Hello, friends! As an ardent player with compassion, I'm eager to unveil my deck list, divulge insights into my sideboard strategy, and explain how to navigate this archetype adeptly against the top decks. Prepare for a concise breakdown of matchups, delving into optimal opening hands, victory conditions, and how games look pre and post sideboard.
In addition, I'll introduce a numerical gauge for each matchup, offering a quantitative assessment of its favorability (measured as Creativity / Opponent's Deck). Creativity is a Combo-Control deck, wielding the likes of Lightning Bolt, Leyline Binding, and Spell Pierce to commandeer the early game. These cards help facilitate the deployment of Fable of the Mirror-Breaker, Teferi, Time Raveler, and Wrenn and Six, sculpting a formidable mid-game presence while maintaining board dominance. As the match progresses, a pivotal moment arises, where the fruits of our labor manifest. Enter, Indomitable Creativity!
Domain Zoo: 55/45
In this matchup, victory hinges on maintaining a hand capable of neutralizing a turn-one Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, answering their domain creatures, and deploying your own arsenal of powerhouses (Wrenn and Six, Fable of the Mirror-Breaker, Teferi, Time Raveler, and Indomitable Creativity). Their chances of overcoming your strategy plummet greatly when faced with early removal for their threats, especially when followed by your three-drop plays or the deck's namesake.
Yet, even with the formidable hand I've described, defeat remains a possibility, particularly when contending with sequences like one-drop followed by consecutive domain creatures, backed by Stubborn Denial or Leyline Binding. This sequence, particularly menacing when we're on the draw, presents a challenge, arguably surpassing the threat posed by combinations like Leyline of the Guildpact paired with Scion of Draco.
Notably, the matchup dynamics see little shift in relevance from pre-board to post-board scenarios; rather, both sides simply acquire additional tools to address each other's enchantments and artifacts.
otp
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Wear // Tear
-3 Spell Pierce
otd
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Wear // Tear
-3 Reprieve
Yawgmoth: 50/50
For this matchup, it's crucial to start with a hand equipped with removal for their early mana accelerator, a Fable of the Mirror-Breaker, and Indomitable Creativity. Dealing with their early game threats like the mana dorks is key to preventing them from unleashing powerful plays such as Grist, the Hunger Tide, or setting up a Chord of Calling X=4 too soon. The goblin shaman presents a trickier challenge for them to handle, as it dodges conventional removal like Orcish Bowmasters and generates treasure tokens that are also troublesome to deal with.
Once you've killed their early threat, deployed Fable or wrenn, and if you're lucky enough to have drawn or looted into Indomitable Creativity early on, victory is within reach. However, losing ground isn't difficult, especially if they manage to rebuild their board after you've neutralized their early plays. There's also the uncertainty of drawing into the Fable, and relying on Dwarves to resolve Creativity does not line up against the -1/-1 deck.
The pre-board matchup feels manageable, though they may hold a slight advantage. However, post-board, you gain additional tools like Brotherhood’s End and Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, both of which excel in this matchup. With these additions, Creativity gains a significant edge, tipping the scales further in your favor.
+1 Strike it Rich
+2 Veil of Summer
+2 Brotherhood’s End
+1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
-3 Spell Pierce
-2 Change the Equation
-1 Reprieve
Amulet Titan: 60/40
Winning this matchup doesn't require much effort. Utilizing tools like Reprieve and Leyline Binding, you can effectively buy yourself the time needed to successfully resolve Creativity. Their ability to interact with this card is minimal, meaning it often resolves without hindrance. While there are some exceptionally potent opening hands that could lead to defeat, such as Urza’s Saga into double Amulet of Vigor or a turn two The One Ring, these instances are rare. Generally, the games tend to be straightforward.
However, as with any deck employing The One Ring, there's a constant threat of being overwhelmed by the protection trigger and immense card advantage, which historically posed a significant challenge for Creativity archetypes upon its release. Failing to address The One Ring promptly, either on the stack or shortly after its resolution, significantly diminishes your chances of victory.
Post-board, the situation doesn't improve for them. With access to tools like Boseiju, Who Endures, Wear // Tear, Brotherhood’s End, and Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, they're forced into a fair game, a scenario where they're unlikely to prevail against the Creativity strategy.
