When I saw Augury Adept take it's price drop, I thought: hey, it might not be a tournament staple, but it's certainly a great casual card. If only there would be a way to abuse it! So I took a deep plunge in my boxes of commons / uncs and took a look at my binder to see what I could come up with.
This deck failed its primary goal.... because after a few games, I found out that the real abuser here was ... Cephalid Constable ! Especially with an Empyrial Plate on it... ouch ! The fun thing is that it's a really cheap deck to build that's quite powerful!
Any input / comments ? It plays well already... but it could be better ! No Countermagic will be added in this deck, so dont suggest it
Wings of Velis Veil is amazing... if you add them, why not Cursecatcher or Sage of Epytir? Your deck probably needs some chump blockers, both of them come with a good level of utility too. Not to mention they can wear the Equipment if your opponent chooses to kill the threats.
the "The Ring" creature. a Selkie 1:symgu::symgu:, counterpart to needle specter, would really fit with the powerboosting theme, with the plating it's just the nutz.
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Spitting Image, in this deck, functions as a 'win more' card that is generally best when you're already smashing in with unblockables.
I would add in another copy of Inundate (as it functions, at best, a one-sided Wrath of God or, at worst, sits in your hand) and Empyrial Plate (since your deck seems to have a fairly low average converted mana cost you could hold on to extra land draws to pump more and bluff having more disruption).
That said, Spitting Image is pretty awesome when you have the extra land to pitch for the Retrace as well as when your opponent has better creatures (see Darksteel Colossus) out and is pressuring you. Again, 6 mana is a lot to tap for when you are, potentially, playing the Retrace risk game of stopping land drops at just the right time.
Play test the deck both ways more than a few times to see if either case seems the better fit. Your play style and the decks you play against will dictate how to manage your land drops to maximize both your chances to win and the ability to win faster.
Yes. A thousand times yes. They lured me in with Ivory Tower and Zuran Orb, and I kept telling myself "I can quit whenever I want...just look at that untapped disk". That was ten years ago man.....
Although I like this suggestion (because the inclusion of Thirst for Knowledge tickles my fancy), the shroud gained from Whispersilk Cloak and the lifelink from Steel of the Godhead will probably prove more powerful (overall) in the end. It might be card disadvantage if your opponent is running removal, but IMO you shouldn't be running these creatures out there. There are also two problems with Wonder: you only have one discard outlet and it is possible your opponent will have flying creatures.
As for the curve problem, I don't see it being an issue as long as you run sufficient early-game spells (which you are). You might want to consider 1cc blue spells such as Spell Snare, Force Spike, Brainstorm, or Serum Visions.
Psionic Blast sounds like an excellent idea for the deck. You might also want to try Pongify if you find that you're hurting in the removal department.
Yeah, I think I'm going to up the Empyrial Plate count to 4, then try Inundate and Spitting Image as one-ofs...Inundate probably won't be necessary as the Constable, Unsummons, and Boomerangs serve as plenty of bounce, but it's a 10 cent rare that could be fun.
Inundate probably won't be necessary ... but it's a 10 cent rare that could be fun.
For starters: where do you buy your cards?
Really, I can't stress enough that you should try testing with a full set: the number of times it comes back as a one-sided boardsweep should be well worth the 40 cents you invest.
I'm considering it for my U/ milling deck, especially if I can snag some to test with for less than a buck a peice (counting shipping if I purchase online). The tempo blow it can bring screams potential.
With all your other blue spells if you can pick up a Sapphire Medallion or two to try as well to help you accellerate out your creatures, make your more expensive spells less unweildy, and give a less-than-vital target for artifact destruction (which oftendoubles as enchantment kill), you could see a general lift in speed for your deck. If it hits the table for just two blue spells, it's paid for itelf. Three or more and you're gaining a mana advantage. Over a longer game (consider playing a control player) you can sneak one out since it's cheap and tip the scales significantly in your favor.
Of course, Sapphire Medallion is most certainly not a budget rare, and as with any testing your mileage may vary.
Yes. A thousand times yes. They lured me in with Ivory Tower and Zuran Orb, and I kept telling myself "I can quit whenever I want...just look at that untapped disk". That was ten years ago man.....
