I have to admit, the first time I heard the name “Faerie Schemes,” I thought it sounded like the kind of deck that would steal your lunch money and make you thank it for the honor. And honestly, I wasn’t too far off. This Brawl deck from Magic: The Gathering’s Throne of Eldraine set is all about clever tricks, sneaky plays, and fluttering faerie tokens that swarm the battlefield before your opponent even knows what hit them.
Alela, Artful Provocateur – The Heart of the Deck
Every great scheme needs a mastermind, and for this deck, it’s Alela, Artful Provocateur. She’s the kind of commander that makes you wonder how much trouble one card can cause. Turns out, a lot.
Alela is a flying, deathtouch, lifelink powerhouse who generates a 1/1 flying faerie token every time you cast an artifact or enchantment. Simple, right? The beauty of this is that it snowballs fast. Play an enchantment, get a faerie. Cast an artifact, get a faerie. Suddenly, you’ve got an air force that can chip away at your opponent’s life total, block threats, and overwhelm the board.
The Creature Lineup – Building the Swarm
Creatures in this deck aren’t just bodies on the field. They’re tools, each with a specific purpose that either fuels Alela’s token generation or benefits from the growing swarm.
- Animating Faerie – This one is fun. You can turn one of your artifacts into a 4/4 creature, which is a neat way to make use of utility artifacts that might otherwise just sit there.
- Arcanist’s Owl – Four mana for a 3/3 flyer that lets you dig for an artifact or enchantment? Yes, please. It keeps the faerie train rolling while also ensuring you’re consistently drawing into more resources.
- Puppeteer – This guy’s all about control. You can tap him to steal creatures with power equal to or less than the number of artifacts you control. It’s a delightful way to swing momentum in your favor.
Artifacts and Enchantments – The Faerie Factory
Alela doesn’t work without her artifacts and enchantments. They’re the engine that keeps this deck moving.
- Midnight Clock – I love this card. Not only does it generate blue mana, but once enough time counters accumulate, you get to shuffle your hand and graveyard into your library and draw seven fresh cards. A full reset that can swing the game.
- Conclave Tribunal – This enchantment helps lock down big threats while triggering Alela’s token-making ability. It’s cheap if you convoke it with faeries you already have on board.
- Shimmer Dragon – If you’ve ever wanted a flying hexproof beast that draws cards like crazy, this is your guy. With enough artifacts in play, Shimmer Dragon can quickly turn into a game-winning engine.
Spells to Control the Board
Sometimes you need to throw a wrench into your opponent’s plans. That’s where spells like these come in.
- Drown in the Loch – It’s versatile. You can counter a spell or destroy a creature depending on how many cards are in your opponent’s graveyard. This card is an all-star for disrupting any strategy.
- Mortify – Simple and effective. Destroy a creature or enchantment at instant speed.
- Thought Erasure – A little peek at your opponent’s hand is always a good thing. This lets you make them discard something crucial while surveiling to set up your next draw.
Lands to Keep the Mana Flowing
The mana base is critical since this is a three-color deck (blue, black, and white). A good mix of dual lands and utility lands keeps everything running smoothly.
- Watery Grave – Sure, it might cost you 2 life to have it enter untapped, but that flexibility is often worth it.
- Temple of Silence – A tapped land that lets you scry 1 when it enters the battlefield. It’s a small bonus, but one that adds up over the course of a game.
- Azorius Guildgate – A budget option that taps for blue or white. Nothing flashy, but it gets the job done.
Playing the Deck – What’s the Plan?
Here’s the basic idea: get Alela out as soon as possible and start casting artifacts and enchantments. Every spell adds to your swarm of faerie tokens, creating a board that grows stronger with each turn.
Mid-game is where the deck really shines. Your faeries can attack, block, and convoke spells like Conclave Tribunal. Shimmer Dragon will draw you cards while safely hiding behind hexproof. You’ll outpace slower decks by sheer volume of creatures, and faster decks will struggle to punch through your flying defenses.
By late game, the battlefield should be loaded with tokens. Your opponent might clear the board once, but resetting and building up again won’t take long. Cards like Midnight Clock ensure you never run out of gas, and a well-timed Mortify or Thought Erasure can stop game-ending threats.
Why Play Faerie Schemes?
If you enjoy MTG deck prints that feel like you’re outsmarting your opponent at every turn, Faerie Schemes delivers. It rewards careful play and the ability to adapt. Plus, let’s be honest—watching an army of faeries take over the battlefield feels oddly satisfying.
It might not be the flashiest deck in Magic, but it’s reliable, fun, and capable of surprising wins. Whether you’re new to Brawl or just looking for something different to try, Faerie Schemes is worth a shot. Just be prepared for your friends to glare at you every time you create another faerie token. They’ll get over it—probably.