Upkeep, kcd111 and myself started discussing this in another thread but I thought it deserved its own place for development! For those unfamiliar with the archetype, eggs gets its name from the uncommon Odyssey eggs that are actually outclassed by Chromatic Star/Sphere. These are used to create or launder mana, create card advantage and/or storm count. Some builds use recursion with cards like Second Sunrise. Death can come from many mechanisms - storm, infinite recursion of cards like Pyrite Spellbomb, Atog + Fling, Scrapyard Salvo etc.
Perhaps the most important combo piece however is cost reducers. Pauper has Etherium Sculptor and uncommons add Helm of Awakening. This will make "eggs" cost 0. Speaking of eggs, the true eggs are all uncommons, so we need to find common rarity substitutes. Chromatic Star and Chromatic Sphere are auto-includes, as is Manamorphose (not really an egg, but works the same). Hopefully, these will draw you into ANOTHER cost reducer so that you can start playing 2 CMC cantripping artifacts for free, namely Ichor Wellspring and Prophetic Prism. Stretching it further, you might even get to play a third Helm for free, opening up Commander's Sphere as one large end game ostrich egg. If we can't make do with this, we're either forced to add self-damage cantrips like Gitaxian Probe and/or Street Wraith, or adopt some recursion/sac plan most likely involving Drafna's Restoration and "bad eggs" like Terrarion.
Some number of uncommon slots should probably be devoted to Riddlesmith, as he can filter away dead cards for more free artifacts. As for initial mana sources, I propose sac lands that explode in blue and most likely some Seat of the Synod. Hopefully, this is enough to get a few build ideas going!
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These seem to be the 6-7 best "eggs" at common (Terrarion is very debatable, although with a sac outlet it's fine). I don't particularly like Street Wraith, as it doesn't count as an artifact or a spell, so doesn't contribute much in the way of a win condition other than filtering. Manamorphose is a must-have, since with Helm of Awakening, it actually generates extra mana on top of cantripping.
Are there any other free cantrips worth mentioning? Including things like Ichor Wellspring might be an idea, but it becomes very cumborsome to have to play two of the Helms/Scultors, and I'd rather filter these cards away with Riddlesmith.
I think I'd rather run Prophetic Prism/Ichor Wellspring than devote slots to a dedicated sac outlet. Sure, if you have the luxury of Riddlesmith in play, you can loot away the chaff, but getting there might require more cantrips than there are good eggs at common. I think 3 helms are necessary, leaving only 2 slots to the smith. I don't like Street Wraith either! I do like disciple as win con though, probably doesn't get cheaper than that.
Leaving about 8 slots to fill up with... I dunno? :/ maybe a version with sac outlets is necessary?
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Guttersnipe is an uncommon, so we probably have to rule that out. I think 3 helm, 2 Riddlesmith is probably best.
I tried out Disciple for a while in my egg deck. The only problem I have is how easily he dies to everything. I always ended up playing Storm cards instead. Of course, all the good Storm cards are banned in Pauper. Maybe it's the best choice.
As for the missing eggs (we need about 8 more), I say let's just replace them with Ponder and Preordain.
I think Golem Foundry + Ashnod's Altar could be worth exploring. That could lead to lots of mana and also serve as a win con. Thoughtcast is perhaps even better than traditional dig?
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Well the new block gives us a couple toys: Zephyr Scribe to loot through then deck and then untap whenever we cast an egg, filter the mana, loot with him again while we go on. And Elusive Spellfist, Eggs' very own Kiln Fiend!
Of course, if we're going that far, why not just toss in Retraction Helix and go for an infinite bounce with any artifact 0-drop?
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Perhaps the most important combo piece however is cost reducers. Pauper has Etherium Sculptor and uncommons add Helm of Awakening. This will make "eggs" cost 0. Speaking of eggs, the true eggs are all uncommons, so we need to find common rarity substitutes. Chromatic Star and Chromatic Sphere are auto-includes, as is Manamorphose (not really an egg, but works the same). Hopefully, these will draw you into ANOTHER cost reducer so that you can start playing 2 CMC cantripping artifacts for free, namely Ichor Wellspring and Prophetic Prism. Stretching it further, you might even get to play a third Helm for free, opening up Commander's Sphere as one large end game ostrich egg. If we can't make do with this, we're either forced to add self-damage cantrips like Gitaxian Probe and/or Street Wraith, or adopt some recursion/sac plan most likely involving Drafna's Restoration and "bad eggs" like Terrarion.
Some number of uncommon slots should probably be devoted to Riddlesmith, as he can filter away dead cards for more free artifacts. As for initial mana sources, I propose sac lands that explode in blue and most likely some Seat of the Synod. Hopefully, this is enough to get a few build ideas going!
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"At least for those who can play cards, their present incarnation is not quite wasted."
[Click here for the articles!]
These seem to be the 6-7 best "eggs" at common (Terrarion is very debatable, although with a sac outlet it's fine). I don't particularly like Street Wraith, as it doesn't count as an artifact or a spell, so doesn't contribute much in the way of a win condition other than filtering. Manamorphose is a must-have, since with Helm of Awakening, it actually generates extra mana on top of cantripping.
Are there any other free cantrips worth mentioning? Including things like Ichor Wellspring might be an idea, but it becomes very cumborsome to have to play two of the Helms/Scultors, and I'd rather filter these cards away with Riddlesmith.
Drafna's Restoration is certainly interesting. What could we do with this? Abuse Disciple of the Vault?
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
So I'd suggest something like
4 sphere
4 star
4 bauble
4 wellspring
4 prism
4 manamorphose
3 helm
4 sculptor
2 riddlesmith
2 disciple
2 guttersnipe
15 mana
Leaving about 8 slots to fill up with... I dunno? :/ maybe a version with sac outlets is necessary?
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I tried out Disciple for a while in my egg deck. The only problem I have is how easily he dies to everything. I always ended up playing Storm cards instead. Of course, all the good Storm cards are banned in Pauper. Maybe it's the best choice.
As for the missing eggs (we need about 8 more), I say let's just replace them with Ponder and Preordain.
Disciple of the Vault + Drafna's Restoration should be fairly strong as a win condition. There might be something better out there.
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 think Golem Foundry + Ashnod's Altar could be worth exploring. That could lead to lots of mana and also serve as a win con. Thoughtcast is perhaps even better than traditional dig?
A series of seven articles using Magic to explore the very stuff of the Universe!
"At least for those who can play cards, their present incarnation is not quite wasted."
[Click here for the articles!]
3 egg drops for 1 golem, which makes 2 mana? Doesn't sound terribly efficient. It could serve to get the mana needed to play 2 mana eggs I guess.
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
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
Of course, if we're going that far, why not just toss in Retraction Helix and go for an infinite bounce with any artifact 0-drop?