Jace Beleren: Master of Illusions 📝 Deck Tech 📝
Commander
DownMay 06, 2012, 06:24:00 PM
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Last Edit: November 11, 2014, 07:47:02 PM by Dudecore
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July 02, 2014, 07:02:37 PM
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner (Tribal)This is the very first EDH deck I built when I heard about the format. It basically started with me playing Illusions in Standard, Magic 2012 had just came out. I thought it was so much fun to use Grand Architect to power out Wurmcoil Engine and Steel Hellkite, then have aggressive aggro with Lord of the Unreal being copied by Phantasmal Image. The deck might not have been Tier 1, but it was a bunch of fun playing with all that synergy. So I started out jamming every illusion creature I could into a deck. Then it evolved over time. I traded for a bunch of this deck (Mostly from Rasser) and It's been a great tribute to one of my favorite Tribes ever. Unfortunately the Illusions don't have a great Legendary leader. Kira, Great Glass-Spinner might not save the Phantasmal clan, but it forces everything else to be a 2 for 1 (except board wipes -.-). The deck wins by gaining incremental advantages with Mana acceleration, Anthems and Permanent control.
Jace Beleren is my favorite Planeswalkers, not because he's interesting, but because he's Jace, the Mind Sculptor. Mono-blue with a little Jace theme. It'd also like to not that about 18 of these cards are available in Duel Deck: Jace vs. Vraska. Some of my descriptions aren't too elegant, I've made a lot of flavor and "I have this card" choices.
Meet the Gang
• AEther Figment
This card just needs the right board configuration to be a menace.
• Chameleon Spirit
Pretty decent here. It scales as my opponent does, and gets buffed like it was an Illusion.
• Chronozoa
Just read the card and tell me this doesn't seem like so much fun to play around with? I love the flavor on this card, the Artwork is oddly reminiscent of Kira, Great Glass-Spinner.
• Cleaver Impersonator
Impersonator just has an infinite range of possibilities. Since Clones do not target, you can cast it, then when it resolves copy an aura in play. When an aura enters the battlefield, you can attach it to any legal permanent, and it doesn't target that permanent to do so. It beats Hexproof and Protection while providing the flexibility to be whatever the best thing on the battlefield is.
• Draining Whelk
Flying counterspell illusion! There are ways to make it cost less, or free, and results in one of the more powerful counter magic cards in the game.
• Dream Stalker
Great blocker. It does set back tempo for sure, but there is a scenario where you can double-tap Sol Ring which is pretty strong.
• Errant Ephemeron
Is there even a reason to hardcast this? Probably not. Does it come in the Duel Deck: Jace vs. Vraska? It sure does.
• Grand Architect
This just oozes synergy with mono-blue. It makes my mana ramp/tribal cards so cheap, which truly removes the drawback of them costing so much. He can even tap himself if it helps.
• Hazy Homunculus
Might as well just be unblockable, either they have mana untapped to stop it - or they're tapped out and can't stop it.
• Illusory Angel
There are plenty of ways to cast Illusory Angel. It is a pretty stompy and aggressive creature for mono-blue, and it benefits from being an illusion all the same.
• Ixidron
Ixi is actually an EDH staple in his own right, as it doubles as mass removal for blue. It's a bomb that cares NOTHING about what is printed on a creature card. It comes down, Humilitys and then swings for a bunch.
• Jace's Mindseeker
Has the name Jace in it. Check. Has a picture of Jace in it. Check. Comes in the Duel Deck: Jace vs. Vraska. Check. All joking aside, it can be a bomb. Cost is everything however, the effect is nice too.
• Jace's Phantasm
A 5/5 for
is always good. No explanation required.• Krovikan Mist
This might just be the very best Illusion in the deck. I know that usually these type of Lhurgoyfish cards aren't great, but this has such a cheap cost and flies. It's a powerhouse.
