How to Deck Build with Flavor ft. Chrome Replicator

During my time as a MTG player, my favorite aspect of the game is to deck build and watch my creations fly. I love creating and using decks I know no one else has, unique to me like a custom blade. However, deck building can be one of the trickiest aspects of being a magic player. So, if you're like me and don't want to net deck every deck you have, you're in luck. Keep in mind this is for intermediate Magic players, but for those intermediates who still have a few deep concepts to learn.

This post will be using the Historic format, playable on Magic Arena, a free online magic playing service.

DISCLAIMER: As of writing this blog, the new Kaldhiem set has dropped, completely reshaping the meta. This deck doesn't hold up as well as it used to, so there will be edits made to the deck. Therefore, the deck list link at the end may be different depending on how far in the future you read this!

This post will specifically focus on flavor and deck building concepts I use to create homebrews. When deck building, you don't want a deck filled with just the best stuff you can find. Arena makes it very easy to use cards that in real life are absurdly expensive. Net decking is when you use a deck outline commonly used in the meta or from online deck hosting sites. They usually work well, however, they can be bland and formulaic, and you might find yourself playing against opponents who have the exact same deck as you. One of the worst feelings in MTG is loosing to a player playing YOUR DECK! Flavor to me is what MTG players use to describe combos and synergies that are interesting/unique or tie-ins to the greater magic lore (e.x. having the couple Teyo and Ral in the same deck together). The awesome thing is that this aspect of a deck can come from any homebrew you make, simply by it being purely unique to you. I'd like to put this into practice with a deck that I have fallen in love with, my Chrome Replicator historic deck. 

Lets do the step thing, shall we?

STEP 1: Get Your Base

So this is Chrome Replicator. It's such a spicy card, but very specific. In Historic and Standard formats, having a wide board that comes out of nowhere can be extremely explosive for someone who isn't expecting it. But that ISN'T necessarily the flavorful part. The first time I cracked this card in a pack I instantly thought, "what if I can get that copy to trigger multiple times?". And that's where the fun began. Every deck that runs well runs not only on efficiency, but a common strategy or goal. Using this train of thought, this deck relies on having a ton of artifacts and creatures copying each other and going wide. The flavor comes from the absolute absurdity that follows. 

STEP 2: Make the Cards Go Brrrrr

So now you have a concept or a strategy. Well how do you make that strategy work? Let's return to the Replicator deck. We want to create copies and drop relentless threats for our opponents to deal with. 

Glasspool Mimic is a great way to copy our creatures, and sometimes fix our mana if we are low on lands. Since we run duplicates of every card, you don't have to worry about loosing out on copies if you need the land. Now what exactly are we copying? 

These two creatures are probably some of the funniest artifact creatures in Historic to copy. They're big, inexpensive threats that can become quite deadly when your opponent leaves them unanswered. Having games with three Crystalline Giants with tons of counters or having two Shambling Suits that are 10/3 in stats is SO satisfying. Once that replicator comes down, you now have a board presence that is quite deadly and amusing. Also, notice as you continue reading, most of the cards I am using are artifacts. This not only feeds shambling suit, but also too allows for deck synergy. Using this synergy, having cards like Arcanist's Owl and Banishing Light now serve two purposes, creating answers and adding to our domineering board presence. 

STEP 3: Finding Your Win Con

Okay so you have a strategy, and you have some of the pieces for said strategy. Now how do you actually win? Yes, you can win from a bunch of giants or out valuing your opponent. But against a good deck that's not enough. Good players will always have answers to you, be able to out value you, or out pace you. So, now it's time to add some spice to make this deck a one way ticket to flavor town. I present to you, the Lithoform Engine.

This card, THIS CARD, is an absolute game changer and as Command Quarter's says, the golden pig of this deck. Not only does it allow you to copy any spell you cast, YOU CAN COPY ANY ABILITY ON THE STACK! So here's how that works; Let's say you have two shambling suits, and you cast your chrome replicator. You let the replicator resolve, then the ability triggers once it enters the battlefield. Using the Lithoform Engine, you then pay two and tap it, copying the Chrome Replicator's ability. Now you have two Replicator triggers! Thats three 4/4 creatures for the price of 7 mana. BRUH! With this card, I've created two Banishing Light's, crippling an opponents engine. I've even created multiple Lithoform Engines with you guessed it, another Lithoform Engine, leading to having a thirteen creature-wide board state the following turn. Now that's what I like to call flavor. 

Boom! Just like that, you have a flavorful deck that has splashy, dynamic effects and is completely custom. Do other people use Chrome Replicator and play decks that are themed off of it? Absolutely. However, I have never played against a deck exactly like mine, and that's a really cool feeling.

Use these concepts and ideals when you deck build. In order to make an idea have legs, your deck must have synergy, efficiency, and a powerful payoff. Now that you know how I like to brew, next week we will get into how to theme a deck using a very special guest.

You can find the link to the deck list here!

-Harland 

IG: @_harleys_angels

Twitter: @TyronicTheTrill