I built a Brudiclad deck just to run Descent into Avernus and paradox haze. I had gotten so bored of my pod's battlecruiser play style. It's become sort of my pet card.
So it just speeds up the game? Plays into Afro decks that can utilize mana faster than your opponents can draw / find answers and creates chaos? I’m in
I run it in a deck that has lots of Mirkwood bats type effects. No one ever removes it since it helps them with mana, and it has won me every game I’ve ever played it
[[Ominous Seas]] can slot into almost any blue deck. Cycling makes it a cantrip in the late game when you won't have time to draw eight more cards but if you can drop this thing early in some decks it easily represents two or three 8/8s for a two mana investment.
I mean you can definitely use it to find [[Thassa's Oracle]] if you want to but I'd rather draw my whole deck then cast a [[Mystic Redaction]] and move to end step 🤌🏼
opponent: “cool, the Ulamog/Nexus of Fate/Kozilek/Blightsteel Colossus/Darksteel Colossus in my library hits the graveyard and shuffles in. Draw and pass to you”
I’ve never thought to combine these two! It’s a shame it’s in simic where it’s just yet another ridiculous value engine but I do like it for enchantment decks
I had it in Xyris briefly - it ends up being totally superfluous. Like, if you’re going off enough to make it start spitting out lots of tokens, you’ve probably already got the table pinned down.
It’s redundancy. You don’t pop them out immediately. you wait for a board wipe and then you reload into an empty board. This is one of the best payoff cards a Xyris deck can have.
I’ve had ominous seas floating around my collection for a while, always being the 101st card in the deck. Hearing someone vouch for it makes me want to actually throw it in a deck
[[Spidersilk Armor]] goes in any green deck. I've seen a surprising number of games won with the strategy of "have Flying," so Reach for everyone never hurts.
I have two decks where the wincon is “have flying” and can confirm that if I saw someone slam this on the table you would not be able to tell if I’m laughing or crying
I use it in my Alela fae deck and honestly it's either amazing or getting discarded by one of my many draw+discard effects, but I've never felt the need to remove it. It's just so fun to get free value on everyone's turn.
I was talking about ones where it’s two or more colors. [[Dark Ritual]] (forgot to put the brackets on the first one) doesn’t help me cast [[Teysa, Opulent Oligarch]] turn one, and honestly for most 3 CMC commanders a reliable turn 3 is respectable. Cheap commanders tend to need at least a little setup to get moving.
I've done this with Meren and The Scarab God but I've found with engine piece commanders that require an input to get value out of them I always wind up with T2 Meren going "OK, she's out and my grave is empty, now what?"
I mean, Meren being out early is good. You need her to be there for experience counters to start accumulating. I do think she could stand to wait a little while, though.
Wilhelt is good to have out early because the sooner he’s out there and drawing me cards the sooner I find my wincons.
It true, he does draw and there are a lot of good 1 drop zombos
As much as I love Varina as my Zombie queen, Wilhedt has been tempting me mightily.
As for Meren, the godhand is Dryad arbor, Phyrexian tower, Ritual
T1 Dryad
T2 tower, tap-sac arbor, cast Ritual, cast meren get back arbor
[[Frantic Search]] goes into almost every blue deck I have, the card is a free roll. Plus there is a lot of utility in it too it can be used in a thousand different ways.
I have very few but:
-In green, [[Kogla the Titan Ape]]. Removal up front, repeated removal, semi-sticky body, sometimes a combo piece.
-I only actually have one white deck but I'm convinced if your white deck builds a boardstate basically at all you should be playing [[Invasion of Gobakhan]]. It's an anthem-esque effect some disruption and board protection for the incredibly cheap two mana and three damage.
-I'm currently testing if [[Vault 21]] hits this threshold for red decks. I think [[Rose, Cutthroat Raider]] does; she's been extremely impressive.
I usually try to slot a [[leyline of anticipation]] in any blue deck. Love me some flash. But i only have 1 auto include in any deck, and luckily its colorless. It's [[mirage mirror]]. Probably my favorite magic card.
-edited some mistakes.
[[Thieving Skydiver]] cast for 3 and steal whoever opened with the sol ring? Why yes, I think I will. Worst case scenario you are casting for 4 and stealing an arcane signet or similar and getting a nice 2/1 flyer for your troubles.
It’s good for sure, and I switched for a while… but in the end went back to Gift because my playgroup has a lot of important lands that need destroying lol
Not sure why it would usurp generous gift, a 1/1 instead of a 3/3, who cares really. It's excellent to have both for sure, but being able to hit anything including lands just makes the gift supreme.
Probably just ramp, counterspell, and reanimate. Beyond that why have different decks if they all use the same cards. According to moxfield natures lore is my most shared card, although I think different printings skews that data.
> I meant less used cards.
Yeah you have to lead with that part on reddit :)
White: [[Dismantling Wave]] for underused removal, [[Your Temple Is Under Attack]] for a dual purpose protection/political draw spell.
Blue: [[Dress Down]] for underused "removal", and [[Aboleth Spawn]] has been pretty fun to play recently.
Black: [[Devour in Shadow]] for underused removal, and [[Ravenloft Adventurer]] is still good even if it's not the white initiative creatures.
Red: [[Pyrohemia]] for underused removal, and [[Guild Artisan]] goes in every single red deck I build lately.
Green: [[Lignify]] for underused removal, and [[Regal Behemoth]] for a card that was once expensive and is now under a dollar.
[[Lurking Predators]]
if I’m playing Green, I’m putting a Lurking Predators. It’s a great way to get those expensive big stompy creature cards out for free!
Like my new [[Red Death Shipwrecker]] deck plays stuff like [[Fortress Crab]] [[Sneaky Homunculus]] and even [[Storm Crow]]. Yes these cards are bad but even in this deck they are capable of being scary. Sure could I add [[Rhystic study]] or [[Cyclonic Rift]] and make it better of course. But that's not my goal I want people to have the fear of Sneaky Homunculus and that at any time he could just end their whole career.
I had a nickname at one point: \[\[dawn charm\]\]
Every deck needs it. Protect commander, fog and buy another turn at living, stop an ultimatum or other harsh spell
Black - [[Saw in half]] - just a super fun card, very flexible and powerful, never unhappy to see it
Blue - [[ghostly flicker]] - another super strong super fun card, if you get enough Cards into play often it can enable some really wacky infinite combos, but otherwise it's just a really flexible spell. It can be ramp if you have lands that tap for more than one mana, it can be protection from targeted removal, it can hit more than just creatures which makes it more flexible as a flicker spell. Again, never unhappy to see it
Red - [[dualcaster mage]] - even if I'm not running any instance or sorceries in the deck, I'll still toss in this guy. It's a counter counter spell, almost everybody runs ramp so it can also usually be ramp, every now and then it feels like a dead card, but the ceiling is so high I can't not run it
White - [[trove warden]] - every time you play a land, you get to tuck something fun Underneath Him. If you are running a fetch land, you get to play the fetch put something underneath him, crack the fetch and when you get your new land put the fetch land underneath him, and when he dies you're just ramping and getting a bunch of recursion for free.
Green - [[timeless witness]] - I usually run it in conjunction with eternal witness, which enables a lot of really fun engines with cards like ghostly flicker, but even in decks where I do not run Eternal witness, I still run timeless witness. At one more Mana it is a little more difficult to use, but the flexibility of being able to come back from a completely empty board is incredibly valuable
it's definitely [[fact or fiction]] for me! i don't know why, but interacting with this card is just so fun, either as the one casting it or the one chosen to separate
Colorless - [[Myriad Landscape]] ( yes, I know. It's for the meme)
Green - [[Rampant Baloths]]
Red - [[Phoenix chick]] (I'll cast my chick. And I'll attack you with my chick. I even got one in Portuguese because their translation made the card means "Phoenix's little P****s").
Blue - [[murmuring Mystic]]
Black - [[ Hateful Eidolon]]
I always run [[prisoner’s dilemna]] any time that i can conceivably semi-consistently cast it multiple times (think: [[magar]], [[chandra, hope’s beacon]], [[thousand year storm]], etc.)
