I think you can do either with impersonator. You could copy an ensouled ornithoptor and get a 5/5 flier, or citadel and get a 5/5 indestructable, OR you can copy the aura and ensoul whatever you want (but this is easier to deal with since it would die to erase or whatever)
As for your sideboard, I think you want mostly counterspells (maybe 8-9?), and just take out the worst cards for a given matchup. What you are missing is some form of card advantage, like bident or military intelligence. Also I think hypnotic siren is better than shorethief.
Well I was very wrong. Obviously. It targets a permanent. Ensoul+Thing is not "a" permanent, and Thing (again, obviously) has to be non-land. Sorry, RTFC!
I've been testing a mono blue list based on the old Naoya one, and it's been working out okay. I saw a really strong UR one while watching some of the GP coverage, but I couldn't find a list. Does anyone have the list Cole Tindol was playing?
Created a mono blue standard artifact deck, just for fun. Took it against a Grand Prix winner - Jeskai Wins. Didn't fare as well as I would have liked, but I thought I would share my decklist and our VERSUS video with you.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well this deck did. I had it in mothballs in the original primer build. I decided to play it at the last minute. Seeing all the White in the current meta, I felt good main boarding Stormbreath Dragon. It was a beast against Abzhan! I'm considering putting one more in the SB. This deck destroyed Abzhan Midrange and Esper Control. Evolving Wilds is not a proper fetch land, but I was never upset about seeing it. It was so good for me, I'm going to drop the Tomb of the Spirit Dragon and throw in two more. The Tombs didn't slow me down,but they were negligible on life gain. The Reanimator deck with Seige Rhino was a terrible matchup. With no real answer to Whip, I couldn't race him. Red Burn was bad too. Just too fast for me to get gassed up. I wasn't able to put together a proper sideboard either. I think Circle of Flame mixed with Stubborn Denial might be a good strategy. For Reanimator, I'm looking at splashing white for Erase and Hushwing Gryff.
Got some "Honey Dos". I'll post my revised list in a little while.
I dropped Chief Engineer because, while he was a nice 1/3 body on the board, he didn't really do much in the way of threats. Yes, I can convoke for Skuttles, but I was losing the haste effect from Generator Servant.
I added Jace, the Living Guildpact because I want to load the yard with bad draws that I can use to Dig/Cruise with. Plus, he has some other nice late game effects and creates a target for removal.
There were a couple times where I just needed that last bit of damage to put someone away where I didn't have the artifact to sac, so I've added a couple Stoke the Flames to the main and Lightning Strikes to the sideboard to match the Burn decks a little better. I also added three Circle of Flame for those pesky Burn guys.
I dumped the Tomb of the Spirit Dragon in favor of two more Evolving Wilds. It was great being able to fetch that one basic that wasn't coming to me in the draw. I also added one Plains. I want to splash white for Erase, (Whip hate), and Hushwing Gryff. (More hate for the different flavors of Reanimator running amuck.)
lands don't seem right (not enough for 5 mana, not enough red) for stormbreath and even jace seems dicey.
Yeah, I'm on the fence about Jace. I had no problems landing Stormbreath at all. Either I had the proper mana, used Evolving Wilds to go get it or I had a Drum to make up for a missing red. I'm considering dropping Jace and bringing in one Soul of New Phyrexia.
PM'd the mods a few times asking them to put something in red text in the OP and no response, so I'll just post it here. Can anyone make a new primer for this deck? I no longer have time to keep the OP updated, and that's been true for a few months.
On the topic of the deck, I'm planning on playing RabbleBots tonight. Don't have a list yet, but I'll probably post a report.
Anyone have thoughts on the cards revealed so far from FRF for this archetype? Reality Shift and Wild Claw are both looking pretty good to me. Trigger ferocious on Wild claw with Ensoul Artifact, Reality Shift finally gives a solid remove-anything type of card. If I get a chance to, I might write up a prospective UR Robots Burn decklist. Swiftspear, Thopter, Stoke, Disdainful, Scuttles, all that jazz. maybe the 1U 1/1 Prowess dies-draw monk as well. Just wondering if anyone else is thinking the same.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Standard: Currently messing with U/R or Mono-Red Artifacts, following Origins.
