What is the Best Deck Ever in MTG?
Determining the absolute best deck ever in Magic: The Gathering is a complex and, frankly, somewhat subjective endeavor. There isn’t a single, universally agreed-upon answer. Instead, the “best” deck often depends on the format, the metagame of its time, and even individual player skill. However, if we look at decks that have defined eras, pushed the boundaries of power, and left an indelible mark on the game, one contender consistently rises to the top: The Vintage Power 9 Decks, specifically those built around the “Type 1” or Vintage format. These decks, often referred to as “Vintage Shops” or “Vintage Control”, typically leverage the incredibly potent combination of cards known as the Power Nine. These include:
- Black Lotus: The most iconic card in Magic, providing a one-time burst of three mana of any color for free.
- Ancestral Recall: Draws three cards for a single blue mana.
- Time Walk: Take an extra turn.
- Mox Ruby, Mox Sapphire, Mox Jet, Mox Emerald, Mox Pearl: Zero-cost artifacts that each generate one mana of a specific color.
When combined, these cards can create explosive starts and devastating mid-game swings that few decks can match. Furthermore, Vintage Power 9 decks often incorporate other powerful cards like Mana Crypt, Sol Ring, and efficient card draw to further accelerate their game plan. The sheer raw power and potential for early kills associated with these decks have etched their place in MTG history, making them a perennial topic in discussions of the best and most broken strategies. While other decks have dominated specific formats or periods, none consistently reach the heights of raw power found in a well-piloted Vintage Power 9 deck.
Defining “Best”: The Nuances of Power
It’s important to understand that “best” in Magic is contextual. Here’s why simply calling one deck the ‘absolute best’ is difficult:
- Format Dependence: A deck dominant in Vintage might be utterly unplayable in Standard. Different formats have different card pools and rulesets, resulting in diverse strategies.
- Metagame Shifts: The “best” deck often fluctuates as players adapt and counter strategies. A dominant deck in one week could be rendered obsolete the next as the metagame evolves.
- Skill Level: A powerful deck in the hands of an inexperienced player might underperform compared to a more moderate deck with a skilled pilot.
- Definition of “Best”: Are we looking for the most powerful deck, the most consistent deck, or the deck with the most impact on MTG history? These aren’t necessarily the same thing.
While the raw power of Vintage decks and especially the Power 9 makes them a strong candidate for the best ever, other contenders also deserve attention.
Other Notable Contenders
Beyond the dominance of Vintage, many decks have showcased immense strength. Here are a few examples:
- Affinity (Modern): A hyper-aggressive artifact deck that dominated the early days of the Modern format.
- Faeries (Lorwyn-Shadowmoor Standard): A control/tempo deck known for its incredible disruption and tempo capabilities.
- Miracle Gro (Various Formats): Built around the interaction between cards like Quirion Dryad and mana-free spells to quickly grow creatures.
- Temur Energy (Standard): A midrange deck that gained enormous card advantage and tempo in Standard.
- Zoodiac (Yu-Gi-Oh): While technically not MTG, the Zoodiac example of a Tier 0 deck further emphasizes the concept of decks being so powerful as to render other options not viable.
Each of these decks was considered top-tier in its time and displayed a level of dominance that made them the subject of many banlist discussions.
The Lasting Legacy
Ultimately, the best deck in MTG history remains a matter of debate, but decks based on the Vintage Power Nine often top the list. They showcase the raw potential of the game at its most extreme, and the legacy of these decks continues to shape conversations and strategies in the game today. These decks are not simply powerful; they embody the core of MTG’s history and the creativity of the game’s most dedicated players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some related questions that delve further into the nuances of MTG decks and power levels:
What is a Tier 1 Magic deck?
A Tier 1 deck is a deck considered to be among the most powerful and effective in a particular format at a specific time. These decks usually have strong win rates and are widely played in competitive environments. They represent the best, most optimized strategies in a metagame.
What is a Tier 0 deck?
A Tier 0 deck is a deck that’s so powerful it surpasses the standard power curve, dominating the meta and rendering other strategies unviable. Zoodiac was a Tier 0 deck that dominated Yu-Gi-Oh, showcasing a similar phenomenon in the card game space.
What is the most popular format in Magic: The Gathering?
Commander is the most popular format in Magic: The Gathering. It emphasizes social play, deckbuilding creativity, and longer, more dynamic games.
What is the strongest card in MTG?
While many cards are strong in certain situations, Black Lotus is often cited as the most powerful card in MTG due to its ability to provide a burst of three mana with no cost.
What is the weakest card in MTG?
Sorrow’s Path is widely considered to be one of, if not the weakest card in MTG, due to its negative synergy and highly situational nature.
What are some of the most broken decks in MTG history?
Aside from the Vintage Power 9 decks, some of the most broken decks include Affinity, Faeries, Miracle Grow, and Temur Energy due to their immense power and meta-warping influence.
What is the most powerful color in Magic?
Blue is often cited as the most powerful color in Magic due to its strong card draw, counterspells, and control capabilities.
What is a Level 7 MTG deck?
Level 7 decks in MTG refer to very powerful, tuned decks within the Commander format intended for casual play. They often include powerful cards but may have 1 or 2 pet cards for fun.
How many lands should I have in my deck?
Traditionally, a 60-card deck should have around 24-25 lands. However, this can fluctuate depending on the deck’s mana curve and the inclusion of card draw or mana ramp spells.
What are the best starter decks in MTG?
Starter decks such as Grave Matters, Blossoming Growth, and Spellweaver are often mentioned for their simplicity and effectiveness in learning the game.
What are the most powerful creatures in MTG?
Creatures like Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, Progenitus, and Blightsteel Colossus are often cited for their raw power and game-ending abilities.
Is Black Lotus banned in MTG?
Black Lotus is banned in all formats except Vintage, where it is restricted to a single copy per deck.
Why is MTG Commander so popular?
MTG Commander is popular due to its casual nature, emphasis on fun and social interaction, and the ability to build unique and creative decks.
What are the best Commander decks in MTG?
Decks led by Commanders like Korvold, Fae-Cursed King, Kozilek, The Great Distortion, and The First Sliver are frequently cited as powerful and effective.
What cards were recently banned in MTG standard?
Recent standard bans include The Meathook Massacre, Fable of the Mirror-Breaker, Invoke Despair, and Reckoner Bankbuster, showcasing how the metagame is balanced.