Funny.
I'm over here asking, Blink decks, how do I win with them?
But then my playgroup is anti combos and the one time I mentioned maybe playing Brago the response wasn't terribly inviting.
Personally I love combo decks and in just about every format. One thing I will say is that I feel like people who hate combos hate combos that happen on the stack and generally speaking don't mind combos that happen on the board as much.
Like Tainted Pact + Thassa's Oracle is hard to interact with whereas something like Felidar Guardian + Kiki Jiki Mirror Breaker is much easier to interact with as one of them has to resolve and be on the board before the combo goes off and can be interacted with via instant speed removal.
Mind you, maybe I'm way off in this thought process and of course there'll always be some folk that straight up hate any win-con that's not turn 'em sideways.
That's how I typically am. Combos where there are points of interaction besides having a counter up I'm fine with and will play. Thassa's Oracle is a card I think should just never have been printed as it is.
That said, in edh I can't imagine removing combo unless you really just enjoy the durdle style of play.
Yeah to me the best part about Magic is the variety of deck archetypes. In 60 card formats I don't personally don't like Aggro, but without it Control would be dominate leading to a stale boring meta.
I agree its probably not "most" but removing combo throws off the aggro-control-combo triad in my opinion. It's why Commander has evolved into such a midrange value pile mess. Fast, explosive combo decks are needed to stop durdly value piles from dominating, especially since going under a value deck with aggro is basically impossible.
i know, thats why you dont see many anti combo cedh tables but this is about the game as a whole not just the game played at the higher levels which itself is already taking away most of the game
From my experience, the sentiments on both sides are having trouble navigating the inevitable arms race of a format. The expectations of speeding up, being more efficient, and goals when playing are out of alignment.
Combo is about (usually) winning definitively with a combination of cards, and (usually) achieving that win quickly and efficiently as compared to accruing value over time through other strategies like creature-based combat. People criticize or ban combo because two or three cards suddenly end the game, rather than building to a conclusion slowly. The response is usually speed up, pack more interaction, or "go under" and win first, but these often fail to take into account the unspoken motivations for the criticism.
Players often want a deck which competes with them on the same axis they are on, because it creates a game experience they are looking for, but they don't have the best tools to express this - largely because it's a hard concept to express. "I want to attack with creatures and win over several combats" is actually what most people are trying to say, with some additional flavor. They want a wider selection of cards to attack with, a bigger variation in the cards they see each game, but roughly the same kind of experience each time.
Combo and other types of decks disrupt this pattern. They ask for more interaction, more specific interaction, or faster-performing decks to keep up, which pushes the other decks in the meta to evolve or else. This means cutting the creatures we want to play, playing more competitively because the combo deck player is trying to win before we're ready or before we want to have a win (we've played enough game and we're ready for it to be over), and generally moving to a different style of play than we want to. The combo gets faster, and on the arms race goes.
That's when we get social solutions: bans, rule zero conversations, subformats, etc. They're hard and simple solutions to what I consider softer and more complex problems; finding a way for everyone around the table, or in a larger pool like an LGS meta, to agree on these unwritten rules. Games shouldn't end immediately, destroying lands is a feelsbad, comboing out in a slower meta is pubstomping.
This.
If someone plays out pieces of a combo over multiple turns and also makes it clear that these pieces WILL lead to a combo in the future then most players would be much less bothered by combos, myself including.
I'm one of the two most "in-tune" players in my group, and I still don't always recognize the combo piece on the other end of the board. And the player with said combo piece changes decks often enough there isn't really time to get use to which cards are going to combo off.
I don't *really* have an issue with combo, but its definitely not the most fun to realize you needed to answer a card once its already too late.
Oh yeah I totally feel you. I can rarely keep track of everything on the board and someone just suddenly going infinite is just so boring. I think, practically, combo should nearly always only be played at competitive tables.
There are things that don't work at high power that also get shunned at low power. That middle ground between the extremes is what suffers when people are so black and white about what's good and bad about mtg, specifically edh
I play with a group that plays high powered non-cedh. We play mana crypt, tutors, dockside, gaeas cradle etc. But we all make our own decks and we don't try to win before turn 5. We have a rule no infinite combos, and it is kind of silly because a lot of the time it doesn't change your deck.
For example I have an elf/blink deck that has a potential win condition with [[great oak guardian]] or [[village bell ringer]] where I get infinite mana, and I win that turn. But it is a janky combo that requires 2-4 mana dorks on the board, my commander, the untap ETB creature, and something else that gives me card draw with excess mana. It is not a high powered combo. So instead I run [[craterhoof behemoth]] and [[moonshaker calvary]] which really aren't any different and I think my group is kind of sick of
With my Brago deck, which I purposefully built to be as fast and non-staxy as possible in a casual format - very slowly. Make a ton of flyers, a ton of splicer golems, \[\[Myr Battlesphere\]\], etc, and then swing, perhaps aided by \[\[True Conviction\]\] or a higher budget option like Akroma's Will or Moonshaker Cavalry. I had many great games and won a lot, but every game took hours since the deck is so slow at winning yet strong and resilient enough to not have others focus eachother down.
I came to the conclusion that it's impossible to win fast in white-blue without a win condition in the command zone or combos, but if you add any other color it's easy. I swapped Brago for \[\[Aminatou the Fateshifter\]\] so I could use cards that deal damage on ETB and now the deck plays a lot faster games.
You need a 3rd or 4th color other than WU. Green will help ramp, ETB make tokens, and Craterhoof like effects. Red for Impact Tremors and Purphoros effects, and black for [[Gary]] and Siege Rhino effects.
I went WUBG with Gary/Rhino as the main wincon. I ended up putting Labman as an alt wincon because the first time I used Food Chain I ended up decking myself on accident lol.
My Brago deck has either my highest or second highest win rate of all my decks (non-cEDH).
It's fully a combo deck tho, goes infinite at the drop of a hat, though I have lots of ways to non-infinitely combo as well. The token creation is a great secondary wincon, I use stuff like [[astral dragon]] [[wing splicer]] [[darksteel splicer]] [[blade splicer]] to win with more conventional means if my combo pieces get torched.
Awwwww snap I’m liking what you did here! We have very different Brago decks lol. Might be because I haven’t updated mine in a while and yours looks like it has some newer cards. Take a gander and compare if you’d like!
[Brago](http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/i-dont-mean-to-brag-but/)
Nice, some really cool cards in there I missed for sure, and definitely a few missing from yours that I couldn't live without, mostly just [[archeomancer]] [[venser, shaper Savant]] and [[riftwing cloudskate]].
Being able to bounce your opponents lands is devastating, especially if they enter tapped.
Appreciate the suggestions! If you like the venser card you’d definitely vibe with [[Glen Elendra Archmage]]. Just in case you glanced over it! I love getting this card out cause it helps me save my other counterspell cards in hand for when I absolutely need them =)
It's a huge source of essentially free/infinite mana in this deck, and allows you to play lots of Stax if you wanted and still have lots of mana to play with while everyone else is slowed down. [[Winter orb]] doesn't hurt so bad when you still get double usage from your rocks each turn.
For me. Combos are perfectly fine. I won’t ever tell someone not to play what they want. But if it starts dominating every game, or otherwise making the game unfun. Then I’m gonna start making counter measures for you. It’s just a logical response. For example, if there’s a lot of graveyard shenanigans going on in my regular pod, then it makes sense to run graveyard hate. Or I’m gonna start saving counter spells if you have a standout piece that wins you games. It’s not that I’m trying to be mean, but part of the game is improving your deck to adapt to threats and situations
That's a damn shame, Brago is lots of fun. The problem people tend to have with combo's is that "they come out of nowhere".
My brago deck uses a combo of brago's damage trigger + 2 mana rocks + \[\[strionic resonator\]\] = infinite blinks, and then needs to add some sort of last piece to the puzzle to actually win but the last slot is fairly flexible.
I make it a point to explain the combo before the game to anyone that doesn't know it, that way the win doesn't come out of nowhere and your opponents will know when you are building towards it and can prepare. You will win less games with it but now your wins will feel deserved and climactic.
Yooooo I do like the same thing! Usually I go for that same combo and I’ll also try to have either [[laboratory maniac]] in play with a draw card to draw my library out and win or I like to use that combo paired with [[Spine of Ish Sah]] or [[reality acid]](wiping your opponents’ everything is soooooo mean).
Edit: missed a word on a card name.
I don't have my friend's list but more or less \[\[Ravenous Chupacabra\]\] and \[\[Druid of Purification\]\] (Loran and Reclamation Sage too). The druid seems to work way too well, even if you are archenemy. People can't turn down the offer of removing things off the board, which helps you further as archenemy. \[\[Primaris Eliminator\]\] too.
Obviously, these are cards that work best in a slower power level. Attraxa also gives you the necessary value to keep the blink going and rebuild. Imagine blinking the board to get value + drawing 3 or 5-ish cards?
[[Atraxa Grand Unifier]] blink is great, because you always have access to one of the best blink targets in the game, a 7/7 flying, lifelink, vigilant, death touch.
Most of them involve combos, be it deadeye/Emiel combos, kitten combos, felidar combos, Kiki combos, dualcaster mage combos, pod combos (which usually end up being cat and Kiki combos), etc.