• Lord of the Unreal
Many moons ago I wrote a deck tech about the Illusion tribal in Modern. Lord of the Unreal is very much a real thing. Perfect Illusion Lord, takes away the disadvantage the Phantasmal Clan have, and makes every other Illusion stronger. Copying it with Phantasmal Image yields a 3/3 that gives itself Hexproof and every other Illusion Hexproof.
• Mistform Warchief
My original list contained a lot of the Mistform Clan. I didn't like them all that much, but the Warchief is what's up. Lowers the cost of all my Illusions and also can become a Shapeshifter to interact with Shapesharer. So many little things to play around with!
• Narcomoeba
Just a good card to keep around. Flying 1/1 for 2 that opponents can't mill. Flying Illusions are strong because of the way they get stronger as time moves on.
• Palinchron
Everybody knows this big idiot from the endless combos EDH players use it in. This is different. Yes it does still give me infinite mana most of the time...but it is an Illusion! I could not ignore the most obvious Infinite mana combo because other people abuse it.
• Phantasmal Bear
Super aggressive 1 drop. Commander probably isn't the format where this card is relevant, but its an Illusion and you can certainly do worse.
• Phantasmal Dragon
I feel this card was not pushed hard enough due to it's drawback. Phantasmal Bear and Phantasmal Image got super aggressive mana costs because of the Phantasmal drawback. It is still far from useless.
• Phantasmal Image
What was previously the premier Legendary card killer in every format has been resigned to being AWESOME IN ILLUSIONS TRIBAL. He makes creatures you copy better by giving them Illusions buffs, and the aforementioned synergy with Lord of the Unreal - the one true Commander for the Illusion tribe.
• Phantom Warrior
Really not a bad card, if at least a little underwhelming. The Magic 2014 version has flavor text by everyone's favorite hooded Planeswalker.
• Shaper Parasite
An illusion that doubles as removal. If I weren't running other Morph creatures this would probably be terrible.
• Shapesharer
Suffered a bit with the new Magic 2014 change to the Legendary Rule. But this card has a bit of a tricky nature to it. Ever want to turn your Mutavault into something better? This can do that. If you drop Xenograft and name "Shapeshifter" you can have an army (albeit expensive) of the best creature at Instant speed. Depending how far advanced the game is, this can be a wincon.
• Somnophore
An offensive and defensive classic control card. The art is very creepy too.
• Veiling Oddity
*Shrug* It's an illusion. What do you want me to say? Not the best, not the worst.
• Zephid
Why is this on the reserve list?
• Halcyon Glaze
It becomes an Illusion every time I cast an Illusion. Double Illusion all the way.
• Veiled Sentry
I'm shocked daily that this card does not get played more. It adapts with your opponents as the game progresses. It may be the best one-drop for an Illusion tribal. It does technically die to
spells, but if there is ANY kind of anthem effect on the battlefield it lives, and gets better. Control Magic
• Counterspell
Well I was going to run this anyway, but I got the Duel Deck: Jace vs. Chandra version of the card. Artwork featuring Jace Beleren. It also stands as about the most coherent artwork for Counterspell.
• Cyclonic Rift
Is this in all of my EDH decks? One-sided Upheaval sure is nice.
• Desertion
This is another EDH staple, because It just generates value. Most of the good creatures are 5+ so the 5 CMC doesn't hurt as bad. It can be a very bad counterspell at times, it is also a partial "I already had this card".
• Dissipate
As I say in every single deck tech I write, Exile is super powerful. Commander is a format known for it's astounding amount of recursion.
• Force of Will
Since I'm running heavy mono-blue I decided to run the pitch cards. Force of Will and Misdirection.
• Hinder
Many players think that Tucking is unfair. I cannot disagree more. Commanders are very powerful and there has got to be an answer that at least punishes them for just curving out. You can still tutor for them, or shuffle and hope to draw them again. I think tucking cards keep the format healthy--players need to learn to not have to be reliant on their Commander. Over the years and years of playing Magic I've noticed players hate getting punished, and consider anything but them "going off" to be unfair. My advice to young/new players and casual playgroups: Don't ban answers. Think differently.
