Trying to figure out what I was going to be playing in standard this summer I started playing a creature-less Miracle based U/R variant, mostly just for fun. After playing it though, I think there might be something to it. I'll get right to the deck list I started with:
Basic premise, keep the board clear with constant sweepers and spot removal via Miracle on either your turn or your opponents (see Think Twice). Finishing your opponent will be either based off raw burn, or Planeswalkers.
It's been performing surprisingly well in testing (playing against a U/R Delver, B/u Zombies, and Heartless Lich variants).
I really want to work Ponder in somehow without hurting the Miracle card Density, and as much as I like Increasing Vengeance as a card I think that's going to be what I can along with maybe 2 Bonfires.
First off, I think that 4 Bonfire of the Damned is too many. Getting 2 or 3 is just bad. In addition, I tried Temporal Mastery in a couple builds I play tested, but found that it really didn't do enough. Every single time it was cast it just ended up drawing me a card and letting me play a land, which isn't as good as you may think. In addition, getting it in your opener is terrible.
Secondly, DEFINITELY add in Ponder. With miracles it is the closest thing you can get to brainstorm is standard right now. I would suggest swapping the Temporal Mastery for the set of ponders.
Thirdly, try adding 2-4 Noxious Revivals. Being able to selectively draw that miracle card you need in a pinch can be great, and it will let you get a thunderous wrath off at least twice. Snapcaster Mage also works well with it, but I am not sure if Snapcaster will benefit your build that much.
Lastly, Vapor Snag is in almost all cases better than Vanishment, because it always takes 1 to cast, and there are few non-creature permanents you ever really need to bounce. (Unless there is something I'm not thinking of...?)
I agree that temporal mastery is arguably one of your weakest miracles. I'm also not sure how necessary chandra is to the deck. Cutting her to thrown in some conventional burn spells, a red sun's zenith or something, would probably be the better choice here.
4x Bonfire of the Damned
4x Devastation Tide
4x Temporal Mastery
Instants
2x Increasing Vengeance
4x Thunderous Wrath
2x Vanishment
4x Incinerate
4x Mana Leak
4x Think Twice
2x Chandra, the Firebrand
2x Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Land
4x Sulfur Falls
4x Evolving Wilds
2x Desolate Lighthouse
7x Island
7x Mountain
I'm not sure about a sideboard quite yet.
Basic premise, keep the board clear with constant sweepers and spot removal via Miracle on either your turn or your opponents (see Think Twice). Finishing your opponent will be either based off raw burn, or Planeswalkers.
It's been performing surprisingly well in testing (playing against a U/R Delver, B/u Zombies, and Heartless Lich variants).
I really want to work Ponder in somehow without hurting the Miracle card Density, and as much as I like Increasing Vengeance as a card I think that's going to be what I can along with maybe 2 Bonfires.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Secondly, DEFINITELY add in Ponder. With miracles it is the closest thing you can get to brainstorm is standard right now. I would suggest swapping the Temporal Mastery for the set of ponders.
Thirdly, try adding 2-4 Noxious Revivals. Being able to selectively draw that miracle card you need in a pinch can be great, and it will let you get a thunderous wrath off at least twice. Snapcaster Mage also works well with it, but I am not sure if Snapcaster will benefit your build that much.
Lastly, Vapor Snag is in almost all cases better than Vanishment, because it always takes 1 to cast, and there are few non-creature permanents you ever really need to bounce. (Unless there is something I'm not thinking of...?)
Hope this helped.