I used to play MTG when it was KAM-RAV Standard, and a little bit when TSP came out. Now I want to return to MTG, but there is no big playgroup in my town, just several folks gathering together to play some casual magic with their old decks. So, the format is casual Modern. I want to build a budget Esper control with Momentary Blink and ETB effects. This is initial decklist which came to my mind:
The idea is to play control, gain card advantage with Mulldrifter, use Forbidden Alchemy as draw and graveyard filling engine, then use Unburial Rites to reanimate creatures or just hard-cast them (deck is running 27 mana source cards, and I even think it's not enough). Overall, this is supposed to be something like Solar Flare.
Also thinking about including Sea Gate Oracle. Of course, Court Hussar is better in Solar Flare, but it dies after blink, which is not good.
My concerns are:
1) Is this set of creatures enough?
2) Should I even play counterspells in such deck, or Solar Flare is more about playing valuable cards rather than answering opponent's threats?
3) How to build good sideboard? I understand that 4 Aven Riftwatcher is what I need in sideboard, but can't find what else.
4) Everyone plays Path to Exile, but I don't really want to spend money on them, though card is going to be playable in many many decks. Should I play it in this deck? And can cheaper alternatives like Condemn do Path's job?
5) And what can I do with my manabase? Current one is slow, faster manabase is more expensive. Can you guys suggest anything cheap that could fit this deck?
Overall, can you give some advice on how can I improve this?
Wall of Omens seems like a solid addition to the deck as it blocks well, cantrips and has blink value.
Another good creature for this deck can be Whirler Rogue (or Blade Splicer) which creates 3 blockers and is good for blinking.
Reflector Mage can be a decent card here as well bouncing away creatures which you can counter when they're recast, it is better than Repeal here imho.
Another good blink target that can help deal with (smaller) creatures is Vengeful Rebel which is like an undercosted Skinrender. Intrepid Hero and Big Game Hunter can help deal with bigger creatures.
2 Angel of Despair
2 Mulldrifter
1 Venser, Shaper Savant
1 Shriekmaw
Tools
2 Unburial Rites
1 Momentary Blink
2 Undying Evil
3 Forbidden Alchemy
2 Repeal
4 Mana Leak
3 Condescend
2 Supreme Verdict
2 Mortify
2 Detention Sphere
4 Lingering Souls
Manabase
4 Arcane Sanctum
2 Azorius Chancery
1 Dimir Aqueduct
1 Orzhov Signet
2 Azorius Signet
2 Azorius Guildgate
1 Dimir Guildgate
1 Orzhov Guildgate
6 Island
4 Swamp
3 Plains
The idea is to play control, gain card advantage with Mulldrifter, use Forbidden Alchemy as draw and graveyard filling engine, then use Unburial Rites to reanimate creatures or just hard-cast them (deck is running 27 mana source cards, and I even think it's not enough). Overall, this is supposed to be something like Solar Flare.
Also thinking about including Sea Gate Oracle. Of course, Court Hussar is better in Solar Flare, but it dies after blink, which is not good.
My concerns are:
1) Is this set of creatures enough?
2) Should I even play counterspells in such deck, or Solar Flare is more about playing valuable cards rather than answering opponent's threats?
3) How to build good sideboard? I understand that 4 Aven Riftwatcher is what I need in sideboard, but can't find what else.
4) Everyone plays Path to Exile, but I don't really want to spend money on them, though card is going to be playable in many many decks. Should I play it in this deck? And can cheaper alternatives like Condemn do Path's job?
5) And what can I do with my manabase? Current one is slow, faster manabase is more expensive. Can you guys suggest anything cheap that could fit this deck?
Overall, can you give some advice on how can I improve this?
I'd look here for some ideas, especially about the manabase.
Wall of Omens seems like a solid addition to the deck as it blocks well, cantrips and has blink value.
Another good creature for this deck can be Whirler Rogue (or Blade Splicer) which creates 3 blockers and is good for blinking.
Reflector Mage can be a decent card here as well bouncing away creatures which you can counter when they're recast, it is better than Repeal here imho.
Another good blink target that can help deal with (smaller) creatures is Vengeful Rebel which is like an undercosted Skinrender.
Intrepid Hero and Big Game Hunter can help deal with bigger creatures.
I'd go with Supreme Will and Anguished Unmaking over Condescend and Mortify.
Also, Ashen Rider is pretty much an upgraded Angel of Despair as an Unburial Rites target.
A creature with a similar effect which is easier to hardcast is Noxious Gearhulk.
Some more finisher options for the deck can be:
Obzedat, Ghost Council, Bloodgift Demon/Kothophed, Soul Hoarder, Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis, Dragonlord Ojutai, Reaper from the Abyss,
Archangel Avacyn, Sun Titan and Sorin, Grim Nemesis.
Some budget removal options can be:
Victim of Night, Go for the Throat (better than Doom Blade/Ultimate Price), Declaration in Stone, Disfigure/Sunlance,
Blessed Alliance/Geth's Verdict/Immolating Glare.
The best option is probably Dismember though.