This deck is an homage to my friend and his secret passion. I’ve always known my friend, who is too shy to be named, to be a person and a character of class and refinement. It should have been obvious at the start. From the moment I saw him stick his tongue out for hissing to his constant need to be within sunlight’s warmth to heat up his dying cold body, the signs were clear.
While Perseus used his mirror shield to reflect Medusa’s gaze upon herself, my boy would do the opposite, fully embracing the glow of her unbridled stare and turning rock hard at her sight.
In Himes et. al’s study of the Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni), it was noted throughout their study that the average temperature of the female snake before egg production was maintained higher during late spring and early summer to enhance egg development (193). The average temperature that was experienced by the females of note were roughly around 26.6 degrees to 27.9 degrees, a comfy temperature that creates a warm and inviting environment during oviposition (124).
Sylvia, my friend’s first crush, gains an additional 3000 power on stage with an additional amount added based on the number of markers underneath her. At the end of her attack, if you have four or more other Demon Lord Army (魔王軍) characters or characters with Kazuma my friend’s name [カズマ] in their name, you may pay her costs and restand her.
It is known that female snakes in heat emit a scent trail to attract their mates. The male, following this scent, is attracted and catches up to her. Upon receiving contact, he will then try to lure her with affectionate motions to prepare her for copulation. If the female decides to accept him, they will intertwine in a bond that can last for hours as they embrace in the act of procreation and love-making (Whitaker, Discover Wildlife).
In the early game, Sylvia checks the top two cards of your deck and places any Demon Lord Army character, character with Kazuma in its name, or a special event underneath her as markers. With each marker underneath her coils, she gains power, and then, with her climax combo, when she reverses her opponent, you may pay her costs, and then search up to two Demon Lord Army or Kazuma characters and add them to your hand.
So there are two main supports for us to achieve Sylvia’s final form. The 3/2 early play Sylvia requires a full stage, and when she becomes reversed, you may pay her costs to spawn the finisher Sylvia from waiting room and overlay herself and all markers underneath her below that Sylvia. The other Sylvia is a support that grants global power to Demon King Army and Kazuma characters. More importantly, she gives the center slot of your front row hexproof and can pay her activated costs to grant a character cross-turn power.
“I give my life, not for honor, but for you (Snake Eater)
In my time, there’ll be no one else
Crime, it’s the way I fly to you (Snake Eater)
I’m still in a dream, Snake Eater“
Lyrics from Genius.com – Cynthia Harrell – Snake Eater
Listen, Snake. If you’re going to survive in the jungle, you’ve got to make the most out of the situation. Anything that walks, flies, or crawls, put it in your mouth and eat it. You need the energy to survive if you wish to stand even a chance against The Boss.
Note: This post is not sponsored by Hideo Kojima or any of their works.
KS/W76-084U “女心と男心”シルビア (center)
KS/W76-095C “鋭い眼光”シルビア (right)
In practice, snakes produce large amounts of offspring in their clutches (their breeding litters). Snakes are reported to have anywhere from four to over a hundred eggs in a single setting. There are many factors contributing to the clutch size of a snake including that of their age, species, health, and stress. Not all snakes are birthed from eggs as some species participate in live birth instead. Species may also breed multiple times a year (VetToday).
Sylvia looking startled lets you salvage the 1/1 event that can be marked by the 1/0 Sylvia combo. She also grants power to one of your other characters on attack equal to 500 multiplied by the number of characters you have on stage. Sylvia clutching Kazuma my friend in her bountiful bosom is a redraw profile that also is a search brainstorm. Lastly, 2/1 Sylvia staring at her prey lover gains power on swing equal to that of all your other characters.
Some snakes will exhibit mating behaviour with multiple individuals. In such cases, they are commonly called “mating balls” (Mitton, Colorado Edu)
Sylvia is on the hunt and chasing down her mate. The Sylvia on the left is an anti-runner, preventing her opponent from leaving and gains burst power during the turn she’s played from hand. Sylvia posing on the right matches your opponent in wily charm as she moves from your front row center slot to one of the open slots on your front row if you have any.
The event that hasn’t been mentioned directly is finally shown above. This event requires you to tap down one of your Demon Lord Army or Kazuma characters. As you do so, you search your deck for a character of those same traits or names and then grant one of your characters an additional power bump for the turn.
