Some interesting stuff here. The only reason I prefer Preordain over Ponder is the rare occasions I Ponder and need one of the three but really have no interest of drawing one or more of the other two and I lack a shuffle outlet. It doesn't happen often, but when it does I would always say, "I wish I could have scry'd those away..."
Aven Riftwatcher is interesting. Especially with Jeskai dominating the format. I might try it out.
Has anyone tried Mantle of Tides yet? It's can be tutored, we can usually attached it for free without effort, and we can attach it at instant speed for combat tricks with Brainstorm.
Awesome to come across another Pauper Caw Blade fan. I've been running UW Caw Blade in the format for about 3/4 years and it could be my one of my top three favorite decks across all constructed formats. A couple comments, suggestions, and ideas from probably 500+ UW Caw Blade games:
*There is almost zero draw back (and a lot to gain in certain situations) from dropping one Island and Plains and running a singleton Seat of the Synod and Ancient Den whenever you are running Trinket Mage. You might only tutor for an artifact land with Mage 5%-10% of the time, but it's never a bad play when you do so. The move can be a life saver when you need to make a land drop, and in the late game if you have already exhausted your equipment, it just continues card advantage. Opponents hardly ever board in artifact hate against us (it's not their priority) and if they do, they will gunning for equipment not lands. I feel that running one of each is just a percentage better play in 100% of decks running Trinket Mage.
*It might just be a personal preference, but I feel running redundant equipment main deck isn't the best move unless burn is prevalent in the meta and I might run 2x Lifestaff. I feel it clogs up spots I can fill with other utility and card advantage. I believe this because A) We aren't winning matches on turns 1-4 by overwhelming an opponent. We win on turn 7+ with our card advantage protecting our evasive threats. A Guardian of the Guildpact unchecked with one equipment is usually going to win the game. Redundant equipment clogs up spots that can be used to protect our finishers, because as much as Guardian is the format's True-Name Nemesis - it is still format rife with Edicts (although not near as much as before Delver was nerfed), fogs, and Dinrova Horror. Also, with all the matches I've played with the deck I can probably count the number of times an equipment has been countered or blown up on two hands. Opponents just don't focus on them.
*Trinket Mage also means a Relic of Progenitus main deck is a percentage better play. We are greatly disadvantaged against Jeskai Snow and Tron without a Relic in play and without the chance to land a Relic game 1 we basically concede that game unless they are mana screwed because unfortunately they do what we want to do (survive to mid-late game and overwhelm with card advantage) better than we do. Relic, however, causes them to be much less efficient at that. Relic hurts Jeskai, Tron, Turbo Fog, BR Re-antimator, Tortured Existence, and UB Teachings which are all decks you will run into in a competitive environment and it also clears out flashback edicts. I would almost guess I have tutored for a relic more times with my first Trinket Mage of a match than all equipments combined.
*I like Mulldrifter more than Court Hussar and I've tried CH a lot. It's arguably the best creature in the format and does two things we really want (evasive threat and card advantage) very well. It also eats some much unwarranted removal from inexperienced players because they see a Mulldrifter and freak out for some reason.
*My favorite tech is 2x Angelic Renewal. It turns Mulldrifter into "Draw 4 with a 2/2 Flying Stick" for 3WU and invalidates removal that does get through to our finishers.
Aven Riftwatcher is interesting. Especially with Jeskai dominating the format. I might try it out.
Has anyone tried Mantle of Tides yet? It's can be tutored, we can usually attached it for free without effort, and we can attach it at instant speed for combat tricks with Brainstorm.
*There is almost zero draw back (and a lot to gain in certain situations) from dropping one Island and Plains and running a singleton Seat of the Synod and Ancient Den whenever you are running Trinket Mage. You might only tutor for an artifact land with Mage 5%-10% of the time, but it's never a bad play when you do so. The move can be a life saver when you need to make a land drop, and in the late game if you have already exhausted your equipment, it just continues card advantage. Opponents hardly ever board in artifact hate against us (it's not their priority) and if they do, they will gunning for equipment not lands. I feel that running one of each is just a percentage better play in 100% of decks running Trinket Mage.
*It might just be a personal preference, but I feel running redundant equipment main deck isn't the best move unless burn is prevalent in the meta and I might run 2x Lifestaff. I feel it clogs up spots I can fill with other utility and card advantage. I believe this because A) We aren't winning matches on turns 1-4 by overwhelming an opponent. We win on turn 7+ with our card advantage protecting our evasive threats. A Guardian of the Guildpact unchecked with one equipment is usually going to win the game. Redundant equipment clogs up spots that can be used to protect our finishers, because as much as Guardian is the format's True-Name Nemesis - it is still format rife with Edicts (although not near as much as before Delver was nerfed), fogs, and Dinrova Horror. Also, with all the matches I've played with the deck I can probably count the number of times an equipment has been countered or blown up on two hands. Opponents just don't focus on them.
*Trinket Mage also means a Relic of Progenitus main deck is a percentage better play. We are greatly disadvantaged against Jeskai Snow and Tron without a Relic in play and without the chance to land a Relic game 1 we basically concede that game unless they are mana screwed because unfortunately they do what we want to do (survive to mid-late game and overwhelm with card advantage) better than we do. Relic, however, causes them to be much less efficient at that. Relic hurts Jeskai, Tron, Turbo Fog, BR Re-antimator, Tortured Existence, and UB Teachings which are all decks you will run into in a competitive environment and it also clears out flashback edicts. I would almost guess I have tutored for a relic more times with my first Trinket Mage of a match than all equipments combined.
*I like Mulldrifter more than Court Hussar and I've tried CH a lot. It's arguably the best creature in the format and does two things we really want (evasive threat and card advantage) very well. It also eats some much unwarranted removal from inexperienced players because they see a Mulldrifter and freak out for some reason.
*My favorite tech is 2x Angelic Renewal. It turns Mulldrifter into "Draw 4 with a 2/2 Flying Stick" for 3WU and invalidates removal that does get through to our finishers.
*I love Seraph of Dawn along with Guardian of the Guildpact as a 2x each of finishers for the deck. It's also Baneslayer Angel with vigilance if you can attach a Bladed Bracers. I also often feel it is more important to protect than Guardian and wins games more efficiently.
*Personal preference: I actually prefer Preordain over Ponder.
Best of luck!