Hello, reader! You may know me from my Steam guides or my slightly popular upload of an album I didn't make. I've been playing MTGA since it came out and have amassed a decent amount of cards while being F2P. My favorite part of MTG has always been deckbuilding; I am a self-described Johnny, and I like making janky decks work. I rarely refer to other people's decks as guides for my own. As a result, mine aren't always the most competitive, but they're fun to pilot for me, and that's what matters.

I'd like to help budding Johnnies and Jennies find this same joy in MTG that I have found. I'll talk a little bit about BREAD, but more about the decisions I make while building a new deck and how I narrow down the deck to just 100 cards (this is primarily intended for Historic Brawl). Hopefully some of it can be useful for beginner and intermediate players.

EDIT 6/4/23: adding another section
EDIT 6/6/23: adding some general tips
EDIT 6/16/23: adding another deck
EDIT 8/13/23: added how to update a deck

BREAD is an old, and some say outdated, acronym for drafting, which is a format where each player in an eight-person "pod" receives three packs that are sequentially opened and passed on until each player has a deck with a minimum of 40 cards. You may ask, "How is this helpful for other formats?" It has passable deckbuilding guidance for all situations, minus the duds.

Without further ado:

• B: Bombs. These are commonly referred to as "wincons", or win conditions. Often in formats like brawl or commander your wincon is your commander, but in other cases it can be a combo of cards like Fanatical Firebrand, Solemnity, Nine Lives, and Luminous Broodmoth. In some cases, like the combo listed, it "goes infinite"; in other situations, like Kor Blademaster, Resolute Strike, and Colossus Hammer, it does not.
  
• R: Removal. This is intended to keep your opponent from building up their side of the board and setting them back long enough for your plans to come to fruition. This may be targeted removal (generally gets rid of one thing on the board) like Go for the Throat, boardwipes (gets rid of all of that thing on the board) like Wrath of God, bounces (returns the permanent to its owner's hand or library) like Fading Hope, or counters (prevents the card from entering the battlefield at all) like Wash Away. These are essential and oft-overlooked; without them, you're essentially playing solitaire against someone who can either race you without interacting with you or simply prevent you from playing the game.
  
• E: Evasion. Creatures that can't be blocked or have keywords that make blocking more difficult such as flying, skulk, or horsemanship are good picks for this. Uncounterable spells like Carnage Tyrant are also effective at avoiding your opponent's removal.
  
• A: Aggro. This can be leaned into as heavily or as lightly as you would prefer, but these are intended to be cards that pressure your opponent by putting them on a "clock", or a turn limit before your victory is assured. This can be done by playing early aggressive creatures such as Monastery Swiftspear or Bomat Courier, or in a more roundabout way with cards like Sanctum of Stone Fangs that affect your opponent's life total.
  
• D: Duds. This can be ignored in non-draft formats, but sometimes in draft you'll get a card that's either overcosted, non-synergistic, or underpowered that still should be played because it helps hit that 40-card limit.

For a more concise, less referential rundown of BREAD, see here.[mtg.fandom.com]

If I were to recommend any changes to BREAD, I'd suggest switching out "Duds" with "Draw". Generally speaking, the more cards you're drawing, the more cards you can play per turn. This means you can maintain pressure longer before resorting to topdecking. After all, topdecking means you're likely only going to play one card per turn, which could be removal against a permanent type the opponent isn't using, a land, or something else that doesn't get you closer to winning the game.

Let's build a deck together.

I've decided to do something with Greasefang, Okiba Boss, because I have a cosmetic for her.



Since she synergizes with vehicles in the graveyard, let's find some vehicles, some self-discard, and some self-mill. Considering these collectively put us closer to winning, these can be broadly classified as "bombs".



This is what I've got so far.

Next, I need some removal. There are some cards that are simply the best of their kind in each format, so I'm going to take what I'd consider "autoincludes" for Historic Brawl. I'm also going to experiment with other cards that may not be the best, but could be fun alternatives.