• Memory Lapse
The Duel Deck: Jace vs. Vraska has Jace flavor text. Oooooo!
• Misdirection
Free spells are a good thing to have. Misdirection can actually be a bit more fun then Force of Will as far as upsetting player.
• Muddle the Mixture
Works double duty as a tutor or a weak Counterspell. A fair bit of 2 CMC cards are in this deck.
• Remand
This is a carry-over from when this deck ran Isochron Scepter, but can be fetched by Muddle the Mixture. It is by no means a bad card. Generates some Tempo. It's also in the Duel Deck: Jace vs. Vraska.
• Spell Crumple
See: Hinder
• Summoner's Bane
Bit of a flavor include. It makes an illusion token and features flavor text by Jacie.
• Wash Out
Since Upheavel is banned (rightfully so) Wash Out has a similar effect. It helps that it hits all permanents of a certain color, it is cheap enough to still do something on my turn.
• Control Magic
Stealing things is always going to be desirable in Commander. Lots of decks spend lots of time powering out creatures to win. This allows me to take advantage of that. Also, DD Control Magic has a picture of and a quote from Jace Beleren. Auto-include for flavor and power level.
• Rhystic Study
Taxes opponents for something you want to be doing anyway. Early game it can be tough to justify paying to prevent you from drawing cards,
Tribal
• Brass Herald
Hey it's not the best, but it gets the job done. Tribal decks are a labor of love, not a powerhouse.
• Belbe's Portal
One of they ways to get around the soft-lock created by Kira, Great Glass-Spinner and Arcane Laboratory.
• Caged Sun
One of those cards I powered out with Grand Architect in Standard a few years ago. Buffs my creatures, ramps into an infinite combo with Palinchron.
• Cryptic Gateway
The best way to build an army. There is no restriction to how many times you can do this. I know it combos with Intruder Alarm, but everything combos with Intruder Alarm. It is like saying Air combos with your lungs.
• Door of Destinies
My gosh does this card get out of hand quickly. Absolute backbreaking for a tribal deck.
• Extraplanar Lens
⚠️Use with caution: This is a symmetrical effect.⚠️ If you exile an Island, you better hope to go off quickly, if not you just ramped your opponents big time.
• Gauntlet of Power
⚠️Use with caution: This is a symmetrical effect.⚠️ Meaning if you choose blue, every blue creatures get +1/+1 and their Islands tap for extra mana.
• Sapphire Medallion
I like playing with cards from Tempest. It was really the set that I said to myself "I am going to spend a bunch of money the rest of my life on this game".
• Urza's Incubator
Classic, classic Tribal enabler. Cheap and can give you a serious edge if it comes down early.
• Arcane Laboratory
Creates a soft lock with Kira, Great Glass-Spinner. It's also a generally favorable card as it slows down combo decks and aggressive creatures.
• Future Sight
Card Advantage MACHINE. The reason I don't play it in more decks is that triple-Blue cost. This card does what it says, lets you see into the future and play that card you'd draw next time. You can FLY through your deck and still have 7 counterspells in hand. I like being able to play this in Mono-U.
• Xenograft
Makes what few Non-illusions into Illusions. Also makes stolen creatures from my opponents into illusions. It's a tribal card I feel obligated to include.
• Distant Melody
How could I forget to include one of the coolest tribal draw spells of all time? Well now it's here!
• Impulse
Yet another one of those "I already had it" cards. I opened a From the Vault: Twenty, had this left over. I say "Hmm, I like the art." and jammed it.
• Jace Beleren
Baby Jace draws cards, and he's a Jace. Low mana cost with a group-hug +2.
• Jace, Architect of Thought
Mini-Fact or Fiction with a boardline playable ultimate. I like that he's a Jace and is somewhat playable in the format.
