I wanted to construct an Ilusions deck for quite some time and after toying a bit with a Mono-Blue version of the deck I came to a conclusion that splashing Black can make the deck stronger and eliminate some of it's weaknesses.
3. Is Smother the best removal I can run in this deck besides Dismember (which is not a 4-of because of the life-loss) ?
I considered Grasp of Darkness and Victim of Night but the double black mana cost turned me off, and Go For the Throat was dismissed because it doesn't hit Affinity creatures.
*Maybe Agony Warp can be an option that can 2-for-1 in certain situations ? or bounce like Vapor Snag ?
Gossamer Phantasm probably belongs in the deck. countersquall is a sb card. I would shave sunken ruins, a mutavault, and a darkslick shore for three islands. Looks to me like you really want to be playing merfolk...lol
I thought about Gossamer Phantasm but it seems so inefficient with only 2/1 for 2cmc (and the sac' close)
even creatures like Jace's Phantasm (which will never be 5/5) or Dream Stalker which I don't really like seem better.
Do you think that I don't have enough blue mana sources ?
The first thing I would remove is Illusory Angel unless you add Gitaxian Probe. The problem is that a 4/4 for 3 is only good if you can play it on curve. Illusory Angel requires you to cast another spell in the same turn before you can cast it. That means you can only play it AFTER hitting 4 mana, which defeats the purpose of it cost 3, and only AFTER you cast Phantasmal Bear, Inquisition of Kozilek, or Dismemeber paying 4 life. That's just not good. You'd be better off with Phantasmal Dragon at that point. Its got a better body and can be cast as soon as you have four mana regardless of whether you have another spell in hand or not.
Second, Kira Great Glass Spinner won't protect your Illusions. Her ability counters the spell but doesn't stop them from being targeted. It doesn't matter if you counter the spell, the Illusions sac ability still triggers. If you are looking for something to stop them from being targeted then try Monastery Siege. It prevents your opponent from even casting the spell unless they pay 2 more for it. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben is a similar effect but hurts you too.
I think Illusory Servant is probably fine. I think Adaptive Automaton is a good addition.
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Even with a turn 1 AEther Vial, you still can't put down an Illusory Angel on turn 3. Dismember still won't let you put down Illusory Angel until turn 4. I'm not sold on it.
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I'll also add 2x Victim of Night to have some more versatile removal, probably instead of 1x Smother and 1x Bile Blight (probably should go to the SB against Elves and tokens).
Is it a good idea ?
Here is the updated list after the recent changes:
1. What do you think ? Is it better than the U/B version ?
2. Any changes I should make to the manabase to improve consistency ?
3. I added Monastery Siege to cycle through my library faster while getting rid of exess Æther Vials and Lands (or to protect my creatures) and feed Tarmogoyf.
Does it justify the spot in the mainboard ? Should I add a second one ?
Vexing Sphinx can serve a similar function (to the Khans' mode) and be a solid threat/beater, should I use him instead ?
Theoretically, if I were to tool an illusions deck, Id want to start at 4 Phantasmal Image, 4 Lord of the Unreal. Then I'd wanna go down 2 different avenues for that deck right there, protection and support. Since all the creatures I'm playing will "pop" when someone targets them (Ive beaten the deck by using my wolfrun to kill off everything.) That means the minute they cast something, it doesnt matter, my guys die. SO dicard really is the best shot you have.
Id play into that... Id be a tempo deck (12-16 creatures) and ALOT of discard and stuff like Monastery Siege to prevent even casting stuff. Probably vapor snags and dismember for removal.
2. How is Stitched Drake as a possible 3-drop for this deck ?
It is probably reasonable to get a creature in the GY during the first couple of turns and although it's not an Illusion it seems easier to cast than Illusory Angel and harder to kill than Illusionary Servant.
Another 3-drop option I thought about is Vexing Sphinx which is a big evasive beater ahead of curve which replaces itself and can cycle unnecessary Vials and Lands.
Are these two worth including ?
