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 taken from Niels Viaene, and was played during the Pro Tour San Diego 2010 Standard Format in 2010.
Key Strategy
The Open Filigree deck is designed to control the game in the early stages, filling your graveyard with valuable artifacts before unleashing a powerful reanimation strategy. The core of the deck’s game plan revolves around using Open the Vaults to return all your artifacts and enchantments to the battlefield, often combined with Filigree Angel for significant life gain.
Early Game Setup
In the early game, focus on filling your graveyard with artifacts to prepare for a powerful Open the Vaults turn. Architects of Will and Glassdust Hulk are essential for this, as their cycling ability lets you discard them to draw cards while simultaneously putting artifacts into your graveyard. This helps you dig for key pieces and ensures you have a full graveyard for later. Courier's Capsule is another important card to get into your graveyard. It provides card advantage by drawing you two cards and can be reanimated with Open the Vaults for repeated value. Sphinx of Lost Truths plays a dual role, allowing you to discard and reanimate high-value artifacts like Filigree Angel and Sharuum the Hegemon while drawing three cards.
Mid-Game Reanimation
The deck’s primary strategy revolves around reanimating artifacts. Open the Vaults is your main tool for this, returning all artifacts and enchantments from your graveyard to the battlefield. This card is crucial for executing your game plan and should be prioritized in your setup. Sharuum the Hegemon complements this strategy by allowing you to return a single artifact from your graveyard to the battlefield when it enters. While Open the Vaults is the primary method, Sharuum can bring back important pieces like Filigree Angel for life gain or cycling artifacts to stabilize the game.
Defensive and Control Measures
To ensure you can survive until you execute your reanimation plan, the deck includes various removal and defensive options. Journey to Nowhere and Oblivion Ring are enchantments that can deal with problematic permanents, and since they’re enchantments themselves, they can be reanimated with Open the Vaults. Day of Judgment provides a board wipe option, helping you deal with aggressive strategies or overwhelming board states, clearing the battlefield so you can safely set up your game plan.
Late-Game Execution
In the late game, your primary win condition is leveraging Open the Vaults to return a significant number of artifacts to the battlefield. This often includes Filigree Angel, which can quickly swing the game in your favor by gaining you a substantial amount of life. The combination of reanimating multiple powerful artifacts and gaining life ensures you can stabilize and push towards victory.
Closing the Game
The Artifact Reanimation deck excels at creating a powerful board state through artifact reanimation. By effectively setting up your graveyard and utilizing key cards like Open the Vaults and Filigree Angel, you can turn the tide of the game, stabilize, and eventually secure a win. The combination of reanimation, life gain, and board control makes this deck a formidable choice for players who enjoy a methodical and resilient strategy.
Key Cards
Cards to look for in the opening hand