Modern: Budget U/R Burn
Legacy: LOLnope
Vintage: See previous
Commander: Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Tiny Commander: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempo
I haven't been following this thread for months but ho-lee crap Renowned Weaponsmith.
Renowned Weaponsmith
1U
Creature - Human Artificer
t: Add 2 to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast artifact spells or activate abilities of artifacts.
U, t: Search your library for a card named Heart-Piercer Bow or Vial of Dragonfire, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Unless Vial of dragonfire is amazing (and I'm betting we have to wait until Dragons of Tarkir to see) his second ability is pretty meh. But that first ability though.
Cards I want to fiddle with (all in the card image gallery on MTG's website), and rating 1-5 based on my interest:
Cloudform 2
Frost Walker 1
Jeskai Sage 3
Neutralizing Blast 2 (Pretty sure Disdainful Stroke is better, but depends on the Meta.)
Reality Shift 5 (This looks awesome. Great removal.)
Refocus 2
Renowned Weaponsmith 4
Supplant Form 4 (Seems an interesting Sideboard Option)
Temporal Trespass 3 (Probably not worth forcing, but come on. Free turn?)
Will of the Naga 2
Arcbond 2 (maybe?)
Collateral Damage 5 (Sacrifice creature isn't a huge cost w/ Ornithopters)
Flamewake Phoenix 4 (Ensoul Artifact enabling Ferocious has been something I've really wanted to do.)
Humble Defector 2
Outpost Siege 2
Temur Battle Rage 4 (Probably not viable, but this T3 on a 5/5 Ornithopter...)
Wild Slash 4
Hewed Stone Retainers 4 (T2 Chief Engineer, T3 Thopter => Convoke Retainers, ensoul something?)
Ugin's Construct 3 (Problem is every way I can think of using it loses either a Weaponsmith or an Engineer. Might be worth, but probably not with the Rhino running around.)
I'm thinking a fairly burn-ey version of Robots, with Collateral Damage, Shrapnel Blast, and Wild Slash supported by thopters, ensoul, darksteel citadel, Chief Engineer, Retainers, Swiftspear, and maybe a few other non-affinity creatures. If I finish up a sample decklist, I'll post it.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Standard: Currently messing with U/R or Mono-Red Artifacts, following Origins.
Modern: Budget U/R Burn
Legacy: LOLnope
Vintage: See previous
Commander: Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Tiny Commander: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempo
The problem with manifest is that I'm pretty sure that you can't use Chief Engineer or Renowned Weaponsmith to turn them face up. Might need to ask a rules guru.
I doubt you could use the Engineer or Weaponsmith to flip a Manifest, although I'm no judge. My thinking for a build had been along the lines of a UR Burn (Still don't have a list, unfortunately :/) with Swiftspear or Ensoul early, and burn to finish off the game.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Standard: Currently messing with U/R or Mono-Red Artifacts, following Origins.
Modern: Budget U/R Burn
Legacy: LOLnope
Vintage: See previous
Commander: Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Tiny Commander: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempo
This is my first post, so hopefully everything goes according to plan.
After I look at the Thatguy91's post, I thought about going agressive, and maybe blue isn't that great. Of course being a mono red means no Ensoul Artifact , but a few combos can get the blueness that you are missing : Ugin's Construct* + Humble Defector Humble Defector + Collateral Damage
I doubt you could use the Engineer or Weaponsmith to flip a Manifest, although I'm no judge. My thinking for a build had been along the lines of a UR Burn (Still don't have a list, unfortunately :/) with Swiftspear or Ensoul early, and burn to finish off the game.
I've actually been working on something like that. Unfortunately, I've still yet to get it put together to see how it would play.
I like the Humble Defector and Collateral Damage tech; can someone confirm that it works? I'm thinking tap Defector, in response cast Collateral damage for 3 to the face, saccing Defector, then Defector's ability resolves, drawing me 2 cards and giving control of the (non-existent) Defector to the opponent. Pity it doesn't work with Ugin's Construct.