3. Dream Stalker seems like a good option with A.Vial, is it worth considering ?
I think talking about what specific problems you want to solve would be helpful. I'm not seeing where the black splash is so terribly helpful. Yes, you hand hate. Yes, you have kill spells. However, illusions are a curve up aggro deck no matter how you slice it. Without twin in the format and to a lesser importance (but still beneficial to you), bloom titan not really being such a threat either now, I don't think the mainboard spot removal is all that vital, especially when you consider that you're supposed to be the aggressor most of the time. The hand hate doesn't nab board wipes from hands and if you can outgun them, why not just do that instead? That seems to fit better with the deck concept. I don't see what black is offering that you've added that outweighs the significantly less painful white splash for mirror entity.
White also gives you path to exile as necessary for removal if you really need it, better sb tech in stony silence, and is generally easier on the mana base because 2W or 1W is way easier on you than BB. It looks to me like the black inclusion is just taping over problems and weakening the main concept of the deck. I think white lets you accomplish these goals much better while still staying on the offensive. The more you add cards that aren't punching them in the face, the less your deck will do the curve up aggro midrange thing it is supposed to do. There more non-illusion cards you end up playing, the less justified you are to be sticking with illusions at all. Might as well not play those illusion dependent creatures like lord of the unreal (which you're playing without his best friend, mirror entity) and krovikan mist.
I think that trying to go for a Merfolk-like build (with some hatebears) suits this tribe better.
And playing without Æther Vial and Mutavault doesn't make much sense to me.
Playing lots of counters in an aggro deck that wants to tap out for threats seems counterintuitive to me, especially since the creatures don't have Flash (like Fae).
The main think the deck is missing (apart from another lord or one more good 1/2-drop) is evasion like Merfolk's Islandwalk.
In the W/U version Bathe in Light might be an option and otherwise there is Ruthless Invasion which is a bit slow and sorcery speed...
I might actually test Bathe in Light as it seems to have some real potential in this deck.
It can replace Kira, Great Glass-Spinner which can move to the SB.
Here is the deck:
3x Dark Confidant
3x Illusionary Servant
3x Illusory Angel
4x Krovikan Mist
4x Lord of the Unreal
4x Phantasmal Bear
4x Phantasmal Image
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
Artifact (4)
4x AEther Vial
Land (20)
4x Darkslick Shores
3x Island
4x Mutavault
4x Polluted Delta
1x Sunken Ruins
4x Watery Grave
4x Countersquall
2x Dismember
2x Smother
Some card choice I need help with:
1. I'm unsure that a counterspell like Countersquall fits this deck and consider adding more removal+discard instead (like Duress and more Smother).
2.Should Illusionary Servant (which isn't as good as Illusory Angel, right ?) be replaced with Adaptive Automaton (more lord effects) or Kira, Great Glass-Spinner (removal protection for the non-sac illusions and Lord of the Unreal).
3. Is Smother the best removal I can run in this deck besides Dismember (which is not a 4-of because of the life-loss) ?
I considered Grasp of Darkness and Victim of Night but the double black mana cost turned me off, and Go For the Throat was dismissed because it doesn't hit Affinity creatures.
*Maybe Agony Warp can be an option that can 2-for-1 in certain situations ? or bounce like Vapor Snag ?
4. The deck suffers quite a bit from self-inflicted damage with: Fetches, Shocks, Dark Confidant, Dismember (this is the reason I picked Inquisition of Kozilek over Thoughtseize for the MB), anything I can play to mitigate it ?
even creatures like Jace's Phantasm (which will never be 5/5) or Dream Stalker which I don't really like seem better.
Do you think that I don't have enough blue mana sources ?
I consider replacing 4x Countersquall with: 1x Duress, 1x Inquisition of Kozilek and 2x Smother (or some other removal).
Illusions is much "cooler" than Merfolk and I want to play something different.
