Starting off, I know dredge isn't exactly a new thing. I feel that it's in a great spot to stay two-colored, splash blue, or go full on three-colored. Personally, I'm trying to transition my deck into a more midrange type of deck that won't suffer from the bad mulligans. I tested this list on Cockatrice all week and went 2-1 at my FNM tonight (most people come for the draft at my store).
I'm very satisfied with the deck. I expected to be weak to fast aggro and the sideboard is trying to make up for that without leaning on removal too much, but my G2 against a really fast Rakdos deck made me mulligan to 5 without even hitting a play until turn three. Just the way it happens sometimes, so I can't complain too much.
I plan on moving forward with this deck. The cards I'm dissatisfied with are Reaper of the Wilds, Sagu Mauler, and my shaky manabase. I like both of those cards, but I don't feel like they're adding too much to the deck. Reaper is a possible sideboard option though, but I'm not sure what for. Sagu Mauler is amazing on paper and I was stoked to use my foil of it, but it only hit the board unmorphed once the whole night. It DID close that game out but I just don't see it working for this version of the deck.
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant is my newest favorite card. It dominated the game when I needed it to in the mirror match, and just having it hit the field caused another concede. Testing on Cockatrice makes me definitely want to play the full playset, but not until after I get the lands I need to make it work. Also works as a great whip and enchantment target.
Bow of Nylea works wonders for me. Maindecked, it lets me make up for a lack of removal by letting me trade chump elfs and satyrs for other threats, or to make them ignore blocking altogether for a few turns. Plus, it lets me dump my extra mana for whatever I need it for. I like it as a singleton.
My wildcard evasion comes with Aqueous Form. It's so good in that I can give it to anything early if I have to to fix my draws, it pushes through Sidisi for free triggers, and lets Nighthowler and Nemesis push through some big damage. Sides out a bit if I feel I wont get a chance to benefit from it before stabilizing, but it still has been a huge upgrade over Herald of Torment.
Necropolis Fiend and Endless Obedience are both singletons that I thought was worth a try. In theory, the fiend is a great tool to go over the top, and I love it so far. It's been great at pushing through a little bonus damage and I can easily cast it around turn 4, and almost always have other things to do for the turn. I have hard casted it a few times, but it's still worth the spot and I might even like another. As for obedience, I've been really pleased with it so far. I've used it on my own Sidisi or Nighthowler a few times, but the biggest play I've done with it is stealing a few Hornet Queen from a green devotion deck. This is probably just a sideboard card for that type of matchup, but then again I don't wanna have to be picky about siding something else out.
The removal package is lacking, but the bow helps make up for it. Not always though. I could definitely use more removal, and I've even been trying some off-the-wall ideas like Savage Punch and Singing Bell Strike. The punch does have synergy with cards like Nemesis and Nighthowler, but was usually only getting me a 1-for-2. Bell strike hasn't been tested too much, but it would be great for aggro I'm assuming.
The rest of the deck is the basic playset of dredge cards. The lands need to be worked out, and getting some Yavimaya Coast is next on my list. I'm wanting to avoid Polluted Delta and I might try to get down to fewer taplands so that I can play faster things and keep up with aggro to an extent.
So after tonight's FNM, I wouldn't mind a few more dredge cards. I'm thinking that dropping some of the graveyard-matters creatures for just plain efficient creatures is the right call, especially with my meta. Nyx Weaver was the most sought after card that night because everyone is wanting to run some form of dredge and I don't have to keep my creatures there after they are milled with Sidisi. More removal would be nice, but I think card draw is going to make a big difference. I'm still unsure and may try things like Pharika's Mender to get some late-game value.
Note: I'm not a fan of the Courser/Caryatid duo. I know it's powerful, but I feel like it takes too much away from the other theme and doesn't really curve into much else.
This is my first serious post on here, so sorry if it's boring and too drawn out or lacking in certain details. All feedback, even negative opinions, are welcomed.
I feel like I played you on cockatrice... I was running mardu hyper aggro and believe I took it 2-1. Probably a few people testing out similar lists but the person I played did not play a single card that wasn't in your list. That being said it looks good against slower decks but I could definitely envision you having problems with decks that are aiming to win turn 5 or 6.
@ZorrasRage I like how you have a lot more removal but I'm so sold on Nemesis to go down by that many. I DO want Hornet Queen in there though. Does Drown in Sorrow in the board nuke your own board often?
@jwf2339 It's very possible. I've been playing an excessive amount of Cockatrice lately lol. I feel like I want to have a better lategame, but a few aggro cards wouldn't hurt. I tried Tormented Hero to get a few random Heroic triggers but it was lackluster. Bloodsoaked Champion is a very valid option though.
Only thing it really kills that can be troublesome is my Elvish mystic but I've ran into a lot of token, mono black agro or wheenie type decks that I would rather lose them and possibly not be able to hard pay for hornet queen if it's my hand than let them completely overwhelm me.
