Y'all here? Cool. Glad you came.

First, I'll give you the rules; they're as easy as Magic rules get. After that, we'll do some decklists. Finally, I'll share how I got into this format and why I think it's so great.

Gladiator Rules

Magic Arena Direct Challenge. Singleton, twenty life, no convoluted command zone stuff, no sideboards. Just 100 individual cards (basic land all you want, obviously). You can't play Oko, Thief of Crowns or Field of the Dead. Anything else is up to you.

There have been a few primers about, but this way of play is starting to gain momentum.

Why?

Because there's no bullcrap, that's why.

These are Magic games with your Magic deck.

Some Gladiator Decks

I've built several Gladiator decks (it's addictive from the very beginning), but I'll just include my favorite as my personal entry. I don't think it wins as often as at least one other build I have, but it's without fail the one I start with every time a jam gets hittin'.

"Mono-" Blue Artifacts | Gladiator | Danny West

• Creatures (23)
• 1 Alloy Myr
• 1 Ancestral Statue
• 1 Arcanist's Owl
• 1 Corridor Monitor
• 1 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
• 1 Meteor Golem
• 1 Myr Sire
• 1 Palladium Myr
• 1 Perilous Myr
• 1 Platinum Angel
• 1 Sai, Master Thopterist
• 1 Sailor of Means
• 1 Scarecrone
• 1 Scuttlemutt
• 1 Sharding Sphinx
• 1 Shimmer Dragon
• 1 Solemn Simulacrum
• 1 Spark Double
• 1 Steel Overseer
• 1 Stonecoil Serpent
• 1 Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
• 1 Trusty Packbeast
• 1 Vantress Gargoyle

• Planeswalkers (7)
• 1 Dovin, Grand Arbiter
• 1 Karn, Scion of Urza
• 1 Saheeli, Sublime Artificer
• 1 Teferi, Master of Time
• 1 Tezzeret, Artifice Master
• 1 Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge
• 1 Ugin, the Ineffable

• Instants (4)
• 1 Depths of Desire
• 1 Masterful Replication
• 1 Thirst for Knowledge
• 1 Turn into a Pumpkin

• Sorceries (2)
• 1 Dance of the Manse
• 1 One With the Machine

• Enchantments (6)
• 1 All That Glitters
• 1 Search for Azcanta
• 1 Smothering Tithe
• 1 Storm the Vault
• 1 Tempered Steel
• 1 The Antiquities War

• Artifacts (22)
• 1 Aether Spellbomb
• 1 Azorius Locket
• 1 Chromatic Lantern
• 1 Crucible of Worlds
• 1 Dimir Locket
• 1 Dreamstone Hedron
• 1 Gilded Lotus
• 1 Golden Egg
• 1 Hedron Archive
• 1 Mana Geode
• 1 Manifold Key
• 1 Midnight Clock
• 1 Mind Stone
• 1 Mystic Forge
• 1 Portal of Sanctuary
• 1 Ratchet Bomb
• 1 Shadowspear
• 1 Sorcerous Spyglass
• 1 Traveler's Amulet
• 1 Treasure Map
• 1 Unstable Obelisk
• 1 Witch's Oven

• Lands (36)
• 1 Plains
• 1 Swamp
• 11 Island
• 1 Arch of Orazca
• 1 Blast Zone
• 1 Buried Ruin
• 1 Castle Ardenvale
• 1 Castle Vantress
• 1 Drowned Catacomb
• 1 Fabled Passage
• 1 Glacial Fortress
• 1 Hallowed Fountain
• 1 Ipnu Rivulet
• 1 Karn's Bastion
• 1 Labyrinth of Skophos
• 1 Memorial to Genius
• 1 Mystic Sanctuary
• 1 Raugrin Triome
• 1 Reliquary Tower
• 1 Steam Vents
• 1 Sulfur Falls
• 1 Sunscorched Desert
• 1 Temple of Enlightenment
• 1 Thriving Isle
• 1 Watery Grave
• 1 Zhalfirin Void

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I've been looking for a format for which Sharding Sphinx could win a game for a long time. At last, we are home.

