Over the past few days, Isengard Shuffle has coasted through much of the meta, at a >70% win rate. What kicked things off for me was Mike mentioning how he was testing Isengard Shuffle. That testing report led to me testing Isengard Shuffle in the current meta, a 72% win rate into Platinum 1 in the first few hours of this September 2026 Arena season, and a 72% win rate into Diamond 3 the next day.
After reporting back these testing results, Mike asked this question: “How were the rabbits compared to if you had mindspring?”
That question Mike asked can be seen as a screenshot from Magic Secrets whatsapp:
And what a great question that is, because it opens us up to compare various scenarios. For example, what if we’re on turn 5, and we have two Pawpatches instead of two Mindsprings? I’ve had that happen, and both me and the other player were about 5 creatures wide… and I wished for some Mindsprings.
A question I asked Smitty, can be seen as a screenshot from whatsapp:
And Smitty mentioned he liked that idea!
So I took out two mindsprings, one Cenote Scout and one Spider Sense (saw Mike testing that)..
.. adding in two Mindspring Merfolk, a Springleaf Drum and a Gollum..
.. which led to an 11-0 record and coasting into Diamond 1 with this version!
11-0 results can be seen below as a screenshot from MTGA Assistant:
Some of these 11-0 Isengard Shuffle games can be seen below as an embedded playlist:
11-0 Isengard Shuffle decklist can be seen below as a screenshot from MTG Arena:
11-0 Isengard Shuffle decklist can be seen below as a text export from MTG Arena:
Deck
4 Breeding Pool (EOE) 251
1 Forest (NEO) 301
4 Botanical Sanctum (OTJ) 267
4 Ouroboroid (EOE) 201
4 Tishana’s Tidebinder (LCI) 81
2 Mindspring Merfolk (DFT) 51
4 Multiversal Passage (SPM) 180
4 Quandrix Charm (SOS) 217
4 Llanowar Elves (M19) 314
4 Gene Pollinator (EOE) 186
1 Cenote Scout (LCI) 178
2 Pawpatch Recruit (BLB) 187
4 Mockingbird (BLB) 61
4 Deep-Cavern Bat (LCI) 102
4 Starting Town (FIN) 289
4 Jackal, Genius Geneticist (SPM) 131
4 Floodpits Drowner (DSK) 59
1 Springleaf Drum (ECL) 260
1 Gollum, Riddle Master (HOB) 70
Diamond 1 rank can be seen below as a screenshot from MTG Arena:
In Magic Secrets whatsapp, I asked Mike about an xx cost spell for that currently singular xx cost slot. I’m looking forward to Salt Vampire, a spell Mike highlighted in one of our recent Magic Secrets Show episodes (thanks for reminding me of the spell name Smitty!). Eagerly awaiting that Star Trek release! For right now, Mike mentioned I could try a Woundrous Wasp, so naturally I did.
#78 in Mythic rank can be seen below as a screenshot from MTG Arena:
Diamond 1 into #78 Mythic results can be seen below as a screenshot from MTGA Assistant:
Some of these Diamond 1 into #78 Mythic Isengard Shuffle games can be seen below as an embedded playlist:
Diamond 1 into #78 Mythic Isengard Shuffle can be seen below as a screenshot from MTG Arena:
Diamond 1 into #78 Mythic Isengard Shuffle can be seen below as a text export from MTG Arena:
