Building around Paradoxical Outcome and Aetherflux Reservoir seemed to be an exercise in futility if you watched the lackluster performance of decks like the one piloted by Caleb Scherer at the first SCG event. However he did not delve very far into alternate game plans that can make the deck tick, such as Crush of Tentacles and Metalwork Colossus. As a consequence, the deck he piloted was entirely dependent on Paradoxical Outcome. Here are some alternatives:
Most people seem to be aware of the way these decks function, but just in case: The deck deploys an Aetherflux Reservoir and then uses cheap or free artifacts to increase the number of spells cast in a turn, pick them all up and draw into more with Paradoxical Outcome, and gain so much life that Aetherflux Reservoir kills on the spot.
Some versions of these decks run all 8 "cheerios" (0 mana artifacts) and no Crush of Tentacles, which seems loose. It is important to have the full 8 bounce effects to prepare to storm off, and a 5 cmc card that can do that while sweeping the opponent's board and generating an Octopus token is most excellent. Any reward for playing with the cheerios is additionally important since they don't do much by themselves.
This version of the deck really came together upon the discovery of Aviary Mechanic and Containment Membrane. Membrane is absolutely vital early defense that you can pick back up and storm with later for only 1 mana. Mechanic allows you to pick up a Bone Saw or Cathar's Shield and rebuy surge for later, switch your Containment Membranes to more dangerous targets, or rebuy Prophetic Prism or Glint-Nest Crane if you have the time and mana. However the most important thing and the reason why it is worth splashing white for is that it increases the spell count by 2 for only 2 mana when you are storming off.
One of the other strategies that has been fairly successful in testing is the use of artifact cost reducers, Cultivator's Caravan, and Metalwork Colossus.
This deck is more powerful because of the Metalwork Colossus/Sanctum of Ugin package. The idea is that when you get 3 or 4 artifacts on the board, Metalwork Colossus is free or close to free. When you cast one copy you trigger each Sanctum of Ugin you have among your lands and search your deck for that many more free 10/10s. Additionally, the deck gets to play cantripping artifacts and artifacts that ramp or beat people for 5 instead of Bone Saws.
However, there are a couple big reasons why it is a worse choice. It is very dependent on the cost reduction creatures to storm off, as without 1 or 2 of these it is too expensive to drive the spell count up with the more costly artifacts. In addition to being weak to removal, the deck doesn't typically contribute to the board before turn 3 and has poor defense. For these reasons the first deck seems a much better choice in a field of artifact aggro and decks that prepared for artifact aggro by saturating themselves with removal.
It is difficult to combine both high power packages (Crush of Tentacles, Metalwork Colossus) into the same deck because Crush relies on free artifacts to reliably be cast on turn 5 and Colossus wants all of your artifacts to cost 2 or more.
I have been testing such decks extensively since before SCG Indy. Please tell me what you think and how your testing is going.
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Building around Paradoxical Outcome and Aetherflux Reservoir seemed to be an exercise in futility if you watched the lackluster performance of decks like the one piloted by Caleb Scherer at the first SCG event. However he did not delve very far into alternate game plans that can make the deck tick, such as Crush of Tentacles and Metalwork Colossus. As a consequence, the deck he piloted was entirely dependent on Paradoxical Outcome. Here are some alternatives:
4 Paradoxical Outcome
4 Crush of Tentacles
4 Bone Saw
4 Cathar's Shield
4 Prophetic Prism
4 Containment Membrane
4 Aviary Mechanic
4 Prairie Stream
4 Port Town
3 Evolving Wilds
2 Plains
9 Island
2 Inventors' Fair
Most people seem to be aware of the way these decks function, but just in case: The deck deploys an Aetherflux Reservoir and then uses cheap or free artifacts to increase the number of spells cast in a turn, pick them all up and draw into more with Paradoxical Outcome, and gain so much life that Aetherflux Reservoir kills on the spot.
Some versions of these decks run all 8 "cheerios" (0 mana artifacts) and no Crush of Tentacles, which seems loose. It is important to have the full 8 bounce effects to prepare to storm off, and a 5 cmc card that can do that while sweeping the opponent's board and generating an Octopus token is most excellent. Any reward for playing with the cheerios is additionally important since they don't do much by themselves.
This version of the deck really came together upon the discovery of Aviary Mechanic and Containment Membrane. Membrane is absolutely vital early defense that you can pick back up and storm with later for only 1 mana. Mechanic allows you to pick up a Bone Saw or Cathar's Shield and rebuy surge for later, switch your Containment Membranes to more dangerous targets, or rebuy Prophetic Prism or Glint-Nest Crane if you have the time and mana. However the most important thing and the reason why it is worth splashing white for is that it increases the spell count by 2 for only 2 mana when you are storming off.
White also offers excellent sideboard creatures if they cut their removal such as Aerial Responder/Gisela, the Broken Blade and Avacynian Missionaries.
One of the other strategies that has been fairly successful in testing is the use of artifact cost reducers, Cultivator's Caravan, and Metalwork Colossus.
4 Paradoxical Outcome
4 Herald of Kozilek
4 Foundry Inspector
4 Metalwork Colossus
4 Metalspinner's Puzzleknot
4 Cultivator's Caravan
3 Aether Meltdown
4 Wandering Fumarole
4 Spirebluff Canal
4 Sanctum of Ugin
3 Aether Hub
3 Evolving Wilds
2 Mountain
5 Island
This deck is more powerful because of the Metalwork Colossus/Sanctum of Ugin package. The idea is that when you get 3 or 4 artifacts on the board, Metalwork Colossus is free or close to free. When you cast one copy you trigger each Sanctum of Ugin you have among your lands and search your deck for that many more free 10/10s. Additionally, the deck gets to play cantripping artifacts and artifacts that ramp or beat people for 5 instead of Bone Saws.
However, there are a couple big reasons why it is a worse choice. It is very dependent on the cost reduction creatures to storm off, as without 1 or 2 of these it is too expensive to drive the spell count up with the more costly artifacts. In addition to being weak to removal, the deck doesn't typically contribute to the board before turn 3 and has poor defense. For these reasons the first deck seems a much better choice in a field of artifact aggro and decks that prepared for artifact aggro by saturating themselves with removal.
It is difficult to combine both high power packages (Crush of Tentacles, Metalwork Colossus) into the same deck because Crush relies on free artifacts to reliably be cast on turn 5 and Colossus wants all of your artifacts to cost 2 or more.
I have been testing such decks extensively since before SCG Indy. Please tell me what you think and how your testing is going.