Oops! It looks like we've gone over the amount of nonlands I comfortably like to slot into a deck. That's okay though, we'll keep adding cards and narrow it down at the end.

Evasion is inherent with this deck, as vehicles have the upside of being harder to remove at sorcery speed as well as the vehicle returned from the graveyard to the battlefield being bounced during that end step. In addition, ten of the vehicles and creatures already have flying.

We're a little lacking on aggro right now, so I'm going to add some creatures I can play early on. I'm also going to add artifact synergy, including mana rocks to make my curve work out better.



Let's add a few things to make sure we have consistent card draw.



Let's trim this back to 61-64 nonlands. I generally like running 37 nonlands in my 60-card decks, so I use the formula x/100=37/60, which leaves me with roughly 62 nonlands in a 100-card deck. This can be finagled with and is generally up to preference. Aggro decks can usually make do with more nonlands, while landfall decks generally want enough lands to trigger landfall every turn at least once.
What goes into deciding whether a card is a keeper or not? Generally, I look for cards that resemble duds first: anything overcosted for what it does. In a fast format, I can't spend time durdling. I also try to figure out whether it contributes to the general game plan or not. Duplicate effects that aren't necessarily worth duplicating also get looked at. Anything that's skewed too heavily in one direction of bombs, removal, evasion, or aggro also gets cut, especially if it's not an autoinclude.
(Oops, I also forgot to add those mana rocks earlier. Let's get those in there. Mechtitan Core also looks weird enough to include, so let's add that, too.)



Since the curve is pretty low, I feel confident trying this out with 64 nonlands. Now for the lands.



Cool! There's a deck! Is it any good? Who knows! The fun part is finding out, then tuning it to fit your needs. This could still definitely be improved; Thoughtseize is a card that comes to mind that is always worth having in a black deck, as is Key to the Archive in, well, any historic brawl deck. The point is, it was built without referencing outside sources by me, for me, to be piloted by me. There's the real fun in Magic.

(Yes, I added both those cards afterwards.)

Here's the decklist now:

