WIN-CON: Smash face with
Mirrorwing Dragon
(a really tough-to-remove 4/5 for 5), Fleetwheel Cruiser (5/3 with Trample and Haste for 4), Lathnu Hellion (4/4 with Haste for 3), and Voltaic Brawler (4/3 with Trample for 2). Make them even better with Brute Strength and Uncaged Fury ... especially if you copy the spells to the whole team via
Mirrorwing Dragon
.
ALTERNATE WIN-CON: Burn face with Collective Defiance and Incendiary Flow.
PREVENT OPPONENT WIN-CONS: Burn Creatures or Planeswalkers with Collective Defiance and Incendiary Flow. Burn Creatures with Harnessed Lightning. Mess up an opponent's hand with Collective Defiance.
MOVE TOWARDS THE WIN: Smash with Longtusk Cub. Get a new hand with Collective Defiance.
GENERAL VALUE: Servant of the Conduit for Energy counters and mana aceleration. Plus she can Attack, Block, and Crew like a Bear.
SIDEBOARD
PLAYTIPS (SO FAR)
- Pick up extra counters by casting Harnessed Lightning but not dealing damage ... especially if you copy the spell to the whole team via
Mirrorwing Dragon
.
- Think about possible buffs when considering how much damage to deal with Harnessed Lightning.
- Along those lines, use Harnessed Lightning earlier rather than later against Creatures that buff on Attack (e.g.,
Toolcraft Exemplar
and Voltaic Brawler).
- Against a Vehicle deck, choose carefully whether to use Harnessed Lightning against the Vehicle itself or against a Crew member. Also, remember the opponent can Crew in response.
- Longtusk Cub can get enormous at Instant speed, if you have extra . So far, it seems the threat of activation is more powerful than actual activation.
- There is no infinite combo if multiple
Mirrorwing Dragon
s somehow end up on the battlefield at the same time. The key piece is "Whenever a player casts [a spell] that targets only ~ ... copies that spell for each other creature ...". For example, if you cast an Instant or Sorcery that targets only the first Mirrorwing, you copy the spell, targeting the second. But since the second spell is copied rather than cast, the second Mirrorwing's ability won't trigger.
- Against a Vehicle deck, Appetite for the Unnatural and Natural State (in the sideboard) seem best immediately after an opponent taps to Crew.
- If possible, cast Kozilek's Return (on the sideboard) after declaring attackers (to save Voltaic Brawler) or after combat damage (to save Longtusk Cub).
- This is subtle and only applies to paper Magic, but most opponents expect to see Verdurous Gearhulk rather than
Mirrorwing Dragon
and I do nothing to convince them otherwise. For example, once I have 4 mana, I like taking a few seconds on their turn to act like I'm figuring out where to put +1/+1 counters. And I always lay out my Lands so they look like rather than . I don't know if it makes any difference, but it's fun either way.
MAYBEBOARD
CARDS I'M NOT USING AND WHY:
- Arlinn Kord
: Her +1 abilities (on both sides) are just so good in this deck, but she dies too easily to Smuggler's Copter.
- Attune with Aether: The ramp and extra energy were great, but the deck very rarely needed either.
- Aether Hub: Great for a more Aggro deck.
- Architect of the Untamed, Dynavolt Tower, Electrostatic Pummeler, and Panharmonicon: Solid options, if this was a more dedicated Energy deck.
- Armorcraft Judge,
Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
,
Thriving Grubs
, and
Thriving Rhino
: Solid options, if this deck had a stronger +1/+1 counter theme.
- Bristling Hydra and
Territorial Gorger
: Just not as good as the other 4-drop options.
- Built to Smash, Larger Than Life, and Rush of Adrenaline: All good, but Brute Strength is better for this deck.
- Combustible Gearhulk: A superb Burn/Draw effect, but if I could fit a 6-drop in here, it'd be Chandra, Flamecaller instead.
- Expedite: A Mirrorwing staple, but this deck doesn't seem to need the Haste nor the incidental Draw.
- Lambholt Pacifist
and Sylvan Advocate: Both are great, but Servant of the Conduit is just a little better.
- Multiform Wonder and Verdurous Gearhulk: Superb, but this deck doesn't need more 5-drops.
-
Plummet
,
Take Down
, and
Vines of the Recluse
: Just not as good in this deck as other Flyerhate options.
Take Down
is especially bad because it doesn't work against Vehicles.
- Renegade Tactics: Great for the Draw (always) and to sneak through big damage (sometimes). But there's just no room for it.
- Root Out: The Instant speed of Appetite for the Unnatural is better.
- Smuggler's Copter: Obviously a great card, but I'd have to find room for some 1-drop Creatures to Crew it, which would totally change the deck.
-
Spark of Creativity
: The idea of turning the whole team into Abbot of Keral Keeps? Seemed decent. But in this deck, it was often too little, too late.
- Woodweaver's Puzzleknot: Sideboard option vs. Aggro, but the deck never seemed to need it.
- Zada, Hedron Grinder: She's just too fragile.
