I think the new Ensoul Artifact is a hilarious card. The ability, the art, the cost - everything about it just makes me smile enough to want to try to make it happen in Legacy. I think the core should look something like this:
This can set up plays like Turn 1 land Relic, Turn 2 land swing for 5 or Turn 1 Citadel, Turn 2 Ensoul Artifact for the 5/5.
Two-card combos don't make a deck and this one is especially fragile to counter magic. Luckily, since Ensoul Artifact is blue, we have access to any counters we want. I think the best package in my head looks like this:
This helps us stop them from countering Ensoul Artifact while also protecting the attacker from the small amount of removal that hits it (Swords to Plowshares laughs at this deck.)
It doesn't make a ton of sense to keep this deck mono-blue if we don't need to, and I think White is an excellent secondary color, because it opens up these cards, all of which I'll explain.
Mom gives us something we can play on turn one that, if left unchecked, protects our artifact creature going forward (and helps it get in.) Enlightened Tutor lets us fetch either of the halves of our engine so we can still get it active on turn two. Stoneforge Mystic is a win condition on it's own that gives our deck more flexibility and allows us to get a Sword on our creature so that it can't be chumped block once mid-range and tempo decks develop their board. Having Stoneforge means having more things for E-Tutor to fetch if it's in our opening hand with both pieces of our combo, as well (We can go get a Sword to drop on turn three)
4-8 Fetches
4 Tundra
Some number of other utility lands and basics.
Sideboard plan can borrow heavily from Death & Taxes or U/W Stoneblade builds. There would obviously be some number of Rest in Peaces for graveyard, Mindbreak Trap or Ethersword Canonist for Combo, perhaps an extra Sword or two. Then, we have access to stuff like Meddling Mage to prevent decks that can make us sac or exile our beater (Screw you, Liliana of the Veil.)
What do you folks think? Am I just being ridiculous? Should I go to jail for not running Brainstorm or Ponder in this deck in some numbers? Is there something I'm missing that would help this deck be a thing? I think it's a cute thing for people that already have the U/W fetches, duals and Stoneforges to play with.
Abrupt Decay and Swords to Plowshares both wreck your main game plan, leaving you with some not that awesome artifacts. Considering how heavily played both those are in legacy...
But hey, Misdirection recently got reprinted, I suppose you could maindeck 4 of those and see what happens.
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Legacy: WRDeath and Taxes UWRMiracles UBTezzerator GTrinity GBWRLoam URLandstill
Modern: WUBValue Titan UMerfolk WGDeath and Taxes
I can see that Darksteel Relic is a good target to Ensoul, but by it's own it's like one of the worst card ever printed. I would play instead some Trinket Mage to tutor Ensoul's targets (and that could enable you to run a toolbox).
I also considered making it one of the many 1 or 0 cost artifacts that can be sacrificed for a positive effect, but I've yet to land on any I really like.
I see it as simply giving affinity a boost. It turns bad cards into relevant threats which may be enough. The added bonus being that it may tighten up the colour identity of the deck.
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------------------- Keep Abiding or Get Mangled ------------------
I see it as simply giving affinity a boost. It turns bad cards into relevant threats which may be enough. The added bonus being that it may tighten up the colour identity of the deck.
As in, turn it into a Mono-U deck or make it U/b? I think Affinity knows it wins with blue already, though. I do love the idea of turning 0-mana creatures or late game Moxes into 5/5s, though.
Speaking of, I have a few Chrome Moxes that I might try with this deck, because it enables turn 1 stoneforge if I don't combo.
Indestructible isn't really much of an advantage in a format where a good chunk of removal is exile (StP, Path) or -X/-X (Dismember, Toxic Deluge) or also hits enchantments (Abrupt Decay). I'd probably rather just play artifacts that are actually good.
I see it as simply giving affinity a boost. It turns bad cards into relevant threats which may be enough. The added bonus being that it may tighten up the colour identity of the deck.
As in, turn it into a Mono-U deck or make it U/b? I think Affinity knows it wins with blue already, though. I do love the idea of turning 0-mana creatures or late game Moxes into 5/5s, though.
Speaking of, I have a few Chrome Moxes that I might try with this deck, because it enables turn 1 stoneforge if I don't combo.
Not necessarily mono blue but giving the option to play FoW as an example and have access to a basic land. The little things that can change the deck enough to affect matchups.
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Baleful Strix is probably one of the best targets for Ensoul since it offsets the card disadvantage and flies. Shardless Agent maybe too, although cascading into Ensoul is awkward. Chalice/3sphere seem like nice targets to animate.
The problem is that once you're in UB artifacts, Tezzeret is just plain better at making 5/5 guys. He does it repeatedly, generates card advantage and also soaks up damage. I see no reason to run Ensouls in UB before running 4 Tezz (which pushed me towards the 8Tezz shell). So IMO the only way Ensoul is going to shine as a lynchpin of the deck is in a U-based artifact deck without black.
