I built this deck after playing UW Tron. I tried UW Tron shortly after the DRS ban, as I wanted to see how good Gifts Ungiven had become. My conclusion was that UW Tron had a few problems, such as: too many colorless sources, very few cheap answers, relatively high number of dead draws in the early game – Emrakul and Eye of Ugin for example.
However, I was impressed with the Azorius Signet + Thirst for Knowledge engine that UW Tron utilized. They work hand in hand; Signets ramp you up and fix your mana, so that you can cast your big spells like Gifts and Wraths faster. On the other hand, Thirst lets you pitch Signets to it, and other stuff like Rites/reanimation targets/counterspells (which are dead in the late-game).
I wanted to push this synergy as far as I could (i.e. maxing out on mana rocks), so I used a starting point of:
Then I decided that since I already have 8 mana rocks, I might as well play some good colorless lands. Tectonic Edge is a staple – instant 4. The other colorless land, Radiant Fountain, is a freeroll. It’s easy to see that it gives you breathing room against aggro, but it also mitigates the life loss from Talisman.
The rest of the cards are standard fare in UWx control decks: removal, counterspells, planeswalkers and Snapcaster Mage. Clearing the board with Wrath and casting a planeswalker afterwards is really good. I don’t have Cryptic Command because I think the 4 CMC slot is pretty crowded, but if you want to play it, cut a Wrath or Snapcaster.
The end result is a deck which is much more prepared to deal with the early-game. In addition to having more cheap answers, your mana is also better, so you can cast those answers on time. Simple comparison: Tron has 12 colorless sources, 4 Signets and 1 Talisman. The deck above has 8 colorless sources, 4 Signets and 4 Talismans.
So, in conclusion, why should you play this deck? Because of turn 3 Wraths and Gifts, that’s why.
Cool deck idea I hope to see it do well in the future.
I feel as if the deck needs a cheap costing creatures, to block or stall the game until you can cast a finisher. Also Norn does not seen to have good chemistry with the deck because of the low creature count.
But I really hope that this deck will succeed best of luck to you
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[center][color=Blue]
U/R Delver
Edric Spy and die
Azami the lady of the draw
Naya Zoo
Past decks
Orloro
sharuum the hegemond
Mono black control
splinter twin
I like the idea. Would Glimmerpost be a better option than the fountain? Overall you gain more life from them but might be too fragile to rely on. Nice option when casting gifts looking for value late(er) game, I guess though.
Timely in the main is something I always like as something to grab with the 3 wrath package, too. I dont know how much you really need Gideon in there. Was he the what you'd grab with wraths?
The reason you don't need Timely Reinforcements is the Fountains.
If I grab 3 Wraths, the 4th card is Snaps or Gifts. If they put Snaps/Gifts in my hand, lol, I get to do the Rites combo after wiping their board. If they play correctly I'll end up with 2 Wraths in my hand, which is still OK.
I really like this list, the problem I have is it feels like you should be doing something better than having so many signets and talismans. It seems unnecessary at least in theory.
Izzet have you found it to help you consistently get a turn 3 gifts? I understand that extra signets get you value for the thirsty, but it still feels overloaded in that direction.
I'm keeping this thread under lots of interest. I feel its the same basic list I want to be running, but im not convinced its stronger than UW tron.
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Currently Playing:
Modern: UWUW TronUW
Legacy: WDeath N TaxesW CEldrazi C
If you couldn't tell I hate greedy blue decks.
This deck looks pretty decent. In practice, how well have you fared against Scavenging Ooze? I'd imagine Wraths and PtE do quick work of it (and maybe it's because 4cc Gifts doesn't run 3 Wraths maindeck that I generally had a terrible time playing 4cc Gifts against Melira Pod back when Deathrite and Ooze were legal), but the deck looks a bit reliant on the Gifts plan.
It's definitely possible that <8 mana rocks is right. The reason I chose 8 is personal; I play combo primarily and if a card is good enough to play as a 4-of, I start looking for 5th-8th copies.
Signet is good at fixing your mana in general (especially for Supreme Verdict), while Talisman lets you hold mana for Path/Snare on turn 2 (possibly into a T3 Gifts).
The inclusion of at least some mana rocks is pretty much forced. You're not playing Gifts + Rites without a way to ditch Rites/fatties in your hand. That means either playing black for Liliana (like 4C Gifts), or Thirst (like UW Tron). With Thirst, you need some artifacts to support it. UW Tron plays 4 Signets + 1 Talisman + 2 Maps minimum so that's the number I'd go for, 7. Of course, what I really want in those slots is Chrome Mox, but that's banned so we have to settle for 2-mana artifacts.
On the subject of T3 Gifts, well, it's certainly not "combo deck kills you on T4 kill"-consistent, but it happens much more frquently than with UW Tron. Gifts aren't the only thing you can do, you can also Wrath, Elspeth, and Thirst with Path mana.
I don't expect this deck to do well against BGx because they have Liliana, but Pod is favorable exactly because of the Wraths and Elesh Norn. Maybe Angel Pod is closer because they have Thoughtseizes and Sin Collector main.
I really like this. Thirst and Gifts are some of the most powerful blue spells in Modern. If only there was a Signet that produced UU...then you could play Cryptic Command, and have a sort of Holy Trifecta of powerful blue spells.
I would keep most of what you have, but find a way to splash black for a full set of lingering souls and unburial rites from the hand. Radiant fountain isn't THAT good. It'll also make elesh norn better than just playing a supreme verdict.
Caleb Durwood on ChannelFireball did a bunch of videos on a deck he called "Tezzewrath" which was an Esper version of this style of deck, except it was running Lingering Souls and Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas. He got it submitted to him in a brewing contest.
