We're excited to continue Coast to Coast Casual (CCC), a blog series written by East2West, published on MTG Cardsmith.
No matter where you are in the multiverse there is a darkness, an evil that lurks within the hearts of all sentient beings. Heroes may rise against these great evils but more often than not they fall to the sheer power of their foes. In the game of Magic only one format truly allows you to experience the power wielded by these beings. Whether a crazed inventor scheming and tinkering their doomsday weapon,a mad druid, bent on the destruction of all that is civil, an ancient dragon through whose eyes we are all nothing more than food, or a vastly powerful necromancer whose endless hordes will overpower any opponent. This is the format known as Archenemy. (For details see https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Archenemy_(format) )
I first encountered Archenemy in my local target just after learning how to play the game. At the time I had no idea what it was or how it worked but it had Magic cards inside, and I wanted them. I never actually read the rules and the cards just sort of floated around in my collection for a while. Recently I heard about the format online and dug out the old box. I set it up and was kind of disappointed actually. The gameplay was fine but there was never any excitement in being the villain. They made the archenemy faceless so the player could implant themself but I honestly didn't like that. Then the second installment, Archenemy: Nicol Bolas came out. This is what I wanted. It was flavorful, it was fun, and for the first time the heroes had decks too! This gave birth to the idea of making my own Archenemy line.
First, I asked a friend what their favorite character from the MTG storyline was, then I got to work. They answered Phage who makes a great archenemy, now historically Phage was faced in a massive battle by Ixidor, Kamahl, and Akroma so the player decks were set. Almost every card included has a flavor reasons with a few added just so the deck can function. Below are the decklists as well as the designed Scheme cards for Phage
Phage VS Ixidor, Kamahl, and Akroma
(Phage) https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/archenemy-phage/?cb=1550169287(Ixidor) https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/ixidor-player/?cb=1550236684
(Kamahl) https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/kamahl-player/?cb=1550236838
(Akroma) https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/akroma-player/?cb=1550237015
Your Heroes Are Dust
(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion for each opponent destroy a creature that player controls. For each legendary creature destroyed this way draw a card.
The Fallen Shall Be Your Undoing(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion each player puts the top three cards of their library into their graveyard. Then for each opponent put a creature from that player's graveyard into play under your control.
(2) From Nightmares I Am Formed(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion put your commander from your command zone into your hand. You may cast your commander without paying its mana cost until end of turn.
Seed Of The Deathwurms(Ongoing Scheme)
When your commander dies abandon this scheme. When you abandon this scheme destroy all creatures then create an 8/8 black Wurm creature token named Deathwurm.
For All Your Heroism You Naught But Cowards(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion you may have target creature you control become unblockable until end of turn, if you do not then creatures your opponents control can't attack you until your next turn.
(2)Bleed For Me(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion each opponent loses 3 life, you gain life equal to the amount of life lost this way.
Your Screams are Music to My Ears(Ongoing Scheme)
At the beginning of your end step each opponent chooses to either sacrifice a permanent or lose 3 life. The next time you are dealt damage abandon this scheme.
(2) Abandon All Hope(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion each opponent sacrifices a creature and loses 1 life.
(2) Turn on Your Masters(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion gain control of up to three target creatures until end of turn, at the beginning of your end step sacrifice a creature.
Any Last Words(Ongoing Scheme)
Whenever an opponent casts a non-black spell they lose 1 life. At the beginning of your opponent's turn, abandon this scheme unless at least one of them has 10 or less life.
This Desert Shall Be Your Grave(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion all opponents lose life equal to the number of lands they control.
(2) Fear My Power(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion draw a card for each opponent unless each opponent discards a card.
My Resources are Limitless(Ongoing Scheme)
Whenever you tap a land for mana it produces an additional mana of any color. At the beginning of each opponent's end step if any player controls no tapped lands abandon this scheme.
Your Paradise Shall Fall(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion destroy up to two target lands.
Hello Again Brother(Scheme)
When you set this scheme in motion the player piloting the Kamahl deck chooses self or others. If they choose self destroy all creatures that player controls, if they choose others or if the Kamahl player has already been eliminated all other opponents put the top ten cards of their library into their graveyard, then you may return a creature card from an opponent's graveyard to the battlefield under your control.
Please enjoy these precons and if you do play with them give me some feedback! I hope you all give Archenemy a try whether you do so by making your own, using mine, or just buying the product. And remember to be kind when playing, the archenemy is just playing a bad guy, they're still your friend.
Now as for why this article is a little late, some of you may have noticed that this is posted later than normal and there's a reason for that. I've got a big thing in the works involving Future Sight (the set) that ended up being longer than I thought (it's 10 pages and it's NOT DONE). So this isn't actually what this month's article was supposed to be. So get hype, next month we talk about the future of Magic through the lenses of R&D circa 12 years ago.
East2West is an aspiring writer from NJ currently seeking fame and fortune on the internet. She's been playing Magic since Zendikar block (the original one) and is a commander player with one deck for each two color pair and one for each single color. The only non EDH deck she plays is her own personal Pauper brew, Pauper Eggs. Follow her on her newly created and probably soon to be underused twitter @East2WestMTG.
