Deck Name: Claws & Steel

Format: Legacy
Deck Type: Mechanic-Based Tribal
Deck Theme: Cat Equipment Synergy
Colors: Green-White (Selesnya)

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Description

“Steel sharpens claws, and claws conquer steel.”

Claws & Steel is a Legacy tribal-mechanic deck that combines the wild aggression of feline creatures with the tactical power of equipment-based combat. Centered around the synergy of Cats and legendary weapons, the deck features fast threats, explosive combat interactions, and resilient mid-to-late game value.

Whether empowering an evasive attacker with Umezawa’s Jitte, tutoring equipment with Stoneforge Mystic, or protecting your board with Teferi’s Protection, this deck builds a growing army of well-armed predators. It thrives in both 1v1 and multiplayer environments, delivering pressure early while scaling into an overwhelming board presence.

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How to Play

Early Game:
Deploy low-cost creatures like Esper Sentinel, Leonin Shikari, or Adorned Pouncer.
Use Lightning Greaves for haste/protection and Stoneforge Mystic to tutor essential equipment.
Keep mana open for Heroic Intervention to deter removal-based setbacks.

Mid-Game:
Equip your Cats with Swords, Jitte, or Colossus Hammer (especially powerful with Sigarda’s Aid).
Leverage Kemba, Kha Regent for board-wide token production.
Raksha Golden Cub gives all equipped Cats double strike, dramatically escalating combat threats.
Gain card advantage through Welcoming Vampire, Puresteel Paladin, or The Great Henge.

Late Game:
Felidar Sovereign provides an alternate win condition via high life total.
Use Gavony Township to close the game with wide-board pumps.
Nacatl War-Pride can singlehandedly overwhelm opponents in multiplayer matches.

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Ideal Opening Hand

A strong hand typically includes:
2 lands (preferably one Forest and one Plains or dual land)
1 creature (Leonin Shikari, Adorned Pouncer, or Sentinel)
1 equipment (Lightning Greaves or tutor like Stoneforge)
1 interaction/protection (Heroic Intervention or Teferi’s Protection)
Optional: Draw engine (Harmonize, Puresteel Paladin, Vampire)

Mulligan if you lack both lands and early board presence, or have only late-game cards.

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How the Mechanic-Based Strategy Works

Developing the Field:
Cats come down early and synergize with equipment. Leonin Shikari allows instant-speed equipping; Puresteel Paladin removes equip costs.

Weaponizing the Army:
Sigarda’s Aid turns every equipment into a flash-speed threat.
Raksha Golden Cub turns a modest board into a lethal double-striking battalion.
The Great Henge turns any large creature into a source of value, growth, and sustainability.

Closing the Game:
A single Cat equipped with Umezawa’s Jitte or Sword of Fire and Ice can dominate the board.
Kemba and Felidar Sovereign apply alternate pressures—board-wide go-wide and life-based win condition respectively.

The deck rewards timing, board control, and precise resource sequencing.

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Sideboard Strategy

Against Aggro Decks:
Settle the Wreckage for wide creature boards.
Path to Exile handles early threats and indestructible creatures.

Against Control Decks:
Prowling Serpopard makes your creatures uncounterable.
Veil of Summer protects from discard and counterspells.

Against Combo/Graveyard Decks:
Rest in Peace halts reanimation loops and escape strategies.
Wilt and Disenchant target problematic enchantments or artifacts.

Against Artifact/Enchantment Strategies:
Sword of Sinew and Steel pressures opposing engines and planeswalkers.

Flexible, tuned, and able to sideboard adaptively in both 1v1 and multiplayer.

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Skill Level and Playability

Claws & Steel is perfect for players who enjoy midrange tempo decks with strategic decision points and powerful board-building. Success requires knowing when to equip, when to hold back, and how to apply layered threats across multiple turns.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Playstyle: Aggro-Control with tribal & equipment synergy
Best For: 1v1 and multiplayer Legacy casual formats

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Competitive Profile and Ratings

Power Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Imposing tribal threats with game-breaking equipment lines.

Tribal vs Mechanic Ratio: 60% Equipment Mechanic / 40% Tribal Cats
Every Cat matters—but the weapons win battles.

Speed: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Consistent early pressure that scales well with equipment and token generation.

Resilience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Multiple protective spells and redundancy across threats and engines.

Best Format Fit:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1v1 Competitive Casual
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ Multiplayer (4+ players)
⭐⭐☆☆☆ Legacy Tournaments (needs stronger interaction density)

Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Tactical combat decisions, sequencing equip effects, and sideboard adaptation.

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Play Like a Pro – 5 Tips for Mastering the Deck

1. Never overcommit before protection is in hand.
You have Heroic Intervention and Teferi’s Protection—use them wisely.
2. Know your tutor targets.
Stoneforge Mystic isn’t just for Jitte—pick what fits your opponent’s deck.
3. Use Shikari for mind games.
Equip at instant speed to punish blocks or dodge removal.
4. Use Sigarda’s Aid to flip combat.
Equip Colossus Hammer mid-fight and watch your opponent collapse.
5. Don’t forget Gavony Township.
In grindy games, it wins wars of attrition.

Bonus: Your creatures are valuable—protect them like they’re combo pieces.

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Quote:

“Steel sharpens claws, and claws conquer steel.”

Last Update: 27/05/25