When the spoiler was first revealed, I really thought this set was awful- I even voiced it in this thread and I am usually very optimistic about sets that come out- but after I've had time to digest it- this set is awesome. They are doing a really good job of starting to adjust power levels, and there just aren't as many obvious hay-makers as we are use to. But while there isn't a lot that really stands out, it looks to be like this set is really going to shake up Standard.
We also got what may be the two best creatures in all of standard: Brimaz and Courser of Kruphix. Courser is <retarded> good and super fun to play with. It is really like the control deck's Dark Confidant. With Chandra/Underworld Connections/Jace/Kiora/Domri and Courser you can usually 'draw' 3 cards every turn. Courser is going to single-handedly put 3 color midrange back on the map.
Herald of Torment is also a favorite of mine, and is a very underrated cards. Bestowing him just wins games- especially in a B/W deck where you can bestow onto a Precinct Captain and Brimaz, and swing for big chunks in the air while making chump blockers.
Also, getting an efficient answer to Pack Rat that isn't UW is a very good thing.
Overall, I think this set is deceptively awesome.
Please do not use "retarded" in a casual context outside of its medical definition. Warning issued for Inappropriate Language.
—Lanxal
Chandra is the best Walker to play with Courser, as it can reset the top card of your library every turn, letting you 'draw' 3 cards most turns. Courser should most definitely be a 4 of. IMO Courser is the best creature in standard.
Progenitor Mimic is iffy. When it is good it is really good, and when it is bad it is really bad. I wouldn't be running more than 1.
Garruk is the card that makes RG Monsters tick and puts it over the top of control and other midrange decks. You should really be running some.
To answer your question of where I would put Fog: Nowhere. Fog is no good except in very niche cases.
I would also prefer to see Spike Jester and Varolz instead of the Emissary plan. You only have 7 other creatures to Emissary into, and the damage output on Jester is really high. Varolz plays really well with Spike Jester and Ghor-Clan Rampager, he could also boost Pain Seer to keep him alive through combat- which would be really nice. These changes would really up the over-all synergy of your deck, as well as making your individual cards more powerful. Lotleth Troll would also be a nice inclusion, giving you a lot of game vs UW control decks and other aggro decks. He also has nice synergy with Varolz and Domri. Plus, Scavenging Ooze isn't even all that awesome with only 12 green sources.
When you think about Jester vs. Emissary- it takes Emissary + another 2 drop 3 turns to match the damage ouput of Jester.
With Jester- he comes down swings for 3, next turn 3 more (6), then 3 more the next turn (9).
With Emissary + 2 drop- they come down summoning sick, next turn 4-5, then next turn 4-5 more (8-10).
So Jester is in many ways just as good as Emissary + another 2 drop except being 1 card out of your hand instead of 2. This isn't even to mention games where you draw Emissary without another 2 drop- where Jester is just better hands down. Then you could run Lotleth Troll instead of Chainwalker, also beating it out in a vaccuum comparison. I think this would really boost the individual power level of your deck.
This would also make you less vulnerable to Drown in Sorrow and Supreme Verdict, since you are gaining the same damage output from 1 card instead of 2, as well as having Troll regenerate through Verdict, and maybe discard to live through Drown.
You should be running Mizzium Mortars somewhere so you don't get raped by Blood Baron.
Herald of Torment is a really good creature, and seems nice here. With 14 Black sources- you could support him, and he is yet another way to keep getting Seer through. His bestow also gives you something to do with lots of lands later in the game without making your CCs too high for Pain Seer flips. You could easily replace some Dreg Mangler with him- I think that overall Herald is just a better card. The flying will make up for the lack of Haste, and bestow, I believe, is a bit better than Scavenge- especially if you end up running Varolz, which would make it redundant.
Why 14 black sources and only 12 of the others? I would want to drop a B/R temple for a G/R temple if I were you. Bringing it to 13/13/12 instead of 14/12/12. It isn't like you have a much heavier black requirement than your other colors, so this would improve overall consistency. Obviously ignore this if you opt to run Herald of Torment as you will then want the extra black.
You might want to move some Thoughtseize to the MB, especially if you keep Domri in the board.
