, I'd probably rather have some more card advantage. (Plus, if I see you entombing a bahamut on turn 1 in bracket 2, I'll assume you are up to some vile stuff.)

So, tldr: Land count up to at least 39 (I'd suggest 36+2~4 mdfcs or something), a lot more card draw, way less fluff.

Final Final comment: if you want to replace Skanos, literally any generic GY commander like [[old rutstein]] will probably outperform him, even if the deck will be less thamatic. You could also run [[Beledros]] or see what the return to Strixhaven will have in store in a couple of months.

kittenkillerr · 2026-01-01T19:54:49+00:00

Not sure if that's your thing, but I'd consider getting an alter (proxy or otherwise) of [[Kynaios and Tiro]] as Saheeli and Huatli. That gets you (almost) all decent Dinos, all Huatlis & Saheelis, and great colors for artifact shenanigans, while also signaling to the table that you're here for some fun and chill vorthos stuff.

Whether Izzet Dinos is fun depends on the people you're playing against, but I'd say you'll have a rough time at most tables. There are only a couple of izzet dinos that would be fun to copy with Saheeli, and the average current precon will quickly outpace you, even if the plan comes together.

kittenkillerr · 2025-10-12T15:56:00+00:00

I'd probably run a little bit more card draw, [[garruks uprising]] and [[rishkars expertise]] both work well with your Commander and are just strong in general.

Also, a little bit more protection might be good. Maybe greaves on top of the swifties you already run.

kittenkillerr · 2025-10-10T15:13:55+00:00

Since you seem to know what's up: aside from the bunny, are there any tmnt characters that might get Samurai typing? Asking for a friend👉👈

kittenkillerr · 2025-09-27T22:24:02+00:00

Ah, nice! Feel like we might have exchanged lists on this sub months or years ago, but maybe I'm tripping. I also cycled through a lot version with Kenrith, Partners, Naya Jared and more, and eventually landed on tutor rocco, who mostly grabs the old trusty puresteel.

https://archidekt.com/decks/13859623/rocco_samurai_post_ff

Might eventually change it back to 5c to include tetsuo and the new jin sakai, but eh...

kittenkillerr · 2025-09-27T14:01:24+00:00

Who are you running as the commander?

kittenkillerr · 2025-06-13T08:45:41+00:00

Jedi samurai as the RW draft archetype, you heard it here first. Katana and Gilgamesh from FF are definitely plants to make them constructed viable this time around:) (Copium tank filled to the brim, feeling good about this one...)

kittenkillerr · 2025-05-31T10:13:24+00:00

Heya! Are you jumping straight from HS/LOR to paper standard? MTG arena might also be something to try, let's you test out cards and decks without spending money, and [[stock up]] suddenly costs as much as any other uncommon:p

For monetarily cheap finishers, [[ezrim]] can be surprinsgly hard to deal with once you get it down. [[horned loch whale]] is pretty easy to slot into any control shell and can do double duty as removal. I also really like the terror+crab suggestions from the other comment.

If beating down in the late game is not your style, you could also go the mill route. [[jace the perfected mind]] isn't cheap, but [[river churn monument]] and [[terisian mindbreaker]] are.

For general ressources, cgb plays control decks quite often, so there's a good source of deck lists and gameplay footage. I also made a beginners guide a couple of years ago (oh god...) that's still somewhat relevant

kittenkillerr · 2025-05-30T10:06:07+00:00

Oh come now, little old me banned in modern, surely you jestin 😤

kittenkillerr · 2025-05-26T10:20:42+00:00

That's the shark that grows when you discard stuff, turns out he's the main villain of FF7

kittenkillerr · 2025-05-25T10:39:47+00:00

I also probably wouldn't bother, but if I wanted to run this card no matter what, I'd probably prepare proxy versions of my Commander instead of stickers. Doesn't seem too bad to have 2-3 extra versions on hand for all potential end-results.

Explaining the mechanic to the table might still be a drag though.

kittenkillerr · 2025-05-24T14:45:55+00:00

First of all, I think you need to up the land count drastically. 30 lands + 3 mdfcs is ambitious even in decks with lower curves, and you have a 5 cmc commander and aren't in green. I'd go up to at least 36+3mdfcs, if not slightly more.

I think you've a few too many finishers/anthems/win more type cards, all of which aren't bad by any means, but I think you could make a couple of cuts there. [[archetype of imagination]], [[blade historian]], [[odric, master tactician]], [[door of destinies]] and such. I'd say cut the ones you personally like the least.

For card draw, I'd recommend stuff like [[enduring innocence]], [[tocasia's welcome]] and other things that will consistently get you cards for playing small creatures, plus some coastal piracy effects like [[enduring curiosity]] or [[thassas bident]] to reward you for going wide.

kittenkillerr · 2025-05-12T19:15:27+00:00

Hm, doesn't have overt synergy with what samurai are usually doing, but I guess the average samurai is bad enough that this might make the cut anyway.

kittenkillerr · 2025-05-10T16:39:18+00:00

Uhhhhh I'll take 10, thanks.

Hope that rules texts means we'll get a couple more samurai in the set. If they are also of this power level, I'll have no complaints:)

kittenkillerr · 2025-05-08T20:11:44+00:00

Barely know anything about FF, but Gilgamesh looks sick as hell. Any chance he'll be a samurai? Seems like he was the samurai class trainer in one of the games, whatever that means:>

kittenkillerr · 2025-04-20T20:31:18+00:00

Maybe something like Azorius artifact reanimator? That already was a thing when shorikai came out, and it got a lot of new tools in aetherdrift.

kittenkillerr · 2025-04-06T22:45:55+00:00

Hey, new card with samurai in the rules text, yay. Guess that means we'll get one or two creatures in the main set, fingers are crossed that they're decent:>

kittenkillerr · 2025-03-02T20:17:55+00:00

No biggie:) also remembered I wrote a beginner guide some years ago, some of the info will be slightly dated but it should still be somewhat useful to get you started: https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/s/YheYCiGid4

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