Commander
1 Greasefang, Okiba Boss (NEO) 220

Deck
1 Forsaken Crossroads (Y22) 63
1 Stitcher's Supplier (M19) 121
1 Mire Triton (JMP) 257
1 Bojuka Bog (WWK) 132
1 Cemetery Tampering (SNC) 69
1 Coldsteel Heart (CSP) 136
1 Tymaret Calls the Dead (THB) 118
1 Mindwrack Harpy (THB) 276
1 Angel of Suffering (SNC) 67
1 Dragonfly Pilot (Y22) 1
8 Snow-Covered Plains (SLD) 325
1 Armed and Armored (KHM) 379
1 Arcane Signet (ELD) 331
1 Gearshift Ace (KLR) 20
1 Command Tower (ELD) 333
1 Kitsune Ace (NEO) 22
1 Sram, Senior Edificer (KLR) 32
1 Born to Drive (NEO) 6
1 Peacewalker Colossus (KLR) 260
1 Aeronaut Admiral (KLR) 2
7 Snow-Covered Swamp (SLD) 327
1 Invoke Justice (NEO) 21
1 Okiba Reckoner Raid (NEO) 117
1 Mukotai Soulripper (NEO) 113
1 Smogbelcher Chariot (Y23) 11
1 Cultivator's Caravan (KLR) 230
1 Reckoner Bankbuster (NEO) 255
1 Unlicensed Hearse (SNC) 246
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship (KLR) 272
1 Concealed Courtyard (KLR) 282
1 Surgehacker Mech (NEO) 260
1 Shineshadow Snarl (STX) 272
1 Weatherlight (DAR) 237
1 Shattered Sanctum (VOW) 264
1 Ribskiff (ONE) 240
1 Parhelion II (WAR) 24
1 The Restoration of Eiganjo (NEO) 34
1 Collective Brutality (SIR) 103
1 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97
1 Soul Servitude (Y22) 16
1 Pact Weapon (HBG) 165
1 Rankle, Master of Pranks (ELD) 101
1 Isolated Chapel (DAR) 241
1 Yawgmoth, Thran Physician (MH1) 116
1 Caves of Koilos (DMU) 244
1 Swords to Plowshares (STA) 10
1 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102
1 Fragmentize (KLR) 18
1 Disenchant (M20) 14
1 Day of Judgment (STA) 2
1 Temple of Silence (M21) 255
1 Wrath of God (AKR) 46
1 Shatter the Sky (THB) 37
1 White Sun's Twilight (ONE) 38
1 Brightclimb Pathway (ZNR) 259
1 Bone Shards (MH2) 76
1 Fatal Push (KLR) 84
1 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
1 Heartless Act (IKO) 91
1 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
1 Hall of Tagsin (BRO) 263
1 Court Homunculus (CONF) 6
1 Esper Sentinel (MH2) 12
1 Selfless Savior (M21) 36
1 Ashnod, Flesh Mechanist (BRO) 84
1 Castle Locthwain (ELD) 241
1 Curse of Silence (MID) 15
1 Metalwork Colossus (KLR) 252
1 Mechtitan Core (NEO) 249
1 Godless Shrine (RNA) 248
1 Foundry Inspector (BRR) 16
1 A-Dungeon Descent (AFR) 255
1 Jhoira's Familiar (DAR) 220
1 Bonders' Enclave (IKO) 245
1 Sign in Blood (STA) 32
1 Callous Bloodmage (STX) 66
1 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor (BRO) 95
1 Mind Stone (WTH) 153
1 Phyrexian Arena (8ED) 152
1 Mech Hangar (NEO) 270
1 Cryptic Caves (M20) 244
1 Phyrexian Scrapyard (Y23) 30
1 Plaza of Heroes (DMU) 252
1 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272
1 Thoughtseize (AKR) 127
1 Key to the Archive (Y22) 59

Let's take a look at something I just built and go through the process of refining from the most recent point.



Here's the decklist:

Commander
1 Crucias, Titan of the Waves (Y23) 18

Deck
1 Blightstep Pathway (KHM) 252
1 Power Word Kill (AFR) 114
1 Castle Locthwain (ELD) 241
1 Shatterskull Smashing (ZNR) 161
8 Snow-Covered Swamp (SLD) 327
1 Bojuka Bog (WWK) 132
1 Increasing Vengeance (STA) 40
1 Xorn (AFR) 167
9 Snow-Covered Mountain (SLD) 328
1 Fanatical Firebrand (RIX) 101
1 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer (MUL) 86
1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (NEO) 278
1 Goldspan Dragon (KHM) 139
1 Glint-Horn Buccaneer (M20) 141
1 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
1 A-Dungeon Descent (AFR) 255
1 Pirate's Pillage (RIX) 109
1 Command Tower (ELD) 333
1 Thoughtseize (AKR) 127
1 Inquisition of Kozilek (STA) 31
1 Dying to Serve (VOW) 109
1 Rankle, Master of Pranks (ELD) 101
1 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97
1 Necrogoyf (MH2) 93
1 Forsaken Crossroads (Y22) 63
1 Temple of Malice (THB) 247
1 Ob Nixilis, the Adversary (SNC) 206
1 Kardur's Vicious Return (KHM) 217
1 Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger (MUL) 114
1 Dark Ritual (STA) 26
1 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor (BRO) 95
1 Davriel, Soul Broker (J21) 15
1 Cryptic Caves (M20) 244
1 Canyon Slough (AKR) 284
1 Blood Crypt (RNA) 245
1 Sangromancer (JMP) 272
1 Foreboding Ruins (SIR) 265
1 Tergrid, God of Fright (KHM) 112
1 Westgate Regent (AFR) 126
1 Bomat Courier (KLR) 225
1 Conspiracy Theorist (STX) 94
1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker (NEO) 141
1 Phyrexian Harvester (Y23) 13
1 Olivia, Mobilized for War (SIR) 239
1 Bag of Holding (M20) 222
1 Dragonskull Summit (XLN) 252
1 Haunted Ridge (MID) 263
1 Bone Shards (MH2) 76
1 Fatal Push (KLR) 84
1 Heartless Act (IKO) 91
1 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
1 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102
1 Crux of Fate (STA) 25
1 Abrade (VOW) 139
1 Feed the Swarm (ZNR) 102
1 Sulfurous Springs (DMU) 256
1 Bedevil (RNA) 157
1 Plaza of Heroes (DMU) 252
1 Phyrexian Scrapyard (Y23) 30
1 Frost Bite (KHM) 138
1 Lightning Bolt (STA) 42
1 Lava ♥♥♥♥ (GRN) 108
1 Chandra, Dressed to Kill (VOW) 149
1 Sweltering Suns (AKR) 176
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance (KLR) 117
1 Koth, Fire of Resistance (ONE) 138
1 Blackcleave Cliffs (ONE) 248
1 Big Score (SNC) 102
1 Tibalt, Wicked Tormentor (Y22) 43
1 Arcane Signet (ELD) 331
1 Coldsteel Heart (CSP) 136
1 Mind Stone (WTH) 153
1 Portal to Phyrexia (BRO) 240
1 Voldaren Pariah (SIR) 138
1 Kozilek, the Great Distortion (OGW) 4
1 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger (BFZ) 15
1 Emrakul, the Promised End (SIR) 6
1 Asylum Visitor (J21) 46
1 Fiery Temper (SIR) 154
1 Revolutionist (MH2) 139
1 Terminal Agony (MH2) 215
1 Davriel, Rogue Shadowmage (WAR) 83
1 Magda, Brazen Outlaw (KHM) 142
1 Bloodchief's Thirst (ZNR) 94

I actually started this deck thinking I'd do a pirate synergy, but the tribe hasn't reached a tipping point of enough cards to have generally good cards, so I dropped the last of that in my most recent edit. In its place, I put more spot removal. I already had all I could feasibly slot for artifact and enchantment removal in these colors, so I opted for creature and planeswalker removal. It also seemed like having an additional way to cheat things from my graveyard to the battlefield would be helpful, so I added the 6 MV Olivia.

Before that, I also realized that this deck doesn't have many creatures out at any specific time, so I cut back on cards that synergized with having multiple creatures out and put in some more Madness effects, since I forgot that was a keyword, and it plays nicely with Crucias's discard during every end step to my turns. I also included some cards that individually synergize with treasure without relying on any additional cards.

Towards the end of the original deckbuilding process, I wanted to make sure I had something to close out games with. Since I realized I could easily seek high MV cards, I decided to go all-in and slot four spells that can easily close out the game if they resolve. These have made sure that if the game goes long enough, I can inevitably bring a wincon onto the board. One is a way to cheat the rest onto the battlefield, which offers some redundancy. I had also forgotten my mana rocks, so I added those once I could find room for them.

Somewhere around the middle of building the deck, I put all of what I consider "autoinclude" removal, with the possibility of cutting one or two if need be. Around this time, I exceeded my nonland count, so I was already thinking of what I could cut. Things like Lightning Bolt, Heartless Act, and Crux of Fate all went in. Conveniently, Sweltering Suns hits a lot of small creatures and can be cycled, which can interact with cards that mention discarding, so that went in as well.

At the beginning, there were so many pirate cards. At least, as many as could make sense. There was also a decent variety of effects that ramped or interacted with discarding in some way. Other than that, I wasn't sure what to bring, because I don't usually make Rakdos decks. Part of the reason why I picked Crucias was because I wanted to try out a color combination I don't do a lot with.

And there you go, backwards deckbuilding process.

I was looking for a new commander with G in their color identity to play around with and noticed a 3/3 for 3 with good tribes and good value. Intrigued, I decided to build her.



