









Overview:
This mono-blue spellslinger deck leverages God-Eternal Kefnet to copy instant/sorcery spells while reducing their costs. The primary win conditions involve chaining extra turn spells (Time Stretch, Temporal Trespass) and generating overwhelming value through token producers (Talrand, Sky Summoner, Shark Typhoon). While lacking infinite combos, the deck uses efficient recursion and cost reducers to fuel a critical mass of spell-based advantages.
Primer:
Core Strategy: The deck aims to control the early game with bounce/counterspells while setting up cost reduction engines (Baral, Chief of Compliance, Sapphire Medallion). Once stabilized, it chains extra turns and spell copies to generate an insurmountable board state of tokens or cast game-ending spells like Omniscience. Key phases:
- Setup (Turns 1-4): Play mana rocks (Sol Ring, Prismatic Lens), cast cantrips (Brainstorm, Ponder), and deploy cost reducers.
- Value Engine (Turns 5-7): Cast Kefnet alongside protection, using his ability to copy draw spells or interaction. Begin recurring key spells with Archaeomancer/Flood of Recollection.
- Finisher (Turns 8+): Resolve 2+ extra turn spells in succession while generating 4/4 Sharks or 2/2 Drakes. Hullbreaker Horror locks opponents out of permanents, while Omniscience enables freecasting of the entire deck.
Mulligan Priorities:
- Keep hands with 3+ lands and at least 1 early ramp/cantrip
- Prioritize hands containing Sapphire Medallion or Baral, Chief of Compliance
- Reject hands without blue mana sources or interaction
Key Tips:
- Use Kefnet's death trigger to reshuffle him only when necessary - recasting from hand preserves mana efficiency
- Pair High Tide with untap effects (Rewind, Frantic Search) for explosive turns
- Save counterspells for threats targeting your engine pieces rather than early-game creatures
Avoid Traps:
- Don't overcommit to the board - this deck wins through spells, not creatures
- One with the Multiverse is a win-more card; prioritize establishing board control first
Weaknesses:
Critical:
- No protection against graveyard hate (Rest in Peace shuts down recursion)
- Vulnerable to counterspell wars due to limited free interaction
Moderate:
- Slow recovery from early aggression
- Relies on resolving 5+ mana spells without ramp acceleration
Minor:
- Basic land-heavy manabase mitigates nonbasic hate
Most Important Cards:
- Omniscience
- Hullbreaker Horror
- Swarm Intelligence
- Time Stretch
- Baral, Chief of Compliance
- Sapphire Medallion
- Solve the Equation
- Temporal Trespass
- Metallurgic Summonings
- Merchant Scroll
Attribute Ratings:
Speed: 6/10
Can theoretically chain extra turns by T7-8 with optimal draws, but lacks fast mana for earlier explosive plays. Cost reducers enable T5-6 Karn's Temporal Sundering.
Resilience: 5/10
Limited free counterspells and no hexproof-granting effects make engine pieces vulnerable. Some recursion (Mystic Sanctuary, Flood of Recollection) provides recovery.
Consistency: 7/10
10+ cantrips and 5 tutors (Solve the Equation, Merchant Scroll) ensure spell access. Redundant cost reducers (4 effects) maintain discount reliability.
Interaction: 6/10
14 targeted interaction pieces (counters/bounce), but only 3 are unconditional counters. Relies on tempo plays rather than permanent removal.
Rating Justification:
This deck sits between the rubric's 5.0 ("Optimized Casual - T8-10 wins") and 5.5 ("High-Power Casual - T8-9") tiers. It has superior draw/tutor density to precons but lacks:
- Free interaction seen in 6.0+ decks
- Infinite mana combos
- Turn 6+ consistent win capability
While capable of explosive late-game turns, its reliance on resolving high-CMC sorceries and susceptibility to early disruption cap its ceiling below true high-power builds.
Power level: 5.0 - 5.5