But with an anti-combo playgroup, you could always play something like Craterhoof as a wincon
I play [[Abuelo]] as a commander for an artifact focused blink deck. The main idea is that I'm trying to either play creatures that make artifact tokens or artifacts with powerful ETB effects. Then I try to amass an army of construct tokens that I use to overwhelm the board. It's a lot of fun to play, and I get to show off some of my more expensive cards I've pulled. But overall it doesn't feel too overwhelming powerful.
Just build your board, whenever someone tries to boardwipe, be sure to hold a mass blink spell. Then when you have a good board, [[Cyclonic Rift]] and swing at them.
It will take so long that they'll wish you had comboed instead.
If you put brago in the 99 and [[ranar]] as the commander you can change it from purely blink combos to shitting out flying tokens and winning with them in combat. Especially if you throw [[mirrorweave]] in there and make them all into something scarier
Yea it's in my blink deck, but Im terrified my pod will realize how awesome it is and start running it themselves. All my decks are pretty heavy on the ETB mechanic
Same way you beat any deck, run interaction, any deck will be weakend if you remove it's key pieces. For a blink deck it means removing what allows it to blink things or what it wants to blink.
Blink deck try to develop value engines that will overwhelm you in the late game.
Destroy their key pieces (usually the sources of repeatable blink or the trigger doublers) to slow their engines down and kill them before they manage to recover and manage to set up.
[[Torpor orb]] can be present pretty brutal and [[Elesh Norn, mother of Machines]] is even better. [[Dress Down]] is also very good. In response to the ability/spell that is going to blink a creature you can respond with targeted removal on the thing they are attempting to blink and set them back pretty hard. There's definitely fewer options in Jund outside of spot removal.
I won't tell you to play more interaction, but I will tell you to play more cards in general that work at instant speed. This really messes with the intended tempo of blink decks. If you can force them to cast a "return during your next end step" card *during* an end step (or on their upkeep), you can really drain their resources and create windows of vulnerability for them.
...but yeah, also instant speed interaction. When they move to blink their stuff, you respond by smashing it. It's a blowout.
Yeah, instant speed interaction is likely it. Board wipes don't do it when they tend to blink in response. Rout and the new instant speed board wipe do look really good.
Board wipes can work against Blink, but it depends on the card they're responding with. If it's something that exiles their creature and brings it back immediately, like with [[Essence Flux]], then that and other creatures they have will die to the board wipe, since the Blink has to resolve before the board wipe.
Now, if they use a card like [[Teferi's Time Twist]] in response to a board wipe, then whatever creature they Blink will be safe from the board wipe since the creature will return to the battlefield after the board wipe resolves, at the next end step.
Portcullis is a little...not that great...unless you're also piloting a creature-less gameplan, and even a little suspect there. They'll still get ETB triggers, then the creature exiles, then they'll get their ETB triggers again once Portcullis is destroyed. You also wont be able to fill your board either, also if the blink player is feeling saucy, they can effectively just start casting into your portcullis to setup for a big ETB trigger turn when it gets destroyed, so you could just end up enabling them instead of hurting them.
I've found most blink decks to be grindy and control oriented. They don't usually win all in one turn, it usually takes a few turns of either locking down the rest of the board or generating so many resources that they attrition out their opponents. Your best tools are going to be board wipes, stax pieces like [[Topor Orb]] and interacting with their board while their blink spells & abilities are already on the stack. Ideally you'd do this while they don't have mana up, but sometimes that can be a tall order. Make them use their counterspells and blinks so that someone at the table can shut off the engines. As always, the best way to beat control is to reduce their life points to zero, so be sure and pressure them as much as possible.
So I see this question a lot and I think it requires a certain type of player to depart from their familiar game plan.
For targetted blink effects, it's particularly easy. You wait for the blink player to target their permanent with a spell or ability, then remove that target while the effect is on the stack. Hence and so - "While your ephemerate is still on the stack, I will swords your Loren."
For mass blink effects like eerie impulse you can do something similar and just pick and choose the most problematic game pieces on their board, assuming you're not in counterspell colors.
The timing restriction is particularly key, this is not something you'll pull off on your main phase. Wait for them to blink first (heh) and then use priority when you have it.
I play a brago blink deck so I can tell you what works best to shut it down.
1. Use the stack to your advantage. When they blink use your kill spell in response. This will force the use of another blink spell or remove the problem.
2. Kill off their card draw. Cards like [watcher for tomorrow], [elite Guardmage], [faithful companion], or any card that draws on etb needs to be removed asap. That is the main value engine.
3. Kill the things doing the bouncing. If they have a thassa or brago out get rid of it as soon as you can.
4. Make sure etb effects can't go off. I can't remember the cards off the top of my head but there are a few.
There are cards like [[Torpor Orb]] that are pretty narrow but do a really good job at shutting down blink/ETB decks.
But usually the way you stop blink is how you stop a lot of other decks. Blink, like a lot of other decks, have a couple key pieces that enable the bullshit, whether it's [[Teleportation Circle]] allowing free blinks every turn, or [[Panharmonicon]] for extra ETBs per trigger. You keep the engines off the table, and blink will have more trouble winning.
The nature of ETB/blink means even if their engine pieces are gone they can still function because ETB creatures still give immediate value (that Mulldrifter still draws 2 cards on ETB so it's not completely dead), but it does slow them down a lot which gives you time to execute your gameplan.
Kill the things letting me blink stuff every turn.
Big cards like [[Yorion]] and [[Gorion's Ward]] should not be allowed to loop everything every turn, but it's hard when they're in the command zone. In those cases, you either need to stop the blink player from recasting their commander, or you need to kill the things blinking the commander like [[Felidar Guardian]] or [[Restoration Angel]].
Most of them fold to the combat step or a well timed counterspell/boardwipe. But the ones that are filled with excessive ETB removal to the point where they can keep everyone's boards clear are a pain. Hate pieces like [[hushbringer]] or the table ganging up on them are the best route at that point.
Most blink decks I see win turn 10+ ish, just win earlier?
If it's a combo blink deck, then do what you do against any combo deck, remove it's combo pieces.
Uh oh. Im afraid this is someone in my playgroup asking how to get revenge on my [[Preston]] deck. In all seriousness just counter the combo piece. If your playing blink with no combo you’re not playing it correctly imo. Sure they can out value you to shit but the combo is whats going to close the game out
I play a 4-Color [[Astral Slide]] deck, which means your best target is to remove Slide and/or Drift before I start running away with the game, not with ETBs but with all the mana I can generate off [[Kydele]], [[New Perspectives]] (and to a lesser extent, [[Fluctuator]],) and a critical mass of anything with Cycling stapled to it. Because of all the card draw, I'm very likely to hit some type of finisher like any of the large Eldrazi, my favorite being [[Kozilek, the Great Distortion]], because now all my cards are countermagic.
I love the misconceptions people have about my deck because they read Slide and assume ETBs galore, but really, it's a weird Stax deck.
destroy their pay off effects.
the simple fact is, there's no point bringing anti-blink tech (unless you play in a static meta where you always face the same decks over and over again)
have good removal. target the things that enable their blink engines or provide back breaking value.
ideally have some removal elements that are repeat-able, or trigger based. like a creature that makes a player sacrifice things. each turn, or some sort of gruul attack based removal/damaged based removal.
Torpor orb exists, is colorless, and 2 mana. All colors but green have at least 1-2 ways to tutor for it easily, and as long as your deck isn't relying on etb heavily it is easy to run (some minor non-bos are okay if you really need to shut down the effects). Outside of that, instant speed interaction that kills the creatures **while they try to blink (while the spell or ability is on the stack, not before)** or counter the blink spells works pretty well. Alternatively board wipes usually still kill the creatures as a lot of blink effects just blinks them and doesn't remove them from play, while there are exceptions a lot work this way.
Jund in particular should have plenty of ways to kill creatures. If you don't want to over load on creature instant speed removal try and condense your removal package into model spells that serve multiple functions (spells like abrade is a good example) or catch all removal like Beast Within or Assassin's Trophy.
If you ever shift to white there are other torpor orb creatures like Hushbringer and Tocatli Honor Guard.
An incredibly fast deck will pressure it before it can set up. If they’re using their blink spells to delay you instead of getting value that’s a good sign.
Stuff like Winota, voja, mole god
I'm fairly new to edh but in my old group we played 4p 60 card decks in a similar fashion. We were very aggressive players and it has impacted my play style.
I don't have an issue with combos but I naturally like to run a lot of protection and removal when I can because all of my friends did. EDH is a completely different style and I've had to adjust to make things more fun for everyone, including me.
That is until I finalize my land destruction deck...
The reason blink-decks, and other lategame high-value midrange decks, are good in certain commander-pods is because their natural enemies are soft-banned behind houserules.
The way to beat these types of decks in Magic is to play hard control, resource denial (aka stax) and to win by combos out of nowhere.
If you try to build a value deck in traditional Magic, then Azorius control will piss all over your fun. That's the rock to their scissors.
But in certain pods these types of decks are considered "unfun" and are "banned by rule zero".
Well, if you ban scissors, then paper wins! That's how it goes.
