Against the Odds: Darksteel Reactor Beatdown (Games)

What are the odds of winning with an aggressive deck built around Darksteel Reactor in Modern? Let's see!
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[@kelvinhu2063]

Seth: We're going to Thoughtseize their Thoughtseize instead of their Tarmogoyf because we don't want to lose our Tezzeret. Also Seth: *Dies to Tarmogoyf having never played Tezzeret*

[@JK-em1om]

Kelvin Hu yes but he really didn't have any other way to win in hand except Tezz

[@jamess8014]

Kelvin Hu lmao yup

[@bennymachado2201]

But he could draw into threats after the ten million turns the game would last. The priority was not losing at that point (Awnser to JK2021)

[@justinkp]

Results oriented thinking.

[@justinkp]

Benny Machado I wasn't replying to you if you thought that was the case, just to the original poster. Your replies actually contained reasoning and thinking and I have no problem with them. The original poster just listed a decision that Seth made and how it did not work out - that is results oriented thinking. That same decision could have won him the game if things had gone differently. You listed reasons why his decision may have been a mistake that make sense - you don't have anything to defend, your posts and points are fine, I just find the original post (and much of youtube comments and Twitch chat) to be very results oriented in their thinking. I should have tagged the original poster and I apologize.

[@kalebkeefe9484]

This deck should be called "Death and Axes".

[@simonf.3354]

1:39 You can hear the call of the Seth in his natural habitat

[@saiyangoomba1244]

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH, THE RUUUNS!!"

[@mad_max21]

A multipurpose call that can mean the opponent have Tron, he punted and all the above.

[@bigtimetimmyjim6486]

I thought the call was at 8:09

[@seannowlan4389]

The trick is you are both correct.

[@PapaBear5433]

Simon F. Omg I can't stop laughing at this comment XD this is too good!

[@melissagrenier2200]

A darksteel axe wielding another darksteel axe is the funniest flavour fail I've heard of in a while.

[@PewPew_McPewster]

More like flavour WIN, I'm disappointed that he didn't suit the axe up with the OTHER axe! Think about it though, it's like, first thing this animated axe thinks is "time to suit up, better go grab my brother; if I'M good at splitting skulls surely he's just as good!"

[@naphackDT]

'sup dawg I heard you like axes...

[@luliby2309]

People are complaining that this isn't really a Darksteel Reactor deck, but I have to say that this deck is way more awesome than the original reactor idea and I'm glad you went with this idea instead. In fact, this deck becomes funnier because it uses reactor to win, but by animating and attacking with it. That's hilarious.

[@craigripley3781]

My only problem with this deck is that it is more of an Ensoul Artifact deck, rather than one that uses Darksteel Reactor to win.

[@Artaimus]

Craig Ripley My exact thoughts here. I was expecting Coretappers and proliferate to sneak out a quick win when I voted for this. You can quite literally switch out the reactor for any other indestructible artifact and not change how this deck plays in the slightest.

[@a.foobix]

watch the deck tech

[@Ahayzo]

Foobix I've watched it. It explains why he didn't play a Reactor deck while calling this a Reactor deck. It's an Ensoul / Touch deck that happened to include Reactor which actually made it worse than not including Reactor

[@PapaD93]

Craig Ripley I think if it was just named Darksteel Beatdown it would be more fitting. I personally like this deck. It seems like it would be stronger than the reactor version.

[@jerethejeremiah3098]

Right? Even Darksteel Relic would have been better

[@rockgod227]

39:20 will be a moment remembered forever in Magic history. A story Richard Garfield will tell to God when he has trouble sleeping at night.

[@E-mol]

Seth vs UR breach has to be one of the most hilarious games i've seen! Amazing 😂

[@PharaohofAtlantis]

I would love to see this deck again but with Darksteel Relics, Mox Opals, and improvise/affinity cards. It was something I was playing with a few months ago but never put much effort in because I don't own Mox Opals.

[@stevenhiggins2544]

Abzan=Jund confirmed

[@GarrettTrimble]

Steven Higgins well this is a weird case cause the deck plays like jund but it has abzan lands

[@playtoproductions3785]

Sableye, The Mind Sculptor Jund and Junk are VERY similar decks. Both midrange. Both play Liliana of the Veil and Tarmagoyf.

[@justinkp]

I don't care if Seth "cheated" in these videos or not - any Against the Odds that can give us that last game is amazing in my book. This was almost a meta Against the Odds - instead of bogging down the game to get 20 counters on darksteel reactor (which doesn't seem that fun to watch) instead put some auras on them and beat face. That's some next level jank right there.

