Other Inspiring Theme Decks from March of the Machine

ChrisCee May 2, 2023 5 min
Other Inspiring Theme Decks from March of the Machine

Incubator tokens, Phyrexian, other tribal decks. So far, we have explored the more archetypal side of potential new brews using March of the Machine cards. While a lot of them do bring an element of freshness to current games, their meta viability is more or less just normal; not too impressive, but usable enough to encounter them regularly.

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This includes thematic decks, which for the purposes of this list, are defined as decks of certain unique builds that focus on at least one prominent card of the new set. In fact, if the card is adequately special enough, like Hidetsugu and Kairiimage, it might even be the sole win condition, even if all your moves eventually become easily readable by your opponent.

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Of course, the more new cards you can incorporate, the better, even if a wider card variety will inevitably swing toward familiar strategies occasionally. Or, as seen here, even straight-up showcasing “reconfigured” versions of previous MTG thematic builds (that are even wider than Standard).

Hidetsugu and Kairi Combo

One of the earliest decks featured by content creators during March of the Machine Early Access, and as such, received a lot of redesigns throughout the next two weeks. The combo revisits one familiar Kamigawa Neon Dynasty card that fits perfectly with the flavor of the legendary team-up duo: Explosive Singularityimage. It is almost as if they were made for each other.

The current most developed (theoretical) version ditches most other midrange responses to focus more significantly on just pulling off the win condition. Or, to phrase it better, prioritizes the win condition in a way that it is executed via at least two methods. For this specific deck, this is (alternatively) achieved thanks to the pseudo ramp + pseudo draw capability of Chandra, Hope's Beaconimage. A good portion of the other cards is then dedicated to either drawing or filtering the library while securing cards that will auto-kill Hidetsugu and Kairi, like Go for the Throatimage and Voltage Surgeimage.

Gameplay Video

Featured Cards:

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Hidetsugu and Kairi Combo

 

8 Praetors

Realmbreaker, the Invasion Treeimage may have a steep requirement for its second ability, but all things considered, it's not actually that hard to pull off. It doesn't matter where the mana comes from anyway, and barring the legend rule, there is no limit to how many praetors you can call from the library. The praetors themselves are pretty easy to cast too, and at least one of them is an absolute Standard meta mainstay.

A sprinkle of Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstromimage is added for this version of the all-praetors deck, replacing the initial Reckoner Bankbusterimage draw stabilizer. This is most likely since you're playing WUBRG anyway. Plus, half of the praetors are four mana in value (Sheoldred, Elesh Norn, Urabrask), with the rest of the non-praetor spells even lower, including Invasion of Zendikar // Awakened Skyclaveimage.

Keep in mind that when mass summoning all available praetors on the battlefield via Realmbreaker, you create a sort of chain-linked soft lock on your opponent. Elesh Norn, Mother of Machinesimage doubles all other praetor ETB effects while locking down your opponent's, and then Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrantimage will counter each first spell they cast each turn (you and your opponent's).

Gameplay Video

Featured Cards:

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🥚🥶💀🔥🌳 END OF TURN: 8 PRAETORS

 

Death by Their Own Deck

A rather ambitious name, given that strictly only one card actively uses your opponent's cards, and it is not even blue. But as this is a sacrifice-focused build, it kind of checks out, as the setup attempts to make each steal attempt near-lethal or provide triple advantages to you. Think of it as a sac build, with Insurrectionimage on the side. Theoretically, the deck should work by combining both sides of Ayara, Widow of the Realm // Ayara, Furnace Queenimage. But statistically, the deck generally defaults to simply combining Voldaren Thrillseekerimage, Rankle and Torbranimage, plus a Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jikiimage. Ayara then works as a "race-dampening" element or a finisher, depending on the situation.

Because of the deck's overall objective, Yargle and Multaniimage is also included. When the draw is right, it could occasionally give a surprise lethal to players not expecting the card. Oh and, don't forget that Rankle and Torbranimage can still start sacrificing long after attackers and blockers are declared.

Gameplay Video

Featured Cards:

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💀🔥🌳 DEATH BY THEIR OWN DECK

 

Segovia Stomp

For a complete explanation of every single detail of this deck, click the primary link of the decklist (name) or here.

For the TL;DR version, this is basically a more distilled version of the previous Invasion of Segovia // Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segoviaimage builds that were brewed during March of the Machine Early Access. It openly shifts and changes into smaller combos that still circle around its battle card trio to provide better-integrated responses for every situation, as opposed to just using powerful independent cards. Prowess, for example, becomes an alternative option for noncreature spells while still flawlessly working with Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia, if applicable.

If you need a quick battle card flip, a dormant Bitter Reunionimage can instantly allow freshly summoned tokens to swing at them as necessary.

Gameplay Video

Featured Cards:

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Jeskai Segovia STOMPS Meta Decks

 

Flinging Yargle and Multani

This is yet another team-up legendary duo that is themed on doing sudden lethals. This time, by directly flinging Yargle and Multaniimage using either Voldaren Thrillseekerimage or the more expensive Ziatora, the Incineratorimage. The deck is generally supported or compensated by other efficient cards like Bloodtithe Harvesterimage. But for this specific build, its ramp base is made up of Gwenna, Eyes of Gaeaimage, Llanowar Loamspeakerimage, Armored Scrapgorgerimage, and Courier's Briefcaseimage. Then, Lukka, Bound to Ruinimage is added as an extra piece that could triple duty on either mana provision, summoning upticking 3/3's, or being yet another flinger.

And that's it, really. Just be careful not to over-invest, consider less-focused builds for alternatives, and only cast Yargle and Multani when you have an immediate counter-response.

Gameplay Video

Featured Cards:

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Flinging Yargle and Multani

 

Naya Counters

There have been many variations of +1/+1 counter decks, even just within the recent builds that included March of the Machine cards. This deck, however, takes the modification concept in slightly more directions, and tries to include all sorts of counters from cards with fairly competitive usage across Standard. +1/+1 counters still take center stage, of course. But whenever possible, cards like Migloz, Maze Crusherimage will add other answers to familiar combat-based scenarios without being too wonky to use.

While Ozolith, the Shattered Spireimage is included in this build, Tribute to the World Treeimage is put aside in favor of Invigorating Hot Springimage, both to serve its color identity better and to add a bit more speed to the deck. All Will Be Oneimage does feel a bit clunky to use with its odd mana curve (for this deck), but it certainly helps in stabilizing wins and preventing potential comebacks. If it does feel too tight to use, feel free to replace it with Bloated Contaminatorimage for Proliferation shenanigans instead.

Gameplay Video

Featured Cards:

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Naya counters

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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