Might also be good to put like 2x Bile Blight into the SB for Pack Rats. They could easily replace some Dark Betrayal as it also deals with Specter. While it doesn't answer Demon, it answers pack rat- making it just as versatile in the MBD matchup- and you should be able to handle Demon fine with Dreadbore and Thoughtseize, as well as just tapping him down. You might just be fast enough to not need the answer for Rat tho.
SubstanceD - this deck really doesn't want Slaughter Games. The deck is very aggressive- so it plans to be winning before the opponent draws too many cards, so removing cards from their deck is pretty irrelevant, especially when you need to spend turn 4 doing nothing that impacts the board to do it. The only pro-black guy is Blood Baron anyway- and he can be answered just fine with Mizzium Mortars (or Thoughtseize from the hand).
MooTown- running Springleaf Drum sounds awful. The card is just terrible without Pain Seer, and even if you do have him, the first card you flip off him only makes up for the Springleaf Drum you had to devote a slot to- not even providing you any real card advantage yet. The deck really doesn't want to have to tap its guys to make mana instead of attack, especially when it costs you an additional card to do so. Pain Seer + Springleaf Drum isn't really a combo worth using in anything- given that Drum is pretty bad on its own (unless in a deck like Affinity where you care about having artifacts) and even if you assemble the combo it is still weak, given that you've now spent 2 cards to have a worse version of Underworld Connections. Dark Confidant is so good because it attacks, if you had to tap it and not swing to draw cards with it, it would be a worse Phyrexian Arena. So the Drum + Seer combo is spending 2 cards to have a bad Phyrexian Arena when you really look at it.
Luckily, as far as that scenario goes, MUD has taken a big hit with the rotation- strengthening of other decks but not gaining anything significant, midrange becoming much more playable, and the printing of Revoke Existence and Unravel the AEther, so there should be a lot less Thassa around.
Bile Blight is really the premiere black removal spell- and it still has uses vs UW being able to sweep all Elspeth tokens and kill mutavault.
You already need BB early for Heros Downfall so it really isn't much of a mana concession. Abrupt Decay is great and I do run some. 1 MB 1 SB- but Mono Black has only gotten better with rotation and is enemy number 1. You have to remember that you really have next to no other way to deal with a turn 5 pack rat- and having no way to win against plan A of the best deck in the format is not where you want to be. You also really don't need 4 Abrupt Decay and 3 Vraska to deal with 4 Detention Spheres.
Kiora is really awesome, way better than she looks- she is defense, card draw, and a superb win condition. 3 Vraska is definitely too many, she is, after all- 5 mana removal.
Courser is one of the best creatures in Standard by far, and the entire reason really to run green. Her and Kiora- Abrupt Decay and Vraska really aren't worth warping your mana for.
Shaman really doesn't do enough- and its very important to remember that he turns on removal that would otherwise be dead against you- and that he doesn't do much vs aggro besides maybe gain a few life- and the 2 damage a turn that is easily disrupt-able and that you won't always have a card to remove for just isn't worth a slot.
Bile Blight has also made Dark Betrayal not so necessary, as it kills Pack Rats and Specters- and Hero's Downfall/Vraska/Kiora is plenty removal for Desecration Demon. Even if you don't MB Blight (Which you should) - I would suggest replacing the Dark Betrayal in your SB with them.
Deathrite Shaman is next to useless and not at all worth a card slot (can't ramp, turns on opposing removal that would otherwise be dead, the lifeloss ability isn't very relevant, and the lifegain won't even fire every turn).
Jace Memory Adept is a bad MB card- 3 Vraska is definately too many- it can provide value but it is still 5 mana removal and you never really want to see more than 1. 3 Ashiok seems like too many, if he provides you value he tends to stay in play making additional copies dead.
Courser of Kruphix is nowhere in your list and is like the entire reason to play green. Kiora as well.
Your deck doesn't really seem to have a cohesive plan, and the mana curve is really high. You will get run over by Sphinx's Revelation decks, as you have no way to keep up with their card draw, and you lack enough ways to seal the game.
You are also really weak to Pack Rat, and otherwise the deck looks too slow to deal with fast aggro g1. Definately need Bile Blight.
