Still Toying with the sideboard a lot, but the main deck is where I want it. I'd like to work in Notion Thief into the sideboard, just simply to strip a Sphinx Rev, but anytime I've tried, it doesn't work, seeing as Rev almost always gets drop for cheap under pressure, and dumped into on a tap out. I like the idea, and only because I like that card, but I'm sure it's not going to work. If anyone thinks I'm wrong, feel free to help me work it in.
I've made it worked before but only once.... my opponent proceeded to scoop the moment he realized he had to discard his hand... then again.. the chances of getting there is actually very thin. we're not going to play 4 notion thief so chances are we may not have it when he casts a big sphinx... and even if we do have it, chances are opponent will keep mana up for for counter knowing that you may counter that sphinx.
technically we CAN cast it any turn and does not need to be in responds of a sphinx but any sane opponent will know to get rid of it before going for a big sphinx. not worth the card slots for so many conditions imo
I've made it worked before but only once.... my opponent proceeded to scoop the moment he realized he had to discard his hand... then again.. the chances of getting there is actually very thin. we're not going to play 4 notion thief so chances are we may not have it when he casts a big sphinx... and even if we do have it, chances are opponent will keep mana up for for counter knowing that you may counter that sphinx.
technically we CAN cast it any turn and does not need to be in responds of a sphinx but any sane opponent will know to get rid of it before going for a big sphinx. not worth the card slots for so many conditions imo
Yeah, Flash is what gives the card purpose in the first place. I'm sure there's a format it can work in, maybe with howling mine and Rites of Flourishing with Laboratory Maniac in a BUG draw out deck. Not standard though. The Dimir in me wants to play that card, lol.
Edit: I stand Corrected, Jun'ya Iyanaga ran 2 Notion Thief in SB at GP Shizuoka and placed 6th. Arguement can be made that he would have placed higher with better sideboard options, but to that, I say, He could have also places thousands of spots lower as well.
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In regards to Notion Thief. UW has problems removing this card from the field. Detention Sphere and Supreme Verdict are the only answers and you can counter the Sphere. Once he is there they cant search for an answer anymore.
I did played against an UB deck once as UW and got destroyed 2-0 because of him. He is very powerful if you are not preparded for him.
In regards to Notion Thief. UW has problems removing this card from the field. Detention Sphere and Supreme Verdict are the only answers and you can counter the Sphere. Once he is there they cant search for an answer anymore.
I did played against an UB deck once as UW and got destroyed 2-0 because of him. He is very powerful if you are not preparded for him.
Thanks, testing out my build with 2 Thief in th SB, took out the Aetherling and a Pithing Needle.
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I'm really surprised shota didn't run any dimir charms. I would replace warped physique with dimir charms. Probably even run a play set. It kills all of mono blue's creatures. It hits lots of relevant creatures right now. It counters thoughtseize, rakdos return, dread bores etc. and if your opponent is screwed on lands you can set him up to miss a land drop. And notion thief wow, absolutely my favorite card from dragons maze being able to negate a sphinx's rev and shutting down bidents and underworld connections. Also along side domestications I can see soul's ransom being good too. Best case scenario we steal their creature if they want it back they discard and we draw two. VALUE
I believe dimir is going to be a top tier guild soon. The 3 decks in standard we have to build for is mono blue mono black and esper. Dimir has all the tools to beat these decks
What are everyone's thoughts on using Consuming Aberration as a finisher. By the time you've stabilized enough, this thing would come in massive.
Also, thoughts on a mill win condition, or Duskmantle Guildmage + Jace/some other massive mill card. (Eg, Activate duskmantle twice, then 0 jace for 20)
What are everyone's thoughts on using Consuming Aberration as a finisher. By the time you've stabilized enough, this thing would come in massive.