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Brotherhood’s End
+2 Wear // Tear
+1 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
-4 Lightning Bolt
-2 Teferi, Time Raveler
Mono-Green Tron: 40/60
This deck is hard, particularly before sideboarding. Your available interaction feels like a slap on the wrist against their busted spells, especially considering your limited stack manipulation. Additionally, their inclusion of main-deck removal for Leyline Bindings further complicates matters. Often, your opportunity to cast Creativity with X=1 arises fleetingly. While Archon of Cruelty boasts considerable power, it struggles against threats like Oblivion Stone, Karn, the Great Creator, and The One Ring, leaving you in a tough position.
To secure victory pre-board, you must first dodge natural Tron setups. Assuming they kept a hand where tron can be disrupted, whether through removing their Expedition Map or countering Sylvan Scrying, an early Creativity should put the game away
Post-board, the matchup takes a more favorable turn. It is extremely challenging to overcome threats like Terastodon and the wrenn + boseiju combination. By restraining their access to excessive mana, either through the elephant or wrenn, you will win.
Overall, Creativity doesn't hold a favored position in this matchup, particularly given the daunting nature of game 1.
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Brotherhood’s End
+2 Wear // Tear
+2 Tersastodon
-2 Archon of Cruelty
-2 Change the Equation
-3 Lightning Bolt
Murktide Regent: 50/50
This matchup demands a high degree of skill. Murktide suffers from what's known as "popular deck syndrome," where not all pilots are top-tier, but facing a skilled opponent requires flawless play to secure victory. It's imperative to safeguard your resources against their relentless removal onslaught while avoiding excessive card loss in the early game. Their inability to apply pressure without significant threats means that removing their key creatures can often put you ahead, reminiscent of the dynamic seen in matchups against Domain Zoo.
My losses in this matchup typically stem from failing to address their early threats. The tempo swing can be overwhelming, particularly when faced with unchecked threats like Ragavan or Ledger Shredder.
Pre-board, I believe Creativity holds a slight advantage due to its inevitability factor. However, post-board, the scales tip slightly in their favor. They gain access to additional low-cost tools like Engineered Explosives and Flusterstorm, enhancing their ability to disrupt your game plan effectively.
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+1 Strike it Rich
+2 Turn the Earth
+2 Veil of Summer
-1 Dwarven Mine
-3 Reprieve
-2 Change the Equation
Goryo’s Vengeance: 40/60
Navigating this matchup requires finesse. Success hinges on controlling the tempo until the opportune moment arises to unleash Creativity, yet the threat of a single discarded card enabling Goryo’s Vengeance looms large. Wrenn and Six emerges as a pivotal card, as its presence diminishes their options for dealing with it on the board, culminating in a game-ending ultimate ability. A well-rounded hand ideally includes cards like Pierce, Change the Equation, Reprieve, and Wrenn to effectively manage the game state.
However, the specter of Grief persists as an ongoing challenge, serving as a constant reminder of WOTC's, in my view, persisting error in leaving it in the format. This single mana investment enables them to evoke Grief, followed by Ephemerate, resulting in a devastating loss of three cards from your hand alongside a 3/2 body. This sequence affords them ample time to assemble their combo uninterrupted.
Pre-board, I lean towards a slightly unfavorable outlook, given their ability to accelerate towards an inevitable end-game faster than you can stabilize. However, post-board adjustments significantly enhance your prospects, particularly with the inclusion of cards like Veil of Summer and Turn the Earth.
+3 Turn the Earth
+2 Veil of Summer
+1 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
-1 Archon of Cruelty
-4 Lightning Bolt
-1 Prismatic Ending
4c Omnath: 60/40
This matchup is highly favorable for Creativity in my view. Their spells tend to be costly, making them vulnerable to disruption from cards like Pierce and Reprieve, which can easily swing the game in your favor. A hand boasting even just one Pierce, a Reprieve, or a Change the Equation, supported by removal and a value spell, should suffice to secure victory. Creating a window to cast Creativity is typically straightforward given their mana-intensive plays.
However, they possess hands that can pose significant challenges. Leyline Binding targeting Wrenn, removal spells aimed at your Creativity targets, and timing The One Ring when your defenses are down are all troublesome scenarios to navigate. As previously mentioned, an unchecked The One Ring often leads to defeat almost without exception.
