Focusing around Aetherflux Reservoir, a bunch of 0 mana artifacts in Bone Saw, Ornithopter, and Cathar's Shield, and then bouncing them via Paradoxical Outcome to draw a ton of cards. Renegade Map is another cheap artifact that you can bounce while also grabbing a land if you need it allowing us to play a much lower land count. Inspiring Statuary combines with all of the artifacts in the deck to produce an astounding amount of mana, especially when you tap them to play a bounce spell, and then play them again allowing you to tap them again to play even more spells. Baral's Expertise can either serve to slow the opponent down or bounce your artifacts for value while casting any of your other cards for free. Glint-Nest Crane gives a serviceable flying body while grabbing an artifact. Commit // Memory is the sole new card from Amonkhet serving to slow the opponent down or protect our combo while providing more cards in the late game. The deck has evolved quite a bit from it's original form and while I haven't been playing it as much lately, our own Tiemuuu seems to have been doing quite well with it with a 5-0 in a competitive league. While I still like at least some Whir of Invention for consistency, he now eschews it completely going for the most value.
GB aggro/energy (also any other green aggressive midrangy decks): nothing
GB delirium: -1 Reservoir +1 Commit // Memory (these decks usually pack at least a couple of Disposses in the SB so it's possible that the alternative wincon package should come in, but the problem is that that gameplan is also kind of weak against GB)
-1 Reservoir +1 Commit // Memory is how I'm most likely to SB against anything random as well. If I'm playing against a random brew that has a slow clock and I suspect to have Disposses in the SB, I would probably cut (an additional) Reservoir and an Ornithopter for Efficient Construction + Masterwork.
Tiemuuu has also posted a few videos showcasing the power of the deck.
Dispel , Turn Aside, Invasive Surgery, and Select for Inspection are the main 4 sideboard options I was considering so far. The deck can usually outrace Emrakul and has enough instants that 1 Elder Deep-Fiend isn't much of a problem. I was just testing a version with Glint-Nest Crane replacing Foundry Inspector so that the deck simply doesn't care about most removal and it makes finding Reservoir much easier.
One version I saw of this deck was UR for Herald of Kozilek, and it looked quite powerful. Basically the same shell but no engulfs and Herald was added. I don't know that engulf is entirely necessary due the extremely powerful life gain engine built into the wincon. This version also gets to play aether hub, another way to turn on the sacrifice mode of puzzleknot. Also, 1 negate maindeck is pretty good to hedge against the little artifact removal/countermagic that exists, an it also can count towards storm by countering one of your own spells. This is what I would play for reference:
I have been running a list really similar to the above for the past week or so. Has a good deal of success, but I have some changes.
The 0 drop artifacts (Cathar's Shield, Bone Saw) are absolute garbage that do nothing to further your gameplan outside of an extra cast trigger. We can do better. Since we're going to hopefully be casting artifacts at reduced cost, there are some better options for sure.
Hedron Archive seems expensive at 4, but if you're going off, it pays for itself after the initial casting cost. It can dig for a few more cards in a pinch, and ramps you for subsequent turns if you can't finish the job, almost always assuring you WILL finish them the next turn if you're close at all. Also of note, 2 Archives and a Prophetic Prism can get you a cast of Paradoxical Outcome without tapping a single land which should almost always win you the game.
Filigree Familiar is getting a lot of hype (rightfully so) in an emerge shell, but does some serious work here. It's often a 2 drop, one drop or or free, and is the best roadblock available. If they want to get through it, you get a free card, which is exactly where this deck wants to be. The life gain on ETB can be a literal lifesaver, or give you the edge you need to get over 50. Just a great card all around.
Other minor tweaks that are by no means necessary: I'm running a Torrential Gearhulk as a one of. Flashing back an outcome with a free trigger is great, and sometimes cheaper than normal if you have a few Foundry Inspectors out. It also bounces itself on the flashback, allowing you an extra draw/2nd flashback if necessary (lol if you haven't won after casting Paradoxical Outcome three times though). You probably don't want more than one though.
Inventor's Fair has been insanely underwhelming. I went down to one since the legend rule makes hitting multiples really bad, and switched it out for a single Geier Reach Sanitarium for a bit of extra filtering.
It's a fun deck, but gets shut down very easily (any discard, removal in multiples or, God forbid, Lost Legacy targeting Paradoxical Outcome). I'll definitely be sleeving this up for an FNM or two.