I like Ugin's Construct better than Juggernaut because it doesn't die to Lightning Strike, which is very, very common in this format (or, at least in my local meta). The sac downside can be harsh, but I think it can be worth. I most like the Hewed Stone Retainers, though. Being an artifact fixes the difficulties with satisfying the cast condition that Illusory Angel has, since Chief Engineer and Renowned Weaponsmith can ramp it out early. In my mind, Hewed Stone Retainers has a shot of being a free creature, basically, if you're holding an Ornithopter, or just have some other cheap spell in hand, along with 3 creatures (one of which is Chief Engineer).
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Standard: Currently messing with U/R or Mono-Red Artifacts, following Origins.
Modern: Budget U/R Burn
Legacy: LOLnope
Vintage: See previous
Commander: Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Tiny Commander: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempo
It is possible to play Ugin's Construct, you just need a deck that doesn't run colored permanents (mana is colorless btw). So you woudn't have to deal with his drawback, or you could hold your colored permanents before playing him.
I feel like the Hewed Stone Retainers is going to suffer from the same problems Illusory Angel, which is dead in your hand until turn 4 or 5. I hope I am wrong though, but only testing will tell.
As for your sideboard, I think you want mostly counterspells (maybe 8-9?), and just take out the worst cards for a given matchup. What you are missing is some form of card advantage, like bident or military intelligence. Also I think hypnotic siren is better than shorethief.
Standard
BWC Eldrazi
UBR Grixis Tutelage
Modern
UR Storm
Legacy
Landless Dredge
Pauper
U Delver
Commander
UR Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
UBRThe MindrazerRBU
UUUSpymaster of TrestGGG
GGGThe South TreeGGG
RRRHuman AscendantRRR
Created a mono blue standard artifact deck, just for fun. Took it against a Grand Prix winner - Jeskai Wins. Didn't fare as well as I would have liked, but I thought I would share my decklist and our VERSUS video with you.
Khans Standard - Jeskai Wins versus Mono Blue Ensoul Artifact
I write EDH articles on EDHREC and MTGCasualPlay. I hope you like them!
EDH DECKLISTS
RGWUril, the Miststalker WBRKaalia of the Vast Sunforger WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUGDerevi, Empyrial TacticianWUBRGSliver Queen EDH
UB Wrexial, the Risen DeepWU Hanna, Ship's NavigatorWGSigarda, Host of Herons EnchantressWULavinia, of the Tenth
RRPurphoros, God of the ForgeBBChainer, Dementia MasterWWEight-and-a-Half TailsUUMuzzio, Visionary ArchitectGGJolrael, Empress of Beasts
BGVhati il-DalRWTajic, Blade of the LegionUBRZurgo HelmsmasherUBDaxos the ReturnedWBKarlov of the Ghost CouncilWUBruna, Light of Alabaster
RWAurelia Angel Tribal URJhoira Chaos Deck UGVorel +1 Counters BRGProssh Tokens
UBRGwendlyn Discard EDH URG Surrak Dragonclaw UBLazav Mill EDH WUBrago Flicker EDH Deck
4 Triton Shorestalker
3 Generator Servant
2 Chief Engineer
3 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Stormbreath Dragon
4 Scuttling Doom Engine
2 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Ghostfire Blade
4 Shrapnel Blast
2 Dig Through Time
4 Ensoul Artifact
4 Darksteel Citadel
3 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
1 Evolving Wilds
2 Shivan Reef
5 Mountain
5 Island
I was pleasantly surprised at how well this deck did. I had it in mothballs in the original primer build. I decided to play it at the last minute. Seeing all the White in the current meta, I felt good main boarding Stormbreath Dragon. It was a beast against Abzhan! I'm considering putting one more in the SB. This deck destroyed Abzhan Midrange and Esper Control. Evolving Wilds is not a proper fetch land, but I was never upset about seeing it. It was so good for me, I'm going to drop the Tomb of the Spirit Dragon and throw in two more. The Tombs didn't slow me down,but they were negligible on life gain. The Reanimator deck with Seige Rhino was a terrible matchup. With no real answer to Whip, I couldn't race him. Red Burn was bad too. Just too fast for me to get gassed up. I wasn't able to put together a proper sideboard either. I think Circle of Flame mixed with Stubborn Denial might be a good strategy. For Reanimator, I'm looking at splashing white for Erase and Hushwing Gryff.
