The goal is to get the Chimera very fat while always having answer to what your opponent plays. It's also wizzard-heavy, with Vedalken Aethermage being an all-star in this deck. We need to always have our hand full of answers, because the Chiera is the mainly kill of the deck. With 40 instants/sorceries, it should be able to kill in two or three turns.
Any suggestions for improving the list?
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Certified L1 Magic Judge - Feel free to ask me any questions by PM!
You should move Darksteel Citadel to the land section for clarity purpose, I thought at first glance you were playing 33 lands while it's 34 (which is already low but understandable considering the deck's low curve).
Any reason to play Scrivener over Mnemonic Wall? I understand that he's 2/2 but you have 12 sorceries out there and some are really worth getting back. You could actually play all 3 of them.
Not sure how you think you will reach 8 mana for Flamewave Invoker with 34 lands and about 4 other artifact rocks (let's add the 2 landcycling spells to that list and we have 40 cards that search or produce mana while most pauper decks play around 50). Considering you want to play multiple spells on the same turn... not sure he's worth a slot, not in a deck that fast. I don't see Temporal Fissure but that looks to be the kind of card that you want and it's A LOT better than Capsize in your list...
My own rules when building a Commander deck:
1) Underrated general that I can build around but the deck must work without him/her too.
2) Every card must be legal in both banlists.
3) No infinite combo that could win (and ruin) instantly a multiplayer game.
4) Synergy at all costs; stay on theme, avoid goodstuff.
Looks solid. Rush of Knowledge is a lot more efficient card draw for the mana than Train of Thought. If you have access to Snow-Covered basics that would make Skred a really solid creature removal spell. You should probably stick Seat of the Synod and Great Furnace in there to maximize Trinket Mage mana fixing capabilities. And I would definitely try to find room for Mnemonic Wall in addition to the other spell-mancers you're currently running.
Skred isbetter than Flame Slash at every level and there is no reason for not running snow basics even if it's the only card that gets any benefit from it.
My own rules when building a Commander deck:
1) Underrated general that I can build around but the deck must work without him/her too.
2) Every card must be legal in both banlists.
3) No infinite combo that could win (and ruin) instantly a multiplayer game.
4) Synergy at all costs; stay on theme, avoid goodstuff.
Augury Owl doesn't look like he does much... Omenspeaker would be a better blocker on the ground. And it's a Wizard. Looter il-Kor requires attacking, which Chimera will be doing most of anyways. Maybe swap it for Thought Courier... also a Wizard.
Without sacrifice outlets, you can't get as much mileage out of Act of Treason. Bonesplitter seems not as good when Chimera's power increases organically anyways.
Without shuffle effects, Brainstorm loses a lot of its power.
I've never been a fan of Arcane Denial unless it's being used in combo decks. Deprive should be swapped out for a different counterspell... losing a land drop is a big disadvantage.
Gush- I'm not seeing how one extra power on the Chimera for free will make or break the game. I'd suggest Mysteries of the Deep in its place.
One last word of caution is that a buddy of mine plays a tightly optimized Chimera, and his games go 50/50. Sometimes he lives the dream and gets Clout of the Dominus on his Chimera and swings for 10 damage per turn, and some games he can't get his power above a measly 2. The nature of Izzet I guess, but something to be aware of.
1 Delver of Secrets
1 Augury Owl
1 Goblin Electromancer
1 Looter Il-Kor
1 Merfolk Looter
1 Vedalken Aethermage
1 Aether Adept
1 Drift of Phantasms
1 Flamewave Invoker
1 Nivix Cyclops
1 Sea Gate Oracle
1 Trinket Mage
1 Wee Dragonauts
1 Archaeomancer
1 Elgaud Shieldmate
1 Izzet Chronarch
1 Mulldrifter
1 Scrivener
Artifacts:7
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Bonesplitter
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
1 Izzet Signet
1 Mind Stone
1 Izzet Cluestone
1 Whispersilk Cloak
Sorceries:12
1 Faithless Looting
1 Flame Slash
1 Gitaxian Probe
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Rolling Thunder
1 Train of Thought
1 Act of Treason
1 Compulsive Research
1 Deep Analysis
1 Foresee
Instants:27
1 Brainstorm
1 Condescend
1 Curfew
1 Dispel
1 Dizzy Spell
1 Electrickery
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Arcane Denial
1 Counterspell
1 Deprive
1 Essence Scatter
1 Impulse
1 Mana Leak
1 Muddle the Mixture
1 Negate
1 Peer Through Depths
1 Psychotic Fury
1 Pyromatics
1 Shattering Pulse
1 Snap
1 Capsize
1 Exclude
1 Frantic Search
1 Ghostly Flicker
1 Gush
1 Traumatic Visions
1 Fiery Fall
1 Clout of the Dominus
1 Diplomatic Immunity
Lands:33
1 Command Tower
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Grixis Panorama
14 Island
1 Izzet Boilerworks
1 Izzet Guildgate
10 Mountain
1 Opal Palace
1 Rupture Spire
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Transguild Promenade
1 Spellheart Chimera
The goal is to get the Chimera very fat while always having answer to what your opponent plays. It's also wizzard-heavy, with Vedalken Aethermage being an all-star in this deck. We need to always have our hand full of answers, because the Chiera is the mainly kill of the deck. With 40 instants/sorceries, it should be able to kill in two or three turns.
