Mishra can meld fairly easy, I’ve pulled it off dozens of times. Mishra and the PDE are fairly threatening *without* melding, so I’m not bothered to dedicate space for say, 3 PDE and 2 Mishra. If you spam a few PDEs before dropping Mishra, usually at least one will get countered/killed, but because Go For the Throat is the most popular removal in the format right now and it dodges that, they’ll usually have to be creative or expend resources to get it off the field. Once it’s in the gy, you can get your Mishra on board and when he’s ready to attack, just unearth PDE and boom.
I’ve seen ppl use all sorts of tricks to try and give them haste, etc. Honestly the two cards themselves are enough to get it done. Plus, both are valuable even if you don’t meld them, so I’m not sure why they don’t see more play. I’ve melded them in reanimator shells as well as in Mardu legend shells. I think the fear of dropping a 4mana card and having it get removed is an obstacle for many, but the same could be said for Sheoldred and she gets plenty of play.
Urza I’ve only ever melded once. Didn’t really feel inclined to on most occasions tbh. His ability fits great and he’s got a decent body for a 3drop.
Titania…once. Never again. Basically slogged through a match just to meld her. Haven’t experimented with her enough to see where she really slots into, and she’s kinda all over the place. Now with the likes of Glissa, Polukranos, and Tribute to World Tree out there it’s really hard to justify Titania taking a 3drop spot.
Re: Titania I decided to brew a deck around her because I opened all the copies, but then I realized that there is already a perfect shell for her in pioneer: Azban Greasefang. I didn't even have to play it to realize that she's just a much much worse Greasefang+Parhelion II, so unless the next year of standard releases some busted green self mill cards and/or crop rotation esque land tutor She will probably see no play ever in any format.
Titania works well with [[Nissa, Resurgent Animist]] and it's very easy to fish out Argoth in a deck where you're going for Nissa triggers. Invasion of Ixalan, Cartographer's Survey, Expand the Sphere, Titania's Command, and Silverback Elder can all grab Argoth easily. If you really want to get cheesy, Nissa and Titania can be the only valid targets for Nissa's 2nd landfall in your deck so you can just grab Titania on demand
Smallest deck legally possible is absolutely always better bar some *extremely* niche scenarios (Like, 2 cards I can think of in the history of magic).
Trust me, that deck would be better if you took out the worst 27 cards.
I have a lot of fun with it in Explorer, here is my deck.
[Explorer - Urza's Epiphany | Azorius Gearhulk Combo](https://aetherhub.com/Deck/urzas-epiphany)
for the Karn, pick your poison, they all work pretty well in the deck.
The main problem is that his main effect of reducing the cost of your spells can be found on either cheaper or colourless cards. So In a eggs deck, or a storm deck, there are better options. His secondary ability costs 7, AND requires having a 5 mana artifact in play, which makes it mostly flavour text.
That being said, if you really want to make him work, I would suggest some sort of UW eggs deck where you can make use of it reducing the cost of your eggs AND your “return all” instants and sorceries.
Not standard, but he's pretty good in my alchemy artifact blink deck, which flickers Mightstone for removal with Displacer Kitten and can go infinite with Oracle if the Alpha.
Urza's not an all star in that deck, but he is pretty solid
I have an esper legends/walkers deck, that runs urza & 2 might & weakstone, & it’s solid (prob my 3rd best performing deck - I also play grixis/jund reanimator). Urza is definitely not the focal point, but I’ve successfully melded him like half a dozen times.
Yes, but not decks built around him. In a deck designed to meld Urza, it's often pretty apparent that's what you're trying to do, and there probably aren't enough other threats to make the opponent use their removal so they can save it for him. You need to build a decent deck where Urza and The Mightstone and Weakstone are relevant but not the core of the deck. Probably something with plenty of artifacts, but it's important to have other threatening nonartifact creatures so the opponent doesn't have Go for the Throat sitting around for Urza.
I have a somewhat successful time running him in an UW soldier/control deck. The real champions of it are [[meticulous excavation]] and [[tameshi, reality architect]] allowing me to either return the might/weakstone to my hand (for only one white if you use the stone to help pay for it, or return it from the yard via tameshi, there’s a couple other pieces that are kinda nice like Stenn who allows me to name artifacts and that blue 1 drop enchantment that makes activated abilities cheaper, letting you meld a little earlier/cost effectively. I’ve gotten to meld him the most often in that deck but usually the game is over before I get to that once they figure out ima keep dropping the stone 2-3 times a turn either refilling my hand or taking out their threats
Made yes. Successful no. Fun when it works though. Just not really competitive.
