Historic Mono-U Proft: Fun & Jank Episode 18

Welcome back to Fun & Jank, where we draw cards not just for value, but for victory. Today’s deck is an ode to mono-blue jank at its finest, combining Proft’s Eidetic Memory and Duelist of the Mind for one simple goal: turn your card advantage into pure, unrelenting power.

The list I created for stream was inspired by a fellow brewer in discord, but I’ve seen the deck pop up on the Historic Ladder a few times in the past couple weeks. Most of them have some spicy inclusions like Oath of Jace or Tome of Gadwick. Let me show you what we ended up playing on stream!

The Deck

The deck is rather straightforward, and feels like a hybrid between tempo and storm. Some games you end up landing a Duelist or Eidetic Memory and chip away damage while bouncing things with cards like Fading Hope or Sink into Stupor. However, most games are won through a “combo” turn in a sense. Playing Duelist or Eidetic Memory and then casting multiple card draw spells all at once in order to swing in for massive damage.

Gingerbrute

Ah, the mighty Gingerbrute—small, scrappy, and surprisingly lethal. This little cookie isn’t here to just look adorable; it’s an unblockable missile for carrying the massive buffs from Proft's Eidetic Memory. When you’re drawing 10+ cards in a turn, Gingerbrute turns into a hasty, unanswerable monster capable of one-shotting opponents. Plus, its activated ability makes it even harder to interact with, dodging blockers and occasionally baffling your opponents into checking if they’re actually about to lose to a cookie.

Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student

Tamiyo isn’t just here for the flavor of learning—she’s the valedictorian of mid-game value. Flipping her is surprisingly easy with cards like Hymn to the Ages or Brainsurge, and once she’s flipped, the deck really starts to sing. She can rebuy spells, adding to your massive draw turns and helping power up Proft's Eidetic Memory. And let’s not forget her ultimate—paired with Duelist of the Mind or Eidetic Memory it’s a one-way ticket to lethal. Tamiyo is the glue holding your setup turns together and the gasoline for your explosive finishes.

Ledger Shredder

The bird’s got wings, and it’s about to carry you to victory. Ledger Shredder plays multiple roles in the deck: it’s a reliable flier that scales naturally with Connive triggers, making it a great target for Proft's Eidetic Memory buffs. During your combo turn, it acts as a sneaky enabler, giving you an extra draw when you cast your second spell.

Duelist of the Mind

Duelist of the Mind is essentially Proft's Eidetic Memory with legs. Its power being equal to the number of cards you’ve drawn minus 1 turns it into a wrecking ball when you’re comboing off. The vigilance on a 0/3 body might not seem exciting, but it plays an underrated role as a blocker in the early turns, helping you stave off aggression. Pairing it with Proft's Eidetic Memory turns its raw card-draw scaling into sheer absurdity, doubling up on the power and often leading to one-shot kills.

Oracle of the Alpha

Oracle of the Alpha is here for the Power 9 party. Conjuring Ancestral Recall, Time Walk, and Timetwister is exactly the kind of absurdity we love in Fun & Jank. These spells aren’t just powerful on their own—they’re perfect for your game plan. Ancestral Recall turbocharges your draw engine, Time Walk gives you an extra turn to set up or swing in with a pumped creature, and Timetwister refuels your deck while supercharging a creature with card-draw buffs. The Oracle doesn’t just bring the spice; it brings the whole kitchen.

Fading Hope

Sometimes the simplest tools are the most effective. It’s cheap, instant-speed interaction that can bounce an early threat or protect your own key creatures from removal.

Brainsurge

This is one of the engine pieces that makes the deck tick. Brainsurge is a perfect way to flip Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student by itself, dig four cards deep for combo pieces, and buff Duelist of the Mind or another creature with Proft's Eidetic Memory for a massive swing.

Sink into Stupor

A low opportunity inclusion for us, Sink into Stupor earns its slot as both disruption and a land. Especially strong at removing blockers or just general stalling as we set up a combo turn.

Hymn to the Ages

If Brainsurge is the turbo button, Hymn to the Ages is the big, flashy nitro boost. This spell gets better the more of them you cast. With Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student or Sapphire Medallion in the mix, it becomes absurdly efficient. Playing it on your combo turn can dig deep while simultaneously pumping your creatures to lethal sizes with Proft's Eidetic Memory.