[@seanheadrick4191]

Why no Darksteel Relic? 0 cmc indestructible.

[@elijahkleinman1332]

This should be in there

[@andrewharding5173]

im assuming cost reasons. not sure how expensive it is

[@sorvian25]

Cost is usually not an issue with Against the Odds. Seems like he just replaced relic with reactor

[@uswilkibr]

about a quarter

[@migobrain]

Would prefer just one reactor for completness sake and a bunch of relic

[@Pepocho]

This deck needs Darksteel Relic instead of Darksteel Reactor

[@jeffersonaraujodantas961]

Please Seth take a vote to elect the best deck of the year. Congratulations on this brew.

[@plukkfisk8934]

Does anyone have more fun playing magic than this guy? I don´t even like the brews, I watch these for the enthusiasm.

[@daddyshortlegs7255]

Words I never thought I'd hear: Get in with Darksteel Axe

[@tcorninptown]

Didnt feel like a darksteel reactor deck.

[@Ahayzo]

Good Gamer Because it wasn't. It was an Ensoul and Touch deck that didn't include an infinitely better card just to say he included Reactor

[@Kryptnyt]

That thumbnail art is glorious.

[@FunPheonix]

That thumbnail is so derpy xD, I love it

[@maximuscesar]

It feels so good when you freak out from winning 😂

[@RyanIcey]

It doesn't seem like Darksteel Reactor was actually doing you any real favors that another artifact couldn't. Like for instance say Smuggler's Copter could have provided you some loot power in addition to being a 5/5 Flier. Or if you love the Indestruct so much, Darksteel Relic is a 0 drop artifact.

[@josephteslik9057]

Agreed. Reactor is just there to say he completed the ATO. Relic is an instant upgrade and there's probably a lot of ways to improve efficiency.

[@daievo073]

Darksteel Citadel is the only indestructible card in there worth keeping, imho. The looter scooter is great, hangarback walker is also sweet in ensoul decks. I think he decided to coopt the deck into an ensoul deck instead of a reactor deck... unfortunately it makes this deck not that great at either.

[@daniellee5525]

This is one of the most entertaining against the odds in a long time

[@daievo073]

So, just wanted to say that I was super-amped to see this deck in my feed. Fun to watch and super-entertaining plays. What's even better is that I play a Grixis version of this, but instead of being focused on indestructible artifacts, it's lower to the ground with bomat couriers to refill the hand in the late-game, hangarback walkers, scrapheap scroungers, smuggler's copter, etc. The reason that red is in it though is for shrapnel blast, and since they're in there I put in the full compliment of bolts, too, and even some built to smash/temur battle rage for the real lulz. The last thing I added (and this has done wonders) was snapcasters to maximize the blasting and get in the last few points of damage. Still, it was great to see your version of this do so well!

[@drunkenchris]

i've been a bit scared when i saw people voting for the most boring alternate win con ever. Thank you Seth for being such an awesome brewer and coming up with an entertaining deck anyways :)

[@PsionicMonk]

where is the Seth soundboard ? I need it lol

[@tgva8889]

This is the worst Darksteel Reactor deck ever, but the deck itself is still awesome.

[@daievo073]

Yeah, ensoul is a sweet deck, but this is a pretty subpar build of it.

[@josephteslik9057]

Darksteel axe wearing scissors weilding a darksteel axe. Get your artist on that one.

[@Anditeshordo]

Joseph Teslik or make it like a lot of comments wanted, a axe duel welding axes and with scissors, or the scissors are the legs. Would be some cool at work ideas.

[@WurthTapping]

Can't wait for the sequel. Scissor Axe 2: Back in the Hatchet

[@danieldaniels1172]

Seth is the greatest thing that has ever happened to MTG or youtube.

[@sirusburningham4521]

Happy 2 years for against the odds!

[@MTGGoldfish]

Thanks!

[@elijahkleinman1332]

The Breach player would've won if they had been running Liege of the Tangle instead of Emrakul, the Aeons Torn.

[@elijahkleinman1332]

Just something to keep in mind. Liege is the better target

[@melissagrenier2200]

Liege>Emrakul confirmed

[@Finngrinder]

it's true. Seth did the science

[@jobu71x]

Seth: PLEASE, have your thumbnail artist create a scissor-axe holding another axe! Maybe even standing over a fallen Emrakul. It will be the greatest trophy of all time

[@samk8005]

I was worried when Reactor won that we were in for a lame proliferate Against the Odds, but this was awesome. Well done, Seth :)

[@bretttrumble3305]

That Seth chortle at 42:17. Just epic.

[@Idiosyncreater]

Now this is an against the odds video. I can't believe this worked.