Pre-board, this matchup is highly favorable, and I don't perceive it becoming any closer post-board. Both decks have limited options to significantly alter the dynamics of the matchup through sideboarding.
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Wear // Tear
+1 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
-2 Lightning Bolt
-2 Change the Equation
Rakdos Scam: 55/45
Historically, this matchup has favored Creativity. Barring the dreaded scenario of falling victim to a Grief-scam followed by a swift Dashed Ragavan paired with additional hand disruption or removal—a combination few can withstand—the odds are generally in your favor. Prioritize assembling a hand with ample interaction rather than aggressively mulliganing for value spells or Creativity. While these spells are exceptionally potent against them, the presence of a potential Thoughtseize effect in their arsenal warrants caution to avoid unnecessary mulligans whenever possible.
Games tend to unfold in one of two ways: either they execute the dreaded Grief-scam, which you counter with timely removal or face dire consequences, or they opt for a fairer approach, which often falls short against your strategy. Pre-board, I believe Creativity maintains its advantage, primarily due to the low likelihood of encountering the devastating blowout scenario described earlier. Absent that, the likelihood of securing victory is notably high.
Even post-board, I maintain the view that the matchup remains in Creativity's favor. However, they gain access to additional Blood Moon effects, which can pose a nuisance and potentially seal the game if you lack access to cards like Fable or Strike it Rich.
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+1 Strike it Rich
+2 Veil of Summer
+2 Brotherhood’s End
-3 Spell Pierce
-3 Reprieve
Indomitable Creativity:
In the mirror match, victory hinges heavily on the caliber of cards each player draws. While different builds of the archetype may align differently, the crux often boils down to who can successfully resolve key cards like Wrenn, Teferi, or the Fable first without falling prey to a devastating "Creativity" response in the subsequent turn. Preventing such scenarios requires patience—waiting until you have ample backup removal and/or counter spells at your disposal. Blindly deploying your 3-drops or Creativity spells is a surefire path to defeat. Instead, exercise patience, engage in resource trading, and seize the opportune moment when your opponent's defenses are down to unleash your spells.
The dynamics of the matchup can fluctuate between pre-board and post-board scenarios, contingent upon the specifics of each player's decklist. However, the essence of the mirror match largely remains consistent—it's a test of skill and strategic timing in a battle of equals.
otp
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Veil of Summer
+2 Wear // Tear
+1 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
-4 Lightning Bolt
-2 Spell Pierce
otd
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Veil of Summer
+2 Wear // Tear
+1 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
-4 Lightning Bolt
-2 Change the Equation
Boros Burn: 40/60
This matchup poses another significant challenge for Creativity. Assuming your Burn opponent is operating at peak efficiency, time is not on your side in the race against their barrage of burn spells and disruptive interaction. Often, you'll find yourself needing to fetch and shock to achieve any meaningful progress, a strategy that doesn't fare well against Burn's relentless aggression.
However, there are avenues to steal pre-board games by prioritizing removal for their creatures and deploying an early Teferi to safeguard the resolution of Creativity. Post-board adjustments can tilt the odds slightly in your favor, particularly with the inclusion of cards like Turn the Earth and Strike it Rich. The ability to gain life and create Creativity targets impervious to damage can be game-changing, offering a vital lifeline against Burn's onslaught.
+3 Turn the Earth
+1 Strike it Rich
-4 Wrenn and Six
Hammer Time: 60/40
While there are instances where they can gain an advantage with early plays like Sigarda’s Aid or a swift Urza’s saga into a two-drop start, overall, I find this matchup highly favorable. Bolt, Binding, and even Wrenn prove effective against their threats. Notably, they lack main-deck interaction for Creativity.
