Mica, Reader of RuinsMica, Reader of Ruins | Art by Josu Hernaiz

When I first read Mica, Reader of RuinsMica, Reader of Ruins, I had to double check the card. I was looking for where it said, "Once per turn" or "The second spell each turn." Nope. To my surprise, this card was just that incredible.

I hadn't seen anyone talking about it, but I don't blame them though. Everything from this set is so blindingly good that it's hard to keep up with every new little piece of tech or the new build around. Trust me when I say: This deck can't be ignored.

What Does Mica, Reader of RuinsMica, Reader of Ruins Do?

Mica's first ability is "Ward—Pay 3 life." Paying such a low amount of life isn't really a deterrent. Spells like Feed the SwarmFeed the Swarm and Anguished UnmakingAnguished Unmaking factor in life loss for a removal and players use those a lot. This is relevant though, because it gave me a little bit of a hint on how I wanted to build this deck: Burn.

Players can't pay the ward too often if their life totals are low. Three life is still a trifle in a game where you start with 40, but it's some protection. Mica needs it, as he'll likely be a target for removal.

Mica's second ability says, "Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may sacrifice an artifact. If you do, copy that spell and you may choose new targets for the copy." Notice there is no limitation about how many times a turn you can do this. Notice it doesn't say nontoken. There are so many ways to exploit this ability for a Magecraft deck that storms off.

Being mono-red is probably its only limitation. If this were an Izzet () deck, then there would be some restriction for sure to reel in this ability.

Key Cards for Mica, Reader of RuinsMica, Reader of Ruins

This deck will try to get the most value out of every spell's casting cost by copying it. It will likely have a pretty big Treasure package. It will try to storm off and win as soon as possible because of how vulnerable mono-red decks are to removal and late game interaction.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Getting Mica Out ASAP

You want to get Mica out on turn three if possible. The extra turn will give you more time to set up for an explosive storm turn later. Arcane SignetArcane Signet, Fellwar StoneFellwar Stone, Liquimetal TorqueLiquimetal Torque, and Ruby MedallionRuby Medallion are some of the ways to make sure you can ramp into a turn three Mica. Iron MyrIron Myr and Ornithopter of ParadiseOrnithopter of Paradise can get a turn three Mica as well, but also puts a blocker up for future turns.

I mentioned before, mono-red is very vulnerable, but it's also very explosive. Being able to get to a turn where you have a few artifacts to sac and can untap with Mica, could potentially win you the game if you can storm off effectively enough. The sooner you can go off, the better. There is less interaction from the cards your opponents have seen earlier in the game.

It does mean everyone will be using their removal on you for trying to win first, but it's better than the alternative. Board wipes and removing your commander will critically stop you, but hopefully you only have to deal with one of those things when you attempt to go off on your turn.

How to Protect Mica in Mono-Red

I've mentioned a few times how vulnerable Mica is. The only options I found for protection that were consistent yet mana efficient enough were redirection spells and Lightning GreavesLightning Greaves. Redirect LightningRedirect Lightning, Return the FavorReturn the Favor, Deflecting SwatDeflecting Swat, and Bolt BendBolt Bend are all great ways to protect Mica in a stormy turn.

Bolt BendBolt Bend only costs because Mica has power four or greater. Redirect LightningRedirect Lightning only costs a little extra life and . Deflecting SwatDeflecting Swat is free with Mica out.

Return the FavorReturn the Favor is a little heavier in mana at three, but it's in the deck instead of Untimely MalfunctionUntimely Malfunction because of the flexibility to use it as a copying spell as well as a protection spell. For one more mana I can use it however it best fits me.

Lightning GreavesLightning Greaves is in the deck list because it can be equipped the turn Mica comes out; it's instant protection. Swiftfoot BootsSwiftfoot Boots left too much time from casting Mica to protecting him to waste a spot on it. I'd rather have another redirect spell that protects him instantly.

Copying Ritual and Treasure Spells

You're are going to need an engine that gives you Treasures. Why go with Treasures instead of artifact spells? It's a better ratio of card to artifacts with Treasures. A card like Generous PlundererGenerous Plunderer is going to give you maybe four Treasures before the game is ideally over at its fastest (excluding cEDH).

You want to be able to sac as many artifacts as you can over the course of a turn to get the most value. Treasures are the best way to do that.

Treasure Spells

Spells like Professional Face-BreakerProfessional Face-Breaker, Knuckles the EchidnaKnuckles the Echidna, Goldspan DragonGoldspan Dragon, and Storm-Kiln ArtistStorm-Kiln Artist are creatures that will repeatedly get you Treasures throughout the length of the game. The deck runs all of those, but the best way to get Treasures is by copying instant and sorcery spells that make Treasures. Things like Brass's BountyBrass's Bounty, Seize the SpoilsSeize the Spoils, Big ScoreBig Score, and Inspired TinkeringInspired Tinkering can be copied by Mica, doubling the Treasures.