Pssss. Pssssss. Pss. Pss? Psss! Psss.
Not to be outshone by his partner, Kazuma has some tricks up his own sleeve. The Kazuma on the left is a stock charger upon reverse with a climax in play. The Kazuma on the right is a stock reverser that also has a drop salvage ability when he exits the stage to the waiting room.
Stand proud, my friend. Embrace your true identity as Kazuma above does.
Another important card to our arsenal, Kazuma here grants either a Demon Lord Army character or Kazuma power at the start of your climax phase. In addition, he willingly sacrifices himself like a hero underneath one of your Sylvia cards to mill your deck while adding any level one or higher card to your hand.
Finally, the ace has revealed himself. This is Kazuma at his peak form. Upon winning the easiest four games of rock-paper-scissors ever, your opponent eats four damage (damage can be cancelled), securing the game.
Now for some unique snake facts:
– Some female snakes are capable of self-impregnation
– In 2005, a snake was observed to have been able to produce offspring through carrying genetic material within her own tissue folds preserved for years
– Although many snakes often leave their brood to fend for themselves, several venomous snakes have been observed to care for their young for a short while
– Similar to some species of squirrels, male snakes may create a genetic plug to insert into their female mate to prevent competition (Mancini, How Stuff Works)
In terms of defensive choices, Kazuma takes the stage here with his minus soul counter on the left and markering counter on the right (it markers a copy of itself from waiting room underneath a Sylvia you have on stage).
Snake Pit is a great card if you are against players within the Dimir colours. You can leverage their abundant usage of blue and black spells, most of which are unlikely to target this enchantment once it hits the battlefield. Aphelia is just gorgeous. Snake Rain can setup for a great combo turn by sending specific graveyard synergistic reptile-type monsters into your graveyard directly from your deck. S-Snake is a great tempo card that can delay one of your opponent’s plays, but keep in mind that she does have a unique trait of being unable to target Monkey D. Luffy.
After finishing up this post, Sylvia and Kazuma have some cards to offer to buffer up their romantic efforts. 0/0 Kazuma shouting is the Kazuma profile, letting you pay costs and check three to add any singular card. 3/2 Kazuma looking smug lets you draw and discard while bouncing one of your opponent’s cards. You can also pay his costs to boost his power and soul on swing. Kazuma with the bow is a level zero stock reverser that can also mess with your opponent’s clock. 1/1 sharpshooter Kazuma is a stock Adachi profile. Lastly, Kazuma looking at his treasure swaps the power between him and his opponent if you have two or more experience when he attacks.
Works Cited:
BloomHouse Marketing. Veterinary Today –, 26 June 2025, vettoday.com/blog/pet-health/snake-reproduction/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-0. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
“Cynthia Harrell – Snake Eater.” Genius, 2015, genius.com/Cynthia-harrell-snake-eater-lyrics.
Himesl, John, et al. “BODY TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS of the LOUISIANA PINE SNAKE (PITUOPHIS RUTHVENT) in a LONGLEAF PINE ECOSYSTEM.” Herpetological Natural History, vol. 9, no. 2, 2006, p. 1, www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/ja_himes003.pdf. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
IGN. “Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater – Iconic Ladder Scene in 4K.” YouTube, 25 Aug. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLgPGTPBAog. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Mancini, Mark. “Ever Wondered How Snakes Mate?” HowStuffWorks, 9 Dec. 2021, animals.howstuffworks.com/snakes/how-do-snakes-mate.htm.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Directed by Hideo Kojima, Konami, 17 Nov. 2004.
Minton, Jeff. “Mating Ball of Garter Snakes Caught on Campus.” Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine, 9 May 2019, www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2019/05/09/mating-ball-garter-snakes-caught-campus.
“Rya | Elden Ring Wiki.” Elden Ring Wiki, 2025, eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Rya. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
View. “Metal Gear {Essay} 3: Snake Eater.” Thresholds of Transformation, 31 Aug. 2020, thresholds-of-transformation.blog/2020/08/31/metal-gear-essay-3-snake-eater/. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Whitaker, Romulus. “How Do Snakes Mate?” Www.discoverwildlife.com, 11 Apr. 2024, www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/reptiles/how-do-snakes-mate.