Also, thoughts on a mill win condition, or Duskmantle Guildmage + Jace/some other massive mill card. (Eg, Activate duskmantle twice, then 0 jace for 20)
My thoughts are that Abberation isn't as good an attacker as a mill engine, I.E. Unblockable + Paranoid Delusions. Jace, Memory Adept is a good add regardless, he can win games on his own. unless you give Abberation flying or unblockable, you probably won't get damage through. Bottom line, in my experience, it's easier to mill someone out when your adding Mill to 1 land onto every spell you cast, and not even successfully.
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Seems pretty solid.I don't like Domestication, but that's purely a personal choice. I might go 3 & 3 on Dimir Charm and Thoughtseize. So, yeah, looks really good.
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Seems pretty solid.I don't like Domestication, but that's purely a personal choice. I might go 3 & 3 on Dimir Charm and Thoughtseize. So, yeah, looks really good.
What would you consider besides the domestication? I kinda like it because from time to time it can help me get thasa online. I like the 3/3 thoughtseize dimir charm split, I will try that.
@Coldlogik - Running Thassa was the only reason why I was running Domestication at the time, but since I dropped Thassa I didn't think i needed domestication. After last night though Im reconsidering the card for the aggro match.
I played this version of UB control last night. Went 2-3 Beating GR Monsters and White weenie but losing to 2 white weenie decks and a mono blue. I got really unlucky with my draws the games that I lost.
I have to say that Ashiok was great. Sometimes it whiffed on the mill but that was fine. Specter was also great vs aggro applying pressure form the skies and being a 2/3 for blocking. Dimir Charm was good, didn't see any sorceries but plenty of creatures and the last mode has potential in conjunction with Specter and Ashiok. Aetherling was AMAZING as always not a lot of players expected to see that card (or this build for that matter).
Ratchet Bomb seemed slow. Boros Charm was a punch in the gut in response to blowing up.
Notion Thief I never got to play. Lifebane Zombie was good against G/R Monsters and White Weenie, I really wish it had pro green and white rather than intimidate.
What would you consider besides the domestication? I kinda like it because from time to time it can help me get thasa online. I like the 3/3 thoughtseize dimir charm split, I will try that.
I agree with HLG, Domestication is good With Thassa, you can steal big creatures to kill them(like Obzedat, Stormbreathe, Desecration Demon, or Blood Baron), or take smaller ones like Voice, Tusker, Fleecemane, or even Deathrite Shaman and use them against you're opponents. I'm not running any Thassa, and i fI do it's as a 1 of for the scry. I like what HLG did and is running 4 Nightveils, however you could still run those with Thassa, but at that point you're starting to run a Devotion type build. I would still keep that type of build in mind for whenever we get to see Phenax. I'm running no Devotion, and only 4 creatures in my build, and Far/Away would be a good replacement, since rather than a 4 cost Enchantment, you get the Utlity of a 2drop Unsummon, a 3drop Diabolic Edict, or a 5drop for both, which bounces first. Here's how I'm running UB Control now.
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I lost one match on weds to a U/R guttersnipe deck, but ended up splitting with same guy in the final round. This particular day i finally beat a black devotion deck 2-1. In one game he got mana flooded that one game i won and in the other game i won i had all the answers for his creatures. Ashiok helped too. That day i went 3-1. On friday i went 3-1 too. The only deck i lost to was an angel deck and i forgot to side in the lifebane zombies. Oh well. I beat another black devotionish deck. I had all the answers for it. I did although have to give this person the 2-1 victory because i could not finish. I played one match with this person.
This deck is very very good. I added 2 more specters MB and two more heros downfalls for the sb. And these changes seem to have helped out the deck.
Why do you run quicken when the only sorcery you have is thoughtseize?
Glad you asked. It's card draw that costs 1 blue. Plain and simple. T2 is currently out of any other monoblue draw for 2 or less without Think Twice. Plus, with all the scry I have, I can set up an answer in my library. It thins the deck a bit to get to the stuff I need, and landing an instant speed to a Thoughtseize is really just gravy that I occasionally add to already delicious garlic mashed potatoes. I mean if you have the mana, you can go Draw a card, :1mana::symu::symu: Counter Target spell. Sound a bit like Cryptic Command? Then add for an instant Thoughtseize and still get a Scry 1. It's just a ton of Value in a little card.
