Pauper: Flicker Tron - Deck Tech and Sideboard Guide

Prophetic Prism is back in Pauper, and, as a result, good old Tron is back too.

Tron Unban

Pauper, Raniere

75 commons

defaulttixvisual

Land20

1

Conduit Pylons

0.01

1

Captivating Cave

0.07

1

Tangled Islet

0.17

1

Molten Tributary

0.49

1

Remote Isle

0.12

2

Island

0.46

4

Urza's Mine

3.96

4

Urza's Tower

3.96

4

Urza's Power Plant

3.16

1

Bojuka Bog

0.53

Creature7

1

Murmuring Mystic

0.01

3

Mnemonic Wall

0.54

3

Mulldrifter

0.54

Artifact11

3

Expedition Map

1.86

4

Energy Refractor

0.32

4

Prophetic Prism

0.11

Sorcery2

2

Lórien Revealed

2.8

Instant20

1

Ephemerate

3.02

2

Crop Rotation

4.96

1

Heritage Reclamation

0.13

1

Weather the Storm

0.44

4

Impulse

0.23

1

Prohibit

0.1

2

Moment's Peace

8.98

1

Breath Weapon

1.08

2

Ghostly Flicker

1.6

1

Unwind

0.69

1

Pulse of Murasa

0.09

2

Mystical Teachings

0.2

1

Focus the Mind

0.03

60 cards maindeck

Sideboard 15

1

Stonehorn Dignitary

0.23

1

Dinrova Horror

0.07

2

Hydroblast

8.98

1

Lightning Bolt

0.55

1

Blue Elemental Blast

0.63

2

Pyroblast

9.92

1

Red Elemental Blast

3.99

2

Envelop

1.18

1

Remove Soul

0.35

1

Ancient Grudge

0.03

1

Scattershot

0.35

1

Pulse of Murasa

0.09

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This version of Tron dominated the format for a long time. It works as a Control toolbox list that can adapt to any situation and answer basically any threat. The heart of the entire strategy is, obviously, in Urza's Trio.

The goal is to get this trio, create more mana as fast as possible, and play heavy, powerful spells. To do that, you'll use Expedition Map and Crop Rotation, as they're the fastest way to get the trio. Furthermore, this list also plays utility lands that are quite efficient in a few specific situations.

Another important part of this deck is how it can lock down the opponent through the interaction between Ephemerate and Ghostly Flicker with Mnemonic Wall. These three cards let you lean on your resources to counter your opponent's spells as many times as you want, gain life again and again, or prevent combat damage throughout the entire match. You'll also constantly create card advantage with Mulldrifter or the artifacts that filter mana included in this list.

Mystical Teachings is another must. It tutors basically all spells it plays, so you'll always find the right card at the right time with it. Focus the Mind is a new addition from TDM that creates a good amount of advantage rather easily.

Murmuring Mystic is this deck's win condition. With it, you'll be able to fill the board with 1/1 flying tokens and finish your opponent.

The meta has changed a lot, but many decks can find some space now and even perform rather well, which proves Pauper is a lot more diverse now. Decks like Affinity and Mono-Red, though popular, no longer dominate the meta, and High Tide, which we all suspected would break the format like the other cards, is still under control. It is just another ingredient in the now big melting pot called Pauper.

Flicker Tron is also just another strong option for the meta. It has performed very well week after week, and, as such, it is one of the best control lists nowadays.

Mulligan

You'll need to be wise when you mulligan with Tron. Keep in mind you'll basically use all five colors, so you need land drops, even if you don't get Urza's Trio straight away. Otherwise, you'll just get stuck.

This is a good opening hand. You have one of Urza's lands, card advantage, and colored lands, so you can easily progress your game plan.

This opening hand is as solid as the first one, as it has two pieces of the trio and enough lands to dig through the top of your deck with Impulse. With it, you'll be able to get more resources to progress your game plan.

This last hand, however, you'll have to mulligan. It has three of the same land, and practically no interaction for the early game. These artifacts can draw you extra cards and find a way to filter mana, but you'll have to rely on these new cards to find something useful. Depending on the matchup, you might struggle.

Like the main deck, this sideboard was built to deal with many situations. Stonehorn Dignitary and Dinrova Horror are popular in Tron sideboards - the first one is a nightmare for aggro decks, and the second is an extra win condition that is useful in many cases.

Lightning Bolt is a versatile card, as you can use it both as a removal and as another way to win the game. Scattershot is great to deal with small, numerous creatures like Faeries, Ancient Grudge gets rid of annoying cards like Relic of Progenitus, and Pulse of Murasa is efficient when you need to get some extra resources.

This sideboard also plays a full package of counters.

Vs. Burn

Mono-Red now focuses far more in Burn than the aggro game plan it used before the last ban update. However, now Tron also has better odds against this deck, as it can lean on lifegain and prevent damage while it looks for more gas for this matchup.

Be careful with uncertain or slow hands because Mono-Red is still extremely aggressive and can easily destroy all your life points in just a few turns - that is, if it has some space to do it.

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Vs. Mono-U Terror

Mono-U Terror is fast and has a solid game plan, but I consider this matchup quite balanced. Mono-U needs to end the game as fast as possible, before Tron starts creating too much value, and Tron, as a result, needs to stall the match as much as possible.

Moment's Peace and Murmuring Mystic are your best cards in game 1, as they'll keep your opponent under control. In game 2, you'll have Pyroblasts and Stonehorn Dignitary, which is even more efficient against their plan.

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Vs. Jund Wildfire

This is, without a question, a good matchup. Jund's strategy is similar to Tron's: accelerating mana and playing powerful spells, but Tron is more efficient and can be a lot more recursive at times. Furthermore, Jund naturally takes a bit longer to actually start playing and this favors Tron, as you'll have space to develop your plan.

Still, be careful with their removals because they're quite good, and think about every decision carefully to keep the game under control. Jund's greatest weakness is not playing counters, but it can be quite disruptive even without them.

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Vs. Walls Combo

This might be one of the worst matchups possible. Tron struggles against certain combos, and Walls is one of them. The opponent will get extra mana faster than you, and, with enough space, will be able to progress their game plan in a very dangerous way. In game 1, you'll have to worry about their combo, and, if you can't stop it, it's game over.

In game 2, the sideboard will help you, but you'll still need a bit of luck to win.

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Vs. Bogles

This matchup is a race. Whoever puts their pieces in play first wins. Bogles can end the game on turn 3 if it can attack freely. However, Tron can also use Urza's Trio on turn 3 and prepare a fog loop with Mnemonic Wall, Moment's Peace, and Ephemerate.

Stonehorn Dignitary can simply destroy all of Bogles' plans if you play it correctly. For instance, you can use it to deal with an enemy Flaring Pain. Once you set up the Ephemerate or Flicker loop with Stonehorn, this match is yours.

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Final Words

Flicker Tron is a classic Pauper list, perfect if you enjoy following a complex game plan while you control your opponents. It is still conquering space in the meta and should do it for quite some time yet. Though it no longer appears as threatening as before, it is a very solid option for Pauper right now.

What did you think of this list? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!