How I made a theft deck I actually enjoy.
I always wanted to have a theft deck. A deck that always does something different based on what your opponents are playing sounded awsome!
So I started building some. I tried [[Nicol Bolas, the Ravager]], [[Sakashima the Impostor]] or [[Thada Adel, Acquisitor]], but I didnt like any of these decks enough to build in paper. Theft was always the main theme of the deck, I threw in any effects I liked that somehow let me access cards I dont own. And that was ultimatly my problem with the archetype. If the only synergy of my deck is that the cards I play are not cards I own, the deck doesnt feel as exciting as the initial idea sounded.
So I looked at the deck from a new perspective. Some of my most favorite theft cards are [[Stolen Goods]], [[Bribery]], [[Dream Harvest]] and [[Reins of Power]]. All of these cards and many more fun theft cards are instants or sorceries.
After looking for a few commander options and the possible play patterns they might bring with them, I chose [[Dralnu, Lich Lord]] as the commander. On first sight, he might just look like a more expensive [[Kess, Dissident Mage]] with less colours and an insane downside. But Dralnu can give your spells flashback during an opponents turn as well. (Just image an opponent casts Blasphemous Act while Dralnu is out, but you respond with [[Sudden Substitution]] that was in your graveyard the whole time.)
Now I had not only a theft deck, but also a deck that rewards spellslinging with some payoffs, a deck that could play some of my favorite cards twice as much and a deck that can pull of some really cool tricks due to the unique abilities of my commander. (Shoutouts to [[Gifts Ungiven]].)
I really enjoy the deck so far! It is definetly not the fastest deck, but it feels so thematic and is just really fun! (Full decklist if interested: https://moxfield.com/decks/8_UgUyvJ9kmItgQTphwgAg ).
Did you have similar deckbuilding experiences? Do you have any recommandations for my list or the archetype in general?