NOTE: Last updated 2016-12-13, and I don't update unless someone needs to see the most recent version. If you want me to update with the current decklist, send me a PM.
Hello!
This is part of Operation My-Box-Has-Room-For-Three-More-Decks-So-Let's-Make-Three-More-Decks (name needs a bit of work, I know). These decks represent a shift in design philosophy: I've gone from primarily playing 1v1 to playing big long multiplayer games, so these new decks pretty much ignore curve and tempo. And, as always, I try to have each new deck win in a way that none of my other decks do.
Braids is all about catapulting things into the endgame. There's no lack of big swingy creatures to cheat into play during my upkeeps, while leaving my mana open for draw spells, or clone or theft effects on what my opponents cheat into play. I don't have a counterspell suite yet, but I'm sure I'll eventually find room for several at least. The deck runs the risk of allowing my opponents to simply explode, but so far the deck has performed much better than what I had expected.
Some assorted notes:
My group plays with no general damage and no French ban list. We play with either 40 starting life (1v1, free for all, or Star) or 60 starting life (Two Headed Giant, be it 2v2 or 2v2v2).
I'm a budget player who plays with other budget players, so I'm not interested in buying expensive cards for this deck. As a general rule, I try to stay under two dollars per card (there may be some expensive cards already in the deck, but those are ones I've traded for or pulled myself).
I'm only interested in black-bordered, modern frame cards.
There are a few cards I'm still looking to pick up. One-sided sweepers like Wash Out and Inundate are a priority. Well of Ideas will probably go in, and I'm debating if other Howling Mine effects belong here. I might take Void Winnower out -- turned out to be far more oppressive than I gave it credit for. I haven't tested with Timesifter yet, but it might have the same fate. It's a high variance card where opponents run the risk of missing too many turns that they "should" have had. Still, gotta try at least once, right?
Nice deck. I like that you didn't go straight for Colossi and Eldrazi Titans. I have a similar build myself. I wouldn't call it competitive but it is fun, that's why I like playing Braids. I should really dig the deck out and post a list, haven't got round to it yet.
Paradox and Vanishing are solid tech so that you get free stuff and no one else does. Thada is a stealy pants, and equilibrium is just infuriating for your opponents. Fatespinner is there to help slow your opponent's down if necessary. All of these are pretty cheap and should be easy to find.
To be honest, the main reason why I'm not playing colossi and titans is budget.
How has Paradox Haze worked for you? It does wonders in my Zedruu deck, but here I'd be worried about whiffing with it. And the times I've had too many fatties to play in my hand, I was winning anyway.
Paradox Haze has been good. It's not absolutely gamebreaker, but between Braids and Gate to the Aether you're giving away a lot of free lunch, so you might as well maximize the free stuff for yourself and try to make the most of it.
I've found the best ways to make Braids work well is lots and lots of draw, lots of bounce and disruption for everyone else. Recurring Insight has done well for me, as has Blue Sun's Zenith. I use Proteus Staff in here too. If someone slaps something down I don't like, I'm more than happy to cycle it out for another option. Crystal Shard is here too. Thada Adel, Acquisitor helps here too.
Hello!
This is part of Operation My-Box-Has-Room-For-Three-More-Decks-So-Let's-Make-Three-More-Decks (name needs a bit of work, I know). These decks represent a shift in design philosophy: I've gone from primarily playing 1v1 to playing big long multiplayer games, so these new decks pretty much ignore curve and tempo. And, as always, I try to have each new deck win in a way that none of my other decks do.
Braids is all about catapulting things into the endgame. There's no lack of big swingy creatures to cheat into play during my upkeeps, while leaving my mana open for draw spells, or clone or theft effects on what my opponents cheat into play. I don't have a counterspell suite yet, but I'm sure I'll eventually find room for several at least. The deck runs the risk of allowing my opponents to simply explode, but so far the deck has performed much better than what I had expected.
Some assorted notes:
4 Braids, Conjurer Adept
Copy/Steal:
2 Phantasmal Image
4 Phyrexian Metamorph
4 Clone
4 Gigantoplasm
4 Sakashima the Impostor
4 Stunt Double
5 Body Double
6 Roil Elemental
7 Quicksilver Gargantuan
7 Memnarch
4 Control Magic
4 Rite of Replication
5 Mind Control
5 Persuasion
6 Supplant Form
7 Blatant Thievery
Draw:
5 Mulldrifter
6 Arcanis the Omnipotent
7 Sphinx of Uthuun
4 Fact or Fiction
5 Rush of Knowledge
5 Ugin's Insight
6 Interpret the Signs
6 Staff of Nin
8 Treasure Cruise
3x Stroke of Genius
3x Blue Sun's Zenith
7 Phyrexian Ingester
7 Scourge of Fleets
8 Kederekt Leviathan
1 Pongify
2 Reality Shift
3 Imprisoned in the Moon
4 AEtherize
4 Engulf the Shore
4 Whelming Wave
5 Evacuation
5 AEtherspouts
2x Curse of the Swine
Ramp:
3 Burnished Hart
0 Everflowing Chalice
1 Sol Ring
2 Coldsteel Heart
2 Mind Stone
2 Thought Vessel
3 Worn Powerstone
4 Hedron Archive
6 Dreamstone Hedron
Other:
3 Thassa, God of the Sea
5 Stormsurge Kraken
6 Archetype of Imagination
6 Steel Hellkite
7 Tromokratis
8 Stormtide Leviathan
9 Breaching Leviathan
9 Inkwell Leviathan
9 Grozoth
9 Artisan of Kozilek
9 Void Winnower
5 Timesifter
6 Gate to the AEther
Lands:
25 Island
1 Faerie Conclave
1 Halimar Depths
1 Lonely Sandbar
1 Mage-Ring Network
1 Myriad Landscape
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Temple of the False God
1 Terrain Generator
1 Blighted Cataract
1 Mystifying Maze
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Rogue's Passage
There are a few cards I'm still looking to pick up. One-sided sweepers like Wash Out and Inundate are a priority. Well of Ideas will probably go in, and I'm debating if other Howling Mine effects belong here. I might take Void Winnower out -- turned out to be far more oppressive than I gave it credit for. I haven't tested with Timesifter yet, but it might have the same fate. It's a high variance card where opponents run the risk of missing too many turns that they "should" have had. Still, gotta try at least once, right?