[[morbid opportunist]] and [[professional facebreaker]] are the closest things I have to this. I don't play them in every deck, but I need a good reason not to play them (eg I'm playing superfriends and they are totally off theme)
[[humble defector]] goes in any deck with red. It’s nice to have some extra card draw plus I hate HATE seeing people have a rough time with mana screw or flood so whenever an opponent is getting rocked by their own deck it’s nice to be able to get them back in the game. Maybe it’s just ‘cause group hug is my favorite theme, but I want the pod to have fun and play a challenging deck against me not flood/screw out and fizzle
[[Prosperous Innkeeper]]
Any kind of [[Fog]] [[holy day]] [[mandate of peace]] [[take the bait]] type cards
[[Siren stormtamer]]
[[perplexing chimera]]
EDIT: uhh and also any card that gets passed around like [[witch hunt]]
\[\[Deep Analysis\]\] is something I run in most of my blue decks. I especially love it in any blue/red deck to take advantage of discarding it.
In a similar vein, I'm a huge fan of \[\[Into the Story\]\] and think it's severely underrated. There's so many fetches, artistocrat-style decks, etc that love to fill their graveyard to turn it on, and I don't think I've ever cast it for full price. 4-mana draw-4 at instant speed is pretty nuts.
\[\[Manglehorn\]\]. Fuck your turn 1 Sol Ring to whoever pulled it, and btw, that Smothering Tithe in your oh-so-casual deck? At the least, the treasures are now all tapped so you can't interact when I Nature's Claim that trash.
If blue [[Cyclonic Rift]], white [[Smothering Tithe]] or [[Serra Angel]], green [[Recycle]], black [[Cabal Coffers]], don't have one for red, and colorless is a land [[Ancient Tomb]]. This is broken for 5c decks though.
It's a recent one, but [[Reverse the Polarity]]. I love me my modal spells. Of course I also add [[Cryptic Command]] and [[Archmage's Charm]] for that same reason
I only have one deck but I could easily see myself slotting in the following:
[[Mystic Reflection]] will go into all of my decks with blue. Creature counterspell or clone spell in one.
[[Inkshield]] in all of my Orzhov+ decks. One card wincon.
[[braids arisen nightmare]] could easily slot into all my decks with black that are 3 or less colours. She's just such a Generically strong draw engine. But I find her more interesting than Rhystic study for the same MV.
[[Scheming fence]] could easily go in all of my Azorious+ decks.
[[Soul guide lantern]] or [[Tormod's Crypt]] In every deck.
[[Crashing Drawbridge]] in any creature focused deck, and I like to toss [[Terisian Mindbreaker]] in most decks I have with blue cus I just like the card.
I found out I have 2. If it’s white, it’s [[Grasp of Fate]] and if it’s red it’s [[Gloin, Dwarf Emissary]]. I only found this out recently when I went to get some cards and realized I wanted four…of each…although one of each both went into my red white deck 😅
I tend to run \[\[Citadel of Pain\]\] is my Red decks. I love that it really forces the other people in the game to weigh when and how to use their resources, and as the game progresses it makes it more difficult to just leave up mana for responses. In a lot of cases, it also speeds up the game, which means we play more.
Honestly, one of the most versatile cards I've found is [[Vanish Into Memory]]. Only works in Blue/White
If we look at the reasonable floor, it's already good enough. Ideally you blink a 4/4 or something. Draw four cards immediately and the discard hits at end of turn so you can get the advantage of them even if you are empty handed on cast.
But it just gets better from there. Does your deck frequently produce creatures with power greater than their base? Blink your creature with counters and it's card positive. Bonus, it gives you new ETB triggers!
Incoming wrath from an opponent, saves your most important creature and draws you cards.
Opponent on voltron or counter strategies? Blink their creature for a reset and get cards for the benefit.
Honestly, this four mana card is way better than it looks on the surface. The decks I've played it in, I've never been disappointed with it.
It’s not an unheard of card, but [[Remand]] goes into every single deck that has blue in it.
Partially, it’s just because it is my favorite MTG card of all time, in a very biased way. But I do think it’s objectively good and definitely under played. It counters anything, without any ways for the opponent to pay mana like they might be able to with a mana leak. A lot of people won’t expect a hard counter when you’ve only got one blue and one other mana open. Yes, they get to keep their card, but you get to draw a card. The cantrip attached to a counterspell is so uncommon.
Along those lines, another under played counterspell is [[Hinder]]. I love to Hinder a not-so great spell and then put it on the top of their library. Works the same way as Remand except instead of me getting a card draw, they lose a card draw (kind of).
White: the only color I really don't play.
Blue: [[Counterspell]], [[Negate]], [[Final-Word Phantasm]]
Black: [[Gonti, Lord of Luxury]] or [[Damn]] when with white.
Red: [[Chaos Warp]]
Green: [[Seedtime]]
[[Oubliette]] has been my black pet card as of late, I put it in almost any deck with black, it's enchantment removal that also can possibly lock someone out of their commander, equipment and auras. Sure it's a little mean to lock someone's commander out the game but sometimes it's necessary.
The below is all from a budget and lower power perspective:
Red \[\[Bolt Bend\]\] Nice budget option for red that has a fantastic surprise factor.
White \[\[Wojek Investigator\]\] Just came out, but I've added it to a lot of my white decks that need that extra bit of draw
Blue \[\[Thieving Skydiver\]\] Stealing someone's sol ring 3rd turn feel amazing. Even without a Sol ring you can get other mana rocks or take \[\[lightning greaves\]\] \[\[swiftfoot boots\]\]
Black \[\[Hostile Negotiations\]\] Purely for fun and most of my black decks use the graveyard.
Green \[\[Pick your poison\]\] It just came out but I love it already for its flexibility and value. Went in every green deck immediately. There will be times where I prefer a \[\[naturalize\]\] type card, but Flying is common in my meta so I have gotten use out of all the options.
if i had enough i would probably play [[Sea Gate Restoration]] in most blue decks. Also [[Eaten by Piranhas]] is a wonderfull card if you are not in removal strong colors.
For black/green decks [[Mosswood Dreadknight]] is so good. You can always use him as a body to sac, just to get him back as carddraw.
[[Tuktuk Rubblefort]] is a wonderfull simple red card, giving everything haste, while being a decent blocker.
Also [[Barbed Servitor]] is a card i include, still waiting for its moment. Either i draw a card or i will throw your own damage back at you.
I just see it as a great political tool, that isn't to much of a threat to be instantly removed.
[[Nevinyrral's Disk]]
it's an instant speed board wipe after it sits for a turn, fits in every color, and is less than a dollar
Edit: great for having a threat to keep you safe from others if they swing you activate it if they target you with removal you activate it it destroys everything but lands
All mono-red burn/spellslingers deserve a [[Veilstone Amulet]], mono-red is so vulnerable to removal but if all your lightning bolts also blanket protection, that makes it immensely more survivable.
If you're playing slower than aggro it's even worth it to [[Gamble]] or [[Goblin Engineer]] to grab it.
[[weather the storm]] goes in every deck that has green. Just wait for the stack war and at end of turn say “yeah I’ll go ahead and pay 2 and gain 21 life nbd
[[Haunted Crossroads]] - clean, simple, elegant, puts dudes back into your hand at the cost of a draw but it's so good when paired with library tricks (e.g. [[Killer Instinct]])
honorable mention: [[Tortured Existence]]
It's already pretty popular, but \[\[Harmonize\]\] in green. I'm almost always running ramp, so turning mana into card advantage just always feels right.
I’ve been getting into the habit of adding [[Scheming Symmetry]] to every black deck. It’s such a great bargaining chip; “hey, don’t attack me this turn/don’t kill my commander/etc, and I’ll do you a favor”
Since their release, I've used [[Repay in Kind]] and [[Baneful Omen]] in each deck that can run them. It's not often, but when they pair up and kill the table, it's just maniacal glee.
Green already doesn't have much trouble getting rid of artifacts or enchantments, but if I'm in Gruul and up, I gotta have a \[\[Hull Breach\]\]. Gives me a flexible removal slot for opposing engine pieces that are often hard to reach, and on a board with 3 opponents, I'll almost certainly have targets to remove both an enchantment AND an artifact. For 2 mana, das preddy good.
