M:tG Precon Decon - Urza's Legacy Part 4: Time Drain

Nostalgic ramblings about preconstructed theme decks from Magic: the Gathering's history. In this video, I look at Time Drain from the 1999 Urza's Legacy expansion. #mtg #MagictheGathering

Card images courtesy of Gatherer, I do not own or claim to own any of the art assets used in this video. Decklist format courtesy of TappedOut.

[Zarbon]

This was one of the earliest version of free spells. They were powerful, but it can be excused because the designers were still learning. But 20+ years later, it is inexcusable that they keep doing this, Cascade, Descend, Pitch Elementals, more force of Will like counters.

[ReubenAotearoa_]

Weird that there was so much protection in a small set. Or at least the ones in the set are being put in multiple precons. Hmm. Checking Scryfall and I was expecting to see a full double cycle of three drop creatures pro one of the enemy colours.

But great deck. What a contrast against the WU. At least one of my mates definitely had this one, definitely remember that shapeshifter, and there’s a lot of those blue cards which found a way into my monoblue Counterspell deck: Snap, Miscalculation, Faerie Conclave was my win con…

I’d agree with the assessment that this would be fun to play. I can’t recall how good it’d have been: certainly not weak but I don’t think you’d get many blowout games either. I’m adding it to my “maybe” list for theme decks to reassemble, so if I do end up sleeving it up then we’ll see.

[OutlawOtaku]

No clue what they were thinking with the free spells. Snap is so fun to play though.

[jameslabbe]

Cycling? Flash? Free spells? Compared to the other boxes of cardboard, this deck seems almost unfairly good. I guess it lacks any singularly powerful Timmy cards, but this deck feels like it would be more consistent