[@mattm7798]

I've never heard Seth so happy to win as that first match.

[@malico6932]

"Let me Axe you a question, opponent..." :D

[@spencerswensen3803]

16:15 "playing some mulligan in modern" i feel it seth i feel it

[@lelandgill3631]

Making a mockery of the entire Modern format by equipping an axe to another living axe? Priceless

[@maximuscesar]

I'm a legacy player, when I see modern games being lost for not drawing stuff I'm like "dude, I can't play without brainstorm and ponder"

[@Finngrinder]

Vintage, my friend

[@justinkp]

Legacy has preordain, giving it playsets of preordain, ponder and brainstorm. Legacy has much better card selection than vintage - vintage can't have card selection that good, it has too many 1 of cards that are extremely powerful. I've heard vintage was pretty crazy when brainstorm wasn't restricted.

[@Finngrinder]

you can't ever unrestrict them as Magic works now. it's completely true. the randomness of the loads of cards you draw is necessary since you would just go of way too easily. Even a card like Gush has proven to be too much in three different formats, this time because of Mentor, which, in the meantime, has been restricted itself. Also drawing a card and full hand information for free (Probe) prove too powerful as of now

[@justinkp]

I wish they'd hit mental misstep too, I think Phyrexian mana was pretty much just a mistake and its just not a fun card. I also wonder if gush could be un-restricted (again!) now that mentor is gone (still surprised a 3 mana white creature was restricted, I understand why but it still seems kind of crazy) since the gushbond decks are fun and haven't been too oppressive. They got rid of gush this time because of mentor, and now that mentor is gone maybe gush can be brought back -it would make Steve Menendian happy at least, heh.

[@y3tti627]

Who needs $1000 modern decks when u can win as much and with more joy using reactor beatdown lol

[@Termahgerf]

My only wish is that at 38:16 he would have equipped the second ax to the animated ax.

[@NoBody-ro3xj]

14:45 we have all been there... no land drop ... unless it was intentional. Great deck looks fun.

[@ViolenceisJustice]

game 1 is against abzan not jund

[@GarrettTrimble]

sometimes i think it's abzan lands but a jund build, kinda weird to call it either IMO

[@stephenlofton5403]

This deck reads like an episode of Gatewatch League TV show where Tezz hatches a plot to turn all the Darksteel Citadels in the multiverse into monsters for... Bolas-y reasons. Also not sure why you think this deck wouldn't work- ensoul indestructible artifacts has been a tier2.5 thing since ensoul artifact came out. It's one of those decks where if you draw the "combo" pieces and your op doesn't have proper interaction you just win.

[@BIGpony777]

when you had 3 Ensoul Artifacts and no lands, i right clicked the video and tried to concede lmao

[@WonTomYT]

16:13 "Playing some... MULLIGAN in Modern." xD

[@x3mskbord]

Not that it really matters, but I don't think ensoul artifact is the pair of scissors. I think it's the blue flame thing and the scissors are just what ensoul artifact is enchanting. So your artifacts aren't wearing scissors, they're wearing blue flames. An axe swinging an axe is still hilariously cool though

[@jeff25677]

Thank you for another amazing brew!!!

[@franciscoandrada5261]

Cool deck! Why Darksteel Relic and Phylactery Lich are not in the deck?

[@bryantan4228]

It's like Darksteel Colossus but better!

[@prime5102]

Alternate design of the "Get Rexed" shirt: "Get Rack'd"

[@natestrasburg]

this deck should be renamed, "Darksteel Tribal"

[@Negative_NBG]

This deck looks super fun, and honestly without the fetches and other expensive lands it can be pretty budget

[@Magnivore519]

It would seem that the Raven's Crime was.... ...murder

[@bolt3_095]

Magnivore519 Looool

[@svendphillips6126]

Seth, you are actually having too much fun with this deck.

[@knucklepsy3346]

Game 1 was Junk not Jund

[@moralessanchezoscarelias6412]

"Outjanked" is a beautiful word

[@petersmythe6484]

(Typed before the end) What would be really funny is if an opponent got a consistent stream of token chump blockers, only for you to win with the Reactor. That would be LOL.

[@canismajor1186]

This is the ensoul artifact deck I've always wanted in modern. I play it in Frontier but you know...

[@timlamiam]

as an elf player, watching that hand where u had a thoughtseize, a dismember, and an inquisition triggered me.

[@COZYTW]

Now you need a way to sneak Padeem in to prevent the Paths from being a direct out lol

[@PlutoDarknight]

Hour of Devastation is this deck's best friend *sarcasm*

[@SalmonOfK84]

I feel like Darksteel Myr would have been a decent include here. It's just an infinite chump blocker, and still holds an enchantment like a boss xP

[@gustavomaldonado7875]

Please play an optimized version of this deck!!