(puts face in hands and weeps)
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4 Cephalid Constable
3 Augury Adept
4 Cold-Eyed Selkie
The Enchantments / Equipments !
3 Whispersilk Cloak
4 Steel of the Godhead
4 Empyrial Plate
4 Boomerang
4 Unsummon
4 Accumulated Knowledge
4 Telling Time
1 Ponder
3 Faerie Conclave
This deck failed its primary goal.... because after a few games, I found out that the real abuser here was ... Cephalid Constable ! Especially with an Empyrial Plate on it... ouch ! The fun thing is that it's a really cheap deck to build that's quite powerful!
Any input / comments ? It plays well already... but it could be better ! No Countermagic will be added in this deck, so dont suggest it
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=127403
Thanks to Spiderboy4 @ High~Light Studios for the 100% Pure Awesome Bannersig!
Curiosity or Mask of Memory would be good if card flow was a problem, but AK's probably got that covered. That's all I've got.
I might try this out my own self....
Any ideas?
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=127403
Thanks to Spiderboy4 @ High~Light Studios for the 100% Pure Awesome Bannersig!
I'd get some Unstable Mutations or some Psionic Blasts.
love the deck, seems very annoying to play against.
I will try to find some unstable mutations and psionic blasts (post rotation, they'll go for pennies ), that's a great idea.
I can feel the power in this deck, and so did this guy on MWS after getting his whole board returned to his hand:
<Kevbo> gg
<Mockingbird> gg
<Mockingbird> cephalid constable
<Kevbo> this is hardly a casual deck
<Kevbo> ass
<System> Player Lost
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=127403
Thanks to Spiderboy4 @ High~Light Studios for the 100% Pure Awesome Bannersig!
I mean instead of all the unblockable crap. Wasted slots and easier to remove. Wonder is more stable.
I would add in another copy of Inundate (as it functions, at best, a one-sided Wrath of God or, at worst, sits in your hand) and Empyrial Plate (since your deck seems to have a fairly low average converted mana cost you could hold on to extra land draws to pump more and bluff having more disruption).
That said, Spitting Image is pretty awesome when you have the extra land to pitch for the Retrace as well as when your opponent has better creatures (see Darksteel Colossus) out and is pressuring you. Again, 6 mana is a lot to tap for when you are, potentially, playing the Retrace risk game of stopping land drops at just the right time.
Play test the deck both ways more than a few times to see if either case seems the better fit. Your play style and the decks you play against will dictate how to manage your land drops to maximize both your chances to win and the ability to win faster.
Although I like this suggestion (because the inclusion of Thirst for Knowledge tickles my fancy), the shroud gained from Whispersilk Cloak and the lifelink from Steel of the Godhead will probably prove more powerful (overall) in the end. It might be card disadvantage if your opponent is running removal, but IMO you shouldn't be running these creatures out there. There are also two problems with Wonder: you only have one discard outlet and it is possible your opponent will have flying creatures.
As for the curve problem, I don't see it being an issue as long as you run sufficient early-game spells (which you are). You might want to consider 1cc blue spells such as Spell Snare, Force Spike, Brainstorm, or Serum Visions.
Psionic Blast sounds like an excellent idea for the deck. You might also want to try Pongify if you find that you're hurting in the removal department.
One-Eyed Black | Orzhov Combo | Ooze Reanimator | Mindwheeling Pain
For starters: where do you buy your cards?
Really, I can't stress enough that you should try testing with a full set: the number of times it comes back as a one-sided boardsweep should be well worth the 40 cents you invest.
I'm considering it for my U/ milling deck, especially if I can snag some to test with for less than a buck a peice (counting shipping if I purchase online). The tempo blow it can bring screams potential.
With all your other blue spells if you can pick up a Sapphire Medallion or two to try as well to help you accellerate out your creatures, make your more expensive spells less unweildy, and give a less-than-vital target for artifact destruction (which often doubles as enchantment kill), you could see a general lift in speed for your deck. If it hits the table for just two blue spells, it's paid for itelf. Three or more and you're gaining a mana advantage. Over a longer game (consider playing a control player) you can sneak one out since it's cheap and tip the scales significantly in your favor.
Of course, Sapphire Medallion is most certainly not a budget rare, and as with any testing your mileage may vary.