Proft's Eidetic Memory

The star of the show and the deck’s namesake win condition, Proft's Eidetic Memory is what turns this pile of quirky cards into a lethal combo machine. For just two mana, it provides absurd scaling, pumping your creatures for each card you’ve drawn that turn (past the first). Pair it with Brainsurge or Hymn to the Ages, and suddenly your harmless little Gingerbrute is delivering one-hit KOs. And when you slap its counters on Duelist of the Mind, you’re not just making a big flyer—you’re creating an airborne nuke. It’s cheap, it’s deadly, and it’s the reason this deck exists.

Piece It Together

Piece It Together is a simple cantrip, helping you smooth out your draws and sculpt the perfect hand. But there’s an additional upside here: cast it four times in a game, and you’re rewarded with an extra turn. In a deck that thrives on chaining spells together, the chance to get a “free” extra turn makes it a good choice.

Sapphire Medallion

The unsung hero of the combo turn, Sapphire Medallion is the oil that keeps this engine running smoothly. By reducing the cost of your blue spells, it lets you chain together draw effects like Brainsurge and Hymn to the Ages for massive buffs. Not only does it enable your big explosive turns, but it also helps you stay efficient in the early game by making it easier to cast your interaction and setup pieces. Without this card, you’d be struggling to keep up with the mana demands of the deck. With it, you’re a well-oiled card-drawing machine.

Gameplay

(18:45 vs Mono Red and 1:23 vs Mono White are some fun matches!)

Gameplay

The deck’s payoff is a breathtaking combo turn where everything comes together. Here’s what it looks like in practice:

1. Draw and Buff: Start with Brainsurge, Hymn to the Ages, or Piece It Together to draw cards and stack counters from Proft's Eidetic Memory.
2. Explosive Growth: Buff a creature like Gingerbrute or Duelist of the Mind to astronomical proportions. The former’s unblockability makes it a perfect closer, while the latter’s scaling power turns it into a massive, vigilant threat.
3. Synergistic Triggers: Cards like Ledger Shredder and Tamiyo’s Clues keep your card draw flowing, ensuring you can chain spells together for even more absurd buffs.
4. Win Out of Nowhere: Your opponent might think they’re safe at 20 life, but one well-timed swing from a 30-power Gingerbrute or Duelist will leave them scratching their heads.

Key Synergies

• Duelist of the Mind + Proft’s Eidetic Memory: A match made in heaven. Duelist naturally grows with your draw spells, while Eidetic Memory doubles down on the card-draw power to make Duelist a massive threat.
• Hymn to the Ages + Sapphire Medallion: Casting Hymn for just one blue mana lets you string together spells effortlessly. The scaling nature of Hymn ensures that the more you draw, the bigger your payoff.
• Oracle of the Alpha + Combo Payoffs: Oracle’s conjured cards not only set up incredible game-ending plays but also integrate seamlessly into the combo turn. A top-deck Ancestral Recall during your combo is downright filthy.

Playing from Behind

This deck isn’t just a glass cannon. Thanks to cards like Fading Hope, Sink into Stupor, and Ledger Shredder, you can claw back into games that don’t go your way early. Tamiyo’s ultimate is also a fantastic tool for turning the tide when you’re behind, pumping your creatures for absurd damage.

Closing Thoughts

This deck plays an exciting double life—it’s a tempo deck that chips away at your opponent’s life total, but lurking beneath that steady pressure is an explosive storm waiting to be unleashed. Early game, you’re sneaking in damage with evasive threats like Gingerbrute and Ledger Shredder, keeping your opponent on the back foot with efficient interaction. But then, the tempo shifts.

When the stars align, you storm off with Hymn to the Ages or Brainsurge, stacking draw spells to fuel massive buffs from Proft's Eidetic Memory or Duelist of the Mind. In an instant, your unassuming board turns into a one-hit KO machine, catching opponents completely off guard. The synergy between your tempo plan and your explosive combo turns makes every game feel dynamic, and no two wins are exactly alike.

It’s a deck that rewards careful setup and precise timing, letting you play the long game while always threatening to end it in a flash. Whether you’re pecking away with tempo creatures or launching an all-out combo assault, this deck delivers a unique and exhilarating gameplay experience.

Thanks for reading.

As always feel free to comment and leave any questions you have below! Make sure to come back next week for even more Fun & Jank!

If you want to see these decks in action, come hang out with me on stream where we test, refine, and have a ton of fun together!

Happy Brewing!