Card Corner: Let's Make A Deal...Broker

Zoners, I'm sure it happens more often than not that I miss cards that represent pure, unadulterated value. Sometimes, it is just miscalculation, sometimes I'm just looking at the card in the wrong light.

Whatever the case, today's Card Corner segment is an attempt to redeem myself on perhaps the best tech to come out in Conspiracy.

Ladies and Gentlezoners, I missed a colorless Merfolk Looter, and while I'm sure you can see all the massive block of text which could made me ignore it, there is no excuse, and that's why we're here- it's all about redemption.

The truth is, Deal Broker breaks, in my mind, the concept of a bargain. It's a utility dude a la Looter that slots into every artifact deck in the format, and every deck that wants the benefit of an extra card or a Reanimator package. If you're thinking, "Hey, that's like... 70 different decks," well, you're right. It's about as useable as Solemn Simulacrum.

Now, we've got to talk about the drawback. Obviously, there's a couple points I need to make to counterbalance the Nic Cage "high praise" I've heaped on this card.

First and foremost, three-cost looters don't bode well against the control deck curve. What makes Merfolk Looter innately powerful as utility is that your opening hand can survive 2 lands, nonsense and a Looter because most decks aren't going to want to waste a counter early on, or you're on the play and they don't have double Island yet.

At 3 CMC, it's going to be slower than you might want. Let me remind you though, that most of the decks going to play this are going to be ones that both want draw power, and have access to artifact-synergy.

The decks that will take the best advantage of Deal Broker's game-breaking card advantage will be blue and red decks, as they already have access to similar cards or redundancies and artifact color support.

Glissa the Traitor is in a unique position to get immense value from Deal Broker, with abundant tutelage, Beacon of Unrest, and Glissa engine triggers.

Aside from being supported well in the Glissa T's Murder Machine, I can't see it being supported well in Green and Black, which might be a problem if you're trying to create something more consistent.

White is going to present less options, which will make this great addition, but a volatile one. The cool thing is that it has some synergy with Equipment decks that like to grab artifacts out of the bin, and is conveniently a 3-cost permanent, which makes it fair game for Sun Titan.

Price-wise, this is a $.25-.50 card, making it prime for high investment. I suggest you buy-low. Cause if anything, my massive purchases of this card will only artificially inflate it.

Eat Your Wheaties, Play Your Solemns, and Go Forth Unto The World and Break The Game With Deal Broker.

Pass.
-UL

Spin It Into Myth: Cashing In On Value

Happy Norse Thunder God Day Zoners!

You got Landdrops again, and we're gonna do some spinning today.

Like most days, the theme is value, and I've got a few pieces of tested tech I'd like to share.

Time to dig in.

Smallpox
Smallpox has floated in and out of competitive play and into Group Slug and Discard in EDH. That probably comes as no surprise.

Recently, I "found" a way to leverage its value as cheap removal in Dollar General. My Glissa, the Traitor deck gave this card a nice little home. In Multiplayer, the value on this card is pretty good, netting me about 2-3 artifacts.

It also provides some nice synergy, acting as a discard outlet. The recursion and card advantage overall is so versatile I don't have a lot of trouble satisfying the requirements. If I have artifact land in play, I can sac that or pitch it. If I have a Mimic Vat or an artifact creature out, I don't "lose" anything. It's just been good.
 
Credit Voucher

I forget how I actually stumbled on this card, but I had such a great feeling about it I got two copies.

Right now, both are seeing play in Hidetsugu and Glissa T's, and I love drawing it.

Say what you will about its "cuteness." Both of these decks really like having access to a couple extra cards a game.

With Hidetsugu, it synchs up well with the "Wheel" package I have, and allows me the opportunity to get an extra Wheel if I need it.

In both decks though, this gives me the opportunity to try and dig into answers or pieces that I need at instant speed. And Glissa can recur it.

Most of the time, I can afford to pitch most of my hand to draw new stuff. Though I can't guarantee I'll get all new or necessary stuff, I like my chances.

This card would probably be pretty good in other combo decks that are looking for specific pieces.

Geth's Grimoire

Soon enough, the sharpie will be coming out, and I will effectively changing its name to "Greel's Grimoire."

That's just how good it's been for me and the ol' Spellshaper. The Grimoire provides such a great little two-card engine you really don't need to do anything else other than figure out how you're gonna win the game.

Even activating Greel for just 2-3 cards is enough value in a turn. The randomness ensures adequate disruption and leaves you with mana open to play threats.

Scuttlemutt

I still scroll through a lot of lists on TappedOut, and Scuttlemutt was a gem I found in an Animar list late one night.

After playing him a couple times now, I can honestly say this guy is straight tech. Though slightly more expensive, he's better than the MMD's (Myr Mana Dorks) I'm already playing, and he prevents opponents from being cheeky and playing chumps when they're facing lethal from Animar.

Oh, and if he's not doing that, he's better mana fixing, and I get to do it all after I cast him for free.

It was just too much value to pass up. So don't let Animar leave home without his favorite Scarecrow pal.

Until then, stay legit. In fact stay be too legit to quit.

And then don't quit. Stay Sweet.

-UL