Ideally, your hand should contain two removal spells alongside Creativity. Admittedly, hands won’t always align perfectly, but the strength of this deck lies in its ability to consistently find the necessary tools through various means such as Fable looting. Teferi, Reprieve, surveil lands, and more. You can trust in the deck’s capacity to deliver the required resources before succumbing to defeat, tipping the scales decisively in your favor. Post-board, the matchup becomes even more daunting for Hammer decks. Their Surge of Salvation can only do so much, while you can adopt an aggressive stance with tools like the Boseiju loop, Wear // Tear, and Brotherhood’s End, further solidifying your advantage.
otp
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Brotherhood’s End
+2 Wear // Tear
-3 Spell Pierce
-2 Reprieve
otd
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Brotherhood’s End
+2 Wear // Tear
-3 Reprieve
-1 Spell Pierce
-1 Change the Equation
Crashing Footfalls: 60/40
With the ban on Violent Outburst, this deck has undoubtedly seen a decrease in its potency. Previously, falling victim to Rhinos on Creativity often resulted from the devastating combo of Outburst paired with Force of Negation—an aggressive start reminiscent of Legacy-style plays. Thankfully, with that avenue closed off, I believe our position in this matchup has only strengthened.
To secure victory, it's advisable to maintain a hand boasting at least two of the eight main deck counter spells alongside either Creativity or Teferi. As previously mentioned, their need to tap out on their turn significantly limits their ability to effectively counter Creativity backed by Pierce.
Post-board, I anticipate the matchup to remain relatively unchanged. While some new Domain lists have begun boarding in Magus of the Moon, there are telltale signs to alert you to its presence, such as peculiar fetching patterns like acquiring a basic Plains and Forest in a 4-color deck. These indicators should help you navigate the matchup with confidence.
+1 Strike it Rich
+2 Wear // Tear
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
-4 Lightning Bolt
(if opponent is on Magus of the Moon, cut 2 Prismatic Ending for 2 Lightning Bolt)
Hardened Scales: 60/40
This deck is particularly vulnerable when faced with Creativity, akin to matchups against Hammer Time, where their limited interaction for Creativity leaves them at a disadvantage. Even their main form of interaction, Walking Ballista, can often be neutralized before Creativity hits the stack. However, I've noticed that my losses against Scales usually stem from their explosive starts, particularly when they assemble Scales into Patchwork + Welding Jar, bolstered by additional resources to deploy. Their deck relies heavily on assembling multiple pieces to secure victory, a task made exceedingly difficult against a control-combo deck like ours.
Post-board, similar to matchups against Hammer Time, I believe the situation deteriorates further for them. (For those interested, I faced Scales in round 6 on stream, offering a firsthand glimpse into the dynamics of the matchup.)
+1 Boseiju, Who Endures
+2 Brotherhood’s End
+2 Wear // Tear
-2 Change the Equation
-2 Spell Pierce
-1 Reprieve
I do have sideboard plans tailored for decks not covered here, and if you're interested in those, feel free to reach out, and I'll gladly provide you with that information. Similarly, if you have questions about specific card choices in my deck, such as "Why include Change the Equation in the main deck?" "Why omit Mana Tithe?" "Why not play Raucous Theater?" or "Why opt for Wear // Tear over Pick Your Poison?"—just send me a message with your inquiry, and I'll be happy to offer my insights.
Thank you for sticking around and reading through this content; while it may not be flawless, I've put in a lot of effort into it, all without charge. Lastly, I want to emphasize that these opinions stem from extensive testing of this deck across various platforms, including opens, cash tournaments, local events, and MTGO.
Decklist:
3 Archon of Cruelty
4 Wrenn and Six
3 Teferi, Time Raveler
4 Indomitable Creativity
2 Prismatic Ending
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Spell Pierce
3 Reprieve
2 Change the Equation
4 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
4 Leyline Binding
1 Arid Mesa
1 Blood Crypt
3 Bloodstained Mire
1 Commercial District
4 Dwarven Mine
1 Elegant Parlor
1 Jetmir’s Garden
1 Mountain
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Xander’s Lounge
Sideboard:
1 Boseiju, Who Endures
1 Strike it Rich
3 Turn the Earth
2 Veil of Summer
2 Brotherhood’s End
2 Wear // Tear
1 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
2 Terastodon
Hunter Burton Memorial Open 15k Report:
R1 Murktide WW
R2 Domain Rhinos WW
R3 Hammer WW
R4 Domain Zoo WLW
R5 Martyr WW
R6 Scales WW
R7 Martyr WLW
R8 Yawgmoth WLW
R9 Asmo Food LL
R10 Azorius Control WLW
R11 Merfolk WW
R12 ID
R13 ID
QF Merfolk (R11) LWL