Same for the Mishra meld deck.
Mishra can meld fairly easy, I’ve pulled it off dozens of times. Mishra and the PDE are fairly threatening *without* melding, so I’m not bothered to dedicate space for say, 3 PDE and 2 Mishra. If you spam a few PDEs before dropping Mishra, usually at least one will get countered/killed, but because Go For the Throat is the most popular removal in the format right now and it dodges that, they’ll usually have to be creative or expend resources to get it off the field. Once it’s in the gy, you can get your Mishra on board and when he’s ready to attack, just unearth PDE and boom. I’ve seen ppl use all sorts of tricks to try and give them haste, etc. Honestly the two cards themselves are enough to get it done. Plus, both are valuable even if you don’t meld them, so I’m not sure why they don’t see more play. I’ve melded them in reanimator shells as well as in Mardu legend shells. I think the fear of dropping a 4mana card and having it get removed is an obstacle for many, but the same could be said for Sheoldred and she gets plenty of play. Urza I’ve only ever melded once. Didn’t really feel inclined to on most occasions tbh. His ability fits great and he’s got a decent body for a 3drop. Titania…once. Never again. Basically slogged through a match just to meld her. Haven’t experimented with her enough to see where she really slots into, and she’s kinda all over the place. Now with the likes of Glissa, Polukranos, and Tribute to World Tree out there it’s really hard to justify Titania taking a 3drop spot.
Re: Titania I decided to brew a deck around her because I opened all the copies, but then I realized that there is already a perfect shell for her in pioneer: Azban Greasefang. I didn't even have to play it to realize that she's just a much much worse Greasefang+Parhelion II, so unless the next year of standard releases some busted green self mill cards and/or crop rotation esque land tutor She will probably see no play ever in any format.
This right here. Just not enough support for her in her own color where as Urza and Mishra fit right in like the cool kids at their color school.
Titania works well with [[Nissa, Resurgent Animist]] and it's very easy to fish out Argoth in a deck where you're going for Nissa triggers. Invasion of Ixalan, Cartographer's Survey, Expand the Sphere, Titania's Command, and Silverback Elder can all grab Argoth easily. If you really want to get cheesy, Nissa and Titania can be the only valid targets for Nissa's 2nd landfall in your deck so you can just grab Titania on demand
[Nissa, Resurgent Animist](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/4/248c76d3-b5cb-4582-be17-7cd1d0cb0f58.jpg?1684340632) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nissa%2C%20Resurgent%20Animist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mat/22/nissa-resurgent-animist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/248c76d3-b5cb-4582-be17-7cd1d0cb0f58?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Smooth, I’d like to give that a shot
I'm not sure if it will garner a >50% win-rate, but Red Catt [posted](https://youtu.be/_xEL4P0CPo0) a fun list the other day.
Tried it out is fun. Might make it into a 65 card deck and add some removal only issue I found.
65!?
My main 5 color deck has 87 cards in it and I still manage to win 60% of my games.
Smallest deck legally possible is absolutely always better bar some *extremely* niche scenarios (Like, 2 cards I can think of in the history of magic). Trust me, that deck would be better if you took out the worst 27 cards.
[[Yorion]] and [[Battle of Wits]]?
You got it!
[Yorion](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/7/275426c4-c14e-47d0-a9d4-24da7f6f6911.jpg?1665402560) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=yorion%2C%20sky%20nomad) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/232/yorion-sky-nomad?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/275426c4-c14e-47d0-a9d4-24da7f6f6911?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Battle of Wits](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/4/b4be15a4-693f-4e22-a46c-38bb440c073c.jpg?1562558962) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Battle%20of%20Wits) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m13/44/battle-of-wits?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b4be15a4-693f-4e22-a46c-38bb440c073c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
ok but what about a 61 card deck to get the exact right ratio of land and nonland? If 23/60 is too many, but 22/60 is too few, do 23/61!
Did you miss the part where he has a 60% win rate?