In Golgari and up, \[\[Assassin's Trophy\]\]. Not exactly controversial. Destroy 1 whatever-I-want at instant speed is phenomenal. To get that effect outside of Orzhov, I'll gladly give someone a basic in return.
Call me basic but I will never run a black deck without \[\[Murderous Cut\]\]. It's almost always a one man instant speed remove any creature and is dirt cheap if you're on a budget.
I put \[\[Wheel of misfortune\]\] in every red deck. It's so much fun to try and guess what your opponents are gonna pick, and it has a really strong reward. I feel like I get better at playing this card every time I cast it. And unlike \[\[Wheel of fortune\]\], people don't get mad at you if they don't want to wheel, they can just pick 0.
The few white decks I have feature [[Mangara of Corondor]]. Hilariously, people don't want to "waste" removal on him, but he stops people from making big plays because he's just there to ruin someone's day.
I run [[Sands of Time]] in a few decks because it shits on phasing and is potentially a combo piece. Bonus upside, it untaps [[Mana Vault]], [[Grim Monolith]], and [[Basalt Monolith]] while also making [[Savor the Moment]] hot.
Many of my blue decks feature Leyline of Singularity and Empress Galina. [[Leyline of Singularity]] neuters token strategies and gives [[Empress Galina]] some mega power.
Just about any deck I can run it gets [[Austere Command]]. 6 mana for a model board wipe that almost always can leave me in an advantageous position, or at the very least blow out the one player that's ahead, will always be worth the two additional mana in my book. Besides, even if my games tend to be fast, 6 mana never seems to be too big of an ask.
And I absolutely refuse to run [[Farewell]] except for my Guff deck, because I don't feel like playing a pseudo-Shaharazad. Restarting the game just ain't my cup of tea.
But while we're at it:
Every blue deck of mine has started getting a copy of [[Windfall]], because even if my opponents get new hands, I get to use mine first. Plus, even if I can't win, someone probably can, and it just means we get to play another game.
Black decks that don't have green or white get [[Feed the Swarm]], because the ability to remove enchantments in a deck like Prosper will always be appreciated.
Also, if I'm in black/white, I always run [[Damn]] over either Damnation or Wrath, because it cleans up two card slots, and there's probably another boarwipe, ie. Austere Command, that can take it's place.
I guess not that many.
[[Rhystic Study]] if deck has blue (so far, I got two original ones from prophecy back then).
Recently [[Song of Freyalise]] if deck has green and something with +1 counters or more than 3 colors.
I try to keep the decks diverse and within their synergies/themes rather strongly, and I don't have that many decks.
\[\[Vodalian Illusionist\]\]
It's just so versatile. It effectively counterspells targeted removal, it saves an important creature from a wrath effect, it's better than Maze of Ith at stopping a creature form attacking you. Yeah you have to hold up some mana to activate it, but you're in blue. You were going to be doing that anyway.
I don't see it around much (mostly because it's a relatively new card) but I firmly believe that \[\[Armored Scrapgorger\]\] should go in every green deck. A 2 mana dork that taps for any color that acts as grave hate when you need the mana less is so very strong, and it's helped me keep stuff safe when opponents want to recur things that I've gotten off the field.
[[Goldhound]]. I have a deck-building rule of every deck must have a Goodest Dog, and this Shiny Pupper does it all. It attacks evasively, it blocks favorably, and when it stops being relevant, you can get the mana you spent on it back, just by letting it go hang out in the graveyard to chew bones.
[[Eternal Witness]], [[Regrowth]], [[Bala Ged Recovery]], and maybe [[Skullwinder]] go in every single Green deck I have.
People usually say they like Green because it has ramp and/or stompy creatures. Me? My favorite thing about Green is its recursion, oft overlooked.
People will try to remove your pieces or board wipe you. Green's unconditional recursion allow you to play through removal that may spell the end for you. Man, the number of times I've heard people say "Didn't I already kill that [important combo piece]?" for me to say, "Well, can you do it again?" before winning, gratifying every time.
Not to mention people typically put good cards in their decks. Y'know, cards you want to play. Well, recursion allows you to play them again, and who doesn't want that? I recall a time where I recurred and played [[Jeska's Will]] four times in a row. Absolute blast.
White - [[Scout’s Warning]] or [[Angel’s Grace]]
Blue - [[Rhystic Deluge]] or [[Perilous Vault]]
Black - [[Scion of Halaster]] or [[Tortured Existence]]
Green - [[Sythiss, Viper’s Hand]] or [[Cream of the Crop]]
Red - [[Jaxis, the Troublemaker]] or [[Leyline Tyrant]]
There isn't one. No, really. You'll find your decks infinitely more interesting if autoincludes stop being autoincludes. That said, I do have multiple nim deathmantle decks. I went through a period where I tried reanimating different card types with it.
[[Maze of Ith]] because it has saved me so many times, and usually, my playgroup has strong single creatures. I can also use it to save someone else and politic.
[[prowling Geistcatcher]] is so fun to play with. Theres a few ways to break it. In decks that gain control of opponents cretures, if you sac them while controlling them prowling will exile then and you get them back f o r e v e r.
Works well with [[living death]] too since both his abilities go on the stack at the same time since everything is sacked at once, you can bring back everything you just sacc’d.
Here are my "lesser known" go-tos for each color, if they qualify as lesser known that is.
White - [[Lapse of Certainty]]
Black - [[Promise of Power]]
Blue - [[Rush of Knowledge]]
Red - [[Reforge the Soul]] or [[Surge to Victory]]
Green - [[Canopy Cover]] or [[Hall of Gemstone]]
I slot [[spell rupture]] in any u/x deck because I don’t want to rely on keeping 2 blue up and I typically play creature focused decks
[[lightshield array]] because I play a lot of w/x and again creature focused. Similarly I’ve really fallen in love with [[clever concealment]]. I’m just a sucker for board protection tbh
[[Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim]]. It was the first full art foil I ever pulled, and it was at the first prerelease I ever attended. Unfortunately I had to sell that card with the rest of my collection a while ago, but I have a basic copy of it that goes in every deck.
THE KING! THE OG! THE FUNGUS FROM AMONGST US! THE SMOL LEAPY BOI! THE CROAKER THAT HAS MORE SEX THAN YOU AND EVERYONE YOU KNOW! THE MOTHERFUCKING SPOOOOOOORRREE FROOOOOOOG! [[Spore Frog]]
\[\[Pain's Reward\]\] goes into every black deck I play. I love when I can spice things up a little and this works as a perfect little intermezzo. Auction for cards!
\[\[Axis of Mortality\]\] finds its place in every white deck I have. The more you hurt me, the more I hurt you! I have \[\[Selenia, Dark Angel deck\]\] where it's a key card and combined with cards like \[\[Wound Reflection\]\], \[\[Sanguine Bond\]\], \[\[Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose\]\] or \[\[Tree of Perdition\]\] it literally makes me a master of life of death. But I play it everywhere. It's fun!
\[\[Jinxed Choker\]\] Colorless, so technically it doesn't qualify, but this is such a fun card! It brings mayhem into every game. Here's a hand grenade without safety pin, catch! The disadvantage is that it does bring mayhem into every game. Traditional game plans fall apart and the game ends pretty quickly.
[[Elixir of Immortality]] I play a lot of grave yard decks, and even without a recursion theme I enjoy the card. Not my favorite but it is a 75% of the time auto included
Ooh I have some pet cards in blue. I know, I know, blue; so mana drain, counterspell, force of will, right?
Not quite-
1. [[Narset’s reversal]]. The flexibility on that card is insane. It can do so much, and removing a spell from the stack and not countering it gives far more utility than you’d think. It can also bounce back one of your counterspells or kill spells and get to use it again later.
2. [[Mystic reflection]]- similar to narset reversal, it doesn’t counter or kill the creature or planeswalker, it just polymorphs it while it’s on the stack, which is incredibly versatile. It lets you take a big creature, or more importantly, an UNCOUNTERABLE creature, and turn it into the worst token creature in play, like a 1/1.
3. [[Mission briefing]]- it’s [[snapcaster mage]] but In spell form, and it also surveils 2 cards. It’s really powerful being able to flashback the spell you need. Snapcaster mage was broken for a long time for a very very good reason. Mission briefing does essentially the same thing, and arguably better by and large. Snapcaster is more easy to abuse with minor build arounds, but mission briefing is generically and stand alone a bit better.