You need more basic lands, as with only 6- you will be shocking yourself quite often. I know I only run 8 but the extra 2 make a big difference.
Wanted to note- I've added a Pithing Needle over the 2nd Negate in the board. The Negate was there mostly to deal with Garruk, so Pithing Needle seems way better at that job, and I may want a 2nd copy.
I am considering replacing Desecration Demon with Reaper of the Wilds- but not sure because Desecration Demon has more synergy with Kiora's +1 because of flying- probably going to test it out for now. Reaper provides additional synergy with Courser, and is a nice threat vs MBD, as well as a more reliable blocker.
I have now added an Ashiok to the MB over the 3rd Desecration Demon, and I have been loving it.
I have also replaced 1 MB Bile Blight with an Abrupt Decay, which has really helped vs GR Monsters (for Domri) and UW decks (for Detention Sphere). The 4th Bile Blight is now in the board instead of 1x Far/Away- since the Decays help against Hexproof decks, there the 4th Fat/Away was needed.
I have removed Drown in Sorrow from the SB entirely, while it is plenty great, I haven't had any issues in the matchups where I would want it without it. Caryatid and Courser plus all the spot removal has been plenty good enough to deal with weenie aggro decks.
This has allowed my to add another Negate, which is necessary for Vs. RG Monsters to counter Garruk, as he is definitely their biggest threat against you since you have no problem dealing with all their threats as long as they don't start putting multiple creatures in their hand at a time and outdrawing your removal.
The other card this allowed room for is a 2nd Abrupt Decay, which is great to have VS Mono Black Devotion, since it gives another answer to a resolved Underworld Connections that isn't narrow.
I am considering another copy of Kiora over the 2nd Underworld Connections, as she has proved incredibly strong in this build. Her ultimate has been surprisingly easy to reach, especially considering she keep a creature at while she ticks up. A 9/9 every end step usually ends the game in a hurry.
Chandra makes Courser significantly better. They are quite the combination- I really don't think you would be upset with 4, cuz if one stays in play you are probably winning anyway.
You really want Courser and Caryatid, considering they do completely different things other than block. Caryatid fixes and accels while Courser creates card advantage. I have been testing a very similar BUG midrange deck (Underworld Connections, Jace instead of Chandra, etc.) and Courser is really MVP, letting you draw 3 cards a turn in combination with a walker or Connections. Chandra is really your best engine for this and should probably be 4x and or at least 3x. Underworld Connections I have found (I started with 3 as well), in a deck with Thoughtseize and no really significant life gain especially, you never want to see more than 1 and against a lot of matchups you don't want to see any so I would cut that down to 2.
I would really want to find some room for Mizzium Mortars in the main and side or Blood Baron will roll you over. I definitely don't think you need a 4th Connections in the side- especially when you're not maxing out on Chandra.
Anger of the Gods in your SB probably makes you too reliant on red mana- and Drown in Sorrow is here now- which would let you easily run Caryatid. Then you could cut down on the number of Scrylands in your mana base, because with only 5 basic lands, you are going to be taking lots of damage from your shocks- which you just can't afford with Thoughtseize and Underworld Connections.
After testing this card is AMAZING. Will bring back 3 color midrange decks. With Jace/Kiora/Chandra/Underworld Connections/Domri is an engine that lets you draw 3 cards a turn (while being better than just a 2nd Walker because he can defend them- and do it well with his 4 toughness). This guy is like a Dark Confidant for control/midrange decks. The lifegain really stacks up if you can get more than 1 in play.
Oracle of Mul Daya was never nearly as awesome as this guy is.
Strawlies- Courser is MUCH more powerful than Sylvan Carytid, as well as more powerful than Domri Rade. Before testing with him, I just thought he was mediocre. Trust me tho, this guy is the real deal. I suggest checking out my thread on BUG superfriends thread (in this sub-forum) to see a shell that really puts him to good use (and a similar deck could be built for Jund).
On top of that, every deck runs Scrylands, which also help you to get extra mileage out of him.
There is really no way to get around the heavy mana requirements and keep the deck's engine in tact and cover all the bases. But the land base has 14 green, 15 black, and 13 blue sources- with Caryatids bringing it up to 18, 19, and 17- and so far I have not had many issues.
