It occurred to me that Ulamog's Nullifier pairs pretty nicely with Spell Queller. In my search for exile effects that a deck like this might want to play, I also came across Delay and Beckon Apparition (which incidentally does some pretty fun stuff with Mausoleum Wanderer). I've always thought Mystic Snake would be an absolutely bonkers magic card if it just had flying, and I just can't ignore the fact that Ulamog's Nullifier gets pretty close. With a critical mass of exile effects (coupled with incidental exile from meta staples like Snapcaster Mage and Gurmag Angler), I think there's some real potential here. Anyway, here's a preliminary list. Any feedback is appreciated!
Spirit synergies are a central theme, but this deck is meant to play far more like Faeries than spirit tribal. The emphasis is on instant-speed, evasive threats that double as interaction.
Notable interactions:
Ulamog's Nullifier + Spell Queller and/or Delay = hard(ish) counter. Beckon Apparition + Mausoleum Wanderer = Spell Pierce. Can also shrink goyfs and hose Snapcaster. I'm not sure whether we need to go so heavy on the exile effects and/or whether the tribal synergies with Beckon Apparition make it worth it, but the interactive potential is intriguing.
Other considerations:
Vendillion Clique -- if we need more threats. Moorland Haunt -- Makes spirits. Orzhov Charm -- Can kill things, rebuy Spell Quellers and Nullifiers, or even return Mausoleum Wanderer to Mana Tithe them. Silumgar Sorcerer -- another 3cmc counter, potential consideration in creature-heavy metas. Dimensional Infiltrator -- an instant-speed threat that helps exile cards if necessary. With these two factors combined, I wonder whether this is better than the on-tribe alternatives... Drogskol Captain -- the lack of flash would hurt, but maybe would work alongside Rattlechains? Would certainly make our 1/1s a lot better... Selfless Spirit -- 2 CMC, is spirit, protects from sweepers, gets in for 2. Tasigur, the Golden Fang/Gurmag Angler -- beefy threats. Soulflayer -- a much spicier beefy threat (will usually have flying) that dodges Fatal Push and bolt.
I can't say for sure that relic is better than beckon apparition but I would suggest maybe taking the 2 out of the board and playing a 2 2 split. That will give you a lot more juice for your processors and occasionally hose deck stregites. While also opening up 2 sb slots for other things.
Yeah, I was originally thinking main-deck relics, but the ability to turn Mausoleum Wanderer into Spell Pierce was just too tempting Perhaps the 1-drops just don't do enough without lords, though.
I've also considered cutting one or two nullifiers, which would ease up our exile requirements. I'm definitely on the fence about whether Beckon Apparition is powerful enough. Aethersphere Harvester might make the 1/1 more relevant, but it's slow. Dimensional Infiltrator and Vendillion Clique are also considerations if I end up cutting Apparition.
Here's a shot at a more midrange list that's less all-in on nullifiers:
It occurred to me that Ulamog's Nullifier pairs pretty nicely with Spell Queller. In my search for exile effects that a deck like this might want to play, I also came across Delay and Beckon Apparition (which incidentally does some pretty fun stuff with Mausoleum Wanderer). I've always thought Mystic Snake would be an absolutely bonkers magic card if it just had flying, and I just can't ignore the fact that Ulamog's Nullifier gets pretty close. With a critical mass of exile effects (coupled with incidental exile from meta staples like Snapcaster Mage and Gurmag Angler), I think there's some real potential here. Anyway, here's a preliminary list. Any feedback is appreciated!
The Deck:
4 Mausoleum Wanderer
4 Rattlechains
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
4 Ulamog's Nullifier
Other spells: 20
4 Beckon Apparition
4 Fatal Push
4 Path to Exile
1 Spell Snare
3 Remand
4 Delay
4 Flooded Strand
1 Godless Shrine
2 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
2 Marsh Flats
1 Plains
4 Polluted Delta
2 Seachrome Coast
1 Swamp
2 Watery Grave
1 Aethersphere Harvester
1 Celestial Purge
2 Dispel
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Geist of Saint Traft
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Surgical Extraction
3 Hurkyl's Recall
Spirit synergies are a central theme, but this deck is meant to play far more like Faeries than spirit tribal. The emphasis is on instant-speed, evasive threats that double as interaction.
Notable interactions:
Ulamog's Nullifier + Spell Queller and/or Delay = hard(ish) counter.
Beckon Apparition + Mausoleum Wanderer = Spell Pierce. Can also shrink goyfs and hose Snapcaster. I'm not sure whether we need to go so heavy on the exile effects and/or whether the tribal synergies with Beckon Apparition make it worth it, but the interactive potential is intriguing.
Other considerations:
Vendillion Clique -- if we need more threats.
Moorland Haunt -- Makes spirits.
Orzhov Charm -- Can kill things, rebuy Spell Quellers and Nullifiers, or even return Mausoleum Wanderer to Mana Tithe them.
Silumgar Sorcerer -- another 3cmc counter, potential consideration in creature-heavy metas.
Dimensional Infiltrator -- an instant-speed threat that helps exile cards if necessary. With these two factors combined, I wonder whether this is better than the on-tribe alternatives...
Drogskol Captain -- the lack of flash would hurt, but maybe would work alongside Rattlechains? Would certainly make our 1/1s a lot better...
Selfless Spirit -- 2 CMC, is spirit, protects from sweepers, gets in for 2.
Tasigur, the Golden Fang/Gurmag Angler -- beefy threats.
Soulflayer -- a much spicier beefy threat (will usually have flying) that dodges Fatal Push and bolt.
I've also considered cutting one or two nullifiers, which would ease up our exile requirements. I'm definitely on the fence about whether Beckon Apparition is powerful enough. Aethersphere Harvester might make the 1/1 more relevant, but it's slow. Dimensional Infiltrator and Vendillion Clique are also considerations if I end up cutting Apparition.
Here's a shot at a more midrange list that's less all-in on nullifiers:
4 Rattlechains
2 Selfless Spirit
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
2 Vendillion Clique
2 Ulamog's Nullifier
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
4 Fatal Push
4 Path to Exile
2 Spell Snare
4 Remand
4 Delay
Lands: 23
4 Flooded Strand
2 Marsh Flats
1 Godless Shrine
2 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
2 Marsh Flats
1 Plains
4 Polluted Delta
1 Seachrome Coast
1 Swamp
2 Watery Grave