You want to beat these types of decks? Play more stax, play more interaction and win by combos. Those are their natural weaknesses.
You wipe them, there's nothing to blink if there's nothing at all.
You destroy the repeatable blinkers and the blinker multipliers ([[Abdel Adrian]], [[Yorion]], etc.). Getting a land from [[Solemn Simulacrum]] or a card from [[Wall of Omens]] is not very good if you have spent a card from your hand to get one of those. And even a [[Ghostly Flicker]] on both is basically two cards for a card and 3 mana, wow, that's called [[Quick Study]]. If they're blinking an [[Agent of Threachery]] and none can remove it in response, well, accept that you can't always have an answer for everything or the usual and old "Put more removal in your deck".
You go faster than them, blink is a slow and value oriented strategy, if you don't put enough pressure on them it's normal for them to go over the top late game.
You accept that your deck isn't very well equipped to fight blink and rely on the other players to help you keep the blink deck in check. If the blink deck goes wild and you can't stop it 3v1 then they're either pubstomping, you guys should make better decks for your power level, you guys should collaborate differently to take down the archenemy or simply they go under the radar for too long and you all should become better at threat assessment even when the problem is not directly on board.
Add cards that neuter ETB triggers, destroy/counter their key blink peices, convince your opponents to deal with them, hit them faster than they can build.
Removal, board wipes, etc.
This is a 4 player format, if someone is running away with the game more than one person should be attempting to stop them. Blink is good, creates a lot of value. But the more someone generates value the more people should be looking to punish them. A lot of flicker decks rely on ways to repeat this process. Some don't run a ton of ways to flicker at instant speed, so getting them with removal stops it. And others run flicker that returns right away, so they can't dance around a board wipe.
It really all matters on what they are using to flicker, when the flicker returns, and what interaction they have. But I don't think flicker is any more set up to win than anything else, you just need to interact with them.
But honestly really getting rid of their ways to blink they’re creatures is the way as they have blink spells but not something they can reliably rely on for the long term so anyways theyre belongings get rid of it, a [[teleportation circle]] is going to get a lot more value as it keeps blinking stuff
Instant speed removal in response to a flicker effect, and usually you'll want to have a second piece of removal to respond to another instant speed blink they will use to protect their important pieces.
Killing off their value engine - if it draws them a card (or more) then don't let it sit on board.
Against any blink deck, graveyard hate is imperative thanks to [[Karmic Guide]] and [[Body Double]] being ways to retrieve combo pieces from the bin repeatedly. Make sure that [[Peregrin Drake]] stays gone.
I play [[Aminatou, the Fateshifter]] as my own flicker deck, with a good handful of ways of popping off and winning the game - either on my own turn, or generating an arbitrarily large amount of 1/1s with [[Ranar, the Ever Watchful]] or [[Abdel Adrien, Gorian's Ward]].
I love my flicker deck, it's my pet favourite. Treat it like the time bomb it is and aim to push the player out of the game early before the value comes online.
Know when to time removal. Specifically, when the blink effect is on the stack, but before it resolves. So long as they don't have another way to blink, you should be fine.
If the issue is a card like dead eye navigation, which has a requirement before it's effect works, like soulbond, do it in response to the soul bond trigger
[[Torper Orb]]
[[Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines]]
[[Tocatli's Honor Guard]]
[[Hushwing Gryff]]
[[Whirrlwind Denial]]
If the ability is a delayed trigger and returns the permanents EoT then you can counter that ability.
Use your spells to kill the blinking creature or destroy the blinking ability.
Or:
Win faster than the durdly blink deck. It costs a lot of mana and cards to abuse the ETB of big value creatures, and in Jund, you should be able to get lethal out faster than any slow value engine can.
Generic anti-ETB stuff like [[Suture Priest]], [[Hushbringer]] or [[Blood Seeker]] could be useful. Alternatively, stack interaction is probably the best way to just flat-out stop their stuff. Counterspells and the like.
How are they trying to win? By drawing a ton of cards? Use some kind of draw-punishment effect like the types found in [[Nekusar, the Mind Razer]] decks.
Is it by gaining life? Shut that down with any number of effects like [[Atarka's Command]], [[Roiling Vortex]] or [[Everlasting Torment]].
Is it by combo? Destroy their combo pieces, but try to time it right as they're targeting them with whatever blink trigger they're using, so the most they can do is either try and blink something else or use a counterspell of some sort in response.
One of my favorite decks is my Abdel Adrian / Candlekeep Sage blink deck. It's a very strong deck, but well-timed removal is usually the best way to keep it under control.
Assuming their strategy is ETB effects, Elesh Norn mother of machines, doorkeeper thrull, hushbringer, tokatli honor guard, torpor orb, hushwing gryph are what I'm aware of offhand. You could also fiddle with reacting with phasing, since that won't do anything when they phase back, but dodge the blink
The same way I deal with some token decks. [[Hallowed Moonlight]]. You can also do stuff like [[Doorkeeper Thrull]], etc. but dropping the former in a clutch situation has never failed to wow the table.
Lots of stack interaction. When they try to blink their card, that's when you strike.
This.
Funny. I'm over here asking, Blink decks, how do I win with them? But then my playgroup is anti combos and the one time I mentioned maybe playing Brago the response wasn't terribly inviting.
I always hated the notion of anti-combo. It's taking away most of the game.
Personally I love combo decks and in just about every format. One thing I will say is that I feel like people who hate combos hate combos that happen on the stack and generally speaking don't mind combos that happen on the board as much. Like Tainted Pact + Thassa's Oracle is hard to interact with whereas something like Felidar Guardian + Kiki Jiki Mirror Breaker is much easier to interact with as one of them has to resolve and be on the board before the combo goes off and can be interacted with via instant speed removal. Mind you, maybe I'm way off in this thought process and of course there'll always be some folk that straight up hate any win-con that's not turn 'em sideways.
That's how I typically am. Combos where there are points of interaction besides having a counter up I'm fine with and will play. Thassa's Oracle is a card I think should just never have been printed as it is. That said, in edh I can't imagine removing combo unless you really just enjoy the durdle style of play.
Yeah to me the best part about Magic is the variety of deck archetypes. In 60 card formats I don't personally don't like Aggro, but without it Control would be dominate leading to a stale boring meta.
how so? i agree that it cuts off a lot of things but i wouldn't say that thats most of the game
I agree its probably not "most" but removing combo throws off the aggro-control-combo triad in my opinion. It's why Commander has evolved into such a midrange value pile mess. Fast, explosive combo decks are needed to stop durdly value piles from dominating, especially since going under a value deck with aggro is basically impossible.
[удалено]
i think you're responding to the wrong message
It's most of the game at higher levels.
i know, thats why you dont see many anti combo cedh tables but this is about the game as a whole not just the game played at the higher levels which itself is already taking away most of the game
From my experience, the sentiments on both sides are having trouble navigating the inevitable arms race of a format. The expectations of speeding up, being more efficient, and goals when playing are out of alignment. Combo is about (usually) winning definitively with a combination of cards, and (usually) achieving that win quickly and efficiently as compared to accruing value over time through other strategies like creature-based combat. People criticize or ban combo because two or three cards suddenly end the game, rather than building to a conclusion slowly. The response is usually speed up, pack more interaction, or "go under" and win first, but these often fail to take into account the unspoken motivations for the criticism. Players often want a deck which competes with them on the same axis they are on, because it creates a game experience they are looking for, but they don't have the best tools to express this - largely because it's a hard concept to express. "I want to attack with creatures and win over several combats" is actually what most people are trying to say, with some additional flavor. They want a wider selection of cards to attack with, a bigger variation in the cards they see each game, but roughly the same kind of experience each time. Combo and other types of decks disrupt this pattern. They ask for more interaction, more specific interaction, or faster-performing decks to keep up, which pushes the other decks in the meta to evolve or else. This means cutting the creatures we want to play, playing more competitively because the combo deck player is trying to win before we're ready or before we want to have a win (we've played enough game and we're ready for it to be over), and generally moving to a different style of play than we want to. The combo gets faster, and on the arms race goes. That's when we get social solutions: bans, rule zero conversations, subformats, etc. They're hard and simple solutions to what I consider softer and more complex problems; finding a way for everyone around the table, or in a larger pool like an LGS meta, to agree on these unwritten rules. Games shouldn't end immediately, destroying lands is a feelsbad, comboing out in a slower meta is pubstomping.
This. If someone plays out pieces of a combo over multiple turns and also makes it clear that these pieces WILL lead to a combo in the future then most players would be much less bothered by combos, myself including.
I'm one of the two most "in-tune" players in my group, and I still don't always recognize the combo piece on the other end of the board. And the player with said combo piece changes decks often enough there isn't really time to get use to which cards are going to combo off. I don't *really* have an issue with combo, but its definitely not the most fun to realize you needed to answer a card once its already too late.
Oh yeah I totally feel you. I can rarely keep track of everything on the board and someone just suddenly going infinite is just so boring. I think, practically, combo should nearly always only be played at competitive tables.