I have heavily considered Ashiok, but so far I just can't find the room- He seems like a great fit for the deck, but he really helps the most against matchups that are already really good- but I will keep my eye on him for the SB if decks like Naya Aggro/Midrange where he really shines against become more popular.
Deathrite Shaman doesn't do much in Standard- and the small amount of life gain isn't worth a card, especially when he turns on opposing Searing Spears and Bile Blights. Courser provides enough life gain to offset the Connections when needed, and so far have not needed any extra life gain with the heavy amount of board control the deck runs.
I have gone down to 2 Drown in Sorrow in the board for a 3rd Far/Away after having problems vs. Witchstalker/Bestow decks. Drown hasn't always been too necessary with my 8 high toughness blockers and spot removal.
I have also traded 1x Underworld Connections for a 4th Jace MB. The reasoning being that Jace is still nice vs Aggro and Connections is kind-of a stinker there. Don't know if I will stay with this because the mana base slants more towards black than blue, but I think it may be worth it. Never really want more than 1 Connections anyway. I'm thinking if a slot becomes Ashiok it will be this 4th Jace, but as long as UW stays as popular where I play I will be keeping it a draw engine.
I am also experimenting with a 3rd Temple of Mystery over 1x Breeding Pool, since scrying is really good in this deck. May take out a Forest and still keep the Breeding Pool since running 4 Jace now.
This deck has tested amazing so far and has gone through revisions to be refined down.
The deck just draws so many cards, outdrawing Sphinx's Revelation decks. Planeswalkers that draw cards or Underworld Connections combined with Courser of Kruphix let you reset the top of your deck, and generally draw 3 or more cards a turn. Prognostic Sphinx also nearly gaurantees hitting a land off of Kruphix. Combined with Thoughseize, UW control matchups become a breeze. Although you really have to worry about not letting them drop Aetherling before you- which is the main reason for the Gainsay in the SB, as well as the AEtherling MB. Because of the mix of planeswalker, creature, and enchantment threats- sbing becomes an ordeal for them- trying to make sure they have the right answers. 4 Detention Sphere only go so far.
The deck features lots of removal for aggressive decks, as well as 8 very proficient blockers, and the card advantage to make all that removal come in a continuous stream.
Kiora has been great for taking down midrange strategies, and ultimates way more often than you would originally think. The fact that the threats fly lets you keep something like a god at bay with Kiora while still applying pressure.
Against monoblack, you get to bury them in card advantage while having Bile Blight to stop the Rat plan.
Courser of Kruphix is an all star and functions like a control deck's Dark Confidant, as well as offsetting the lifeloss from the Underworld Connections that it already combos so well with.
We also got what may be the two best creatures in all of standard: Brimaz and Courser of Kruphix. Courser is <retarded> good and super fun to play with. It is really like the control deck's Dark Confidant. With Chandra/Underworld Connections/Jace/Kiora/Domri and Courser you can usually 'draw' 3 cards every turn. Courser is going to single-handedly put 3 color midrange back on the map.
Herald of Torment is also a favorite of mine, and is a very underrated cards. Bestowing him just wins games- especially in a B/W deck where you can bestow onto a Precinct Captain and Brimaz, and swing for big chunks in the air while making chump blockers.
Also, getting an efficient answer to Pack Rat that isn't UW is a very good thing.
Overall, I think this set is deceptively awesome.
Please do not use "retarded" in a casual context outside of its medical definition. Warning issued for Inappropriate Language.
—Lanxal
Progenitor Mimic is iffy. When it is good it is really good, and when it is bad it is really bad. I wouldn't be running more than 1.
Garruk is the card that makes RG Monsters tick and puts it over the top of control and other midrange decks. You should really be running some.
To answer your question of where I would put Fog: Nowhere. Fog is no good except in very niche cases.
I would also prefer to see Spike Jester and Varolz instead of the Emissary plan. You only have 7 other creatures to Emissary into, and the damage output on Jester is really high. Varolz plays really well with Spike Jester and Ghor-Clan Rampager, he could also boost Pain Seer to keep him alive through combat- which would be really nice. These changes would really up the over-all synergy of your deck, as well as making your individual cards more powerful. Lotleth Troll would also be a nice inclusion, giving you a lot of game vs UW control decks and other aggro decks. He also has nice synergy with Varolz and Domri. Plus, Scavenging Ooze isn't even all that awesome with only 12 green sources.
