I posted about a new deck idea and was told that it is just better to play a proven netdeck. I said I enjoyed making my own decks and to this I was told that I was being egotistical. In other words I was being put down for using my OWN creativity instead of becoming a mindless copycat like everyone else. My question here is why does Wizards keep coming out with 150 cards + sets if only 10 of those cards are going to be use. Obviously the Magic community frowns on creativity. Just look at standard right now, you either play U/W tempo or a deck that is proven to win against it. Gone are the good ole days where people actually made their own decks. For shame, for shame!
Damaja, on Nov 10th you posted you were updating your build and you were going to start testing. When did you start copying the real deck, Nov 11th? You say you are not sold on this deck, after playing it for 3 days you know it inside out? This is the problem with netdecking, so many people think they can just copy a deck and after a week know it enough to judge it. People that are getting good results, like the actual guys that made this deck, being Isi and Strong Sad (alias Todd), have been playing it faithfully non stop for weeks now. They have been posting great results with it, the only problem is Strong Sad's latest losses are due to mirror matches, since everyone hurries to copy the new "in thing".
With that hand definitely turn 1 Delver, turn t2 Ponder/Bear. You have a good chance of turning that Delver t2 upkeep with all the instant/sorceries in the deck. An attacking 3/2 Flyer is definitely better than a 2/2 that dies to any targeted spell. Watch some of the replays on MOL in the Dailys there, you will see all the pros will always play a t1 Delver if they have it in their hand.
That U/W Illusions deck has been placing in the Top 8 on Magic Online for a full week now. Some days have more than one copy being in the Top 8. Not once has a version with Grand Architect/Sun Titan shown that much promise. But even after the positive results there people on this site were saying "that's MOL, that's not a real Tourney. Even after Delver has shown it belongs in the deck, we still have the naysayers here. Now the deck has proven itself in a real Tourney and people are still posting the same old Sun Titan/Illusion versions here. I can fully understand why this thread has not been boosted to the Competitve Forums.
Has anyone ever tried Peace Strider or Pierce Strider in their decks? With Phantasmal Image and Phyrexian Metamorph in the deck this could work. This deck does quick damage, but sometimes lacks the final blow I find.
Unfortunately this is the way of the world now. Let someone else create a masterpiece than copy it. Well, we were working together to make the deck better, so sooner or later the word was going to get out. Just watch for all the new articles that will appear now.
It's funny to see how people are playing this on MOL right now. Last night I played vs 2 mirror matches. I have a list a couple pages back that used Metamorph/Wurmcoil Engine instead of Automaton and everyone here scoffed at it. I still use 3 Metamorph main and 1 Dragon. I'm sure some so-called pro will do an article on this deck soon, since it is showing decent numbers. It's funny how even the pros didn't give this strategy a chance. All they were doing is sticking with the many different ways to make decks that were already proven better.
Why don't any of these lists have Phyrexian Metamorph in them? Metamorph is great for copying Swords/Obliterators/Titans plus it doesn't die like a targeted Illusion would. Grand Architect works great with Metamorph, throw in a couple of Wurmcoil Engines and you have a pretty lethal deck. You still can use the Lords/Bears/Images and Dragons in here too.
Mental Missteps, stops turn one Inquisition/Duress. Turn 1 Goblin, early mana producers for pod decks and is even good vs Tempered Steel decks. Why wouldn't you play it main?
Deprive does not hurt your tempo when you only need 4 lands to successfully run this deck. Deprive is a hard counter that even makes a good late game play.. There are 14 1 mana spells, 8 2 mana spells and an Architect in play makes for a possible Turn 3 Metamorph or Wurmcoil engine.
I tried Adaptive Automaton but didn't like that it does nothing for Lord of the Unreal, Grand Architect and Wurmcoil Engine. Phyrexian Metamorph is so much better here, it can copy creatures and artifacts, especially good vs Swords.
I have seen some decent Phantasmal Illusion creature/Quicksilver Amulet/Architect decks showing up though.
This deck dies to Pyromancer Ascension 1st game badly.
Abeno0, you can play Chalice turn 1 with no counters and still have it valid in the game. Surge Node still can put a counter on it to get it started. I have done this many times vs u/b control, since I know they are going to Inquisition or Duress me first turn.
The reason Wurmcoil Engine is so good in this deck is it has great synergy with Unwinding Clock. You can use Wurmcoil to attack and block the next turn. This is basically my only hope in beating RDW. Also with Metamorphs in the deck I would rather have multiple Wurmcoil Engines in play than I would Hellkites. The untapping thing also works with Hellkite, but you don't gain any life from it. In alot games I stabilize with under 10 life left, most of the times 3-7. Wurmcoil becomes a savior.
They feed off people's EGO. That's really all it takes!
Deprive does not hurt your tempo when you only need 4 lands to successfully run this deck. Deprive is a hard counter that even makes a good late game play.. There are 14 1 mana spells, 8 2 mana spells and an Architect in play makes for a possible Turn 3 Metamorph or Wurmcoil engine.
Creatures
4 Grand Architect
4 Phantasmal Bear
4 Phantasmal Image
4 Lord of the Unreal
3 Phyrexian Metamorph
2 Phantasmal Dragon
3 Wurmcoil Engine
Spells
4 Deprive
3 Mental Misstep
3 Spell Pierce
3 Preordain
2 Ponder
Lands
2 Halimar Depths
19 Islands
I tried Adaptive Automaton but didn't like that it does nothing for Lord of the Unreal, Grand Architect and Wurmcoil Engine. Phyrexian Metamorph is so much better here, it can copy creatures and artifacts, especially good vs Swords.
I have seen some decent Phantasmal Illusion creature/Quicksilver Amulet/Architect decks showing up though.
This deck dies to Pyromancer Ascension 1st game badly.