I thought I would share a list I am currently working on and solicit some help with it. To start, this was a list with Delver of Secrets, but I found that it was both too inconsistent and would be outclassed way too early in the game. Over time, I experimented with different card draw engines and synergies, going from lists heavier on artifacts and Thirst for Knowledge to lists heavier on Sorceries/Instants and shorter on lands to help flip Delver.
If anyone wants to help and collaborate with me on turning this into a primer, that would be fun as well. The current list is as follows:
A couple synergies if they were not apparent already -
Lands
The checkland (Hinterland Harbor and filter land Sunken Ruins) are there to help make playing Deprive suck less. Sunken Ruins also helps with the mana consistency to generate BB for Tombstalker.
Draw Engine
The draw engine with Thirst for Knowledge and Dig Through Time is based off the idea of being able to dump off/filter through chaff to help power a bigger Goyf or a cheaper Delve spell. Topdecking a Thoughtseize late game is an awful feeling, but getting a Snapcaster Mage to run another Thirst back out to get some relevant cards seems good. Darkblast should be highlighted here as well - Dredge has good synergy with instant speed card draw and it also helps make our Delve spells cheaper.
To me, Dig is a better card to play (at least in this deck) for a few reasons:
Instant speed - I don't feel bad running it EOT for 2UU, whereas with Cruise, I feel bad if I'm casting it for anything more than U.
Similarly, I don't get "punished" for not playing it on my turn.
Playing it for more than UU helps ensure my Goyfs don't suck and my Snapcasters have something to target.
Generally, better card quality and deck consistency
Better ability to find SB hate cards in games 2 and 3
Removal -
I like Abrupt Decay a lot as it can hit annoying artifacts and enchantments, too. It's very flexible but still inferior to Lightning Bolt, which can act as creature removal or go for the win; Decay can act as removal and prevent a loss. Darkblast is great as a Delve enabler, helping your Goyf on Goyf action, removing mana dorks, and pretty darn solid vs. UR Delver decks.
The other two removal spots are there for chunky monkeys and manlands.
Flex Spot -
This will probably be one of the more contentious cards in the list. Sultai Charm is like a literal Swiss army knife - a more/less restrictive Doom Blade, more expensive Naturalize, and a looter effect all in one. I think what's important to remember is that it can still hit a fatty creature that neither Decay nor Dismember can handle, an Enchantment/Artifact over 3 cost, or if both modes are dead you can see some new cards and help cast another Delve spell/make Goyf bigger.
Counters -
Sometimes there's just stuff that we can't deal with and for that we have counters. Deprive can be amazingly bad but it is great against Treasure Cruise and tons better than Mana Leak late game. I see it as a good middle ground that reconciles what Remand is good against and what Mana Leak is good against.
Discard -
Running B is a good reason to run targeted discard and we have quite a bit of it. I've settled on a 3/3 split until the meta settles down a bit as red-based burn decks are still pretty active.
Creatures -
Aside from not playing Delver, I feel these are the best creatures available in these colors for this deck.
I also tested the following:
Courser of Kruphix slow; lifegain effect was great and seeing the top card was a neat interaction with Darkblast in the bin. Casting a Cruise with a Courser in play and a Darkblast in the GY felt more powerful than casting a Cruise by itself (this obviously applies only if you choose Cruise over Dig)
Scavenging Ooze slow as well; great against Pod with persist triggers on the stack but the G mana investment was very heavy. In a Bolt-infested meta, you are paying 1GGG to keep a creature in play - it's like a green Cryptic Command with less effect.
Vampire Nighthawk great card, but the decks you want it to stick around against are the decks it is the worst against (Lightning Bolt decks).
In the end, the spots occupied by Goyf and Clique are solid; Snapcaster is debatable but being able to get extra value out of a hate card in post-board games is incredibly valuable.
I felt that Tombstalker is the finisher this deck needs; being able to cast him for BB with protection in hand, then untapping with him put the opponent on a quick clock.
A couple Matchup thoughts -
Pod - I tested against one of the GP Madrid decks without Path to Exile, no Qasali Pridemage and without the Melira combo. Ttough G1 if they get the pieces they need in play. Gavony Township and Persist creatures are a pain in the rear. Post-board, it gets much easier with Artifact hate. I tried Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver against them for a few games and she was nuts. I realized once I was able to deal with their Pod, they downgrade to a good creature deck; pacing them and then powering out a
Burn - rough G1 but bigger creatures prevailed. 1-for-1 their critters with removal and try to save counters for Bolts-and-Buddies. Post-boarded Feed The Clan always resolved for 10 life.
Affinity - close G1 but I wasn't working with an experienced pilot. All of this deck's removal is live against them and there's more pain to bring post-board.
Tron - awful matchup for this deck and post board doesn't make it any better. Update: I have recently tried Rain of Tears. The casting cost sucks, but flashing it back with a Snapcaster is strong.
