3 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
4 Sage Owl
3 Scion of Darkness
2 Tidal Kraken
4 Boomerang
2 Discombobulate
4 Gate to the AEther
2 Index
4 Metamorphose
4 Spy Network
4 Timesifter
24 Island |
 Timegate.
Description of deck by its author (quoted):
Today’s final deck features the Mirrodin card that R&D denizen Brian
Schneider fears above all others: Timesifter. He worried during
development that it was hideously broken. He was right, and it was
fixed. But he never stopped worrying about the card. Nothing is less fun
in a game of Magic than when your opponent just starts taking all the
rest of the turns, because then you’re not even playing anymore. You’re
watching your opponent play solitaire.
We’ll see if Timesifter does anything obnoxious in tournaments. I can’t
predict that. However, I can predict that it will be the most-banned
card of the year in casual play. Timesifter decks are fun to build, fun
to play, and fun to pull off—but your friends aren’t going to put up
with those sorts of shenanigans for very long. So take advantage of it
while you can! The pair of cards this deck revolves around is Timesifter
and Gate to the Aether. That’s not exactly a combo because the cards
don’t directly interact with each other. Rather, they both interact with
the top of your deck. Fill your deck with library manipulation and
expensive permanents (and remember, both Timesifter and the Gate already
are expensive permanents), and you’ll be in control of time itself.
One of my favorite aspects of deckbuilding is finding a home for awful
cards. There are two very weak cards that spring to life in this deck.
They’re so bad elsewhere, and so perfect here, it was as if they were
designed for this deck and no other. One is Spy Network. It’s pure card
disadvantage, as you spend a card to get nothing. But wait! You peek at
your opponent’s hand (which will be useful in a second). You see the top
card of your opponent’s library, which is vital information with a
Timesifter in play. Then you stack the top of your deck. In the very
early game, this can dig out land. Later on, you set yourself up so your
cards are right where they need to be when Timesifter or Gate to the
Aether triggers. The other superstar in this deck is Metamorphose. Do
you want to take the next Timesifter turn? Put your opponent’s Forest on
top of his or her deck. If you know what the top card of your deck is,
you can Metamorphose your opponent’s most expensive card that’s less
expensive than the card you have waiting—then Timesifter will whisk it
away to the removed from game zone. The big drawback of Metamorphose was
always the nasty surprise your opponent will pop out… but you know what
dangers could be coming thanks to Spy Network. Anyway, if you’re
guaranteed the next couple of turns, how bad could a random permanent
from your opponent be?
Let’s not forget about victory conditions. There are plenty available
with nice, fat mana costs: Symbiotic Wurm, Reiver Demon, Scornful
Egotist. I’ve chosen Tidal Kraken (because you can actually cast it if
necessary) Akroma (because it’s the best), and Scion of Darkness
(because it cycles—if Akroma is trapped in your hand, it’s stuck there
forever unless your opponent does something dumb like play
Metamorphose).
Be warned again: This is another headache-inducing deck. I’ve played it,
and it’s brain-twisting. When you’re stacking your deck, you’ve got to
see a few turns in advance to figure out which cards are in line to be
drawn and which will be revealed—and the turn structure isn’t linear
here. You normally only need to keep track of your hand and the in-play
zone. With this deck, you’ve got to keep track of your hand, your
opponent’s hand, the in-play zone, the top few cards of each player’s
deck, and whose turn it’s going to be next. The deck teeters on the edge
the whole time, but when it wins, it’s exhilarating. Overall, though, I
guess what I’m the most thankful for is headache medicine.
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