I'm getting started making a standard deck to play with my friends and I'm trying to make a B/U Cycling deck, mostly because I find Archfiend of Ifnir really cool. I think I have a lot of good cards in here, but I need help filling out the deck and tuning it a little bit.
I generally want to capitalize on the discard triggering effects to destroy the opponent's board, or just fly over them with creatures. I'm not sure if I have enough drawing and discarding to support that. I was looking at the Trial of Knowledge and Cartouche of Knowledge combo for semi-reliable drawing, which would likely replace Pull From Tomorrow. I also feel that it needs more control elements to get to the late game. Mana for the cycle trigger may also be an issue.
I would appreciate any suggestions for the deck, or deck building tips in general!
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Dragon, Demon, and Angel in every block? Eldrazi want some of that!
You absolutely need to be running Censor and Hieroglyphic Illumination. I don't think Forgotten Creation is particularly good at all. It's a 3/3 for 4, the skulk is honestly not that hard to meet in order to block it, it's slow, and its ability isn't that impactful. On the top end, I would bring Curator up to 4 and Archfiend down to 3 or so. If you plan on playing the deck regularly for the rest of the season, Choked Estuarys are only $2 now, and you would only spend at most $10 to get them. If you don't want to pay for them, then Submerged Boneyard is fine. As it stands, you will get color screwed often. Gonna be honest, also, I'm not entirely opposed to Horror of the Broken Lands in small numbers. It's mostly just cycle fodder, but as a late-game card you can straight up pummel your opponent hard. Maybe, probably not necessary.
Just my personal opinion, I havent played the deck, but I think curator is a strong card. 2UU for a flying 4/4 with upside that cycles is really nice. I think that is a easy 4 of for the deck, cycle it on turn one if you want, etc. Censor is a really nice tempo-counter spell for turns 2-4, and otherwise cycles away for U. You can even use it to mess up some plays.
As it stands right now you only have 13 cycling cards out of your entire 60. Maybe there are some other good cyclers that make sense for the build? I think Wander in Death could be really sweet as you can cycle away your Archfiends and Curators early and cast it to get them back, or just cycle it as well.
Some things I might try to change:
-4 Forgotten Creation
-3 Unburden
-3 Call the Bloodline
-1 Faith of the Devoted
+1 Drake Haven
+2 Curator of Mysteries
+4 Censor
+2 Wander in Death
+2 Hieroglyphic Illumination
This would add 10 more cycling cards, and go up on the ones I think are strong. Drake Haven is a bit better than Faith of the Devoted since bodies are better than life. If you dont like Heiroglyphic or Wander in death, I also would suggest Never // Return, since you have little ways to deal with Planeswalkers here, this would give you an edge.
The new cards Vile Manifestation and Abandoned Sarcophagus really make the deck, imo. 34 sources of cycling. I focus more on creatures that get larger the more things are in the yard rather than effects that happen when you cycle, although those are there. Testing Liliana's Elite, which I think fits this role nicely alongside Vile Manifestation.
Very vulnerable to graveyard hate though. Looking at options such as Dispossess to help in the sideboard, which I am still working on.
Jodon, I would stay at 23 or maybe add a couple of lands. Your top end has a lot of double casting costs especially black. Granted you won't be playing those cards until late game but you still want to hit your land drops.
I pulled a Sarcophagus at pre-release and had enough cycling cards to try it out. The Blue common that is a 5/5 with hexproof is great as it cycles for 1 U and is a hard to remove threat.
As far as Finishers go, the Archfiend is a better choice as it doesn't die to a Push like the Curator.
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I'm getting started making a standard deck to play with my friends and I'm trying to make a B/U Cycling deck, mostly because I find Archfiend of Ifnir really cool. I think I have a lot of good cards in here, but I need help filling out the deck and tuning it a little bit.
4 Archfiend of Ifnir
2 Curator of Mysteries
4 Forgotten Creation
4 Shadowstorm Vizier
3 Ruthless Sniper
3 Faith of the Devoted
3 Drake Haven
3 Call the Bloodline
Sorceries/Instants
3 Unburden
3 Fatal Push
4 Pull From Tomorrow
4 Fetid Pools
10 Islands
10 Swamps
I generally want to capitalize on the discard triggering effects to destroy the opponent's board, or just fly over them with creatures. I'm not sure if I have enough drawing and discarding to support that. I was looking at the Trial of Knowledge and Cartouche of Knowledge combo for semi-reliable drawing, which would likely replace Pull From Tomorrow. I also feel that it needs more control elements to get to the late game. Mana for the cycle trigger may also be an issue.
I would appreciate any suggestions for the deck, or deck building tips in general!
As it stands right now you only have 13 cycling cards out of your entire 60. Maybe there are some other good cyclers that make sense for the build? I think Wander in Death could be really sweet as you can cycle away your Archfiends and Curators early and cast it to get them back, or just cycle it as well.
Some things I might try to change:
-4 Forgotten Creation
-3 Unburden
-3 Call the Bloodline
-1 Faith of the Devoted
+1 Drake Haven
+2 Curator of Mysteries
+4 Censor
+2 Wander in Death
+2 Hieroglyphic Illumination
This would add 10 more cycling cards, and go up on the ones I think are strong. Drake Haven is a bit better than Faith of the Devoted since bodies are better than life. If you dont like Heiroglyphic or Wander in death, I also would suggest Never // Return, since you have little ways to deal with Planeswalkers here, this would give you an edge.
4x Choked Estuary
2x Desert of the Glorified
2x Desert of the Mindful
4x Fetid Pools
3x Island
4x Sunken Hollow
4x Swamp
4x Archfiend of Ifnir
4x Curator of Mysteries
4x Horror of the Broken Lands
4x Liliana's Elite
4x Lurching Rotbeast
4x Vile Manifestation
4x Censor
2x Hieroglyphic Illumination
3x Never // Return
Artifact
4x Abandoned Sarcophagus
The new cards Vile Manifestation and Abandoned Sarcophagus really make the deck, imo. 34 sources of cycling. I focus more on creatures that get larger the more things are in the yard rather than effects that happen when you cycle, although those are there. Testing Liliana's Elite, which I think fits this role nicely alongside Vile Manifestation.
Very vulnerable to graveyard hate though. Looking at options such as Dispossess to help in the sideboard, which I am still working on.
I pulled a Sarcophagus at pre-release and had enough cycling cards to try it out. The Blue common that is a 5/5 with hexproof is great as it cycles for 1 U and is a hard to remove threat.
As far as Finishers go, the Archfiend is a better choice as it doesn't die to a Push like the Curator.