Any suggestions for improving the list?
Certified L1 Magic Judge - Feel free to ask me any questions by PM!
Any reason to play Scrivener over Mnemonic Wall? I understand that he's 2/2 but you have 12 sorceries out there and some are really worth getting back. You could actually play all 3 of them.
Not sure how you think you will reach 8 mana for Flamewave Invoker with 34 lands and about 4 other artifact rocks (let's add the 2 landcycling spells to that list and we have 40 cards that search or produce mana while most pauper decks play around 50). Considering you want to play multiple spells on the same turn... not sure he's worth a slot, not in a deck that fast. I don't see Temporal Fissure but that looks to be the kind of card that you want and it's A LOT better than Capsize in your list...
Rules Advisor
Pauper decks: Weenie Tokens — Zombies
My own rules when building a Commander deck:
1) Underrated general that I can build around but the deck must work without him/her too.
2) Every card must be legal in both banlists.
3) No infinite combo that could win (and ruin) instantly a multiplayer game.
4) Synergy at all costs; stay on theme, avoid goodstuff.
Rules Advisor
Pauper decks: Weenie Tokens — Zombies
My own rules when building a Commander deck:
1) Underrated general that I can build around but the deck must work without him/her too.
2) Every card must be legal in both banlists.
3) No infinite combo that could win (and ruin) instantly a multiplayer game.
4) Synergy at all costs; stay on theme, avoid goodstuff.
Augury Owl doesn't look like he does much... Omenspeaker would be a better blocker on the ground. And it's a Wizard.
Looter il-Kor requires attacking, which Chimera will be doing most of anyways. Maybe swap it for Thought Courier... also a Wizard.
Without sacrifice outlets, you can't get as much mileage out of Act of Treason.
Bonesplitter seems not as good when Chimera's power increases organically anyways.
Without shuffle effects, Brainstorm loses a lot of its power.
I've never been a fan of Arcane Denial unless it's being used in combo decks.
Deprive should be swapped out for a different counterspell... losing a land drop is a big disadvantage.
Gush- I'm not seeing how one extra power on the Chimera for free will make or break the game. I'd suggest Mysteries of the Deep in its place.
New cards to consider:
Strider Harness
Neurok Stealthsuit
Rock Slide
Assault Strobe
Tricks of the Trade
Protective Bubble
Alexi's Cloak
Careful Study
Madcap Skills
One last word of caution is that a buddy of mine plays a tightly optimized Chimera, and his games go 50/50. Sometimes he lives the dream and gets Clout of the Dominus on his Chimera and swings for 10 damage per turn, and some games he can't get his power above a measly 2. The nature of Izzet I guess, but something to be aware of.
EDH Decks:
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Tajic, Blade of the Legion
Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
Purphoros, God of the Forge
Ezuri, Renegade Leader 1v1
Prossh, Skyraider of Kher 1v1
Hythonia the Cruel
Trying to build:
Jenara, Asura of War
Designing a Custom Set:
Clash of the Cultures: 5 Wedges, 5 Cultures
Providing Artwork for:
Archester: Frontier of Steam
1 Delver of Secrets
1 Goblin Electromancer
1 Omenspeaker
1 Thought Courier
1 Vedalken Aethermage
1 Aether Adept
1 Drift of Phantasms
1 Nivix Cyclops
1 Sea Gate Oracle
1 Trinket Mage
1 Wee Dragonauts
1 Archaeomancer
1 Elgaud Shieldmate
1 Izzet Chronarch
1 Mnemonic Wall
1 Mulldrifter
1 Scrivener
Artifacts:5
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
1 Izzet Signet
1 Mind Stone
1 Izzet Cluestone
1 Whispersilk Cloak
Sorceries:13
1 Careful Study
1 Faithless Looting
1 Flame Slash
1 Gitaxian Probe
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Rolling Thunder
1 Train of Thought
1 Compulsive Research
1 Aftershock
1 Deep Analysis
1 Foresee
Instants:27
1 Brainstorm
1 Condescend
1 Curfew
1 Dispel
1 Dizzy Spell
1 Electrickery
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Rock Slide
1 Arcane Denial
1 Counterspell
1 Impulse
1 Mana Leak
1 Muddle the Mixture
1 Peer Through Depths
1 Psychotic Fury
1 Pyromatics
1 Shattering Pulse
1 Snap
1 Capsize
1 Exclude
1 Faerie Trickery
1 Frantic Search
1 Ghostly Flicker
1 Smash
1 Mysteries of the Deep
1 Traumatic Visions
1 Fiery Fall
1 Clout of the Dominus
1 Diplomatic Immunity
1 Rhystic Study
Lands:34
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Great Furnace
1 Seat of the Synod
1 Command Tower
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Grixis Panorama
13 Island
1 Izzet Boilerworks
1 Izzet Guildgate
9 Mountain
1 Opal Palace
1 Rupture Spire
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Transguild Promenade
1 Spellheart Chimera
Certified L1 Magic Judge - Feel free to ask me any questions by PM!