You may know me as the girl who hates Tron but loves Shops, Post, and many other colorless big mana decks. Luckily, I found another format to play Tron in recently: Historic!
Similar mono-brown lists have been floating around MTG Arena prior to the release of Zendikar Rising. However, the deck is a real contender in Historic now because of Forsaken Monument.
The best part about this deck is that you can largely build it to your preferences. I prefer my deck to be optimized, without excessive filler cards or too many win conditions. My goal is to have this deck be as consistent and powerful as possible, so I will go into card selection and alternatives later in the article.
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Historic Tron by Ally Warfield
'Historic Tron' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: Ally Warfield
Event:
Rank:
Historic
Market Price: $512.02
Golos, Tireless Pilgrim
Color Identity:B,G,R,U,W
Market Price: $11.13
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192551_200w.jpg
When Golos, Tireless Pilgrim enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
{2}{W}{U}{B}{R}{G}: Exile the top three cards of your library. You may play them this turn without paying their mana costs.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2020/golos-tireless-pilgrim
Forsaken Monument
Market Price: $5.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222095_200w.jpg
Colorless creatures you control get +2/+2.
Whenever you tap a permanent for {C}, add an additional {C}.
Whenever you cast a colorless spell, you gain 2 life.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/zendikar-rising/forsaken-monument
Stonecoil Serpent
Market Price: $2.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/199257_200w.jpg
Reach, trample, protection from multicolored Stonecoil Serpent enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/throne-of-eldraine/stonecoil-serpent
Radiant Fountain
Market Price: $0.40
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/236602_200w.jpg
When Radiant Fountain enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life.
{T}: Add {C}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2021/radiant-fountain
Mobilized District
Market Price: $0.28
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188208_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{4}: Mobilized District becomes a 3/3 Citizen creature with vigilance until end of turn. It's still a land. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature and planeswalker you control.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/mobilized-district
Cascading Cataracts
Market Price: $5.92
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/130159_200w.jpg
Indestructible
{T}: Add {C}.
{5}, {T}: Add five mana in any combination of colors.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/amonkhet/cascading-cataracts
Buried Ruin
Market Price: $0.72
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/219501_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{2}, {T}, Sacrifice Buried Ruin: Return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/double-masters/buried-ruin
Zhalfirin Void
Market Price: $0.31
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162903_200w.jpg
When Zhalfirin Void enters the battlefield, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
{T}: Add {C}.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/dominaria/zhalfirin-void
Ugin, the Ineffable
Market Price: $4.93
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188862_200w.jpg
Colorless spells you cast cost {2} less to cast.
+1: Exile the top card of your library face down and look at it. Create a 2/2 colorless Spirit creature token. When that token leaves the battlefield, put the exiled card into your hand.
−3: Destroy target permanent that's one or more colors.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/ugin-the-ineffable
Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
Market Price: $76.39
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/104285_200w.jpg
When you cast this spell, exile two target permanents. Indestructible Whenever Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger attacks, defending player exiles the top twenty cards of their library.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/battle-for-zendikar/ulamog-the-ceaseless-hunger
Mystic Forge
Market Price: $7.27
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192786_200w.jpg
You may look at the top card of your library any time.
You may cast artifact spells and colorless spells from the top of your library.
{T}, Pay 1 life: Exile the top card of your library.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2020/mystic-forge
Shadowspear
Market Price: $10.05
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/206978_200w.jpg
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has trample and lifelink.
{1}: Permanents your opponents control lose hexproof and indestructible until end of turn.
Equip {2}Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/theros-beyond-death/shadowspear
Mazemind Tome
Market Price: $2.63
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215519_200w.jpg
{T}, Put a page counter on Mazemind Tome: Scry 1.
{2}, {T}, Put a page counter on Mazemind Tome: Draw a card.
When there are four or more page counters on Mazemind Tome, exile it. If you do, you gain 4 life.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2021/mazemind-tome
Mind Stone
Market Price: $1.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/236130_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{1}, {T}, Sacrifice Mind Stone: Draw a card.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2021/mind-stone
Sorcerous Spyglass
Market Price: $0.21
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/198975_200w.jpg
As Sorcerous Spyglass enters the battlefield, look at an opponent's hand, then choose any card name. Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/throne-of-eldraine/sorcerous-spyglass
Platinum Angel
Market Price: $10.87
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/121887_200w.jpg
Flying You can't lose the game and your opponents can't win the game.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/conspiracy-take-the-crown/platinum-angel
Interplanar Beacon
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/187131_200w.jpg
Whenever you cast a planeswalker spell, you gain 1 life.
