I am completely new to MTG. My friend told me the best way to begin and to get enthusiastic about the game is to pick a trope or theme that I would enjoy. Oddly, when it comes to medieval-fantasy universes, commerce and merchantry in general interests me.
So is a merchant-theme deck possible and would it be viable? Perhaps, if so, you might suggest some cards?
There are some cards that are about trading/merchants/traders, but to build a deck around it...
Bazaar Trader comes to mind. Gray Merchant of Asphodel is also a famous "merchant" card that would be easy to build around, although the deck would not function as a "merchant/trading" deck.
I agree, that focusing on exchanging control of permanents is probably the best route to take.
Or simply look up cards with names pertaining to trade, like Trading Post, Merchant Scroll, Merchant of Secrets, Trade Secrets, etc. Either way, you are very likely going blue. Search terms for gatherer can be "trad" (gets you "trading", "trade", and "trader"), "merchant", "deal", "contract", "market", etc.
Or go black, and simply trade your own life for benefits.
I am completely new to MTG. My friend told me the best way to begin and to get enthusiastic about the game is to pick a trope or theme that I would enjoy. Oddly, when it comes to medieval-fantasy universes, commerce and merchantry in general interests me.
So is a merchant-theme deck possible and would it be viable? Perhaps, if so, you might suggest some cards?
There are some cards that are about trading/merchants/traders, but to build a deck around it...
Bazaar Trader comes to mind. Gray Merchant of Asphodel is also a famous "merchant" card that would be easy to build around, although the deck would not function as a "merchant/trading" deck.
If it was me, I might try to build a deck with Zedruu the Greathearted. You could use the Bazaar Trader, Puca's Mischief, Conjured Currency and build a deck around giving/trading permanents with other players. Which probably means you'll want to run things like Banishing Light.
Oh, and maybe throw in a Trade Routes just for flavor.
Hope this helps, and good luck!
Or simply look up cards with names pertaining to trade, like Trading Post, Merchant Scroll, Merchant of Secrets, Trade Secrets, etc. Either way, you are very likely going blue. Search terms for gatherer can be "trad" (gets you "trading", "trade", and "trader"), "merchant", "deal", "contract", "market", etc.
Or go black, and simply trade your own life for benefits.
Former Rules Advisor
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(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)