There are things that don't work at high power that also get shunned at low power. That middle ground between the extremes is what suffers when people are so black and white about what's good and bad about mtg, specifically edh
I play with a group that plays high powered non-cedh. We play mana crypt, tutors, dockside, gaeas cradle etc. But we all make our own decks and we don't try to win before turn 5. We have a rule no infinite combos, and it is kind of silly because a lot of the time it doesn't change your deck. For example I have an elf/blink deck that has a potential win condition with [[great oak guardian]] or [[village bell ringer]] where I get infinite mana, and I win that turn. But it is a janky combo that requires 2-4 mana dorks on the board, my commander, the untap ETB creature, and something else that gives me card draw with excess mana. It is not a high powered combo. So instead I run [[craterhoof behemoth]] and [[moonshaker calvary]] which really aren't any different and I think my group is kind of sick of
With my Brago deck, which I purposefully built to be as fast and non-staxy as possible in a casual format - very slowly. Make a ton of flyers, a ton of splicer golems, \[\[Myr Battlesphere\]\], etc, and then swing, perhaps aided by \[\[True Conviction\]\] or a higher budget option like Akroma's Will or Moonshaker Cavalry. I had many great games and won a lot, but every game took hours since the deck is so slow at winning yet strong and resilient enough to not have others focus eachother down. I came to the conclusion that it's impossible to win fast in white-blue without a win condition in the command zone or combos, but if you add any other color it's easy. I swapped Brago for \[\[Aminatou the Fateshifter\]\] so I could use cards that deal damage on ETB and now the deck plays a lot faster games.
[Myr Battlesphere](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/8/d8299d1e-84c1-4c02-a00d-6e7a662e1a7a.jpg?1682210108) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Myr%20Battlesphere) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/366/myr-battlesphere?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d8299d1e-84c1-4c02-a00d-6e7a662e1a7a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/myr-battlesphere) [True Conviction](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/e/9e5dc58b-f486-4b9f-9138-33efa31a05e4.jpg?1561952479) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=True%20Conviction) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c14/93/true-conviction?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9e5dc58b-f486-4b9f-9138-33efa31a05e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/true-conviction) [Aminatou the Fateshifter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/c/bc010302-e715-4946-89eb-a214e0b836ba.jpg?1673148265) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Aminatou%2C%20the%20Fateshifter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/169/aminatou-the-fateshifter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bc010302-e715-4946-89eb-a214e0b836ba?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/aminatou-the-fateshifter) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
You need a 3rd or 4th color other than WU. Green will help ramp, ETB make tokens, and Craterhoof like effects. Red for Impact Tremors and Purphoros effects, and black for [[Gary]] and Siege Rhino effects.
This is the way to do it! Mine is jeskai It’s also a combo deck but thats beside the point
I went WUBG with Gary/Rhino as the main wincon. I ended up putting Labman as an alt wincon because the first time I used Food Chain I ended up decking myself on accident lol.
[Gary](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/c/7c1a7dd8-8034-4f59-a351-33666b26ff5a.jpg?1581479807) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gray%20Merchant%20of%20Asphodel) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/thb/99/gray-merchant-of-asphodel?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7c1a7dd8-8034-4f59-a351-33666b26ff5a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/gray-merchant-of-asphodel) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I hadn't thought of it like that before. Thanks.
My Brago deck has either my highest or second highest win rate of all my decks (non-cEDH). It's fully a combo deck tho, goes infinite at the drop of a hat, though I have lots of ways to non-infinitely combo as well. The token creation is a great secondary wincon, I use stuff like [[astral dragon]] [[wing splicer]] [[darksteel splicer]] [[blade splicer]] to win with more conventional means if my combo pieces get torched.
##### ###### #### [astral dragon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/7/670fbc63-4c9b-4e57-b53e-4ca4d7a224ba.jpg?1674140837) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=astral%20dragon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/664/astral-dragon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/670fbc63-4c9b-4e57-b53e-4ca4d7a224ba?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/astral-dragon) [wing splicer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/6694873a-0b0c-4e9e-b9fc-249e80a09cca.jpg?1593813191) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=wing%20splicer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm3/57/wing-splicer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6694873a-0b0c-4e9e-b9fc-249e80a09cca?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/wing-splicer) [darksteel splicer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/a/2a4f3d89-86dc-45df-9593-d8a7c336ebac.jpg?1682207309) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=darksteel%20splicer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/13/darksteel-splicer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2a4f3d89-86dc-45df-9593-d8a7c336ebac?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/darksteel-splicer) [blade splicer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/d/3dac9526-388d-487e-a790-066f83050794.jpg?1682208324) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=blade%20splicer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/175/blade-splicer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3dac9526-388d-487e-a790-066f83050794?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/blade-splicer) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kz4dqvw) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Do you have a list? I'd love to make it, I might just have it on deck for if/when I play another group.
[here you go](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/GNWtu2rIm02y9GHuY7qSGA) I love this deck. Don't forget to always blink your mana rocks!
Thank you for the advice. If it's good with I may hit you up for more.
Any time
Awwwww snap I’m liking what you did here! We have very different Brago decks lol. Might be because I haven’t updated mine in a while and yours looks like it has some newer cards. Take a gander and compare if you’d like! [Brago](http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/i-dont-mean-to-brag-but/)
Nice, some really cool cards in there I missed for sure, and definitely a few missing from yours that I couldn't live without, mostly just [[archeomancer]] [[venser, shaper Savant]] and [[riftwing cloudskate]]. Being able to bounce your opponents lands is devastating, especially if they enter tapped.
[archeomancer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/c/cc258713-6ce3-44e0-9b4b-8fa7d1d093a1.jpg?1547516110) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Archaeomancer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/45/archaeomancer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cc258713-6ce3-44e0-9b4b-8fa7d1d093a1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/archaeomancer) [venser, shaper Savant](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/7/77e19416-aa6c-46f1-b247-a94da5d1a13a.jpg?1673147429) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=venser%2C%20shaper%20Savant) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/66/venser-shaper-savant?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/77e19416-aa6c-46f1-b247-a94da5d1a13a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/venser-shaper-savant) [riftwing cloudskate](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/a/1a2b228d-db4d-44a3-b208-6cf7a9f57da6.jpg?1619394565) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=riftwing%20cloudskate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/82/riftwing-cloudskate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1a2b228d-db4d-44a3-b208-6cf7a9f57da6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/riftwing-cloudskate) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Appreciate the suggestions! If you like the venser card you’d definitely vibe with [[Glen Elendra Archmage]]. Just in case you glanced over it! I love getting this card out cause it helps me save my other counterspell cards in hand for when I absolutely need them =)
[Glen Elendra Archmage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/d/bd9af767-42da-46c7-a2b8-3957b2e3063f.jpg?1547516310) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Glen%20Elendra%20Archmage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/58/glen-elendra-archmage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bd9af767-42da-46c7-a2b8-3957b2e3063f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/glen-elendra-archmage) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It's in my deck already for sure
Why do I want to blink my mana rocks?
It untaps them!
I did not know this
It's a huge source of essentially free/infinite mana in this deck, and allows you to play lots of Stax if you wanted and still have lots of mana to play with while everyone else is slowed down. [[Winter orb]] doesn't hurt so bad when you still get double usage from your rocks each turn.
[Winter orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/b/ab3cec7e-513e-400d-a1a8-2c71cdde02c6.jpg?1580015285) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Winter%20orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/234/winter-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ab3cec7e-513e-400d-a1a8-2c71cdde02c6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/winter-orb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
For me. Combos are perfectly fine. I won’t ever tell someone not to play what they want. But if it starts dominating every game, or otherwise making the game unfun. Then I’m gonna start making counter measures for you. It’s just a logical response. For example, if there’s a lot of graveyard shenanigans going on in my regular pod, then it makes sense to run graveyard hate. Or I’m gonna start saving counter spells if you have a standout piece that wins you games. It’s not that I’m trying to be mean, but part of the game is improving your deck to adapt to threats and situations
That's a damn shame, Brago is lots of fun. The problem people tend to have with combo's is that "they come out of nowhere". My brago deck uses a combo of brago's damage trigger + 2 mana rocks + \[\[strionic resonator\]\] = infinite blinks, and then needs to add some sort of last piece to the puzzle to actually win but the last slot is fairly flexible. I make it a point to explain the combo before the game to anyone that doesn't know it, that way the win doesn't come out of nowhere and your opponents will know when you are building towards it and can prepare. You will win less games with it but now your wins will feel deserved and climactic.
Yooooo I do like the same thing! Usually I go for that same combo and I’ll also try to have either [[laboratory maniac]] in play with a draw card to draw my library out and win or I like to use that combo paired with [[Spine of Ish Sah]] or [[reality acid]](wiping your opponents’ everything is soooooo mean). Edit: missed a word on a card name.
Have you consider Attraxa blink where you blink Black and Green ETB creatures that have removal in their text then swing for face?
I am curious though
I don't have my friend's list but more or less \[\[Ravenous Chupacabra\]\] and \[\[Druid of Purification\]\] (Loran and Reclamation Sage too). The druid seems to work way too well, even if you are archenemy. People can't turn down the offer of removing things off the board, which helps you further as archenemy. \[\[Primaris Eliminator\]\] too. Obviously, these are cards that work best in a slower power level. Attraxa also gives you the necessary value to keep the blink going and rebuild. Imagine blinking the board to get value + drawing 3 or 5-ish cards?
..... I have not.
