what miscalculation really fixes is the endgame uselessness of mana leak, at the price of being obsolete one turn ealrier.
and, honestly, just reprint counterspell. it only really fights for leak's spot, but i doubt it'll completely replace leak, since UU on turn 2 usually means an extra 2 dmg or colour screwed(fetched a basic island instead of a shock) for a turn.
The problem with this is that people already plays filterlands in blue decks and guarantee to get a good blue fix, because of Cryptic Command. Counterspell is not much more difficult to, at the very least, represent with an uncracked fetchland. The fact that you don't have to always take the pain to be prepared with it makes the double blue cost less effective at hindering the card.
I suspect that Miscalculation would actually be Modern-playable because it's a weak counterspell that can turn into a cantrip when it's too weak to counter anything.
I find it barely on par with Mana Leak, though. The cycling is nice, but I don't think I would often want to trade a counterspell for a random card off the top, unless I had the game severely in my favor. I think that most people would still resort to Mana Leak with Miscalculation in the modern card pool.
In BW Tokens, not easy to remove hard removal spells like Path. In 4c Gifts or UW Tron, easy to board the removal out simply because there's nothing good to hit.
I speculate more than I play, so what do I know? (To clarify, that's not sarcastic.)
I am somewhat disappointed that she'd need such a controlling deck to work well. It makes sense, but half of her effect is going to waste there if she's your only creature and acts as a finisher. I still think that the Death and Taxes idea holds promise. I might test that sometime. At the very least, it would be neat to see her make a pod list or two some time.
I could see this regarded very highly in several years. Isn't this sort of the speculation path that Dark Confidant took when he was first printed? I'm not sure how I didn't see it before, but this is indeed an amazing looking card. I haven't gotten to test with it yet, unfortunately. I'm convinced that I will need to get a playset in the near future, however.
I'm digging this, but you might want to consider bringing it up to 60 lands. Just for the sake of meeting the deck requirement. It would be excellent as-is, however.
I think the format is too fast to support her in non-control decks. So for BW Tokens or Pod, I think she's too expensive to actually muster. As good as she is, you don't want a card that's dead for such a long time.
Also, against Zoo, they probably board out some Paths depending on your deck, which makes her more appealing. Though it's one creature deck she doesn't actually Wrath in, Merfolk being the other off my head.
Well, when you put it like that it sounds like she'd be good for sideboarding tricks. Play something like black-white tokens, and in game 2 you can board in Elesh Norn, hoping they board out hard removal.
Another idea is that she might fit into something like Death and Taxes or Hatebears (I know, they aren't big decks at the moment). Those decks are controlling and still run creatures to reap the benefits of her boost. Lastly, I really like the idea of using her with Nykthos.
Thing is, White's supposed to be getting these effects at some point, and while it really peeves me that it's a +1 to the overall UWx shell I'm not letting it get in the way of what it ought to be, the union of White and Blue in telling you to STOP THAT.
I mean, I could perhaps get behind a WW cost tag, but then that'd look way too weird...
I guess I'm seeing that, what with Render Silent and all. However, I don't think that this is exactly the way to introduce the white-blue "shut your face" idea. After all, Memory Lapse was originally mono-blue, so having this in blue-white feels odd to me. While I would like to see a good two-mana blue-white counterspell, I don't think this is the way to do it. Maybe something like this:
(Witty Cardname) WU
Instant
Counter target spell unless its controller pays X, where X is two times the number of spells cast before that spell this turn. Its controller can't cast spells this turn. Exile ~.
Good against storm (which is a big target for the silence effect anyways), better if you start casting your own stuff on their turn. This is kind of a confusing concept, but it's an idea. Maybe you weren't referring to the Silence effect, though.
Actually I was fishing more for a more playable Lapse of Certainty with a bit of "yeah nah no spamming this card from the grave for you" as present in the self-exiling clause.
But that works too, I guess.
Well, making it blue and white tutors to WUR control, and I'm not a fan of tutoring to already prevalent archetypes. Maybe just UU with the exiling clause? Then we get a great counterspell that doesn't go to town with Snapcaster Mage.