That's two Treasures with [/el]Seize the Spoils[/el] and six from Inspired TinkeringInspired Tinkering.

Copying these spells give you access to - in most cases - more card draw and more mana. It also allows Mica to copy more spells with his ability by making more sac-able artifacts. Seeing more cards and getting more mana is the best thing you can do in Commander. Ideally Mica will double up on that as much as he can.

Ritual Spells

Ashling, Flame DancerAshling, Flame Dancer, Runaway Steam-KinRunaway Steam-Kin, Birgi, God of StorytellingBirgi, God of Storytelling, and Electro, Assaulting BatteryElectro, Assaulting Battery are all spells that produce red mana as the game goes along. You'll run all of these to get a little boost on casting instant and sorcery spells during a storm turn, but it's not the best way to guarantee a big turn.

The big explosive turns are going to depend on big ritual instant and sorcery spells that Mica can copy.

Jeska's WillJeska's Will, Seething SongSeething Song, and Mana GeyserMana Geyser are the big ritual spells in the deck. They're really some of the best ones in the color.

Being able to copy them would be a huge push if card advantage could be stapled to it. Jeska's WillJeska's Will has card advantage built in, which is why it's a Game Changer, and why it's great for this deck. Your turn just goes on and on forever if you can chain these spells into each other.

Copying and Copying and Copying

Aside from relying on Mica to copy spells, there are a bunch of cards that can triple or quadruple up on the copying. Bonus RoundBonus Round, Flare of DuplicationFlare of Duplication, and Storm King's ThunderStorm King's Thunder are all instant and sorcery spells that copy spells when they're cast. Mica can copy those spells with his ability.

Storm King's ThunderStorm King's Thunder and Bonus RoundBonus Round are big, explosive, game-ending spells. They'll be in tandem with spells that win the game, like Crackle with PowerCrackle with Power.

Twinning StaffTwinning Staff, Dualcaster MageDualcaster Mage, and Roaming ThroneRoaming Throne are all cards that copy instant and sorcery spells alongside Mica. Getting an additional two Mana GeyserMana Geysers for the price of one is going to change the tide of the game.

Weaknesses in Mica, Reader of RuinsMica, Reader of Ruins

Flooding. There are a lot of things in this deck that give mana whether in the form of Treasures or floating red mana, but this deck struggles to turn a lot of the mana into card advantage. Unexpected WindfallUnexpected Windfall and Cathartic ReunionCathartic Reunion getting copied could be really good in the deck, but needing more gas if you just run into more mana instead of your game ending cards is a huge weakness of this deck.

You need to see cards to draw your protection for Mica too.

Use cards like Past in FlamesPast in Flames and FlashbackFlashback to double dip on spells by giving them flashback. It's a way to keep the turn going, but not necessarily the way you might want, depending on what you've already played.

Soulfire EruptionSoulfire Eruption and Mizzix's MasteryMizzix's Mastery are big mana investments that can lead to explosive turns too, but it depends on what you've managed to see and play already, or how much mana you can sink into the ability.

Having to recast Mica is definitely going to slow you down too if he gets removed. Treasures and ritual spells aren't like lands; once you use them, you have to cast spells to replenish them. You don't want to waste six Treasures or floating mana on recasting your commander. Protection is sparing in mono-red and opponents will target that, especially when you're going off.

Protection can only do so much, though.

How Does Mica, Reader of RuinsMica, Reader of Ruins Win?

Casting and copying spells like Crackle with PowerCrackle with Power, Price of ProgressPrice of Progress, and Jaya's Immolating InfernoJaya's Immolating Inferno as many times as he can is how you win. You're going to burn out your opponents out. If the big-mana burn spells don't work, things like Longshot, Rebel BowmanLongshot, Rebel Bowman, Aria of FlameAria of Flame, GuttersnipeGuttersnipe, and Fiery InscriptionFiery Inscription should add up as you storm off.

Speaking of Storming off, Aetherflux ReservoirAetherflux Reservoir is in the deck to push those storm turns into life advantage. Also being able to hit a player for 50 with your life total is important too. It's not clear how effectively it will work in this deck, though. This deck cheats out value by copying spells and the copies won't proc Aetherflux, so it's a tentative addition.

Mica, Reader of Ruins Commander Deck List

Conclusion

This deck is really cool. I think it's properly limited by its color identity. I worry that if I build this myself, it will do the thing in my pod once or twice and then the second I go to untap for my turn with my commander, he's going to get removed. Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, this deck is neat.

Tell me what you all think! Would you build it or are there too many other juicier decks coming out in Secrets of Strixhaven?. Let me know what you're building! I'm @strixhavendropout