{"ops":[{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Work in progress, updated as of October 15, 2026"},{"insert":"\n\nIntro"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nStarted Magic for the first time in early July 2026. I bought the Aetherdrift Living Energy precon as my first precon and I have enjoyed playing with [[Saheeli, Radiant Creator]].\n\nI have been looking to improve/optimize this deck and this is the result so far. This is my main deck and I am continually playing it to not only get better at Magic, but also to see which cards I can drop and which cards are staples.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Any advice or feedback would be appreciated in order to help me improve."},{"insert":"\n\n----------------------------------------\n\nWhy is Saheeli Good?"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n[[Saheeli, Radiant Creator]] utilizes energy to make a copy of "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"any permanent "},{"insert":"on the battlefield (that you control). Creatures, enchantments, artifacts, auras, and even lands can be targeted by her ability. On top of this, those copied permanents enter as a"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":" 5/5 artifact creature "},{"insert":"which can turn cards with low power such as [[Empyreal Voyager]] into a concerning threat. A lot of the cards that makes Saheeli amazing involve ETB triggers when utilizing her second ability. [[Satya, Aetherflux Genius]] is the alternative to Saheeli but he can only copy creatures.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2g9W-O99qA"},"insert":"Panzer MTG's video"},{"insert":" helped show a lot of the cool interactions that Saheeli can do. A lot of the cards in this deck were inspired by his video and deck.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Gameplay Plan"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe goal of Saheeli is to do the following:\n1. Getting 3 energy as soon as possible to activate Saheeli's second ability.\n2. Play powerful cards and then getting even more power by copying it with Saheeli.\n3. Maintaining energy so that even after spending it, you will have enough leftover to activate it on the next turn.\n4. Win, hopefully\n\nIn this deck I've typically won by ramping up and dealing damage in large chunks of opponents' health, or sometimes even all of it in a single turn. Other decks may focus on burn damage with cards like [[Molten Gatekeeper]] and [[Reckless Fireweaver]], but I've found this playstyle to make me less of a target (early on) when others see that I'm not dealing consistently constant damage.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Advantages"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n- Unlike other counters that can be affected by a good amount of cards (like +1/+1 counters), energy is a counter that players "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"usually"},{"insert":" will not be able to affect. This means that once you get the energy it will stay there until you use it..,"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"usually"},{"insert":". Some cards to watch out for that can affect it include [[Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider]], [[Final Act]], [[Suncleanser]], and [[Solemnity]].\n\n- Since you can copy any permanent, the choices of what to copy with Saheeli make gameplay more interesting. For example, sometimes copying a land or even a [[Sol Ring]] might be the play to get more mana instead of attacking.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Disadvantages"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"(AKA things I've struggled with)"},{"insert":"\n\n- Cards that make creatures or artifacts enter tapped will basically kill any gameplay. Examples include [[Authority of the Consuls]], [[Blind Obedience]], [[Dauntless Dismantler]], [[Kismet]], [[Manglehorn]], and [[Thalia, Heretic Cathar]].\n\n- There aren't many flying creatures in this deck and will be difficult to deal against.\n\n- [[Vandalblast]], or really anything anti-artifact :(\n\n----------------------------------------\n\nCards"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" \nThese groups are ordered from most important to least, top to bottom.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Tier 1: Staples/Non-Negotiables"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe following cards are ones that I would consider never removing from the deck, with some still being from the precon:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"[[Attune with Aether]]: "},{"insert":"Generates 2 energy and grabs a basic land for just a single "},{"attributes":{"color":"#66b966"},"insert":"green mana"},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"[[Tune the Narrative]]:"},{"insert":" Generates 2 energy and draws a card for a single "},{"attributes":{"color":"#66a3e0"},"insert":"blue mana"},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"[[Galvanic Discharge]]: "},{"insert":"Can act as a [[Pongify]] to destroy a creature with just 1"},{"attributes":{"color":"#f06666"},"insert":" red mana"},{"insert":" (assuming you have enough energy), but typically I use this just to generate 3 energy.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"[[Rogue Refiner]]: "},{"insert":"Generates 2 energy and draws a card for 3 CMC, but is a permanent and can be copied to get a card draw for effectively 1 energy.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"[[Volatile Stormdrake]]:"},{"insert":" The much cheaper alternative of [[Gilded Drake]].\n\n[[Whirler Virtuoso]]: Generates 3 energy which means he can be copied and effectively lose no energy. This card is also part of several infinite combos.\n\n[[Parallel Lives]]: Making a copy from Saheeli was already good enough, so you can imagine making 2 copies instead with this card. Can be replaced for [[Adrix and Nev, Twincasters]] or [[Doubling Season|2XM]], however Adrix+Nev is easier to get removed while Doubling Season costs 1 more mana (its second effect is very rarely used in this deck apart from [[Goldvein Hydra]]).\n\n[[Determined Iteration]]: Essentially a weaker variant of Parallel Lives for half the CMC.