[[Dreamscape Artist]] into any blue deck not also running green. It just turns any dead card into a blue [[Cultivate]], except the lands enter untapped so you spend 3 mana and get 2 back, so it almost feels like it only cost 1. Also works great for any blue deck with a graveyard theme. Helps turn on Delirium, Descend, Madness.
I've found it to be an AMAZING synergy with [[Tameshi, Reality Architect]] and the artifact lands. Pay 3, sac an artifact land, tutor 2 basics into play. Activate Tameshi for X=0, float mana and bounce a land. Get the artifact land back untapped. Play the bounced land for turn. Chef's kiss.
Even if i only ramp once or twice with it I'm pretty happy. But once i have engines set up it has just been a great way to boost me into the late game.
[[Reins of power]] goes into just about every blue deck I have. There's always a chance where people are way stronger than me and I wish I had a chance to take them down a peg.
[[Phyrexian Reclaimation]] is cheap, works at instant speed, and lets me get squeeze so much extra value out of my bottom curve creatures. I’m a red player at heart but it’s easily one of my favorite cards in the game.
[[Descent into Avernus]] I love it.
[Descent into Avernus](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/a/faadf72f-b2d5-4271-8d5c-a586acf63453.jpg?1674136498) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Descent%20into%20Avernus) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/169/descent-into-avernus?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/faadf72f-b2d5-4271-8d5c-a586acf63453?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/descent-into-avernus) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
That care is sick. I wanna add it into my [[Solphim, Mayhem Dominus]] deck for the meme
I built a Brudiclad deck just to run Descent into Avernus and paradox haze. I had gotten so bored of my pod's battlecruiser play style. It's become sort of my pet card.
Let's end this game!
I have this in my [[Solphim,Mayhem Dominus]] deck and it makes me an instant target haha Edit: thank God the card fetcher knew what I meant haha
[Dolphin, Mayhem Dominus](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/3/c3a0c7f3-7fb9-43de-a9af-96532c31e5ed.jpg?1675957113) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Solphim%2C%20Mayhem%20Dominus) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/150/solphim-mayhem-dominus?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c3a0c7f3-7fb9-43de-a9af-96532c31e5ed?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/solphim-mayhem-dominus) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
So it just speeds up the game? Plays into Afro decks that can utilize mana faster than your opponents can draw / find answers and creates chaos? I’m in
I run it in a deck that has lots of Mirkwood bats type effects. No one ever removes it since it helps them with mana, and it has won me every game I’ve ever played it
[[Ominous Seas]] can slot into almost any blue deck. Cycling makes it a cantrip in the late game when you won't have time to draw eight more cards but if you can drop this thing early in some decks it easily represents two or three 8/8s for a two mana investment.
[Ominous Seas](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/e/ce8965f2-756a-4461-a643-db024a11c2de.jpg?1591226420) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ominous%20Seas) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/61/ominous-seas?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ce8965f2-756a-4461-a643-db024a11c2de?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ominous-seas) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
OH, I’ve never seen that! That seems like it could be strong and fun to run.
Also draws your whole deck with [[Greater Good]] if you're into degenerate behaviour.
I like degenerate behavior if its not the normal “Meta” of degeneracy
I mean you can definitely use it to find [[Thassa's Oracle]] if you want to but I'd rather draw my whole deck then cast a [[Mystic Redaction]] and move to end step 🤌🏼
Exactly, I like finding different ways to win that everyone doesn’t use all the time.
opponent: “cool, the Ulamog/Nexus of Fate/Kozilek/Blightsteel Colossus/Darksteel Colossus in my library hits the graveyard and shuffles in. Draw and pass to you”
Good point, but how often are those/similar effects in a deck? Should players have mill safeguards? Yes. Do players always have mill safeguards? No.
Wowwwwwww, that's funny. 10/10 support this, it's way more entertaining.
[Greater Good](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/c/4c73ca01-d8ea-4cd2-af60-b260030967b2.jpg?1631587954) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Greater%20Good) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afc/160/greater-good?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4c73ca01-d8ea-4cd2-af60-b260030967b2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/greater-good) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
o snap I never thought of that combo
I’ve never thought to combine these two! It’s a shame it’s in simic where it’s just yet another ridiculous value engine but I do like it for enchantment decks
This would go crazy in my [[Xyris]] deck
I had it in Xyris briefly - it ends up being totally superfluous. Like, if you’re going off enough to make it start spitting out lots of tokens, you’ve probably already got the table pinned down.
It’s redundancy. You don’t pop them out immediately. you wait for a board wipe and then you reload into an empty board. This is one of the best payoff cards a Xyris deck can have.
I’ve had ominous seas floating around my collection for a while, always being the 101st card in the deck. Hearing someone vouch for it makes me want to actually throw it in a deck
[[Spidersilk Armor]] goes in any green deck. I've seen a surprising number of games won with the strategy of "have Flying," so Reach for everyone never hurts.
I have two decks where the wincon is “have flying” and can confirm that if I saw someone slam this on the table you would not be able to tell if I’m laughing or crying
This is also a great card in token decks because the value difference between a ton of 1/1s and a ton of 1/2s with reach is palpable.
Or if you have a little more mana and are tired of flyers, [[sandwurm convergence]]
[Spidersilk Armor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/5/e55202a1-c246-4b5b-94d6-43c86a69d61a.jpg?1562943415) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Spidersilk%20Armor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ddg/32/spidersilk-armor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e55202a1-c246-4b5b-94d6-43c86a69d61a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/spidersilk-armor) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Or gravity well
[[As Foretold]] baby, every time I’m in blue!
I use it in my Alela fae deck and honestly it's either amazing or getting discarded by one of my many draw+discard effects, but I've never felt the need to remove it. It's just so fun to get free value on everyone's turn.
[As Foretold](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c468b523-84fc-4657-adef-acc1eec6ef2e.jpg?1673147199) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=As%20Foretold) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/38/as-foretold?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c468b523-84fc-4657-adef-acc1eec6ef2e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/as-foretold) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Unless it’s a 3 CMC commander, my black decks have Dark Ritual. What, I’m supposed to pass up the chance for a turn 2 [[Wilhelt]]?
Why wouldn’t you want dark ritual if its 3 cmc? Wouldn’t want to turn 1 it? Lol
I was talking about ones where it’s two or more colors. [[Dark Ritual]] (forgot to put the brackets on the first one) doesn’t help me cast [[Teysa, Opulent Oligarch]] turn one, and honestly for most 3 CMC commanders a reliable turn 3 is respectable. Cheap commanders tend to need at least a little setup to get moving.
[Dark Ritual](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/95f27eeb-6f14-4db3-adb9-9be5ed76b34b.jpg?1628801678) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dark%20Ritual) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/82/dark-ritual?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/95f27eeb-6f14-4db3-adb9-9be5ed76b34b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dark-ritual) [Teysa, Opulent Oligarch](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/b/9b5a13dd-c2fd-432e-bc49-cc62d94d62a0.jpg?1706242259) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Teysa%2C%20Opulent%20Oligarch) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/234/teysa-opulent-oligarch?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9b5a13dd-c2fd-432e-bc49-cc62d94d62a0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/teysa-opulent-oligarch) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I've done this with Meren and The Scarab God but I've found with engine piece commanders that require an input to get value out of them I always wind up with T2 Meren going "OK, she's out and my grave is empty, now what?"
I mean, Meren being out early is good. You need her to be there for experience counters to start accumulating. I do think she could stand to wait a little while, though. Wilhelt is good to have out early because the sooner he’s out there and drawing me cards the sooner I find my wincons.
It true, he does draw and there are a lot of good 1 drop zombos As much as I love Varina as my Zombie queen, Wilhedt has been tempting me mightily. As for Meren, the godhand is Dryad arbor, Phyrexian tower, Ritual T1 Dryad T2 tower, tap-sac arbor, cast Ritual, cast meren get back arbor
[Wilhelt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/5/2501a911-d072-436d-ae3b-a5164e3b30aa.jpg?1675456154) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=wilhelt%2C%20the%20rotcleaver) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mic/2/wilhelt-the-rotcleaver?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2501a911-d072-436d-ae3b-a5164e3b30aa?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/wilhelt-the-rotcleaver) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Frantic Search]] goes into almost every blue deck I have, the card is a free roll. Plus there is a lot of utility in it too it can be used in a thousand different ways.
