Welcome back to Ask the AI! This time, we asked the AI to take a look back through Magic's history and determine the ten most powerful MTG decks that have ever existed. While most of the decks are from Eternal formats, such as Vintage and Legacy, there are a couple of Standard decks and even a Modern deck that made the cut!
Please remember to take into account that the AI only contains data up to 2021 (so no, Initiative will not be on this list). Here are the top ten MTG decks of all time, according to a robot:
1. "The Deck" (Type 1)
Also known as "Control Slaver," this deck emerged in the early days of Magic and was a pioneer of control strategies. It used powerful disruption spells and card draw, establishing control of the game and winning with efficient threats.
You can find the full decklist here, created by Brian Weissman in 1994.
2. "Affinity" (Standard)
This deck utilized the artifact synergy of the Mirrodin block. By playing low-cost artifacts, it quickly overwhelmed opponents with efficient threats and overwhelmed opponents with card advantage.
You can find the full decklist here, created by Gerry Thompson in 2004.
3. "Caw-Blade" (Standard)
This deck dominated Standard during the 2010-2011 season. It combined the powerful "Stoneforge Mystic" with "Jace, the Mind Sculptor" to establish early board control, card advantage, and game-winning plays.
You can find the full decklist here, created by Gerry Thompson in 2011.
4. "Delver" (Legacy)
Centered around "Delver of Secrets," this tempo deck disrupted opponents while maintaining a clock with evasive threats. It dominated the Legacy format for an extended period.
You can find the full decklist here, generic decklist from 2021.
5. "Tolarian Academy" (Type 2)
This deck emerged during the Urza's Saga block and relied on "Tolarian Academy" to generate absurd amounts of mana. It utilized artifacts and spells to create overwhelming board states and win quickly.
You can find the full decklist here, created by Tommi Hovi in 1998.
6. "Dredge" (Legacy/Vintage)
This deck abused the graveyard and showcased the power of self-mill mechanics. By utilizing cards like "Bazaar of Baghdad" and "Dread Return," it would create explosive plays and quickly overwhelm opponents.
You can find the full decklist here, created by Jeremy Hines in 2021.
7. "Flash Hulk" (Vintage)
A deck centered around the combo of "Flash" and "Protean Hulk," this deck could win the game in a single turn. By sacrificing the Hulk, it could search for and assemble a lethal combination of creatures, bypassing traditional gameplay.
You can find the full decklist here, created by Pascal Maynard in 2008.
8. "Cephalid Breakfast" (Legacy)
This combo deck utilized "Cephalid Illusionist" and "Shuko" to mill its entire library, eventually winning with "Narcomoeba" and "Dread Return." It showcased the power of self-mill strategies.
You can find the full decklist here, created by Joe Lossett in 2011.
9. "Oath of Druids" (Type 2/Vintage)
This deck focused on the card "Oath of Druids," which allowed players to cheat powerful creatures into play. It featured combinations with cards like "Forbidden Orchard" and dominated certain formats.
You can find the full decklist here, created by Bob Maher in 1999.
10. "Eldrazi Ramp" (Modern)
This deck used the massive Eldrazi creatures from the "Battle for Zendikar" block, such as "Eldrazi Temple" and "Eye of Ugin," to cast enormous threats ahead of curve. It dominated the Modern format for a period.
You can find the full decklist here, created by Luis Scott Vargas in 2016.
So, what do you think? Was the robot right? Are there any decks that don't belong, or decks that deserve a spot? Let us know in the comments below!
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