This deck gets played at the teen center I volunteer at and with a group of friends who are newish to the game. It's purposefully casual and designed for multiplayer. I want every card I play to make someone chuckle or groan. Preferably both. It's mostly singleton which helps keep the power level in check. This deck is about showing newer players a classic MTG strategy and having a blast doing it.
The goal is to play big, stupid, or funny creatures, take the best deck on the table ALMOST out of the game, all before people play their removal on the big dumb creatures and take you out. The deck needs to win sometimes to make people respect it, but winning isn't first and foremost.
This deck's strengths are BIG and obvious. It's weaknesses are pretty big and obvious too. When you play Bearer of the Heavens on turn two it'll make you a target. But there's no removal or proper way to protect the big creatures this deck plays besides a few counters and board wipe.
I'd love suggestions for big creatures that do stupid things. No Griselbrand or Platinum Angel, they're not what this deck is about. I'm not committed to any of the creatures here, except maybe Sun Quan, Lord of Wu. But were going for silly, fun, and powerful without going overboard.
Some notes:
Hapless Researcher: There's better ways to pitch stuff into your graveyard, but this is the only way that features a librarian falling off a ladder. Ol' happy is the core of this deck and sets the tone. They're silly and fun but still put a crazy thing in your graveyard on turn one for you to animate on turn two. This deck packs enough card advantage to make up for the loss it represents.
Mise: So you obviously need to play the promo version with the dogs playing MTG on it. I also start the game by telling everyone about it and promising never to Scry or something with it. This card isn't fun if you find easy ways to make it Ancestral Recall. Showmanship helps with Mise. Before this card resolves, make sure to tell the other players that besides x4 Animate Deads and x4 Hapless Researchers the deck is mostly singleton. Tell them that you normally would say Animate Dead, but today you feel like saying Force Spike. If it is Force Spike you've created an MTG moment everyone will remember forever. I've done it. It's amazing.
Mind Funeral: This is just to punish the person at the table who is cruising through their deck. Maybe they're playing The Gitrog Monster. Everyone else at the table will enjoy this resolving as much as you do. This deck used to have a mill sub-theme, which I'm tempted to put back in.
Maze of Ith: I keep trying to make myself take this out, but when you're playing with a lot of new players it's so much fun to drop on the table. You go, "hey look at this stupid annoying thing Wizards would never make anymore." They get a laugh and get to see how goofy MTG can be.
Lands: You end up everyone's main target pretty quick so theres only one shock land. If you're in a pinch and really need the mana you have it but otherwise you'll wanna keep the two life.
Notion Thief: This should come out. But stealing people's card draw is fun. Still, this'll likely be replaced soon.
Void Winnower: This card is borderline. I'll take it out if it starts making people hate the deck, but it hasn't really done that yet.