When you think about Jester vs. Emissary- it takes Emissary + another 2 drop 3 turns to match the damage ouput of Jester.
With Jester- he comes down swings for 3, next turn 3 more (6), then 3 more the next turn (9).
With Emissary + 2 drop- they come down summoning sick, next turn 4-5, then next turn 4-5 more (8-10).
So Jester is in many ways just as good as Emissary + another 2 drop except being 1 card out of your hand instead of 2. This isn't even to mention games where you draw Emissary without another 2 drop- where Jester is just better hands down. Then you could run Lotleth Troll instead of Chainwalker, also beating it out in a vaccuum comparison. I think this would really boost the individual power level of your deck.
This would also make you less vulnerable to Drown in Sorrow and Supreme Verdict, since you are gaining the same damage output from 1 card instead of 2, as well as having Troll regenerate through Verdict, and maybe discard to live through Drown.
You should be running Mizzium Mortars somewhere so you don't get raped by Blood Baron.
Herald of Torment is a really good creature, and seems nice here. With 14 Black sources- you could support him, and he is yet another way to keep getting Seer through. His bestow also gives you something to do with lots of lands later in the game without making your CCs too high for Pain Seer flips. You could easily replace some Dreg Mangler with him- I think that overall Herald is just a better card. The flying will make up for the lack of Haste, and bestow, I believe, is a bit better than Scavenge- especially if you end up running Varolz, which would make it redundant.
Why 14 black sources and only 12 of the others? I would want to drop a B/R temple for a G/R temple if I were you. Bringing it to 13/13/12 instead of 14/12/12. It isn't like you have a much heavier black requirement than your other colors, so this would improve overall consistency. Obviously ignore this if you opt to run Herald of Torment as you will then want the extra black.
You might want to move some Thoughtseize to the MB, especially if you keep Domri in the board.
Might also be good to put like 2x Bile Blight into the SB for Pack Rats. They could easily replace some Dark Betrayal as it also deals with Specter. While it doesn't answer Demon, it answers pack rat- making it just as versatile in the MBD matchup- and you should be able to handle Demon fine with Dreadbore and Thoughtseize, as well as just tapping him down. You might just be fast enough to not need the answer for Rat tho.
SubstanceD - this deck really doesn't want Slaughter Games. The deck is very aggressive- so it plans to be winning before the opponent draws too many cards, so removing cards from their deck is pretty irrelevant, especially when you need to spend turn 4 doing nothing that impacts the board to do it. The only pro-black guy is Blood Baron anyway- and he can be answered just fine with Mizzium Mortars (or Thoughtseize from the hand).
MooTown- running Springleaf Drum sounds awful. The card is just terrible without Pain Seer, and even if you do have him, the first card you flip off him only makes up for the Springleaf Drum you had to devote a slot to- not even providing you any real card advantage yet. The deck really doesn't want to have to tap its guys to make mana instead of attack, especially when it costs you an additional card to do so. Pain Seer + Springleaf Drum isn't really a combo worth using in anything- given that Drum is pretty bad on its own (unless in a deck like Affinity where you care about having artifacts) and even if you assemble the combo it is still weak, given that you've now spent 2 cards to have a worse version of Underworld Connections. Dark Confidant is so good because it attacks, if you had to tap it and not swing to draw cards with it, it would be a worse Phyrexian Arena. So the Drum + Seer combo is spending 2 cards to have a bad Phyrexian Arena when you really look at it.
You already need BB early for Heros Downfall so it really isn't much of a mana concession. Abrupt Decay is great and I do run some. 1 MB 1 SB- but Mono Black has only gotten better with rotation and is enemy number 1. You have to remember that you really have next to no other way to deal with a turn 5 pack rat- and having no way to win against plan A of the best deck in the format is not where you want to be. You also really don't need 4 Abrupt Decay and 3 Vraska to deal with 4 Detention Spheres.