As a note, I played out a game to the logical extreme and got to 4500+ life on turn 6, not even seeing my 3rd and 4th Aetherflux Reservoir until the last 10 cards of the library. Feels good, man.
As a note, I haven't the slightest idea what should go into the sideboard, or if a sideboard would even be helpful, honestly. The engine is super-tight, and the only thing I could possibly see being boarded out are the Filigree Familiars. Any ideas considering that fast aggro, removal and Lost Legacy are the bulk of what we're up against? Midrange beatdown ain't a thing, as they REALLY need to kill you before turn 5 so that you can't get irrecoverable life gain amounts online. I won a game after my opponent resolved three(!) Emrakuls, for instance.
SB would probably go the counterspell route? Since the biggest enemy will be lost legacy on paradox. So 4 negates?
But if they only remove paradox, it's still possible to semi-combo with the cantrips and archives right? It may take a few extra turns but its still not "unbeatable"
Is aggro a thing? crane and herald make good early blockers. I haven't really try the deck out so I'm not sure.
filigree familiar could possible go in against aggro decks and also the puzzlenot that gains 3 life, for the life of me i can't remember the name.
then probably Turn Aside to protect the combo pieces and/or ceremonius rejection.
I can see Padeem making the SB but haven't tested it out quite just yet.
I see we're building a very similar deck now that you've gone towards the cost reduction route.
Have you thought about Saheeli Rai? If alive on your combo turn, the -2 copies either a cost reducer or Aetherflux Reservoir, making it a lot easier to go off. With Filigree Familiar, the Crane, and 2/4 Herald of Kozilek, it's not unreasonable that Saheeli could survive 1-2 turns. If they attack Saheeli, just let it die and enjoy the extra time you bought.
Is Panharmonicon too win-more? It doubles your ETB draws, helping you dig into the combo faster and then to chain more spells on the critical turn. Unfortunately it doesn't help Gearhulk (double Outcome before getting to recast stuff doesn't do anything). And it costs 4 to play, doing nothing the turn you cast it.
I've been thinking about Hedron Archive lately. Its ability to convert extra mana into cards probably makes it better than Cultivator's Caravan (which is also "free" with 2 cost reducers and can color-fix or get crewed).
I agree with hedron archive deserving a fair shot in the deck, it seems like exactly what we want. Panharmonicon might be too win more but I can't tell without testing
From the other thread: Crush of Tentacles. It's dead on the combo turn (bounces your cost reducers and Aetherflux), but earlier it's great at buying you time to setup. Enemy creatures bounced, you can reuse your cantrips, and you might get an 8/8 blocker. Also alternate win condition without Reservoir.
I like the idea of crush of tentacles in the 0 cost artifacts version being a protection card and an alternate win-con. Do we really need 8 0-cost artifacts? Frank karsten had a G/U version in his 20 kaladesh deck article and it only runs 6 of the artifacts.
Upon further thought, Spark seems unreliable since you have to cast it right away. Not sure it's actually better than Expedite. The problem is, when you decide to cast the card, you either want it to be removal or want it to cantrip, but you have no control over which it will optimally do.
I've been working on a 3 color version of this, the 4 prophectic prisms go pretty far in mana fixing, this is just a first draft but seems to be working well, I think the uw flash/spirits deck is going to be a very difficult matchup.
Well, I've been testing this list on x-mage for a few days, and I have it at a spot where I like it. I'm not a fan of having Hedron Archive at 4, it just feels too clunky to draw multiples too early, so I have it at 2 for now. Also, I've found that if you aren't going to play the 0-cost artifacts, you really need the Metalspinner's puzzleknot to help dig faster. You need to find 2 cost reducers as fast as possible.
Anyway, I think I've found a good starting sideboard plan to start with, and it's been working wonders for me. The idea is, side out hearlds and res for Saheeli and Metalworks, and bring in the 4th Familiar against any kind of control/midrange to hedge against cheap artifact hate and negate. This plan can be much more resilient if they board for res combo. aggro is already a decent match-up, so I would just add the 4th familiar and flames.
I've been working on a 3 color version of this, the 4 prophectic prisms go pretty far in mana fixing, this is just a first draft but seems to be working well, I think the uw flash/spirits deck is going to be a very difficult matchup.
I like the idea of having an anti-aggro plan. Do you think Radiant Flames and Fumigate will wreck your own board though? I mean if you play 1-2 cost reducers and then the opponent puts you in a position where you have to wipe the board to not lose, you just set yourself back a lot. You fall behind on tempo (time wasted establishing a combo piece and then losing it) and on cards (lost a combo piece, need to dig for more). It's hard enough to get 2 reducers out without also killing your own with 6 mass removal.
