Two-Color Mana Fixing for Instant Ramen Decks

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Instant Ramen card art from the Final Fantasy crossover set for MTG

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Mana Fixing for a Colorless Powerhouse in Two-Color Decks

Instant Ramen is a curious artifact from the Final Fantasy crossover, a little two-cost engine with Flash, a timely card draw on entry, and a useful life swing when you sacrifice it later. In the context of two-color mana bases, this colorless Food can feel like a flavor-rich spice that enhances tempo and card advantage without bending your deck toward a single color. The key is not to lean on Ramen’s mana color at all, but to weave it into a broader plan that guarantees access to both colors when you need them most. 🧙‍♂️🔥

Why does this matter? In two-color strategies, reliability of colored mana is paramount. Instant Ramen itself doesn’t provide colored mana, so you pair it with reliable fixers and thoughtful sequencing to ensure you can cast your spells on curve while still drawing into your late-game payoff. A well-constructed mana base—paired with the card draw from Ramen’s ETB—lets you push through counterspells, removals, and your own big plays with confidence. Think of it as a well-seasoned broth: the noodles (your spells) are flavorful, but the stock (your mana) carries the whole meal. 🍜

Core fixers to consider

  • Prophetic Prism — a staple for color fixing with a bonus: when it enters the battlefield, you draw a card. Then you can tap it to add one mana of any color. It’s compact, reliable, and scales nicely into the mid to late game, keeping both colors accessible for Instant Ramen and your other two-color threats. 🎨
  • Signet family (Izzet Signet, Orzhov Signet, etc.) — the classic two-color fixers. They generate two colored mana over time and fit neatly into sparsely-staffed early turns, letting you deploy Ramen on turn 2 or 3 and still have a plan for the next few turns. 🧭
  • Fellwar Stone — a flexible, budget-friendly fixer: tap for a color that matches the lands you control. Great in a two-color shell that runs a mix of basics and utility lands, ensuring you don’t get stranded when you need to cast your two-color spells. ⚙️
  • Arcane Signet / Coalition Relic — these staples accelerate your mana base. Arcane Signet (and its kin) helps you access both colors sooner, which is crucial when you’re trying to deploy Instant Ramen on a tempo-friendly schedule. ⚔️
  • Fetch lands and duals (where legal) — pairing fetch lands with duals or other color-fixing lands makes your two-color base resonate. The goal is to guarantee you hit both colors on time while still thinning the deck and thinning the odds of a misstep. 🧙‍♂️

Beyond raw mana, consider the card-draw ecosystem surrounding Instant Ramen. Each fetch into Prism or Signet keeps your hand replenished, so you’re not stuck staring at an expensive drawn-out plan while your opponent accelerates. The artifact’s flash adds a layer of surprise value: you can blink it in on a responsive window, draw a fresh card, then set up a future chain while continuing to mana-fix for your two-color identity. The joy comes from tempo and tempo from draw engines colliding—two colors can swing in your favor when you control both the board and the hand. 🧩

Deckbuilding tips for two-color synergy

  • Curate a balanced curve with a mix of two-color spells that harmonize with your chosen pair and with Instant Ramen’s card-draw engine. In a Blue-Red shell, lean into cheap cantrips and quick removal to protect your early artifacts; in Green-Blue, emphasize card draw and ramp that keeps your colors flowing. 🎲
  • Use Instant Ramen as a tempo lever. Cast it on a turn when you have enough mana to flash into more board presence or draw into your key answers. The mere threat of flashing it in can shape your opponent’s decisions. 🍜
  • Don’t overstuff colorless sources. Pair your rocks with a few flexible lands to ensure access to both colors even when topdecks are thin. A lean, consistent mana base beats a bloated, unpredictable one every time. 🔄
  • Prioritize life gain synergy and cantrips in the late game. The sacrifice cost of Instant Ramen to gain 3 life is modest, but in the right meta it can turn the corner when your life total buys you a few extra turns or shields you from burn. 💎
Flavor and function go hand in hand. Instant Ramen’s flavor text hints at balancing the delicate mix of ingredients—the same balance you seek in your mana base: harmony, tempo, and a dash of surprise. The result is a deck that feels both flavorful and formidable at the table. ⚔️

David Astruga’s artwork for Instant Ramen captures a lively, culinary-tinged energy that suits the Final Fantasy crossover vibe. The card’s design—Flash, ETB draw, and a sac-for-life payoff—makes it a versatile anchor for two-color shells, whether you’re chasing control, midrange inevitability, or spicy combo lines. The set’s cross-cultural mashup invites you to experiment with color and strategy in new, flavorful ways. 🎨

As you home in on a two-color mana base that can reliably cast your plans while the ramen simmers, remember that the real win is in the rhythm of your turns. A well-tuned sequence, backed by sturdy fixers and a little card-drawing magic, can make even a colorless artifact feel central to your deck’s personality. 🧙‍♂️🎲

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Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

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