{T}: Add {C}.
{1}, {T}: Add two mana of different colors. Spend this mana only to cast planeswalker spells.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/interplanar-beacon
Ratchet Bomb
Market Price: $0.52
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/218870_200w.jpg
{T}: Put a charge counter on Ratchet Bomb.
{T}, Sacrifice Ratchet Bomb: Destroy each nonland permanent with mana value equal to the number of charge counters on Ratchet Bomb.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/double-masters/ratchet-bomb
Karn, Scion of Urza
Market Price: $7.52
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162259_200w.jpg
+1: Reveal the top two cards of your library. An opponent chooses one of them. Put that card into your hand and exile the other with a silver counter on it. −1: Put a card you own with a silver counter on it from exile into your hand. −2: Create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with "This creature gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control."
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/dominaria/karn-scion-of-urza
Hedron Archive
Market Price: $0.37
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/236126_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}{C}.
{2}, {T}, Sacrifice Hedron Archive: Draw two cards.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2021/hedron-archive
Tormod's Crypt
Market Price: $0.28
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215346_200w.jpg
{T}, Sacrifice Tormod's Crypt: Exile all cards from target player's graveyard.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2021/tormods-crypt
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Market Price: $28.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215338_200w.jpg
+2: Ugin, the Spirit Dragon deals 3 damage to any target. −X: Exile each permanent with mana value X or less that's one or more colors. −10: You gain 7 life, draw seven cards, then put up to seven permanent cards from your hand onto the battlefield.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2021/ugin-the-spirit-dragon
Blast Zone
Market Price: $3.49
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188636_200w.jpg
Blast Zone enters the battlefield with a charge counter on it.
{T}: Add {C}.
{X}{X}, {T}: Put X charge counters on Blast Zone.
{3}, {T}, Sacrifice Blast Zone: Destroy each nonland permanent with mana value equal to the number of charge counters on Blast Zone.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/blast-zone
Crawling Barrens
Market Price: $0.41
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221959_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{4}: Put two +1/+1 counters on Crawling Barrens. Then you may have it become a 0/0 Elemental creature until end of turn. It's still a land.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/zendikar-rising/crawling-barrens
Guardian Idol
Market Price: $0.63
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/216568_200w.jpg
Guardian Idol enters the battlefield tapped.
{T}: Add {C}.
{2}: Guardian Idol becomes a 2/2 Golem artifact creature until end of turn.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/jumpstart/guardian-idol
Meteor Golem
Market Price: $0.25
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/236100_200w.jpg
When Meteor Golem enters the battlefield, destroy target nonland permanent an opponent controls.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/commander-2021/meteor-golem
God-Pharaoh's Statue
Market Price: $0.36
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/187246_200w.jpg
Spells your opponents cast cost {2} more to cast.
At the beginning of your end step, each opponent loses 1 life.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/god-pharaohs-statue
Arch of Orazca
Market Price: $1.33
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/155675_200w.jpg
Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.)
{T}: Add {C}.
{5}, {T}: Draw a card. Activate only if you have the city's blessing.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/rivals-of-ixalan/arch-of-orazca
Labyrinth of Skophos
Market Price: $0.24
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/207114_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}.
{4}, {T}: Remove target attacking or blocking creature from combat.Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/theros-beyond-death/labyrinth-of-skophos
Grafdigger's Cage
Market Price: $1.68
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/192909_200w.jpg
Creature cards in graveyards and libraries can't enter the battlefield. Players can't cast spells from graveyards or libraries.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/core-set-2020/grafdiggers-cage
Karn, the Great Creator
Market Price: $14.41
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188386_200w.jpg
Activated abilities of artifacts your opponents control can't be activated. +1: Until your next turn, up to one target noncreature artifact becomes an artifact creature with power and toughness each equal to its mana value. −2: You may reveal an artifact card you own from outside the game or choose a face-up artifact card you own in exile. Put that card into your hand.
Buy This Card! https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/war-of-the-spark/karn-the-great-creator
This deck is able to exist in the high ranks of Historic due to Forsaken Monument alone. Doubling mana is the most efficient way in this deck to race to turn-five Ugin, the Spirit Dragon or Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger.
I don't need to convince you that playing Ugin or Ulamog quickly is powerful, but there's more to this card as well. Forsaken Monument makes all of your utility lands cheaper to activate, you can filter through your deck more quickly with Hedron Archive and Mind Stone, and you gain life every time you cast a colorless spell, which helps stabilize against some aggro decks and Jund Sacrifice. This card is so important to the archetype's success that we are essentially playing seven copies in the deck—the three in the maindeck and four copies of Karn, the Great Creator to grab the sideboard copy.
