The idea behind the mechanic was that the Gods in Theros grew more powerful based on the number of followers they had (as represented by the mana pips on the field)
Honestly if you need consistent early-turn mana acceleration in a color other than green, I'd just play Sphere of the Suns
Aside from being a free direct attack provider, Spell Striker can give access to XYZ Summons and an overall emergency option
Last but not least, the number one reason why Id recommend giving Master Duel a try if youre looking to get into the TCG scene is that there are far more players
It looks pretty unappealing, right
This card based on "The Dark Magicians" has similar effects than the original "Ebon Illusion Magician" but is a little more easy to summon, you can now summon it directly with "The Dark Magicians" in case you go that route of fusions AND you can summon both DM and DMG from Deck, GY or Banished or, if is neccesary, "The Dark Magicians"