Four-Color Omniscience | Gladiator | RedHot19

• Creatures (5)
• 1 Gilded Goose
• 1 Golos, Tireless Pilgrim
• 1 Hydroid Krasis
• 1 Solemn Simulacrum
• 1 Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath

• Planeswalkers (5)
• 1 Narset, Parter of Veils
• 1 Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted
• 1 Tamiyo, Collector of Tales
• 1 Teferi, Time Raveler
• 1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

• Instants (21)
• 1 Anticipate
• 1 Chemister's Insight
• 1 Commit // Memory
• 1 Dovin's Veto
• 1 Growth Spiral
• 1 Hieroglyphic Illumination
• 1 Mythos of Nethroi
• 1 Negate
• 1 Nexus of Fate
• 1 Once and Future
• 1 Opt
• 1 Pact of Negation
• 1 Precognitive Perception
• 1 Rain of Revelation
• 1 Settle the Wreckage
• 1 Sinister Sabotage
• 1 Sphinx's Revelation
• 1 Sublime Epiphany
• 1 Supreme Will
• 1 Thassa's Intervention
• 1 Veil of Summer

• Sorceries (17)
• 1 Agonizing Remorse
• 1 Boon of the Wish-Giver
• 1 Bontu's Last Reckoning
• 1 Cleansing Nova
• 1 Cultivate
• 1 Emergent Ultimatum
• 1 Extinction Event
• 1 Flood of Tears
• 1 Grim Tutor
• 1 Idyllic Tutor
• 1 Mastermind's Acquisition
• 1 Migration Path
• 1 Peer into the Abyss
• 1 River's Rebuke
• 1 Thoughtseize
• 1 Time Wipe
• 1 Wrath of God

• Enchantments (7)
• 1 Cast Out
• 1 Mirari's Wake
• 1 Omen of the Sea
• 1 Omniscience
• 1 Search for Azcanta
• 1 The Birth of Meletis
• 1 Wilderness Reclamation

• Artifacts (6)
• 1 Chromatic Lantern
• 1 Chromatic Orrery
• 1 Gilded Lotus
• 1 Mind Stone
• 1 Treasure Map
• 1 Wishclaw Talisman

• Lands (39)
• 2 Plains
• 3 Forest
• 3 Island
• 3 Swamp
• 1 Arch of Orazca
• 1 Blast Zone
• 1 Breeding Pool
• 1 Castle Vantress
• 1 Evolving Wilds
• 1 Fabled Passage
• 1 Fetid Pools
• 1 Glacial Fortress
• 1 Godless Shrine
• 1 Hallowed Fountain
• 1 Hinterland Harbor
• 1 Indatha Triome
• 1 Irrigated Farmland
• 1 Ketria Triome
• 1 Mirrodin's Core
• 1 Overgrown Tomb
• 1 Raugrin Triome
• 1 Savai Triome
• 1 Scattered Groves
• 1 Temple Garden
• 1 Temple of Enlightenment
• 1 Temple of Mystery
• 1 Temple of Plenty
• 1 Temple of Silence
• 1 Thriving Grove
• 1 Thriving Isle
• 1 Watery Grave
• 1 Zagoth Triome

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You know a great way to make sure people don't despise Nexus of Fate? Make sure people don't have to sit through it all the time.

They call me the rocket scientist.

Even with all these tutors, it feels pretty fair since, again, twenty life. Live by the Grim Tutor, die by the Grim Tutor.

Orzhov Life Aggro | Gladiator | Elriccain

• Creatures (38)
• 1 Adanto Vanguard
• 1 Ajani's Pridemate
• 1 Alseid of Life's Bounty
• 1 Angel of Grace
• 1 Angel of Vitality
• 1 Apostle of Purifying Light
• 1 Audacious Thief
• 1 Baneslayer Angel
• 1 Beloved Princess
• 1 Bloodthirsty Aerialist
• 1 Cauldron Familiar
• 1 Crested Sunmare
• 1 Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
• 1 Daybreak Chaplain
• 1 Epicure of Blood
• 1 Haazda Marshal
• 1 Hallowed Priest
• 1 Hanged Executioner
• 1 Healer's Hawk
• 1 Heliod, Sun-Crowned
• 1 Hunted Witness
• 1 Impassioned Orator
• 1 Inspiring Commander
• 1 Leonin Warleader
• 1 Linden, the Steadfast Queen
• 1 Luminous Broodmoth
• 1 Lurrus of the Dream-Den
• 1 Militia Bugler
• 1 Nyx-Fleece Ram
• 1 Remorseful Cleric
• 1 Resplendent Angel
• 1 Serra Ascendant
• 1 Silverbeak Griffin
• 1 Solemn Simulacrum
• 1 Soul Warden
• 1 Vampire of the Dire Moon
• 1 Venerated Loxodon
• 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

• Planeswalkers (1)
• 1 Ajani, Strength of the Pride

• Instants (8)
• 1 Angelic Ascension
• 1 Costly Plunder
• 1 Light of Hope
• 1 Outflank
• 1 Raise the Alarm
• 1 Take Heart
• 1 Unbreakable Formation
• 1 Vraska's Contempt