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Why doesn't this deck run Read the Bones? Digging up to 4 deep seems extremely strong.
Between Sorcery speed and losing 2 life it's too much downside. Thoughtseize is more worth the 2 life. Underworld Connections isn't bad for black draw, but Blue has Quicken, Divination, Inspiration, and Opportunity. All instant speed with no downside.
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Went 3-0 last night beating a red aggro deck with ashiok taking the lead. He had me down to 1 life and needing a burn spell to finish me off i milled his burn until i beat face with his creatures and my demons and specters. The first person i played was playing a bogbrew witch deck and i beat him both times taking a blood baron in both wins. I beat a simic deck in the second person i played. All in a good night, although for fun i played another persons prophet of kruphrix deck and lost by slim margins not being able to stablize his board is not good.
Went 3-0 last night beating a red aggro deck with ashiok taking the lead. He had me down to 1 life and needing a burn spell to finish me off i milled his burn until i beat face with his creatures and my demons and specters. The first person i played was playing a bogbrew witch deck and i beat him both times taking a blood baron in both wins. I beat a simic deck in the second person i played. All in a good night, although for fun i played another persons prophet of kruphrix deck and lost by slim margins not being able to stablize his board is not good.
Nice work! Yeah, Prophet decks are usually pretty squirrelly. I have problems with that one as well.
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Went 3-0 last night beating a red aggro deck with ashiok taking the lead. He had me down to 1 life and needing a burn spell to finish me off i milled his burn until i beat face with his creatures and my demons and specters. The first person i played was playing a bogbrew witch deck and i beat him both times taking a blood baron in both wins. I beat a simic deck in the second person i played. All in a good night, although for fun i played another persons prophet of kruphrix deck and lost by slim margins not being able to stablize his board is not good.
What do you guys think? This deck is pretty good and has been winning for me. I dont think except for once has this deck ever lost 2 games in a tournament sans the one where i played a control deck and also lost to a mono black deck in the same tournament. Ashiok flat out can win me games. If you let him stick around he is gonna take your creature or hes gonna mill your cards you need to win games.
What do you guys think? This deck is pretty good and has been winning for me. I dont think except for once has this deck ever lost 2 games in a tournament sans the one where i played a control deck and also lost to a mono black deck in the same tournament. Ashiok flat out can win me games. If you let him stick around he is gonna take your creature or hes gonna mill your cards you need to win games.
Well, it's hard to say without seeing your manabase, but if you're running 60 cards, it looks like 22 lands? With no draw spells, how are you hitting your land drops and still finding answers? With 10 creatures in a control build, you're over doing it. This actually seems more like Midrange, running 4 nightveil, 4 Desecration, 2 Aetherling. Is no one at your LGS playing Azorius Control? Because it seems like their Card Advantage (4 Azo Charm, 2 Quicken, 3 - 4 Jace, Architect of Thought, 3 Sphinx Rev, and an Elixir to recycle), and Answers(Namely 4 Dissolve, 3 Syncopate, 4 D Sphere, 4 Verdict) would just take you out back, put you up against a wall and hose you down for 2 - 3 rounds. Playing Aetherling at all warrants more than 22 land, but throw in the 4 Des Demons, and there's 6 wincons. Plus 3 MD 1 SB Ashiok. I guess you can hit opponents lands with Specter, I guess what I'm saying is there's not a whole lot of cohesion. But, like I said, my entire opinion could change with seeing the manabase. You can use the [deck.][/deck] tags to not have to mess with so many [card.][/card]tags.
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Doom Blade needs to be in the sideboard right now with how prevalent Mono Black is. Replace with Dimir Charm possibly, as it hits a lot of things in standard (Nightveil, Gary, most of mono blue, Pack Rat, most of Red, etc.)
