We are now on Day 3 of new Standard brews for Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and it’s time to explore one of the new mechanics: Coven. We’ve looked at a few Delver of Secrets decks, and we’ve also looked at the main theme deck of the set, Werewolves. But today we’re going to look at Coven and see if we can build a deck that utilizes the new mechanic well.
Finding a Coven Pay Off
So our first step for building this deck is figuring out what “Coven” effects we want to play as a “pay off”. The effect we choose should be strong enough to warrant building out deck around it. In my opinion, the only pay off I’d recommend playing is
Sigarda, Champion of Light
Sigarda, Champion of Light
Flying, trample
Humans you control get +1/+1.
Coven — Whenever Sigarda attacks, if you control three or more creatures with different powers, look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a Human creature card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
.
Sigarda has a few things going for her. Being a Humans Anthem lines up nicely since some of the other cards that have Coven are humans. Additionally, her Coven ability lets us find Humans off the top of our library, which for a creature deck is a great ability. So let’s go with this, and look at the rest of the cards in the deck.
Getting to Coven
Our first goal is to try and get to Coven.
Dawnhart Mentor
Dawnhart Mentor
When this creature enters, create a 1/1 white Human creature token.
Coven — {5}{G}: Target creature you control gets +3/+3 and gains trample until end of turn. Activate only if you control three or more creatures with different powers.
is a new card that does help get 2 different powers on the board. Dawnhart itself is a great blocker, and has a solid Coven ability to help push some damage.
Join the Dance
Join the Dance
Create two 1/1 white Human creature tokens.
Flashback {3}{G}{W} (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
is a great 2 mana token generator that let’s us go wide and gives us more options for manipulating creature power.
One creature that helps tie everything together is
Luminarch Aspirant
Luminarch Aspirant
At the beginning of combat on your turn, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
let’s us manipulate creature power when we attack and allow us to trigger coven easily. Similar to Aspirant is
Contortionist Troupe
Contortionist Troupe
This creature enters with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Coven — At the beginning of your end step, if you control three or more creatures with different powers, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
. This creature scales great into the late game and can help us achieve Coven at any point.
One of the combat tricks that I think is rather good is
Might of the Old Ways
Might of the Old Ways
Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
Coven — Then if you control three or more creatures with different powers, draw a card.
. This is a great combat trick that can trigger Coven and draw us a card. Now let’s look to the rest of the cards to fill out the deck.
READ MORE: 10 Best Historic Cards From Innistrad: Midnight Hunt
Filling Out the Deck
The last of the creatures we want to fill out the deck are a all great.
Saryth, the Viper’s Fang
Saryth, the Viper’s Fang
Other tapped creatures you control have deathtouch.
Other untapped creatures you control have hexproof.
{1}, {T}: Untap another target creature or land you control.
inherently gives our creatures protection with Hexproof, but also can give our creatures some power.
Elite Spellbinder
Elite Spellbinder
Flying
When this creature enters, look at target opponent's hand. You may exile a nonland card from it. For as long as that card remains exiled, its owner may play it. A spell cast this way costs {2} more to cast.
has been a power house creature that helps pull answers out of our opponent’s hand. Not to mention it’s also a flyer that can get in damage quickly.
Next is
Werewolf Pack Leader
Werewolf Pack Leader
Pack tactics — Whenever this creature attacks, if you attacked with creatures with total power 6 or greater this combat, draw a card.
{3}{G}: Until end of turn, this creature has base power and toughness 5/3, gains trample, and isn't a Human.
. We should have Pack Tactics rolling a lot of the time, and we can manipulate it’s power at will to help trigger Coven. Lastly,
Prosperous Innkeeper
Prosperous Innkeeper
When this creature enters, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
Whenever another creature you control enters, you gain 1 life.
helps us get a few spells off and get some life as well. It’s not a Human, so it won’t benefit from out other cards as much, but it’s still a great 2 drop to have.
The Deck
Here’s what the deck is going to be. This is a very aggressive curve, getting a lot early pressure on the board, and keeping it. I’m sure that there’s a humans deck for Standard, but whether or not the way to go is with Coven remains to be seen.
READ MORE: Should Golos, Tireless Pilgrim Be Banned in MTG Arena Historic Brawl?
What do you think? Is Coven going to be a good mechanic for Standard? or Is it just a limited mechanic? Let us know in the comments!
Innistrad: Midnight Hunt is the first of two new Innistrad sets coming to Magic: the Gathering. It’s being released in tabletop on September 24th, 2021, and online on September 17th, 2021. Previews started on September 2nd, 2021. Be sure to check out our Preview Gallery to stay up to date with all the new previews. You can also preorder Innistrad: Midnight Hunt product here.