Esper Control

Penny Dreadful. The ultra-budget, thousands-of-cards Magic Online brewer's paradise with powerful cards, six free weekly tournaments, free 24/7 league, prizes, quarterly rotations, and a super friendly community.

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How do I get started with Magic Online?

Check out the guide to Magic Online.
Which cards are legal?

Card legality is set quarterly based on which cards are 2¢ or less at that time.
The best way to search legal cards is with Scryfall.

You can view the full legal cards list.
How do I find or brew a decklist?

Minimum 60 cards. Any number of basic lands. Max four of any other legal card. Sideboard of up to fifteen cards.

The best way to build decks is to use a search engine that supports Penny Dreadful legality (f:pd) like Scryfall.

Browse Decklists from tournaments, leagues and elsewhere

View the full legal cards list
How do I get a game and find other Penny Dreadful players?

To get a match in Magic Online go to Constructed, Specialty, Freeform Tournament Practice on Magic Online and create a Freeform game with "Penny Dreadful" in the comments.

To find the Penny Dreadful community join the Discord.
How do I enter the league?

Leagues last for roughly a month. You may enter any number of times but only one deck at a time.

You play five matches per run. You can join the league at any time.

To find a game sign up and then create a game in Constructed, Specialty, Freeform Tournament Practice with "Penny Dreadful League" as the comment.

Top 8 finishers on each month's league leaderboard win credit with Cardhoarder.

Current League
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How do I enter a tournament?

We have six free-to-enter weekly tournaments with prizes from Cardhoarder.

They are hosted on Gatherling along with a lot of other player-run Magic Online events.

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What happens if a card goes above 2¢? How does rotation work? When is the next rotation? How long are cards legal for?

Legality is determined a week after the release of a Standard-legal set on Magic Online.

Prices are checked every hour for a week. Anything 2¢ or less for half or more of all checks is legal for the season.

Any version of a card on the legal cards list is legal.

The next rotation is in 14 weeks, 6 days.

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Archetype Tree

Archetype	# Decks	Record	Win %	①	⑧	5–0s
Control	5592	10346–11304–43	47.8	260	2382
Esper Control	364	683–724	48.5	18	160