25-26 lands is where you want to be. You will lose if you miss land drops in this deck.
4x Essence Scatter seems to be too much. I'd cut this to 0-2.
4x Far // Away I'm skeptical on, but could be persuaded otherwise.
It's certainly not a bad deck, and I could see it winning against everything but control decks. With that being said, where are your Gainsays?
Doom Blade needs to be in the sideboard right now with how prevalent Mono Black is. Replace with Dimir Charm possibly, as it hits a lot of things in standard (Nightveil, Gary, most of mono blue, Pack Rat, most of Red, etc.)
25-26 lands is where you want to be. You will lose if you miss land drops in this deck.
4x Essence Scatter seems to be too much. I'd cut this to 0-2.
4x Far // Away I'm skeptical on, but could be persuaded otherwise.
It's certainly not a bad deck, and I could see it winning against everything but control decks. With that being said, where are your Gainsays?
Doom Blade in the sideboard is a meta move. I'm running 2 boom blades MD and replace them with with Dark Betrayal against Mono Black. With 3 Hero's Downfall, 3 Devour Flesh, and 4 Far/Away, it's still got up to 14 other spot removal.
25-26 Lands sounds right.
Far and away is a bomb. Far hits any creature, Away is a 3drop Devour Flesh without the life gain, and then you can fuse for both. I've used it a TON and it's never been a dead card, ever.
Gainsay is good, but it's not a must. It can work in the sideboard as a 3-of.
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We gotta determine what the best gameplan is, since we have a quick expiration date on how long we can control the game due to the lack of revelation/verdict/sphere, I think it's best to go midrange.
I don't think Jace would be well-positioned in a deck like this, we can control the early game well enough though.
We would have access to thoughtseize, DD, and hero's downfall but no dissolve or jace. Dissolve can be replaced by psychic strike. This gameplan can either be a variant of either mono black devotion or BR midrange
We would lose the consistency of thoughtseize, downfall, and desecration demon. Downfall would be replaced with far // away maybe? Would most likely be a variant of mono blue devotion or a draw-go plan
Which gives us access to both dissolve and hero's downfall (you need 19 black for a t3 downfall and 19 blue for a t3 dissolve to remain consistent), but we would lose access to mutavault and a reliable t1 thoughtseize.
3 of = You want to see at least 1 per game
4 of = You're pretty much always fine with multiples
Based with consistency in mind, I think the strongest will be option 1, here is a theorycrafted brew I'm gonna try out and maybe take to a casual online tournament in cockatrice or fnm
Mainboard seems better positioned against midrange and control than aggro so maybe I need to dedicate more sideboard slots to that type of matchup. Sideboard replaces the more versatile yet less efficient cards so doom blade/price/phalanx can come in over the countermagic and edicts against aggro I guess? Pack rat might also be better than sphinx since it's easier on the idea of holding up counter magic or removal mana up
Phalanx sounds better against control than devour flesh too. I don't know yet, gotta playtest but that's my initial 2 cents for what it's worth.
I've made it worked before but only once.... my opponent proceeded to scoop the moment he realized he had to discard his hand... then again.. the chances of getting there is actually very thin. we're not going to play 4 notion thief so chances are we may not have it when he casts a big sphinx... and even if we do have it, chances are opponent will keep mana up for for counter knowing that you may counter that sphinx.
technically we CAN cast it any turn and does not need to be in responds of a sphinx but any sane opponent will know to get rid of it before going for a big sphinx. not worth the card slots for so many conditions imo
Yeah, Flash is what gives the card purpose in the first place. I'm sure there's a format it can work in, maybe with howling mine and Rites of Flourishing with Laboratory Maniac in a BUG draw out deck. Not standard though. The Dimir in me wants to play that card, lol.
Edit: I stand Corrected, Jun'ya Iyanaga ran 2 Notion Thief in SB at GP Shizuoka and placed 6th. Arguement can be made that he would have placed higher with better sideboard options, but to that, I say, He could have also places thousands of spots lower as well.
