Overview

Exquisite Invention is an artifact deck led by a planeswalker. Saheeli, the Gifted can be your commander and enters with four loyalty. It has two +1 abilities: one creates a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token, and the other gives the next spell you cast this turn affinity for artifacts, so it costs {1} less for each artifact you control. Its -7 creates a hasty copy of each artifact you control until the next end step.

The 99 cards are 27 creatures, 21 artifacts, 2 enchantments, 4 instants, 7 sorceries and 38 lands. Many of the creatures are artifact creatures, from cheap ones such as Chief of the Foundry and Pilgrim's Eye to enormous ones such as Myr Battlesphere, Steel Hellkite, Darksteel Juggernaut and Ancient Stone Idol. Copy cards such as Mirrorworks, Prototype Portal, Saheeli's Artistry and Echo Storm duplicate your best artifacts, and token makers such as Whirler Rogue, Maverick Thopterist and Thopter Spy Network fill the board.

Key Cards

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Retrofitter Foundry
Token Engine · Artifact
An artifact for {1}. For {2} and a tap it creates a Servo, for {1}, a tap and a Servo it creates a Thopter, and for a tap and a Thopter it creates a 4/4 Construct. It turns mana into bigger and bigger creatures all game.
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Myr Battlesphere
Token Maker · Finisher
A 4/7 for {7}. It creates four 1/1 Myr artifact creature tokens, and whenever it attacks you may tap X untapped Myr to give it +X/+0 and deal X damage to the player or planeswalker it is attacking. It is a huge body that arrives with an army.
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Steel Hellkite
Flying · Board Control
A 5/5 for {6}. It has flying and can get +1/+0 for {2}. For {X} once each turn, it destroys each nonland permanent with mana value X whose controller was dealt combat damage by it this turn. It threatens to wipe out an opponent's board.
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Mirrorworks
Copy Engine · Artifact
An artifact for {5}. Whenever another nontoken artifact you control enters, you may pay {2} to create a token that's a copy of that artifact. Every artifact in the deck gets a duplicate.

Playing the Deck

The early game is about cheap artifacts and mana. Sol Ring, Mind Stone, Prismatic Lens, Izzet Signet and Worn Powerstone ramp you, Etherium Sculptor makes artifact spells cheaper, Chief of the Foundry and Thopter Engineer start the board, and Retrofitter Foundry makes bodies from an early turn. Thirst for Knowledge and Tidings fill your hand.

The middle of the game is about making and copying artifacts. Saheeli, the Gifted makes Servos, Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer makes Myr every turn and copies a token, Sharding Sphinx and Thopter Spy Network reward artifact creatures that connect, and Mirrorworks and Prototype Portal duplicate your best artifacts. Vedalken Humiliator turns off opposing creatures when you attack with three artifacts.

The late game is about huge artifacts. Myr Battlesphere, Soul of New Phyrexia, Scuttling Doom Engine and Inkwell Leviathan are large threats, Duplicant exiles a creature and becomes it, Saheeli's Directive puts artifacts straight onto the battlefield, and Aether Gale bounces six permanents. Blasphemous Act and Magmaquake clear small creatures.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths: The deck has a huge range of powerful artifacts and the mana to cast them, and Saheeli makes your spells cheaper. It also has interaction, including Chaos Warp, Into the Roil, Duplicant, Unstable Obelisk and Vessel of Endless Rest.

Weaknesses: Many artifacts cost six or more mana, and the deck has only four instants, so it can be slow and vulnerable to artifact removal. Saheeli is a planeswalker, so it can be attacked.

Want to improve it? See the Exquisite Invention upgrade guide: twelve swaps with the data behind each one.

Verdict
Exquisite Invention is a big, flexible artifact deck with plenty of power and a lot of room to upgrade. It is a good choice for players who like building a board of huge artifact creatures and copying the best ones.

Want to see what a fully optimised Saheeli, the Gifted build looks like? Try the Oracle.

✦ Build with The Oracle

Frequently Asked Questions

What cards are in the Exquisite Invention decklist?
The Exquisite Invention precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Saheeli. The full Exquisite Invention decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.

When was Exquisite Invention released?
Exquisite Invention was released on August 10, 2018 as part of Commander 2018.

Who is the commander of Exquisite Invention?
Exquisite Invention is led by Saheeli, the Gifted, a Izzet (U/R) legendary planeswalker.

How many creatures are in Exquisite Invention?
The 99 cards besides Saheeli, the Gifted include 27 creatures.

How many lands does Exquisite Invention have?
Exquisite Invention has 38 lands in the 99 cards besides Saheeli, the Gifted, including basic lands.

Full Decklist

All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Exquisite Invention precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.

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