I wanted things that played nice with zombies and elves, and decided to check for Phyrexian tribal as well, just in case. Didn't have much luck, but no harm in looking.



Then I slotted removal and rocks. Along the way, I noticed 6 MV Garruk and Vraska could be good at closing out games, so I picked them up, too. Then I cut some extra cards I didn't need.



Then I threw in lands. Lately I've been enamored with Phyrexian Scrapyard, so I've been putting it in everything.



This is probably the least likely to work out of the three decks I've shown, since I've seen nobody else run this commander. Isn't that the fun of it, though?

Here's the decklist:

Commander
1 Glissa Sunslayer (ONE) 202

Deck
1 Champion of the Perished (MID) 91
1 Shambling Ghast (AFR) 119
1 Nested Shambler (MH2) 95
1 Dreadhorde Invasion (WAR) 86
1 Undead Augur (MH1) 112
1 Death Baron (M19) 90
1 Diregraf Colossus (J21) 50
1 Liliana's Devotee (M21) 109
1 Liliana, the Last Hope (SIR) 119
1 Lord of the Accursed (AKR) 114
1 Murderous Rider (ELD) 97
1 Midnight Reaper (GRN) 77
1 Accursed Horde (J21) 45
1 Wand of Orcus (HBG) 173
1 A-Death-Priest of Myrkul (AFR) 95
1 Polukranos, Unchained (THB) 224
1 Underrealm Lich (GRN) 211
1 Molderhulk (GRN) 190
1 Soul Separator (SIR) 258
1 A-Skemfar Avenger (KHM) 109
1 Shadowheart, Sharran Cleric (HBG) 10
1 Elvish Mystic (M14) 169
1 Llanowar Elves (DAR) 168
1 Pelt Collector (GRN) 141
1 Elvish Visionary (ORI) 175
1 Gala Greeters (SNC) 148
9 Snow-Covered Swamp (SLD) 327
1 Leaf-Crowned Visionary (DMU) 167
1 Elvish Archdruid (JMP) 391
1 Llanowar Visionary (M21) 193
1 Imperious Perfect (LRW) 220
1 Marwyn, the Nurturer (DAR) 172
1 Reclamation Sage (M19) 196
1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade (KLR) 179
1 Tireless Provisioner (MH2) 180
1 A-Canopy Tactician (KHM) 378
1 A-Tyvar Kell (KHM) 198
1 Glowspore Shaman (GRN) 173
1 A-Shessra, Death's Whisper (AFR) 231
1 Golgari Findbroker (GRN) 175
1 Poison-Tip Archer (M19) 220
1 Twinblade Assassins (M21) 226
1 Phyrexian Arena (8ED) 152
1 Agadeem's Awakening (ZNR) 90
1 Coldsteel Heart (CSP) 136
1 Arcane Signet (ELD) 331
1 Boseiju, Who Endures (NEO) 266
1 Key to the Archive (Y22) 59
1 Blizzard Brawl (KHM) 162
1 Bushwhack (BRO) 174
1 Bone Shards (MH2) 76
1 Fatal Push (KLR) 84
1 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
1 Heartless Act (IKO) 91
1 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102
1 Power Word Kill (AFR) 114
1 Bojuka Bog (WWK) 132
1 Crux of Fate (STA) 25
1 Blood on the Snow (KHM) 79
1 Return to Nature (ELD) 173
1 Castle Locthwain (ELD) 241
1 Binding the Old Gods (KHM) 206
1 Deathsprout (WAR) 189
1 Casualties of War (WAR) 187
1 Garruk, Cursed Huntsman (ELD) 191
1 Vraska, Relic Seeker (XLN) 232
1 Assassin's Trophy (GRN) 152
10 Snow-Covered Forest (SLD) 329
1 Turntimber Symbiosis (ZNR) 215
1 Blooming Marsh (KLR) 280
1 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254
1 Deathcap Glade (VOW) 261
1 Llanowar Wastes (BRO) 264
1 Necroblossom Snarl (STX) 269
1 Overgrown Tomb (GRN) 253
1 Woodland Cemetery (DAR) 248
1 Command Tower (ELD) 333
1 Cryptic Caves (M20) 244
1 Field of Ruin (THB) 242
1 Phyrexian Scrapyard (Y23) 30
1 Plaza of Heroes (DMU) 252
1 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272

