This is a "0" mana cost aggro deck, with Phyrexian Dreadnought as the killer.
While Phyrexian Dreadnought's ability makes him difficult to cast, the use of Torpor Orb and
Illusionary Mask
makes it so that he becomes a 1 mana 12/12 trample without having to sac everything. Which is insane. I mean really. Potential turn 2 wins here!
As a bonus, Torpor Orb acts as a control for ETB decks, while only granting advantages for mine as I have no creatures with positive ETB effects.
Illusionary Mask
works wonderful against control, as
Illusionary Mask
's ability is actually a morph to a 2/2 creature, as such it has no mana cost. At times this is an extreme hindrance if they decide to
Chalice of the Void
for 0 (bane on them even more if they get another one out for 1).
Normally this deck wouldn't last for very long, especially if the only win condition was the combo between Phyrexian Dreadnought and Torpor Orb/
Illusionary Mask
. However, by adding Beastmaster Ascension into this deck, all my little 0 drop weenies quickly become power houses, generally in just two turns. The added addition for them to get +5/+5 is that if I don't have Torpor Orb on the field, I can sac them to play Phyrexian Dreadnought who would then enter the battlefield as a 17/17 trample for one mana. Bada-swing!
Mox Opal and Gaea's Cradle are here for the obvious ramp. 0 mana cost munchings and crunchings dumped out on turn one really makes my mana reserves quite powerful. I can play all my munchings and crunchings, tap Gaea's Cradle for lots of mana, chuck down a
beastmaster's ascension
and swing! If not for the first turn, then swing! again on the 2nd turn for the kill~
How does a turn one swing become possible? Why with Concordant Crossroads of course!. It helps get Beastmaster Ascension proc'd faster, and allows for the instant surprise attack with Phyrexian Dreadnought and all my munchings and crunchings.
Sylvan Library quickly became my favourite draw card function. Three cards a turn, all the while replacing cards I don't need from that draw back into my deck. While I may lose 4-8 life a turn, I have life gain spells to counter that. Alive / Well and
Marshaling the Troops
. With them, I can easily get the loss of life back, and turn 2 and turn 3 wins are very plausible.
The Windswept Heaths are not only here for the search of Temple Gardens, their most important ability is the shuffle. Because I put cards back onto the top of my library with Sylvan Library, having a shuffle effect to make the next draw of 3 fresh is really important. It makes Sylvan Library much more powerful, and provides me with consistent draw each and every turn.
Enlightened Tutor is perfect for this deck in every way. Not only can it search for pretty much everything in this deck, but it also acts as a shuffler for Sylvan Library. If you are smart, you can do draw card shenanigans with Enlightened Tutor and Sylvan Library. It is really quite simple, just play Enlightened Tutor on your upkeep and voila! Perfect one mana tutor for anything you've ever needed~
Welcome to the sideboard, here we can make our munchings and crunchings even more munchier and crunchier. yum~
Choke to destroy irritating counterspells beyond Force of Will. Choke can also decimate merfolk decks, and anything else relying heavily on islands.
Hanna's Custody and Sterling Grove are to be used for when the opposition uses lots of artifact/enchantment hate. Sterling Grove can also be sided in for when you really need that additional tutor.
Leyline of Sanctity here, probably my most favourite sideboard card. Use it to counter the RDW, storm and discard decks.
Pithing Needle can be used against practically any deck that has an activate ability. Best used against cawblade, Deathrite Shaman and
Wasteland
.
Seal of Cleansing is here when all of the sudden, artifacts and enchantments are used against me!
Tormod's Crypt as the graveyard hate for dredge, re-animator and glass cannon decks. Being 0 cmc means I have no trouble casting it turn one, and it helps with turn on Mox Opals as well.
Finally, there is one specific criteria I have for choosing these specific cards for my sideboard. Look closely and you'll notice that every single one of them is an artifact or enchantment! *gasps* The synergy! Mox Opal will get buffed by my artifacts, while everything can be tutored with Enlightened Tutor~
You may be wondering what is with the massive maybeboard. Well, that is basically sideboard alternatives depending on your meta. I have literally no legacy knowledge beyond the theory behind these types of decks: Goblins, Merfolk, Elves, Dredge, Re-animator, Oops! No spells, Glass Cannon, Cawblade, Show and Tell, Storm, Affinity and RDW. So, I went and searched for a bunch of cards that can be used and made a list here.
City of Solitude, Orim's Chant and Silence are alternatives to Choke, Hanna's Custody and Sterling Grove. Basically, these alternatives are meant in case you find yourself facing a lot of counterspells like Mental Misstep or Force of Will.
Aven Mindcensor in case you find decks that rely on fetches and tutors a lot. Shuts them down quite effectively.
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. TEACHER! He copied my Show and Tell card!
Karmic Justice and Replenish are to replace Hanna's Custody and Sterling Grove when artifact/enchantment wraths are more prevalent.
Nature's Claim to replace Seal of Cleansing if you really need that instant speed artifact enchantment hate.
Orim's Chant, Swords to Plowshares and Worship in case the meta is very creature specific.
True Believer
to replace Leyline of Sanctity in case enchantment removal is far too prevalent for it to be of use.
Wasteland
against The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, Glacial Chasm and Gaea's Cradle.
