I'm curious in finding out how this deck even wins with a bunch of 1 or 2 power creatures since it looks bad against every Tier 1 and 2 deck in Standard.
well, I misunderstood one rule, so what I built doesn't really work, at least it's not as good as I thought, still somewhat playable though, I'll try to find something else
EDIT: tried 2 games, and yeah, the deck is a little worse, but it fights very well Tier 1 decks
It's not a rule. My mistake, I just misread Soulfire's ability, which states that you get your spell back if you cast it from your hand. I initially thought you could use Jace's -3 on a spell in the graveyard, use Soulfire's ability and cast that spell, then get it back to your hand.
It's not a rule. My mistake, I just misread Soulfire's ability, which states that you get your spell back if you cast it from your hand. I initially thought you could use Jace's -3 on a spell in the graveyard, use Soulfire's ability and cast that spell, then get it back to your hand.
That still means you only get 12 targets with the combo, and those spells don't exactly scream "I win".
I'll try to explain how the decks actually wins now that I played a bit more.
The idea is that Jace, Vryn's Prodigy is a creature that only cost 2 mana, and in that front, we're trying here to abuse that with Ojutai's Command and Return to the Ranks.
The whole idea is to slowly fill your graveyard with creatures that gains you card advantage and to somehow get to End Hostilities. At that point, we can reload the board with a single Return to the Ranks, and if we have time to flip Kytheon, Hero of Akros or montrous Fleecemane Lion, those guys stick to the battlefield. I know this deck seems weak but the strategy is powerful enough, and with a good sideboard the deck can probably see competitive play. The only card that beats us outright is Ugin, the Spirit Dragon. But there's probably ways to beat this guy. And of course the combo decks beats us too but we can side against that too.
hm... this reminds me of a deck I used to play when Khans of Tarkir had just come out, there I was more centered around using Tethmos High Priest, but the principle is the same... ah, good times.
A very rough draft since I haven't completly checked what may be good for this deck, but you get the idea, loads of card advantage through Pain Seer/Jace/Diciple, some toolbox use out of Diciple, various combat tricks and answers and reanimation with Champion and High Priest, used to perform semi-decently, but I really have no idea how'd it do in the current meta.
2 Island
2 Mana Confluence
2 Plains
3 Flooded Strand
2 Forest
2 Temple of Plenty
4 Windswept Heath
3 Yavimaya Coast
3 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Faerie Miscreant
4 Soulfire Grand Master
4 Satyr Wayfinder
1 Kytheon, Hero of Akros
4 Sidisi's Faithful
4 Return to the Ranks
4 End Hostilities
4 Ojutai's Command
So far I'm 4-0 against Abzan aggro, 2-1 against RDW and 2-0 against Esper Dragons.
Didn't make a sideboard yet.
The deck looks weak on paper, but it has more than meet the eye, especially since there's no graveyard hate right now. What do you guys think?
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
EDIT: tried 2 games, and yeah, the deck is a little worse, but it fights very well Tier 1 decks
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
Can play on cockatrice if you like.
That still means you only get 12 targets with the combo, and those spells don't exactly scream "I win".
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
2 Island
2 Plains
4 Flooded Strand
2 Forest
1 Temple of Plenty
4 Windswept Heath
4 Yavimaya Coast
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Faerie Miscreant
2 Soulfire Grand Master
4 Satyr Wayfinder
1 Kytheon, Hero of Akros
4 Fleecemane Lion
2 Harbinger of the Tides
4 Return to the Ranks
4 Ojutai's Command
4 End Hostilities
I'll try to explain how the decks actually wins now that I played a bit more.
The idea is that Jace, Vryn's Prodigy is a creature that only cost 2 mana, and in that front, we're trying here to abuse that with Ojutai's Command and Return to the Ranks.
The whole idea is to slowly fill your graveyard with creatures that gains you card advantage and to somehow get to End Hostilities. At that point, we can reload the board with a single Return to the Ranks, and if we have time to flip Kytheon, Hero of Akros or montrous Fleecemane Lion, those guys stick to the battlefield. I know this deck seems weak but the strategy is powerful enough, and with a good sideboard the deck can probably see competitive play. The only card that beats us outright is Ugin, the Spirit Dragon. But there's probably ways to beat this guy. And of course the combo decks beats us too but we can side against that too.
Even though this deck might be bad, at least now I know that Ojutai's Command with Jace, Vryn's Prodigy and Harbinger of the Tides is extremely powerful
Xenagos, the Reveler
Anger of the Gods and all other boardwipes
Anafenza, the Foremost
Counterspells
Silumgar, the Drifting Death
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
Perilous Vault
and many more.
These are just *some* cards that hoses you. Card advantage means nothing when those cards do nothing.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
4 Tethmos High Priest
4 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
4 Agent of the Fates
4 Pain Seer
4 Seeker of the Way
4 Valorous Stance
4 Ajani's Presence
4 Triton Tactics
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
4 Caves of Koilos
4 Mana Confluence
4 Plains
4 Island
4 Swamp
A very rough draft since I haven't completly checked what may be good for this deck, but you get the idea, loads of card advantage through Pain Seer/Jace/Diciple, some toolbox use out of Diciple, various combat tricks and answers and reanimation with Champion and High Priest, used to perform semi-decently, but I really have no idea how'd it do in the current meta.