Why Is Everyone Suddenly Playing Fable of the Mirror-Breaker?

Reflection of Kiki-Jiki MTG art

Season 13, Episode 16: Brew Session (Fable of the Mirror-Breaker)

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Two weeks ago, no one was playing Fable of the Mirror-Breaker. The card was a limited bomb (with the 2nd highest winrate in the entire set, according to 17Lands data) but was virtually nonexistent in constructed. Then in the blink of an eye, everything changed. 

Today on Faithless Brewing we explore the stunning transformation of Fable of the Mirror-Breaker from constructed afterthought to multi-format star. A breakout performance at the Neon Dynasty Championships, paired with the banning of Lurrus of the Dream-Den, has led to an explosion of interest in the Kiki-Jiki saga.

Pioneer has seen the most dramatic change. In the last two weeks, Fable has gone from zero published decklists to 44, across more than a dozen archetypes. Strategies as diverse as Rakdos Midrange, Naya Winota, 4c Transmogrify Fires, Enigmatic Incarnation, Jund Sacrifice, Mardu Greasefang, and Storm Herald Combo have all adopted Fable with success. There is even a dedicated Reflection of Kiki-Jiki + Combat Celebrant[/c] combo deck that 5-0’d yesterday in a Gruul aggro shell. It is hard to play a Pioneer league these days without staring down the Mirror-Breaker’s shattered grin. 

Fable has also made tentative inroads into Modern. Reviews are still mixed: Ari Lax has speculated that Fable can replace Seasoned Pyromancer in some strategies, while kanister has found the card to be slow and underwhelming. So far, we have seen six published lists, usually playing Fable alongside Seasoned Pyromancer for a heavy dose of 2/2 rummaging bodies.

What does the future hold for everyone’s favorite Goblin Shaman? There is no doubt that Fable’s abilities can synergize with countless strategies: graveyard decks interested in rummaging, creature decks looking interested in ramp and bodies, Polymorph decks looking for creature tokens, game object decks interested in raw materials, or midrange decks looking for plain old value. It is a tool with endless possibilities, the best kind of card for a brewer. Can we write the next chapter in the saga of Kiki-Jiki?

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Decklists and Timestamps

[4:14] Why is Kiki so hot right now?
[9:13] Rules notes
[16:39] Key synergies
[23:19] Assessing the power level of Fable
Brewing with Fable: Pioneer Decklists
[27:07] Rakdos Midrange / Rakdos Blood
[30:02] 4c Transmogrify Fires
[31:59] Naya Winota
[35:44] Enigmatic Incarnation
[39:20] Mardu Greasefang
[41:53] Storm Herald Combo
[44:38] Gruul Kiki Celebrant Combo
Brewing with Fable: Modern Decklists
[51:30] Fable of the Mirror-Breaker vs. Seasoned Pyromancer
[54:01] Boros Blink
[54:28] Rakdos Undying
[55:09] Mardu Evoke Reanimator
[56:07] Gruul Ponza
[59:07] Mono Red Prison
[1:00:43] Closing thoughts: the future of Fable

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