Decks

Cards

Matchups

Archetype	Record	Win %
Aggro	205–259	44.2
Mono Black Aggro	5–4	55.6
Heroic	24–12	66.7
Mono White Heroic	19–10	65.5
Azorius Heroic	1–0	100.0
Mono Red Blitzkrieg	2–1	66.7
Selesnya Heroic	1–1	50.0
Red Deck Wins	37–84	30.6
Mono Red Devotion	3–4	42.9
Proliferate Red	1–0	100.0
Goblins	9–3	75.0
Tokens	5–2	71.4
Selesnya Tokens	2–0	100.0
Mono White Tokens	3–2	60.0
Mono Green Stompy	2–5	28.6
White Weenie	17–13	56.7
Odric Keywords	2–0	100.0
Quest for the Holy Relic	3–1	75.0
Soldiers	3–2	60.0
Chroma White	3–1	75.0
Elves	12–12	50.0
Selesnya Little Kid	1–1	50.0
Selesnya Counters	1–1	50.0
Rogues	0–1	0.0
Zombies	5–7	41.7
Gruul Aggro	4–6	40.0
Merfolk	3–1	75.0
Mono Red Swarm	0–4	0.0
8 Whack	0–2	0.0
Artifact Aggro	27–27	50.0
Affinity	11–13	45.8
Salvage Titan	2–1	66.7
Tempered Steel	14–11	56.0
Mono Blue Architect	0–1	0.0
Devastating Dreams	1–2	33.3
Madness	1–4	20.0
Rakdos Madness	1–4	20.0
Voltron	9–2	81.8
Hexproof	3–1	75.0
Boros Auras	1–0	100.0
Equipment Aggro	2–1	66.7
Slivers	2–2	50.0
Naya Zoo	0–1	0.0
Knights	5–4	55.6
AggroSlide	14–41	25.5
Cats	3–0	100.0
Selesnya Cats	3–0	100.0
Humans	2–5	28.6
Gruul Humans	0–2	0.0
Jeskai Humans	2–2	50.0
Boros Humans	0–1	0.0
Mono Red Eldrazi	1–0	100.0
Legends Aggro	12–13	48.0
Boros Legends Aggro	12–13	48.0
Combo	101–113	47.2
Storm	23–35	39.7
Sultai Tendrils	0–1	0.0
Dimir Tendrils	1–3	25.0
Dragonstorm	3–6	33.3
Hazoret Storm	1–1	50.0
High Tide	9–10	47.4
Grixis Tendrils	1–0	100.0
Izzet Storm	5–6	45.5
Swath Storm	0–1	0.0
Channel Storm	2–8	20.0
Reanimator	21–16	56.8
Recurring Nightmare	4–6	40.0
Dragon Nightmare	4–5	44.4
Worldgorger Dragon	3–1	75.0
8 Goyf	1–0	100.0
Living Death	0–1	0.0
Traditional Reanimator	13–8	61.9
Rakdos Reanimator	2–1	66.7
Dimir Reanimator	0–1	0.0
Mono Black Reanimator	8–5	61.5
Grixis Reanimator	1–1	50.0
Necro Combo	0–2	0.0
Necrotic Ooze Combo	3–3	50.0
Mono Green Stormless Storm	0–1	0.0
Dubious Challenge	1–0	100.0
Warp World	2–0	100.0
Maniac Combo	3–0	100.0
Hypergenesis	5–4	55.6
New Perspectives	1–0	100.0
Jeskai Ascendancy	5–4	55.6
Four Color Jeskai Ascendancy	5–2	71.4
Jeskai Jeskai Ascendancy	0–2	0.0
Myr Incubator	0–1	0.0
"Twin"	2–0	100.0
Jeskai "Twin"	1–0	100.0
Naya "Twin"	1–0	100.0
Combo Post	0–1	0.0
Metalwork Colossus	2–8	20.0
Anvil Colossus	0–4	0.0
Upheaval Colossus	1–0	100.0
Eggs	4–9	30.8
Heartless Summoning Combo	0–1	0.0
Blazing Shoal Combo	2–2	50.0
Taking Turns	0–2	0.0
Izzet Ascension	2–0	100.0
Ominous Good	1–1	50.0
Jokulhaups Combo	1–0	100.0
Soulflayer	7–1	87.5
Reanim8 Rack	4–1	80.0
Breakfast	9–12	42.9
Cephalid Breakfast	0–1	0.0
Druid Cephalid Breakfast	0–1	0.0
Oops All Spells	3–9	25.0
Neoform Hermit	6–2	75.0
Dredge	1–1	50.0
Protean Hulk Combo	0–1	0.0
Ad Nauseam	1–0	100.0
Tibalt's Trickery	0–2	0.0
Restore Balance	3–1	75.0
Tameshi Bloom	0–1	0.0
Phoenix Altar	0–2	0.0
Actual Twin	1–1	50.0
Izzet Twin	1–1	50.0
Control	99–90	52.4
Mono Black Control	3–0	100.0
Esper Control	16–16	50.0
Demonic Rising	3–3	50.0
Mono Blue Control	4–2	66.7
Dimir Control	4–3	57.1
Azorius Control	8–12	40.0
Cawblade	2–3	40.0
Turbo Fog	2–0	100.0
Izzet Control	0–2	0.0
Mardu Control	1–3	25.0
Mill	0–1	0.0
Boros Control	1–1	50.0
Cloudpost Control	9–13	40.9
Azorius Cloudpost Control	0–4	0.0
Blackpost	0–1	0.0
Mono Blue Cloudpost Control	1–6	14.3
Izzet Cloudpost Control	2–0	100.0
Selesnya Cloudpost Control	3–1	75.0
Grixis Control	3–4	42.9
Cruel Control	3–2	60.0
Stax	0–4	0.0
Pollute the Planet	0–1	0.0
Chandra Nalaar	4–1	80.0
Stagnant Control	0–1	0.0
Jeskai Control	4–3	57.1
Dragon Control	6–0	100.0
Izzet Dragons	2–0	100.0
Esper Dragons	1–0	100.0
Ponza	3–2	60.0
Mono White Control	1–1	50.0
Life is Ez	0–1	0.0
Dynavolt Tower	2–0	100.0