If Elesh Norn doesn't Wrath your opponent, they're probably playing a creature heavy deck (like zoo) or control. If you're up against zoo she's probably going to stick until they draw a Path to Exile. Unless they saved one for her. Even so, that's breaking even in card advantage. Remember that this is essentially a worst-case scenario. I really think that Elesh Norn is worth every mana spent to cast her, and could definitely pull her weight in a deck able to get her in play before turn seven.
It's funny, because she'd be somewhat good in decks that she nerfs. Splinter Twin is a bit far-fetched, but in a pod deck I could see her as a one-of along-side a six-drop to pod into her. Additionally, she'd be great in a tokens deck. As mentioned above, she works well with Windbrisk Heights.
What about a version of Memory Lapse costing UU? Another thing to remember is that, with the fetchlands being commonplace in modern, putting stuff on top of the library isn't as much of a tempo advantage as it could be. If your opponent really needs a draw, they can crack a fetchland. I know this isn't much, but it's somthing. Despite this, it honestly seems that anything more powerful than what we already have may lead to blue becoming a bit too powerful for modern.
This was a project of mine from a while ago. I still keep it around on Cockatrice for those games that people host requesting creative decks. In case it isn't obvious initially, the idea here is to cast Puresight Merrow, cast and equip a Paradise Mantle, and then you get a combo where you can basically exile stuff from the top of your library until you get what you want. Then, if you don't already have it, get a Laboratory Maniac, exile your deck, draw a card and win.
Favorite Playstyle: Tempo/Midrange. I enjoy adaptability.
How Competitive: PTQ/GP competition is always in the mind, but my decks are usually used for local tournaments and for fun. Despite this, I'm overly competitive even in these environments.
Favorite Cards/Colors: I enjoy any enemy-colored two-color combination ((B/W)(G/B)(U/G)(R/U)(W/R)) and several cards I have been looking for an excuse to play include Delver of Secrets, Deathrite Shaman and Geist of Saint Traft.
Budget: Overall deck pricing can vary, but <$500 is preferable. Manabase is not necessarily a problem, but cards like Bob and 'Goyf are cards I'd prefer to avoid.
Staples Owned: Not much. I have a few sparse shocklands, and miscellaneous stuff. I will acquire whatever I don't have, so this shouldn't be an issue.
Something else I'd like to say is that I enjoy playing uncommon decks, yet I also enjoy powerful/competitive decks. This has made it very difficult for me to find a deck that I find appealing. Additionally, I want to play a deck that isn't easily hated out of the metagame. I also enjoy playing decks that are difficult to play or learn. It makes the game more fun and causes all sorts of mind games.
Unless you're trying for something wacky, being on the play is almost always the best option. Think of it like this, you can be either a turn ahead of your opponent or a turn behind. (I know that from a reactionary point of view this may not be a bad thing, but this deck doesn't sound like a control deck.) From the sounds of it, you want to get as much tempo advantage as possible. Playing first will certainly help in this regard. If you have your doubts, just test while drawing first and see if it makes a large difference.
I've been playing a similar deck to this for a while, but I never thought to run Delver in it. However, Flamekin Harbinger is what I've been considering for a while, and you might want to give it a try. It makes a turn three win more consistent, bringing it up to effectively eight Kiln Fiends. You could try to clear some room in the deck for a couple.
As previously suggested, Assault Strobe is amazing and Serum Visions makes Delver much more consistent at flipping. I highly recommend both.
The problem with this is that people already plays filterlands in blue decks and guarantee to get a good blue fix, because of Cryptic Command. Counterspell is not much more difficult to, at the very least, represent with an uncracked fetchland. The fact that you don't have to always take the pain to be prepared with it makes the double blue cost less effective at hindering the card.
I find it barely on par with Mana Leak, though. The cycling is nice, but I don't think I would often want to trade a counterspell for a random card off the top, unless I had the game severely in my favor. I think that most people would still resort to Mana Leak with Miscalculation in the modern card pool.