Kiora is really awesome, way better than she looks- she is defense, card draw, and a superb win condition. 3 Vraska is definitely too many, she is, after all- 5 mana removal.
Courser is one of the best creatures in Standard by far, and the entire reason really to run green. Her and Kiora- Abrupt Decay and Vraska really aren't worth warping your mana for.
Shaman really doesn't do enough- and its very important to remember that he turns on removal that would otherwise be dead against you- and that he doesn't do much vs aggro besides maybe gain a few life- and the 2 damage a turn that is easily disrupt-able and that you won't always have a card to remove for just isn't worth a slot.
Bile Blight has also made Dark Betrayal not so necessary, as it kills Pack Rats and Specters- and Hero's Downfall/Vraska/Kiora is plenty removal for Desecration Demon. Even if you don't MB Blight (Which you should) - I would suggest replacing the Dark Betrayal in your SB with them.
This is what my build looks like currently
3 Breeding Pool
4 Watery Grave
4 Forest
3 Temple of Mystery
3 Temple of Deceit
4 Swamp
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Courser of Kruphix
1 AEtherling
2 Prognostic Sphinx
2 Reaper of the Wilds
4 Hero's Downfall
2 Bile Blight
2 Underworld Connections
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
1 Vraska the Unseen
1 Ultimate Price
1 Abrupt Decay
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
2 Bile Blight
1 Abrupt Decay
2 Far/Away
2 Doom Blade
2 Duress
2 Gainsay
2 Pithing Needle
2 Unravel the AEther
Deathrite Shaman is next to useless and not at all worth a card slot (can't ramp, turns on opposing removal that would otherwise be dead, the lifeloss ability isn't very relevant, and the lifegain won't even fire every turn).
Jace Memory Adept is a bad MB card- 3 Vraska is definately too many- it can provide value but it is still 5 mana removal and you never really want to see more than 1. 3 Ashiok seems like too many, if he provides you value he tends to stay in play making additional copies dead.
Courser of Kruphix is nowhere in your list and is like the entire reason to play green. Kiora as well.
Your deck doesn't really seem to have a cohesive plan, and the mana curve is really high. You will get run over by Sphinx's Revelation decks, as you have no way to keep up with their card draw, and you lack enough ways to seal the game.
You are also really weak to Pack Rat, and otherwise the deck looks too slow to deal with fast aggro g1. Definately need Bile Blight.
You need more basic lands, as with only 6- you will be shocking yourself quite often. I know I only run 8 but the extra 2 make a big difference.
Wanted to note- I've added a Pithing Needle over the 2nd Negate in the board. The Negate was there mostly to deal with Garruk, so Pithing Needle seems way better at that job, and I may want a 2nd copy.
I am considering replacing Desecration Demon with Reaper of the Wilds- but not sure because Desecration Demon has more synergy with Kiora's +1 because of flying- probably going to test it out for now. Reaper provides additional synergy with Courser, and is a nice threat vs MBD, as well as a more reliable blocker.
I have also replaced 1 MB Bile Blight with an Abrupt Decay, which has really helped vs GR Monsters (for Domri) and UW decks (for Detention Sphere). The 4th Bile Blight is now in the board instead of 1x Far/Away- since the Decays help against Hexproof decks, there the 4th Fat/Away was needed.
I have removed Drown in Sorrow from the SB entirely, while it is plenty great, I haven't had any issues in the matchups where I would want it without it. Caryatid and Courser plus all the spot removal has been plenty good enough to deal with weenie aggro decks.
This has allowed my to add another Negate, which is necessary for Vs. RG Monsters to counter Garruk, as he is definitely their biggest threat against you since you have no problem dealing with all their threats as long as they don't start putting multiple creatures in their hand at a time and outdrawing your removal.
The other card this allowed room for is a 2nd Abrupt Decay, which is great to have VS Mono Black Devotion, since it gives another answer to a resolved Underworld Connections that isn't narrow.
I am considering another copy of Kiora over the 2nd Underworld Connections, as she has proved incredibly strong in this build. Her ultimate has been surprisingly easy to reach, especially considering she keep a creature at while she ticks up. A 9/9 every end step usually ends the game in a hurry.