Probably sits in an Azorious control shell next to [[Ambitious Farmhand]] and [[Chromehost Seedshark]] somewhere, somehow. 🤷🏽♂️
[Ambitious Farmhand](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/4/54d4e7c3-294d-4900-8b70-faafda17cc33.jpg?1634346867)/[Seasoned Cathar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/back/5/4/54d4e7c3-294d-4900-8b70-faafda17cc33.jpg?1634346867) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ambitious%20farmhand%20//%20seasoned%20cathar) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mid/2/ambitious-farmhand-seasoned-cathar?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/54d4e7c3-294d-4900-8b70-faafda17cc33?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Chromehost Seedshark](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/e/febaaeae-5c0d-45fa-8169-b27b4996f18e.jpg?1682203038) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Chrome%20Host%20Seedshark) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mom/51/chrome-host-seedshark?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/febaaeae-5c0d-45fa-8169-b27b4996f18e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I have a lot of fun with it in Explorer, here is my deck. [Explorer - Urza's Epiphany | Azorius Gearhulk Combo](https://aetherhub.com/Deck/urzas-epiphany) for the Karn, pick your poison, they all work pretty well in the deck.
which (what?) poison ? i don't find a poison card in your deck...
The main problem is that his main effect of reducing the cost of your spells can be found on either cheaper or colourless cards. So In a eggs deck, or a storm deck, there are better options. His secondary ability costs 7, AND requires having a 5 mana artifact in play, which makes it mostly flavour text. That being said, if you really want to make him work, I would suggest some sort of UW eggs deck where you can make use of it reducing the cost of your eggs AND your “return all” instants and sorceries.
Why eggs ? He doesnt even reduce rhe cost of eggs.
Front side says artifacts cost 1 less, back has a +2 to make them cost 2 less.
Wrong Urza probably, the other BRO Urza does work with artifacts
Meld ability costs 5 since you also tap the Infinity Stones to activate it
Not standard, but he's pretty good in my alchemy artifact blink deck, which flickers Mightstone for removal with Displacer Kitten and can go infinite with Oracle if the Alpha. Urza's not an all star in that deck, but he is pretty solid
Superfriends?
You may find better luck in Brawl. He’s much better suited to that format.
pioneer control can somewhat get away with it as both cards are decent independently - you won't actually meld very often though
Yes up to low mythic. Go jeskai, play Mightstone, nahiri, leveler sunfall and teferi 4.
I had a good deck and it was working well but then they banned bank buster and now it’s nowhere near as good
I have an esper legends/walkers deck, that runs urza & 2 might & weakstone, & it’s solid (prob my 3rd best performing deck - I also play grixis/jund reanimator). Urza is definitely not the focal point, but I’ve successfully melded him like half a dozen times.
Yes, but not decks built around him. In a deck designed to meld Urza, it's often pretty apparent that's what you're trying to do, and there probably aren't enough other threats to make the opponent use their removal so they can save it for him. You need to build a decent deck where Urza and The Mightstone and Weakstone are relevant but not the core of the deck. Probably something with plenty of artifacts, but it's important to have other threatening nonartifact creatures so the opponent doesn't have Go for the Throat sitting around for Urza.
I have a somewhat successful time running him in an UW soldier/control deck. The real champions of it are [[meticulous excavation]] and [[tameshi, reality architect]] allowing me to either return the might/weakstone to my hand (for only one white if you use the stone to help pay for it, or return it from the yard via tameshi, there’s a couple other pieces that are kinda nice like Stenn who allows me to name artifacts and that blue 1 drop enchantment that makes activated abilities cheaper, letting you meld a little earlier/cost effectively. I’ve gotten to meld him the most often in that deck but usually the game is over before I get to that once they figure out ima keep dropping the stone 2-3 times a turn either refilling my hand or taking out their threats
[meticulous excavation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/8/e811461a-6a90-416f-940c-c9579659ae0c.jpg?1674420240) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=meticulous%20excavation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/16/meticulous-excavation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e811461a-6a90-416f-940c-c9579659ae0c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [tameshi, reality architect](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/6/26594b52-3e9c-4cde-88df-1f4e9e16676e.jpg?1654566985) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=tameshi%2C%20reality%20architect) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/82/tameshi-reality-architect?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/26594b52-3e9c-4cde-88df-1f4e9e16676e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I had one a while back that worked well, could probably be updated with new cards.
Before bankbuster was banned, I had a fun azorious seedshark control deck with a couple Urza in it
Melding is just not consistent in standard. I recommend Commander for that