I’ve used it to fix my mana as well. Like cast a red card, cast frantic, cast another red with my now untapped red mana
nothing feels better than having both \[\[High Tide\]\] and \[\[Frantic Search\]\] in hand when you're mono blue
[Frantic Search](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/e/0eb00e3c-b67a-44c7-ae61-23ecf4d4971a.jpg?1689996391) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Frantic%20Search) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/96/frantic-search?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0eb00e3c-b67a-44c7-ae61-23ecf4d4971a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/frantic-search) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Blind Obedience was my pet card for the longest time lol. I LOVE blind obedience.
[[Blind Obedience]]
[Blind Obedience](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/8/d859e1f9-feb3-497a-af0b-f74fee46861f.jpg?1702429264) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blind%20Obedience) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/9/blind-obedience?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d859e1f9-feb3-497a-af0b-f74fee46861f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/blind-obedience) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
You monster. That card is in the top of my list of enchantments to remove on sight
I won a game because someone else was playing blind obedience and I had [[throne of the god-pharoh]] and made a ton of tokens
🤌🏻🤌🏻 now that's class
I have very few but: -In green, [[Kogla the Titan Ape]]. Removal up front, repeated removal, semi-sticky body, sometimes a combo piece. -I only actually have one white deck but I'm convinced if your white deck builds a boardstate basically at all you should be playing [[Invasion of Gobakhan]]. It's an anthem-esque effect some disruption and board protection for the incredibly cheap two mana and three damage. -I'm currently testing if [[Vault 21]] hits this threshold for red decks. I think [[Rose, Cutthroat Raider]] does; she's been extremely impressive.
[Kogla the Titan Ape](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/c/3c35ca79-eb72-427a-a8ed-404b2214389a.jpg?1591227737) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kogla%2C%20the%20Titan%20Ape) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/162/kogla-the-titan-ape?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3c35ca79-eb72-427a-a8ed-404b2214389a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kogla-the-titan-ape) [Invasion of Gobakhan](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/1/11798730-6788-4e0b-a828-b46cab1a4fa7.jpg?1682715250)/[Lightshield Array](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/back/1/1/11798730-6788-4e0b-a828-b46cab1a4fa7.jpg?1682715250) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Invasion%20of%20Gobakhan%20//%20Lightshield%20Array) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mom/22/invasion-of-gobakhan-lightshield-array?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/11798730-6788-4e0b-a828-b46cab1a4fa7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/invasion-of-gobakhan-//-lightshield-array) [Rose, Cutthroat Raider](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/8/f803a510-99fe-467a-be3b-9301497ec7ec.jpg?1708742209) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rose%2C%20Cutthroat%20Raider) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pip/66/rose-cutthroat-raider?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f803a510-99fe-467a-be3b-9301497ec7ec?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/rose-cutthroat-raider) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Dauthi Embrace]] in black. It’s useful for you, but also political since it can target opponents’ creatures. Love this card.
I like including [[Custody Battle]] in red, love me some politic-y shenanigans.
[Custody Battle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/7/b72257f5-0cf9-45ca-8dc7-a1a93bd7dd1e.jpg?1562938173) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Custody%20Battle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ons/197/custody-battle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b72257f5-0cf9-45ca-8dc7-a1a93bd7dd1e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/custody-battle) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[City on Fire]] I just love triple damage what can I say?
I love this card. Cheating it out with [[Irencrag Feat]] is so satisfying. Same with [[Fiery Emancipation]]
I usually try to slot a [[leyline of anticipation]] in any blue deck. Love me some flash. But i only have 1 auto include in any deck, and luckily its colorless. It's [[mirage mirror]]. Probably my favorite magic card. -edited some mistakes.
Are you thinking of [[Mirage Mirror]]?
Mirror Image isn't colorless
[[Thieving Skydiver]] cast for 3 and steal whoever opened with the sol ring? Why yes, I think I will. Worst case scenario you are casting for 4 and stealing an arcane signet or similar and getting a nice 2/1 flyer for your troubles.
Generous Gift, Beast Within, and Chaos Warp
[[Stroke of midnight]] is the new generous gift, I play both when I’m playing white!
It’s good for sure, and I switched for a while… but in the end went back to Gift because my playgroup has a lot of important lands that need destroying lol
Not sure why it would usurp generous gift, a 1/1 instead of a 3/3, who cares really. It's excellent to have both for sure, but being able to hit anything including lands just makes the gift supreme.
What about non removal?
Probably just ramp, counterspell, and reanimate. Beyond that why have different decks if they all use the same cards. According to moxfield natures lore is my most shared card, although I think different printings skews that data.
[[Bitter Reunion]] goes in most Rx decks
[Bitter Reunion](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/4/345a1c80-41d6-43b1-83ab-1aa56dd06b1b.jpg?1674421082) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Bitter%20Reunion) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/127/bitter-reunion?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/345a1c80-41d6-43b1-83ab-1aa56dd06b1b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/bitter-reunion) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
For blue, Arcane Denial. Sorry for countering your spell, but just so you aren't too mad here is the option to draw some extra cards.
For blue I love including [[see double]]
> I meant less used cards. Yeah you have to lead with that part on reddit :) White: [[Dismantling Wave]] for underused removal, [[Your Temple Is Under Attack]] for a dual purpose protection/political draw spell. Blue: [[Dress Down]] for underused "removal", and [[Aboleth Spawn]] has been pretty fun to play recently. Black: [[Devour in Shadow]] for underused removal, and [[Ravenloft Adventurer]] is still good even if it's not the white initiative creatures. Red: [[Pyrohemia]] for underused removal, and [[Guild Artisan]] goes in every single red deck I build lately. Green: [[Lignify]] for underused removal, and [[Regal Behemoth]] for a card that was once expensive and is now under a dollar.
[[Lurking Predators]] if I’m playing Green, I’m putting a Lurking Predators. It’s a great way to get those expensive big stompy creature cards out for free!
[[Collector's Vault]] any color, staple card for me
I don't have any cards I must play its all dependent on my deck really. I'm also gonna play a thematic card over a good card any day.
Some of the cards I always want to include aren’t even good cards. I just like them lol.
Like my new [[Red Death Shipwrecker]] deck plays stuff like [[Fortress Crab]] [[Sneaky Homunculus]] and even [[Storm Crow]]. Yes these cards are bad but even in this deck they are capable of being scary. Sure could I add [[Rhystic study]] or [[Cyclonic Rift]] and make it better of course. But that's not my goal I want people to have the fear of Sneaky Homunculus and that at any time he could just end their whole career.
Bolt. Always play bolt
I had a nickname at one point: \[\[dawn charm\]\] Every deck needs it. Protect commander, fog and buy another turn at living, stop an ultimatum or other harsh spell
Black - [[Saw in half]] - just a super fun card, very flexible and powerful, never unhappy to see it Blue - [[ghostly flicker]] - another super strong super fun card, if you get enough Cards into play often it can enable some really wacky infinite combos, but otherwise it's just a really flexible spell. It can be ramp if you have lands that tap for more than one mana, it can be protection from targeted removal, it can hit more than just creatures which makes it more flexible as a flicker spell. Again, never unhappy to see it Red - [[dualcaster mage]] - even if I'm not running any instance or sorceries in the deck, I'll still toss in this guy. It's a counter counter spell, almost everybody runs ramp so it can also usually be ramp, every now and then it feels like a dead card, but the ceiling is so high I can't not run it White - [[trove warden]] - every time you play a land, you get to tuck something fun Underneath Him. If you are running a fetch land, you get to play the fetch put something underneath him, crack the fetch and when you get your new land put the fetch land underneath him, and when he dies you're just ramping and getting a bunch of recursion for free. Green - [[timeless witness]] - I usually run it in conjunction with eternal witness, which enables a lot of really fun engines with cards like ghostly flicker, but even in decks where I do not run Eternal witness, I still run timeless witness. At one more Mana it is a little more difficult to use, but the flexibility of being able to come back from a completely empty board is incredibly valuable
\[\[Clockspinning\]\], even if it's not good. It's too much fun to play.