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I did played against an UB deck once as UW and got destroyed 2-0 because of him. He is very powerful if you are not preparded for him.
Thanks, testing out my build with 2 Thief in th SB, took out the Aetherling and a Pithing Needle.
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I believe dimir is going to be a top tier guild soon. The 3 decks in standard we have to build for is mono blue mono black and esper. Dimir has all the tools to beat these decks
Also, thoughts on a mill win condition, or Duskmantle Guildmage + Jace/some other massive mill card. (Eg, Activate duskmantle twice, then 0 jace for 20)
My thoughts are that Abberation isn't as good an attacker as a mill engine, I.E. Unblockable + Paranoid Delusions. Jace, Memory Adept is a good add regardless, he can win games on his own. unless you give Abberation flying or unblockable, you probably won't get damage through. Bottom line, in my experience, it's easier to mill someone out when your adding Mill to 1 land onto every spell you cast, and not even successfully.
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2 Prognostic Sphinx
2 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
7 Island
5 Swamp
2 Dimir Guildgate
4 Mutavault
4 Temple of Deceit
4 Watery Grave
3 Ratchet Bomb
2 Domestication
2 Devour Flesh
3 Dissolve
3 Hero's Downfall
3 Syncopate
4 Dimir Charm
2 Thoughtseize
4 Tidebinder Mage
2 Essence Scatter
2 Gainsay
2 Negate
3 Duress
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Seems pretty solid.I don't like Domestication, but that's purely a personal choice. I might go 3 & 3 on Dimir Charm and Thoughtseize. So, yeah, looks really good.
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What would you consider besides the domestication? I kinda like it because from time to time it can help me get thasa online. I like the 3/3 thoughtseize dimir charm split, I will try that.
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I played this version of UB control last night. Went 2-3 Beating GR Monsters and White weenie but losing to 2 white weenie decks and a mono blue. I got really unlucky with my draws the games that I lost.
Creatures (6)
4 Nightveil Specter
1 Prognostic Sphinx
1 Aetherling
Planeswalker (5)
2 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
Spells (25)
2 Ratchet Bomb
3 Syncopate
2 Dissolve
1 Essence Scatter
2 Ultimate Price
3 Hero's Downfall
2 Devour Flesh
2 Doom Blade
3 Dimir Charm
2 Divination
3 Thoughtseize
7 Island
5 Swamp
4 Mutavault
4 Temple of Deceit
4 Watery Grave
1 Pithing Needle
1 Negate
1 Doom Blade
2 Lifebane Zombie
2 Gainsay
2 Notion Thief
2 Duress
2 Tidebinder Mage
2 Dark Betrayal
I have to say that Ashiok was great. Sometimes it whiffed on the mill but that was fine. Specter was also great vs aggro applying pressure form the skies and being a 2/3 for blocking. Dimir Charm was good, didn't see any sorceries but plenty of creatures and the last mode has potential in conjunction with Specter and Ashiok. Aetherling was AMAZING as always not a lot of players expected to see that card (or this build for that matter).
Ratchet Bomb seemed slow. Boros Charm was a punch in the gut in response to blowing up.
Notion Thief I never got to play. Lifebane Zombie was good against G/R Monsters and White Weenie, I really wish it had pro green and white rather than intimidate.
Some cards I'm considering:
Blustersquall
Aetherize
Domestication
Far// Away
Shrivel
Psychic Strike - Sometimes easier to cast than Dissolve. Mills whatever they left on top from scrying last turn. It might be a little cute but testing it couldn't hurt.
Of course feedback and suggestions are always welcome.
