In case you've ever sitting throughout the table through a megatron blightsteel deck, a person know exactly just how fast things can go south intended for the rest of the table. It's one of those combinations that seems a little like a fever dream—mixing the classic 80s bad guy with one associated with the most frightening artifacts in Miracle: The Gathering history. But once a person see it in action, you realize it's not just the gimmick; it's a legitimate powerhouse that may end a sport of Commander just before some people have actually finished setting upward their mana rocks.
I recall the particular first time We saw someone consider to resolve this. There's a particular kind of silence that will hits the room when the Megatron player starts performing math. It's that will "Oh, I'm really dead, aren't We? " realization. Let's break down the reason why this unique interaction is such a headache for opponents plus why players who love big, stompy artifacts are gravitating toward it.
The Tyrant as well as the Colossus
At the heart of this damage is Megatron, Tyrant . When Wizards released the Transformers cards, many people were skeptical, but Megatron proved in order to be a total beast in the command zone. His whole deal revolves close to his two encounters: the robot and the tank (or the particular cannon, depending on the way you look from the art). The particular robot side, Megatron, Tyrant , is exactly where the real magic happens. He lets a person sacrifice an artifact during your major phase to offer damage to a creature. But here's the kicker: in the event that that damage is excess, you get that much without color mana.
Now, pair that having a megatron blightsteel setup. If a person have a Blightsteel Colossus on the board, or maybe if you're just using Megatron to cheat it out, the particular synergy is revolting. Blightsteel is an 11/11 with Trample and Indestructible, but most importantly, it has Infect. We all know the reputation of Infect. It's the particular "salt-inducing" mechanic that lets you kill someone with 10 toxin counters instead associated with 40 life. When you start throwing that kind associated with power around with Megatron's sacrifice plus conversion abilities, the game state gets weird very rapidly.
Why the Synergy Works So Well
A person might be asking yourself why you'd ever want to give up a Blightsteel Colossus. Usually, you want that big chunk of metal targeting. But the beauty of a megatron blightsteel build may be the flexibility. Megatron wants things to pass away so he may generate mana plus flip. If you're in a position where you can't very cope with a walls of tokens with the Colossus, Megatron can use this as fuel.
However, the real power isn't usually in sacrificing the Colossus itself, yet in using Megatron's ability to get to the particular Colossus. Megatron's tank form, Megatron, Destroyer , triggers when he or she attacks. He allows you cast a good artifact from the graveyard by paying mana equal to the value, but you obtain a discount based on how very much damage you worked that turn. When you've been aggressive with your some other artifacts, you can suddenly drop the Blightsteel onto the particular field for close to nothing. It's an enormous swing in beat that most decks aren't equipped in order to handle on turn five or six.
The worry Factor of Infect
Let's be true for a second: people hate Contaminate. It's a polarizing mechanic, and whenever you combine it using the efficiency of a megatron blightsteel engine, you're going to possess a target on your own back. The instant you reveal Megatron as your leader, the table takes on the worst. If you actually resolve the Blightsteel, you become the "Archenemy. "
But that's section of the fun, best? Playing this combination isn't about producing friends; it's regarding seeing if you possibly could outpace three others trying to shut you down. Because Blightsteel is indestructible, it's notoriously hard to eliminate. Unless somebody includes a Way to Exile or a Swords to Plowshares prepared to go, that Colossus is staying on the plank. And with Megatron providing the mana and the utility in order to keep the motor running, you are able to generally protect your possessions or just recur them if points go sideways.
Setting Up the Win
A good megatron blightsteel deck isn't just about those two cards, even though. You need the solid shell of artifact support. You're looking at cards like Steel Overseer , Mystic Forge , each mana rock you can get your hands on. The goal is usually to hit a critical mass of artifacts so that Megatron always has something to "eat. "
The particular early game is generally spent setting upward your mana and getting Megatron out. Once he's on the board, you start looking for your own big payoffs. Whilst Blightsteel is the "holy grail" of the deck, you're likely running additional high-cost artifacts as well. But nothing quite matches the stress of the Colossus. The particular threat of it alone forces your own opponents to play defensively. They stop targeting because they need to leave blockers up, which just offers you more time to find your combination pieces.
1 of the funniest interactions is using Megatron to compromise something like a Wurmcoil Engine . A person deal damage, get the tokens, and after that make use of the mana generated by Megatron to hard-cast a Blightsteel. It's a persistent chain of "must-answer" threats. If these people kill the Wurmcoil, they have to handle the bridal party. When they ignore Megatron, you're getting the Blightsteel. It's a lose-lose situation with regard to the rest of the table.
Dealing with the particular Salt
In the event that you're going in order to run a megatron blightsteel deck, you've have got to be prepared for some grumbling. Commander is a social format, and some playgroups have unspoken rules regarding Infect or "cheating" out massive animals too early. My advice? Just become upfront about it. Tell the table, "Hey, this deck does some mean stuff with Blightsteel. "
Usually, individuals are alright with it so long as they know exactly what they're getting directly into. Plus, much more the particular game more fascinating. It turns into a puzzle with regard to the other gamers: "How do we stop the large robot before he turns us directly into poison-filled scrap metal? " Celebrate high-stakes moments that individuals remember long after the overall game is over. Whether you win or shed, the megatron blightsteel interaction is definitely a talking point.
Protecting Your Board
The largest weakness of this particular strategy is, certainly, targeted exile. In case someone exiles your own Blightsteel, it's a huge blow in order to your win situations. That's why a person need to pack some protection. Lightning Greaves plus Swiftfoot Boots are non-negotiable right here. Not only do they protect your big threats, yet giving a Blightsteel Colossus Haste is usually basically a passing away sentence for somebody.
I've seen games where a player drops a Blightsteel, equips the particular boots, and swings for the get within the same turn. It's brutal, efficient, and what the particular deck desires to perform. You can furthermore run cards like Welded Jar as well as some glowing blue splash if you're playing a multi-color version for counter-magic, though many Megatron builds stick to Mardu or comparable colors based on the particular commander variant.
Final Thoughts on the Combo
At the end of the day, megatron blightsteel represents everything that's wild about modern Magic. It's high decibel, it's heavy, also it hits like the freight train. It's the ideal choice for anyone who misses the days of giant artifact animals being the kings of the desk.
It's not only about the particular power level, although. There's something seriously satisfying concerning the taste. Megatron, the leader associated with the Decepticons, wielding a weapon because devastating as the Blightsteel Colossus this just fits. It's a match produced in mechanical bliss (or hell, depending on which side of the table you're on). Therefore, if you're looking to shake upward your local meta and you don't mind being the villain for an evening, give this duo a go. Simply don't be surprised when you're the first one everybody tries to eliminate!