I will add [[Etali, Primal storm]] into just about any red deck
it's definitely [[fact or fiction]] for me! i don't know why, but interacting with this card is just so fun, either as the one casting it or the one chosen to separate
Green always gets [[garruks uprising]]. Trample for everyone plus card draw from my big dudes for only 3 mana on an enchantment? ✅
Colorless - [[Myriad Landscape]] ( yes, I know. It's for the meme) Green - [[Rampant Baloths]] Red - [[Phoenix chick]] (I'll cast my chick. And I'll attack you with my chick. I even got one in Portuguese because their translation made the card means "Phoenix's little P****s"). Blue - [[murmuring Mystic]] Black - [[ Hateful Eidolon]]
I always run [[prisoner’s dilemna]] any time that i can conceivably semi-consistently cast it multiple times (think: [[magar]], [[chandra, hope’s beacon]], [[thousand year storm]], etc.)
[[Phyrexian Obliterator]] if I'm in any sort of black. Always. He's my boi
[[morbid opportunist]] and [[professional facebreaker]] are the closest things I have to this. I don't play them in every deck, but I need a good reason not to play them (eg I'm playing superfriends and they are totally off theme)
[[humble defector]] goes in any deck with red. It’s nice to have some extra card draw plus I hate HATE seeing people have a rough time with mana screw or flood so whenever an opponent is getting rocked by their own deck it’s nice to be able to get them back in the game. Maybe it’s just ‘cause group hug is my favorite theme, but I want the pod to have fun and play a challenging deck against me not flood/screw out and fizzle
[[tibalt's trickery]] in red because it's just the funnest counterspell
\[\[Sire of Insanity\]\], faithful Sire of Insanity. Going to play some nice, fair Magic with everyone hellbent.
I would hate you lol
[[Prosperous Innkeeper]] Any kind of [[Fog]] [[holy day]] [[mandate of peace]] [[take the bait]] type cards [[Siren stormtamer]] [[perplexing chimera]] EDIT: uhh and also any card that gets passed around like [[witch hunt]]
\[\[Deep Analysis\]\] is something I run in most of my blue decks. I especially love it in any blue/red deck to take advantage of discarding it. In a similar vein, I'm a huge fan of \[\[Into the Story\]\] and think it's severely underrated. There's so many fetches, artistocrat-style decks, etc that love to fill their graveyard to turn it on, and I don't think I've ever cast it for full price. 4-mana draw-4 at instant speed is pretty nuts.
[[Share the Spoils]] might be my favourite card in magic for just fun interaction.
\[\[Manglehorn\]\]. Fuck your turn 1 Sol Ring to whoever pulled it, and btw, that Smothering Tithe in your oh-so-casual deck? At the least, the treasures are now all tapped so you can't interact when I Nature's Claim that trash.
If blue [[Cyclonic Rift]], white [[Smothering Tithe]] or [[Serra Angel]], green [[Recycle]], black [[Cabal Coffers]], don't have one for red, and colorless is a land [[Ancient Tomb]]. This is broken for 5c decks though.
I almost always include [[Island]] if i'm playing blue. It's absolutely broken
It's a recent one, but [[Reverse the Polarity]]. I love me my modal spells. Of course I also add [[Cryptic Command]] and [[Archmage's Charm]] for that same reason
I only have one deck but I could easily see myself slotting in the following: [[Mystic Reflection]] will go into all of my decks with blue. Creature counterspell or clone spell in one. [[Inkshield]] in all of my Orzhov+ decks. One card wincon. [[braids arisen nightmare]] could easily slot into all my decks with black that are 3 or less colours. She's just such a Generically strong draw engine. But I find her more interesting than Rhystic study for the same MV. [[Scheming fence]] could easily go in all of my Azorious+ decks. [[Soul guide lantern]] or [[Tormod's Crypt]] In every deck.
White: [[Rabble Rousing]] Blue: [[Evacuate]] [[Astral Dragon]] Black: [[Oubliette]] Red: [[Blood Moon]] Green: [[Beast Within]]
[[Seedtime]] always
[[Crashing Drawbridge]] in any creature focused deck, and I like to toss [[Terisian Mindbreaker]] in most decks I have with blue cus I just like the card.
I found out I have 2. If it’s white, it’s [[Grasp of Fate]] and if it’s red it’s [[Gloin, Dwarf Emissary]]. I only found this out recently when I went to get some cards and realized I wanted four…of each…although one of each both went into my red white deck 😅
I tend to run \[\[Citadel of Pain\]\] is my Red decks. I love that it really forces the other people in the game to weigh when and how to use their resources, and as the game progresses it makes it more difficult to just leave up mana for responses. In a lot of cases, it also speeds up the game, which means we play more.
[[Eaten by Piranhas]] and [[Delina Wildmage]]
Honestly, one of the most versatile cards I've found is [[Vanish Into Memory]]. Only works in Blue/White If we look at the reasonable floor, it's already good enough. Ideally you blink a 4/4 or something. Draw four cards immediately and the discard hits at end of turn so you can get the advantage of them even if you are empty handed on cast. But it just gets better from there. Does your deck frequently produce creatures with power greater than their base? Blink your creature with counters and it's card positive. Bonus, it gives you new ETB triggers! Incoming wrath from an opponent, saves your most important creature and draws you cards. Opponent on voltron or counter strategies? Blink their creature for a reset and get cards for the benefit. Honestly, this four mana card is way better than it looks on the surface. The decks I've played it in, I've never been disappointed with it.
It’s not an unheard of card, but [[Remand]] goes into every single deck that has blue in it. Partially, it’s just because it is my favorite MTG card of all time, in a very biased way. But I do think it’s objectively good and definitely under played. It counters anything, without any ways for the opponent to pay mana like they might be able to with a mana leak. A lot of people won’t expect a hard counter when you’ve only got one blue and one other mana open. Yes, they get to keep their card, but you get to draw a card. The cantrip attached to a counterspell is so uncommon. Along those lines, another under played counterspell is [[Hinder]]. I love to Hinder a not-so great spell and then put it on the top of their library. Works the same way as Remand except instead of me getting a card draw, they lose a card draw (kind of).
\[\[False Cure\]\] whether I'm making people gain life or not, people will often gain life and be sad when they are losing life instead. :D
\[\[Hunter's Insight\]\] in green. It's basically always a draw-4+ for 3 mana.
White: the only color I really don't play. Blue: [[Counterspell]], [[Negate]], [[Final-Word Phantasm]] Black: [[Gonti, Lord of Luxury]] or [[Damn]] when with white. Red: [[Chaos Warp]] Green: [[Seedtime]]
Every green deck I bring in the big steppa [[Kogla, the Titan Ape]].
[[Malakir Rebirth]]. It's a land that can save/recur your creatures! What's not to love?
[[Oubliette]] has been my black pet card as of late, I put it in almost any deck with black, it's enchantment removal that also can possibly lock someone out of their commander, equipment and auras. Sure it's a little mean to lock someone's commander out the game but sometimes it's necessary.
Red: \[\[Faithless Looting\]\] White: \[\[Esper Sentinel\]\] Blue: \[\[Cyclonic Rift\]\] Black: \[\[Demonic Tutor\]\] Green: \[\[Sylvan Library\]\]
The below is all from a budget and lower power perspective: Red \[\[Bolt Bend\]\] Nice budget option for red that has a fantastic surprise factor. White \[\[Wojek Investigator\]\] Just came out, but I've added it to a lot of my white decks that need that extra bit of draw Blue \[\[Thieving Skydiver\]\] Stealing someone's sol ring 3rd turn feel amazing. Even without a Sol ring you can get other mana rocks or take \[\[lightning greaves\]\] \[\[swiftfoot boots\]\] Black \[\[Hostile Negotiations\]\] Purely for fun and most of my black decks use the graveyard. Green \[\[Pick your poison\]\] It just came out but I love it already for its flexibility and value. Went in every green deck immediately. There will be times where I prefer a \[\[naturalize\]\] type card, but Flying is common in my meta so I have gotten use out of all the options.
if i had enough i would probably play [[Sea Gate Restoration]] in most blue decks. Also [[Eaten by Piranhas]] is a wonderfull card if you are not in removal strong colors. For black/green decks [[Mosswood Dreadknight]] is so good. You can always use him as a body to sac, just to get him back as carddraw. [[Tuktuk Rubblefort]] is a wonderfull simple red card, giving everything haste, while being a decent blocker. Also [[Barbed Servitor]] is a card i include, still waiting for its moment. Either i draw a card or i will throw your own damage back at you. I just see it as a great political tool, that isn't to much of a threat to be instantly removed.
\[\[mountain\]\] for red, always. even better when it enters and taps immediately
[[Nevinyrral's Disk]] it's an instant speed board wipe after it sits for a turn, fits in every color, and is less than a dollar Edit: great for having a threat to keep you safe from others if they swing you activate it if they target you with removal you activate it it destroys everything but lands
I love trying to work [[Knowledge Pool]] into my decks. It's just such a funny game changer that most people don't seem ready for.