\n\n[[Radiant Performer]]: This copies every permanent on the board with Saheeli's ability. "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Every. Permanent. All of them, and turns them into 5/5 artifact creatures. "},{"insert":"Think like [[Cyberdrive Awakener]] on crack.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"NOTE: "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/DRC/en-us/3/saheeli-radiant-creator"},"insert":"As per the official rulings"},{"insert":", you need to play this card after paying 3 energy from Saheeli's second ability to correctly use its ability.\n\n[[Uthros, Titanic Godcore]]: The Station cost is relatively easy to achieve since you can already get 9 of the 12 counters with a 4/4 Saheeli and the 5/5 copy she makes.\n\n[[Solar Transformer]]: Costs 2 mana which is the same as most of the other mana rocks, but generates enough energy to immediately use Saheeli's second ability.\n\n[[Sol Ring]]: Sol Ring.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Tier 2: High-Value Cards"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThese cards are hard to reconsider removing from the deck or difficult to find a good replacement (or I'm just lazy to find rn):\n\n[[Overlord of the Hauntwoods]]: Can generate 3 mana in a single turn while spending just as much to cast it for its Impending cost (playing it -> copying it with Saheeli to have it enter again -> attacking with the copy). \n\n[[Octomancer]]: Being able to create a token copy circumvents Saheeli's ability to sacrifice whoever she copies and can also take advantage of other players if they create creature tokens. Gifting an Octopus can help with board politics but can also be used alongside [[Disciple of Freyalise]].\n\n[[Temur Battlecrier]]: Saheeli has just enough power to utilize this card's effect as well as the 5/5 token copies she creates.\n\n[[Kappa Cannoneer]]: An all around great card. Copying it with Saheeli generates an additional counter on the real card while the copy becomes a 6/6 unblockable creature.\n\n[[Enthusiastic Mechanaut]] or [[Etherium Sculptor]]: Enthusiastic Mechanaut's ability to fly can deter other players from attacking you since you can chump block, however needing red mana can be an issue early game in this deck.\n\n[[Simulacrum Synthesizer]]: A good card in artifact decks in general and has an insane synergy with [[Threefold Thunderhulk]].\n\n[[Aetherflux Conduit]]: Usually a game ender if the 50 energy ability can be paid.\n\n[[Garruk's Uprising]]: Can draw you a card if Saheeli is already out and can draw another 3 cards if it's copied with Saheeli:\n\n- The copy triggers from seeing Saheeli (1) -> the original Garruk's Uprising sees the copy entering as a 5/5 triggering it (2) -> the copy sees itself entering triggering itself (3).\n\n[[Druid of Purification]]: A nice card for artifact/enchantment removal for cards that can impact Saheeli's gameplay (i.e. [[Authority of the Consuls]], [[Blind Obedience]]). This can be a great card for board politics since others get to remove "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"any other artifact or enchantment that isn't under your control"},{"insert":".\n\n- Can be copied to repeat its ability if multiple artifacts/enchantments need to be removed.\n\n[[Repurposing Bay]]: You can use this card's ability on copies from Saheeli since they copy the mana cost! This can also be used to put high mana cost artifact creatures onto the battlefield like [[Cybermen Squadron]].\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Tier 3: Great"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n[[Empyreal Voyager]]: This is a great energy generator (if copied with Saheeli) while also whittling down opponents' health.\n\n[[An Offer You Can't Refuse]], [[Flusterstorm|CMD]], [[Aether Spike]], [[Stubborn Denial]], [[Counterspell|TMP]], [[Fierce Guardianship]]: Running "},{"attributes":{"color":"#66a3e0"},"insert":"blue"},{"insert":" gives an opportunity to run some form of counterspells which I personally enjoy.\n\n[[Mystic Remora]] and [[Rhystic Study]]: Hooray for card draws, not so great for the other players' experience.\n\n- I personally enjoy games more when others are having fun, but for now I'm trying to find funny things to say as an alternative to \"are you going to pay the 1?\" such as \"I'd like to speak to you about your spell's extended warranty\" and \"Would you like to report this spell's taxes to the IRS?\".\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Honorable Mentions"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n[[Izzet Generatorium]]: Seems like a nice energy generator, however in this deck there isn't much of a need for excess energy apart from [[Aetherworks Marvel]] and the second ability of the card is rarely used since most of the time you'll only be losing 3 energy from Saheeli. There have been some instances where having an extra energy would've been enough to do something however.\n\n[[Lightning Runner]]: Personally I'm not a fan because although this card has potential infinite combos, the setup required for those combos is niche (usually requiring Lightning Runner to not have blockers that can kill it) and requires other cards that I'm not running in this deck (i.e. [[Aetherwind Basker]], [[Aethertide Whale]], [[Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer]]). It feels like a much weaker version of [[Radiant Performer]].\n\n[[Aether Refinery]]: For 6 CMC this isn't a great card to get fast and early energy. It's a potential add-in to synergize with [[Aetherflux Conduit]] however.\n\n[[Lumbering Worldwagon]]: This would be much better if more basic lands were being run in the deck. This has the same setup as [[Overlord of the Hauntwoods]] to generate 3 mana after casting it with Saheeli on the battlefield and then copying+attacking with it.\n\n[[Arcum Dagsson]]: Can use his ability on a copy from Saheeli, however more experienced players will know how good it is and you need to wait a turn in order to activate his effect (unless you equip [[Lightning Greaves]]). He's not as worthwhile anyways with [[Fabricate]] and [[Repurposing Bay]] in the deck.\n\n[[Idol of Oblivion]]:\n\n----------------------------------------\n\nCombos and Synergies"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"}]}