You cut the Trading Post+Codex Shredder engine? That makes me sad to see. I've won more than a few games by casting Intuition for Post, Shredder, and Academy Ruins, producing a recursion engine my opponents couldn't stop. Why'd you end up cutting this option?
My list has gotten big overhauls too, including Sun Quan, Lord of Wu to help me close matches (he's won me more games than I can count). I run more of an aggro-control list than you do though. You're far more control-centric than I am.
At some point soon, I'll go ahead and post my updated list. Gonna take me a bit though. Still watching to see what you're doing though!
Hey thanks for following Argus! The Shredder+Post engine was just a little mana intensive for me to get things rolling as quickly as I wanted, and like you said, my list is a bit more control heavy so that cards that I've been gearing toward have been that end of the spectrum. My meta was going through some changes around that time too so they may find their way in again.
Sun Quan seems pretty awesome in the more aggro-centric lists and most certainly should be on the "Aggro-Barrin" 99 somewhere?!
I'd love to see your list soon too to get a feel for the other archetypes as I think I might sleeve the STAX or Aggro version up the next time I have some extra $ to order what I need for them.
Hey thanks for following Argus! The Shredder+Post engine was just a little mana intensive for me to get things rolling as quickly as I wanted, and like you said, my list is a bit more control heavy so that cards that I've been gearing toward have been that end of the spectrum. My meta was going through some changes around that time too so they may find their way in again.
Really? With at least two mana doublers in the deck, possibly more, and making use of Grand Architect I've never had an issue with it.
Additionally, if you *are* going for the slower control list, then wouldn't you want the amazing recursion engine that is Shredder+Post+Ruins (recycling Pact of Negation is the best way to catch people ever)? Finally, Ruins+Post allows infinite turns by recycling Time Warp. It's not even *that* expensive (again, doublers/Grand Architect).
I'd love to see your list soon too to get a feel for the other archetypes as I think I might sleeve the STAX or Aggro version up the next time I have some extra $ to order what I need for them.
I will update it at some point, just whenever I find a spare hour (no promises on when that'll happen though).
I'm curious what you think about Thassa, God of the Sea in here. I've been running her for a few days now and am decently impressed. The Scry is nice, as is the ability to make a beater unblockable.
On Thassa, God of the Sea: With the list I've been running my draw has been consistent enough with the Time Reversal cards and Chromatic Star variants that I think the Scry 1 would be too costly for cutting another card. The unblockable and devotion would both be irrelevant a lot of the time for my list.
On Trading Post Engine: With Timetwister and its cousins along with the Eldrazi, my graveyard was restocked too often to rely on an engine like that, so I traded them in for some faster ramp with Mox Opal and Thada Adel, Acquisitor.
Well ok I was going to suggest body double and myr retriever but saw that they were in the creature section, Mindslaver could work in the list but it's probably a bit expensive mana wise for you foo
Well ok I was going to suggest body double and myr retriever but saw that they were in the creature section, Mindslaver could work in the list but it's probably a bit expensive mana wise for you foo
Thanks for the feedback!
Ya, both of those cards I included in the Aggro Barrin list, which incorporates a more creature-centric theme.
With the current build, most of the artifacts are just mana rocks so opening up ANOTHER slot for recursion beyond Academy Ruins seems superfluous. And ya, Mindslaver is a bit mana intensive as well as a card I just really don't like in multiplayer. It takes long enough to get turns around the table already without stealing someones and letting them get "skipped".
10/23/13
- Memnarch
- Flooded Strand
- Torpor Orb
- Thada Adel, Acquisitor
- Rapid Hybridization
+ Curse of the Swine
+ Misdirection
+ Duplicant
+ Expedition Map
+ Strip Mine
// Just playtesting some things. Torpor is always a great non-dead card in this format for me, however, with the number of ETB effects I run, alongside of Barrin being able to reuse them, it fights my strategy and I'd rather have no internal conflict among the list. Memnarch delivers, but sometimes not as instantaneousely as I'd like. Expedition and Strip Mine to add to the overall number of answers and spot removal the deck has.
Last night I also played in a 1v1 EDH tournament, getting 2nd place. My opponent, who took 1st, won by having no cards in hand and then top decking a Debt to the Deathless for 17 or 34 life for the win. His engine for the mana was Cabal Coffers combo with Urborg, so I've added extra means to deal with problem lands in the form of Expedition Map and Stirp Mine.
