NOTE: Last updated 2016-06-04, 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!
The second deck I ever built was a Zur deck. At the time, I only had my Kresh deck, and I wanted something that was a little more competitive. Well, Zur certainly delivered. Even when my group stopped using general damage (I had to resort to poison), even when I limited my card selection to just modern borders, I had a difficult time not winning in 1v1, and was always the archenemy in multiplayer. I ended up playing Zur less and less, and eventually took the deck apart.
In the years since, our group has grown, and decks have become more tuned and competitive (without entering cEDH territory). With Amonkhet bringing back cycling (and giving us more than just Astral Slide as a build-around), I thought I'd rebuild Zur around that theme. It has all the toolbox defensiveness that my old Zur list had without the voltron aspect.
Some assorted notes:
My group plays with no general damage and no French ban list. We play with either 40 starting life (free for all or Star) or 60 starting life (Two Headed Giant, be it 2v2 or 2v2v2).
My group frowns upon infinite combos, land destruction, and locks.
I'm a budget player who plays with other budget players, so I'm not interested in buying expensive cards for this deck. I try to keep most cards under two dollars, with only a few in the five dollar range (or more, if it's something I've opened).
I'm only interested in black-bordered, modern frame cards.
I just recently built Zur Astral Slide as well, and I've played 5-6 games with it. It's awesome. I'm sad we don't get Lightning Rift, but the Archfiend of Ifnir makes up for it. Speaking of - it's frankly an easy swap with Horror of the Broken Lands, which really isn't that great on the battlefield.
I would also highly recommend Baleful Strix. It's a fantastic value package, drawing a card and giving you a deathtouch flyer that can be blinked again and again.
I also really like Ephara, God of the Polis. She can't be searched for with Zur, but she allows me to keep drawing every turn after I blink a creature. Last night, I drew multiple cards each round thanks to her.
Archfiend is definitely going in once I find a copy, and yeah, Horror is probably what should be cut for it. I still want to test with Horror, because my build has a few windfall effects that would make Horror huge, but with no evasion...
Strix and Ephara, I'll keep in mind. I'd have to pull the Strix from my cube, but that never gets played, so it's fine. Thanks for the suggestions!
Hello!
The second deck I ever built was a Zur deck. At the time, I only had my Kresh deck, and I wanted something that was a little more competitive. Well, Zur certainly delivered. Even when my group stopped using general damage (I had to resort to poison), even when I limited my card selection to just modern borders, I had a difficult time not winning in 1v1, and was always the archenemy in multiplayer. I ended up playing Zur less and less, and eventually took the deck apart.
In the years since, our group has grown, and decks have become more tuned and competitive (without entering cEDH territory). With Amonkhet bringing back cycling (and giving us more than just Astral Slide as a build-around), I thought I'd rebuild Zur around that theme. It has all the toolbox defensiveness that my old Zur list had without the voltron aspect.
Some assorted notes:
4 Zur the Enchanter
Counterspells:
2 Counterspell
3 Dissipate
3 Hinder
3 Spell Crumple
3 Void Shatter
5 Traumatic Visions
Cycling:
3 Nimble Obstructionist
4 Curator of Mysteries
5 Archfiend of Ifnir
7 Eternal Dragon
2 Angelsong
3 Forsake the Worldly
3 Unburden
4 Cast Out
4 Ancient Excavation
5 Razaketh's Rite
6 Akroma's Vengeance
7 Lay Claim
8 Decree of Pain
4x Decree of Justice
Zur Targets:
2 Darksteel Mutation
3 Astral Slide
3 Banishing Light
3 Ghostly Prison
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Aura of Silence
3 Copy Enchantment
3 Drake Haven
3 Faith of the Devoted
3 Phyrexian Arena
3 Steel of the Godhead
3 Detention Sphere
1 Sol Ring
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
2 Talisman of Progress
2 Talisman of Dominance
2 Azorius Signet
2 Dimir Signet
2 Orzhov Signet
3 Commander's Sphere
Other:
3 Auramancer
3 Monk Idealist
4 Stonehorn Dignitary
4 Palace Jailer
4 Forgotten Creation
4 Archaeomancer
4 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
5 Mulldrifter
5 Perplexing Chimera
5 Cloudblazer
5 Lavinia of the Tenth
6 Deadeye Navigator
7 Sphinx of Uthuun
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Brainstorm
2 Reality Shift
2 Lightning Greaves
2 Swiftfoot Boots
3 Abandoned Sarcophagus
4 Fact or Fiction
5 Sphere of Safety
5 Conjurer's Closet
2x Curse of the Swine
1 Drifting Meadow
1 Secluded Steppe
1 Desert of the True
1 Remote Isle
1 Lonely Sandbar
1 Desert of the Mindful
1 Polluted Mire
1 Barren Moor
1 Desert of the Glorified
1 Blasted Landscape
1 Ash Barrens
Other Lands:
3 Plains
5 Island
3 Swamp
1 Command Tower
1 Arcane Sanctum
1 Prairie Stream
1 Sunken Hollow
1 Underground River
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Darkwater Catacombs
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Esper Panorama
1 Mirrodin's Core
1 Temple of the False God
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Bojuka Bog
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
I would also highly recommend Baleful Strix. It's a fantastic value package, drawing a card and giving you a deathtouch flyer that can be blinked again and again.
I also really like Ephara, God of the Polis. She can't be searched for with Zur, but she allows me to keep drawing every turn after I blink a creature. Last night, I drew multiple cards each round thanks to her.
2023 Average Peasant Cube|and Discussion
Because I have more decks than fit in a signature
Useful Resources:
MTGSalvation tags
EDHREC
ManabaseCrafter
Strix and Ephara, I'll keep in mind. I'd have to pull the Strix from my cube, but that never gets played, so it's fine. Thanks for the suggestions!
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