I'm attempting to craft a casual mono-blue deck for use in duels and multiplayer, centered primarily on unblockable creatures and bounce spells. Also, I'm working under a few constraints that should be mentioned up front:
1. Building on a Budget. I'm not interested in shelling out a ton of money on Magic these days, so any card that costs more than a buck or two is not something I am going to hunt down.
2. Keeping it Simple. I am returning to Magic after about 8 years off, and the people I am playing with are completely new to the game. Needless to say there are many gaps in understanding, so it is best if the cards are easier to understand and come from one of the more recent blocks.
For the unblockable army, I figured Aether Figment, Phantom Warrior and Neurok Invisimancer are clear choices. Clones are there for utility since they can copy an unblockable if I am on the attack or can copy an opponent's creature to hopefully stall for a bit.
My unblockables can't race most aggro decks, so I figured having bounce effects would supplement the approach. Aether Adepts help on this front, as do the disperses and dissipation field. Finally, Arm with Aether seems to be the centerpiece that brings unblockable and bounce strategies together.
The remaining slots are rounded out by some utility cards like Mana Leak and Ponder, with the last 3 slots for creature steal (Domestication and Mind Control). I'm not sure if these make sense in here, but I was thinking that it can't hurt to have an alternative win condition.
Overall, I think this is a good start. The cards are fairly simple, and the net cost of completing this will run me about $4.00. Budget win. The real question now is whether or not this is a viable casual deck.
I'm curious to hear what y'all think. What is missing? What cards seem out of place? Any feedback, constructive criticism, and/or suggestions welcome! Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the detailed feedback. I think the equipment angle is a great idea and will give me more to do on turn 1 if I don't have a Ponder in hand. Also the addition of more 2 CMC unblockables is a must - I have way too many at 3 in the initial decklist.
Control Magic is a clear improvement on Domestication/Mind Control, although I doubt I will pursue the much more expensive Treachery/Bribery. Do you think a few Control Magics makes sense as an alternative win condition in this deck, or are they just taking up space that would be better filled by cards that more clearly fit the unblockable/bounce theme?
Oh, and Sigil of Sleep is for sure a perfect fit... funny that it was mentioned since the Urza Block was one of the last blocks I played before quitting Magic... I think I had a bounce deck back then too. Funny how you can gravitate to the same decks years down the road.
If you're running Mono-Blue, then Boomerang is strictly better than Disperse. The two-blue cost doesn't matter for you, and plus you get to play old-skool, which I consider a benefit in and of itself. Chronicles Boomerangs are cheap, too.
You might want to give some thought to Repulse -- which, while mana-intensive, replaces itself. Also, using Man-O'-War would allow you to basically run 8 Aether Adepts. Both of these cards are very inexpensive. Bring on the bounce-a-palooza!
A side note:
It does seem like you're working at cross-purposes with yourself, at least a bit. If you're bouncing the hell out of people's creatures, then there isn't going to be anyone around TO block you, so the unblockable angle doesn't seem like it would be doing that much. You could be spending the mana on something that hits a little heavier, because it's going to get through if they have no creatures out anyway. Shroud might be more useful than unblockable; you can't bounce a lightning bolt, after all.
There's a new card (new to me, anyway... I play Geezer format) I saw a few days ago called Calcite Snapper that would fit into the Meekstone threshold and would give you something that isn't wiped out by lightning bolts/Pyroclasm, because it has both a 4 toughness and shroud. But it can evade the Meekstone effect and hit for four when you need it to.
This last bit, of course, isn't helpful criticism if what you want to do is build an unblockable-bounce deck, but I just thought I'd mention it.
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Current Favorite Decks: Creatureless Bolas Control with Lethal Vapors, Green Enchantress/Kavu Lair card draw, and Shriekmaw/Mulldrifter/Dignitary Flicker.
@ Acrimone - I think the side-note is very useful. You are right that there may be sufficient bounce for most aggro strategies, in which case a few Calcite Snappers or Nuerok Commando's might better serve the deck.
I considered maindecking Man-o-War, but I worry that there is a fine line between casual control bounce and downright annoying superbounce (although the deck I proposed up top may already be in the latter category). The casual metagame I play in is pretty much aggro and aggro-control, so I want to avoid building something too anti-aggro that no one enjoys playing with or against.
Thanks again for the suggestions all! I think the deck is coming along thanks to your help.
While I won't chop your deck, my mono u control deck utilizes ophidean for card few with bounce effects, which I think youll want to consider (in addition to sigil of sleep). Cards you may like:
Man-o'-war: stellar bounce that can attack. Aether adept is good in there too.
Ophidean: why are you bouncing, so you can connect, and draw. Iirc, m12 or m11 has a newer better version of this guy.
Unsummon: 1cc bounce is as good as it gets
Undo: bounce two for 3 is also pretty good.
Thieving magpie: one of of my favorite creatures, and perfect in this deck.
Unstable mutation: adds 6 damage to you unblockables for just U. Definitely add 4.
I just saw a new card the other day that you might want to look at: Vapor Snag.
Seems strictly better than Unsummon in most situations.
Private Mod Note
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Current Favorite Decks: Creatureless Bolas Control with Lethal Vapors, Green Enchantress/Kavu Lair card draw, and Shriekmaw/Mulldrifter/Dignitary Flicker.
