The Lost Plot

I wanted to make an Izzet deck that I had not see around, so I leaned heavily into the Plot mechanic for this one. I wanted to build around Fblthp, Lost on the Range, which led me down the third path... the deck evolved into a Stall-and-Burn approach, getting multiple uses out of many spells. I'm a bit worried I went too low on land, but we'll see, as the mana curve is relatively low overall.

So, shall we saddle up… oops, wrong mechanic… I mean, shall we dive into the Plot? Let’s just mosey on into the deck write-up.

The Creatures:

Scalding Viper: A versatile two-in-one creature, Scalding Viper can first act as a bounce spell to disrupt your opponent’s board, and then return as a creature that punishes them for overextending. Its chip damage can really add up if left unchecked.

Slickshot Show-Off: Tried leaving it out, but it just adds too much value to ignore. This card packs a punch and works perfectly with our burn spells, enabling you to plot your burn strategy and finish the game off with style.

Fblthp, Lost on the Range: The inspiration behind this deck. Fblthp enables your deck’s Plot mechanic much better, essentially letting you “draw” from the top and reserve spells for later. The ward cost helps keep Fblthp on the board, making it tougher to remove.

Lilah, Undefeated Slickshot: Lilah enables us to recycle key spells like Slick Sequence and Ill-Timed Explosion, which add huge value later on. Plus, with her prowess, Lilah can pressure the opponent in combat while amplifying our spells.

The Spells:

Into the Flood Maw: Useful for stalling opponents’ creatures or clearing a path for your creatures to hit hard.

Burst Lightning & Lightning Strike: Classic, low-cost burn spells that can target anything. Efficient and effective for closing out games or dealing with early threats.

Slick Sequence: A standout burn spell in this deck. With Lilah around, you can replay it for consistent value. If you’ve cast another spell earlier in the turn, lets you draw a card, which is especially useful when chaining burn spells together.

Founding the Third Path: A powerhouse of value. Its first chapter allows you to cast any spell from your hand for free, the third chapter replays any instant or sorcery from the graveyard, and by then, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. This card is key to keeping your burn and bounce engine running.

Ill-Timed Explosion: Great for both card draw and potential board wipes. This card can burn creatures by discarding cards, and with Founding the Third Path or Lilah, Undefeated Slickshot in play, you can cast it multiple times—up to 11 uses in the deck!

This Town Ain't Big Enough: A flexible spell that can bounce a creature or clear out a problematic permanent temporarily. It’s an essential tool to keep your creatures safe or disrupt your opponent’s board.

The Gameplan:

The goal is to control the board by bouncing their creatures and chipping away with burn spells wherever possible. Every point of damage counts, so timing is everything. Play your creatures strategically, as the deck relies on them for synergy. Scalding Viper and Slickshot Show-Off are high-priority targets for removal, which can help you set up Fblthp and Lilah for maximum impact.

With spells alone, you have around 25 potential points of direct burn, but thanks to the deck’s high level of recursion, you can hit upwards of 42 damage (not even including the kicker cost increase on Burst). Scalding Viper can add additional pings of damage, which makes a surprising difference over time.

Worth a mention that in longer games, you have a slight mill potential as a backup plan. Founding the Third Path, combined with many of the bounce spells, can help you mill between 12 and 40 cards. Not the main win condition, but it’s there if needed.

Hope you enjoy this deck as much as I do! Feel free to reach out if you’d like to see more of my decks, and tag me if you use this build. Happy plotting!

Update 11/29/24: Foundations added Teach by Example into the mix that counts as multicolered for Lilah, Undefeated Slickshot ability, trying to work it into the build but not sure what to cut. Thinking 1 or 2 Scalding Viper might be worth it but still testing a bit.