Possibly a bit trickier to cast (requires a creature to target), but draws cards on sacrifice. You could potentially target an opponents creature, then use Barrin's ability to sacrifice the aura and bounce the same creature.
Possibly a bit trickier to cast (requires a creature to target), but draws cards on sacrifice. You could potentially target an opponents creature, then use Barrin's ability to sacrifice the aura and bounce the same creature.
I actually tried the blue Ordeal for awhile. My issue was that it was too easy to blank (people would remove the creature in order to stop me from drawing the cards). Ultimately, it was just too cute for me to really make heavy use of. Hatching Plans just works on its own.
Its a great card for Barrin, don't get me wrong, and I would recommend it as a holder while working with budget, however lets take a look at all of its modes:
Gain life: Although the deck has no other means of life gain, it typically can hold its own with Barrin's Unsummon and Maze of Ith to the point where discarding a card is too costly for what this ability does.
0/1 Goat token: Again, great in a vacuum with Barrin, however, between Ichor Wellspring and friends, there is enough permanents for Barrin to sacrifice as is without investing + 1 life.
Artifact recursion: Other than Solemn Simulacrum the rest of the artifacts in my deck rarely need to be recurred and when they do, Academy Ruins handles the job. Also, with Timetwister and friends, our graveyard is empty a lot of the time anyway.
Draw: Seeing as we're mono blue with many great draw outlets such as Time Spiral , and Barrin already being a sac outlet for any permanent, this ability also falls short.
Overall, cool and great card, but most if not all of its functions are already covered by the other 99.
Misdirection --> Oblivion Stone: The need to remove problem permanents such as artifacts and enchantments as well as the call for more mass removal was greater than the need to protect my finishers. Also it seemed I was always ready to pitch a card to Force of Will but never Misdirection which is odd since hypothetically I would be netting more value out of a redirected Time Warp or Vindicate, alas it just never seemed to be the case..
Darksteel Citadel --> Flooded Strand: I found myself i need of a mana source more often than before I had cut this card, the deck also felt a bit naked without the full suite of fetchlands.
I haven't been able to playtest much this winter as my playgroup has more or less gone into hibernation and/or has just been playing MMO's. Hope to get some games in today though.
Misdirection --> Oblivion Stone: The need to remove problem permanents such as artifacts and enchantments as well as the call for more mass removal was greater than the need to protect my finishers. Also it seemed I was always ready to pitch a card to Force of Will but never Misdirection which is odd since hypothetically I would be netting more value out of a redirected Time Warp or Vindicate, alas it just never seemed to be the case..
Darksteel Citadel --> Flooded Strand: I found myself i need of a mana source more often than before I had cut this card, the deck also felt a bit naked without the full suite of fetchlands.
I haven't been able to playtest much this winter as my playgroup has more or less gone into hibernation and/or has just been playing MMO's. Hope to get some games in today though.
Big fan of Barrin I have been running him since I started EDH. Not to common and most people brush him off when they see him (big mistake). I glad to see your build so similar to my own.
Very much agree with Misdirection. I found in most commander decks it just does not fly. In 1v1 that is another thing. I do run Volition Reinstreachery and corrupted conscience. My play group is heavy on heavy hitters so stealing them always works.
Big fan of Barrin I have been running him since I started EDH. Not to common and most people brush him off when they see him (big mistake). I glad to see your build so similar to my own.
Very much agree with Misdirection. I found in most commander decks it just does not fly. In 1v1 that is another thing. I do run Volition Reinstreachery and corrupted conscience. My play group is heavy on heavy hitters so stealing them always works.
Always glad to hear about more Barrin players. My meta isn't too fattie heavy, as I'm just about the only one who plays Eldrazi, the rest of my playgroups decks are more General-Synergy decks, like Kaalia and Krador, Ghost Chieftain that abuse their generals abilities without anything over CMC6 usually.
Always glad to hear about more Barrin players. My meta isn't too fattie heavy, as I'm just about the only one who plays Eldrazi, the rest of my playgroups decks are more General-Synergy decks, like Kaalia and Krador, Ghost Chieftain that abuse their generals abilities without anything over CMC6 usually.
I recently added Thassa, God of the Sea. Treachery just helps a bit getting her to 5/5. She has been a lot of help. 3 to cast and scry every turn. Then making creatures unblockable. She has proven her worth.
I recently added Thassa, God of the Sea. Treachery just helps a bit getting her to 5/5. She has been a lot of help. 3 to cast and scry every turn. Then making creatures unblockable. She has proven her worth.