• Sorceries (2)
• 1 Sworn Companions
• 1 Take Vengeance

• Enchantments (14)
• 1 Ajani's Welcome
• 1 Conclave Tribunal
• 1 Dawn of Hope
• 1 Faith's Fetters
• 1 Griffin Aerie
• 1 Heliod's Punishment
• 1 Hieromancer's Cage
• 1 History of Benalia
• 1 Legion's Landing
• 1 Pacifism
• 1 Prison Realm
• 1 Runed Halo
• 1 Sentinel's Eyes
• 1 The Birth of Meletis

• Artifacts (2)
• 1 Glass Casket
• 1 Witch's Oven

• Lands (35)
• 13 Plains
• 9 Swamp
• 1 Castle Ardenvale
• 1 Cryptic Caves
• 1 Evolving Wilds
• 1 Fabled Passage
• 1 Ghost Quarter
• 1 Godless Shrine
• 1 Idyllic Grange
• 1 Isolated Chapel
• 1 Radiant Fountain
• 1 Scoured Barrens
• 1 Temple of Silence
• 1 Terramorphic Expanse
• 1 Thriving Heath

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For those only looking to burn a handful of wildcards, we have the archetype for which Elriccain suffers for. The man can't put down the Soul Wardens. It's like he hit his head in 1996.

But that's the thing...

I've lost to this deck multiple times with fancier decks, and I'm positive that only half of them were due to my own incompetence (a very good rate for me). The take-home of the tale is the same: in the Gladiator(ial) Arena, you can choose your weapon style. It's not a handful of mythic quads and ; it's a giant strategic ensemble for which you are signing your name to. Get up in that.

Mardu Control | Gladiator | Mindmage

• Creatures (8)
• 1 Gadrak, the Crown-Scourge
• 1 God-Eternal Oketra
• 1 Hazoret the Fervent
• 1 Massacre Girl
• 1 Murderous Rider
• 1 Realm-Cloaked Giant
• 1 Solemn Simulacrum
• 1 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger

• Planeswalkers (7)
• 1 Chandra, Awakened Inferno
• 1 Chandra, Heart of Fire
• 1 Karn, Scion of Urza
• 1 Kaya, Orzhov Usurper
• 1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General
• 1 Ugin, the Ineffable
• 1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

• Instants (9)
• 1 Bedevil
• 1 Crush Contraband
• 1 Despark
• 1 Heliod's Intervention
• 1 Justice Strike
• 1 Lightning Strike
• 1 Mortify
• 1 Settle the Wreckage
• 1 Vraska's Contempt

• Sorceries (17)
• 1 Agonizing Remorse
• 1 Angrath's Rampage
• 1 Cleansing Nova
• 1 Cry of the Carnarium
• 1 Extinction Event
• 1 Finale of Eternity
• 1 Grim Tutor
• 1 Idyllic Tutor
• 1 Kaya's Wrath
• 1 Languish
• 1 Mythos of Snapdax
• 1 Ritual of Soot
• 1 Ruinous Ultimatum
• 1 Shatter the Sky
• 1 Storm's Wrath
• 1 Thought Distortion
• 1 Witch's Vengeance

• Enchantments (15)
• 1 Captive Audience
• 1 Dawn of Hope
• 1 Divine Visitation
• 1 Dreadhorde Invasion
• 1 Ethereal Absolution
• 1 Honden of Cleansing Fire
• 1 Honden of Infinite Rage
• 1 Honden of Night's Reach
• 1 Oath of Kaya
• 1 Revenge of Ravens
• 1 Sanctum of Shattered Heights
• 1 Sanctum of Stone Fangs
• 1 Sanctum of Tranquil Light
• 1 Smothering Tithe
• 1 Sunbird's Invocation

• Artifacts (7)
• 1 Chromatic Lantern
• 1 Firemind Vessel
• 1 Mind Stone
• 1 Rakdos Locket
• 1 Savai Crystal
• 1 Thaumatic Compass
• 1 Treasure Map

• Lands (37)
• 5 Mountain
• 5 Plains
• 5 Swamp
• 1 Blast Zone
• 1 Blood Crypt
• 1 Bloodfell Caves
• 1 Castle Ardenvale
• 1 Castle Locthwain
• 1 Clifftop Retreat
• 1 Cryptic Caves
• 1 Dragonskull Summit
• 1 Fabled Passage
• 1 Field of Ruin
• 1 Godless Shrine
• 1 Isolated Chapel
• 1 Sacred Foundry
• 1 Savai Triome
• 1 Scoured Barrens
• 1 Temple of Malice
• 1 Temple of Silence
• 1 Temple of Triumph
• 1 Thriving Bluff
• 1 Thriving Heath
• 1 Thriving Moor
• 1 Wind-Scarred Crag

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Grind how you want to grind. Mindmage says this one is fine, strong coffee.