Cycling Control	4–1	80.0
Astral Slide	4–1	80.0
Five Color Control	3–2	60.0
Five Color Collected Conjuring	1–0	100.0
Shrines	1–0	100.0
Sultai Control	1–1	50.0
Guildgate Control	2–1	66.7
Bant Control	2–1	66.7
Pox	5–0	100.0
Four Color Counter Ghazi	1–4	20.0
Orzhov Control	5–7	41.7
Prison	2–0	100.0
Enchantress	2–0	100.0
Aggro-Combo	53–61	46.5
Aristocrats	6–18	25.0
Mono Black Aristocrats	0–6	0.0
Orzhov Aristocrats	2–5	28.6
Golgari Aristocrats	0–1	0.0
Food	1–0	100.0
Rakdos Aristocrats	2–3	40.0
Boros Bombardment	1–2	33.3
Burn	9–5	64.3
Infect	8–10	44.4
Simic Infect	1–5	16.7
Blazing Shoal Infect	5–2	71.4
Golgari Infect	1–2	33.3
Pummeler	1–0	100.0
Trickbind Dreadnought	16–14	53.3
Mono Blue Dreadnought	16–14	53.3
Izzet Blitzkrieg	1–2	33.3
Hushnought	8–7	53.3
Liquimetal Fishing	2–0	100.0
Combo Goblins	1–3	25.0
Goblin Persist	1–2	33.3
Dirty Kitty	0–1	0.0
Aggro-Control	47–34	58.0
Simic Flash	3–0	100.0
Simic Vat	1–0	100.0
Izzet Tempo	7–6	53.8
Azorius Skies	1–0	100.0
Blue Madness	3–1	75.0
Simic Madness	2–0	100.0
Temur Madness	1–1	50.0
Wizards	0–3	0.0
Tetsukotog	1–0	100.0
Ninjas	2–2	50.0
Mono Blue Tempo	9–6	60.0
Izzet Spells	9–6	60.0
Dimir Tempo	7–4	63.6
Dimir Faeries	1–1	50.0
Ensoul Aggro-Control	1–1	50.0
Azorius Tempo	0–2	0.0
Combo-Control	40–31	56.3
Curses	1–1	50.0
Cruel Combo-Control	3–2	60.0
Battle of Wits	4–0	100.0
Shared Fate	0–1	0.0
Swarm Intelligence	1–0	100.0
Pickles	0–1	0.0
Mindcrank	3–5	37.5
Hedron Alignment	1–1	50.0
Hive Mind	2–1	66.7
Zur's Weirding	3–0	100.0
Solar Flare	2–3	40.0
Plasma Swans	3–1	75.0
Mass Land Destruction	13–15	46.4
Wildfire	3–9	25.0
Thryx-Wildfire	1–0	100.0
Borderpost Wildfire	0–6	0.0
Jokulhaups Control	10–6	62.5
Grixis Jokulhaups Control	2–3	40.0
Jeskai Jokulhaups Control	4–2	66.7
Jund Jokulhaups Control	3–1	75.0
WUBR Jokulhaups Control	1–0	100.0
Midrange	122–106	53.5
Temur Ascendancy	0–5	0.0
Prophet Ascendancy	0–1	0.0
The Rock	1–3	25.0
Golgari Citadel	0–1	0.0
Grenzo	1–0	100.0
Abzan Midrange	2–5	28.6
Selesnya Midrange	0–1	0.0
Selesnya Value Town	0–1	0.0
Jund	3–5	37.5
Blink	13–11	54.2
Wave Blink	7–9	43.8
Azorius Wave	6–7	46.2
Orzhov Wave	0–2	0.0
Bant Wave	1–0	100.0
Cloudpost Wave Blink	3–0	100.0
Anti-Persecution	1–0	100.0
Graveyard Value	5–2	71.4
Séance	0–1	0.0
Varolz Dreadnought	3–1	75.0
Enchantments Matter	1–0	100.0
Allies	5–4	55.6
Orzhov Allies	0–1	0.0
Boros Allies	1–0	100.0
Mono White Allies	0–1	0.0
Esper Allies	3–1	75.0
BRGW Allies	0–1	0.0
Treefolk	2–0	100.0
-1/-1 Counters	1–0	100.0
Fake-Rack	1–2	33.3
Mardu Midrange	0–2	0.0
Yisan-Prophet	0–1	0.0
Vampires	4–6	40.0
Mono Black Vampires	4–2	66.7
Rakdos Vampires	0–3	0.0
Orzhov Vampires	0–1	0.0
Legends Midrange	3–1	75.0
Mardu Legends	0–1	0.0
Selesnya Legends	3–0	100.0
Elementals	1–1	50.0
Rakdos Midrange	10–8	55.6
Big Red	6–2	75.0
Mono Black Midrange	19–8	70.4
Necro Midrange	3–2	60.0
Mono Black Devotion	5–2	71.4
Hellion Whip	2–1	66.7
Dimir Midrange	3–4	42.9
Angel Tribal	2–0	100.0
Toughness Matters	1–1	50.0
Lifegain Midrange	1–1	50.0
Martyr's Grace	1–0	100.0
Orzhov Midrange	10–7	58.8
Orzhov Capenna	1–0	100.0
Owling Mine	3–0	100.0
Jeskai Midrange	1–0	100.0
Prophet Glare	4–0	100.0
Heartless Summoning Stompy	1–1	50.0
Ordealbreak	1–1	50.0
Mythic Colossification	0–1	0.0
Party	0–1	0.0
Fires of Invention	0–2	0.0
Hero of Precinct One	5–8	38.5
Mardu Hero	0–1	0.0
Esper Hero	1–1	50.0
Orzhov Hero	1–3	25.0
Five Color Hero	2–3	40.0
Clerics	0–1	0.0
Simic Snow	0–5	0.0
Artifact Midrange	1–2	33.3
Coinflip Tribal	1–0	100.0
Ramp	16–30	34.8
Rofellos Ramp	9–19	32.1
Channel-Rofellos	8–15	34.8
Cloudpost Ramp	6–9	40.0
Golgari Post	0–2	0.0
Greenpost	4–6	40.0
Gruul Post	1–0	100.0
Domain	1–0	100.0