After a few favorable matchups, I realized this performs very well against Theros enchantment commanders and shrines. The former is less common, but the latter is seen often enough in 5c decks, so it's a nice upside to have enchantment removal stapled to the card. First strike and deathtouch is also a very strong combination.

With a new set coming and Baldur's Gate 3 being big right now, I figured i'd add this in.



Here's a Shadowheart blue splash deck that I made when the Alchemy adaptation of her set came out. Note that I was pushing some synergies really hard to the point where I was including some duds, including Mantle of Tides. I also remembered Nightveil Predator and Vilis, Broker of Blood being dead cards more often than not. Needless to say, work needed to be done.



Here's the revised version. Some questions I was asking myself while editing were:

• What are some new autoincludes? Agent of Raffine is an overall good card, and if for whatever reason I don't want to cast Shadowheart T2, I can still play on curve by holding up mana to fake a counterspell until the end of the opponent's turn, where I conjure the top card of their library into my hand. Rusko also gives me an extra Midnight Clock in my deck.
  
• What's the new meta like? As an example, lots of good commanders have black in their color identity, so Doom Blade was cut to make room for other removal. This meant I could put in an autoinclude, Infernal Grasp, which is far less conditional and has a beneficial downside to us.
  
• What's new in the new sets that synergizes? Griselbrand is just a straight upgrade to Vilis in this deck, Phyrexian Processor lets me play risky to specialize Shadowheart earlier, and there's some cool Phyrexian cards in the new sets that help me out, like Gix.
  
• What did i miss, or recently unlock, in older sets? I finally crafted a Search for Azcanta for my control decks, which fits in nicely when both black and blue have great noncreature, nonland cards. I also hadn't thought about how Sanctum of Stone Fangs could offset Shadowheart's end step ping. There's no real explanation for why Dark Ritual was missing, so I corrected that mistake, too.

This allowed me to make a more resilient deck that properly utilized the expanded card selection.

Whoops, the day I made this section I forgor 💀 to put the decklist. Here you go.

