Part 8

Navigate Part 8 of Magic: The Gathering Arena with our comprehensive guide. Learn strategies for "Cursed Existence" and "Feast of Flesh" duels, and understand deck mechanics.

This section covers two duels: "Cursed Existence" and "Feast of Flesh," detailing their deck compositions, strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for overcoming them in Magic: The Gathering Arena.

DUEL 1-2: CURSED EXISTENCE

Difficulty: 2-3 out of 5

This deck is built around "curses," special enchantments that target the player. These curses offer a wide range of effects, from doubling damage intake (Curse of Bloodletting) to forcing attacks each turn (Curse of the Nightly Hunt), dealing noncombat damage (Curse of the Pierced Heart, Curse of the Thirst), and copying spells for free (Curse of Echoes). The deck grows more powerful over time if left unchecked.

Deck Composition:

• Creatures [12]: Bitterheart Witch (×4), Fortress Crab (×4), Selhoff Occultist (×4)
• Enchantments [19]: Curse of Bloodletting (×2), Curse of the Bloody Tome (×4), Curse of Death's Hold (×1), Curse of Echoes (×1), Curse of the Nightly Hunt (×2), Curse of the Pierced Heart (×4), Curse of the Stalked Prey (×4), Curse of Thirst (×1)
• Instants [4]: Crippling Chill (×4)
• Lands [26]: Evolving Wilds (×4), Island (×8), Mountain (×5), Swamp (×9)

AI Notes: The AI starts with a "Curse of the Bloody Tome" on the field and 4 Evolving Wilds in hand. It's a 61-card deck, and the opponent always goes second. A Turn 1 Burning Inquiry can help mana-starve the foe.

Strengths: Great control with Crippling Chill and most curses. Bitterheart Witch can toolbox for curses when destroyed.

Weaknesses: Poor draw power, speed, stay power, and strength. Limited retrieval options.

Strategy:

• The enemy has only twelve creatures, so a basic win strategy remains viable.
• Some curses can be rendered pointless with preventative measures. For example, Curse of the Stalked Prey (which adds +1/+1 counters to creatures that deal combat damage to a player) is less effective if you can prevent combat damage to yourself.
• Exploit a weakness to flyers, as the enemy cannot block them effectively. Curse of Death's Hold is the only curse that can significantly affect flyers.
• Helpful cards include: Void Snare (bounces curses), Nimbus Wings (gives creatures Flying), Advocate of the Beast (buffs creatures), and Angelic Edict (exiles creatures without triggering Bitterheart Witch).

DUEL 1-3: FEAST OF FLESH

Deck Type: Black Vampire Deck

This is a black vampire deck with a loose "feasting" theme, focusing on +1/+1 counters. While there are some life-gain elements, the primary synergy is weak. However, the deck has a good mix of low-cost and higher-cost creatures, making it a moderate challenge.

Deck Composition:

• Creatures [26]: Barony Vampire (×4), Bloodcrazed Neonate (×4), Bloodflow Connoisseur (×4), Child of Night (×4), Falkenrath Noble (×2), Rakish Heir (×2), Stromkirk Patrol (×4), Vampire Interloper (×2)
• Enchantments [4]: Feast on the Fallen (×4)
• Instants [2]: Rush of Blood (×2)
• Sorceries [4]: Sign in Blood (×2), Vampiric Feast (×2)
• Lands [24]: Mountain (×12), Swamp (×12)

Strengths: Average speed, stay power, and strength. Healthy mix of creature costs.

Weaknesses: Poor control, draw power, and synergy. No retrieval options.

Strategy:

• The key is that creature counter abilities only activate when they deal combat damage to players.
• Feast on the Fallen is the main method for triggering counters, which can be activated through any life loss, such as Falkenrath Noble's effect or a sorcery.