H/W List http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=112656
I agree with HLG, Domestication is good With Thassa, you can steal big creatures to kill them(like Obzedat, Stormbreathe, Desecration Demon, or Blood Baron), or take smaller ones like Voice, Tusker, Fleecemane, or even Deathrite Shaman and use them against you're opponents. I'm not running any Thassa, and i fI do it's as a 1 of for the scry. I like what HLG did and is running 4 Nightveils, however you could still run those with Thassa, but at that point you're starting to run a Devotion type build. I would still keep that type of build in mind for whenever we get to see Phenax. I'm running no Devotion, and only 4 creatures in my build, and Far/Away would be a good replacement, since rather than a 4 cost Enchantment, you get the Utlity of a 2drop Unsummon, a 3drop Diabolic Edict, or a 5drop for both, which bounces first. Here's how I'm running UB Control now.
4 Watery Grave
4 Temple of Deciet
3 Dimir Guildgate
3 Mutavault
8 Isalnd
4 Swamp
Creatures
3 Omenspeaker
1 Prognostic Sphinx
Instants
3 Dissolve
2 Essence Scatter
2 Doomblade
2 Hero's Downfall
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Far/Away
4 Quicken
3 Inspiration
3 Thoughtseize
Artifacts
2 Ratchet Bomb
Planeswalkers
2 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
3 Duress
2 Pithing Needle
2 Dark Betrayal
2 Ultimate Price
2 Negate
2 Notion Theif
1 Desecration Demon
1 Hero's Downfall
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This deck is very very good. I added 2 more specters MB and two more heros downfalls for the sb. And these changes seem to have helped out the deck.
Glad you asked. It's card draw that costs 1 blue. Plain and simple. T2 is currently out of any other monoblue draw for 2 or less without Think Twice. Plus, with all the scry I have, I can set up an answer in my library. It thins the deck a bit to get to the stuff I need, and landing an instant speed to a Thoughtseize is really just gravy that I occasionally add to already delicious garlic mashed potatoes. I mean if you have the mana, you can go Draw a card, :1mana::symu::symu: Counter Target spell. Sound a bit like Cryptic Command? Then add for an instant Thoughtseize and still get a Scry 1. It's just a ton of Value in a little card.
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Between Sorcery speed and losing 2 life it's too much downside. Thoughtseize is more worth the 2 life. Underworld Connections isn't bad for black draw, but Blue has Quicken, Divination, Inspiration, and Opportunity. All instant speed with no downside.
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Nice work! Yeah, Prophet decks are usually pretty squirrelly. I have problems with that one as well.
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so what's your deck list looking like now?
4Desecration Demon
4Far/Away
4Essence Scatter
4Thoughtseize
3Hero's Downfall
3Ashiok Nightmare Weaver
3Syncopate
3Devour Flesh
2Doom Blade
2Aetherling
2Dissolve
SB
1Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1Hero's Downfall
1Devour Flesh
3Negate
3Dark Betrayal
3Duress
3Lifebane Zombie
What do you guys think? This deck is pretty good and has been winning for me. I dont think except for once has this deck ever lost 2 games in a tournament sans the one where i played a control deck and also lost to a mono black deck in the same tournament. Ashiok flat out can win me games. If you let him stick around he is gonna take your creature or hes gonna mill your cards you need to win games.
Well, it's hard to say without seeing your manabase, but if you're running 60 cards, it looks like 22 lands? With no draw spells, how are you hitting your land drops and still finding answers? With 10 creatures in a control build, you're over doing it. This actually seems more like Midrange, running 4 nightveil, 4 Desecration, 2 Aetherling. Is no one at your LGS playing Azorius Control? Because it seems like their Card Advantage (4 Azo Charm, 2 Quicken, 3 - 4 Jace, Architect of Thought, 3 Sphinx Rev, and an Elixir to recycle), and Answers(Namely 4 Dissolve, 3 Syncopate, 4 D Sphere, 4 Verdict) would just take you out back, put you up against a wall and hose you down for 2 - 3 rounds. Playing Aetherling at all warrants more than 22 land, but throw in the 4 Des Demons, and there's 6 wincons. Plus 3 MD 1 SB Ashiok. I guess you can hit opponents lands with Specter, I guess what I'm saying is there's not a whole lot of cohesion. But, like I said, my entire opinion could change with seeing the manabase. You can use the [deck.][/deck] tags to not have to mess with so many [card.][/card]tags.