Bant Pod | Gladiator | KidAmn

• Creatures (54)
• 1 Agent of Treachery
• 1 Alirios, Enraptured
• 1 Aven Mindcensor
• 1 Barrin, Tolarian Archmage
• 1 Biogenic Ooze
• 1 Brazen Borrower
• 1 Cavalier of Gales
• 1 Cavalier of Thorns
• 1 Charming Prince
• 1 Cloudkin Seer
• 1 Corridor Monitor
• 1 Deputy of Detention
• 1 Drover of the Mighty
• 1 Elite Guardmage
• 1 Elvish Rejuvenator
• 1 Elvish Visionary
• 1 End-Raze Forerunners
• 1 Fauna Shaman
• 1 Fertilid
• 1 Fblthp, the Lost
• 1 Fiend Artisan
• 1 Gemrazer
• 1 Gilded Goose
• 1 Gyruda, Doom of Depths
• 1 Hornet Queen
• 1 Humble Naturalist
• 1 Hyrax Tower Scout
• 1 Incubation Druid
• 1 Jadelight Ranger
• 1 Keruga, the Macrosage
• 1 Kogla, the Titan Ape
• 1 Knight of Autumn
• 1 Llanowar Elves
• 1 Luminous Broodmoth
• 1 Master Splicer
• 1 Meteor Golem
• 1 Militia Bugler
• 1 Paradise Druid
• 1 Pelakka Wurm
• 1 Prime Speaker Vannifar
• 1 Realm-Cloaked Giant
• 1 Reclamation Sage
• 1 Risen Reef
• 1 Scavenging Ooze
• 1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
• 1 Solemn Simulacrum
• 1 Thassa's Oracle
• 1 Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
• 1 Thragtusk
• 1 Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves
• 1 Trostani Discordant
• 1 Ulvenwald Hydra
• 1 Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
• 1 Yorion, Sky Nomad

• Planeswalkers (2)
• 1 Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner
• 1 Teferi, Time Raveler

• Instants (3)
• 1 Growth Spiral
• 1 Momentary Blink
• 1 Settle the Wreckage

• Sorceries (2)
• 1 Finale of Devastation
• 1 Neoform

• Enchantments (3)
• 1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc
• 1 Guardian Project
• 1 Smothering Tithe

• Lands (36)
• 2 Plains
• 3 Island
• 6 Forest
• 1 Blast Zone
• 1 Breeding Pool
• 1 Castle Garenbrig
• 1 Castle Vantress
• 1 Evolving Wilds
• 1 Fabled Passage
• 1 Glacial Fortress
• 1 Hallowed Fountain
• 1 Hinterland Harbor
• 1 Indatha Triome
• 1 Irrigated Farmland
• 1 Ketria Triome
• 1 Scattered Groves
• 1 Selesnya Guildgate
• 1 Simic Guildgate
• 1 Sunpetal Grove
• 1 Temple Garden
• 1 Temple of Enlightenment
• 1 Temple of Mystery
• 1 Temple of Plenty
• 1 Thornwood Falls
• 1 Thriving Grove
• 1 Thriving Heath
• 1 Zagoth Triome
• 1 Justicar's Portal

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This is a deck that combines creatures entering the battlefield with winning. I think it's the first time it's been done.

Here's Why Gladiator is the Best

If I had to guess, I'd say this is about the best combination of "competitive, powerful tournament cards" and "fun cards" you're going to get without chopping up one side so much that the other takes over. It feels like the joy of Cube (Klug it up) without giant amounts of social prep.

I wonder if there's anything going on right now that would prevent casual players from getting together in large numbers?

And basically that's what it comes down to: As much fun as it is to take the game so seriously we confuse it with a faith, the majority of players really just want the experience of expressing themselves and connecting with someone else for a few minutes while they test their reasoning abilities. And there's no more creativity at less of an investment cost in Magic right now than Gladiator.

Next week I'm going to have more on this new format, including more decklists, as well as a way for you to find more Gladiator games and opponents.

Pick a weapon, kid. Your redundant playsets won't save you here.

(~_^)

The Rascal

The Indestructible Danny West