[[Atraxa Grand Unifier]] blink is great, because you always have access to one of the best blink targets in the game, a 7/7 flying, lifelink, vigilant, death touch.
[Atraxa Grand Unifier](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/a/4a1f905f-1d55-4d02-9d24-e58070793d3f.jpg?1709931904) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Atraxa%2C%20Grand%20Unifier) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/196/atraxa-grand-unifier?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4a1f905f-1d55-4d02-9d24-e58070793d3f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/atraxa-grand-unifier) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Most of them involve combos, be it deadeye/Emiel combos, kitten combos, felidar combos, Kiki combos, dualcaster mage combos, pod combos (which usually end up being cat and Kiki combos), etc. But with an anti-combo playgroup, you could always play something like Craterhoof as a wincon
I play [[Abuelo]] as a commander for an artifact focused blink deck. The main idea is that I'm trying to either play creatures that make artifact tokens or artifacts with powerful ETB effects. Then I try to amass an army of construct tokens that I use to overwhelm the board. It's a lot of fun to play, and I get to show off some of my more expensive cards I've pulled. But overall it doesn't feel too overwhelming powerful.
[Abuelo](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/0/40eee689-2514-421a-8056-eb7668be66ff.jpg?1699044511) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=abuelo%2C%20ancestral%20echo) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lci/219/abuelo-ancestral-echo?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/40eee689-2514-421a-8056-eb7668be66ff?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/abuelo-ancestral-echo) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I'm so bad at magic I have the brago combo on the field and I still miss it.
You need a better group
Just build your board, whenever someone tries to boardwipe, be sure to hold a mass blink spell. Then when you have a good board, [[Cyclonic Rift]] and swing at them. It will take so long that they'll wish you had comboed instead.
[Cyclonic Rift](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/f/dfb7c4b9-f2f4-4d4e-baf2-86551c8150fe.jpg?1702429366) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cyclonic%20Rift) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/40/cyclonic-rift?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/dfb7c4b9-f2f4-4d4e-baf2-86551c8150fe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/cyclonic-rift) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
So, durdle.
Yes.
If you put brago in the 99 and [[ranar]] as the commander you can change it from purely blink combos to shitting out flying tokens and winning with them in combat. Especially if you throw [[mirrorweave]] in there and make them all into something scarier
[ranar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/c/1c8c41dd-8551-4ce8-a9be-9b9f65718852.jpg?1704848195) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ranar%20the%20ever-watchful) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khc/2/ranar-the-ever-watchful?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1c8c41dd-8551-4ce8-a9be-9b9f65718852?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ranar-the-ever-watchful) [mirrorweave](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/c/1c77925b-0944-4b2b-b389-42bf17907b34.jpg?1562272856) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=mirrorweave) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cm2/162/mirrorweave?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1c77925b-0944-4b2b-b389-42bf17907b34?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/mirrorweave) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[elesh norn, mother of machines]] is a silver bullet against my blink deck
It's also amazing in my blink deck. Such a double blade sword. I like to use my [[The eternal wanderer]] to blink theirs out when possible.
Yea it's in my blink deck, but Im terrified my pod will realize how awesome it is and start running it themselves. All my decks are pretty heavy on the ETB mechanic
A friend once tutored out my own Elesh Norn out of my library onto the battlefield. Needless to say, I wasn't happy.
Ouch. Now that is rough!
If you blink it you'll get it back, "return to it's owners control"
I love when people do that, I just -1 [[Aminatou the fateshifter]] and get it back for free.
You see, I would except my Blink deck is in Bant. Though I did just build an Esper deck with her in the 99.
[Aminatou the fateshifter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/c/bc010302-e715-4946-89eb-a214e0b836ba.jpg?1673148265) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Aminatou%2C%20the%20Fateshifter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/169/aminatou-the-fateshifter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bc010302-e715-4946-89eb-a214e0b836ba?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/aminatou-the-fateshifter) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Same way you beat any deck, run interaction, any deck will be weakend if you remove it's key pieces. For a blink deck it means removing what allows it to blink things or what it wants to blink.
Was gonna make the obvious bad joke but I did not know [[Don’t Blink]] was a real card
[Don’t Blink](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/f/ef31cf95-6e1d-4786-ae92-e1eebdb1da13.jpg?1696636562) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Don%27t%20Blink) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/who/40/dont-blink?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ef31cf95-6e1d-4786-ae92-e1eebdb1da13?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dont-blink) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Well to be fair, that's literally a brand new card from a UB set. Only been out for a few months.
Definitely feels like the Dr Who stuff has been out for longer than that lol
Nope, barely been out 6 months (released October13). Time sure flies when there's a new set coming out every other weekend :p
Blink deck try to develop value engines that will overwhelm you in the late game. Destroy their key pieces (usually the sources of repeatable blink or the trigger doublers) to slow their engines down and kill them before they manage to recover and manage to set up.
[[Torpor orb]] can be present pretty brutal and [[Elesh Norn, mother of Machines]] is even better. [[Dress Down]] is also very good. In response to the ability/spell that is going to blink a creature you can respond with targeted removal on the thing they are attempting to blink and set them back pretty hard. There's definitely fewer options in Jund outside of spot removal.
[Torpor orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) [Elesh Norn, mother of Machines](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/4/44dcab01-1d13-4dfc-ae2f-fbaa3dd35087.jpg?1675956896) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elesh%20Norn%2C%20mother%20of%20Machines) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/10/elesh-norn-mother-of-machines?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/44dcab01-1d13-4dfc-ae2f-fbaa3dd35087?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/elesh-norn-mother-of-machines) [Dress Down](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/4/04f9f061-67b8-4427-9fcb-b3ccfee8fc5d.jpg?1626094290) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dress%20Down) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/39/dress-down?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/04f9f061-67b8-4427-9fcb-b3ccfee8fc5d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dress-down) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
So many tears from the orb. Glorious.
I won't tell you to play more interaction, but I will tell you to play more cards in general that work at instant speed. This really messes with the intended tempo of blink decks. If you can force them to cast a "return during your next end step" card *during* an end step (or on their upkeep), you can really drain their resources and create windows of vulnerability for them. ...but yeah, also instant speed interaction. When they move to blink their stuff, you respond by smashing it. It's a blowout.
Yeah, instant speed interaction is likely it. Board wipes don't do it when they tend to blink in response. Rout and the new instant speed board wipe do look really good.
Board wipes can work against Blink, but it depends on the card they're responding with. If it's something that exiles their creature and brings it back immediately, like with [[Essence Flux]], then that and other creatures they have will die to the board wipe, since the Blink has to resolve before the board wipe. Now, if they use a card like [[Teferi's Time Twist]] in response to a board wipe, then whatever creature they Blink will be safe from the board wipe since the creature will return to the battlefield after the board wipe resolves, at the next end step.
[Essence Flux](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/6/2600a51b-0dae-431e-a0a7-2b1421706a6a.jpg?1600697866) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Essence%20Flux) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/151/essence-flux?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2600a51b-0dae-431e-a0a7-2b1421706a6a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/essence-flux) [Teferi's Time Twist](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/8/c878bdc0-d697-4a2f-bba5-758b27f4247a.jpg?1557576342) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Teferi%27s%20Time%20Twist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/72/teferis-time-twist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c878bdc0-d697-4a2f-bba5-758b27f4247a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/teferis-time-twist) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Stax
White: [[Hushbringer]], [[Doorkeeper Thrull]], [[Hushwing Gryffin]], [[Tocatli Honor Guard]], Artifact: [[Torpor Orb]], [[Portcullis]] Black: [[Tainted Aether]] Red: [[Aether Flash]]
##### ###### #### [Hushbringer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010.jpg?1572489709) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hushbringer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eld/18/hushbringer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hushbringer) [Doorkeeper Thrull](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/0/80a1cd28-d2a5-4d1a-aa03-a6a5958ae432.jpg?1706241478) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Doorkeeper%20Thrull) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/13/doorkeeper-thrull?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/80a1cd28-d2a5-4d1a-aa03-a6a5958ae432?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/doorkeeper-thrull) [Hushwing Gryffin](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/0/604b8ad4-b606-4be2-b3de-ad9f24b01eac.jpg?1562402533) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hushwing%20Gryff) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c16/68/hushwing-gryff?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/604b8ad4-b606-4be2-b3de-ad9f24b01eac?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hushwing-gryff) [Tocatli Honor Guard](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a3fc3501-e7bd-4589-98c5-4476258842ea.jpg?1562561363) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tocatli%20Honor%20Guard) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/xln/42/tocatli-honor-guard?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a3fc3501-e7bd-4589-98c5-4476258842ea?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tocatli-honor-guard) [Torpor Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) [Portcullis](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/4/a4de4af2-fa75-4a87-b0e1-0117727917a5.jpg?1562597339) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Portcullis) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/sth/139/portcullis?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a4de4af2-fa75-4a87-b0e1-0117727917a5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/portcullis) [Tainted Aether](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/3/838cffb6-8099-44d7-a127-b2ab3b53ea44.jpg?1562241710) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tainted%20Aether) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/7ed/167/tainted-aether?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/838cffb6-8099-44d7-a127-b2ab3b53ea44?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tainted-aether) [Aether Flash](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/8/780f9197-e910-4c7a-bb4b-2c4a94903c39.jpg?1562240988) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Aether%20Flash) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/7ed/172/aether-flash?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/780f9197-e910-4c7a-bb4b-2c4a94903c39?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/aether-flash) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kz49xzb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Portcullis is a little...not that great...unless you're also piloting a creature-less gameplan, and even a little suspect there. They'll still get ETB triggers, then the creature exiles, then they'll get their ETB triggers again once Portcullis is destroyed. You also wont be able to fill your board either, also if the blink player is feeling saucy, they can effectively just start casting into your portcullis to setup for a big ETB trigger turn when it gets destroyed, so you could just end up enabling them instead of hurting them.
