Hey guys big fan of paper pauper one of the best formats in my opinion. I built this to mirror my standard deck but I am wondering if their are any goodheroic triggers that I am not thinking of? The deck tries to revolve around hidden strings but having a solid plan B would be great.
Redeem and Ghostform are pretty good to use for Heroic triggers. Wind Sail also targets up to two creatures, but Ghostform seems strictly better. Wind Sail is a common in Portal Second Age.
I like Distortion Strike more then Ghostform or Swift Justice.
Ghostform is good for a nice aggressive strike, but the deck is much more aggro-control with a longer game plan. Distortion Strike fits this game plan better.
The best plan-b to Hidden Strings that I can really come up with is something like Shimmering Wings.
Enchant on your turn for trigger, leaving mana up, then bounce EOT when you have the extra U.
In the late turns, you can do a heroic trigger twice a turn.
This is not nearly as good as Hidden Strings, mind you, but it's an option.
Both Remedy and Embolden seem like much better choices than Redeem, as you can target more creatures or even use it to protect from unblocked creatures if you have no board pressence. Besides, if you are getting +1+1 counters from the trigger, you shouldn't need to prevent enough damage to make the "all damage" clause.
I also think Flickering Ward should have some space in the deck, at least as a 2 of. It's a decently costed aura that you can cast several times each turn.
I'd also try to remove the hidden strings. The times I got to play it, the sorcery speed prevented interesting combat shenanigans and the cypher triggers after damage is done and after damage phase, so you don't get to remove blockers or cut their mana when you need it gone. It does untap your creatures or lands, but you could just have some vigilance aura or CoF instead.
I also think Flickering Ward should have some space in the deck, at least as a 2 of.
Flickering Ward is an uncommon, and he's going pauper (as opposed to the uncommon-friendly Peasant)
I would argue that Hidden Strings is great, though.
When first cast, you can easily tap down your opponent's creatures to let your guys through. Encode on an evasion creature for the repeat, and you've got vigilance and growth each turn. Wavecrash can also make that blocker you first tapped stay down so you can just keep growing your flyer. All the while, playing key cards from your hand. Against a control deck, it works to lock down their mana. Swing first, tap them down, and then force through a couple of threats. Grow while you draw more, then tap them down again for more.
I have to agree with Feyd_Ruin, Hidden Strings is incredibly versatile. Not to mention it can potentially be a free spell when you first cast it. I's definitely a powerhouse and I never feel it's dead when you keep casting it, especially with Heroic creatures.
Sorry about the Flickering Ward. (In my defense, I was browsing the "Support Cards" section of the Pauper WW Primer, so it probably should removed from there too.)
As for Hidden Strings, I have only used in Ninja-Delver decks, and beyond the first cast, I found it very very underwhelming. Being a sorcery limits it a LOT, since you can't use it defensively to remove attackers. Beyond that first cast, the Cypher trigger comes too late to be of much use, as you can't use it to remove blockers. You can untap lands or give creatures a faux vigilance, but it isn't as useful as you might think when it's conditioned to dealing combat damage.
It's just like a really meh aura with an ok ETB effect.
I think Feelings Of Dread is probably a much better option (If you really want tap effects)...
Thanks guys all of these suggestions are awesome and exactly what I am looking for.
I have yet to try the deck out so the exact numbers of each will have to be tested but as far as hidden strings goes it is a must include for the reasons mentioned above, it allows me to dump my hand very quickly and get an early edge against creature based decks or flood the board against removal and if it sticks around a few turns can act as ramp of make my dudes huuge. Having played UW heroic in standard for awhile I can attest that it is not always useful but when it gets online it leads to a lot of quick blowouts.
I still like swift justice as a nice combat trick but I think it is simply outclassed by the other mentions you guys have brought up and will probably be relegated to the sideboard if I can fit it at all.
Now I will just have to play around with the numbers but I am going to try to fit some amount of distortion strikeghostformembolden and/or shimmering wings probably at the expense of swift justice and maybe a few creatures.
Sorry about the Flickering Ward. (In my defense, I was browsing the "Support Cards" section of the Pauper WW Primer, so it probably should removed from there too.)
As for Hidden Strings, I have only used in Ninja-Delver decks, and beyond the first cast, I found it very very underwhelming. Being a sorcery limits it a LOT, since you can't use it defensively to remove attackers. Beyond that first cast, the Cypher trigger comes too late to be of much use, as you can't use it to remove blockers. You can untap lands or give creatures a faux vigilance, but it isn't as useful as you might think when it's conditioned to dealing combat damage.
