Introduction
This deck was made because it has a personal meaning to Mr Hills (me) . This was one of the decks used when I played competitively, and I have made them again so other people can experience what MTG was like at the time, and can share my passion for the game.
This deck list specifically was made entirely by me and a friend, I couldn't find anyone else online doing a similar strategy so I had to make this from memory. This was played during the 2009 Standard Format, and I had gotten top placements at events with the deck.
Key Strategy
The Esper Transmuter deck is built around Master Transmuter, leveraging its ability to return low-cost artifacts to your hand and play high-impact artifacts from your hand. This allows you to deploy powerful threats like Magister Sphinx, Sharuum the Hegemon, and Platinum Angel effectively and with minimal cost.
Early Game Setup
In the early game, your priority is to find Master Transmuter. Its ability to return cheap artifacts to your hand and put larger artifacts onto the battlefield is crucial for your strategy. Cards like Mind Stone and Tidehollow Sculler help you set up while you look for Master Transmuter.
Artifact Synergies
The deck features several artifacts that interact well with Master Transmuter. Fieldmist Borderpost and Mistvein Borderpost can be returned to your hand by Master Transmuter to then replay them and trigger their effects again. Thousand-Year Elixir is especially useful as it allows Master Transmuter to activate its ability the turn it comes into play and also provides additional untapping options, letting you use Master Transmuter multiple times in a single turn.
High-Impact Creatures
Key creatures in the deck include:
Magister Sphinx: This card can drastically alter the course of the game by setting your opponent's life total to 10, providing a powerful advantage.
Sharuum the Hegemon: Sharuum's ability to return an artifact from your graveyard to the battlefield is invaluable, allowing you to recover important artifacts like Filigree Angel or Sphinx of the Steel Wind.
Platinum Angel: Provides a critical protection by ensuring you can’t lose the game as long as it’s on the battlefield, giving you breathing room to execute your strategy.
Enter-the-Battlefield Effects
The deck includes several creatures with powerful ETB (Enter the Battlefield) effects that can be repeatedly used with Master Transmuter:
Sphinx Summoner: Searches your library for a Sphinx card when it enters the battlefield, helping you find key creatures like Magister Sphinx or Sphinx of the Steel Wind.
Grim Poppet: This creature can place -1/-1 counters on other creatures, which can be useful for dealing with opponents’ threats.
Tidehollow Sculler: When Tidehollow Sculler enters the battlefield, it exiles a nonland card from an opponent’s hand. If Master Transmuter returns Tidehollow Sculler to your hand before its leaves-the-battlefield ability resolves, the exiled card stays out of the opponent’s reach. This interaction ensures the exiled card remains permanently out of their hand, significantly disrupting their strategy.
Defensive and Control Measures
To manage aggressive opponents and maintain board control, the deck includes:
Path to Exile: Provides a versatile removal option that can handle most creatures by exiling them.
Wrath of God: This powerful board wipe clears all creatures from the battlefield, giving you time to set up your artifacts and reestablish control.
Turn to Mist: Allows you to temporarily remove your own creatures from the battlefield, protecting them from removal or allowing you to reuse their ETB effects.
Closing the Game
The deck’s strategy revolves around utilizing Master Transmuter to cheat powerful artifacts into play while maintaining control through your defensive measures. By leveraging your high-impact creatures and the synergies with Master Transmuter, you can secure victory through powerful plays and consistent advantage.
Personal Touch
This deck holds special significance to me, Mr. Hills, due to its intricate strategy and the excitement of executing powerful plays. The synergy between Master Transmuter and your artifacts offers a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience, making it a memorable part of my Magic collection.
Key Cards
Cards to look for in the opening hand