Commander
1 Shadowheart, Cleric of Trickery (HBG) 10

Deck
1 Key to the Archive (Y22) 59
1 Phyrexian Reclamation (JMP) 267
1 Mind Stone (WTH) 153
1 Castle Locthwain (ELD) 241
1 Arcane Signet (ELD) 331
1 Sea Gate Restoration (ZNR) 76
7 Snow-Covered Swamp (SLD) 327
1 Mask of Griselbrand (MID) 111
1 A-Nashi, Moon Sage's Scion (NEO) 114
1 Sedgemoor Witch (STX) 86
1 Castle Vantress (ELD) 242
1 Doom Whisperer (GRN) 69
1 Bolas's Citadel (WAR) 79
1 Jwari Disruption (ZNR) 64
1 Myr Convert (ONE) 234
1 Spell Pierce (NEO) 80
1 Bojuka Bog (WWK) 132
1 Dreadhorde Invasion (WAR) 86
1 Platinum Angel (M10) 218
1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (NEO) 278
1 Bloodchief's Thirst (ZNR) 94
1 Bone Shards (MH2) 76
1 Fatal Push (KLR) 84
1 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
1 Heartless Act (IKO) 91
1 Feed the Swarm (ZNR) 102
1 Power Word Kill (AFR) 114
1 Midnight Clock (ELD) 54
1 Phyrexian Arena (8ED) 152
1 Murderous Rider (ELD) 97
1 Crux of Fate (STA) 25
1 Price of Fame (GRN) 83
1 Blood on the Snow (KHM) 79
1 Darkslick Shores (ONE) 250
1 Tyrant's Scorn (WAR) 225
1 Silumgar's Command (DTK) 232
1 A-Wizard Class (AFR) 81
1 Search for Azcanta (XLN) 74
1 Faerie Vandal (ELD) 45
1 Ominous Seas (IKO) 61
1 Nadir Kraken (THB) 55
1 Dark Ritual (STA) 26
5 Snow-Covered Island (SLD) 326
1 Spawn of Mayhem (RNA) 85
1 Inventive Iteration (NEO) 57
1 Oneirophage (JMP) 162
1 Font of Agonies (RNA) 74
1 Midnight Reaper (GRN) 77
1 Pact Weapon (HBG) 165
1 Kaito Shizuki (NEO) 226
1 Thief of Sanity (GRN) 205
1 Hostage Taker (XLN) 223
1 Otawara, Soaring City (NEO) 271
1 Agadeem's Awakening (ZNR) 90
1 Wash Away (VOW) 87
1 A-Spell Satchel (STX) 258
1 Memory Lapse (STA) 16
1 Clearwater Pathway (ZNR) 260
1 Drowned Catacomb (XLN) 253
1 Fetid Pools (AKR) 293
1 Shipwreck Marsh (MID) 267
1 Temple of Deceit (THB) 245
1 Waterfront District (SNC) 259
1 Watery Grave (GRN) 259
1 A-Dungeon Descent (AFR) 255
1 Bonders' Enclave (IKO) 245
1 Command Tower (ELD) 333
1 Cryptic Caves (M20) 244
1 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
1 Forsaken Crossroads (Y22) 63
1 Reliquary Tower (M19) 254
1 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272
1 Agent of Raffine (Y22) 4
1 Defiler of Dreams (DMU) 46
1 Demonic Embrace (M21) 95
1 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor (BRO) 95
1 Defiler of Flesh (DMU) 90
1 Erebos, Bleak-Hearted (THB) 93
1 Yawgmoth, Thran Physician (MH1) 116
1 Kinzu of the Bleak Coven (ONE) 406
1 Griselbrand (SIS) 31
1 Phyrexian Processor (BRR) 39
1 Underground River (BRO) 267
1 Sanctum of Stone Fangs (M21) 120
1 Callous Bloodmage (STX) 66
1 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (DMU) 107
1 Rusko, Clockmaker (Y23) 24
1 Teferi's Ageless Insight (M21) 76
1 Rona, Herald of Invasion (MOM) 75

• Interaction is always key. Decks without interaction that pursue their game plan without any answer to enemy threats are often called "solitaire" decks, and for good reason. If you can't respond to an opponent in a strategy game, you're less likely to succeed.
  
• Take full control more often, especially in colors with large amounts of interaction like blue. It's possible to fake out an opponent, especially if you have the right amount of untapped lands or rocks to cast a common response in that format.
  
• Redundancy can be good if it's a good effect. Since singleton formats only allow one of each card, this is especially true for them. Usually cards will differ slightly, but there are several 3 MV blue counterspells that are worth running, and many 2 MV black spot removal instants.

I'll probably add a few more examples as I keep building new decks, showing my deckbuilding process. This isn't meant to be a definitive, all-inclusive, or competitive guide, it's just supposed to give you a peek into what has kept me coming back to MTGA all these years. I have plenty of these, after all.

If there's anything you think I should add or edit, let me know. Comments and ratings are welcome.



By the way, did you know there's a MTG manga in publication right now? It's called Subete no Jinrui wo Hakai Suru. Sorera wa Saisei Dekinai (translated name: Destroy All Humankind. They Can’t Be Regenerated.) Here's a few pages:



It doesn't have an ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ translation yet, so good luck finding it. Look for Fallen Angels, Maou Scans, and Wizardsplz, or wherever you usually find manga.