Deck Name: Stolen Identity

Format: Legacy
Deck Type: Mechanic-Based Control
Deck Theme: Clone & Copy Manipulation – Turning Opponents’ Strength into Your Own
Colors: Blue (Mono-U)

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Description

"Stolen Identity" is a Legacy control deck that thrives on reflection, imitation, and manipulation. Instead of creating its own win conditions, it mirrors the battlefield — duplicating every threat, engine, or combo opponents attempt to build.
Through powerful clone effects like Sakashima the Impostor, Clever Impersonator, and Rite of Replication, the deck transforms enemy power into its own arsenal.

What begins as a quiet setup soon becomes overwhelming dominance, as Copy Artifact and Mirrormade turn opponents’ most valuable permanents into blue-painted copies working for you.
Every card your rivals play becomes a potential weapon in your hands — whether it’s a mighty Angel, a ramping Elf, or a devastating Dragon.

This deck excels in both multiplayer and 1v1 Legacy, particularly in metas filled with creature-based or synergy-heavy decks. Its reactive nature allows it to adapt perfectly to any table, absorbing the identity of others until no one remembers who started the fight.

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How to Play

Early Game:
Develop your mana base with Islands, Vesuva, and Thespian’s Stage.
Keep mana open for Counterspell, Redirect, or Twincast to deter early aggression.
Use these early turns to study the battlefield — the strength of this deck lies in knowing what’s worth copying.

Mid-Game:
Begin deploying clones: Clever Impersonator, Phyrexian Metamorph, and Body Double to reproduce the most valuable creatures or artifacts in play.
If your opponent deploys a strong engine (like Righteous Valkyrie, Beast Whisperer, or Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet), make it yours.
Use Mirrormade or Copy Enchantment to double up utility effects such as card draw or ramp.

Late Game:
Turn control into chaos.
Play Sakashima of a Thousand Faces or Spark Double to bypass the legend rule and multiply the most threatening permanents.
Unleash a kicked Rite of Replication to flood the field with copies of the best creature on the table — often resulting in instant victory.
Use Desertion or Spelljack to counter and steal late-game bombs from opponents before they resolve.

Ideal Opening Hand:

2–3 Islands
1 early interaction (Counterspell, Redirect, Twincast)
1 clone spell (Clever Impersonator, Phyrexian Metamorph)
1 card advantage piece (Mind’s Eye or Jace, Mirror Mage)

A perfect hand allows you to protect yourself early, while setting up the mana to start cloning once strong targets appear.

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How the Mechanic Works

"Stolen Identity" operates on the principle of adaptive control.
You don’t impose your plan — you adopt theirs. Every permanent on the table is a potential weapon, every spell a resource waiting to be copied.

Examples of "Theft"

"Stolen Identity" mirrors every style it encounters, from tribal swarms to punishing control engines.
Here are examples of how it can “steal” identity and power.

From Mpampis’ Decks

Angel (Mono-White Control)
Copy Lyra Dawnbringer, Archangel of Thune, or Serra’s Emissary to gain lifelink superiority and air dominance.
With two or more cloned Lyras, your board becomes an unbreakable flying fortress.

Vampire (Red-Black Aggro-Control)
Duplicate Sanctum Seeker, Olivia, Mobilized for War, or Nighthawk Scavenger to convert damage into lifedrain — turning their aggro into your sustain.
Even better: clone Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord and start reanimating their own vampires under your control.

Human Black & White (Tribal-Control)
Clone General Kudro of Drannith or Champion of the Parish to leverage their synergy while removing threats from their graveyards.
Combine it with your own Sakashima to keep multiple lords active simultaneously.

Golem Artifact – Multicolor (Mechanic-Based Control)
Copy Ancient Stone Idol, Blade Splicer, or even Karn, the Great Creator to generate artifact advantage.
With Copy Artifact, you can duplicate key mana pieces like Chromatic Lantern or Wurmcoil Engine for insane value.

Wurm (Green Ramp-Midrange)
Clone Pelakka Wurm or Verdurous Gearhulk for life and +1/+1 counter bursts.
A kicked Rite of Replication on End-Raze Forerunners can end the game instantly — with their own finisher.

Zombie (Blue-Black Tribal-Control)
Copy Gray Merchant of Asphodel or Lord of the Undead to drain the entire table.
With multiple Sakashimas, each Gray Merchant trigger stacks exponentially — the undead become your win condition.

From Giannis’ Decks

Draw Cards Red & Black (Mechanic-Based Control)
Clone Fate Unraveler or Underworld Dreams via Copy Enchantment to double the punishment for card draw.
If Giannis resolves Wheel of Fortune, a Twincast or Narset’s Reversal turns it into your card advantage engine.

Double Strike White (Mechanic-Based Aggro)
Duplicate Adorned Pouncer, Fabled Hero, or Swiftblade Vindicator to get double-strike creatures that benefit from any copied auras or equipment.
You become the mirror duelist — literally fighting him with his own blades.

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Sideboard Strategy

Against Aggro Decks:
Dress Down – Neutralizes static abilities before cloning, ensuring your copies are clean.
Mystic Reflection – Replaces enemy creature ETBs with your own creations.
Thassa’s Intervention – Flexible tool for draw or protection at instant speed.

Against Control Decks:
Force of Negation – Stops combo and control plays without losing tempo.
Saw It Coming – Reliable counter with foretell bluff potential.
Narset’s Reversal – Reflects their key spell and lets you cast it instead.

Against Combo Decks:
Confounding Conundrum – Disrupts ramp and fetch-heavy strategies.
Stifle – Cancels triggered abilities (ETB, storm, death triggers).
The Reality Chip – Ensures card selection and consistency in long grindy games.

Each sideboard card reinforces your central theme — using your opponents’ moves against them. The more they try to win, the more material you gain to work with.

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Skill Level and Playability

"Stolen Identity" rewards sharp awareness and timing. Success depends on reading the table and choosing precisely what to copy, when, and why. Every decision changes your board and theirs simultaneously.

Difficulty Level: Advanced
Playstyle: Reactive control through adaptive cloning
Best For: Players who enjoy turning opponents’ strengths into tools of their own victory

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Competitive Profile and Ratings

Power Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Scales directly with the opponent’s deck power. The stronger they are, the better you perform.

Mechanic-Based vs Control Ratio: 70% Mechanic-Based / 30% Control
Functions as a pure control shell until strong targets appear to copy.

Speed: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Reactive early, dominant mid-to-late game once cloning engines start.

Resilience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
High redundancy — nearly every card can replace another. Hard to shut down completely.

Best Format Fit:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Multiplayer (3–5 players)
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 1v1 Competitive Casual
⭐☆☆☆☆ Legacy Tournaments (requires optimization for pure control meta)

Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Requires deep sequencing, reading, and bluffing mastery.

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Play Like a Pro – 5 Tips for Mastering the Deck

Copy the right target, not the strongest one.
The best clone is often the one that gives you value, not the biggest stats.

Hold your instants.
Twincast and Redirect gain maximum value when you wait until your opponents forget you have mana open.

Let them build your win condition.
You’re not racing them — you’re waiting for them to create the perfect target for you.

Use Vesuva and Thespian’s Stage smartly.
Copy powerful lands like Cabal Coffers, Nykthos, or Gaea’s Cradle if available.

Protect your identity.
Don’t overcommit clones to the board until you’re ready to dominate — wipe-heavy opponents can undo your advantage fast.

Bonus: When two players realize you’ve copied their best permanents, they’ll often team up against you. Let them. Their combined power only gives you better targets.

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Quote:

"Why build greatness when you can steal perfection?"

Last Update: 17/10/25