This is a spinoff on a deck that already exists, BUG delirium. Esper gives you lots of more individually powerful cards and lends itself to a more control route. While before Amonkhet this deck couldn't have existed in a very playable state, after the printing of numerous powerful cycling cards I've looked into building a list.
The deck operates around two very powerful cards with delirium, Scour the Laboratory and Whispers of Emrakul. They both operate around card advantage, and that is what this deck does best. It preys on decks that rely heavily on holding cards in hand and is very good in a slow Fatal Push/Lightning Bolt meta.
Now obviously its not a finished list, and it isn't streamlined. I'm really wondering wether smallpox is the route to go instead, but I don't like how that plays so badly with our Sphinxes.
Dredging works extremely well with cycling cards, so it's a good idea to run a few dredgers.
A dream scenario with this deck would be turn one crack a fetch for a blue source, opponent's end step Thought Scour, hit a Darkblast and dredge 3. Untap with delirium and cast Whispers of Emrakul.
Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
After a little testing, I draw too many lands. Curator of Mysteries is very good, I need to hit payoffs more often.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
I know I'm the only one here, but I'm hoping if I keep posting it'll get some traction.
So the newNimble Obstructionist fits the deck perfectly. While it isn't a cheap cycle, it still cycles. On top of that, it's a flier so it fits with the rest of the creatures and won't get snarled up on the ground. It also gives us a tempo play on turn 3, a turn where we might not be doing much. It seems very powerful on the play to use this on a fetch and leave them with two lands then drop a land next turn and be two turns ahead. Also good on the draw to give you turn priority.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
Whispers of Emrakul has won me multiple games. Getting two cards out of your opponent's hand is insane, especially in the mid-next of the game when you're relying on one or two cards.
The games I got to refill my hand with Scour the Laboratory were games I won. The advantage of 3 cards on your opponent is huge.
I went to FNM with it and went 1-2-1, that's two times, a loss and a win. One of the ties should have been a victory for me though, but we ran out of time. I performed better than I thought I would. I was seriously doubting the power level of the my deck. But I won at least a game in each round.
Matchups include: Jund, Grixis Delver, Merfolk, and Knightfall.
Against Jund he crushed me g1 because I couldn't draw enough removal.
G2 I pushed through with flying souls tokens.
G3, he kept playing creatures, but I had sufficient blockers, so we tied.
Against Grixis Delver I went up a game immediately, I Inquisitioned out his best cards and he couldn't hit anything good.
Game two I couldn't find anything to deal with a Gurmag Angler.
Game three we both had a strong presence on board, but mine was flying and I almost got there but we timed out.
Against Merfolk, he went up a game when he ran over me game one.
Game two I removed all his threats and beat down with my Creeping Tar Pit.
Game three I didn't have enough removal for his creatures.
Against Knightfall, I won both games on account of my fliers.
@D90Dennis14
You might be right about the cards not being powerful enough. After testing I'm still not sure. I definitely don't like the cycling cards though.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
You could always steal tech from Death's Shadow decks and run Mishra's Bauble to better enable Delirium.
Lol I totally would but 40% for an uncommon is not something I'm willing to pay.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
Gurl I feel you. It's unfortunate that of the two Baubles the expensive under printed one is the modern one.
Lilliana is also a decent fit but similar things happening there. I love the Nameless inversion you are running. Great tech, loved the card since it came out.
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The deck operates around two very powerful cards with delirium, Scour the Laboratory and Whispers of Emrakul. They both operate around card advantage, and that is what this deck does best. It preys on decks that rely heavily on holding cards in hand and is very good in a slow Fatal Push/Lightning Bolt meta.
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Curator of Mysteries
2 Architects of Will
Instants:
3 Scour the Laboratory
4 Thought Scour
2 Censor
2 Remand
2 Spell Snare
2 Fatal Push
2 Path to Exile
1 Nameless Inversion
1 Darkblast
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Whispers of Emrakul
4 Lingering Souls
Enchantments:
2 Cast Out
Lands:
4 Polluted Delta
4 Flooded Strand
3 Watery Grave
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Godless Shrine
1 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Darkslick Shores
1 Seachrome Coast
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
2 Ghost Quarter
Now obviously its not a finished list, and it isn't streamlined. I'm really wondering wether smallpox is the route to go instead, but I don't like how that plays so badly with our Sphinxes.
Some cool synergies:
A dream scenario with this deck would be turn one crack a fetch for a blue source, opponent's end step Thought Scour, hit a Darkblast and dredge 3. Untap with delirium and cast Whispers of Emrakul.
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Curator of Mysteries
4 Architects of Will
4 Scour the Laboratory
4 Thought Scour
2 Mana Leak
1 Cryptic Command
2 Spell Snare
2 Fatal Push
2 Path to Exile
1 Darkblast
3 Whispers of Emrakul
1 Collective Brutality
4 Lingering Souls
2 Cast Out
4 Polluted Delta
4 Flooded Strand
2 Watery Grave
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Godless Shrine
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Darkslick Shores
1 Seachrome Coast
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Ghost Quarter
After a little testing, I draw too many lands. Curator of Mysteries is very good, I need to hit payoffs more often.
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
So the newNimble Obstructionist fits the deck perfectly. While it isn't a cheap cycle, it still cycles. On top of that, it's a flier so it fits with the rest of the creatures and won't get snarled up on the ground. It also gives us a tempo play on turn 3, a turn where we might not be doing much. It seems very powerful on the play to use this on a fetch and leave them with two lands then drop a land next turn and be two turns ahead. Also good on the draw to give you turn priority.
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
I'd rather use 4x Esper Charm instead of Scour and some Thoughtseize/Collective Brutality over Whispers.
Also running the cycling cards (Architects/Curator) makes the deck weaker as you don't have better cantrips like Serum Visions an creatures (Tasigur/Angler) instead.
Whispers of Emrakul has won me multiple games. Getting two cards out of your opponent's hand is insane, especially in the mid-next of the game when you're relying on one or two cards.
The games I got to refill my hand with Scour the Laboratory were games I won. The advantage of 3 cards on your opponent is huge.
I went to FNM with it and went 1-2-1, that's two times, a loss and a win. One of the ties should have been a victory for me though, but we ran out of time. I performed better than I thought I would. I was seriously doubting the power level of the my deck. But I won at least a game in each round.
Matchups include: Jund, Grixis Delver, Merfolk, and Knightfall.
Against Jund he crushed me g1 because I couldn't draw enough removal.
G2 I pushed through with flying souls tokens.
G3, he kept playing creatures, but I had sufficient blockers, so we tied.
Against Grixis Delver I went up a game immediately, I Inquisitioned out his best cards and he couldn't hit anything good.
Game two I couldn't find anything to deal with a Gurmag Angler.
Game three we both had a strong presence on board, but mine was flying and I almost got there but we timed out.
Against Merfolk, he went up a game when he ran over me game one.
Game two I removed all his threats and beat down with my Creeping Tar Pit.
Game three I didn't have enough removal for his creatures.
Against Knightfall, I won both games on account of my fliers.
@D90Dennis14
You might be right about the cards not being powerful enough. After testing I'm still not sure. I definitely don't like the cycling cards though.
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
Lol I totally would but 40% for an uncommon is not something I'm willing to pay.
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
Lilliana is also a decent fit but similar things happening there. I love the Nameless inversion you are running. Great tech, loved the card since it came out.