• Jace, Memory Adept
It's another Jace, this time he's emo. This can be a card draw engine or a wincon.
• Jace, the Mind Sculptor
It's big daddy Jace. Ready to draw all of the cards and be killed immediately.
Mana Rocks
Gilded Lotus, Sol Ring
Last Edit: November 11, 2014, 07:49:07 PM by Dudecore
September 05, 2014, 10:52:38 AM
Could youu write the deck tech for this. Looks good
Hmmm. Ok. Pretty straight forward tribal deck, but hey? Why not?
September 05, 2014, 12:58:16 PM
I've always loved illusion tribal. This deck looks fun as hell.Only suggestion I can think of is long-term plans to get Phantasmal Image if you get manage to get Lord of the Unreal out.
Oh, and of course coat of arms, but that obviously depends on your meta and how much tribal you see in other people's decks.
Last Edit: September 05, 2014, 01:03:11 PM by Gorzo
September 05, 2014, 01:46:05 PM
I've always loved illusion tribal. This deck looks fun as hell.
Only suggestion I can think of is long-term plans to get Phantasmal Image if you get manage to get Lord of the Unreal out.
Oh, and of course coat of arms, but that obviously depends on your meta and how much tribal you see in other people's decks.
Thank you. I may consider Long-Term Plans
I had Coat of Arms, and I hate that card. It helps opponents and it makes for an awkward moment where everyone breaks out dice and cross-referencing creature types.
September 05, 2014, 03:35:49 PM
I have always liked the illusion tribe. Too bad Kira does not save all of your illusions tho 
September 05, 2014, 05:21:19 PM
I have always liked the illusion tribe. Too bad Kira does not save all of your illusions tho
Yeah, the Phantasmal clan get eaten up still. Illusions don't have a good mono-blue Legendary. But since it's a deck built on incremental advantage and buffing other illusions, She helps by forcing the 2 for 1. Arcane Laboratory is a bit of a softer lock.
September 06, 2014, 12:24:53 AM
Done. Not my proudest work, but now it's got a deck tech.I did just get some new cards for this:
Pre-Ordered Clever Impersonator
Illusory Angel
Sneaky Homunculus
Riptide Shapeshifter
Last Edit: September 12, 2014, 01:43:00 PM by Dudecore
October 21, 2014, 07:08:55 AM
Dude, those boxes... Ermagerd... I need... I need now!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Leifkicker
October 21, 2014, 08:51:48 AM
Dude, those boxes... Ermagerd... I need... I need now!https://www.etsy.com/shop/Leifkicker
Already on it lol, I looked 'em up right away. Actually currently in contact with the guy.
October 21, 2014, 12:38:01 PM
Dude, those boxes... Ermagerd... I need... I need now!https://www.etsy.com/shop/Leifkicker
Already on it lol, I looked 'em up right away. Actually currently in contact with the guy.
I don't know if he retired the Jace Beleren box or not. He has new ones coming out soon too. I have the Skull themed one also on my Oloro deck. They're totally awesome. They fit 100 double sleeved cards easily. The inside is about the same size as the Dragon Shield Gaming Box. I'm a sucker for well-made craftsmanship.
October 21, 2014, 01:43:14 PM
Yeah as soon as I saw that last night I found him on Etsy right away, there's a few really sick ones but I'm gonna see if I can custom commission one, otherwise I think I'll just pick up theDude, those boxes... Ermagerd... I need... I need now!https://www.etsy.com/shop/Leifkicker
Already on it lol, I looked 'em up right away. Actually currently in contact with the guy.
I don't know if he retired the Jace Beleren box or not. He has new ones coming out soon too. I have the Skull themed one also on my Oloro deck. They're totally awesome. They fit 100 double sleeved cards easily. The inside is about the same size as the Dragon Shield Gaming Box. I'm a sucker for well-made craftsmanship.
/
Steampunk Tezzeret one for my Arcum deck.
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