Krark / Sakashima - Double or Nothing
Originally based off Siskel & Ebert (https://www.moxfield.com/decks/G-RUVy_CMUWzXlhJknIzZg)
Modes
- Untargeted Damage Storm
- Countermagic / Redirection
- Creature Theft
- Mill (to exile)
- Land Destruction / Ponza
- Infinite Treasure Tokens
- Infinite Mana
Base strategy
Get Krark and some way to get more than 1 copy of his trigger in play (Sakashima of a Thousand Faces, Veyran, Voice of Duality, Harmonic Prodigy plus as many additional copies as you can muster - so long as they don't immediately die to the Legend rule). Then, cast whatever you want!
For the remainder of this document, a board state that can generate multiple Krark triggers will be referred to as "Active Krark".
Most strategies will benefit heavily from abusing free-cast spells (e.g.: Deflecting Swat, Fierce Guardianship, Mogg Salvage)or nearly-free-cast spells (e.g.: Strike it Rich, Rite of Flame, Pyretic Ritual, Gitaxian Probe, Desperate Ritual).
It's easiest to get a pile of d6 dice ready (I bring about 10). Announce that they are not +1/+1 counters and that they are merely coins for use with your commanders. State that the coins will have outcomes as "even is always success, odd is always failure" (or vice-versa if you are so inclined). You are going to be rolling dice/flipping coins quite often, so any way to streamline the process is beneficial to the brevity of the match.
Flip Outcomes
When multiple Krark triggers are in play, the desired outcome is at least 1 failure and at least 1 success. This means the original spell card is returned to hand (which is nice, as it can also bypass the intrinsic exile effect of some spells and from Flashback effect) and a copy of the spell is inserted onto the stack just above the Krark trigger that generated it.
On a full failure, nothing happens except the original card returning to your hand from the stack.
On a full success, a copy of the spell is created for each success and the original card will resolve to the graveyard. Notable exceptions to this are:
- Unsubstantiate - a copy can target the original card on the stack and return it to your hand
- Fork - can infinitely copy itself once a new copy is created on the stack (triggering magecraft each time)
When performing an infinite loop with Fork, you need at least 1 valid target that isn't a Fork (or Fork-like spell) on the stack to break the loop. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in an unstoppable loop that will end the game in a draw.
Note about Krark's Thumb
Krark's Thumb is very beneficial to modifying outcomes of coin flips, but it makes determining the end result of a coinflip very tedious. Be aware that having Krark's Thumb on the field will double literally every flip/roll and a decision must be made per pair of coin flips.
Untargeted Damage Storm
With Active Krark and one or more of the following (and preferably also with Infinite Treasure Tokens or Infinite Mana on board, as well (see below)):
Cast instants and/or sorceries as many times as you have mana or living opponents.
Countermagic / Redirection
While Deflecting Swat usually is expected to change targets on some spell or ability, it can be abused to simply target a spell or ability on the stack (so long as it is not a Mana Ability), just to trigger other effects (untargeted damage, increase storm count, generate treasure tokens, generate mana, prowess, or magecraft).
Creature Theft
Krark or Sakashima will be often targeted with theft, so having a Gilded Drake will be useful to steal them back. Additionally, the inclusion of a Sword of Hearth and Home in the deck will allow some evasion (Protection from Green/White), add some land ramp capability, and bounce the Gilded Drake back onto your field from your opponent's so you can steal another thing.
Mill (to exile)
Tasha's Hideous Laughter is so strong! With Active Krark on field, copy it a bunch and watch the Tier 0 decks crumple!
Land Destruction / Ponza
With Active Krark on field, a Cleansing Wildfire can rip through your opponents' lands easily, especially with Birgi, God of Storytelling
, Storm-Kiln Artist, or Tavern Scoundrel on the field. Eventually, you'll have a way to win in hand and your opponents will have no lands.
Infinite Treasure Tokens
With Active Krark on field, get a Storm-Kiln Artist and/or Tavern Scoundrel along with Veyran, Voice of Duality and/or (in the case of the Storm-Kiln Artist) Harmonic Prodigy for more treasures than you'll know what to do with!
Infinite Mana
Along with the Infinite Treasure Tokens plan, throw in Birgi, God of Storytelling
or Twiddle on a mana rock (Mana Vault, Mana Crypt, Sol Ring) to generate as much mana as you need.
