Deck Name: Keep Calm and Cast Again

Format: Legacy
Deck Type: Combo
Deck Theme: Artifact Loop Combo – Retraction Helix + Spellfist Engine
Colors: Mono-Blue (U)

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Description

"Keep Calm and Cast Again" is a fast-paced mono-blue combo deck that wins by bouncing and replaying zero-mana artifacts in a loop, triggering massive spell-based effects. The core interaction is Retraction Helix on Zephyr Scribe, which enables the player to tap the Scribe to bounce an artifact, then recast it infinitely — triggering Elusive Spellfist to become unblockable and overwhelmingly powerful.

The deck is packed with cantrips, protection spells, and recursion tools. Filtering spells like Ponder and Consider help dig for combo pieces, while Emry, Lurker of the Loch and Paradoxical Outcome provide resilience and value. With Sai, Master Thopterist and Aetherflux Reservoir, the deck also has alternate win conditions and grind potential in longer games.

"Keep Calm and Cast Again" is ideal for casual 1v1 or multiplayer games where spell loops and clever sequencing can dominate the table with surgical precision.

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How to Play

Early Game:
Play 0-cost artifacts like Ornithopter, Spidersilk Net, or Aether Spellbomb.
Develop your board with Zephyr Scribe, Emry, or Elusive Spellfist.
Use Ponder, Preordain, Anticipate, and Muddle the Mixture to assemble combo parts.

Mid-Game:
Enchant Zephyr Scribe with Retraction Helix.
Tap the Scribe to bounce a 0-mana artifact → replay it → trigger Spellfist and/or Reservoir.
Protect the combo with Dispel, Unsubstantiate, or Stubborn Denial.

Late Game:
Use Paradoxical Outcome to reset your hand and extend spell count.
Close out games via:
20+ unblockable damage with Spellfist
50+ life burst with Aetherflux Reservoir
Thopter swarm with Sai, Master Thopterist
Recur artifacts through Emry if combo pieces are removed.

Ideal Opening Hand:
At least 2 lands (preferably including Darksteel Citadel or Mystic Sanctuary)
One cantrip (Ponder, Consider)
One combo piece (Scribe, Helix, or Spellfist)
One 0-mana artifact
One protection spell or tutor

Mulligan if you draw hands with only bounce and no early setup

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How the Combo Works

Setup:
Have Zephyr Scribe and at least one 0-mana artifact in play (e.g. Ornithopter or Spellbomb).
Cast Retraction Helix targeting the Scribe.

Loop Execution:
Cast the artifact → trigger Spellfist or Sai
Tap the Scribe (via Helix) → bounce the artifact
Recast it → repeat infinitely
Each loop counts as a cast: triggers Spellfist, Sai, and Aetherflux Reservoir

Result:
Elusive Spellfist becomes unblockable with massive power
Sai generates Thopters
Reservoir gains you 50+ life → finish with 50 damage to any target

Backup Plan:
If loop is disrupted, rebuild with Emry or draw into new pieces with Outcome
Use Echoing Truth or Unsubstantiate to clear blockers or slow opponents

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Sideboard Strategy

Against Aggro Decks:
Aetherize: An instant-speed blowout that bounces all attacking creatures. It resets the board without harming your combo setup.
Curfew: Forces each player to bounce a creature. You often return a zero-mana artifact creature (like Ornithopter) while your opponent loses board presence.

Against Control Decks:
Dispel, Mystical Dispute, Swan Song, and Negate provide flexible and cost-efficient protection against removal, board wipes, and counterspell wars.
Unsubstantiate can bounce either a creature or a spell on the stack, allowing you to tempo-disrupt or save a key piece.

Against Combo Decks:
Test of Talents exiles all copies of a key instant or sorcery from your opponent’s hand, graveyard, and library, effectively shutting down linear combo plans.
Flusterstorm (or a second Dispel if budget-limited) offers premium stack interaction against spell-based combos and storm turns.

Against Graveyard and Artifact Strategies:
Tormod’s Crypt provides zero-cost graveyard hate and fuels artifact loops.
Pithing Needle shuts down activated abilities from problematic permanents like planeswalkers, combo pieces, or mana sinks.

Alternate Win Conditions and Value Tools:
Sai, Master Thopterist generates Thopters from artifact casting and adds value/draw in grindy matchups.
Psychic Corrosion converts your draw chains (via Paradoxical Outcome or Emry loops) into a mill win condition.
Chart a Course offers straightforward card advantage in matches where control, board stalls, or disruption delay the combo.
Reality Shift is an efficient exile-based creature removal tool that gives you an answer to big threats, indestructible creatures, or recursion engines.

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Skill Level and Playability

"Keep Calm and Cast Again" is a rewarding deck for players who enjoy tight sequencing and creative combo chains. It punishes misplays but pays off with explosive turns that can end the game in style.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Playstyle: Spell-loop combo with alternate win conditions
Best For: 1v1 casual or 3–4 player multiplayer where tempo and tricks thrive

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Competitive Profile and Ratings

Power Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Capable of explosive kills by turn 4–5, with solid interaction and recursion.

Combo vs Control Ratio: 80% Combo / 20% Tempo-Protection
Almost everything supports a combo loop, with counters to defend the path.

Speed: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Fast enough to race most casual decks. Combo assembles often by turn 4.

Resilience: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Can rebuild post-wipe, especially with Emry and Outcome.

Best Format Fit:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1v1 Competitive Casual
⭐⭐⭐☆ Multiplayer (4+ players)
⭐☆☆☆☆ Competitive Events (not optimized for sanctioned play)

Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Requires strong understanding of stack timing, spell interaction, and combo sequencing.

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Play Like a Pro – 5 Tips for Mastering the Deck

1. Protect before you combo.
Don’t go off unless you have protection ready — most combos fold to one removal.

2. Know your math.
Count triggers before you start the loop — you often only need 5–7 casts to win with Reservoir.

3. Value Emry, always.
Treat Emry like a draw engine. She recovers your best pieces and turns your graveyard into a second hand.

4. Mulligan with purpose.
Keep hands with a clear path to combo. Don’t get greedy with 0-card setups.

5. Use Outcome as a soft reset.
Even without comboing, Paradoxical Outcome draws a fresh hand and sets you up again.

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Quote:
"Just tap it. One more time. Just one more... wait, how much power does it have?"

Last Update: 13/06/2025