Between the arrival of The Hobbit set and the elimination of multiple oppressive designs from Standard, brewers have once again found success innovating. Keeping the trend going, in the latest Magic Online Standard Challenge, a cool Artifacts shell unexpectedly earned first place. This deck does a great job both applying early pressure and grinding, so it certainly deserves to be highlighted.
Artifact and Token Themes Collide
Magic Online user Aldreen’s Challenge winning deck is primarily built to overwhelm the opponent with tokens. By sticking to a dedicated artifact theme, this archetype gets to maximize both Pinnacle Emissary and Ravenous Robots as its go-to engines.
Once you stick one of these threats, every cheap trinket you play from Giant’s Boulder to Rust Harvester creates tokens, pulling you further ahead on board. While you don’t have access to free artifacts in Standard, Springleaf Drum and Lady Octopus can help speed things along.
Given this deck’s high density of efficient artifacts, you are prone to emptying your hand rather quickly. Fortunately, Quantum Riddler and Krang, Master Mind refuel your grip instantly. Even Tezzeret, Cruel Captain’s -3 ability provides a steady stream of action, since your artifact spells and tokens can keep rejuvenating its loyalty.
Eventually, the combination of power between your tokens and beefy monsters like Krang makes Stationing Uthros, Titanic Godcore surprisingly easy. Thanks to Giant’s Boulder, Enigma Jewel, and Improvised Arsenal serving as mana sinks, this deck plays a far better late game than typical Affinity-style builds. These 1/1s even serve as fodder for Dusk Rose Reliquary, which answers a wide range of problematic permanents.
A Versatile Approach
Ultimately, the biggest strength of this Jeskai Artifact Tokens shell is its flexible role-playing from matchup to matchup. On one hand, Ravenous Robots’ ability to create a stream of blockers helps buy you a lot of time versus creature decks like Mono-Red Aggro and Boros Dwarves. These tokens also apply pressure, making it possible to race combo archetypes like Dimir Excruciator.
If you don’t snipe the core token generators before they get started, this deck also easily overwhelms removal-heavy decks. Not to mention, Pinnacle Emissary dodges Requiting Hex and Burst Lightning despite its cheap Warp cost. While playing around board wipes like Day of Black Sun is admittedly more difficult, racing to a Tezzeret emblem or hastening Krang with Skateboard can win you games.
Unfortunately, should this deck become more popular, Ultima is borderline unbeatable since it destroys artifacts and creatures. Fighting through multiple copies of Sunderflock is also very hard, since it creates an immediate roadblock. If that weren’t enough, a massive Mightform Harvester backed by Earthbender Ascension out of Mono-Green Landfall can also cause problems.
In this sense, Jeskai Artifact Tokens is far from a perfect strategy, even if it is powerful. Nonetheless, this deck still managed to put together an undefeated tournament run, so don’t be shocked if it starts to pick up steam in the coming days.
Stick with us here at mtgrocks.com: the best site for Magic: The Gathering coverage. Be sure to check out our deckbuilder for your next big brew, and our brand new MTG Rocks Podcast!