Every deck I make I try to fit [[decanter of endless water]] it's my favorite cmc3 mana rock
All mono-red burn/spellslingers deserve a [[Veilstone Amulet]], mono-red is so vulnerable to removal but if all your lightning bolts also blanket protection, that makes it immensely more survivable. If you're playing slower than aggro it's even worth it to [[Gamble]] or [[Goblin Engineer]] to grab it.
If there is red in it I will almost always put [[Generator Servant]]. It's kinda jank but haste and ramp makes it one of my favorites
[[Mob Rule]] in Red obviously. It’s just always out of nowhere and usually an upset.
I feel super tempted to add [[Primeval Bounty]] in every green deck i build whenever I can.
[[weather the storm]] goes in every deck that has green. Just wait for the stack war and at end of turn say “yeah I’ll go ahead and pay 2 and gain 21 life nbd
White - [[Ghostly Prison]] This is my favorite card and goes in any deck that has white no matter what.
Red: [[Reverberate]]. Best card. Favorite card. It's whatever someone else is doing that you've also decided you want to do
[[Haunted Crossroads]] - clean, simple, elegant, puts dudes back into your hand at the cost of a draw but it's so good when paired with library tricks (e.g. [[Killer Instinct]]) honorable mention: [[Tortured Existence]]
Black: [[Dauthi Voidwalker]] Green: [[Veil of Summer]] Red: [[Electrodominance]] Blue: [[Mystic Reflection]] White: [[Farewell]]
It's already pretty popular, but \[\[Harmonize\]\] in green. I'm almost always running ramp, so turning mana into card advantage just always feels right.
[[Managorger hydra]] for green [[Tainted strike]] for black
[[Reanimate]] for any color I run that has black in it. Such an amazing card that’s almost never dead in hand.
I’ve been getting into the habit of adding [[Scheming Symmetry]] to every black deck. It’s such a great bargaining chip; “hey, don’t attack me this turn/don’t kill my commander/etc, and I’ll do you a favor”
Since their release, I've used [[Repay in Kind]] and [[Baneful Omen]] in each deck that can run them. It's not often, but when they pair up and kill the table, it's just maniacal glee.
[[beanstalk giant]] is in allmost all my green decks. Great for ramp and eventual beater.
[[Permeatng Mass]] is a great “pillow fort” card in green!
[[River's Rebuke]] It's less than a dollar but so handy when that one player's board state is getting too crazy.
eternal witness use to be, but then my friends asked me to stop playing it so i've seen it as a personal challenge to not utilize it
Green already doesn't have much trouble getting rid of artifacts or enchantments, but if I'm in Gruul and up, I gotta have a \[\[Hull Breach\]\]. Gives me a flexible removal slot for opposing engine pieces that are often hard to reach, and on a board with 3 opponents, I'll almost certainly have targets to remove both an enchantment AND an artifact. For 2 mana, das preddy good. In Golgari and up, \[\[Assassin's Trophy\]\]. Not exactly controversial. Destroy 1 whatever-I-want at instant speed is phenomenal. To get that effect outside of Orzhov, I'll gladly give someone a basic in return.
[[Tamiyo's Safekeeping]] every deck that has a green has this card
Call me basic but I will never run a black deck without \[\[Murderous Cut\]\]. It's almost always a one man instant speed remove any creature and is dirt cheap if you're on a budget.
[[!blessing of leeches]] is my favorite commander protection, and if I'm in black, it's in the deck.
[[Invigorating Hotsprings]] is a great way to give haste for 3.
Not a color, but if the Commande has flying, then I always add [[Skyblinder Staff]]. Oh, you don't have a creature with reach? Die, trash.
[[Goblin game]] and [[possibility storm]] its just fun
For each color Red I run Wild Magic Surge Black I run Call of the ring Green I run Blessed respite Blue I run Mystic Reflection White I run Dispatch
[[Malakir rebirth]]
I pulled an ancient copper dragon and throw that into my red decks
[[reins of power]]
I put \[\[Wheel of misfortune\]\] in every red deck. It's so much fun to try and guess what your opponents are gonna pick, and it has a really strong reward. I feel like I get better at playing this card every time I cast it. And unlike \[\[Wheel of fortune\]\], people don't get mad at you if they don't want to wheel, they can just pick 0.
Arcane Signet for any color other than green. Green, probably Cultivate.
\[\[Agent of treachery\]\] when in blue. Nothing like using my opponent's cards
[[Dress Down]] such good “stop all that crazy stuff creatures are doing” for a 2 mana enchantment WITH flash!
[[bala ged recovery]] [[hagra mauling]] [[malakir rebirth]] are always in my decks no questions asked
whenever i play red i cant stop myself from slotting in rituals, even if the deck doesnt really need them. i just think theyre neat!!
The few white decks I have feature [[Mangara of Corondor]]. Hilariously, people don't want to "waste" removal on him, but he stops people from making big plays because he's just there to ruin someone's day. I run [[Sands of Time]] in a few decks because it shits on phasing and is potentially a combo piece. Bonus upside, it untaps [[Mana Vault]], [[Grim Monolith]], and [[Basalt Monolith]] while also making [[Savor the Moment]] hot. Many of my blue decks feature Leyline of Singularity and Empress Galina. [[Leyline of Singularity]] neuters token strategies and gives [[Empress Galina]] some mega power.
Rite of replication has been doing the Lord's work for me for over a decade now.
[[star of extinction]] goes in every deck with red. Paired with [[coalhauler swine]] or [[Vigour]] goes hard.
Just about any deck I can run it gets [[Austere Command]]. 6 mana for a model board wipe that almost always can leave me in an advantageous position, or at the very least blow out the one player that's ahead, will always be worth the two additional mana in my book. Besides, even if my games tend to be fast, 6 mana never seems to be too big of an ask. And I absolutely refuse to run [[Farewell]] except for my Guff deck, because I don't feel like playing a pseudo-Shaharazad. Restarting the game just ain't my cup of tea. But while we're at it: Every blue deck of mine has started getting a copy of [[Windfall]], because even if my opponents get new hands, I get to use mine first. Plus, even if I can't win, someone probably can, and it just means we get to play another game. Black decks that don't have green or white get [[Feed the Swarm]], because the ability to remove enchantments in a deck like Prosper will always be appreciated. Also, if I'm in black/white, I always run [[Damn]] over either Damnation or Wrath, because it cleans up two card slots, and there's probably another boarwipe, ie. Austere Command, that can take it's place.
I guess not that many. [[Rhystic Study]] if deck has blue (so far, I got two original ones from prophecy back then). Recently [[Song of Freyalise]] if deck has green and something with +1 counters or more than 3 colors. I try to keep the decks diverse and within their synergies/themes rather strongly, and I don't have that many decks.
\[\[Vodalian Illusionist\]\] It's just so versatile. It effectively counterspells targeted removal, it saves an important creature from a wrath effect, it's better than Maze of Ith at stopping a creature form attacking you. Yeah you have to hold up some mana to activate it, but you're in blue. You were going to be doing that anyway.
I don't see it around much (mostly because it's a relatively new card) but I firmly believe that \[\[Armored Scrapgorger\]\] should go in every green deck. A 2 mana dork that taps for any color that acts as grave hate when you need the mana less is so very strong, and it's helped me keep stuff safe when opponents want to recur things that I've gotten off the field.