Thank you for your comments and criticisms!
BRG Kresh Crush You - UB Wrexial Wrecks Y'all - WUBRG Taste the Rainbow Allies - URW Zedruu Claus - RGW - Wrath of Rith - WU Annoying Dar
GU Mighty Morphin Bluezuri - RWB Alesha, the Revolving Door - R Norin the W- - UR Arjun's Scrambled Eggs - WUB Zur the Cyclist - GW Cara Mia Karametra
UBR Kess's Eccentric Spell Slingers - B Endrek's Thrilling Thrulls - BGU Tasigur, Fly for a Sultai - GWU Tuvaasankin Veri Vapisee - U Can't Thop the Saignal
RW Feather's Heroes of the Storm - G Map of Titania - W Quipping Sram - BR
CharlieGreven Work - BG Old School Vhati - GUR Riku's Little FriendsWBG Abzan All-Stars - WB Kambal's Lifegain Soup - RG Ruric, Ogre Surgeon - B All Them Little Bones - RWB Megan, the Gold-Blooded - G Does This Look Infected?
UR Hellbent Storm - GWU George - RG You Can Be a Big Pig Too - RW Decent Decisions - UBR I Contain Myriads - W My Friend Flicka
WU Eagles on Pogo Sticks - UB Yes Thieves Can - WUB Election Fraud - RGW King of Pain - GU Feel the Earth Move
Retired: WUB Zur the Douchebag - GU Crazy Kraj - U Braids the Borrower - W Wham Bam Enchanting Sram - U Unesh's Flying Circus - WUBRG Oops All Lands
Some techs you could add for extra fun:
Paradox Haze
Equilibrium
Thada Adel, Acquisitor
Vanishing
Fatespinner
Paradox and Vanishing are solid tech so that you get free stuff and no one else does. Thada is a stealy pants, and equilibrium is just infuriating for your opponents. Fatespinner is there to help slow your opponent's down if necessary. All of these are pretty cheap and should be easy to find.
Hope that helps!
How has Paradox Haze worked for you? It does wonders in my Zedruu deck, but here I'd be worried about whiffing with it. And the times I've had too many fatties to play in my hand, I was winning anyway.
BRG Kresh Crush You - UB Wrexial Wrecks Y'all - WUBRG Taste the Rainbow Allies - URW Zedruu Claus - RGW - Wrath of Rith - WU Annoying Dar
GU Mighty Morphin Bluezuri - RWB Alesha, the Revolving Door - R Norin the W- - UR Arjun's Scrambled Eggs - WUB Zur the Cyclist - GW Cara Mia Karametra
UBR Kess's Eccentric Spell Slingers - B Endrek's Thrilling Thrulls - BGU Tasigur, Fly for a Sultai - GWU Tuvaasankin Veri Vapisee - U Can't Thop the Saignal
RW Feather's Heroes of the Storm - G Map of Titania - W Quipping Sram - BR
CharlieGreven Work - BG Old School Vhati - GUR Riku's Little FriendsWBG Abzan All-Stars - WB Kambal's Lifegain Soup - RG Ruric, Ogre Surgeon - B All Them Little Bones - RWB Megan, the Gold-Blooded - G Does This Look Infected?
UR Hellbent Storm - GWU George - RG You Can Be a Big Pig Too - RW Decent Decisions - UBR I Contain Myriads - W My Friend Flicka
WU Eagles on Pogo Sticks - UB Yes Thieves Can - WUB Election Fraud - RGW King of Pain - GU Feel the Earth Move
Retired: WUB Zur the Douchebag - GU Crazy Kraj - U Braids the Borrower - W Wham Bam Enchanting Sram - U Unesh's Flying Circus - WUBRG Oops All Lands
I've found the best ways to make Braids work well is lots and lots of draw, lots of bounce and disruption for everyone else. Recurring Insight has done well for me, as has Blue Sun's Zenith. I use Proteus Staff in here too. If someone slaps something down I don't like, I'm more than happy to cycle it out for another option. Crystal Shard is here too. Thada Adel, Acquisitor helps here too.