Got some "Honey Dos". I'll post my revised list in a little while.
Keep brewing!
4 Ornitopter
4 Triton Shorestalker
3 Generator Servant
3 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Stormbreath Dragon
3 Scuttling Doom Engine
Planeswalkers
2 Jace, the Living Guildpact
Instant
2 Dig Through Time
4 Shrapnel Blast
2 Stoke the Flames
1 Stubborn Denial
4 Ensoul Artifact
Artifacts
3 Springleaf Drum
3 Ghostfire Blade
Lands
4 Darksteel Citadel
3 Evolving Wilds
2 Shivan Reef
5 Mountain
5 Island
1 Plains
2 Lightning Strike
1 Keranos, God of Storms
2 Erase
2 Hushwing Gryff
3 Circle of Flame
1 Stubborn Denial
2 Disdainful Stroke
2 Negate
I dropped Chief Engineer because, while he was a nice 1/3 body on the board, he didn't really do much in the way of threats. Yes, I can convoke for Skuttles, but I was losing the haste effect from Generator Servant.
I added Jace, the Living Guildpact because I want to load the yard with bad draws that I can use to Dig/Cruise with. Plus, he has some other nice late game effects and creates a target for removal.
There were a couple times where I just needed that last bit of damage to put someone away where I didn't have the artifact to sac, so I've added a couple Stoke the Flames to the main and Lightning Strikes to the sideboard to match the Burn decks a little better. I also added three Circle of Flame for those pesky Burn guys.
I dumped the Tomb of the Spirit Dragon in favor of two more Evolving Wilds. It was great being able to fetch that one basic that wasn't coming to me in the draw. I also added one Plains. I want to splash white for Erase, (Whip hate), and Hushwing Gryff. (More hate for the different flavors of Reanimator running amuck.)
Any suggestions/feedback is more than welcome.
Keep brewing!
Yeah, I'm on the fence about Jace. I had no problems landing Stormbreath at all. Either I had the proper mana, used Evolving Wilds to go get it or I had a Drum to make up for a missing red. I'm considering dropping Jace and bringing in one Soul of New Phyrexia.
On the topic of the deck, I'm planning on playing RabbleBots tonight. Don't have a list yet, but I'll probably post a report.
Modern: Budget U/R Burn
Legacy: LOLnope
Vintage: See previous
Commander: Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Tiny Commander: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempo
Renowned Weaponsmith
1U
Creature - Human Artificer
t: Add 2 to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast artifact spells or activate abilities of artifacts.
U, t: Search your library for a card named Heart-Piercer Bow or Vial of Dragonfire, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Unless Vial of dragonfire is amazing (and I'm betting we have to wait until Dragons of Tarkir to see) his second ability is pretty meh. But that first ability though.
Cloudform 2
Frost Walker 1
Jeskai Sage 3
Neutralizing Blast 2 (Pretty sure Disdainful Stroke is better, but depends on the Meta.)
Reality Shift 5 (This looks awesome. Great removal.)
Refocus 2
Renowned Weaponsmith 4
Supplant Form 4 (Seems an interesting Sideboard Option)
Temporal Trespass 3 (Probably not worth forcing, but come on. Free turn?)
Will of the Naga 2
Arcbond 2 (maybe?)
Collateral Damage 5 (Sacrifice creature isn't a huge cost w/ Ornithopters)
Flamewake Phoenix 4 (Ensoul Artifact enabling Ferocious has been something I've really wanted to do.)
Humble Defector 2
Outpost Siege 2
Temur Battle Rage 4 (Probably not viable, but this T3 on a 5/5 Ornithopter...)