I play with an excess of enchantments in my deck to help the devotion count for Gray Merchant of Asphodel as well. In my Barrin list though I'm not sure I'll ever see the devotion count high enough to turn Thass into a 5/5 and I'm rarely in need of evasion..
Its a card I'd like to give a shot and could potentially cut Expedition Map for it since here Scry would help me to dig for things that the Map would normally let me tutor for (ie Eye of Ugin so I can go get my finishers).
I'll maybe playtest her some at that slot as I haven't tried her out in here yet.
I play with an excess of enchantments in my deck to help the devotion count for Gray Merchant of Asphodel as well. In my Barrin list though I'm not sure I'll ever see the devotion count high enough to turn Thass into a 5/5 and I'm rarely in need of evasion..
Its a card I'd like to give a shot and could potentially cut Expedition Map for it since here Scry would help me to dig for things that the Map would normally let me tutor for (ie Eye of Ugin so I can go get my finishers).
I'll maybe playtest her some at that slot as I haven't tried her out in here yet.
I'm finding her more and more of a scry/unblockable tool. Again most of my play group is aggro heavy. I don't think I will toss her anytime soon.
True. And I'm not one to want to go Infinite with this deck. Being non-Combo is one of the highlights of the deck's winning capacities and makes it much more fun the play with. I like Myr Turbine for Barrin lists if you're working on budget, it can provide a lot of extra value, however at its too expensive and clunky to fit into my current list.
Nothing form Born of the Gods seems to be making the cut thus far too...
I just want to say that I love the idea of this deck, and am looking forward to building my own version. I've been looking for an interesting mono blue commander for a long time (one that isn't too broken like Arcum, and which will make for interesting games), and this seems like my man.
I just want to say that I love the idea of this deck, and am looking forward to building my own version. I've been looking for an interesting mono blue commander for a long time (one that isn't too broken like Arcum, and which will make for interesting games), and this seems like my man.
Any developments recently?
Thanks!
No new changes since adding Oblivion Stone. The deck just runs perfectly smooth and almost none of my cards come up dead unless I lack mana to cast them! The list is well respected amongst my playgroup as both powerful and fun to play against. I'm waiting to see what Journey to Nyx has to offer but as of right now everything seems to be streamlined!
You might enjoy knowing that I managed to snag a signed on eBay (in gold ink, no less), which made me pretty happy.
I've started with your list and am slowly altering as I think of things. Obviously the changes will gel more when I actually start testing it against my playgroup.
Budget restrictions keep me away from Timetwister (--> Elixir of Immortality) and the two expensive Time Warps, but the rest of the deck is within reach. I intend to treat myself to an Italian Mana Drain some time in the next few months.
My playgroup is unusually skewed away from creature decks, and so I'm thinking of including a little more spell interaction like Twincast. Some other cards under consideration are Blue Sun's Zenith(for value, usually), Turnabout (for making lots of mana usually, but sometimes for stalling), Wipe Away (which I've found to be very valuable in the past). I'll probably cut Force of Will which seems unnecessary in multiplayer. I'm thinking of adding some sort of equipment like Sword of War and Peace or Sword of Feast and Famine for a backup plan, especially with Shackles. I'll also probably add Acquire and Thada Adel, as there tend to be important artifacts around my group.
I don't recall if you've said whether you've tested Reigns of Power. What are your thoughts about that?
My list has gotten big overhauls too, including Sun Quan, Lord of Wu to help me close matches (he's won me more games than I can count). I run more of an aggro-control list than you do though. You're far more control-centric than I am.
At some point soon, I'll go ahead and post my updated list. Gonna take me a bit though. Still watching to see what you're doing though!
Radha, Heir to Keld, Vorel of the Hull Clade, Kemba, Kha Regent, Vela the Night-Clad, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Barrin, Master Wizard, Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer, Patron of the Orochi, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic, Thraximundar, Roon of the Hidden Realm, Prossh, Skyraider of Kher, Marath, Will of the Wild, Teneb, the Harvester
If you did this, tell me and I'll credit you!
Sun Quan seems pretty awesome in the more aggro-centric lists and most certainly should be on the "Aggro-Barrin" 99 somewhere?!
I'd love to see your list soon too to get a feel for the other archetypes as I think I might sleeve the STAX or Aggro version up the next time I have some extra $ to order what I need for them.
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
Really? With at least two mana doublers in the deck, possibly more, and making use of Grand Architect I've never had an issue with it.