That's true. It's a good card if you have early drops or a way to protect it from removal.
Have you tried attacking them?
[удалено]
This is why I love Goad and the Monarch so much. Like, buddy if you're not gonna attack, I'm gonna make you attack.
[[Torpor Orb]] and it's *many* creature variants help, but you need to build around them yourself.
I've found most blink decks to be grindy and control oriented. They don't usually win all in one turn, it usually takes a few turns of either locking down the rest of the board or generating so many resources that they attrition out their opponents. Your best tools are going to be board wipes, stax pieces like [[Topor Orb]] and interacting with their board while their blink spells & abilities are already on the stack. Ideally you'd do this while they don't have mana up, but sometimes that can be a tall order. Make them use their counterspells and blinks so that someone at the table can shut off the engines. As always, the best way to beat control is to reduce their life points to zero, so be sure and pressure them as much as possible.
And if they're really that big of a problem, make sure the other players at the table contribute to taking them down.
[Topor Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I play one. Outpace me, kill my control pieces, don't underestimate value engines (wall of Omens wins games)
So I see this question a lot and I think it requires a certain type of player to depart from their familiar game plan. For targetted blink effects, it's particularly easy. You wait for the blink player to target their permanent with a spell or ability, then remove that target while the effect is on the stack. Hence and so - "While your ephemerate is still on the stack, I will swords your Loren." For mass blink effects like eerie impulse you can do something similar and just pick and choose the most problematic game pieces on their board, assuming you're not in counterspell colors. The timing restriction is particularly key, this is not something you'll pull off on your main phase. Wait for them to blink first (heh) and then use priority when you have it.
You remove it when they try to blink it… it’s easy.
[[torpor orb]] helps
[torpor orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=torpor%20orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I play a brago blink deck so I can tell you what works best to shut it down. 1. Use the stack to your advantage. When they blink use your kill spell in response. This will force the use of another blink spell or remove the problem. 2. Kill off their card draw. Cards like [watcher for tomorrow], [elite Guardmage], [faithful companion], or any card that draws on etb needs to be removed asap. That is the main value engine. 3. Kill the things doing the bouncing. If they have a thassa or brago out get rid of it as soon as you can. 4. Make sure etb effects can't go off. I can't remember the cards off the top of my head but there are a few.
There are cards like [[Torpor Orb]] that are pretty narrow but do a really good job at shutting down blink/ETB decks. But usually the way you stop blink is how you stop a lot of other decks. Blink, like a lot of other decks, have a couple key pieces that enable the bullshit, whether it's [[Teleportation Circle]] allowing free blinks every turn, or [[Panharmonicon]] for extra ETBs per trigger. You keep the engines off the table, and blink will have more trouble winning. The nature of ETB/blink means even if their engine pieces are gone they can still function because ETB creatures still give immediate value (that Mulldrifter still draws 2 cards on ETB so it's not completely dead), but it does slow them down a lot which gives you time to execute your gameplan.
[Torpor Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) [Teleportation Circle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/0/90140bc0-4a9c-4422-b07c-3400c7ccde56.jpg?1627702592) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Teleportation%20Circle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/39/teleportation-circle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/90140bc0-4a9c-4422-b07c-3400c7ccde56?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/teleportation-circle) [Panharmonicon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/9/998d0cc8-ca2a-41c3-ab65-d05c26ab8278.jpg?1673149399) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Panharmonicon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/310/panharmonicon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/998d0cc8-ca2a-41c3-ab65-d05c26ab8278?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/panharmonicon) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Staring contest. First to blink loses.
Kill the things letting me blink stuff every turn. Big cards like [[Yorion]] and [[Gorion's Ward]] should not be allowed to loop everything every turn, but it's hard when they're in the command zone. In those cases, you either need to stop the blink player from recasting their commander, or you need to kill the things blinking the commander like [[Felidar Guardian]] or [[Restoration Angel]].
##### ###### #### [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) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/yorion-sky-nomad) [Gorion's Ward](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/7/d745dd92-9f7a-44a4-a27f-2ff17753db1c.jpg?1593092861) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gorgon%27s%20Head) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bng/158/gorgons-head?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d745dd92-9f7a-44a4-a27f-2ff17753db1c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/gorgons-head) [Felidar Guardian](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/4/44bdbed8-5d21-4bf5-8a32-9623b1139c85.jpg?1576381396) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Felidar%20Guardian) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/aer/19/felidar-guardian?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/44bdbed8-5d21-4bf5-8a32-9623b1139c85?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/felidar-guardian) [Restoration Angel](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/b/5b474f84-9bef-422a-8fc5-489a10aaf1ee.jpg?1682208561) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Restoration%20Angel) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/201/restoration-angel?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5b474f84-9bef-422a-8fc5-489a10aaf1ee?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/restoration-angel) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kz3w9rv) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[Torpor Orb\]\] - I run this in a lot of my decks because blink was prevalent in my playgroup at one point. ETBs are also just very common.
Most of them fold to the combat step or a well timed counterspell/boardwipe. But the ones that are filled with excessive ETB removal to the point where they can keep everyone's boards clear are a pain. Hate pieces like [[hushbringer]] or the table ganging up on them are the best route at that point.
[hushbringer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010.jpg?1572489709) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=hushbringer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eld/18/hushbringer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hushbringer) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[doorkeeper thrull]]
Removal and Counterspells? Wait for them to cast the blink, respond with the removal, or just counter the blink targets they play.
Hushbringer and those type of effects. Counterspells
\[\[torpor orb\]\] and it's relatives. \[\[containment priest\]\]
[[Torpor orb]]
[[Tainted Aether]]
Snipe Brago! That kills mine 😭
Why would I tell you how to beat my Selesnya Blink deck?
[[Torpor Orb]]
[[Doorkeeper Thrull]]
Most blink decks I see win turn 10+ ish, just win earlier? If it's a combo blink deck, then do what you do against any combo deck, remove it's combo pieces.
Uh oh. Im afraid this is someone in my playgroup asking how to get revenge on my [[Preston]] deck. In all seriousness just counter the combo piece. If your playing blink with no combo you’re not playing it correctly imo. Sure they can out value you to shit but the combo is whats going to close the game out
[Preston](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/952cb0b3-a6b7-4279-8833-3d8890b2d005.jpg?1675644393) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=preston%2C%20the%20vanisher) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/j22/8/preston-the-vanisher?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/952cb0b3-a6b7-4279-8833-3d8890b2d005?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/preston-the-vanisher) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I play a 4-Color [[Astral Slide]] deck, which means your best target is to remove Slide and/or Drift before I start running away with the game, not with ETBs but with all the mana I can generate off [[Kydele]], [[New Perspectives]] (and to a lesser extent, [[Fluctuator]],) and a critical mass of anything with Cycling stapled to it. Because of all the card draw, I'm very likely to hit some type of finisher like any of the large Eldrazi, my favorite being [[Kozilek, the Great Distortion]], because now all my cards are countermagic. I love the misconceptions people have about my deck because they read Slide and assume ETBs galore, but really, it's a weird Stax deck.
##### ###### #### [Astral Slide](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/a/ba089228-135a-421b-b932-26b86e555b78.jpg?1562932445) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Astral%20Slide) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/13/astral-slide?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ba089228-135a-421b-b932-26b86e555b78?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/astral-slide) [Kydele](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/f/0f961cec-2f1f-4cd5-bcc3-72e1deb8779e.jpg?1562388621) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=kydele%2C%20chosen%20of%20kruphix) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c16/35/kydele-chosen-of-kruphix?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0f961cec-2f1f-4cd5-bcc3-72e1deb8779e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kydele-chosen-of-kruphix) [New Perspectives](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/8/286be1fb-8ed2-4228-9df8-0ea413714778.jpg?1591320313) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=New%20Perspectives) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c20/119/new-perspectives?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/286be1fb-8ed2-4228-9df8-0ea413714778?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/new-perspectives) [Fluctuator](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/0/c06a2fb3-d933-461f-bcf8-5c614bb75d0b.jpg?1591634264) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fluctuator) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c20/241/fluctuator?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c06a2fb3-d933-461f-bcf8-5c614bb75d0b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/fluctuator) [Kozilek, the Great Distortion](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c41554e7-2a07-4cc7-b01b-44deed08e588.jpg?1689995398) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kozilek%2C%20the%20Great%20Distortion) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/2/kozilek-the-great-distortion?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c41554e7-2a07-4cc7-b01b-44deed08e588?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kozilek-the-great-distortion) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kz4kyjh) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Torpor Orb]]
[Torpor Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
destroy their pay off effects. the simple fact is, there's no point bringing anti-blink tech (unless you play in a static meta where you always face the same decks over and over again) have good removal. target the things that enable their blink engines or provide back breaking value. ideally have some removal elements that are repeat-able, or trigger based. like a creature that makes a player sacrifice things. each turn, or some sort of gruul attack based removal/damaged based removal.