Crush of Tentacles is appealing because it fills the "board wipe" role without actually setting you behind on combo pieces. Have you tested that in place of Fumigate? It probably makes the manabase easier too.
Would Kozilek's Return be better than Radiant Flames? Both kill your Foundry Inspector but not Herald (so you can play Heralds first and sandbag Inspectors for later). Return doesn't kill quite as many aggressive creatures, but it does deal with Haste attackers and Flash in a way that Flames cannot. It also means you can hold up 4 mana at all time to either Paradoxical Outcome or Kozilek's Return on their turn rather than tapping out on yours.
Well, I've been testing this list on x-mage for a few days, and I have it at a spot where I like it. I'm not a fan of having Hedron Archive at 4, it just feels too clunky to draw multiples too early, so I have it at 2 for now. Also, I've found that if you aren't going to play the 0-cost artifacts, you really need the Metalspinner's puzzleknot to help dig faster. You need to find 2 cost reducers as fast as possible.
Anyway, I think I've found a good starting sideboard plan to start with, and it's been working wonders for me. The idea is, side out hearlds and res for Saheeli and Metalworks, and bring in the 4th Familiar against any kind of control/midrange to hedge against cheap artifact hate and negate. This plan can be much more resilient if they board for res combo. aggro is already a decent match-up, so I would just add the 4th familiar and flames.
Well, That's the idea, take a look, see what you think, and test it out a bit!
I agree 4 Hedron Archive is too many.
Hmm, so compared to my list you basically moved 2 Saheeli + 1 Filigree to the SB and cut another Hedron Archive for 4 Anticipate (and -1 Crush + 1 land). Extra dig seems good. Do you find you can effectively get 2 cost reducers game 1 without Saheeli to help? Maybe the extra dig is enough.
I like the Metalworks SB plan. I've considered it as an alternate storm engine. If you can get 1 in the graveyard and cast a 2nd for free, you can use them to recur each other boosting your storm count by a lot. But boarding out Reservoir and just going beatdown is probably even better.
I want radiant flames to work but it kills our enablers in the process. Has anyone tried the creature lists vs the 0 cost artifact deck? Pros and cons?
Edit: I used the MTGGoldfish 0 cost artifact list and it sucks balls. The lists in this thread are much better.
Crush of Tentacles is appealing because it fills the "board wipe" role without actually setting you behind on combo pieces. Have you tested that in place of Fumigate?
in the equipment list crush seems very good because you can often go crush> next turn> aetherflux >win
I'm going to start looking closer at it, I was testing it before I didn't like it because casting it on 6 feels really bad, but I can definitively see the lines where you go
Crush> next turn >cast enablers plus aetherflux >win or play eggs plus paradoxical outcome on the following turn.
The list I was testing before was 4x crush and 4x fumigates.
It probably makes the manabase easier too.
I haven't been having any mana issues currently the 4 rophectic prism actually go a long way, I actually cut white sources for aether hubs, I think it gives you more relevant sideboard options potentially while sometimes being able to just work as a tendo ice bridge, it make double aether hubs hands not so great but better than double plains hands were before.
Based on my testing you just sandbag the enablers until you cast the flames, I've added in some wandering fumaroles as an alternate wincon after you boardwipe. From my testing you only need 2 cost reducers to go off. I think being able to kill cards like reflector mage, and sylvan advocate is more relevant than being instant speed, the only reasons I can think of to run kozilek's return over it would be cost reduction with herald and the ability to "go big" with return. you can still paradoxical outcome on there turn than wipe on your turn with the current build.
What I'm testing next is smuggler's copters in place of hedron archive, card isn't great most of the time, only time it is ever good is when you use the mana to cast extra hedron archives for storm and even then I could just play 1 mana-0 mana artifacts instead.
Upon further thought, Spark seems unreliable since you have to cast it right away. Not sure it's actually better than Expedite. The problem is, when you decide to cast the card, you either want it to be removal or want it to cantrip, but you have no control over which it will optimally do.
This is the list I've had the most success with on xmage so far, and I've tried all of them in this thread. I made some changes. -4 Wandering Fumarole (doesn't really fit in this deck) + 4 Aether Hub, - 1 Hedron Archive + 1 Crush of Tenticles.
