Ladies, gentlemen, esteemed members of Fioran elite (however long that particular status may remain), and planeswalkers of all ages! It is with deepest pride, and humblest superficiality that I bring you, without a moment's pause further, Daretti's Puppet Theatre!
The main show is about to begin, entitled "The Goldfish Game"! Surely you've heard of it, but you've never seen it quite like this before!
But first, we have a special preview of things to come!
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Basically, this deck is designed to combo out at a casually innocuous rate. However, the rate can be modified by the pilot, judging by the need to win and the speed in which this needs to happen. All you need is a copy of Prototype Portal with an Ugin's Nexus imprinted upon it, as well as an artifact sac engine (such as Krark-Clan Ironworks). If that fails, you'd be hard-pressed not to go to your second line of duty which is to get Daretti's ultimate off ASAP and then bring forth a Mindslaver lock.
Defensive/controlling capabilities include making use of the StripCrucible combo, Daretti's ult + Mycosynth Lattice with a Strip Mine in play, or simply Lattice + Vandalblast.
But never think of this deck as a one-trick-Goblinpope. It needs a wincon with all of those turns in tow, right? That's where your beef comes in. Wurmcoil Engine can be used in dire defensive holes, but can also be used on the offensive, as well as Hoarding Dragon, Scuttling Doom Engine, and the ever-popular Hellkite Igniter. At worst, most pieces can be Welded back to shape, but also Feldon can rez them in all the right places for a very strong [insert strategic maneuver here].
Why/Why Not? Snow Lands - out
Budget reasons. These are good, but they cost a pretty penny en masse. I can save this splurge for the future, I believe.
Fetches - in
As Norin the Wary has taught me (well...! PRAISE BE TO GAKA!), Valakut triggers are precious. As such, I need them as fast as I can get them, when necessary. The ONS Fetches have reduced in price drastically, and I honestly predict the Zen fetches to follow suit if and when they are reprinted (hopefully in Dragons of Tarkir?). It is a bit of a gamble but a fair one. Besides, 2 Fetches on purchase is a better investment IMHO than 22 Snow-Covered Mountains and a Scrying Sheets.
Scrap Mastery - in
It is win more but I like it especially if I've gotten my good buddy Daretti to ult. However, to be honest, outside of that use I haven't gotten this card to shine just yet...
Warstorm Surge/Vicious Shadows - in
These cards are remarkably dead each time I draw them so I am on the fence about them. That said, I like the potential they could feasibly provide so in they stay... for now.
Sensei's Divining Top - out?!?
The card is expensive for me, plus, while it has proven very much worth, I can't justify it for its price on the secondary market... yet.
Imperial Recruiter - out
Yeeeeeeaaaahhhh... As tempting as it is to spend over $250 on a card... Wait, that isn't tempting me for a second, as good as the card is.
The Goblin Toolbox, for the Most Part - out?!?
I find that the artifact toolbox is much more efficient than delegating the utility to the greenskins. By that token I can't justify the Matron, Kiki-Jiki (that expensive god of a card), or even Krenko (who needs MOAR GOBBOS to work right).
Squee, Goblin Nabob - in
Despite his toolbox utility in Goblin Toolbox, he is more universal than that. I will be taking him in the Daretti builds for years to come because he is pure card advantage with Daretti's +2. Nabob indeed.
So yeah, what else goes in or comes out? Ask me things and I will explain more if need be!
So, I am going to jump arround your list just due to the order I was grabbing cards and ideas in.
Deal Broker ehh I guess. I don't know. You could also consider Mad Prophet and or Mindless Automaton. I like Mindless Automaton because it has the psudo hand moving options and it can draw cards immediately allowing it to cantrip off. The big option is to discard a better artifact to him, draw a card, and then Scrap him into that other artifact which I like with him.
Iron Myr it seems like it could be a Mind Stone to be honest. Mana dorks die to wraths and I feel like Mind Stone is just more versatile.
Platinum Angel I have never liked this sort of effect because it only matters to have it in play right before you would die and then it can never leave play. Its extremely fragile and situational.
Myr Retriever / Junk Diver Just keep an eye on these guys. This sort of deck has a lot of recovery already. I ended up cutting mine because I just had so many better recursion options. The biggest option they have is just being card advantage but any sort of draw would give the same card advantage making me hesitant on them.