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Cephalid Constable . If you manage to bump his power he's a nightmare your opponent has to deal with or keep falling behind as his permanents disappear.
1. Building on a Budget. I'm not interested in shelling out a ton of money on Magic these days, so any card that costs more than a buck or two is not something I am going to hunt down.
2. Keeping it Simple. I am returning to Magic after about 8 years off, and the people I am playing with are completely new to the game. Needless to say there are many gaps in understanding, so it is best if the cards are easier to understand and come from one of the more recent blocks.
Ok, onto the deck:
3x AEther Adept
4x Phantom Warrior
4x Neurok Invisimancer
2x Clone
3x Disperse
4x Mana Leak
4x Arm with AEther
2x Dissipation Field
2x Domestication
1x Mind Control
For the unblockable army, I figured Aether Figment, Phantom Warrior and Neurok Invisimancer are clear choices. Clones are there for utility since they can copy an unblockable if I am on the attack or can copy an opponent's creature to hopefully stall for a bit.
My unblockables can't race most aggro decks, so I figured having bounce effects would supplement the approach. Aether Adepts help on this front, as do the disperses and dissipation field. Finally, Arm with Aether seems to be the centerpiece that brings unblockable and bounce strategies together.
The remaining slots are rounded out by some utility cards like Mana Leak and Ponder, with the last 3 slots for creature steal (Domestication and Mind Control). I'm not sure if these make sense in here, but I was thinking that it can't hurt to have an alternative win condition.
Overall, I think this is a good start. The cards are fairly simple, and the net cost of completing this will run me about $4.00. Budget win. The real question now is whether or not this is a viable casual deck.
I'm curious to hear what y'all think. What is missing? What cards seem out of place? Any feedback, constructive criticism, and/or suggestions welcome! Thanks in advance!
what about Meekstone ?
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I should also add that Invisible Stalker from Innistrad is probably a great option too - considering I have way too many 3 drop creatures.
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I'd pick curiosity over coastal piracy since it costs only 1.
Wash out is my favorite bounce spell. Wipes out swarms.
There are lots of better options than disperse: into the roil, echoing truth, capsize, etc.
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311 "Who's Got the Herb"
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Control Magic is a clear improvement on Domestication/Mind Control, although I doubt I will pursue the much more expensive Treachery/Bribery. Do you think a few Control Magics makes sense as an alternative win condition in this deck, or are they just taking up space that would be better filled by cards that more clearly fit the unblockable/bounce theme?
Oh, and Sigil of Sleep is for sure a perfect fit... funny that it was mentioned since the Urza Block was one of the last blocks I played before quitting Magic... I think I had a bounce deck back then too. Funny how you can gravitate to the same decks years down the road.
You might want to give some thought to Repulse -- which, while mana-intensive, replaces itself. Also, using Man-O'-War would allow you to basically run 8 Aether Adepts. Both of these cards are very inexpensive. Bring on the bounce-a-palooza!
A side note:
It does seem like you're working at cross-purposes with yourself, at least a bit. If you're bouncing the hell out of people's creatures, then there isn't going to be anyone around TO block you, so the unblockable angle doesn't seem like it would be doing that much. You could be spending the mana on something that hits a little heavier, because it's going to get through if they have no creatures out anyway. Shroud might be more useful than unblockable; you can't bounce a lightning bolt, after all.
There's a new card (new to me, anyway... I play Geezer format) I saw a few days ago called Calcite Snapper that would fit into the Meekstone threshold and would give you something that isn't wiped out by lightning bolts/Pyroclasm, because it has both a 4 toughness and shroud. But it can evade the Meekstone effect and hit for four when you need it to.
This last bit, of course, isn't helpful criticism if what you want to do is build an unblockable-bounce deck, but I just thought I'd mention it.
I considered maindecking Man-o-War, but I worry that there is a fine line between casual control bounce and downright annoying superbounce (although the deck I proposed up top may already be in the latter category). The casual metagame I play in is pretty much aggro and aggro-control, so I want to avoid building something too anti-aggro that no one enjoys playing with or against.
Thanks again for the suggestions all! I think the deck is coming along thanks to your help.
RGGruul Aggro
WSoul Sisters
WBTokens
BUGRRestore Balance
BMono-Black Infect
EDH:
RGWMayael, the Anima
GWURoon of the Hidden Realm
BDrana, Kalastria Bloodchief
Man-o'-war: stellar bounce that can attack. Aether adept is good in there too.
Ophidean: why are you bouncing, so you can connect, and draw. Iirc, m12 or m11 has a newer better version of this guy.
Unsummon: 1cc bounce is as good as it gets
Undo: bounce two for 3 is also pretty good.
Thieving magpie: one of of my favorite creatures, and perfect in this deck.
Unstable mutation: adds 6 damage to you unblockables for just U. Definitely add 4.
Hope I've helped give you some ideas.
Drum
Old school group, sometimes more beer than cards. Revised thru Tempest block (and a little of Urza), sorry if I don't know all the new cards
Ye' Olde Schoole Casual Decks: BUReanimate -- GRAggro -- BWPestilence -- G10-land Stompy -- GRElfball -- GWEnchantress -- RAnkh Sligh -- BDiscard -- MUC "Draw-go" -- BRSuicide -- UWSkies -- UHigh Tide Mill -- WWeenie -- UMutated Bombers -- URThe great land-toss -- UB Molasass
Seems strictly better than Unsummon in most situations.