I am slowly putting together a collection of pauper decks for sharing to encourage more people to play in the monthly pauper tournament at my LGS. I'm trying to at least represent all two-color combinations:
W Control
U Delver
G Enchantment
B Control
R Goblins
GW Saps Attack
BW Bestow
BR Affinity
UR Nivix Weefiend
UG Hexproof
GR Land Destruction
UB Zombies
RW Metalcraft
BG ?
UW ?
Temur Tron
Is UW Reality Acid the best Azorius pauper deck? I've seen some graveyard-centric Golgari decks but nothing stands out in those colors, either: I do like Hooting Mandrills for a deck like that. I might also make Sliver and Infect decks.
GB wants to be some sort of graveyard theme - Dead Dog/tortured existence, or maybe self-mill plus delve creatures, or morbid spells/dudes plus carrion feeder plus token generators, or something along those lines.
I love how so many people seem to be doing this kind of thing now.
Hexproof would fit a lot better in the GW category. There are plenty of other archetypes to choose from in UG.
You're going to want to add many more colours in Affinity. Typically, thoough, there won't be any black in Affinity lists.
Mono Green Enchantments... What's that going to look like?
For WU, you should take a look at the Primer on Cawblade.
Disciple of the Vault and Atog are all I really know about affinity: I see now that it is much more complicated. Infiltrator's Magemark with Hexproof is a top deck in my meta. Caw Blade is a lot like white weenie, which is what my white control started as, but I will give it a look. Bonesplitter is also something found in the Boros deck but it has Skyknight Legionnaire and Hobgoblin Dragoon as its flyers.
That G Enchantment deck looks interesting! I haven't seen a list like that before. Aura Gnarlid would love that deck!
Caw Blade may look like a Weenie deck, but it's really big on Tempo! It's a fairly advanced deck to pilot so if you have a lot of new players then you might want to go with a simpler archetype.
GW Hexproof is a great deck. I can see how Infiltrator's Magemark is great for UG but GW has better evasion overall with Trampleeffects and evasive creatures. Plus it has access to Ethereal Armor. If you want these decks to reflect the usual Pauper meta then you really should consider GW Hexproof since it's a big deck in the format.
Familiars really is a UW deck with a tiny black splash.
After looking through the forums it seems I don't have much choice for competitive decks: I might eventually build Familiar as an Esper deck, but Caw Blade, Reality Acid and Turbofog seem like the best Azorius strategies. I do like Trinket Mage for pulling Bonesplitter. I should also mention that I have the following decks built: GW, U, W, BW
That G Enchantment deck looks interesting! I haven't seen a list like that before. Aura Gnarlid would love that deck!
Caw Blade may look like a Weenie deck, but it's really big on Tempo! It's a fairly advanced deck to pilot so if you have a lot of new players then you might want to go with a simpler archetype.
GW Hexproof is a great deck. I can see how Infiltrator's Magemark is great for UG but GW has better evasion overall with Trampleeffects and evasive creatures. Plus it has access to Ethereal Armor. If you want these decks to reflect the usual Pauper meta then you really should consider GW Hexproof since it's a big deck in the format.
Armadillo Cloak is the only real argument for GW Hexproof: Ethereal Armor fits better in the BW Bestow and it is BOSS on Kor Skyfisher with Hopeful Eidolon attached: the other cards are in the UG build. I will take some time later to post what I have finished and what the other prototypes look like. Aura Gnarlid looks great.
GB wants to be some sort of graveyard theme - Dead Dog/tortured existence, or maybe self-mill plus delve creatures, or morbid spells/dudes plus carrion feeder plus token generators, or something along those lines.
After looking through the forums it seems I don't have much choice for competitive decks: I might eventually build Familiar as an Esper deck, but Caw Blade, Reality Acid and Turbofog seem like the best Azorius strategies. I do like Trinket Mage for pulling Bonesplitter. I should also mention that I have the following decks built: GW, U, W, BW
Yeah. I've built UWR Delver, UWB Familiars, and even UWG Turbofog but getting it done with just UW feels really limiting. I did something very similar to you by building a 16 deck pauper metagame but I was more interested in representing the current MTGO metagame instead of color balance.
As said above, I do think that GW Hexproof is better than anything you will find with UG. And UG Elves is the way to go with Simic.
After looking through the forums it seems I don't have much choice for competitive decks: I might eventually build Familiar as an Esper deck, but Caw Blade, Reality Acid and Turbofog seem like the best Azorius strategies. I do like Trinket Mage for pulling Bonesplitter. I should also mention that I have the following decks built: GW, U, W, BW
Yeah. I've built UWR Delver, UWB Familiars, and even UWG Turbofog but getting it done with just UW feels really limiting. I did something very similar to you by building a 16 deck pauper metagame but I was more interested in representing the current MTGO metagame instead of color balance.