The synergy of Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas and Inkmoth Nexus was probably my favourite part of that deck.
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Well, I can saw a woman in two, but you won't wanna look in the box when I'm through.
4 Tectonic Edge
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Celestial Colonnade
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Island
1 Snow-Covered Island
1 Plains
1 Snow-Covered Plains
1 Arid Mesa
1 Scalding Tarn
4 Azorius Signet
4 Talisman of Progress
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Thirst for Knowledge
4 Gifts Ungiven
1 Day of Judgment
1 Wrath of God
1 Supreme Verdict
3 Spell Snare
2 Mana Leak
1 Remand
1 Unburial Rites
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1 Gideon Jura
2 Disenchant
2 Negate
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Torpor Orb
1 Pithing Needle
1 Celestial Purge
1 Spellskite
1 Aven Mindcensor
1 Timely Reinforcements
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Batterskull
I built this deck after playing UW Tron. I tried UW Tron shortly after the DRS ban, as I wanted to see how good Gifts Ungiven had become. My conclusion was that UW Tron had a few problems, such as: too many colorless sources, very few cheap answers, relatively high number of dead draws in the early game – Emrakul and Eye of Ugin for example.
However, I was impressed with the Azorius Signet + Thirst for Knowledge engine that UW Tron utilized. They work hand in hand; Signets ramp you up and fix your mana, so that you can cast your big spells like Gifts and Wraths faster. On the other hand, Thirst lets you pitch Signets to it, and other stuff like Rites/reanimation targets/counterspells (which are dead in the late-game).
I wanted to push this synergy as far as I could (i.e. maxing out on mana rocks), so I used a starting point of:
4 Talisman of Progress
4 Thirst for Knowledge
4 Gifts Ungiven
1 Unburial Rites
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
Then I decided that since I already have 8 mana rocks, I might as well play some good colorless lands. Tectonic Edge is a staple – instant 4. The other colorless land, Radiant Fountain, is a freeroll. It’s easy to see that it gives you breathing room against aggro, but it also mitigates the life loss from Talisman.
The rest of the cards are standard fare in UWx control decks: removal, counterspells, planeswalkers and Snapcaster Mage. Clearing the board with Wrath and casting a planeswalker afterwards is really good. I don’t have Cryptic Command because I think the 4 CMC slot is pretty crowded, but if you want to play it, cut a Wrath or Snapcaster.
The end result is a deck which is much more prepared to deal with the early-game. In addition to having more cheap answers, your mana is also better, so you can cast those answers on time. Simple comparison: Tron has 12 colorless sources, 4 Signets and 1 Talisman. The deck above has 8 colorless sources, 4 Signets and 4 Talismans.
So, in conclusion, why should you play this deck? Because of turn 3 Wraths and Gifts, that’s why.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
I feel as if the deck needs a cheap costing creatures, to block or stall the game until you can cast a finisher. Also Norn does not seen to have good chemistry with the deck because of the low creature count.
But I really hope that this deck will succeed best of luck to you
[center][color=Blue]
Edric Spy and die
Azami the lady of the draw
Naya Zoo
Past decks
Orloro
sharuum the hegemond
Mono black control
splinter twin
I know Fountain isn't the most exciting card, but in this deck it's like playing a Vanguard that starts you out with 0-8 extra life.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
Timely in the main is something I always like as something to grab with the 3 wrath package, too. I dont know how much you really need Gideon in there. Was he the what you'd grab with wraths?
If I grab 3 Wraths, the 4th card is Snaps or Gifts. If they put Snaps/Gifts in my hand, lol, I get to do the Rites combo after wiping their board. If they play correctly I'll end up with 2 Wraths in my hand, which is still OK.
Gideon is there as a wincon.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
Izzet have you found it to help you consistently get a turn 3 gifts? I understand that extra signets get you value for the thirsty, but it still feels overloaded in that direction.
I'm keeping this thread under lots of interest. I feel its the same basic list I want to be running, but im not convinced its stronger than UW tron.
Modern:
UWUW TronUW
Legacy:
WDeath N TaxesW
CEldrazi C
If you couldn't tell I hate greedy blue decks.
Vintage
WWhite Trash
Signet is good at fixing your mana in general (especially for Supreme Verdict), while Talisman lets you hold mana for Path/Snare on turn 2 (possibly into a T3 Gifts).
The inclusion of at least some mana rocks is pretty much forced. You're not playing Gifts + Rites without a way to ditch Rites/fatties in your hand. That means either playing black for Liliana (like 4C Gifts), or Thirst (like UW Tron). With Thirst, you need some artifacts to support it. UW Tron plays 4 Signets + 1 Talisman + 2 Maps minimum so that's the number I'd go for, 7. Of course, what I really want in those slots is Chrome Mox, but that's banned so we have to settle for 2-mana artifacts.
On the subject of T3 Gifts, well, it's certainly not "combo deck kills you on T4 kill"-consistent, but it happens much more frquently than with UW Tron. Gifts aren't the only thing you can do, you can also Wrath, Elspeth, and Thirst with Path mana.
I don't expect this deck to do well against BGx because they have Liliana, but Pod is favorable exactly because of the Wraths and Elesh Norn. Maybe Angel Pod is closer because they have Thoughtseizes and Sin Collector main.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
8 Artifacts doesn't seem enough to warrant singleton Trading Post and/or Academy Ruins.
My Modern decks:
B/R/G Living End G/R/B
G/R Tron R/G
U/W/G/R Gargageddon R/G/W/U
R/W/G Naya Burn G/W/R
The synergy of Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas and Inkmoth Nexus was probably my favourite part of that deck.