4 Incubate Decks of Wild Possibilities in Standard
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The potential play advantage that Incubate tokens can provide is quite interesting, despite the simplicity of the concept. On the one hand, it feels awkward to manage the tokens around the typical casting curve in Standard per game. But then again, it has a huge potential to be this integrated theme that works on all combo levels, so long as you either get more tokens than paid, or get more counters per token.
Also, the Phyrexian typing greatly increases the switching synergy or “interoperability” of the cards, which means a lot of build types for specific strategies. In fact, the color identity of the resulting decks from such options can become pretty diverse, even though most of the Incubate and Incubator token bombs exist in Esper.
It almost feels like this alternate, corrupted version of your average Azorius soldiers deck over the last few sets in Standard. You have the typical low-cost support cards that stabilize its performance per game. Then, each build can add its desired type of support, depending on what you are aiming for, and the types of responses and interactions that you are expecting.
Because of this, Incubate and (current) Phyrexian tribal decks, in general, have a very good shot at getting a defined, if not permanent place in today’s MTG Standard meta. The tempo of its card effects is adequately good. Performance ceiling is quite high. Plus, there are lots of good cards in and out of March of the Machine to choose from.
Shark Incubate
When you want the most consistent way to be able to recruit your massive egg army to battle every time, you over-invest in the sources that can transform them. The trick, is that these sources should also do something else Phyrexian-related when cracking Incubator tokens is not the priority. Proliferate is also a massive boon to this deck, although the application is pretty conservative. Understandable, since the build seems to be already squeezed to its resource-variety limits.
Also, that weird synergy between Chrome Host Seedshark
and Phyrexian Awakening
always seem to be somehow unexpectedly effective each time it occurs. Especially when Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh can transform the produced Incubate 3 and Incubate 4 tokens for free in two subsequent turns.
Featured Cards:
Shark Incubate
Main 60 cards (18 distinct)
Lands - 24
Main 60 cards (18 distinct)
Lands - 24
It’s Raining Cats and Dogs
Still finding trouble transforming those Incubator tokens? Well, how about just “transforming” them into speedy cats and recuperative dogs? Jinnie Fay, Jetmir's Second provides this very wonderful combination of efficiency and outright hilarious interaction with any Incubate deck. Just cast or trigger any Incubator token generator, snatch those precious counters, and voila! Double 6/6 cats with haste using Glistening Dawn
at turn four.
The most frustrating part of this? The deck somewhat still functions as normal even without her. Consistency-wise, Glissa, Herald of Predation
can take her place in later turns (for token cost rolling). But the shenanigans get wilder if they are combined together.
Oh and, Invasion of Tolvada // The Broken Sky
also gets an obligatory guest appearance in this deck. Recover what you lost, transform the battle, and enjoy your lifelink tokens once again.
Featured Cards:
Cats and Dogs and Incubate (import)
Main 60 cards (21 distinct)
Lands - 24
Main 60 cards (21 distinct)
Lands - 24
Main 60 cards (21 distinct)
| Creature (23) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.35€0.200.02 | |||
| $0.470.02 | |||
| $0.50 | |||
| $0.15€0.070.03 | |||
| $0.250.02 | |||
| $7.82€7.070.17 | |||
| $43.43€23.731.17 | |||
| Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (11) | |||
| $0.310.02 | |||
| $1.10€0.540.03 | |||
| $0.79€0.290.03 | |||
|
1
Sunfall
|
$6.141.30 | ||
| Other (2) | |||
| $0.49€0.290.02 | |||
| Land (24) | |||
|
1
Plains
|
$0.150.03 | ||
| $15.45 | |||
| $1.76€2.170.04 | |||
| $5.00€3.950.36 | |||
| $2.88€2.360.40 | |||
| $16.86€13.390.41 | |||
|
1
Forest
|
$0.150.03 | ||
Incubation Swarm
This deck is a simple, straightforward Orzhov build that uses all of the color-compatible components available for both Phyrexian tribal and Incubator tokens. Even though combat potential of the deck is limited, it is able to showcase the strengths of the new cards to a more consistent degree. Grafted Butcher, in particular, has a bit of an easier time in creating a very messy defensive board for your opponent, especially if a Norn’s Inquisitor has already been developing your tokens for at least one or two turns ago.
Far from being a perfect build (yet), but quite a good start to demonstrate its capabilities.
Featured Cards:
INCUBATION ORZHOV SWARM
Main 60 cards (18 distinct)
Lands - 25
Main 60 cards (18 distinct)
Lands - 25
Main 60 cards (18 distinct)
| Other (3) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.19€0.130.03 | |||
| Creature (25) | |||
| $0.490.02 | |||
| $0.16€0.090.03 | |||
| $6.38 | |||
| $0.250.02 | |||
| $0.470.02 | |||
| $0.25€0.230.03 | |||
| $0.25 | |||
| Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (7) | |||
| $1.99 | |||
| $1.18€1.040.03 | |||
|
2
Pile On
|
$0.760.02 | ||
| Land (25) | |||
|
5
Swamp
|
$0.85€0.700.04 | ||
|
8
Plains
|
$0.37€0.090.04 | ||
| $17.08 | |||
| $1.95 | |||
| $9.71€9.172.01 | |||
| $10.46 | |||
| $3.75 | |||
Orzhov Incubate
Very similar to the previous WB build, but other alternative options such as Bloated Processor
and the hardier Phyrexian Awakening. Because of the added sacrifice synergy, this build has a bit more wiggle room when it comes to switching between offense and defense. It also features Invasion of New Capenna // Holy Frazzle-Cannon
, which is easy enough to transform with just four defense counters, and its transformed cannon building up more stat advantages for each arriving Incubator token.
As expected, the potential of this build is also limited, given its early access design and complete lack of cards outside March of the Machine. But it fairly works, and can give you a good hands-on experience when tinkering with Incubate options.
Featured Cards:
Orzhov Incubate ⚪️⚫️
Main 60 cards (16 distinct)
Lands - 24
Main 60 cards (16 distinct)
Lands - 24
Main 60 cards (16 distinct)
| Other (8) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.19€0.130.03 | |||
| $0.21€0.130.03 | |||
| Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (8) | |||
| $0.20€0.130.03 | |||
|
4
Pile On
|
$0.760.02 | ||
| Creature (20) | |||
| $6.38 | |||
| $0.470.02 | |||
| $0.250.02 | |||
| $0.420.02 | |||
| $0.490.02 | |||
| Land (24) | |||
|
5
Swamp
|
$0.85€0.700.04 | ||
|
5
Plains
|
$0.37€0.090.04 | ||
| $17.08 | |||
| $1.95 | |||
| $10.46 | |||
| $9.71€9.172.01 | |||
|
2
Mirrex
|
$5.281.02 | ||
About ChrisCee:
A witness since the time the benevolent silver planeswalker first left Dominaria, ChrisCee has since went back and forth on a number of plane-shattering incidents to oversee the current state of the Multiverse.
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