As said above, I do think that GW Hexproof is better than anything you will find with UG. And UG Elves is the way to go with Simic.
Also, if you hit the Multi-Quote button for each post you want to respond to it won't triple post the forum.
I went and cleaned that multipost up: I was posting while my girlfriend cooked, then while she went out for a cigarette after we ate: we are having a Harry Potter marathon and the TV is my monitor. I wouldn't mind making GW Hexproof eventually, but I would like to have color-identities covered first. I have to buy pretty much everything from now on as singles, so things like multiple copies of Rancor are going to add up. The same goe for UG Elves, UG Infect and WG Sliver. I'm open to hear about other competitive decks as well.
I went and cleaned that multipost up: I was posting while my girlfriend cooked, then while she went out for a cigarette after we ate: we are having a Harry Potter marathon and the TV is my monitor. I wouldn't mind making GW Hexproof eventually, but I would like to have color-identities covered first. I have to buy pretty much everything from now on as singles, so things like multiple copies of Rancor are going to add up. The same goe for UG Elves, UG Infect and WG Sliver. I'm open to hear about other competitive decks as well.
I totally understand. The idea that Pauper is $5-$10 a deck is ridiculous. With playsets of Serum Visions, Brainstorms, Bolts, etc it gets bad. But yeah, I also have a GW Presence of Gond combo deck that I have in GW too. It's fun, but it's hit or miss.
On deck I like that nobody else uses is RG Sliver. Red gives you access to some great stuff and for me white just makes dudes bigger that are already plenty big. And oh yeah... Elves is expensive, but the new Commander decks have most of the Elves you need in there and the Priests are about a third what I paid for mine.
I went and cleaned that multipost up: I was posting while my girlfriend cooked, then while she went out for a cigarette after we ate: we are having a Harry Potter marathon and the TV is my monitor. I wouldn't mind making GW Hexproof eventually, but I would like to have color-identities covered first. I have to buy pretty much everything from now on as singles, so things like multiple copies of Rancor are going to add up. The same goe for UG Elves, UG Infect and WG Sliver. I'm open to hear about other competitive decks as well.
I totally understand. The idea that Pauper is $5-$10 a deck is ridiculous. With playsets of Serum Visions, Brainstorms, Bolts, etc it gets bad. But yeah, I also have a GW Presence of Gond combo deck that I have in GW too. It's fun, but it's hit or miss.
On deck I like that nobody else uses is RG Sliver. Red gives you access to some great stuff and for me white just makes dudes bigger that are already plenty big. And oh yeah... Elves is expensive, but the new Commander decks have most of the Elves you need in there and the Priests are about a third what I paid for mine.
There are some great common red slivers: I could make it a RWG to have that color identity.
I chose Lapse of Certainty to protect against control over the lifegain of running 8 sisters: UG Infect on MTGO taught me pretty quick. Swarm is also hard to get running, so I use more Scatter because the effect changes the board faster.
That is it for completed decks: The sideboards of Saps and Delver need work, and Delver might have too many creatures: I haven't got around to playtesting it since I got all four decks sleeved. BW Bestow is my GFs deck: she really likes the Guardians even though they can't take the auras. I will finalize my RUG Tron list and post it next. I wish I could get behind Quicksand but I haven't put it in a deck yet.
You forgot to add Lapse of Certainty in your maindeck. It's not a very good card, even against infect. You'll find simple Fog (whether in the sideboard or in the mainboard as Spore Frog) will do a much better job. Also, 7 copies of cards that give +0/+1 is just way too huge, especially mainboard. You could definitely cut the Parapets and either add more removal or more token-makers. Pallid Mycoderm is also too numerous, in my opinion.
I'll reiterate what other posters said about Hexproof: GW is really the way to go. I have a primer on it (with videos too) that can tell you a little more about it. White offers much better stuff than infiltrator's magemark.
You seem to have a lot of decks centered around enchantments... I personally find them a bit drab in the longrun. Three out of twelve decks being centered around them seems like a lot to me.
Lapse of Certainty was added in there but it wasn't showing up: I had to remove it, save the post and re-edit it.
I do apprectiate the feedback. This is Butakov's version of Saps from October 2013: I feel the Armorer is too vulnerable to removal to keep the saps alive, all the sisters don't help against Infect, Sprout Swarm isn't fast enough for a playset and the combo is a huge target that needs protection. Maybe this is superior, but playing it online I felt it needed change.