It's just like a really meh aura with an ok ETB effect.
I think Feelings Of Dread is probably a much better option (If you really want tap effects)...
They key difference here is I am running a lot of evasion including wavecrash triton, he is nasty with hidden strings and with distortion strike thrown in they basically are never going to be able to block. Then the fact that my creatures are mostly flying AND growing bigger AND I am able to hold open mana for a counter or protection while being able to keep dropping threats...In a format where mass removal is basically nonexistent. Seems pretty good to me. I will give you that it doesn't do all or any of these things really well but the ability to choose every turn really gives a deck an explosive start to a very grindy format.
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4x akroan skyguard
4x lagonna-band trailblazer
3x nyxborn shieldmate
2x setessan battle priest
3x war-wing siren
4x wavecrash triton
4x gods willing
3x mana leak
4x swift justice
socery 8
4x hidden strings
4x ponder
7x plains
6x island
4x azorius guildgate
4x evolving wilds
Hey guys big fan of paper pauper one of the best formats in my opinion. I built this to mirror my standard deck but I am wondering if their are any goodheroic triggers that I am not thinking of? The deck tries to revolve around hidden strings but having a solid plan B would be great.
Ghostform is good for a nice aggressive strike, but the deck is much more aggro-control with a longer game plan. Distortion Strike fits this game plan better.
The best plan-b to Hidden Strings that I can really come up with is something like Shimmering Wings.
Enchant on your turn for trigger, leaving mana up, then bounce EOT when you have the extra U.
In the late turns, you can do a heroic trigger twice a turn.
This is not nearly as good as Hidden Strings, mind you, but it's an option.
No longer staff here.
I also think Flickering Ward should have some space in the deck, at least as a 2 of. It's a decently costed aura that you can cast several times each turn.
I'd also try to remove the hidden strings. The times I got to play it, the sorcery speed prevented interesting combat shenanigans and the cypher triggers after damage is done and after damage phase, so you don't get to remove blockers or cut their mana when you need it gone. It does untap your creatures or lands, but you could just have some vigilance aura or CoF instead.
I would argue that Hidden Strings is great, though.
When first cast, you can easily tap down your opponent's creatures to let your guys through. Encode on an evasion creature for the repeat, and you've got vigilance and growth each turn. Wavecrash can also make that blocker you first tapped stay down so you can just keep growing your flyer. All the while, playing key cards from your hand. Against a control deck, it works to lock down their mana. Swing first, tap them down, and then force through a couple of threats. Grow while you draw more, then tap them down again for more.
No longer staff here.
As for Hidden Strings, I have only used in Ninja-Delver decks, and beyond the first cast, I found it very very underwhelming. Being a sorcery limits it a LOT, since you can't use it defensively to remove attackers. Beyond that first cast, the Cypher trigger comes too late to be of much use, as you can't use it to remove blockers. You can untap lands or give creatures a faux vigilance, but it isn't as useful as you might think when it's conditioned to dealing combat damage.
It's just like a really meh aura with an ok ETB effect.
I think Feelings Of Dread is probably a much better option (If you really want tap effects)...
I have yet to try the deck out so the exact numbers of each will have to be tested but as far as hidden strings goes it is a must include for the reasons mentioned above, it allows me to dump my hand very quickly and get an early edge against creature based decks or flood the board against removal and if it sticks around a few turns can act as ramp of make my dudes huuge. Having played UW heroic in standard for awhile I can attest that it is not always useful but when it gets online it leads to a lot of quick blowouts.
I still like swift justice as a nice combat trick but I think it is simply outclassed by the other mentions you guys have brought up and will probably be relegated to the sideboard if I can fit it at all.
Now I will just have to play around with the numbers but I am going to try to fit some amount of distortion strike ghostform embolden and/or shimmering wings probably at the expense of swift justice and maybe a few creatures.
They key difference here is I am running a lot of evasion including wavecrash triton, he is nasty with hidden strings and with distortion strike thrown in they basically are never going to be able to block. Then the fact that my creatures are mostly flying AND growing bigger AND I am able to hold open mana for a counter or protection while being able to keep dropping threats...In a format where mass removal is basically nonexistent. Seems pretty good to me. I will give you that it doesn't do all or any of these things really well but the ability to choose every turn really gives a deck an explosive start to a very grindy format.