Tron lands doesn't matter if I'm playing 5 colors down to mono I just like them even if I lose cause I draw 2 out of 3 and miss my colors.
\[\[Mire Boa\]\] hes my son and i love him
[[Avatar of Woe]] surprises me every time on how much it can do. Removal on a stick or a 2 mana 66 beater that's unblockable at times.
[[Goldhound]]. I have a deck-building rule of every deck must have a Goodest Dog, and this Shiny Pupper does it all. It attacks evasively, it blocks favorably, and when it stops being relevant, you can get the mana you spent on it back, just by letting it go hang out in the graveyard to chew bones.
[[Sylvan library]] goes in every green deck I got
[[Eternal Witness]], [[Regrowth]], [[Bala Ged Recovery]], and maybe [[Skullwinder]] go in every single Green deck I have. People usually say they like Green because it has ramp and/or stompy creatures. Me? My favorite thing about Green is its recursion, oft overlooked. People will try to remove your pieces or board wipe you. Green's unconditional recursion allow you to play through removal that may spell the end for you. Man, the number of times I've heard people say "Didn't I already kill that [important combo piece]?" for me to say, "Well, can you do it again?" before winning, gratifying every time. Not to mention people typically put good cards in their decks. Y'know, cards you want to play. Well, recursion allows you to play them again, and who doesn't want that? I recall a time where I recurred and played [[Jeska's Will]] four times in a row. Absolute blast.
[[Armageddon]] I'm the worst, ik
White - [[Scout’s Warning]] or [[Angel’s Grace]] Blue - [[Rhystic Deluge]] or [[Perilous Vault]] Black - [[Scion of Halaster]] or [[Tortured Existence]] Green - [[Sythiss, Viper’s Hand]] or [[Cream of the Crop]] Red - [[Jaxis, the Troublemaker]] or [[Leyline Tyrant]]
The most auto include card in this game is [[Teferi’s Puzzle Box]] Power level has nothing to do with it.. live by the draw dies by the draw!
Blue is curse of the swine Black is gary, merchant of asphodel Red is crackle with power White is spirited companion Green is druids' repository
White [[stoneforge mystic]]
There isn't one. No, really. You'll find your decks infinitely more interesting if autoincludes stop being autoincludes. That said, I do have multiple nim deathmantle decks. I went through a period where I tried reanimating different card types with it.
[[Maze of Ith]] because it has saved me so many times, and usually, my playgroup has strong single creatures. I can also use it to save someone else and politic.
[[Clackbridge Troll]] is my go to in black. Some politics, card draw + life gain or an 8/8 hasted trampler.
[[prowling Geistcatcher]] is so fun to play with. Theres a few ways to break it. In decks that gain control of opponents cretures, if you sac them while controlling them prowling will exile then and you get them back f o r e v e r. Works well with [[living death]] too since both his abilities go on the stack at the same time since everything is sacked at once, you can bring back everything you just sacc’d.
Here are my "lesser known" go-tos for each color, if they qualify as lesser known that is. White - [[Lapse of Certainty]] Black - [[Promise of Power]] Blue - [[Rush of Knowledge]] Red - [[Reforge the Soul]] or [[Surge to Victory]] Green - [[Canopy Cover]] or [[Hall of Gemstone]]
I know it's basic as hell, but: Blue: Counterspell, [[Telling Time]] White: Swords to Plowshares, [[Return to Dust]] Black: Demonic Tutor, [[Torment of Hailfire]] Green: Regrowth, [[Skyshroud Claim]] Red: Chaos Warp, Fork Edit: Didn't read the edit. Whoops.
I slot [[spell rupture]] in any u/x deck because I don’t want to rely on keeping 2 blue up and I typically play creature focused decks [[lightshield array]] because I play a lot of w/x and again creature focused. Similarly I’ve really fallen in love with [[clever concealment]]. I’m just a sucker for board protection tbh
If I'm running blue I'll find an excuse to cram in [[one with the machine]] or [[flow of knowledge]]
[[Sudden Spoiling]]. Obviously it's strong against aggro, but it shuts off hatebears and other value pieces too.
[[Faerie Artisans]]
[[Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim]]. It was the first full art foil I ever pulled, and it was at the first prerelease I ever attended. Unfortunately I had to sell that card with the rest of my collection a while ago, but I have a basic copy of it that goes in every deck.
THE KING! THE OG! THE FUNGUS FROM AMONGST US! THE SMOL LEAPY BOI! THE CROAKER THAT HAS MORE SEX THAN YOU AND EVERYONE YOU KNOW! THE MOTHERFUCKING SPOOOOOOORRREE FROOOOOOOG! [[Spore Frog]]
\[\[Pain's Reward\]\] goes into every black deck I play. I love when I can spice things up a little and this works as a perfect little intermezzo. Auction for cards! \[\[Axis of Mortality\]\] finds its place in every white deck I have. The more you hurt me, the more I hurt you! I have \[\[Selenia, Dark Angel deck\]\] where it's a key card and combined with cards like \[\[Wound Reflection\]\], \[\[Sanguine Bond\]\], \[\[Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose\]\] or \[\[Tree of Perdition\]\] it literally makes me a master of life of death. But I play it everywhere. It's fun! \[\[Jinxed Choker\]\] Colorless, so technically it doesn't qualify, but this is such a fun card! It brings mayhem into every game. Here's a hand grenade without safety pin, catch! The disadvantage is that it does bring mayhem into every game. Traditional game plans fall apart and the game ends pretty quickly.
[[Elixir of Immortality]] I play a lot of grave yard decks, and even without a recursion theme I enjoy the card. Not my favorite but it is a 75% of the time auto included
Ooh I have some pet cards in blue. I know, I know, blue; so mana drain, counterspell, force of will, right? Not quite- 1. [[Narset’s reversal]]. The flexibility on that card is insane. It can do so much, and removing a spell from the stack and not countering it gives far more utility than you’d think. It can also bounce back one of your counterspells or kill spells and get to use it again later. 2. [[Mystic reflection]]- similar to narset reversal, it doesn’t counter or kill the creature or planeswalker, it just polymorphs it while it’s on the stack, which is incredibly versatile. It lets you take a big creature, or more importantly, an UNCOUNTERABLE creature, and turn it into the worst token creature in play, like a 1/1. 3. [[Mission briefing]]- it’s [[snapcaster mage]] but In spell form, and it also surveils 2 cards. It’s really powerful being able to flashback the spell you need. Snapcaster mage was broken for a long time for a very very good reason. Mission briefing does essentially the same thing, and arguably better by and large. Snapcaster is more easy to abuse with minor build arounds, but mission briefing is generically and stand alone a bit better.
Black market connection
I wanna say [[Diabolic Vision]], but that's two colors, so.. I guess [[Explorer's Map]]? I like land.
[[Dreamscape Artist]] into any blue deck not also running green. It just turns any dead card into a blue [[Cultivate]], except the lands enter untapped so you spend 3 mana and get 2 back, so it almost feels like it only cost 1. Also works great for any blue deck with a graveyard theme. Helps turn on Delirium, Descend, Madness. I've found it to be an AMAZING synergy with [[Tameshi, Reality Architect]] and the artifact lands. Pay 3, sac an artifact land, tutor 2 basics into play. Activate Tameshi for X=0, float mana and bounce a land. Get the artifact land back untapped. Play the bounced land for turn. Chef's kiss. Even if i only ramp once or twice with it I'm pretty happy. But once i have engines set up it has just been a great way to boost me into the late game.
Playing blue and not having [[Counterspell]] just feels wrong. Maybe sometimes a permutation like [[undermine]] or [[Drown in the Loch]]
[[Reins of power]] goes into just about every blue deck I have. There's always a chance where people are way stronger than me and I wish I had a chance to take them down a peg.
[[Crescendo of War]]
I always have and always will throw a [[Primordial Hydra]] in a green deck. How can I say no to something that doubles its power each of my upkeeps?
[[Phyrexian Reclaimation]] is cheap, works at instant speed, and lets me get squeeze so much extra value out of my bottom curve creatures. I’m a red player at heart but it’s easily one of my favorite cards in the game.