The first iteration had a bit more board control, and relied on Exanguinates to close things up. This just felt lazy to me though, and I thought it would be fun to play with Notion Thief a little.
The only immediate change that comes to mind is running Crush of Tentacles over Evacuation if it's an option. I know that it's not an instant but Crush has been absolutely insane for me in decks with cheap cantrips and such. Otherwise it's probably missing a land or even a touch of ramp since you have a whack of amazing spells and you'll probably win as long as you can cast them all. When I play similar 2+ color decks I have a very hard time omitting Fellwar Stone because there isn't much that I'd rather run out on turn 2. Strix is great and all but you won't see one every time and you really don't have many relevant turn 1-3 outside of those in this particular brew.
For cuts you can ditch one mass removal spell, a spell burst (or even both, this isn't a big mana deck at all) and one of the creatures or something. All of the cards are good though so anything would work. I feel like the only way for this style of deck to "fail to perform" is due to mana screw so cutting basically anything for some solid ramp to give another relevant turn 2 is where you want to be in my mind.
The only immediate change that comes to mind is running Crush of Tentacles over Evacuation if it's an option. I know that it's not an instant but Crush has been absolutely insane for me in decks with cheap cantrips and such.
I love that card too, but the instant speed also helps me protect Laboratory Maniac. I will try it and see how it works... I can always add a third FoW or a second Shard if I can't protect him when I need to.
Not sure yet. But that's why I also have Army of the Damned and Rite Replication in there. I can always cut him if he never happens... but Whispering Madness is sweet with Notion Thief, and I can cypher it on to a Specter to cast it for free over and over.
Meh, I personally consider Thief + Madness to be a game-win. You have all of the cards, your opponents have 0 cards. Toss in a Reliquary Tower and you legitimately can't lose. In that sense I don't care if Madness is a brick on its own because A) it's almost never useless and B) most 2-card combos that win the game force you to play with terrible cards with no standalone value.
When I play similar 2+ color decks I have a very hard time omitting Fellwar Stone because there isn't much that I'd rather run out on turn 2. Strix is great and all but you won't see one every time and you really don't have many relevant turn 1-3 outside of those in this particular brew.
When I play similar 2+ color decks I have a very hard time omitting Fellwar Stone because there isn't much that I'd rather run out on turn 2. Strix is great and all but you won't see one every time and you really don't have many relevant turn 1-3 outside of those in this particular brew.
Fellwar Stone is on my short-list for "top 10 affordable multiplayer cards in the game." It's a 2 CMC mana rock that "fixes all 5 colors," that doesn't ETBT and that doesn't have any additional requirements/decisions that you can mess up. I legitimately believe that if you were to take every deck posted on this sub and blindly remove 4 spells in order to add a set of these you would see a dramatic improvement in overall win %s across the board.
Fellwar Stone is on my short-list for "top 10 affordable multiplayer cards in the game." It's a 2 CMC mana rock that "fixes all 5 colors," that doesn't ETBT and that doesn't have any additional requirements/decisions that you can mess up. I legitimately believe that if you were to take every deck posted on this sub and blindly remove 4 spells in order to add a set of these you would see a dramatic improvement in overall win %s across the board.
I've been trying it out, and I gotta say, I love it. Not only does it allow for things like T2 Fellwar Stone + Preordain, but the hidden bonus of being able to cast absolutely anything that Nightveil Specter picks up isn't insignificant.
I also subbed the Evacuations for Crush of Tentacles, and wow. With the Post package, and the mana rocks, It's amazing how quickly and can bounce the board, get an 8/8 Octopus Token, and then kick Rite to get 5 more. Silliness.
Crystal Shard has been over-performing for me, being able to protect any creatures I need, and keeping the card draw coming. I still think the correct number is 1, but upping it to 2 has been very tempting.
Regarding Laboratory Maniac, he definitely works. Doesn't hurt to have Force backup + Crystal Shard. If he were to come out, I would have to put an Elixir of Immortality in there - but I want to be able to end the games "fast," and he lets me combo out.
Crystal Shard has been over-performing for me, being able to protect any creatures I need, and keeping the card draw coming. I still think the correct number is 1, but upping it to 2 has been very tempting.
I run two in my Esper control deck and it workz great. Being able to return your Mulldrifter and one other card; yours or an opponent's is phenomenal.
4 Polluted Delta
4 Watery Grave
3 Drowned Catacomb
1 Reliquary Tower
4 Cloudpost
4 Glimmerpost
2 Snow-Covered Island
2 Snow-Covered Swamp
4 Baleful Strix
3 Mulldrifter
2 Nightveil Specter
2 Notion Thief
1 Laboratory Maniac
Other Spells (24):
4 Damnation
4 Preordain
4 Fellwar Stone
1 Crystal Shard
2 Force of Will
1 Recurring Insight
2 Crush of Tentacles
2 Whispering Madness
2 Rite of Replication
1 Black Sun's Zenith
1 Army of the Damned
The first iteration had a bit more board control, and relied on Exanguinates to close things up. This just felt lazy to me though, and I thought it would be fun to play with Notion Thief a little.
Thoughts or ideas?
Updated:
-2 Spell Burst
-1 Black Sun's Zenith
-1 Notion Thief
-1 Drowned Catacomb
-2 Evacuation
+4 Fellwar Stone
+2 Crush of Tentacles
+1 Reliquary Tower
My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U
For cuts you can ditch one mass removal spell, a spell burst (or even both, this isn't a big mana deck at all) and one of the creatures or something. All of the cards are good though so anything would work. I feel like the only way for this style of deck to "fail to perform" is due to mana screw so cutting basically anything for some solid ramp to give another relevant turn 2 is where you want to be in my mind.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
I love that card too, but the instant speed also helps me protect Laboratory Maniac. I will try it and see how it works... I can always add a third FoW or a second Shard if I can't protect him when I need to.
Not sure yet. But that's why I also have Army of the Damned and Rite Replication in there. I can always cut him if he never happens... but Whispering Madness is sweet with Notion Thief, and I can cypher it on to a Specter to cast it for free over and over.
My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
You would rather Fellwar Stone in here than Dimir Signet? I was thinking about adding Signet.
My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U
Fellwar Stone is on my short-list for "top 10 affordable multiplayer cards in the game." It's a 2 CMC mana rock that "fixes all 5 colors," that doesn't ETBT and that doesn't have any additional requirements/decisions that you can mess up. I legitimately believe that if you were to take every deck posted on this sub and blindly remove 4 spells in order to add a set of these you would see a dramatic improvement in overall win %s across the board.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
I've been trying it out, and I gotta say, I love it. Not only does it allow for things like T2 Fellwar Stone + Preordain, but the hidden bonus of being able to cast absolutely anything that Nightveil Specter picks up isn't insignificant.
I also subbed the Evacuations for Crush of Tentacles, and wow. With the Post package, and the mana rocks, It's amazing how quickly and can bounce the board, get an 8/8 Octopus Token, and then kick Rite to get 5 more. Silliness.
Crystal Shard has been over-performing for me, being able to protect any creatures I need, and keeping the card draw coming. I still think the correct number is 1, but upping it to 2 has been very tempting.
Regarding Laboratory Maniac, he definitely works. Doesn't hurt to have Force backup + Crystal Shard. If he were to come out, I would have to put an Elixir of Immortality in there - but I want to be able to end the games "fast," and he lets me combo out.
My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U