That's all I got for now (11/24/14 11:30pm) - I'll add more later. Please feel free to contribute and maybe we can make this deck a "thing!"
I thought I would share a list I am currently working on and solicit some help with it. To start, this was a list with Delver of Secrets, but I found that it was both too inconsistent and would be outclassed way too early in the game. Over time, I experimented with different card draw engines and synergies, going from lists heavier on artifacts and Thirst for Knowledge to lists heavier on Sorceries/Instants and shorter on lands to help flip Delver.
If anyone wants to help and collaborate with me on turning this into a primer, that would be fun as well. The current list is as follows:
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Polluted Delta
2 Breeding Pool
2 Watery Grave
2 Island
1 Swamp
1 Forest
2 Sunken Ruins
2 Hinterland Harbor
1 Overgrown Tomb
Draw Engine
3 Thirst for Knowledge
3 Dig Through Time
4 Abrupt Decay
1 Dismember
2 Darkblast
1 Doom Blade
Counterspell
3 Spell Snare
3 Deprive
Targeted Discard
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Thoughtseize
Creatures
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Tombstalker
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Feed the Clan
2 Naturalize
1 Flashfreeze
1 Negate
7 Opinions Welcome
A couple synergies if they were not apparent already -
Lands
The checkland (Hinterland Harbor and filter land Sunken Ruins) are there to help make playing Deprive suck less. Sunken Ruins also helps with the mana consistency to generate BB for Tombstalker.
Draw Engine
The draw engine with Thirst for Knowledge and Dig Through Time is based off the idea of being able to dump off/filter through chaff to help power a bigger Goyf or a cheaper Delve spell. Topdecking a Thoughtseize late game is an awful feeling, but getting a Snapcaster Mage to run another Thirst back out to get some relevant cards seems good. Darkblast should be highlighted here as well - Dredge has good synergy with instant speed card draw and it also helps make our Delve spells cheaper.
To me, Dig is a better card to play (at least in this deck) for a few reasons:
Removal -
I like Abrupt Decay a lot as it can hit annoying artifacts and enchantments, too. It's very flexible but still inferior to Lightning Bolt, which can act as creature removal or go for the win; Decay can act as removal and prevent a loss.
Darkblast is great as a Delve enabler, helping your Goyf on Goyf action, removing mana dorks, and pretty darn solid vs. UR Delver decks.
The other two removal spots are there for chunky monkeys and manlands.
Flex Spot -
This will probably be one of the more contentious cards in the list. Sultai Charm is like a literal Swiss army knife - a more/less restrictive Doom Blade, more expensive Naturalize, and a looter effect all in one. I think what's important to remember is that it can still hit a fatty creature that neither Decay nor Dismember can handle, an Enchantment/Artifact over 3 cost, or if both modes are dead you can see some new cards and help cast another Delve spell/make Goyf bigger.
Counters -
Sometimes there's just stuff that we can't deal with and for that we have counters.
Deprive can be amazingly bad but it is great against Treasure Cruise and tons better than Mana Leak late game. I see it as a good middle ground that reconciles what Remand is good against and what Mana Leak is good against.
Discard -
Running B is a good reason to run targeted discard and we have quite a bit of it. I've settled on a 3/3 split until the meta settles down a bit as red-based burn decks are still pretty active.
Creatures -
Aside from not playing Delver, I feel these are the best creatures available in these colors for this deck.
I also tested the following:
A couple Matchup thoughts -
Pod - I tested against one of the GP Madrid decks without Path to Exile, no Qasali Pridemage and without the Melira combo. Ttough G1 if they get the pieces they need in play. Gavony Township and Persist creatures are a pain in the rear. Post-board, it gets much easier with Artifact hate. I tried Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver against them for a few games and she was nuts. I realized once I was able to deal with their Pod, they downgrade to a good creature deck; pacing them and then powering out a
Burn - rough G1 but bigger creatures prevailed. 1-for-1 their critters with removal and try to save counters for Bolts-and-Buddies. Post-boarded Feed The Clan always resolved for 10 life.
Affinity - close G1 but I wasn't working with an experienced pilot. All of this deck's removal is live against them and there's more pain to bring post-board.
Tron - awful matchup for this deck and post board doesn't make it any better. Update: I have recently tried Rain of Tears. The casting cost sucks, but flashing it back with a Snapcaster is strong.
That's all I got for now (11/24/14 11:30pm) - I'll add more later. Please feel free to contribute and maybe we can make this deck a "thing!"
Sales Thread
MTGO/MTGA: Tyclone
My Primers ~ GWx Vizier Company ~ Knightfall ~ RG Eldrazi ~ Green's Sun's Zenith
More Brews ~ Modern Four Horsemen ~ Gitrog Dredge