Agro is a hard matchup with our only viable blockers being Fil Familiar and Glint Crane as I don't want to lose the enablers (though Herald holds his own). Saheeli is super fragile and to be honest hasn't made much of an impact on my games other than being a target dummy. I can see HOW she could be super nice in the deck but I haven't had it work that way.
4 Prophetic Prism
4 Renegade Map
4 Bone Saw
4 Inspiring Statuary
4 Glint-Nest Crane
4 Ornithopter
4 Reverse Engineer
3 Baral's Expertise
2 Commit // Memory
19 Island
1 Inventors' Fair
4 Metallic Rebuke
3 Key to the City
3 Dispel
1 Stoneforge Masterwork
1 Commit // Memory
1 Efficient Construction
2 Engulf the Shore
Sideboard plans
Aggro (Mardu Vehicles, Humans, Zombies): +2 Engulf -2 Commit // Memory
GB aggro/energy (also any other green aggressive midrangy decks): nothing
GB delirium: -1 Reservoir +1 Commit // Memory (these decks usually pack at least a couple of Disposses in the SB so it's possible that the alternative wincon package should come in, but the problem is that that gameplan is also kind of weak against GB)
Marvel decks: -1 Reservoir +1 Commit // Memory
Control decks: +4 Rebuke +3 Dispel +3 Key +1 Efficient Construction +1 Stoneforge Masterwork, -3 Reservoir -3 Expertise -3 Ornithopter -1 Commit // Memory -2 Statuary
-1 Reservoir +1 Commit // Memory is how I'm most likely to SB against anything random as well. If I'm playing against a random brew that has a slow clock and I suspect to have Disposses in the SB, I would probably cut (an additional) Reservoir and an Ornithopter for Efficient Construction + Masterwork.
Tiemuuu has also posted a few videos showcasing the power of the deck.
Vs UR Control
Vs Mardu beating Disposses
Vs Bant Marvel beating 2 Ulamogs
Modern: UW Spirits
Modern: UW Spirits
4 Herald of Kozilek
4 Foundry Inspector
4 Aetherflux Reservoir
4 Paradoxical Outcome
4 Cathar's Shield
4 Prophetic Prism
4 Metalspinner's Puzzleknot
1 Negate
4 Spirebluff Canals
2 Inventor's Fair
2 Mountain
11 Island
"I do have fun. Winning is fun."
Modern URB Grixis Shadow
EDH URG Animar
The 0 drop artifacts (Cathar's Shield, Bone Saw) are absolute garbage that do nothing to further your gameplan outside of an extra cast trigger. We can do better. Since we're going to hopefully be casting artifacts at reduced cost, there are some better options for sure.
Hedron Archive seems expensive at 4, but if you're going off, it pays for itself after the initial casting cost. It can dig for a few more cards in a pinch, and ramps you for subsequent turns if you can't finish the job, almost always assuring you WILL finish them the next turn if you're close at all. Also of note, 2 Archives and a Prophetic Prism can get you a cast of Paradoxical Outcome without tapping a single land which should almost always win you the game.
Filigree Familiar is getting a lot of hype (rightfully so) in an emerge shell, but does some serious work here. It's often a 2 drop, one drop or or free, and is the best roadblock available. If they want to get through it, you get a free card, which is exactly where this deck wants to be. The life gain on ETB can be a literal lifesaver, or give you the edge you need to get over 50. Just a great card all around.
Other minor tweaks that are by no means necessary: I'm running a Torrential Gearhulk as a one of. Flashing back an outcome with a free trigger is great, and sometimes cheaper than normal if you have a few Foundry Inspectors out. It also bounces itself on the flashback, allowing you an extra draw/2nd flashback if necessary (lol if you haven't won after casting Paradoxical Outcome three times though). You probably don't want more than one though.
Inventor's Fair has been insanely underwhelming. I went down to one since the legend rule makes hitting multiples really bad, and switched it out for a single Geier Reach Sanitarium for a bit of extra filtering.
It's a fun deck, but gets shut down very easily (any discard, removal in multiples or, God forbid, Lost Legacy targeting Paradoxical Outcome). I'll definitely be sleeving this up for an FNM or two.
As a note, I played out a game to the logical extreme and got to 4500+ life on turn 6, not even seeing my 3rd and 4th Aetherflux Reservoir until the last 10 cards of the library. Feels good, man.