I would really want to find some room for Mizzium Mortars in the main and side or Blood Baron will roll you over. I definitely don't think you need a 4th Connections in the side- especially when you're not maxing out on Chandra.
Anger of the Gods in your SB probably makes you too reliant on red mana- and Drown in Sorrow is here now- which would let you easily run Caryatid. Then you could cut down on the number of Scrylands in your mana base, because with only 5 basic lands, you are going to be taking lots of damage from your shocks- which you just can't afford with Thoughtseize and Underworld Connections.
Oracle of Mul Daya was never nearly as awesome as this guy is.
Strawlies- Courser is MUCH more powerful than Sylvan Carytid, as well as more powerful than Domri Rade. Before testing with him, I just thought he was mediocre. Trust me tho, this guy is the real deal. I suggest checking out my thread on BUG superfriends thread (in this sub-forum) to see a shell that really puts him to good use (and a similar deck could be built for Jund).
On top of that, every deck runs Scrylands, which also help you to get extra mileage out of him.
I have heavily considered Ashiok, but so far I just can't find the room- He seems like a great fit for the deck, but he really helps the most against matchups that are already really good- but I will keep my eye on him for the SB if decks like Naya Aggro/Midrange where he really shines against become more popular.
Deathrite Shaman doesn't do much in Standard- and the small amount of life gain isn't worth a card, especially when he turns on opposing Searing Spears and Bile Blights. Courser provides enough life gain to offset the Connections when needed, and so far have not needed any extra life gain with the heavy amount of board control the deck runs.
I have gone down to 2 Drown in Sorrow in the board for a 3rd Far/Away after having problems vs. Witchstalker/Bestow decks. Drown hasn't always been too necessary with my 8 high toughness blockers and spot removal.
I have also traded 1x Underworld Connections for a 4th Jace MB. The reasoning being that Jace is still nice vs Aggro and Connections is kind-of a stinker there. Don't know if I will stay with this because the mana base slants more towards black than blue, but I think it may be worth it. Never really want more than 1 Connections anyway. I'm thinking if a slot becomes Ashiok it will be this 4th Jace, but as long as UW stays as popular where I play I will be keeping it a draw engine.
I am also experimenting with a 3rd Temple of Mystery over 1x Breeding Pool, since scrying is really good in this deck. May take out a Forest and still keep the Breeding Pool since running 4 Jace now.
4 Courser of Kruphix
3 Desecration Demon
2 Prognostic Sphinx
1 AEtherling
4 Thoughtseize
4 Hero's Downfall
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
3 Bile Blight
2 Underworld Connections
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
1 Ultimate Price
1 Vraska, the Unseen
4 Breeding Pool
4 Watery Grave
3 Temple of Deceit
2 Temple of Mystery
4 Forest
4 Swamp
3 Far//Away
2 Drown in Sorrow
2 Duress
2 Gainsay
2 Doom Blade
2 Unravel the AEther
1 Bile Blight
1 Negate
The deck just draws so many cards, outdrawing Sphinx's Revelation decks. Planeswalkers that draw cards or Underworld Connections combined with Courser of Kruphix let you reset the top of your deck, and generally draw 3 or more cards a turn. Prognostic Sphinx also nearly gaurantees hitting a land off of Kruphix. Combined with Thoughseize, UW control matchups become a breeze. Although you really have to worry about not letting them drop Aetherling before you- which is the main reason for the Gainsay in the SB, as well as the AEtherling MB. Because of the mix of planeswalker, creature, and enchantment threats- sbing becomes an ordeal for them- trying to make sure they have the right answers. 4 Detention Sphere only go so far.
The deck features lots of removal for aggressive decks, as well as 8 very proficient blockers, and the card advantage to make all that removal come in a continuous stream.
Kiora has been great for taking down midrange strategies, and ultimates way more often than you would originally think. The fact that the threats fly lets you keep something like a god at bay with Kiora while still applying pressure.
Against monoblack, you get to bury them in card advantage while having Bile Blight to stop the Rat plan.
Courser of Kruphix is an all star and functions like a control deck's Dark Confidant, as well as offsetting the lifeloss from the Underworld Connections that it already combos so well with.