Karn, the Great Creator is likely the second most important card in the deck. Karn allows you to grab anything you need in any matchup or any given situation.
Because your plan relies heavily on Karn, the Great Creator, you are normally putting yourself in a situation where you don't have a real sideboard. This has turned a lot of people away from the deck, however with how the Historic metagame looks right now, you tend to have a favored matchup against most of the meta. This is largely due to Karn being able to help you out in most situations. If you don't need anything specific from Karn to stop your opponent, you usually grab Forsaken Monument to start your own game plan.
I have been streaming this deck a lot in the past week, and I have started to see more and more mirror matches on the ladder. This makes Karn, the Great Creator even more important because Karn shuts off Mazemind Tome and all of your opponent's mana rocks.
The mana rocks cannot be undervalued in this deck. The eight two-drops in the deck are almost essential on turn two in order to play any of your four-drops on turn three. These are important to add additional mana when you play Forsaken Monument, ramp faster than your opponent, and have something to do in the early game. Hedron Archive is important as well because you can set up an explosive turn five, even without Forsaken Monument.
The turn-two mana rocks are so essential to the game plan of this deck I will often mulligan hands that do not have one as a play on turn two.
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon is one of the key win conditions of the deck, largely because it is the easiest way to end the game. Most decks cannot come back after Ugin, the Spirit Dragon resolves, especially when it's turn five. The exile part of Ugin's ability is especially game-ending for Rakdos Pyromancer and Jund Sacrifice.
I've seen a couple of new lists putting Grafdigger's Cage in the maindeck. This is a viable strategy for trying to metagame for a tournament, however I am not a fan of this for laddering on Arena. There are a lot of people playing what they like instead of what is tier 1, therefore I am not interested in having a dead card in this deck.
Every card choice is very important, and a lot of decks that struggle against Grafdigger's Cage can just turn creatures sideways and easily win anyway (especially Goblins).
Mystic Forge has always felt "win more" to me and not necessary, especially in the maindeck. Mystic Forge can be a card you add to the deck if you enjoy it or if midrange is popular, however I prefer it in the sideboard to grab with Karn, the Great Creator in very specific situations.
There are a lot of "win more" cards that people have been asking me to put into the deck, however the deck just doesn't need any more filter or win conditions than it already has. Adding cards like this to the maindeck makes the deck less consistent, and doesn't necessarily add anything that was missing or needed before.
Ugin, the Ineffable also falls into the "win more" category for me, however Ugin, the Ineffable is more practical in the deck than Mystic Forge. I like one Ugin in the deck because it can function as a similar spell to Forsaken Monument by reducing mana costs. Additionally, Ugin has other purposes such as card advantage, creating pressure and blockers, and destroying permanents that are problematic to our game plan.
I tried two copies of Ugin, the Ineffable initially, however it didn't feel necessary in most situations, so I am happy with one in the deck.
Karn, the Great Creator creates a system where you rarely sideboard. However, if you have specific matches that you want to sideboard for, you need to add additional copies of the desired sideboard card to your sideboard.
For example, I have two copies of Grafdigger's Cage in my sideboard. That means during sideboarding I can bring in one Grafdigger's Cage against Rakdos Arcanist or Jund Sacrifice to have pseudo five copies of the card in my deck (the one in the deck and the four copies of Karn, the Great Creator in the deck to grab the sideboard copy).
Creating your sideboard depends on what you want extra help against and what you want to beat. Aggro matchups have been a little difficult with this deck, so you might want to consider adding an additional Shadowspear to the sideboard to side one in for aggro matchups. I currently like the extra sideboard slots going to Grafdigger's Cage because of the heavy prevalence of Jund Sacrifice, Rakdos Pyromancer, and Goblins in the format. If the format becomes more fair with Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath piles, I would likely add cards to the sideboard that could help grind out the matchups, like another Mystic Forge.
* * *
This deck is a great option in Historic if you're looking to beat Jund Sacrifice, Rakdos Pyromancer, or any other midrange strategy. While the deck struggles against hyper-aggressive decks, you can easily beat them by stabilizing with all of the life gain in the deck. The 2 life every spell from Forsaken Monument has been a key way to offset various aggressive strategies in my testing. Overall, Historic Tron is a powerful archetype in Historic and here to stay in the metagame.