Lands

Overview of the Magic: The Gathering Mono-Red Prison

Mono-Red Prison in Legacy works by combining fast mana, disruptive elements, and aggressive threats to control the game from an early stage and quickly close out matches. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how it functions:

Key Elements and Strategy

1. Fast Mana:

   • Ancient Tomb and City of Traitors: These lands produce two colorless mana, enabling explosive starts.

   • Simian Spirit Guide: Provides a one-time red mana boost by exiling it from hand.

   • Chrome Mox: Imprints a red card to provide continuous red mana.

2. Disruption:

   • Chalice of the Void: Typically played for X=1 on turn one to counter cheap spells, which are prevalent in Legacy.

   • Trinisphere: Forces all spells to cost at least three mana, hindering fast combo decks and low-cost spell-heavy decks.

   • Blood Moon and Magus of the Moon: These cards transform all non-basic lands into Mountains, disrupting multicolored mana bases and cutting off key lands for many decks.

3. Lock Pieces:

   • Ensnaring Bridge: Prevents creatures from attacking if their power is greater than the number of cards in your hand, excellent against creature-based strategies.

4. Aggressive Threats:

   • Goblin Rabblemaster and Legion Warboss: These creatures generate a stream of Goblin tokens that can quickly overwhelm opponents if unchecked.

   • Chandra, Torch of Defiance: Provides multiple utilities, including card advantage, mana acceleration, and direct damage to finish off opponents.

   • Fiery Confluence: A versatile spell that can deal damage to creatures or players, or destroy artifacts.

5. Utility and Sideboard Cards:

   • Karn, the Great Creator: Can fetch key artifacts from the sideboard and disable opposing artifacts.

   • Other Sideboard Options: Typically include artifacts and spells to handle specific matchups or threats, such as Pithing Needle, Tormod's Crypt, and Abrade.

Game Plan

1. Early Game:

   • Utilize fast mana to deploy disruptive elements like Chalice of the Void, Trinisphere, or Blood Moon as early as turn one.

   • Aim to disrupt the opponent’s ability to play spells or use their lands effectively.

2. Mid Game:

   • Follow up with aggressive threats like Goblin Rabblemaster or Legion Warboss to start applying pressure.

   • Use planeswalkers like Chandra, Torch of Defiance to generate card advantage and additional damage.

   • Maintain control with additional lock pieces like Ensnaring Bridge if needed.

3. Late Game:

   • Continue to apply pressure with creatures and planeswalkers.

   • Use utility spells and sideboard options to deal with any specific threats or situations that arise.

Matchups

• Strong Against:

  • Decks heavily reliant on cheap spells (due to Chalice of the Void).

  • Decks with fragile mana bases or many non-basic lands (due to Blood Moon effects).

  • Creature-heavy strategies (due to Ensnaring Bridge and Fiery Confluence).

• Weak Against:

  • Decks that can efficiently remove lock pieces or operate with minimal lands.

  • Combo decks that can win before lock pieces are established.

  • Decks with efficient card draw and removal that can overcome early disruption.

By leveraging its fast mana, disruptive elements, and aggressive threats, Mono-Red Prison seeks to dominate the game early and maintain control until it can secure a victory.

Deck List