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Doom Blade needs to be in the sideboard right now with how prevalent Mono Black is. Replace with Dimir Charm possibly, as it hits a lot of things in standard (Nightveil, Gary, most of mono blue, Pack Rat, most of Red, etc.)
25-26 lands is where you want to be. You will lose if you miss land drops in this deck.
4x Essence Scatter seems to be too much. I'd cut this to 0-2.
4x Far // Away I'm skeptical on, but could be persuaded otherwise.
It's certainly not a bad deck, and I could see it winning against everything but control decks. With that being said, where are your Gainsays?
Doom Blade in the sideboard is a meta move. I'm running 2 boom blades MD and replace them with with Dark Betrayal against Mono Black. With 3 Hero's Downfall, 3 Devour Flesh, and 4 Far/Away, it's still got up to 14 other spot removal.
25-26 Lands sounds right.
Far and away is a bomb. Far hits any creature, Away is a 3drop Devour Flesh without the life gain, and then you can fuse for both. I've used it a TON and it's never been a dead card, ever.
Gainsay is good, but it's not a must. It can work in the sideboard as a 3-of.
Avatar by DarkNightCavalier
You will not remember my face, your name, or your journey, but in the end...
You will accede my every command.
I don't think Jace would be well-positioned in a deck like this, we can control the early game well enough though.
Here is a helpful link on configuring your mana base too http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/frank-analysis-how-many-colored-mana-sources-do-you-need-to-consistently-cast-your-spells/
Basically, in order have a 90% or higher consistency we can go for
4 Watery Grave
4 Temple of Deceit
11 swamp
5 Island
We would have access to thoughtseize, DD, and hero's downfall but no dissolve or jace. Dissolve can be replaced by psychic strike. This gameplan can either be a variant of either mono black devotion or BR midrange
then we have the opposite
4 Watery Grave
4 Temple of Deceit
11 Island
5 Swamp
We would lose the consistency of thoughtseize, downfall, and desecration demon. Downfall would be replaced with far // away maybe? Would most likely be a variant of mono blue devotion or a draw-go plan
Then we have
4 Temple of Deceit
4 Dimir Guildgate
7 Swamp
7 Island
Which gives us access to both dissolve and hero's downfall (you need 19 black for a t3 downfall and 19 blue for a t3 dissolve to remain consistent), but we would lose access to mutavault and a reliable t1 thoughtseize.
Then there is this article as well... http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/rc/188 details what # of each spell to play
3 of = You want to see at least 1 per game
4 of = You're pretty much always fine with multiples
Based with consistency in mind, I think the strongest will be option 1, here is a theorycrafted brew I'm gonna try out and maybe take to a casual online tournament in cockatrice or fnm
4 Desecration Demon
3 Prognostic Sphinx or Pack Rat
Planeswalkers (4)
4 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
Instants (19)
4 Dimir Charm
3 Devour Flesh
3 Syncopate
3 Hero's Downfall
3 Psychic Strike
3 Opportunity
4 Thoughtseize
Lands (26)
2 Mutavault
4 Watery Grave
4 Temple of Deceit
11 swamp
5 Island
3 Duress
3 Returned Phalanx
3 Doom Blade
3 Ultimate Price
3 Far // Away
Mainboard seems better positioned against midrange and control than aggro so maybe I need to dedicate more sideboard slots to that type of matchup. Sideboard replaces the more versatile yet less efficient cards so doom blade/price/phalanx can come in over the countermagic and edicts against aggro I guess? Pack rat might also be better than sphinx since it's easier on the idea of holding up counter magic or removal mana up
Phalanx sounds better against control than devour flesh too. I don't know yet, gotta playtest but that's my initial 2 cents for what it's worth.