Faerie Schemes (B19).

The Commanders

Faerie Schemes is an Esper Brawl precon deck from Throne of Eldraine centered on artifact and enchantment synergies. Alela creates a 1/1 flying Faerie each time you cast an artifact or enchantment, then buffs all your Faeries and artifacts with a +1/+0 anthem. In a format full of early artifacts and enchantments, Alela builds an air force passively from your normal plays.

Alela, Artful Provocateur costs {1}{W}{U}{B} and is a 3/2 Faerie Warlock with flying, deathtouch, and lifelink. Whenever you cast an artifact or enchantment spell, create a 1/1 blue Faerie creature token with flying. Other Faeries and artifacts you control get +1/+0. Each artifact or enchantment spell triggers a free 1/1 flying token, and Alela's anthem makes each token a 2/1 flying lifelinker (inheriting Alela's own lifelink through Alela's stats). In a Brawl game, this creates an overwhelming aerial board state that opponents on the ground can't race.

Key Cards

Stolen by the Fae

Bounce removal that generates tokens. Stolen by the Fae costs {X}{U}{U} and returns target creature with mana value X or less to its owner's hand, then creates X 1/1 flying Faerie tokens. Cast it for X=3 to bounce a medium threat and generate three free Faeries. With Alela's anthem making them all 2/1s, this is 6 power in flying creatures for three mana plus the bounce. The tokens add to Alela's Faerie count and each new Faerie from Stolen by the Fae benefits from Alela's passive +1/+0 buff immediately.

Midnight Clock

Artifact that draws and resets. Midnight Clock gains an hour counter each upkeep, and when it reaches 12 counters, each player discards their hand and draws seven cards, then Midnight Clock shuffles back into the library. In the early game it's an artifact triggering an Alela token. In the late game, a full 7-card reset can refuel after trading resources. It also triggers Alela on the initial cast for a free Faerie. Against opponents ahead on cards, Midnight Clock's reset is a catch-up mechanism that maintains the token pressure from Alela.

Doom Foretold

Sacrifice pressure that triggers Alela. Doom Foretold is an enchantment that forces each player to sacrifice a nonland nontoken permanent at the beginning of each upkeep — if they can't, they lose 2 life and you draw a card. The enchantment eventually self-sacrifices when there are only tokens left (benefiting you since Alela's Faeries are tokens). In the process of entering, Doom Foretold triggers Alela for one free Faerie. The ongoing pressure forces opponents to sacrifice their best nontoken permanents while your token army remains immune to its effect.

Sorcerer's Broom

A persistent token generator that synergizes with sacrifice effects. Whenever an artifact or enchantment you control leaves the battlefield, create a 1/1 Spirit creature token. Each token also triggers Alela's token generation when artifacts enter. Sorcerer's Broom ensures the deck isn't punished when Doom Foretold removes artifacts or when opponents destroy your artifacts — each removal generates more tokens. The deck's resilience comes from this constant replacement: each artifact lost creates a new token, and Alela's anthem keeps those tokens relevant.

How to Play

Alela costs four mana — prioritize mana acceleration to land her on turn three. Every artifact or enchantment after that builds the Faerie army. Lead with cheap artifacts in the first two turns (mana rocks, equipment), play Alela on turn three, and immediately cast another artifact or enchantment to create the first token. The deck's Brawl format context means playing toward efficient threats rather than combo setups. Win by deploying Alela and two or three token-generating artifacts by turn five, then attacking with a flying army of 2/1s with lifelink. The life gain from Alela's lifelink plus Faerie attacks keeps you well ahead of the life race.