I've been on this journey to explorer mono color decks in the format. Originally I was a 5 color only sort of guy. My scion deck is the #1 deck in my meta. Cromat, is a blast (if less dangerous) My slivers are reviled in a way that makes no sense. But you may have seen I'm struggled with ramp/excelleration on other colors, mainly white and red. And to a lesser extent green.
My first and only mono colored deck was a mono blue. I know how I want the mid-late to play but as I'm taking a new approach (and I'm a way better deck builder than when I built Galina 10 years ago) I'm really struggling to ramp in the early game. First thing I did was change the general to try and help in the acceleration. Baral, Chief of ComplianceSeemed like a more natural general given my need to get the deck moving.
My general strategy with the deck is very much like Judo. Redirecting the energy of my opponents. Or in the case of this melee format, copying, stealing, or tutoring the best aspects of my opponents decks into my fold. Turning their own win con's on them. The issue is between the start of the game and turn 6 I feel naked, slow, unresponsive. Basically every other deck I have would kill this deck before it is able to handle a regular agro player.
Cards that help fix hands I've omitted are Scroll Rack and Divining Top since this deck has so little early game shuffling at this point they don't help nearly as much as in other decks, after the early game they will basically be a wasted slot. If you have solutions for how to make them more useful, my ears are open.
I mean, High Tide... Frantic Search can ramp you if you have anything causing your lands to tap for extra. Same with all the other "free" spells. Fabricate and Trinket mage are versatile in that they can get you Mana Crypt and friends, or just get you a Sensei's Divining top/Caged Sun.
The issue is between the start of the game and turn 6 I feel naked, slow, unresponsive.
This has less to do with your ramp package and more to do with your mana curve and card selection. You're already running most of the best ramp cards on color but your list is incredibly top heavy so it feels like you're not running enough. Rather than jamming in bad ramp like Eye of Ramos I think you'd be better served by reducing the number of expensive haymakers you run and replacing them with card draw, which your list is sorely lacking in.
Also, I understand the urge to not run Counterspell because it isn't reduced by Baral, but it's still better than, say, Dissipate.
It's pretty niche, but Dreamscape Artist. Downsides of land sac and hand discard, upside of searching for any basic land and entering untapped. In the right build it could be awesome. In most, not amazing.
The issue is between the start of the game and turn 6 I feel naked, slow, unresponsive.
This has less to do with your ramp package and more to do with your mana curve and card selection. You're already running most of the best ramp cards on color but your list is incredibly top heavy so it feels like you're not running enough. Rather than jamming in bad ramp like Eye of Ramos I think you'd be better served by reducing the number of expensive haymakers you run and replacing them with card draw, which your list is sorely lacking in.
Also, I understand the urge to not run Counterspell because it isn't reduced by Baral, but it's still better than, say, Dissipate.
Yeah, bad curve was my first thought on looking at the decklist. Get more things like Ponder, Preordain, Impulse, Brainstorm and so on in there, and cut some of the 6-10 drops. The cheap, filtering cantrips are among the most powerful blue cards ever printed, you should be running them.
I've got a similar deck (the Thassa deck in my sig), and this is one of my favorite ways to do mono-blue!
I heartily agree with GloriousGoose and PhroX, that mana curve is brutal. Needs more one/two drops. Do NOT underestimate the power of card selection. It's so important to me, that my mono-blue commander of choice is a scry engine. Think about Sensei's Divining Top, Serum Visions, Mystic Remora, Fog Bank, Phantasmal Image, and maybe fetchlands for shuffle effects to go with Top and Brainstorm or to just try to change your topdeck luck.
Thada Adel, Acquisitor. More than 50% of the time, she steals a mana rock, often a broken mana rock like Sol Ring, Mana Crypt, Mana Vault, Grim Monolith, or a Mox.
Mono-blue ramp? Retraced Image is way better than it looks.
First turn: Play an Island, play Retraced Image, play another Island.
It's helpful later on too - to cast commonly used things like Gilded Lotus for U
You're almost guaranteed that none of your oppponents have seen it before, either.
I can't say this enough. Turnabout is one of the most under played cards in the format. It leads to huge blowout turns and has all sorts of other uses in a pinch.