4 Herald of Kozilek
4 Foundry Inspector
4 Filigree Familiar
1 Torrential Gearhulk
4 Paradoxical Outcome
4 Hedron Archive
4 Prophetic Prism
4 Metalspinner's Puzzleknot
4 Spirebluff Canals
1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
4 Mountain
10 Island
Modern: WURG Twin
Standard: Mardu Planeswalkers
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/deck-creation-standard/661834-mardu-planeswalker?comment=1
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But if they only remove paradox, it's still possible to semi-combo with the cantrips and archives right? It may take a few extra turns but its still not "unbeatable"
Is aggro a thing? crane and herald make good early blockers. I haven't really try the deck out so I'm not sure.
then probably Turn Aside to protect the combo pieces and/or ceremonius rejection.
I can see Padeem making the SB but haven't tested it out quite just yet.
Have you thought about Saheeli Rai? If alive on your combo turn, the -2 copies either a cost reducer or Aetherflux Reservoir, making it a lot easier to go off. With Filigree Familiar, the Crane, and 2/4 Herald of Kozilek, it's not unreasonable that Saheeli could survive 1-2 turns. If they attack Saheeli, just let it die and enjoy the extra time you bought.
Is Panharmonicon too win-more? It doubles your ETB draws, helping you dig into the combo faster and then to chain more spells on the critical turn. Unfortunately it doesn't help Gearhulk (double Outcome before getting to recast stuff doesn't do anything). And it costs 4 to play, doing nothing the turn you cast it.
I've been thinking about Hedron Archive lately. Its ability to convert extra mana into cards probably makes it better than Cultivator's Caravan (which is also "free" with 2 cost reducers and can color-fix or get crewed).
Modern: WURG Twin
Standard: Mardu Planeswalkers
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/deck-creation-standard/661834-mardu-planeswalker?comment=1
Monthly Proxy Legacy
Charlotte/Greensboro area, NC
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I like the idea of crush of tentacles in the 0 cost artifacts version being a protection card and an alternate win-con. Do we really need 8 0-cost artifacts? Frank karsten had a G/U version in his 20 kaladesh deck article and it only runs 6 of the artifacts.
Modern: WURG Twin
Standard: Mardu Planeswalkers
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/deck-creation-standard/661834-mardu-planeswalker?comment=1
Monthly Proxy Legacy
Charlotte/Greensboro area, NC
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4 Herald of Kozilek
4 Foundry Inspector
2 Saheeli Rai
//Cantrips: 19
4 Prophetic Prism
4 Metalspinner's Puzzleknot
4 Glint-Nest Crane
4 Filigree Familiar
3 Hedron Archive
4 Aetherflux Reservoir
4 Paradoxical Outcome
1 Crush of Tentacles
//Lands: 22
4 Spirebluff Canals
4 Wandering Fumarole
1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
1 Inventors' Fair
7 Island
5 Mountain
2 Crush of Tentacles
3 Dispel
3 Padeem, Consul of Innovation
2 Ceremonious Rejection
3 Spark of Curiosity
2 Workshop Assistant
Modern: WURG Twin
Standard: Mardu Planeswalkers
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/deck-creation-standard/661834-mardu-planeswalker?comment=1
Monthly Proxy Legacy
Charlotte/Greensboro area, NC
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4x Foundry Inspector
4x Herald of Kozilek
4x Glint-Nest Crane
3x Hedron Archive
Combo
4x Aetherflux Reservoir
4x Paradoxical Outcome
4x Metalspinner's Puzzleknot
4x Prophetic Prism
3x Fumigate
3x Radiant Flames
Manabase
1x Inspiring Vantage
4x Plains
1x Inventors' Fair
7x Island
3x Port Town
3x Prairie Stream
4x Spirebluff Canal
I've been working on a 3 color version of this, the 4 prophectic prisms go pretty far in mana fixing, this is just a first draft but seems to be working well, I think the uw flash/spirits deck is going to be a very difficult matchup.
Anyway, I think I've found a good starting sideboard plan to start with, and it's been working wonders for me. The idea is, side out hearlds and res for Saheeli and Metalworks, and bring in the 4th Familiar against any kind of control/midrange to hedge against cheap artifact hate and negate. This plan can be much more resilient if they board for res combo. aggro is already a decent match-up, so I would just add the 4th familiar and flames.
anyway, this is the list:
4 Aetherflux Reservoir
2 Hedron Archive
4 Metalspinner's Puzzleknot
4 Prophetic Prism
Reducers 8
4 Foundry Inspector
4 Herald of Kozilek
Creatures 7
4 Glint-Nest Crane
3 Filigree Familiar
4 Anticipate
4 Paradoxical Outcome
Land 23
11 Island
3 Mountain
4 Aether Hub
4 Spirebluff Canal
1 Inventors' Fair
1 Filigree Familiar
4 Metalwork Colossus
4 Negate
3 Radiant Flames
3 Saheeli Rai
Well, That's the idea, take a look, see what you think, and test it out a bit!