Tuktuk Scrapper / Stingscourger these guys just dont really have much for synergy with your deck currently. You have enough goblin package right now though that I think I would between either removing these two or adding Goblin Matron and or Moggcatcher to the list.
Venser's Journal overall I have never felt like I had a big hand with my own Daretti deck so the no max handsize and small lifegain seem marginal to me.
The Chain Veil its expensive to use. It seems... ok though I guess.
Sculpting Steel it needs a good target which often makes it winmore.
Mycosynth Lattice I dont see a lot of interactions with it in your list. It is the sort of effect that worries me quite a bit already but I think you probably need to consider more effects to interact with it if you are going to run it.
Iron Myr it seems like it could be a Mind Stone to be honest. Mana dorks die to wraths and I feel like Mind Stone is just more versatile.
Platinum Angel I have never liked this sort of effect because it only matters to have it in play right before you would die and then it can never leave play. Its extremely fragile and situational.
Myr Retriever / Junk Diver Just keep an eye on these guys. This sort of deck has a lot of recovery already. I ended up cutting mine because I just had so many better recursion options. The biggest option they have is just being card advantage but any sort of draw would give the same card advantage making me hesitant on them.
Tuktuk Scrapper / Stingscourger these guys just dont really have much for synergy with your deck currently. You have enough goblin package right now though that I think I would between either removing these two or adding Goblin Matron and or Moggcatcher to the list.
Venser's Journal overall I have never felt like I had a big hand with my own Daretti deck so the no max handsize and small lifegain seem marginal to me.
Sculpting Steel it needs a good target which often makes it winmore.
Mycosynth Lattice I dont see a lot of interactions with it in your list. It is the sort of effect that worries me quite a bit already but I think you probably need to consider more effects to interact with it if you are going to run it.
Coercive Portal I wouldn't run it. Giving power and options to opponents especially on wrathing non land cards in this sort of deck seems bad.
Arcane Lighthouse you dont have much for targeting effects. I don't think it really belongs in here.
With regards to these choices in particular:
Iron Myr is a creature, which playtesting had shown me that I was lacking. I am totally down with replacing it with the Mindless Automaton though. But I figure it's a better choice to have a creature in this slot than not.
Platinum Angel is a bit unsubtle. I totally understand your stance. I think I can find a better option somewhere.
Recursive Art.Creatures: It doesn't hurt to have a redo button or two but if it seems like a bit too much, you're right - they will go at that point.
Goblin package remnants: Scrapper happens to be synergistic with the Lattice. The Lattice, for the record, isn't for buffing my goods, but for hindering foes with a bum (for them) card type. I've seen Stingscourger used in better places, though, so if there is anything that can bounce in brown for a price of 2 or less, I am down with it.
Parasite: I like the idea of denying lands or punishing the opponent for playing said lands. This card could be more synergistic in my meta if I do end up switching to Snow. But ultimately, yeah, there's a lack of synergy in this one.
Journal: A pet card, and I do actually find myself having options in hand by my upkeep. It can be cut, but I really do like it... lol
Sculpting Steel: Winmore, or reliant on stuff that the foe has and I do not. That much is true. It's actually more a meta call than most of the other things here. My usual foes are Sharuum, Reaper King (Reactor), Nahiri, and other such decks.
Lattice: See Goblin Package Remnants - it also goes REALLY well with the Disk among other things.
Lens: I don't run a whole lot of red creatures and the ones I do run don't seem to need the boost all that much - beyond that I'd be paying 2 more mana for the same thing, plus one mountain (or Snow mountain, if I do decide to shift, which the card makes another good case for).
Portal: Shall be cut soon. I was considering Jester's Mask because I like losing friends
Lighthouse: True that I don't target all that much. I need a better land option. Maybe if I do switch to Snow this will be where the Sheets goes.
The main show is about to begin, entitled "The Goldfish Game"! Surely you've heard of it, but you've never seen it quite like this before!
But first, we have a special preview of things to come!
And heeeeeeeeere we go!