-3x Illusionary Servant,
1x Adaptive Automaton, 1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner and +1x Illusory Angel
-4x Countersquall,
+1x Duress, +1x Inquisition of Kozilek, +1x Smother and +1x Bile Blight
Here is the updated version:
1x Adaptive Automaton
3x Dark Confidant
4x Illusory Angel
1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
4x Krovikan Mist
4x Lord of the Unreal
4x Phantasmal Bear
4x Phantasmal Image
1x Duress
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
Land (20)
4x Darkslick Shores
3x Island
4x Mutavault
4x Polluted Delta
1x Sunken Ruins
4x Watery Grave
1x Bile Blight
2x Dismember
3x Smother
Artifact (4)
4x Æther Vial
Second, Kira Great Glass Spinner won't protect your Illusions. Her ability counters the spell but doesn't stop them from being targeted. It doesn't matter if you counter the spell, the Illusions sac ability still triggers. If you are looking for something to stop them from being targeted then try Monastery Siege. It prevents your opponent from even casting the spell unless they pay 2 more for it. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben is a similar effect but hurts you too.
I think Illusory Servant is probably fine. I think Adaptive Automaton is a good addition.
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Only Phantasmal Bear and Phantasmal Image have the sac' close and don't benefit from Kira, Great Glass-Spinner's ability, 16 other creatures can be protected.
Does it fit the deck better ? (it also means less life-loss)
Even with a turn 1 AEther Vial, you still can't put down an Illusory Angel on turn 3. Dismember still won't let you put down Illusory Angel until turn 4. I'm not sold on it.
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As a possible solution to the life-loss in the deck I thought about adding some Vault Skirge, is it a good idea for this deck ?
As for Vault Skirge it seems like a poor choice. You will not be buffing it like Affinity would so a 1/1 flying lifelinker doesn't seem enticing.
Vault Skirge is probably not the best solution here, but what about Basilisk Collar or Vampire Nighthawk (or maybe Liliana, Heretical Healer) ?
I'll also add 2x Victim of Night to have some more versatile removal, probably instead of 1x Smother and 1x Bile Blight (probably should go to the SB against Elves and tokens).
Is it a good idea ?
Here is the updated list after the recent changes:
1x Swamp
4x Darkslick Shores
2x Island
4x Mutavault
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4x Polluted Delta
4x Watery Grave
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
Creature (26)
1x Adaptive Automaton
3x Dark Confidant
4x Illusory Angel
1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
4x Krovikan Mist
4x Lord of the Unreal
4x Phantasmal Bear
4x Phantasmal Image
1x Vampire Nighthawk
2x Smother
2x Dismember
2x Victim of Night
Artifact (4)
4x Æther Vial
1. Any other cards that can work well in this deck and improve it ?
Maybe Creeping Tar Pit ?
2. Is Black the most effective splash color for this deck or I can do better with another color ?
(instead of: 1x Adaptive Automaton, 1x Vampire Nighthawk and maybe instead of some Dark Confidants as well) ?
1x Breeding Pool
4x Darkslick Shores
1x Island
2x Misty Rainforest
4x Mutavault
1x Overgrown Tomb
4x Polluted Delta
3x Watery Grave
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
Enchantment (1)
1x Monastery Siege
Creature (25)
1x Dark Confidant
4x Illusory Angel
4x Krovikan Mist
4x Lord of the Unreal
4x Phantasmal Bear
4x Phantasmal Image
4x Tarmogoyf
4x Abrupt Decay
2x Dismember
Artifact (4)
4x Æther Vial
1. What do you think ? Is it better than the U/B version ?
2. Any changes I should make to the manabase to improve consistency ?
3. I added Monastery Siege to cycle through my library faster while getting rid of exess Æther Vials and Lands (or to protect my creatures) and feed Tarmogoyf.
Does it justify the spot in the mainboard ? Should I add a second one ?
Vexing Sphinx can serve a similar function (to the Khans' mode) and be a solid threat/beater, should I use him instead ?
Id play into that... Id be a tempo deck (12-16 creatures) and ALOT of discard and stuff like Monastery Siege to prevent even casting stuff. Probably vapor snags and dismember for removal.
So do you suggest dropping the Æther Vial (Merfolk like) approach with a critical mass of (mostly) 2-drop creatures and the Aggro shell ?
What will the deck you suggest look like ?
How can this deck be improved to be more competitive ? (I plan to play it on MTGO)
The obvious changes seem to :
1. To include 2x Monastery Siege in the mainboard, instead of 1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner (probably will go to the sideboard) and 1x Vampire Nighthawk (I still need lifegain in the deck, what about Sun Droplet ?).