[@junkyardsoul3757]

This deck is a really cool concept, but a bit of tweaking could make it a whole lot better. Removing reactor for darksteel relic or myr and adding more sweepers into the main deck would fix a lot of problems you were having. Your guys not having evasion was a pretty large problem and damnation is the best way to get around that and takes advantage of what you built this deck around perfectly so I don't see why you wouldn't run it main deck.

[@funnyfyr]

Combo, it's a combo! Love it!

[@bennymachado2201]

I loved that he built a deck where Darksteel Reactor was utterly useless as an alt wincon and should surely be replaced by a lower cmc indestructible artifact for a more efficient use

[@genbu2870]

I only want to say THANKS I want to start in modern, i like artifacts, i love Tezzeret and i want a most of it cheap Deck to start. And that is my deck

[@Sethsters]

I've now seen an axe creature equipped with a axe. I can die happy now.

[@Atmapalazzo]

Here's the question you forgot to ask the first game "What card is better than Abrupt Decay but not played at sorcery speed for 3 mana or less" because better removal is basically the only answer

[@rolfvlierhuis7289]

3:18 Wut, Darksteel Axe? You mean Darksteel Scissors!

[@lior1204]

Cool thing with the axe, you can equip it to itself when its a creature and it will be a 7/5.

[@Drake462]

Flowey the flower this is false, check actual rules.

[@chandir7752]

It feels like it shouldn't work, but can you equip an ensouled darksteel axe to a second creature, or maybe even to itself? And if yes, can you still attack with the axe? Seems so odd.

[@steven.youngson]

Jank for day man! Love it

[@jamessheffield9091]

Nice, Darksteel Bogles!

[@Richmo_]

If you're going this route, there's no need to play Reactor. Darksteel Relic is doing the same thing, but on turn 1 instead of 4. The fringe case that you may win the game on turn 25 with Reactor doesn't warrant its use over Relic.

[@iwakuralain3064]

14:00 I wouldve started scrying on upkeep with pendant to get a turn deeper

[@kim15742]

So good!

[@archerschutte3532]

I still liked watching it, but it felt more like an alright budget artifact beat down deck than an against the odds darksteel reactor deck especially since he actually won a lot of games with it.

[@ElTeacherJ]

Ragequitted when Seth kept a one land opening hand.

[@aven78]

Seems like this deck could have gone down a Reactor or two and put in a couple board wipes, or maybe take them all out and put in Serum Visions to find some things.

[@silomurphy4451]

What happens when you try and equip a dark steel axe to itself? I would assume nothing but I'm curious. Anyone know?

[@tomsullivan8038]

I'd like to see fan art of an axe wielding another axe and scissors

[@helloyou5549]

the darksteel reactors shoudl have just been sweepers mainboard

[@Professor_Smoak]

This is my favorite AtO deck ever. Mostly because of your reaction to it winning.

[@teddy2other678]

this deck should definitely have darksteel relic

[@marshalllonigan1950]

This is real against the odds

[@Dragonspassage]

Worst against the odds...its not even a reactor deck. Just replacing it with relic and dropping 2-3 lands for wipes makes the deck way better

[@DiogoVKersting]

I see your point, but still, I had fun watching the games...

[@justinkp]

And yet it gave us a Dark Steel Axe, enchanted with Ensoul Scissors, equipped with a Dark Steel Axe beating a resolved Emrakul (which seems pretty against the odds to me). One of my favorite in the series in a long time.

[@paulziemba7890]

did you consider dark steel relic for this deck?

[@CSDragon]

In game 3 vs 4c good stuff, how come you Relic'd away their land instead of targeting the lingering souls?

[@jimbohn5170]

i have a similar deck with darksteel relics that basically work like mox with improvise cards

[@shitmandood]

"The jankiest of jankies" - SaffronOlive

[@doctordoctor7469]

An ax wielding the ax axed your opponent. That sentence is now true. Also Darksteel Relic > Darksteel Reactor?

[@leonamfernandesdasilva9012]

on 13:00 ~, couldn't he be scrying 2 times? to assure the draw faster?

[@jimbohn5170]

also... Seth... if you are going to play academy ruins you should ALWAYS have a stop on your upkeep

[@clight8778]

I like the damnation art

[@rahminh]

This was one of my favorite game play. Lol

[@jonathandias3524]

Does anyone know what would happen if you transform an equipped darksteel axe in to a 5/5?

[@eirikrdm]

its like the hammers in pinkfloyd the wall clip