Additionally, if you *are* going for the slower control list, then wouldn't you want the amazing recursion engine that is Shredder+Post+Ruins (recycling Pact of Negation is the best way to catch people ever)? Finally, Ruins+Post allows infinite turns by recycling Time Warp. It's not even *that* expensive (again, doublers/Grand Architect).
Sun Quan seems pretty awesome in the more aggro-centric lists and most certainly should be on the "Aggro-Barrin" 99 somewhere?!
Oh, he is AMAZING. In fact, I might recommend him for your core list as well just because he hits and guarantees you can swing through.
I will update it at some point, just whenever I find a spare hour (no promises on when that'll happen though).
I'm curious what you think about Thassa, God of the Sea in here. I've been running her for a few days now and am decently impressed. The Scry is nice, as is the ability to make a beater unblockable.
Radha, Heir to Keld, Vorel of the Hull Clade, Kemba, Kha Regent, Vela the Night-Clad, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Barrin, Master Wizard, Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer, Patron of the Orochi, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic, Thraximundar, Roon of the Hidden Realm, Prossh, Skyraider of Kher, Marath, Will of the Wild, Teneb, the Harvester
If you did this, tell me and I'll credit you!
On Trading Post Engine: With Timetwister and its cousins along with the Eldrazi, my graveyard was restocked too often to rely on an engine like that, so I traded them in for some faster ramp with Mox Opal and Thada Adel, Acquisitor.
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
- Gods' Eye, Gate to the Reikai
+ Wasteland
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
Thanks for the feedback!
Ya, both of those cards I included in the Aggro Barrin list, which incorporates a more creature-centric theme.
With the current build, most of the artifacts are just mana rocks so opening up ANOTHER slot for recursion beyond Academy Ruins seems superfluous. And ya, Mindslaver is a bit mana intensive as well as a card I just really don't like in multiplayer. It takes long enough to get turns around the table already without stealing someones and letting them get "skipped".
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
- Memnarch
- Flooded Strand
- Torpor Orb
- Thada Adel, Acquisitor
- Rapid Hybridization
+ Curse of the Swine
+ Misdirection
+ Duplicant
+ Expedition Map
+ Strip Mine
// Just playtesting some things. Torpor is always a great non-dead card in this format for me, however, with the number of ETB effects I run, alongside of Barrin being able to reuse them, it fights my strategy and I'd rather have no internal conflict among the list. Memnarch delivers, but sometimes not as instantaneousely as I'd like. Expedition and Strip Mine to add to the overall number of answers and spot removal the deck has.
Last night I also played in a 1v1 EDH tournament, getting 2nd place. My opponent, who took 1st, won by having no cards in hand and then top decking a Debt to the Deathless for 17 or 34 life for the win. His engine for the mana was Cabal Coffers combo with Urborg, so I've added extra means to deal with problem lands in the form of Expedition Map and Stirp Mine.
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
Possibly a bit trickier to cast (requires a creature to target), but draws cards on sacrifice. You could potentially target an opponents creature, then use Barrin's ability to sacrifice the aura and bounce the same creature.
I actually tried the blue Ordeal for awhile. My issue was that it was too easy to blank (people would remove the creature in order to stop me from drawing the cards). Ultimately, it was just too cute for me to really make heavy use of. Hatching Plans just works on its own.
Radha, Heir to Keld, Vorel of the Hull Clade, Kemba, Kha Regent, Vela the Night-Clad, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Barrin, Master Wizard, Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer, Patron of the Orochi, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic, Thraximundar, Roon of the Hidden Realm, Prossh, Skyraider of Kher, Marath, Will of the Wild, Teneb, the Harvester
If you did this, tell me and I'll credit you!
on Trading Post:
Its a great card for Barrin, don't get me wrong, and I would recommend it as a holder while working with budget, however lets take a look at all of its modes:
Overall, cool and great card, but most if not all of its functions are already covered by the other 99.
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
Misdirection --> Oblivion Stone: The need to remove problem permanents such as artifacts and enchantments as well as the call for more mass removal was greater than the need to protect my finishers. Also it seemed I was always ready to pitch a card to Force of Will but never Misdirection which is odd since hypothetically I would be netting more value out of a redirected Time Warp or Vindicate, alas it just never seemed to be the case..
Darksteel Citadel --> Flooded Strand: I found myself i need of a mana source more often than before I had cut this card, the deck also felt a bit naked without the full suite of fetchlands.
I haven't been able to playtest much this winter as my playgroup has more or less gone into hibernation and/or has just been playing MMO's. Hope to get some games in today though.