I guess I see your point, but I only consider two of them enchantment decks and in the end I can see having 20+ decks: I chose 16 for the title as an minimum goal to shoot for. Removal in white outside of enchantments leads to weak removal like Celestial Flare
W Control
W Soldiers
U Delver
G Enchantment
G Stompy
B Control
R Goblins
WG Saps Attack
GW Hexproof
BW Bestow
WB Rebels
BR Control
UR Nivix Weefiend
UG Hexproof
Gu Elves
GR Land Destruction
RG Slivers
UB Zombies
RW Metalcraft
BG Dredge
WU Caw Blade
UW Reality Acid
RUG Tron
WUG Turbofog
WUB Sage
BURg Affinity
Upon looking at what common levelers there are to work with I think making them into a deck is a no-go, so that makes 26 decks total: you gotta give people options.
W Control
U Delver
G Enchantment
B Control
R Goblins
GW Saps Attack
BW Bestow
BR Affinity
UR Nivix Weefiend
UG Hexproof
GR Land Destruction
UB Zombies
RW Metalcraft
BG ?
UW ?
Temur Tron
Is UW Reality Acid the best Azorius pauper deck? I've seen some graveyard-centric Golgari decks but nothing stands out in those colors, either: I do like Hooting Mandrills for a deck like that. I might also make Sliver and Infect decks.
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
Hexproof would fit a lot better in the GW category. There are plenty of other archetypes to choose from in UG.
You're going to want to add many more colours in Affinity. Typically, thoough, there won't be any black in Affinity lists.
Mono Green Enchantments... What's that going to look like?
For WU, you should take a look at the Primer on Cawblade.
UGTurboFogGU
BRSacrificial AggroBR
16The Paper Pauper Battle Bag16
EDH
BRRakdos, Lord of PingersBR
GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
UB Ramses OverdarkUB
Sig by Ace5301 of Ace of Spades Studio
Disciple of the Vault and Atog are all I really know about affinity: I see now that it is much more complicated. Infiltrator's Magemark with Hexproof is a top deck in my meta. Caw Blade is a lot like white weenie, which is what my white control started as, but I will give it a look. Bonesplitter is also something found in the Boros deck but it has Skyknight Legionnaire and Hobgoblin Dragoon as its flyers.
Here's the G Enchant prototype:
4 Leafcrown Dryad
4 Oakheart Dryads
4 Nyxborn Wolf
3 Humbler of Mortals
4 Utopia Sprawl
4 Wild Growth
4 Rancor
4 Ancestral Mask
4 Shielding Plax
21 Forest
Caw Blade may look like a Weenie deck, but it's really big on Tempo! It's a fairly advanced deck to pilot so if you have a lot of new players then you might want to go with a simpler archetype.
GW Hexproof is a great deck. I can see how Infiltrator's Magemark is great for UG but GW has better evasion overall with Trample effects and evasive creatures. Plus it has access to Ethereal Armor. If you want these decks to reflect the usual Pauper meta then you really should consider GW Hexproof since it's a big deck in the format.
After looking through the forums it seems I don't have much choice for competitive decks: I might eventually build Familiar as an Esper deck, but Caw Blade, Reality Acid and Turbofog seem like the best Azorius strategies. I do like Trinket Mage for pulling Bonesplitter. I should also mention that I have the following decks built: GW, U, W, BW
Armadillo Cloak is the only real argument for GW Hexproof: Ethereal Armor fits better in the BW Bestow and it is BOSS on Kor Skyfisher with Hopeful Eidolon attached: the other cards are in the UG build. I will take some time later to post what I have finished and what the other prototypes look like. Aura Gnarlid looks great.
I definitely see Hooting Mandrills and Grisly Salvage as a start.
As said above, I do think that GW Hexproof is better than anything you will find with UG. And UG Elves is the way to go with Simic.
BG Dredge is a super fun deck and actually really good. MTGGOldfish is glitchy for me right now, but here: http://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/pauper-bg-15131#online
Also, if you hit the Multi-Quote button for each post you want to respond to it won't triple post the forum.
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
I went and cleaned that multipost up: I was posting while my girlfriend cooked, then while she went out for a cigarette after we ate: we are having a Harry Potter marathon and the TV is my monitor. I wouldn't mind making GW Hexproof eventually, but I would like to have color-identities covered first. I have to buy pretty much everything from now on as singles, so things like multiple copies of Rancor are going to add up. The same goe for UG Elves, UG Infect and WG Sliver. I'm open to hear about other competitive decks as well.
On deck I like that nobody else uses is RG Sliver. Red gives you access to some great stuff and for me white just makes dudes bigger that are already plenty big. And oh yeah... Elves is expensive, but the new Commander decks have most of the Elves you need in there and the Priests are about a third what I paid for mine.
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
There are some great common red slivers: I could make it a RWG to have that color identity.
WG SAPS ATTACK!