I am somewhat disappointed that she'd need such a controlling deck to work well. It makes sense, but half of her effect is going to waste there if she's your only creature and acts as a finisher. I still think that the Death and Taxes idea holds promise. I might test that sometime. At the very least, it would be neat to see her make a pod list or two some time.
Well, when you put it like that it sounds like she'd be good for sideboarding tricks. Play something like black-white tokens, and in game 2 you can board in Elesh Norn, hoping they board out hard removal.
Another idea is that she might fit into something like Death and Taxes or Hatebears (I know, they aren't big decks at the moment). Those decks are controlling and still run creatures to reap the benefits of her boost. Lastly, I really like the idea of using her with Nykthos.
I guess I'm seeing that, what with Render Silent and all. However, I don't think that this is exactly the way to introduce the white-blue "shut your face" idea. After all, Memory Lapse was originally mono-blue, so having this in blue-white feels odd to me. While I would like to see a good two-mana blue-white counterspell, I don't think this is the way to do it. Maybe something like this:
(Witty Cardname)
WU
Instant
Counter target spell unless its controller pays X, where X is two times the number of spells cast before that spell this turn. Its controller can't cast spells this turn. Exile ~.
Good against storm (which is a big target for the silence effect anyways), better if you start casting your own stuff on their turn. This is kind of a confusing concept, but it's an idea. Maybe you weren't referring to the Silence effect, though.
Well, making it blue and white tutors to WUR control, and I'm not a fan of tutoring to already prevalent archetypes. Maybe just UU with the exiling clause? Then we get a great counterspell that doesn't go to town with Snapcaster Mage.
It's funny, because she'd be somewhat good in decks that she nerfs. Splinter Twin is a bit far-fetched, but in a pod deck I could see her as a one-of along-side a six-drop to pod into her. Additionally, she'd be great in a tokens deck. As mentioned above, she works well with Windbrisk Heights.
4 Paradise Mantle
Creatures (9)
4 Laboratory Maniac
4 Puresight Merrow
1 Spellskite
Instants (14)
2 Cryptic Command
3 Mizzium Skin
4 Muddle the Mixture
1 Pact of Negation
4 Remand
1 Academy Ruins
10 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Tolaria West
Sorceries (10)
3 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
3 Sleight of Hand
4 Dispel
4 Echoing Truth
4 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Mizzium Skin
2 Spellskite
This was a project of mine from a while ago. I still keep it around on Cockatrice for those games that people host requesting creative decks. In case it isn't obvious initially, the idea here is to cast Puresight Merrow, cast and equip a Paradise Mantle, and then you get a combo where you can basically exile stuff from the top of your library until you get what you want. Then, if you don't already have it, get a Laboratory Maniac, exile your deck, draw a card and win.
How Competitive: PTQ/GP competition is always in the mind, but my decks are usually used for local tournaments and for fun. Despite this, I'm overly competitive even in these environments.
Favorite Cards/Colors: I enjoy any enemy-colored two-color combination ((B/W)(G/B)(U/G)(R/U)(W/R)) and several cards I have been looking for an excuse to play include Delver of Secrets, Deathrite Shaman and Geist of Saint Traft.
Budget: Overall deck pricing can vary, but <$500 is preferable. Manabase is not necessarily a problem, but cards like Bob and 'Goyf are cards I'd prefer to avoid.
Staples Owned: Not much. I have a few sparse shocklands, and miscellaneous stuff. I will acquire whatever I don't have, so this shouldn't be an issue.
Something else I'd like to say is that I enjoy playing uncommon decks, yet I also enjoy powerful/competitive decks. This has made it very difficult for me to find a deck that I find appealing. Additionally, I want to play a deck that isn't easily hated out of the metagame. I also enjoy playing decks that are difficult to play or learn. It makes the game more fun and causes all sorts of mind games.
As previously suggested, Assault Strobe is amazing and Serum Visions makes Delver much more consistent at flipping. I highly recommend both.