1x Daretti, Scrap Savant
Lands
1x Arcane Lighthouse
1x Arid Mesa
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Buried Ruin
1x Darksteel Citadel
1x Ghost Quarter
1x Great Furnace
1x Haunted Fengraf
23x Mountain
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Strip Mine
1x Tectonic Edge
1x Temple of the False God
1x Thespian's Stage
1x Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
1x Wooded Foothills
Noncreature Artifacts
1x Ashnod's Altar
1x Caged Sun
1x Coercive Portal
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Darksteel Forge
1x Extraplanar Lens
1x Krark-Clan Ironworks
1x Mindslaver
1x Mycosynth Lattice
1x Nevinyrral's Disk
1x Pristine Talisman
1x Prototype Portal
1x Ring of Three Wishes
1x Sculpting Steel
1x Skullclamp
1x Sol Ring
1x Spine of Ish Sah
1x The Chain Veil
1x Trading Post
1x Ugin's Nexus
1x Unstable Obelisk
1x Vedalken Orrery
1x Venser's Journal
1x Feldon of the Third Path
1x Goblin Welder
1x Hellkite Igniter
1x Hoarding Dragon
1x Invader Parasite
1x Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient
1x Manic Vandal
1x Ogre Battledriver
1x Purphoros, God of the Forge
1x Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer
1x Squee, Goblin Nabob
1x Stingscourger
1x Tuktuk Scrapper
Artifact Creatures
1x Bosh, Iron Golem
1x Deal Broker
1x Duplicant
1x Iron Myr
1x Junk Diver
1x Kuldotha Forgemaster
1x Myr Battlesphere
1x Myr Retriever
1x Pilgrim's Eye
1x Platinum Angel
1x Scuttling Doom Engine
1x Silent Arbiter
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Soul of New Phyrexia
1x Steel Hellkite
1x Thopter Assembly
1x Wurmcoil Engine
1x Vicious Shadows
1x Warstorm Surge
Sorceries
1x Reforge the Soul
1x Scrap Mastery
1x Vandalblast
1x Wheel of Fortune
Instants
1x Chaos Warp
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Basically, this deck is designed to combo out at a casually innocuous rate. However, the rate can be modified by the pilot, judging by the need to win and the speed in which this needs to happen. All you need is a copy of Prototype Portal with an Ugin's Nexus imprinted upon it, as well as an artifact sac engine (such as Krark-Clan Ironworks). If that fails, you'd be hard-pressed not to go to your second line of duty which is to get Daretti's ultimate off ASAP and then bring forth a Mindslaver lock.
Defensive/controlling capabilities include making use of the Strip Crucible combo, Daretti's ult + Mycosynth Lattice with a Strip Mine in play, or simply Lattice + Vandalblast.
But never think of this deck as a one-trick-Goblinpope. It needs a wincon with all of those turns in tow, right? That's where your beef comes in. Wurmcoil Engine can be used in dire defensive holes, but can also be used on the offensive, as well as Hoarding Dragon, Scuttling Doom Engine, and the ever-popular Hellkite Igniter. At worst, most pieces can be Welded back to shape, but also Feldon can rez them in all the right places for a very strong [insert strategic maneuver here].
Why/Why Not?
Snow Lands - out
Budget reasons. These are good, but they cost a pretty penny en masse. I can save this splurge for the future, I believe.
Fetches - in
As Norin the Wary has taught me (well...! PRAISE BE TO GAKA!), Valakut triggers are precious. As such, I need them as fast as I can get them, when necessary. The ONS Fetches have reduced in price drastically, and I honestly predict the Zen fetches to follow suit if and when they are reprinted (hopefully in Dragons of Tarkir?). It is a bit of a gamble but a fair one. Besides, 2 Fetches on purchase is a better investment IMHO than 22 Snow-Covered Mountains and a Scrying Sheets.
Scrap Mastery - in
It is win more but I like it especially if I've gotten my good buddy Daretti to ult. However, to be honest, outside of that use I haven't gotten this card to shine just yet...
Warstorm Surge/Vicious Shadows - in
These cards are remarkably dead each time I draw them so I am on the fence about them. That said, I like the potential they could feasibly provide so in they stay... for now.
Sensei's Divining Top - out?!?
The card is expensive for me, plus, while it has proven very much worth, I can't justify it for its price on the secondary market... yet.
Imperial Recruiter - out
Yeeeeeeaaaahhhh... As tempting as it is to spend over $250 on a card... Wait, that isn't tempting me for a second, as good as the card is.
The Goblin Toolbox, for the Most Part - out?!?
I find that the artifact toolbox is much more efficient than delegating the utility to the greenskins. By that token I can't justify the Matron, Kiki-Jiki (that expensive god of a card), or even Krenko (who needs MOAR GOBBOS to work right).
