🧠 Xanathar, Guild Kingpin – Mindflayer Control Master

Commander: Xanathar, Guild Kingpin

Theme: Theft, Control, Value

Colors: Dimir (Blue / Black)

Xanathar doesn’t just control the board—he controls your opponents. This deck is about stalling the game, accruing value, and slowly dismantling your enemies by using their own decks against them.

🧩 Core Strategy

Steal Their Decks: Each turn with Xanathar, you lock out an opponent’s draw and play their cards instead. Stack the top of their library with Ghoulcaller's Bell or Codex Shredder for full control.

Disrupt & Delay: Counterspells like Void Shatter, Negate, and Disdainful Stroke keep threats off the board while you build.

📚 Value & Draw Engine

Fact or Fiction, Treasure Cruise, and Skeletal Scrying provide massive draw to keep your hand full.

Shadowmage Infiltrator and Mulldrifter give repeatable or upfront card advantage.

Don’t forget Thirst for Discovery and Ambition’s Cost for efficient mid-game fuel.

🛠️ Removal & Theft

Control Magic and Mind Flayer let you turn enemies into allies.

Meteor Golem, Doom Blade, and Deadly Tempest help deal with problematic permanents and creatures.

Saheeli’s Artistry and Diluvian Primordial offer big swing turns by copying or casting opponents' spells.

⚙️ Mana & Utility

A heavy suite of 18 mana rocks (Dimir Locket, Sky Diamond, Firemind Vessel) ensures you hit Xanathar early.

Mana rocks also help you cast the bigger threats or your opponents' cards off Xanathar.

💡 Tips

Target opponents with good card quality to steal value.

Prioritize top-deck control tools like Cathartic Adept and Siphon Insight to curate what Xanathar sees.

Don’t overcommit—let your opponents build, then take it from them.

Your mind is your deadliest weapon. Use it—and theirs—with Xanathar. 🧠👁️