Boros Prison in Legacy

In early April we had our first ever unsanctioned Legacy event at The Village Geek. Since the event was unsanctioned, playtest or “proxy” cards were allowed meaning anyone who wanted would be able to play! We had an ok showing of 10 people for the first event and more importantly 10 archetypes were played, and miracles didn’t even get played (not that we have to worry about that now). We had everything from all-in combos like BR reanimator, Sneak and Show, and Leylines, to grindy decks like Maverick, Enchantress, and Lands. The event was an absolute blast to play in and the next one is scheduled for late May. I hope everyone is able to make it out, and once again it will be unsanctioned and proxy friendly.

Here is a breakdown of the Wr prison deck I took to a draw in the finals of the April event. I played this deck because it has a pretty even matchup against just about everything, a good knowledge of the meta works in your favor, nobody really knows the deck (I love coming out of left field), and I just plain like prison decks (sorry not sorry).

The heart and soul of the deck is the combination of Land Tax and Scroll Rack. If we somehow find ourselves with less land than the opponent Land Tax lets us search out three basics from our deck and put them into our hand. We can then use Scroll Rack to turn them into “real” cards and with a shuffle effect (like Land Tax) we get a fresh set of cards each turn.

So how do we get fewer lands on the table than our opponent? The best way is to use Mox Diamond for our mana and just not play as many lands from our hands, even skipping just one land drop against most decks will keep Land Tax drawing cards. Another way is to use Path to Exile as our removal rather than the Legacy standard Swords to Plowshares, if the opponent decides not to get a basic or doesn’t run basics it is a one mana removal with no drawback. Finally, if things get rough or you need Land Tax triggers, Zuran Orb can guarantee you have fewer lands.

The deck runs two different win conditions in the main deck. The first is the combination of Rest in Peace and Helm of Obedience. Helm of Obedience is worded just right so that with a graveyard exiler in play like RiP or Leyline of the Void you only need to activate it for 1 mana to exile your opponent’s entire library. The second is Goblin Charbelcher. You can easily pull all the basics out of your deck while stalling the game so Belcher hits a mountain or no lands at all. I was able to deal an opponent 48 damage from an activation one game.

A motley crew of prison cards that hold the deck together and your opponent off while you set up your win-condition. 3 Wrath of God effects, Ghostly Prison, Humility, Solitary Confinement, Ivory Tower, and kicked Orim’s Chant contain most creature decks. Trinisphere, Blood Moon, Orim’s Chant, and Pithing Needle can shut down a lot of combo decks and some Oblivion Rings round up the controlling elements of the deck.

To tie the deck all together it runs a full playset of Enlightened Tutors. The tutors make the deck quite consistent and flexible as nearly everything you want can be found with them. Early game they can set up the Tax/Rack combo, later they can find whatever will make your opponent groan loudest, and if everything is under control, they find the win. It’s like running 7 or 8 of your favorite cards and the full playset of the silver bullets.

The mana base is one of the least expensive you will find in Legacy; 15 plains, a mountain, and two plateaus means you can spend your money on other parts of the deck (like Mox diamonds).

The sideboard has a smattering of protection like Leyline of Sanctity, and Pyroblasts, some different win conditions like Baneslayer, and Assemble the Legion, and addition hate cards. I never felt like Nahiri was what I wanted so I may be adjusting the sideboard for the event in May.

Decklist:

• 4 Land Tax
• 3 Scroll Rack
• 2 Wrath Of God
• 3 Oblivion Ring
• 4 Path to Exile
• 4 Enlightened Tutor
• 1 Solitary Confinement
• 1 Ghostly Prison
• 1 Zuran Orb
• 1 Humility
• 1 Blood Moon
• 1 Trinisphere
• 1 Ivory Tower
• 1 Pithing Needle
• 3 Mox Diamond
• 1 Mox Opal
• 2 Rest In Peace
• 2 Helm of Obedience
• 1 Goblin Charbelcher
• 1 Mountain
• 15 Plains
• 2 Plateau

Sideboard

• 1 Pyroblast
• 1 Red Elemental Blast
• 2 Leyline of Sanctity
• 1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
• 2 Timely Reinforcements
• 1 Assemble the Legion
• 1 Baneslayer Angel
• 1 Aura of Silence
• 1 Rest in Peace
• 1 Nahiri, the Harbinger