Fall is a time for nostalgia. It's the shorter days, darker nights and colder months that force people to rediscover themselves. Like most, I'm also feeling a bit nostalgic and since I started playing Magic around Alliances/Mirage, I wanted to take a trip down memory lane and rediscover what got me here, as far as Magic is concerned.
Those were the days, let me tell you. When banding was still accepted and phasing was the newest thing; when Equipoise + Sands of Time was the newest, most annoying combo on the planet. Since I was starting out then, I instantly fell in love with blue and therefore fell in love with Taniwha. Yeah the card sucks, lets be honest. It locks you down mana wise every other turn. But I'm not interested in making a Taniwha deck, but just a general phasing deck.
The rules of phasing have changed since then, it is now a card state, much like tapping and untapping. No leaves play or enters the battlefield triggers will happen with phasing.
So how do I break it open? My first thought is to make a Portcullis deck. Since they don't count as being in play and don't count for entering or leaving, you can play more creatures while your others are phased out, essentially letting you build up on creatures while still locking them out.
I thought about trying Unearth + Phasing but wasn't too impressed with the idea. It's not all that much of a card advantage plus obviously none of the creatures with Unearth can save themselves from getting killed without phasing them out with other cards.
I know the deck is lacking some phasing creatures since it's short 10 cards anyways. I like your suggestion of putting in Upheaval or at least something like it. Devastation seems kind of cool since it keeps artifacts on the board (Portcullis mainly). Devastating Dreams would be fun since I could phase out some creatures and still have enough mana early on to play this. But it is very card hungry and a counterspell could make it blow up in my face. Upheaval seems like it could be extremely good though since it resets everything, but your phased out creatures. But here's one better... what about Worldslayer? The cost is ridiculous and the amount to equip it is ridiculous, but after looking at the rules, it looks like Worldslayer (or any equipment, auras, etc.) stay attached to the creature and phase out with the creature, which is so sweet. Especially considering I can repeat this over, and over, and over again.
So here's the changes:
-4 Prophetic Bolt (just too slow)
-2 Time and Tide (doesn't really do anything in this deck but maybe bring a guy back during their turn to deactivate Portcullis)
Anything you think I need to put in, take out or different ideas that I should explore with this phasing deck? Let me know, I'm open to any ideas on how to make Mist Dragon or phasing in general playable.
Good point, although I probably wouldn't use one when I have the other.
Hmmm, I like Portcullis on paper since it can essentially keep them locked out of creatures permanently, but I still love the interaction between phasing creatures and Worldslayer. I think the problem I'd probably have with Upheaval at least is the amount of mana needed to support it and phase out some creatures. Nevinyrral's Disk is nice because the cost is upfront and minimal when I want to use it.
I think while Portcullis is nice, it can be too situational with all the phasing creatures since they can force me to phase out my creature by trying to kill it and then sneak in a big creature while my guy is gone. It could be pretty one sided for me with all the phasing but if it's not one sided, it doesn't really do anything. Plus if they play a mass destruction spell, it could only help them out. I think I'll concentrate more on blowing up the world while my guys are phased out. Worldslayer FTW!
EDIT: On second thought I will keep Portcullis in the deck. I have enough counters, bounce and removal to be able to take care of any creatures that might get through. If not, I'm going to put in a copy or two of Devastation which should take care of the mass removal spot while blowing up everyone's lands which can also ensure a victory. I will have to fit in 4x Darksteel Ingot though just since it looks like this deck is going to be a mana hog. I also subbed out Man-o'-War for Riftwing Cloudskate which can suspend early and come into play after the world's been blown up, plus it can still bounce a creature and can fly which helps.
The idea was to play Equipoise and Sands of Time as soon as possible. This makes it so that your opponent's permanents won't come back, ever. Use Reality Ripple for spot removal, Ancestral Vision and Impulse to draw what you need. Taniwha will get rid of your lands, and with Equipoise and Sands of Time out, will do the same to your opponents. Your Marble Diamond and Sky Diamond will keep you in the game afterwards. I suppose Enlightened Tutors would work, going with the Visions theme.
Those were the days, let me tell you. When banding was still accepted and phasing was the newest thing; when Equipoise + Sands of Time was the newest, most annoying combo on the planet. Since I was starting out then, I instantly fell in love with blue and therefore fell in love with Taniwha. Yeah the card sucks, lets be honest. It locks you down mana wise every other turn. But I'm not interested in making a Taniwha deck, but just a general phasing deck.
The rules of phasing have changed since then, it is now a card state, much like tapping and untapping. No leaves play or enters the battlefield triggers will happen with phasing.