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
Big fan of Barrin I have been running him since I started EDH. Not to common and most people brush him off when they see him (big mistake). I glad to see your build so similar to my own.
Very much agree with Misdirection. I found in most commander decks it just does not fly. In 1v1 that is another thing. I do run Volition Reins treachery and corrupted conscience. My play group is heavy on heavy hitters so stealing them always works.
Always glad to hear about more Barrin players. My meta isn't too fattie heavy, as I'm just about the only one who plays Eldrazi, the rest of my playgroups decks are more General-Synergy decks, like Kaalia and Krador, Ghost Chieftain that abuse their generals abilities without anything over CMC6 usually.
I have had an eye on Treachery but Vedalken Shackles and Gilded Drake has done me justice for stealing thus far.
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
I recently added Thassa, God of the Sea. Treachery just helps a bit getting her to 5/5. She has been a lot of help. 3 to cast and scry every turn. Then making creatures unblockable. She has proven her worth.
I play with an excess of enchantments in my deck to help the devotion count for Gray Merchant of Asphodel as well. In my Barrin list though I'm not sure I'll ever see the devotion count high enough to turn Thass into a 5/5 and I'm rarely in need of evasion..
Its a card I'd like to give a shot and could potentially cut Expedition Map for it since here Scry would help me to dig for things that the Map would normally let me tutor for (ie Eye of Ugin so I can go get my finishers).
I'll maybe playtest her some at that slot as I haven't tried her out in here yet.
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
I'm finding her more and more of a scry/unblockable tool. Again most of my play group is aggro heavy. I don't think I will toss her anytime soon.
Flashback exiles.
True. And I'm not one to want to go Infinite with this deck. Being non-Combo is one of the highlights of the deck's winning capacities and makes it much more fun the play with. I like Myr Turbine for Barrin lists if you're working on budget, it can provide a lot of extra value, however at its too expensive and clunky to fit into my current list.
Nothing form Born of the Gods seems to be making the cut thus far too...
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
Any developments recently?
Legacy: UBRG Czech Pile, WWW Death & Taxes, many other things
Modern: UBR Grixis, RWG Burn, UR UR Storm, BBB 8 Rack, whatever other control deck I can force
Multiplayer EDH: RR Norin the Wary, UU Barrin, Master Wizard, UB Wrexial, the Risen Deep, GR Borborygmos, Enraged
Thanks!
No new changes since adding Oblivion Stone. The deck just runs perfectly smooth and almost none of my cards come up dead unless I lack mana to cast them! The list is well respected amongst my playgroup as both powerful and fun to play against. I'm waiting to see what Journey to Nyx has to offer but as of right now everything seems to be streamlined!
I'm thinking about finding room for Rapid Hybridization again though and thinking about testing Lighthouse Chronologist again.
I can't recommend Barrin, Master Wizard as a general enough!
Avalon: The Legend Begins :: Pirate Set :: Babel: The Æther Wars
Favorite Magic Card: Fowl Play
[Primer] [Barrin's Tome]: A Master Wizard's Spellbook.
You might enjoy knowing that I managed to snag a signed on eBay (in gold ink, no less), which made me pretty happy.
I've started with your list and am slowly altering as I think of things. Obviously the changes will gel more when I actually start testing it against my playgroup.
Budget restrictions keep me away from Timetwister (--> Elixir of Immortality) and the two expensive Time Warps, but the rest of the deck is within reach. I intend to treat myself to an Italian Mana Drain some time in the next few months.
My playgroup is unusually skewed away from creature decks, and so I'm thinking of including a little more spell interaction like Twincast. Some other cards under consideration are Blue Sun's Zenith(for value, usually), Turnabout (for making lots of mana usually, but sometimes for stalling), Wipe Away (which I've found to be very valuable in the past). I'll probably cut Force of Will which seems unnecessary in multiplayer. I'm thinking of adding some sort of equipment like Sword of War and Peace or Sword of Feast and Famine for a backup plan, especially with Shackles. I'll also probably add Acquire and Thada Adel, as there tend to be important artifacts around my group.
I don't recall if you've said whether you've tested Reigns of Power. What are your thoughts about that?
Legacy: UBRG Czech Pile, WWW Death & Taxes, many other things
Modern: UBR Grixis, RWG Burn, UR UR Storm, BBB 8 Rack, whatever other control deck I can force
Multiplayer EDH: RR Norin the Wary, UU Barrin, Master Wizard, UB Wrexial, the Risen Deep, GR Borborygmos, Enraged