With August drawing close, back to school sales will be beginning soon. This deck is dedicated to the definitive end-of-summer event.
The two things most associate with school are rules and education. Rules most often manifest as control enchantments, especially those that say your opponents can't do something. Education obviously equates to card draw. In Magic, white is king of rules and blue is headmaster of education. Therefore, the deck wants to be WU.
Card draw is obviously the number one focus of Back to School. The theme of gathering supplies for school suggests a heavy artifact focus, though enchantments, instants, and sorceries are all important as well.
The secondary focus is control, both passive control like Rule of Law and reactive control like Remand and other counterspells.
Since aggro isn't going to be a large focus, the deck needs to win through drawing the opponent out. To that end, the deck makes use of mill like Sphinx's Tutelage and forced draw like Dictate of Kruphix.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
The two things most associate with school are rules and education. Rules most often manifest as control enchantments, especially those that say your opponents can't do something. Education obviously equates to card draw. In Magic, white is king of rules and blue is headmaster of education. Therefore, the deck wants to be WU.
Card draw is obviously the number one focus of Back to School. The theme of gathering supplies for school suggests a heavy artifact focus, though enchantments, instants, and sorceries are all important as well.
The secondary focus is control, both passive control like Rule of Law and reactive control like Remand and other counterspells.
Wizard tribal is a minor theme, expressed through Azami, Lady of Scrolls and Sage of Fables.
Since aggro isn't going to be a large focus, the deck needs to win through drawing the opponent out. To that end, the deck makes use of mill like Sphinx's Tutelage and forced draw like Dictate of Kruphix.
Decklist is a WIP. Input and suggestions welcome.
4 Ephara, God of the Polis
Creatures
2 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
2 Azorius Guildmage
2 New Prahv Guildmage
3 Walking Archive
3 Sage of Fables
3 Jace's Archivist
3 Muzzio, Visionary Architect
4 Academy Elite
4 Archaeomancer
4 Archivist
4 Ascended Lawmage
5 Lavinia of the Tenth
5 Azami, Lady of Scrolls
6 Isperia, Supreme Judge
Artifacts
0 Spellbook
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Sol Ring
2 Armillary Sphere
2 Empyrial Plate
2 Mind Stone
2 Scroll of the Masters
2 Thought Vessel
3 Chromatic Lantern
4 Vedalken Orrery
5 Alhammarret's Archive
5 Conjurer's Closet
5 Venser's Journal
5 Tamiyo's Journal
6 Knowledge Pool
3 Rule of Law
3 Eyes of the Watcher
3 Sphinx's Tutelage
3 Dictate of Kruphix
3 Detention Sphere
4 Jace's Sanctum
5 Sphere of Safety
5 Righteous Authority
6 Confiscate
6 Forced Fruition
7 Thought Reflection
Instants
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Mystical Tutor
2 Remand
3 Thirst for Knowledge
3 Restore the Peace
3 Render Silent
4 Aetherize
4 Learn from the Past
4 Dismiss
Planeswalkers
4 Narset Transcendent
5 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
2 Merchant Scroll
3 Idyllic Tutor
3 Compulsive Research
3 Reminisce
3 Windfall
5 Pore Over the Pages
Land
1 Academy Ruins
1 Azorius Chancery
1 Azorius Guildgate
1 Command Tower
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Meandering River
1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Tranquil Cove
14 Plains
15 Island
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Thalia's Lancers from the new set is a really strong way to tutor up a lot of your wizards too.
UW Ephara Hatebears [Primer], GB Gitrog Lands, BRU Inalla Combo-Control, URG Maelstrom Wanderer Landfall