Dragon Arch
By _Urza_ on August 25 2001

Julio Royas writes:
This is a G/U deck that uses the Dragon Arch to get a cheap dragon or a cheap Mystic Snake in play:

3 Dragon Arch
2 Dromar, the Banisher
2 Rith, the Awakener
4 Glacial Wall
4 Mystic Snake
4 Counterspell
4 Thwart
2 Wash Out
4 Brainstorm
4 Accumulated Knowledge
2 Aether Mutation
1 Bribery
4 Yavimaya Coast
13 Island
7 Forest

SB:
3 Tsabo's Web
2 Misdirection
2 Hibernation
4 Gainsay
2 Caltrops
2 Lightning Angel


This deck has a great foundation, but there are a few things that should be addressed, such as the fact that the deck is based upon Dragon Arch and only contains 3 of them. The other problem is unless you have the Arch out, you literally cannot cast Dromar or Rith. The card-by-card analasis is at the bottom, my recommendation is:

4 Counterspell
4 Mystic Snake
2 Wash Out
2 Bribery
4 Accumulated Knowledge
4 Dragon Arch
3 Treva, the Renewer
4 Jungle Barrier
4 Absorb
4 Fact or Fiction
4 Yavimaya Coast
4 Adarkar Wastes
2 Treva's Ruins
9 Island
4 Forest
2 Plains

Sideboard:
4 Hibernation
2 Misdirection
4 Gainsay
4 Meddling Mage
1 Kavu Chameleon


Card-by-Card:

-Counterspell-Well, it's a blue deck.
-Mystic Snake- It counters things, and it does it well.
-Wash Out- Since this deck is Type 2, it has to be able to hold off faster decks until it gets the advantage. Wash out helps a ton in tempo control.
-Bribery- Bribery is useful in almost every matchup, netting at least a blocker to slow your opponent.
-Accumulated Knowledge- The best card drawer in a long time just gives you too many cards to not be in this deck. Helps you to get the Arch out faster and find the counters in a pinch.
-Dragon Arch- Allows you to shoot that Treva out of the Arch at the end of your opponent's turn. Did I mention you can't counter the creature you put into play with it?
-Treva, the Renewer- This is the only Dragon that can possibly be cast with this deck. It's still a 6/6 flyer and it can gain you some life...
-Jungle Barrier- This is quite useful with the Arch. They think they've got you with their Blastoderm and suddenly--woops! Here's my Barrier! It can also act as an instant card draw if you really need a counter.
-Absorb- This is one of the best counterspells ever.
-Fact or Fiction- This is one of the best card drawers ever. Lets you find the Arch and anything else you may need.

--Sideboard--

-Hibernation- I chose Hibernation because Fires is so increadibly powerful in Type 2 right now. This might return a Jungle Barrier or Mystic Snake to you hand, but since when is that bad?
-Misdirection- Two words: Urza's Rage.
-Gainsay- Helps unforetold amounts against blue. The problem is they probably are packing 4 as well.
-Meddling Mage- This is a useful creature against combo decks and Static Orb (if it hits the table). It also could be sided in if you face a deck like Obliterate.
-Kavu Chameleon- One copy? What...? Well, the Kavu Chameleon is just for that really annoying Type 2 Version of an IBC deck. It's not all that bad of a creature, and it can help you out if you are stalling against blue.

  _Urza_