I really dig the cards in the new Ajani Vs. Bolas Duel Decks. Bolas himself is a beast, but he's soooooo expensive. I sat down with Gatherer last night and tried to find ways to cast him faster. This is one idea. Do you folks have any others?
I know many people aren't fond of Arcane Denial because it sacrifices card advantage, but for one blue (if you have Nightscape Familiar in play) is worth the price I suppose.
If you get the right cards, Bolas is out on turn five. If you don't, then you just control the hell out of the opponent until you can. Totems also double up as finisher cards since each can become a pretty potent creature.
The deck I have that uses him (it has both Creature Bolas and Planeswalker Bolas... and Sol'kanar!) uses Terramorphics and Evolving Wilds to get the right colors out, Brainstorm for searching, Foresight/Manipulate Fate to thin out excess land from the deck and to push card draw, and Mana Flare to cast the dragon.
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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 like your suggested Deck, Casual. I didn't know about either of those cards. Although I'd probably replace Sign in Blood with Brainstorm. It's one less card draw, but if I have Bolas in my hand, I can put him back on top of my deck before playing Spinerock Knoll.
The most twisted thing about Spinerock Knoll is putting a Bolas on there and then casting a Bolas, using his ultimate ability and then bringing out the second Bolas with Spinerock Knoll.
Acrimone, that's not a bad idea to use those cards to thin out the deck. It'd work well with Cunning Wish, exile the cards and then bring one back (assuming one of the cards you exiled was an instant). Although I don't know any instants that are so good they're worth all that trouble for...
I know you have the totems and familiar, but what about some classic Mind Stone/Everflowing Chalice? They love control decks. Chalice on turn 3 to leave Remand mana up.
Good point. Actually, I think I'll replace it with Memory Lapse. It doesn't have the card draw, but it will choke my opponent's draw for the next turn.
So I pulled a Jace, Memory Adept in a booster yesterday. You think it's worth splashing in this deck? Drawing an extra card every turn would be nice. Maybe I'll replace a Deep Analysis with him.
I'm amazed nobody has mentioned neither Worn Powerstone nor Coalition Relic to ramp mana, both of them ramp two mana and cost 3, the powerstone gives colorless mana, the relic colored mana.
Umm so yea. I like the deck so far, but here is one thing that I saw someone suggesting to do.
jAvAkiLLS said that you could play two of him with Spinerock... Unless you somehow manage to knock off one loyalty point, or use his second ability you will end up wasting the two. So just keep that in mind because as soon as Nicol Bolas sees how fat his own captain's quarters are, he will explode. The second Nicol will do the same. (AKA planeswalker rule)
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Why care about the past, when the present can smack you in the face?:halo:
Umm so yea. I like the deck so far, but here is one thing that I saw someone suggesting to do.
jAvAkiLLS said that you could play two of him with Spinerock... Unless you somehow manage to knock off one loyalty point, or use his second ability you will end up wasting the two. So just keep that in mind because as soon as Nicol Bolas sees how fat his own captain's quarters are, he will explode. The second Nicol will do the same. (AKA planeswalker rule)
You use the first Nicol Bolas' ultimate ability, hopefully while he's at 9 loyalty. He'll die from that, then you pay R for Spinerock Knoll and bring out the 2nd copy, and use either his +3 or -2 to further demolish your opponent.
I know many people aren't fond of Arcane Denial because it sacrifices card advantage, but for one blue (if you have Nightscape Familiar in play) is worth the price I suppose.
If you get the right cards, Bolas is out on turn five. If you don't, then you just control the hell out of the opponent until you can. Totems also double up as finisher cards since each can become a pretty potent creature.
4 Crumbling Necropolis
6 Island
4 Mountain
6 Swamp
// Creatures
4 Cathedral Membrane
4 Mishra, Artificer Prodigy
4 Nightscape Familiar
4 Arcane Denial
4 Chronatog Totem
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Foriysian Totem
4 Mana Leak
3 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
4 Phyrexian Totem
4 Recoil
Jhoira of the Ghitu, Spinerock Knoll, or well...use ritual type spells...but that would be weird.
4 Crumbling Necropolis
6 Island
5 Mountain
6 Swamp
1 Spinerock Knoll
1 terramorphic expanse
4 Nightscape Familiar
4 Cathedral Membrane
2 Mishra, Artificer Prodigy
2 Jhoira of the Ghitu
Spells: 24
4 Arcane Denial
4 Chronatog Totem
4 Phyrexian Totem
4 Mana Leak
4 sign in blood
1 Demonic Tutor
3 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
The most twisted thing about Spinerock Knoll is putting a Bolas on there and then casting a Bolas, using his ultimate ability and then bringing out the second Bolas with Spinerock Knoll.
Acrimone, that's not a bad idea to use those cards to thin out the deck. It'd work well with Cunning Wish, exile the cards and then bring one back (assuming one of the cards you exiled was an instant). Although I don't know any instants that are so good they're worth all that trouble for...
Here's my revised decklst. Couldn't have built it without y'all.
4 Crumbling Necropolis
6 Island
4 Mountain
6 Swamp
2 Terramorphic Expanse
// Creatures
4 Cathedral Membrane
2 Jhoira of the Ghitu
4 Mishra, Artificer Prodigy
4 Nightscape Familiar
2 Brainstorm
4 Arcane Denial
3 Chronatog Totem
2 Deep Analysis
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Mana Leak
3 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
3 Phyrexian Totem
2 Urza's Filter
2 Brainstorm
1 Chronatog Totem
1 Phyrexian Totem
4 Recoil
3 Spinerock Knoll
2 Terramorphic Expanse
I know you have the totems and familiar, but what about some classic Mind Stone/Everflowing Chalice? They love control decks. Chalice on turn 3 to leave Remand mana up.
Multiplayer:
MonoBlack
Mono-Red
Cycling
Crush of Wurms
Zoo
Immortal Coil
Control
Reanimator
Mono-G
Cruel Ascension
Landfall
Esper Spirits/Tokens
Phantom Vigor
Not Explicitly Multiplayer:
Allies
Bant
Artifacts
So I pulled a Jace, Memory Adept in a booster yesterday. You think it's worth splashing in this deck? Drawing an extra card every turn would be nice. Maybe I'll replace a Deep Analysis with him.
Fan of Both old and new Slivers (But the new ones are still better anyway)
C Call of Emrakul - G vs R DD: Elves vs. Goblins - W vs B DD: Divine vs. Demonic - WUB Esper Artifice - RGW Aura Dancers
WUBRG Wrath of the Reaper King - WB Men of Faith - B Mercenaries - UB Phyrexian Assault 2.0 - WU Artifacts of Empires
BR Skeleton Warriors - RG Night of The Howlpack - B Bog Murderers - BR Eldrazi Assault - BGU Ulamog's Swarm
jAvAkiLLS said that you could play two of him with Spinerock... Unless you somehow manage to knock off one loyalty point, or use his second ability you will end up wasting the two. So just keep that in mind because as soon as Nicol Bolas sees how fat his own captain's quarters are, he will explode. The second Nicol will do the same. (AKA planeswalker rule)
You use the first Nicol Bolas' ultimate ability, hopefully while he's at 9 loyalty. He'll die from that, then you pay R for Spinerock Knoll and bring out the 2nd copy, and use either his +3 or -2 to further demolish your opponent.
Multiplayer:
MonoBlack
Mono-Red
Cycling
Crush of Wurms
Zoo
Immortal Coil
Control
Reanimator
Mono-G
Cruel Ascension
Landfall
Esper Spirits/Tokens
Phantom Vigor
Not Explicitly Multiplayer:
Allies
Bant
Artifacts