2. Replace the 2x Smother and 2x Victim of Night, probably with 2x Go for the Throat and 2x Disfigure (or Vapor Snag ?).
Some other ideas I wanted to ask about:
1. Will Tragic Slip be good for this deck as compared to Disfigure ?
What about Vapor Snag ? (Will it be better here ?)
2. How is Stitched Drake as a possible 3-drop for this deck ?
It is probably reasonable to get a creature in the GY during the first couple of turns and although it's not an Illusion it seems easier to cast than Illusory Angel and harder to kill than Illusionary Servant.
Another 3-drop option I thought about is Vexing Sphinx which is a big evasive beater ahead of curve which replaces itself and can cycle unnecessary Vials and Lands.
Are these two worth including ?
3. Dream Stalker seems like a good option with A.Vial, is it worth considering ?
White also gives you path to exile as necessary for removal if you really need it, better sb tech in stony silence, and is generally easier on the mana base because 2W or 1W is way easier on you than BB. It looks to me like the black inclusion is just taping over problems and weakening the main concept of the deck. I think white lets you accomplish these goals much better while still staying on the offensive. The more you add cards that aren't punching them in the face, the less your deck will do the curve up aggro midrange thing it is supposed to do. There more non-illusion cards you end up playing, the less justified you are to be sticking with illusions at all. Might as well not play those illusion dependent creatures like lord of the unreal (which you're playing without his best friend, mirror entity) and krovikan mist.
If I add White I can play 4x Path to Exile instead of 2x Dismember and 2x Go For the Throat and 2x Vapor Snag instead of 2x Disfigure.
What can replace Bob and IoK ?
Maybe Hindering Light and Return to the Ranks ?
Or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Kira, Great Glass-Spinner ?
Here is a possible W/U list:
4x Phantasmal Bear
4x Jace's Phantasm
4x Krovikan Mist
4x Phantasmal Image
4x Lord of the Unreal
2x Adaptive Automaton
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1x Mirror Entity
4x Æther Vial
Instant (8)
4x Path to Exile
4x Vapor Snag
Land (20)
4x Flooded Strand
4x Hallowed Fountain
3x Island
4x Mutavault
1x Plains
4x Seachrome Coast
2x Meddling Mage
2x Phyrexian Revoker
2x Unified Will
2x Monastery Siege
2x Hurkyl's Recall
1x Declaration in Stone
1x Detention Sphere
1x Rest in Peace
What do you think ?
4 Phantasmal Image
4 Phantasmal Bear
4 Lord of the Unreal
4 Krovikan Mist
4 Snapcaster Mage
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
4 Serum Visions
4 Vapor Snag
4 Gitaxian Probe
3 Dismember
2 Remand
2 Spell Snare
1 Deprive
1 Vedalken Shackles
18 Island
Draft My Cube!
And playing without Æther Vial and Mutavault doesn't make much sense to me.
Playing lots of counters in an aggro deck that wants to tap out for threats seems counterintuitive to me, especially since the creatures don't have Flash (like Fae).
The main think the deck is missing (apart from another lord or one more good 1/2-drop) is evasion like Merfolk's Islandwalk.
In the W/U version Bathe in Light might be an option and otherwise there is Ruthless Invasion which is a bit slow and sorcery speed...
I might actually test Bathe in Light as it seems to have some real potential in this deck.
It can replace Kira, Great Glass-Spinner which can move to the SB.
Here is the updated list I'm running at the moment:
4x Phantasmal Bear
4x Jace's Phantasm
4x Krovikan Mist
4x Phantasmal Image
4x Lord of the Unreal
2x Adaptive Automaton
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1x Mirror Entity
Artifact (4)
4x Æther Vial
4x Path to Exile
4x Vapor Snag
2x Bathe in Light
Land (20)
4x Flooded Strand
4x Hallowed Fountain
3x Island
4x Mutavault
1x Plains
4x Seachrome Coast
2x Meddling Mage
2x Phyrexian Revoker
2x Unified Will
2x Monastery Siege
2x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1x Disenchant
2x Detention Sphere
2x Rest in Peace