Maybe UG (for Shardless Agent), mono U Stompy, or mono U Painter's Stone shell. Or just plop it in a blue-heavy Affinity beatdown build with Master of Etherium. Ensoul on Vault Skirge seems awesome.
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4 Ensoul Artifact
4 Darksteel Relic
4 Darksteel Citadel
This can set up plays like Turn 1 land Relic, Turn 2 land swing for 5 or Turn 1 Citadel, Turn 2 Ensoul Artifact for the 5/5.
Two-card combos don't make a deck and this one is especially fragile to counter magic. Luckily, since Ensoul Artifact is blue, we have access to any counters we want. I think the best package in my head looks like this:
4 Spell Pierce
4 Daze
Perhaps some number of Turn Aside or Judge's Familiar?
Force of Will?
This helps us stop them from countering Ensoul Artifact while also protecting the attacker from the small amount of removal that hits it (Swords to Plowshares laughs at this deck.)
It doesn't make a ton of sense to keep this deck mono-blue if we don't need to, and I think White is an excellent secondary color, because it opens up these cards, all of which I'll explain.
Mother of Runes
Enlightened Tutor
Stoneforge Mystic
Mom gives us something we can play on turn one that, if left unchecked, protects our artifact creature going forward (and helps it get in.) Enlightened Tutor lets us fetch either of the halves of our engine so we can still get it active on turn two. Stoneforge Mystic is a win condition on it's own that gives our deck more flexibility and allows us to get a Sword on our creature so that it can't be chumped block once mid-range and tempo decks develop their board. Having Stoneforge means having more things for E-Tutor to fetch if it's in our opening hand with both pieces of our combo, as well (We can go get a Sword to drop on turn three)
I think the deck might look something like this:
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Mother of Runes
4 Enlightened Tutor
4 Ensoul Artifact
4 Swords to Plowshares/Dispatch
4 Spell Pierce
4 Daze
2-4 other counters
4 Darksteel Relic
3-4 Equips (Batterskull, Jitte, Sword of Fire and Ice, Sword of Light and Shadow, I'd guess?)
4-8 Fetches
4 Tundra
Some number of other utility lands and basics.
Sideboard plan can borrow heavily from Death & Taxes or U/W Stoneblade builds. There would obviously be some number of Rest in Peaces for graveyard, Mindbreak Trap or Ethersword Canonist for Combo, perhaps an extra Sword or two. Then, we have access to stuff like Meddling Mage to prevent decks that can make us sac or exile our beater (Screw you, Liliana of the Veil.)
What do you folks think? Am I just being ridiculous? Should I go to jail for not running Brainstorm or Ponder in this deck in some numbers? Is there something I'm missing that would help this deck be a thing? I think it's a cute thing for people that already have the U/W fetches, duals and Stoneforges to play with.
But hey, Misdirection recently got reprinted, I suppose you could maindeck 4 of those and see what happens.
Modern: WUBValue Titan UMerfolk WGDeath and Taxes
I also considered making it one of the many 1 or 0 cost artifacts that can be sacrificed for a positive effect, but I've yet to land on any I really like.
-----The Legacy Flowchart-----
Tiny Leaders Overlord
As in, turn it into a Mono-U deck or make it U/b? I think Affinity knows it wins with blue already, though. I do love the idea of turning 0-mana creatures or late game Moxes into 5/5s, though.
Speaking of, I have a few Chrome Moxes that I might try with this deck, because it enables turn 1 stoneforge if I don't combo.
Ensoul 8Tezz
1 Seat of the Synod
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Island
1 Swamp
4 Ancient Tomb
3 City of Traitors
3 Darkslick Shores
3 Polluted Delta
4 Underground Sea
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
//Artifacts (19)
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Talisman of Dominance
2 Dimir Signet
4 Baleful Strix
2 Ratchet Bomb
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Lodestone Golem
4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
//Spells (11)
4 Force of Will
3 Thirst For Knowledge
2 Ensoul Artifact
2 Transmute Artifact
2 Thopter Foundry
2 Sword of the Meek
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Trinisphere
2 Lodestone Golem
2 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Duress
2 Damnation
Not necessarily mono blue but giving the option to play FoW as an example and have access to a basic land. The little things that can change the deck enough to affect matchups.
-----The Legacy Flowchart-----
Tiny Leaders Overlord
The problem is that once you're in UB artifacts, Tezzeret is just plain better at making 5/5 guys. He does it repeatedly, generates card advantage and also soaks up damage. I see no reason to run Ensouls in UB before running 4 Tezz (which pushed me towards the 8Tezz shell). So IMO the only way Ensoul is going to shine as a lynchpin of the deck is in a U-based artifact deck without black.
Maybe UG (for Shardless Agent), mono U Stompy, or mono U Painter's Stone shell. Or just plop it in a blue-heavy Affinity beatdown build with Master of Etherium. Ensoul on Vault Skirge seems awesome.