Squee, Goblin Nabob - in
Despite his toolbox utility in Goblin Toolbox, he is more universal than that. I will be taking him in the Daretti builds for years to come because he is pure card advantage with Daretti's +2. Nabob indeed.
So yeah, what else goes in or comes out? Ask me things and I will explain more if need be!
Intermission time! Refreshments are in the lobby.
~Lil Kalki
Proud Disciple of the Church of the Wary
Deal Broker ehh I guess. I don't know. You could also consider Mad Prophet and or Mindless Automaton. I like Mindless Automaton because it has the psudo hand moving options and it can draw cards immediately allowing it to cantrip off. The big option is to discard a better artifact to him, draw a card, and then Scrap him into that other artifact which I like with him.
Iron Myr it seems like it could be a Mind Stone to be honest. Mana dorks die to wraths and I feel like Mind Stone is just more versatile.
Platinum Angel I have never liked this sort of effect because it only matters to have it in play right before you would die and then it can never leave play. Its extremely fragile and situational.
Myr Retriever / Junk Diver Just keep an eye on these guys. This sort of deck has a lot of recovery already. I ended up cutting mine because I just had so many better recursion options. The biggest option they have is just being card advantage but any sort of draw would give the same card advantage making me hesitant on them.
Tuktuk Scrapper / Stingscourger these guys just dont really have much for synergy with your deck currently. You have enough goblin package right now though that I think I would between either removing these two or adding Goblin Matron and or Moggcatcher to the list.
Invader Parasite it just has no synergy with the deck at all.
Venser's Journal overall I have never felt like I had a big hand with my own Daretti deck so the no max handsize and small lifegain seem marginal to me.
The Chain Veil its expensive to use. It seems... ok though I guess.
Sculpting Steel it needs a good target which often makes it winmore.
Mycosynth Lattice I dont see a lot of interactions with it in your list. It is the sort of effect that worries me quite a bit already but I think you probably need to consider more effects to interact with it if you are going to run it.
Extraplanar Lens run Snow Covered lands or move to Gauntlet of Power.
Coercive Portal I wouldn't run it. Giving power and options to opponents especially on wrathing non land cards in this sort of deck seems bad.
Arcane Lighthouse you dont have much for targeting effects. I don't think it really belongs in here.
Signature by Inkfox Aesthetics by Xen
[Modern] Allies
With regards to these choices in particular:
Iron Myr is a creature, which playtesting had shown me that I was lacking. I am totally down with replacing it with the Mindless Automaton though. But I figure it's a better choice to have a creature in this slot than not.
Platinum Angel is a bit unsubtle. I totally understand your stance. I think I can find a better option somewhere.
Recursive Art.Creatures: It doesn't hurt to have a redo button or two but if it seems like a bit too much, you're right - they will go at that point.
Goblin package remnants: Scrapper happens to be synergistic with the Lattice. The Lattice, for the record, isn't for buffing my goods, but for hindering foes with a bum (for them) card type. I've seen Stingscourger used in better places, though, so if there is anything that can bounce in brown for a price of 2 or less, I am down with it.
Parasite: I like the idea of denying lands or punishing the opponent for playing said lands. This card could be more synergistic in my meta if I do end up switching to Snow. But ultimately, yeah, there's a lack of synergy in this one.
Journal: A pet card, and I do actually find myself having options in hand by my upkeep. It can be cut, but I really do like it... lol
Sculpting Steel: Winmore, or reliant on stuff that the foe has and I do not. That much is true. It's actually more a meta call than most of the other things here. My usual foes are Sharuum, Reaper King (Reactor), Nahiri, and other such decks.
Lattice: See Goblin Package Remnants - it also goes REALLY well with the Disk among other things.
Lens: I don't run a whole lot of red creatures and the ones I do run don't seem to need the boost all that much - beyond that I'd be paying 2 more mana for the same thing, plus one mountain (or Snow mountain, if I do decide to shift, which the card makes another good case for).
Portal: Shall be cut soon. I was considering Jester's Mask because I like losing friends
Lighthouse: True that I don't target all that much. I need a better land option. Maybe if I do switch to Snow this will be where the Sheets goes.
Thank you for the feedback so far!
~Lil Kalki
Proud Disciple of the Church of the Wary