Out of curiosity, how do you feel about Hopeful Eidolon in this deck? 1/1 lifelink white 1-drop that can both trigger and be searched with Tallowisp, and it can be a +1/+1 Lifelink enchantment when you need it in the long game. It's not a +2/+2 cheap lifelink card, but it offers a lot of flexibility outside of that. My guess is it's too cute and in actual games it's too weak and slow to be useful in the long run.
When it comes to a fair version of Counterspell that I want to see, I think the best one I've thought of is this.
AEther Fracture UU
Instant
A) Counter target spell with a permanent type.
B) Counter target non-instant, non-sorcery spell.
I'm torn on reading A for it, so I'll offer B as an alternative. Either would work currently, but have slightly different meanings. Functionally they're the same at the moment, but if for any reason Wizards introduced another non-permanent type in the future, A would not counter it while B would.
I'm sad that both of the Boros partner commanders aren't that interesting. It's nice that Akiri doesn't have an attack/combat damage trigger, but he is definitely an equipment/voltron-leaning general that warps your mana base if you want to cast him early. He does work as an alternate wincon if you mostly want to use Silas with those colors though. Bruse pairs nicely with Silas and Tana's combat triggers, and he gives bonuses that Ishai and Kraum (or Akiri) might care about if you want them to attack, but I don't see much reason to cast him beyond that.
Ludevic is kind of a non-bo with Vial Smasher and Sidar. You want people to work for his trigger. Enabling them to do so is the opposite of that.
While Tymna and Kydele is cute, I think pairing Kraum and Tymna together for a selfish draw engine to fuel a goodstuff deck is better. I like the idea of a Ishai/Reyhan +1/+1 Counters deck in the former's colors though.
Sidar and Bower Passage basically make your creatures unblockable, which is nice. Pair with Ravos and you don't need any other pump effects for a token deck. You could even go the Doran route and pump toughness instead if you wanted.
It's also worth noting that you can use certain combinations of Silas, Akiri, Reyhan, Ludevic, Vial Smasher, and Tymna for a 4c Tiny Leaders deck, which wasn't possible before.
Empty the Warrens goes infinite with Soulfire, Cryptolith Rites, and either Intruder Alarm or a mass haste effect, given enough of a storm count with the latter (which wins on the spot) or enough initial creatures with the former. The Intruder Alarm + Rites route also works with any token producing spell, and is easier to pull off, but still gives opponents a round to respond.
Mana Conversion U(G/U) Instant
Counter target spell. Its owner adds X mana in any combination of colours to their mana pool, where X is the spell's converted mana cost. Draw a card. That was almost impressive. What else are you capable of? Show me.
Fixed mana drain/counterspell, with a splash of green in the cost and effect. The cantrip bonus might not be needed, but as is there's guaranteed card advantage, even if their tempo hasn't slowed down.
Actually, there is a build-around-me card I'd love to see:
--- Flood the Manafont - :symrg::symrg::symrg:
Legendary Enchantment
Shroud
Mana doesn't empty from each player's mana pools as phases end.
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player taps all untapped lands they control, adding for each land tapped this way.
At the beginning of each player's end step, that player takes damage equal to the amount of mana in their mana pool.
---
Yep. Mana burn. With an upside. Players looking to power out expensive cards can do so at the cost of life. It also attacks control players looking to interact on your turn. Perhaps build a tax deck to lock the opponent out, or put it in a midrange deck that can gamble on playing a turn 4 6-9 mana threat.
If anyone has posted this idea before, sorry I didn't see it.
Yeah, I forgot that it's only an aura once it's put on the stack via Bestow. Almost had a squadron hawk effect.
AEther Fracture UU
Instant
A) Counter target spell with a permanent type.
B) Counter target non-instant, non-sorcery spell.
I'm torn on reading A for it, so I'll offer B as an alternative. Either would work currently, but have slightly different meanings. Functionally they're the same at the moment, but if for any reason Wizards introduced another non-permanent type in the future, A would not counter it while B would.
Ludevic is kind of a non-bo with Vial Smasher and Sidar. You want people to work for his trigger. Enabling them to do so is the opposite of that.
While Tymna and Kydele is cute, I think pairing Kraum and Tymna together for a selfish draw engine to fuel a goodstuff deck is better. I like the idea of a Ishai/Reyhan +1/+1 Counters deck in the former's colors though.
Sidar and Bower Passage basically make your creatures unblockable, which is nice. Pair with Ravos and you don't need any other pump effects for a token deck. You could even go the Doran route and pump toughness instead if you wanted.
It's also worth noting that you can use certain combinations of Silas, Akiri, Reyhan, Ludevic, Vial Smasher, and Tymna for a 4c Tiny Leaders deck, which wasn't possible before.
Instant
Counter target spell. Its owner adds X mana in any combination of colours to their mana pool, where X is the spell's converted mana cost. Draw a card.
That was almost impressive. What else are you capable of? Show me.
Fixed mana drain/counterspell, with a splash of green in the cost and effect. The cantrip bonus might not be needed, but as is there's guaranteed card advantage, even if their tempo hasn't slowed down.
---
Flood the Manafont - :symrg::symrg::symrg:
Legendary Enchantment
Shroud
Mana doesn't empty from each player's mana pools as phases end.
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player taps all untapped lands they control, adding
At the beginning of each player's end step, that player takes damage equal to the amount of mana in their mana pool.
---
Yep. Mana burn. With an upside. Players looking to power out expensive cards can do so at the cost of life. It also attacks control players looking to interact on your turn. Perhaps build a tax deck to lock the opponent out, or put it in a midrange deck that can gamble on playing a turn 4 6-9 mana threat.
If anyone has posted this idea before, sorry I didn't see it.