Wild Slash 4
Hewed Stone Retainers 4 (T2 Chief Engineer, T3 Thopter => Convoke Retainers, ensoul something?)
Ugin's Construct 3 (Problem is every way I can think of using it loses either a Weaponsmith or an Engineer. Might be worth, but probably not with the Rhino running around.)
I'm thinking a fairly burn-ey version of Robots, with Collateral Damage, Shrapnel Blast, and Wild Slash supported by thopters, ensoul, darksteel citadel, Chief Engineer, Retainers, Swiftspear, and maybe a few other non-affinity creatures. If I finish up a sample decklist, I'll post it.
Modern: Budget U/R Burn
Legacy: LOLnope
Vintage: See previous
Commander: Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Tiny Commander: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempo
Modern: Budget U/R Burn
Legacy: LOLnope
Vintage: See previous
Commander: Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Tiny Commander: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempo
After I look at the Thatguy91's post, I thought about going agressive, and maybe blue isn't that great. Of course being a mono red means no Ensoul Artifact , but a few combos can get the blueness that you are missing :
Ugin's Construct* + Humble Defector
Humble Defector + Collateral Damage
*note that Ugin's Construct is a bit awkward with Generator Servant, you may just have to give the construct haste!(Not optimal)
Usually you want Generator Servant to boost a turn 3 Scuttling Doom Engine and Soul of New Phyrexia
3 Ornithopter
2 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Generator Servant
4 Humble Defector
3 Ugin's Construct
4 Scuttling Doom Engine
2 Soul of New Phyrexia
4 Shrapnel Blast
4 Collateral Damage
ARTIFACTS (6)
3 Springleaf Drum
3 Ghostfire Blade
LANDS (24)
4 Darksteel Citadel
2 Radiant Fountain
2 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
16 Mountain
2 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Magma Spray
3 Anger of the Gods
3 Fated Conflagration
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Tormod’s Crypt
I didn't tested, so still pretty much a rough draft!
The ideia in the sideboard is Fated Conflagration, Chandra, Pyromaster, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker and Phyrexian Revoker agaist control.
Magma Spray and Anger of the Gods agaist aggro.
Any improvements or thoughts would be appreciated!
Legacy: UW RiP/Helm, UR Sneak and Show
But then the only activation to Humble Defector is Collateral Damage is that enough? In case it's not enought maybe change it for Act of Treason. Thoughts?
I like Ugin's Construct better than Juggernaut because it doesn't die to Lightning Strike, which is very, very common in this format (or, at least in my local meta). The sac downside can be harsh, but I think it can be worth. I most like the Hewed Stone Retainers, though. Being an artifact fixes the difficulties with satisfying the cast condition that Illusory Angel has, since Chief Engineer and Renowned Weaponsmith can ramp it out early. In my mind, Hewed Stone Retainers has a shot of being a free creature, basically, if you're holding an Ornithopter, or just have some other cheap spell in hand, along with 3 creatures (one of which is Chief Engineer).
Modern: Budget U/R Burn
Legacy: LOLnope
Vintage: See previous
Commander: Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Tiny Commander: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempo
It is possible to play Ugin's Construct, you just need a deck that doesn't run colored permanents (mana is colorless btw). So you woudn't have to deal with his drawback, or you could hold your colored permanents before playing him.
I feel like the Hewed Stone Retainers is going to suffer from the same problems Illusory Angel, which is dead in your hand until turn 4 or 5. I hope I am wrong though, but only testing will tell.
4x Burnished Hart
4x Chief Engineer
4x Ornithopter
4x Renowned Weaponsmith
2x Scuttling Doom Engine
4x Soul of New Phyrexia
Instant (3)
3x Stubborn Denial
4x Flooded Strand
10x Island
4x Polluted Delta
4x Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Artifact (8)
4x Astral Cornucopia
4x Springleaf Drum
Sorcery (4)
4x Treasure Cruise
1x Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
3x Disdainful Stroke
4x Guardians of Meletis
1x Monastery Siege
3x Negate
3x Singing Bell Strike
1x Ugin, the Spirit Dragon