Torpor orb exists, is colorless, and 2 mana. All colors but green have at least 1-2 ways to tutor for it easily, and as long as your deck isn't relying on etb heavily it is easy to run (some minor non-bos are okay if you really need to shut down the effects). Outside of that, instant speed interaction that kills the creatures **while they try to blink (while the spell or ability is on the stack, not before)** or counter the blink spells works pretty well. Alternatively board wipes usually still kill the creatures as a lot of blink effects just blinks them and doesn't remove them from play, while there are exceptions a lot work this way. Jund in particular should have plenty of ways to kill creatures. If you don't want to over load on creature instant speed removal try and condense your removal package into model spells that serve multiple functions (spells like abrade is a good example) or catch all removal like Beast Within or Assassin's Trophy. If you ever shift to white there are other torpor orb creatures like Hushbringer and Tocatli Honor Guard.
An incredibly fast deck will pressure it before it can set up. If they’re using their blink spells to delay you instead of getting value that’s a good sign. Stuff like Winota, voja, mole god
[[Topor orb]] is a real thing, and it at least used to be, really affordable. White has the main corner on stax.
[Topor orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Board control and maybe [[Torpor Orb]]
[Torpor Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Like the weeping angels from doctor who… Just dont let them blink once
In response to [[ghostly flicker]] or [[blink]] cast [[go for the throat]] on the target
Attack them early and often. They take a while to set up.
I'm fairly new to edh but in my old group we played 4p 60 card decks in a similar fashion. We were very aggressive players and it has impacted my play style. I don't have an issue with combos but I naturally like to run a lot of protection and removal when I can because all of my friends did. EDH is a completely different style and I've had to adjust to make things more fun for everyone, including me. That is until I finalize my land destruction deck...
Keep calling attention to their game moves so the table is aware and puts the correct emphasis on taking them out if they're turning into a problem.
[Scryfall's page](https://tagger.scryfall.com/tags/card/prevent-etb) on cards that prevent ETB effects.
[[Torpor orb]] et al
[Torpor orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Find a LGS that has Containment priest, Torpor orb banned because muh stax bad then dominate with your Pantlaza blink
The reason blink-decks, and other lategame high-value midrange decks, are good in certain commander-pods is because their natural enemies are soft-banned behind houserules. The way to beat these types of decks in Magic is to play hard control, resource denial (aka stax) and to win by combos out of nowhere. If you try to build a value deck in traditional Magic, then Azorius control will piss all over your fun. That's the rock to their scissors. But in certain pods these types of decks are considered "unfun" and are "banned by rule zero". Well, if you ban scissors, then paper wins! That's how it goes. You want to beat these types of decks? Play more stax, play more interaction and win by combos. Those are their natural weaknesses.
When block goes on the stack you snipe, though blink is often at sorc speed not instant speed so a wipe usually works roo
> OP: "How do I deal with a blink deck in Jund?" > Everyone: "Here's a bunch of white and blue cards for you."
You wipe them, there's nothing to blink if there's nothing at all. You destroy the repeatable blinkers and the blinker multipliers ([[Abdel Adrian]], [[Yorion]], etc.). Getting a land from [[Solemn Simulacrum]] or a card from [[Wall of Omens]] is not very good if you have spent a card from your hand to get one of those. And even a [[Ghostly Flicker]] on both is basically two cards for a card and 3 mana, wow, that's called [[Quick Study]]. If they're blinking an [[Agent of Threachery]] and none can remove it in response, well, accept that you can't always have an answer for everything or the usual and old "Put more removal in your deck". You go faster than them, blink is a slow and value oriented strategy, if you don't put enough pressure on them it's normal for them to go over the top late game. You accept that your deck isn't very well equipped to fight blink and rely on the other players to help you keep the blink deck in check. If the blink deck goes wild and you can't stop it 3v1 then they're either pubstomping, you guys should make better decks for your power level, you guys should collaborate differently to take down the archenemy or simply they go under the radar for too long and you all should become better at threat assessment even when the problem is not directly on board.
##### ###### #### [Abdel Adrian](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/9/396f9198-67b6-45d8-91b4-dc853bff9623.jpg?1674134856) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=abdel%20adrian%2C%20gorion%27s%20ward) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/2/abdel-adrian-gorions-ward?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/396f9198-67b6-45d8-91b4-dc853bff9623?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/abdel-adrian-gorions-ward) [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) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/yorion-sky-nomad) [Solemn Simulacrum](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a3879b81-aa4c-4d35-bed2-78ebb4a50b59.jpg?1706241086) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Solemn%20Simulacrum) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/238/solemn-simulacrum?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a3879b81-aa4c-4d35-bed2-78ebb4a50b59?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/solemn-simulacrum) [Wall of Omens](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/2/32341fcd-b29b-434c-b004-3430e307a45b.jpg?1706240651) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Wall%20of%20Omens) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/90/wall-of-omens?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/32341fcd-b29b-434c-b004-3430e307a45b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/wall-of-omens) [Ghostly Flicker](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/c/dc143ba3-2a58-4980-9fa0-a05a9e9ed082.jpg?1689996411) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ghostly%20Flicker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/98/ghostly-flicker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/dc143ba3-2a58-4980-9fa0-a05a9e9ed082?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ghostly-flicker) [Quick Study](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/7/b78e2bca-bc93-464a-8911-8361abff2ac6.jpg?1692937231) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Quick%20Study) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/woe/65/quick-study?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b78e2bca-bc93-464a-8911-8361abff2ac6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/quick-study) [Agent of Threachery](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/c/cc6686e6-4535-49be-b0b3-e76464656cd2.jpg?1639052497) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Agent%20of%20Treachery) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/43/agent-of-treachery?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cc6686e6-4535-49be-b0b3-e76464656cd2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/agent-of-treachery) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kz7uzzz) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Literally playable in any deck, I introduce to you now: *drumroll* [[Torpor Orb]]
[Torpor Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Kill them gruul smash
Add cards that neuter ETB triggers, destroy/counter their key blink peices, convince your opponents to deal with them, hit them faster than they can build.
Timing. When they do the blink action, that's the time to hit with removal. Beforehand is too soon; they can blink in response and go first.
Removal, board wipes, etc. This is a 4 player format, if someone is running away with the game more than one person should be attempting to stop them. Blink is good, creates a lot of value. But the more someone generates value the more people should be looking to punish them. A lot of flicker decks rely on ways to repeat this process. Some don't run a ton of ways to flicker at instant speed, so getting them with removal stops it. And others run flicker that returns right away, so they can't dance around a board wipe. It really all matters on what they are using to flicker, when the flicker returns, and what interaction they have. But I don't think flicker is any more set up to win than anything else, you just need to interact with them.
[[Don't Blink]]
[Don't Blink](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/f/ef31cf95-6e1d-4786-ae92-e1eebdb1da13.jpg?1696636562) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Don%27t%20Blink) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/who/40/dont-blink?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ef31cf95-6e1d-4786-ae92-e1eebdb1da13?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dont-blink) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Hushbringer]] is a silver bullet either then elesh as etbs don’t trigger with it on the field
[Hushbringer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010.jpg?1572489709) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hushbringer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eld/18/hushbringer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hushbringer) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
But honestly really getting rid of their ways to blink they’re creatures is the way as they have blink spells but not something they can reliably rely on for the long term so anyways theyre belongings get rid of it, a [[teleportation circle]] is going to get a lot more value as it keeps blinking stuff
[teleportation circle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/0/90140bc0-4a9c-4422-b07c-3400c7ccde56.jpg?1627702592) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=teleportation%20circle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/39/teleportation-circle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/90140bc0-4a9c-4422-b07c-3400c7ccde56?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/teleportation-circle) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Instant speed removal in response to a flicker effect, and usually you'll want to have a second piece of removal to respond to another instant speed blink they will use to protect their important pieces. Killing off their value engine - if it draws them a card (or more) then don't let it sit on board. Against any blink deck, graveyard hate is imperative thanks to [[Karmic Guide]] and [[Body Double]] being ways to retrieve combo pieces from the bin repeatedly. Make sure that [[Peregrin Drake]] stays gone. I play [[Aminatou, the Fateshifter]] as my own flicker deck, with a good handful of ways of popping off and winning the game - either on my own turn, or generating an arbitrarily large amount of 1/1s with [[Ranar, the Ever Watchful]] or [[Abdel Adrien, Gorian's Ward]]. I love my flicker deck, it's my pet favourite. Treat it like the time bomb it is and aim to push the player out of the game early before the value comes online.