I've consisted sylvan caryatid but not sure if I like it at the 2 cost. Just think it would slow me down. Haven't really play tested it though. try a herald of torment as a 1 or 2 of. making your nighthowler, nemesis, or sidisi fly and +3/3 is fun
Here is the list I ran:
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Satyr Wayfinder
4 Nyx Weaver
4 Nighthowler
3 Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
1 Reaper of the Wilds
4 Nemesis of Mortals
1 Sagu Mauler
1 Necropolis Fiend
Enchantments - 5
2 Aqueous Form
1 Bow of Nylea
2 Whip of Erebos
3 Commune with the Gods
1 Savage Punch
1 Endless Obedience
Lands - 22
4 Temple of Malady
3 Llanowar Wastes
2 Temple of Mystery
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Opulent Palace
4 Forest
4 Island
3 Swamp
4 Reclamation Sage
3 Negate
3 Nylea's Disciple
2 Bile Blight
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Jace, the Living Guildpact
1 Disdainful Stroke
I'm very satisfied with the deck. I expected to be weak to fast aggro and the sideboard is trying to make up for that without leaning on removal too much, but my G2 against a really fast Rakdos deck made me mulligan to 5 without even hitting a play until turn three. Just the way it happens sometimes, so I can't complain too much.
I plan on moving forward with this deck. The cards I'm dissatisfied with are Reaper of the Wilds, Sagu Mauler, and my shaky manabase. I like both of those cards, but I don't feel like they're adding too much to the deck. Reaper is a possible sideboard option though, but I'm not sure what for. Sagu Mauler is amazing on paper and I was stoked to use my foil of it, but it only hit the board unmorphed once the whole night. It DID close that game out but I just don't see it working for this version of the deck.
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant is my newest favorite card. It dominated the game when I needed it to in the mirror match, and just having it hit the field caused another concede. Testing on Cockatrice makes me definitely want to play the full playset, but not until after I get the lands I need to make it work. Also works as a great whip and enchantment target.
Bow of Nylea works wonders for me. Maindecked, it lets me make up for a lack of removal by letting me trade chump elfs and satyrs for other threats, or to make them ignore blocking altogether for a few turns. Plus, it lets me dump my extra mana for whatever I need it for. I like it as a singleton.
My wildcard evasion comes with Aqueous Form. It's so good in that I can give it to anything early if I have to to fix my draws, it pushes through Sidisi for free triggers, and lets Nighthowler and Nemesis push through some big damage. Sides out a bit if I feel I wont get a chance to benefit from it before stabilizing, but it still has been a huge upgrade over Herald of Torment.
Necropolis Fiend and Endless Obedience are both singletons that I thought was worth a try. In theory, the fiend is a great tool to go over the top, and I love it so far. It's been great at pushing through a little bonus damage and I can easily cast it around turn 4, and almost always have other things to do for the turn. I have hard casted it a few times, but it's still worth the spot and I might even like another. As for obedience, I've been really pleased with it so far. I've used it on my own Sidisi or Nighthowler a few times, but the biggest play I've done with it is stealing a few Hornet Queen from a green devotion deck. This is probably just a sideboard card for that type of matchup, but then again I don't wanna have to be picky about siding something else out.
The removal package is lacking, but the bow helps make up for it. Not always though. I could definitely use more removal, and I've even been trying some off-the-wall ideas like Savage Punch and Singing Bell Strike. The punch does have synergy with cards like Nemesis and Nighthowler, but was usually only getting me a 1-for-2. Bell strike hasn't been tested too much, but it would be great for aggro I'm assuming.
The rest of the deck is the basic playset of dredge cards. The lands need to be worked out, and getting some Yavimaya Coast is next on my list. I'm wanting to avoid Polluted Delta and I might try to get down to fewer taplands so that I can play faster things and keep up with aggro to an extent.
So after tonight's FNM, I wouldn't mind a few more dredge cards. I'm thinking that dropping some of the graveyard-matters creatures for just plain efficient creatures is the right call, especially with my meta. Nyx Weaver was the most sought after card that night because everyone is wanting to run some form of dredge and I don't have to keep my creatures there after they are milled with Sidisi. More removal would be nice, but I think card draw is going to make a big difference. I'm still unsure and may try things like Pharika's Mender to get some late-game value.
Note: I'm not a fan of the Courser/Caryatid duo. I know it's powerful, but I feel like it takes too much away from the other theme and doesn't really curve into much else.
This is my first serious post on here, so sorry if it's boring and too drawn out or lacking in certain details. All feedback, even negative opinions, are welcomed.
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Satyr Wayfinder
3 Herald of Torment
3 Nighthowler
4 Nyx Weaver
3 Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
1 Nemesis of Mortals
2 Hornet Queen
Spells:12
3 Commune with the Gods
3 Hero's Downfall
3 Sultai Charm
1 Empty the Pits
2 Whip of Erebos
3 Forest
2 Island
4 Llanowar Wastes
4 Opulent Palace
2 Polluted Delta
3 Swamp
3 Temple of Malady
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Yavimaya Coast
2 Drown in Sorrow
3 Master of the Feast
4 Murderous Cut
1 Rakshasa Vizier
3 Sultai Scavenger
2 Necropolis Fiend
Link below for where there is a good that talking about similar build
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/standard-deck-creation/572716-sultai-delve?page=5
@jwf2339 It's very possible. I've been playing an excessive amount of Cockatrice lately lol. I feel like I want to have a better lategame, but a few aggro cards wouldn't hurt. I tried Tormented Hero to get a few random Heroic triggers but it was lackluster. Bloodsoaked Champion is a very valid option though.
I've consisted sylvan caryatid but not sure if I like it at the 2 cost. Just think it would slow me down. Haven't really play tested it though. try a herald of torment as a 1 or 2 of. making your nighthowler, nemesis, or sidisi fly and +3/3 is fun