I can't say this enough. Turnabout is one of the most under played cards in the format. It leads to huge blowout turns and has all sorts of other uses in a pinch.
It's craaaazy good. Land it and High Tide and you're better than good, you're great.
I've been on this journey to explorer mono color decks in the format. Originally I was a 5 color only sort of guy. My scion deck is the #1 deck in my meta. Cromat, is a blast (if less dangerous) My slivers are reviled in a way that makes no sense. But you may have seen I'm struggled with ramp/excelleration on other colors, mainly white and red. And to a lesser extent green.
My first and only mono colored deck was a mono blue. I know how I want the mid-late to play but as I'm taking a new approach (and I'm a way better deck builder than when I built Galina 10 years ago) I'm really struggling to ramp in the early game. First thing I did was change the general to try and help in the acceleration. Baral, Chief of ComplianceSeemed like a more natural general given my need to get the deck moving.
My general strategy with the deck is very much like Judo. Redirecting the energy of my opponents. Or in the case of this melee format, copying, stealing, or tutoring the best aspects of my opponents decks into my fold. Turning their own win con's on them. The issue is between the start of the game and turn 6 I feel naked, slow, unresponsive. Basically every other deck I have would kill this deck before it is able to handle a regular agro player.
Here is what I have so far for ramp:
Caged Sun
Extraplanar Lens
Gilded Lotus
Grim Monolith
Mana Crypt
Mana Vault
Paradox Engine (This card serves allot of masters in this deck but is great at working with my artifacts.)
Primal Amulet
Sapphire Medallion
Sol Ring
Thought Vessel
Thran Dynamo
Voltaic Key
Cards that help fix hands I've omitted are Scroll Rack and Divining Top since this deck has so little early game shuffling at this point they don't help nearly as much as in other decks, after the early game they will basically be a wasted slot. If you have solutions for how to make them more useful, my ears are open.
Cards I'm considering:
Eye of Ramos
Sky Diamond
Sword of the Animist
Solemn Simulacrum
Burnished Hart
Explorer's Scope
The issue with equipment is my deck doesn't have much besides the gen to attack with till later so its not the most helpful.
Here is a link to what I'm aiming for on Tappedout.net:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/navy-judo/
Frantic Search can ramp you if you have anything causing your lands to tap for extra. Same with all the other "free" spells. Fabricate and Trinket mage are versatile in that they can get you Mana Crypt and friends, or just get you a Sensei's Divining top/Caged Sun.
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
Also, I understand the urge to not run Counterspell because it isn't reduced by Baral, but it's still better than, say, Dissipate.
[Primer] Erebos, God of the Dead
HONK HONK
Seat of the Synod (Trinket Mage target)
Fetches + Crucible
Search for Azcanta (becomes a land)
Expedition Map (for Nykthos)
Wayfarer’s Bauble
Scrying Sheets
Not all ramp, but some either help you hit land drops or interact with other aspects of your deck.
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
That's ramp in a half.
Yeah, bad curve was my first thought on looking at the decklist. Get more things like Ponder, Preordain, Impulse, Brainstorm and so on in there, and cut some of the 6-10 drops. The cheap, filtering cantrips are among the most powerful blue cards ever printed, you should be running them.
I heartily agree with GloriousGoose and PhroX, that mana curve is brutal. Needs more one/two drops. Do NOT underestimate the power of card selection. It's so important to me, that my mono-blue commander of choice is a scry engine. Think about Sensei's Divining Top, Serum Visions, Mystic Remora, Fog Bank, Phantasmal Image, and maybe fetchlands for shuffle effects to go with Top and Brainstorm or to just try to change your topdeck luck.
I'd also recommend running lands like Myriad Landscape, Ancient Tomb, Temple of the False God, and Halimar Depths. You've got plenty of artifact ramp, but your lands could be pulling more weight.
Thassa &
Shu Yun &
Jarad &
Animar
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
WU Bruna UW | R Kiki-Jiki R | RB New Chainer BR
Legacy - Burn | Pauper - Reanimator | Aristocrats | Burn
@votechainer2016
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections
First turn: Play an Island, play Retraced Image, play another Island.
It's helpful later on too - to cast commonly used things like Gilded Lotus for U
You're almost guaranteed that none of your oppponents have seen it before, either.