I like the idea of having an anti-aggro plan. Do you think Radiant Flames and Fumigate will wreck your own board though? I mean if you play 1-2 cost reducers and then the opponent puts you in a position where you have to wipe the board to not lose, you just set yourself back a lot. You fall behind on tempo (time wasted establishing a combo piece and then losing it) and on cards (lost a combo piece, need to dig for more). It's hard enough to get 2 reducers out without also killing your own with 6 mass removal.
Crush of Tentacles is appealing because it fills the "board wipe" role without actually setting you behind on combo pieces. Have you tested that in place of Fumigate? It probably makes the manabase easier too.
Would Kozilek's Return be better than Radiant Flames? Both kill your Foundry Inspector but not Herald (so you can play Heralds first and sandbag Inspectors for later). Return doesn't kill quite as many aggressive creatures, but it does deal with Haste attackers and Flash in a way that Flames cannot. It also means you can hold up 4 mana at all time to either Paradoxical Outcome or Kozilek's Return on their turn rather than tapping out on yours.
I agree 4 Hedron Archive is too many.
Hmm, so compared to my list you basically moved 2 Saheeli + 1 Filigree to the SB and cut another Hedron Archive for 4 Anticipate (and -1 Crush + 1 land). Extra dig seems good. Do you find you can effectively get 2 cost reducers game 1 without Saheeli to help? Maybe the extra dig is enough.
I like the Metalworks SB plan. I've considered it as an alternate storm engine. If you can get 1 in the graveyard and cast a 2nd for free, you can use them to recur each other boosting your storm count by a lot. But boarding out Reservoir and just going beatdown is probably even better.
Good luck with it and let us know results!
Edit: I used the MTGGoldfish 0 cost artifact list and it sucks balls. The lists in this thread are much better.
WUEmeria ControlUW
WUGifts TronUW
RGWNaya BurnWGR
RGTronGR
GUInfectUG
HAffinityH
in the equipment list crush seems very good because you can often go crush> next turn> aetherflux >win
I'm going to start looking closer at it, I was testing it before I didn't like it because casting it on 6 feels really bad, but I can definitively see the lines where you go
Crush> next turn >cast enablers plus aetherflux >win or play eggs plus paradoxical outcome on the following turn.
The list I was testing before was 4x crush and 4x fumigates.
I haven't been having any mana issues currently the 4 rophectic prism actually go a long way, I actually cut white sources for aether hubs, I think it gives you more relevant sideboard options potentially while sometimes being able to just work as a tendo ice bridge, it make double aether hubs hands not so great but better than double plains hands were before.
Based on my testing you just sandbag the enablers until you cast the flames, I've added in some wandering fumaroles as an alternate wincon after you boardwipe. From my testing you only need 2 cost reducers to go off. I think being able to kill cards like reflector mage, and sylvan advocate is more relevant than being instant speed, the only reasons I can think of to run kozilek's return over it would be cost reduction with herald and the ability to "go big" with return. you can still paradoxical outcome on there turn than wipe on your turn with the current build.
What I'm testing next is smuggler's copters in place of hedron archive, card isn't great most of the time, only time it is ever good is when you use the mana to cast extra hedron archives for storm and even then I could just play 1 mana-0 mana artifacts instead.
This is the list I've had the most success with on xmage so far, and I've tried all of them in this thread. I made some changes. -4 Wandering Fumarole (doesn't really fit in this deck) + 4 Aether Hub, - 1 Hedron Archive + 1 Crush of Tenticles.
Agro is a hard matchup with our only viable blockers being Fil Familiar and Glint Crane as I don't want to lose the enablers (though Herald holds his own). Saheeli is super fragile and to be honest hasn't made much of an impact on my games other than being a target dummy. I can see HOW she could be super nice in the deck but I haven't had it work that way.
Next I'll try Karsten's list posted here
http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/20-standard-brews-with-kaladesh-1-10/
Blue-Green storm, but it really feels like yall are onto something with the r/b list. I'll report back later
Edit: Yours is better. Herald is a great blocker and our spells are free with the enablers out.
WUEmeria ControlUW
WUGifts TronUW
RGWNaya BurnWGR
RGTronGR
GUInfectUG
HAffinityH