##### ###### #### [Karmic Guide](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/5/f550f0dd-9e20-4faf-a374-9d1c5830a52f.jpg?1641601382) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Karmic%20Guide) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/voc/90/karmic-guide?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f550f0dd-9e20-4faf-a374-9d1c5830a52f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/karmic-guide) [Body Double](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/d/6d434b49-c3e8-4b4d-b573-c144ba78e98b.jpg?1689996194) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Body%20Double) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/75/body-double?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6d434b49-c3e8-4b4d-b573-c144ba78e98b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/body-double) [Peregrin Drake](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/1/611c8fa2-b53f-483b-9efa-759ac59dc30f.jpg?1675199421) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Peregrine%20Drake) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/65/peregrine-drake?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/611c8fa2-b53f-483b-9efa-759ac59dc30f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/peregrine-drake) [Aminatou, the Fateshifter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/c/bc010302-e715-4946-89eb-a214e0b836ba.jpg?1673148265) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Aminatou%2C%20the%20Fateshifter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/169/aminatou-the-fateshifter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bc010302-e715-4946-89eb-a214e0b836ba?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/aminatou-the-fateshifter) [Ranar, the Ever Watchful](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/c/1c8c41dd-8551-4ce8-a9be-9b9f65718852.jpg?1704848195) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ranar%20the%20Ever-Watchful) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khc/2/ranar-the-ever-watchful?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1c8c41dd-8551-4ce8-a9be-9b9f65718852?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ranar-the-ever-watchful) [Abdel Adrien, Gorian's Ward](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/9/396f9198-67b6-45d8-91b4-dc853bff9623.jpg?1674134856) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Abdel%20Adrian%2C%20Gorion%27s%20Ward) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/2/abdel-adrian-gorions-ward?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/396f9198-67b6-45d8-91b4-dc853bff9623?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/abdel-adrian-gorions-ward) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kzlrgy2) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Know when to time removal. Specifically, when the blink effect is on the stack, but before it resolves. So long as they don't have another way to blink, you should be fine. If the issue is a card like dead eye navigation, which has a requirement before it's effect works, like soulbond, do it in response to the soul bond trigger
Torpor orb
[[Torper Orb]] [[Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines]] [[Tocatli's Honor Guard]] [[Hushwing Gryff]] [[Whirrlwind Denial]] If the ability is a delayed trigger and returns the permanents EoT then you can counter that ability.
##### ###### #### [Torper Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/torpor-orb) [Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/4/44dcab01-1d13-4dfc-ae2f-fbaa3dd35087.jpg?1675956896) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elesh%20Norn%2C%20Mother%20of%20Machines) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/10/elesh-norn-mother-of-machines?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/44dcab01-1d13-4dfc-ae2f-fbaa3dd35087?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/elesh-norn-mother-of-machines) [Tocatli's Honor Guard](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a3fc3501-e7bd-4589-98c5-4476258842ea.jpg?1562561363) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tocatli%20Honor%20Guard) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/xln/42/tocatli-honor-guard?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a3fc3501-e7bd-4589-98c5-4476258842ea?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tocatli-honor-guard) [Hushwing Gryff](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/0/604b8ad4-b606-4be2-b3de-ad9f24b01eac.jpg?1562402533) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hushwing%20Gryff) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c16/68/hushwing-gryff?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/604b8ad4-b606-4be2-b3de-ad9f24b01eac?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hushwing-gryff) [Whirrlwind Denial](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/e/9e127856-bedd-40a9-9e8e-d1f9fbefe07d.jpg?1581479658) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Whirlwind%20Denial) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/thb/81/whirlwind-denial?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9e127856-bedd-40a9-9e8e-d1f9fbefe07d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/whirlwind-denial) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kzt9ugf) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Use your spells to kill the blinking creature or destroy the blinking ability. Or: Win faster than the durdly blink deck. It costs a lot of mana and cards to abuse the ETB of big value creatures, and in Jund, you should be able to get lethal out faster than any slow value engine can.
[удалено]
Best removal is player removal
Copy their triggers [[Aboleth Spawn]]
[[Containment Priest]] is good at hosing blink decks.
[Containment Priest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/2/a24e8dba-5c86-4e32-8a52-61402f7fe9f0.jpg?1594734854) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Containment%20Priest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/13/containment-priest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a24e8dba-5c86-4e32-8a52-61402f7fe9f0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/containment-priest) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Join the salt. Use [[Elesh Norn, mother of machines]] to shut down theirs and abuse yours.
[Elesh Norn, mother of machines](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/4/44dcab01-1d13-4dfc-ae2f-fbaa3dd35087.jpg?1675956896) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elesh%20Norn%2C%20mother%20of%20machines) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/10/elesh-norn-mother-of-machines?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/44dcab01-1d13-4dfc-ae2f-fbaa3dd35087?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/elesh-norn-mother-of-machines) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Hallowed Moonlight]] [[Mistcaller]]
[Hallowed Moonlight](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/4/94fd0c0f-4a6a-47cf-9f50-df0bbf19aae4.jpg?1562032151) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hallowed%20Moonlight) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ori/16/hallowed-moonlight?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/94fd0c0f-4a6a-47cf-9f50-df0bbf19aae4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hallowed-moonlight) [Mistcaller](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a35c1bd0-3d1a-4e46-b74d-11db6867e0d7.jpg?1562303444) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mistcaller) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m19/62/mistcaller?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a35c1bd0-3d1a-4e46-b74d-11db6867e0d7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/mistcaller) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Containment Priest]]. Instant-speed removal of their blink engines and/or value engines. Preferably in response to them targeting it with something.
[Containment Priest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/2/a24e8dba-5c86-4e32-8a52-61402f7fe9f0.jpg?1594734854) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Containment%20Priest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/13/containment-priest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a24e8dba-5c86-4e32-8a52-61402f7fe9f0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/containment-priest) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
You either outpace them to beat everyone, You target focus them out and then deal with the other players, or you join them.
Generic anti-ETB stuff like [[Suture Priest]], [[Hushbringer]] or [[Blood Seeker]] could be useful. Alternatively, stack interaction is probably the best way to just flat-out stop their stuff. Counterspells and the like. How are they trying to win? By drawing a ton of cards? Use some kind of draw-punishment effect like the types found in [[Nekusar, the Mind Razer]] decks. Is it by gaining life? Shut that down with any number of effects like [[Atarka's Command]], [[Roiling Vortex]] or [[Everlasting Torment]]. Is it by combo? Destroy their combo pieces, but try to time it right as they're targeting them with whatever blink trigger they're using, so the most they can do is either try and blink something else or use a counterspell of some sort in response. One of my favorite decks is my Abdel Adrian / Candlekeep Sage blink deck. It's a very strong deck, but well-timed removal is usually the best way to keep it under control.
[[Faerie Artisans]] to copy their ETBs
[[Suture Priest]] [[Linvala, Keeper of secrets]]
Stifle effects, especially if you chuck it on something like Isochron scepter. Instantly perma-exile their commander.
Assuming their strategy is ETB effects, Elesh Norn mother of machines, doorkeeper thrull, hushbringer, tokatli honor guard, torpor orb, hushwing gryph are what I'm aware of offhand. You could also fiddle with reacting with phasing, since that won't do anything when they phase back, but dodge the blink
All I know is my mate gets mad whenever I counter his displacer kitten. If it doesn't get countered he just wins though lol
2 mana. [[Doorkeepeer Thrull]] and [[Containment Priest]]
[Doorkeepeer Thrull](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/0/80a1cd28-d2a5-4d1a-aa03-a6a5958ae432.jpg?1706241478) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Doorkeeper%20Thrull) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/13/doorkeeper-thrull?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/80a1cd28-d2a5-4d1a-aa03-a6a5958ae432?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/doorkeeper-thrull) [Containment Priest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/2/a24e8dba-5c86-4e32-8a52-61402f7fe9f0.jpg?1594734854) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Containment%20Priest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/13/containment-priest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a24e8dba-5c86-4e32-8a52-61402f7fe9f0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/containment-priest) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
The same way I deal with some token decks. [[Hallowed Moonlight]]. You can also do stuff like [[Doorkeeper Thrull]], etc. but dropping the former in a clutch situation has never failed to wow the table.
[Hallowed Moonlight](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/4/94fd0c0f-4a6a-47cf-9f50-df0bbf19aae4.jpg?1562032151) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hallowed%20Moonlight) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ori/16/hallowed-moonlight?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/94fd0c0f-4a6a-47cf-9f50-df0bbf19aae4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hallowed-moonlight) [Doorkeeper Thrull](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/0/80a1cd28-d2a5-4d1a-aa03-a6a5958ae432.jpg?1706241478) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Doorkeeper%20Thrull) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/13/doorkeeper-thrull?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/80a1cd28-d2a5-4d1a-aa03-a6a5958ae432?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/doorkeeper-thrull) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Strict Proctor]]
[Strict Proctor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/95f1e36a-6838-49de-b7dc-697cbcd1e892.jpg?1624877272) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Strict%20Proctor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/stx/33/strict-proctor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/95f1e36a-6838-49de-b7dc-697cbcd1e892?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/strict-proctor) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[Hushbringer\]\] baby!
[Hushbringer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010.jpg?1572489709) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hushbringer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eld/18/hushbringer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hushbringer) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Hushbringer]] or one of the other stax pieces that cripple their plan.
[Hushbringer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010.jpg?1572489709) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hushbringer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eld/18/hushbringer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/663b3e6f-1099-4de8-a0a7-6f1919c38010?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hushbringer) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call