So how do I break it open? My first thought is to make a Portcullis deck. Since they don't count as being in play and don't count for entering or leaving, you can play more creatures while your others are phased out, essentially letting you build up on creatures while still locking them out.
2 Mist Dragon
3 Rainbow Efreet
4 Frenetic Efreet
4 Riftwing Cloudskate
4 Teferi's Imp
3 Fabricate
3 Fire//Ice
4 Counterspell
2 Devastation
Artifacts (8):
3 Portcullis
4 Darksteel Ingot
1 Worldslayer
10 Island
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
5 Mountain
4 Shivan Reef
3 Volcanic Island
I thought about trying Unearth + Phasing but wasn't too impressed with the idea. It's not all that much of a card advantage plus obviously none of the creatures with Unearth can save themselves from getting killed without phasing them out with other cards.
The same goes for any board sweeper.
Personally, I think your deck is lacking creatures with Phasing, for a deck supposed to be abusing that. Try 4x Rainbow Efreet, at least.
Upheaval seems like it could be extremely good though since it resets everything, but your phased out creatures. But here's one better... what about Worldslayer? The cost is ridiculous and the amount to equip it is ridiculous, but after looking at the rules, it looks like Worldslayer (or any equipment, auras, etc.) stay attached to the creature and phase out with the creature, which is so sweet. Especially considering I can repeat this over, and over, and over again.
So here's the changes:
-4 Prophetic Bolt (just too slow)
-2 Time and Tide (doesn't really do anything in this deck but maybe bring a guy back during their turn to deactivate Portcullis)
+4 Fire//Ice
+2 Rainbow Efreet
+3 Fabricate
+4 Teferi's Imp
+1 Nevinyrral's Disk
+1 Worldslayer
+1 Upheaval
Anything you think I need to put in, take out or different ideas that I should explore with this phasing deck? Let me know, I'm open to any ideas on how to make Mist Dragon or phasing in general playable.
dont forget come into play effects, or was that erratta'd?
When creatures phase in, they aren't considered coming into play.
Hmmm, I like Portcullis on paper since it can essentially keep them locked out of creatures permanently, but I still love the interaction between phasing creatures and Worldslayer. I think the problem I'd probably have with Upheaval at least is the amount of mana needed to support it and phase out some creatures. Nevinyrral's Disk is nice because the cost is upfront and minimal when I want to use it.
I think while Portcullis is nice, it can be too situational with all the phasing creatures since they can force me to phase out my creature by trying to kill it and then sneak in a big creature while my guy is gone. It could be pretty one sided for me with all the phasing but if it's not one sided, it doesn't really do anything. Plus if they play a mass destruction spell, it could only help them out. I think I'll concentrate more on blowing up the world while my guys are phased out. Worldslayer FTW!
EDIT: On second thought I will keep Portcullis in the deck. I have enough counters, bounce and removal to be able to take care of any creatures that might get through. If not, I'm going to put in a copy or two of Devastation which should take care of the mass removal spot while blowing up everyone's lands which can also ensure a victory. I will have to fit in 4x Darksteel Ingot though just since it looks like this deck is going to be a mana hog. I also subbed out Man-o'-War for Riftwing Cloudskate which can suspend early and come into play after the world's been blown up, plus it can still bounce a creature and can fly which helps.
Anyway, on a side note, I'm thinking about a phasing deck with Razia's Purification. It'll be a little janky, but gotta use that $1 playset somehow.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showpost.php?p=4557651&postcount=1
TheWarden's Creative Commons Music Pick Project (Retired):
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=336498
4 Sands of Time
4 Ancestral Knowledge
4 Sky Diamond
4 Marble Diamond
4 Taniwha
4 Reality Ripple
4 Impulse
The idea was to play Equipoise and Sands of Time as soon as possible. This makes it so that your opponent's permanents won't come back, ever. Use Reality Ripple for spot removal, Ancestral Vision and Impulse to draw what you need. Taniwha will get rid of your lands, and with Equipoise and Sands of Time out, will do the same to your opponents. Your Marble Diamond and Sky Diamond will keep you in the game afterwards. I suppose Enlightened Tutors would work, going with the Visions theme.
Lantern Control
(with videos)
Uc Tron
Netdecking explained
Netdecking explained, Part 2
On speculators and counterfeits
On Interaction
Every single competitive deck in existence is designed to limit the opponent's ability to interact in a meaningful way.
Record number of exclamation points on SCG homepage: 71 (6 January, 2018)
"I don't want to believe, I want to know."
-Carl Sagan