Karn is really powerful and does just about everything this archetype really wants. Card advantage, board presence, resilience to creature removal, even fills a spot on the curve (4) that's been awkward throughout the archetype's history.
I dislike Servant of the Conduit and am looking for literally anything remotely playable that has more than 1 toughness. I've had Merfolk Branchwalker in here for the synergy between Rishkar and Explore, and I'm even considering playing 2x Treasure Map and a 3rd Harvester, banking on Harvester + Gearhulk being unbeatable for red and calling it a day.
I cut Siphoner because Ballista, Goblin Chainwhirler and Fanatical Firebrand are everywhere. This might be wrong, but I think it's actually fine since Karn generates card advantage and there's no free energy anymore to keep Siphoner humming anyway.
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I think splashing for a third color that isn't red is basically impossible to do smoothly with the available mana, and I also don't think red adds anything as a splash color. Abrade would be a nice pickup, but trying to play it early strains the mana, and you also don't need it anyway.
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I know Karn is expensive and availability is a concern, but I strongly urge y'all to at least print proxies of Karn to test with your buddies. He's really powerful and adds two different angles of attack that this shell doesn't have, and which it very much likes.
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4 Winding Constrictor
4 Walking Ballista
3 Servant of the Conduit
4 Jadelight Ranger
2 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
2 Thrashing Brontodon
2 Ravenous Chupacabra
3 Verdurous Gearhulk
4 Fatal Push
2 Aethersphere Harvester
4 Karn, Scion of Urza
2 Vraska's Contempt
Lands (24)
4 Aether Hub
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Woodland Cemetery
7 Forest
5 Swamp
4 Duress
1 Arguel's Blood Fast
2 Naturalize
1 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Treasure Map
1 Crushing Canopy
1 Doomfall
1 Lifecrafter's Bestiary
1 Vraska's Contempt
2 Vraska, Relic Seeker
Karn is really powerful and does just about everything this archetype really wants. Card advantage, board presence, resilience to creature removal, even fills a spot on the curve (4) that's been awkward throughout the archetype's history.
I dislike Servant of the Conduit and am looking for literally anything remotely playable that has more than 1 toughness. I've had Merfolk Branchwalker in here for the synergy between Rishkar and Explore, and I'm even considering playing 2x Treasure Map and a 3rd Harvester, banking on Harvester + Gearhulk being unbeatable for red and calling it a day.
I cut Siphoner because Ballista, Goblin Chainwhirler and Fanatical Firebrand are everywhere. This might be wrong, but I think it's actually fine since Karn generates card advantage and there's no free energy anymore to keep Siphoner humming anyway.
~
I think splashing for a third color that isn't red is basically impossible to do smoothly with the available mana, and I also don't think red adds anything as a splash color. Abrade would be a nice pickup, but trying to play it early strains the mana, and you also don't need it anyway.
~
I know Karn is expensive and availability is a concern, but I strongly urge y'all to at least print proxies of Karn to test with your buddies. He's really powerful and adds two different angles of attack that this shell doesn't have, and which it very much likes.
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