4 Suture Priest
4 Pallid Mycoderm
4 Midnight Guard
4 Presence of Gond
4 Lapse of Certainty
4 Scatter the Seeds
3 Sprout Swarm
3 Spidersilk Armor
4 Parapet
1 Forest
4 Khalni Garden
4 Blossoming Sands
4 Selesnya Guildgate
3 Selesnya Sanctuary
2 Soul's Attendant
3 Palace Guard
3 Triplicate Spirits
4 Sundering Growth
3 Circle of Protection: Red
I chose Lapse of Certainty to protect against control over the lifegain of running 8 sisters: UG Infect on MTGO taught me pretty quick. Swarm is also hard to get running, so I use more Scatter because the effect changes the board faster.
4 Squadron Hawk
4 Guardian of the Guildpact
4 Razor Golem
4 Bonesplitter
4 Lapse of Certainty
4 Oblivion Ring
4 Journey to Nowhere
4 Unmake
1 Haunted Fengraf
4 Standard Bearer
4 Dust to Dust
3 Circle of Protection: Red
3 Circle of Protection: Green
1 Patrician's Scorn
BW Bestow
3 Guardian of the Guildpact
4 Hopeful Eidolon
4 Baleful Eidolon
4 Grim Guardian
4 Ethereal Armor
4 Journey to Nowhere
4 Oblivion Ring
4 Castigate
4 Sign in Blood
4 Orzhov Guildgate
4 Scoured Barrens
6 Swamp
6 Plains
4 Curse of Chains
4 Pestilence
4 Dust to Dust
3 Circle of Protection: Green
U Delver
4 Delver of Secrets
3 Ninja of the Deep Hours
4 Spellstutter Sprite
2 Stitched Drake
3 Zephyr Sprite
3 Surveilling Sprite
4 Ponder
4 Preordain
2 Treasure Cruise
2 Brainstorm
4 Counterspell
4 Snap
4 Curfew
4 Vapor Snag
4 Curse of Chains
3 ?
That is it for completed decks: The sideboards of Saps and Delver need work, and Delver might have too many creatures: I haven't got around to playtesting it since I got all four decks sleeved. BW Bestow is my GFs deck: she really likes the Guardians even though they can't take the auras. I will finalize my RUG Tron list and post it next. I wish I could get behind Quicksand but I haven't put it in a deck yet.
I'll reiterate what other posters said about Hexproof: GW is really the way to go. I have a primer on it (with videos too) that can tell you a little more about it. White offers much better stuff than infiltrator's magemark.
You seem to have a lot of decks centered around enchantments... I personally find them a bit drab in the longrun. Three out of twelve decks being centered around them seems like a lot to me.
UGTurboFogGU
BRSacrificial AggroBR
16The Paper Pauper Battle Bag16
EDH
BRRakdos, Lord of PingersBR
GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
UB Ramses OverdarkUB
Sig by Ace5301 of Ace of Spades Studio
I do apprectiate the feedback. This is Butakov's version of Saps from October 2013: I feel the Armorer is too vulnerable to removal to keep the saps alive, all the sisters don't help against Infect, Sprout Swarm isn't fast enough for a playset and the combo is a huge target that needs protection. Maybe this is superior, but playing it online I felt it needed change.
4 Pallid Mycoderm
4 Selesnya Evangel
4 Soul Warden
4 Soul's Attendant
4 Veteran Armorer
4 Presence of Gond
3 Spidersilk Armor
3 Scatter the Seeds
4 Sprout Swarm
7 Plains
4 Khalni Garden
4 Selesnya Guildgate
4 Selesnya Sanctuary
4 Standard Bearer
3 Dust to Dust
4 Gleeful Sabotage
I guess I see your point, but I only consider two of them enchantment decks and in the end I can see having 20+ decks: I chose 16 for the title as an minimum goal to shoot for. Removal in white outside of enchantments leads to weak removal like Celestial Flare
"Personally I love high-riak, low-reqars gambles. Life's best with a decent amount of riak. And f*** reqars."
I looked into Allies but there didn't seem to be much positive feedback. I haven't seen a leveler deck but I like Venerated Teacher.
W Control
W Soldiers
U Delver
G Enchantment
G Stompy
B Control
R Goblins
WG Saps Attack
GW Hexproof
BW Bestow
WB Rebels
BR Control
UR Nivix Weefiend
UG Hexproof
Gu Elves
GR Land Destruction
RG Slivers
UB Zombies
RW Metalcraft
BG Dredge
WU Caw Blade
UW Reality Acid
RUG Tron
WUG Turbofog
WUB Sage
BURg Affinity
Upon looking at what common levelers there are to work with I think making them into a deck is a no-go, so that makes 26 decks total: you gotta give people options.