So I went through every RW instant and sorcery with the word "target" on it, and categorized the ones that looked potentially interesting by primary function.
The only cards that could directly synergize with Feather's ability besides these are the arcane spells, any of which can theoretically add a friendly targeting option by splicing on hundred-talon strike or whatever. There are a total of 7 spells with splice that add a target:
(plus technically torrent of stone, but the cost to splice is high and targeting feather without support kills her so it doesn't really contribute to the plan)
There's also 3 spells that could be spliced onto another arcane spell which already targets:
From here, there are additional layers of synergy to consider - for instance, things that trigger when an instant/sorcery is cast, since it's easy to do that many times per turn cycle.
stax, held in place with protection spells (apostle's blessing, faith's shield)
This doesn't seem like the most powerful use of the ability, although because the deck is naturally great at protecting creatures, it could definitely be valuable to have creatures with powerful restrictive abilities on your opponents, such as hushwing griff. But it's probably not a good theme, since we need to be able to cast a lot of spells and pay a lot of mana, which usually isn't conducive to stax.
etb triggering from blink/flicker (cloudshift, long road home)
So there aren't a ton of flicker/blink effects, and RW doesn't have the biggest crop of etb creatures either. But since we'd be running blinky protection anyway, there's probably good reason to include a few etb critters that are already useful for other reasons.
This is kind of the obvious route, and I think it's ok but I'd probably try to focus on having big pumps rather than many smaller ones, to minimize the number of cards in hand it will require to become viable. With a +3 power trick (there are a few that cost 1, and many that cost 2), and then a power doubler, and then a double strike buff, we can pull off a 1-hit-ko for as little as 5 mana. So that might be worth having in the back pocket, especially with pumps like titan's strength that also gives repeated scry, and psychotic fury that gives repeated draw.
go-wide tokens with global pumps (mirrorwing, zada, etc)
This is a direction a lot of people seem to be going and it's definitely interesting and high-ceiling, but I think I'm off it. Mostly because assembling a lot of tokens AND a payoff for them is really tricky in a color combo like RW that has so few tutors. The main exception being monastery mentor, since it's a setup and payoff all in one, basically. Some of the heroic dudes maybe justify themselves even without support, but I don't think I'd want to go all-in on this strat. Just seems like too many moving parts when the voltron approach is lethal so easily.
This has sort of a similar problem where it requires some fairly specific payoffs along with setup from cantrips. Granted, we're probably playing a lot of cantrips so maybe the setup is relatively easy.
arcane splicing (hundred-talon strike)
control via burn spells as removal (aurelia's fury, orim's thunder, channel harm, intimidation bolt)
face burn (jaws of stone)
sunforger exploitation (magnetic theft)
storm (grapeshot)
I don't really think of feather as a potential storm commander- the fact is, she gives you a flat goose egg of value on your combo turn. Her ability helps *****ty effects go long, but the lack of tutors, real draw effects, and general speed she presents a storm deck does not make.
I don't really think of feather as a potential storm commander- the fact is, she gives you a flat goose egg of value on your combo turn. Her ability helps *****ty effects go long, but the lack of tutors, real draw effects, and general speed she presents a storm deck does not make.
Yeah, realistically even casting 1-mana spells until you run out of lands to tap doesn't set up for a storm win.
I think there's potential with using storm cards like grapeshot as a functional 5-damage-or-so sorcery, but that does require you to tap out on your turn. Maybe more enticing is scattershot, as a way to keep the weenies off the board reliably without tapping out so hard.
My actual first decklist ended up focusing around cast triggers and in particular heroic, which I think plays more to Feather's strengths of value over time. Link in sig.
Hopefully this proves useful for brainstorming.
Protection
Indestructible
Protection
Return to hand
Blink/flicker
Regen
Other
Pump it up
Double strike
p/t
counters
others
token production
Draw
Once per cycle
Repeatable
Scry
Removal
Burn
Artifacts
orim's thunder (I)
Redirection
Tapdown
Can’t block
Sac
Fight
Destroy
Heal
Prevent
remedy (I),
Other
The only cards that could directly synergize with Feather's ability besides these are the arcane spells, any of which can theoretically add a friendly targeting option by splicing on hundred-talon strike or whatever. There are a total of 7 spells with splice that add a target:
Arcane
(plus technically torrent of stone, but the cost to splice is high and targeting feather without support kills her so it doesn't really contribute to the plan)
There's also 3 spells that could be spliced onto another arcane spell which already targets:
(though it's hard to imagine through the breach being better than sneak attack)
And finally, arcane spells worth splicing onto:
From here, there are additional layers of synergy to consider - for instance, things that trigger when an instant/sorcery is cast, since it's easy to do that many times per turn cycle.
Cast Triggers
Instant/Sorcery
Heroic
Any Spell
Other Synergy Pieces
Directions worth thinking about:
stax, held in place with protection spells (apostle's blessing, faith's shield)
This doesn't seem like the most powerful use of the ability, although because the deck is naturally great at protecting creatures, it could definitely be valuable to have creatures with powerful restrictive abilities on your opponents, such as hushwing griff. But it's probably not a good theme, since we need to be able to cast a lot of spells and pay a lot of mana, which usually isn't conducive to stax.
etb triggering from blink/flicker (cloudshift, long road home)
So there aren't a ton of flicker/blink effects, and RW doesn't have the biggest crop of etb creatures either. But since we'd be running blinky protection anyway, there's probably good reason to include a few etb critters that are already useful for other reasons.
voltron-esque pump lethal (brute force, assault strobe)
This is kind of the obvious route, and I think it's ok but I'd probably try to focus on having big pumps rather than many smaller ones, to minimize the number of cards in hand it will require to become viable. With a +3 power trick (there are a few that cost 1, and many that cost 2), and then a power doubler, and then a double strike buff, we can pull off a 1-hit-ko for as little as 5 mana. So that might be worth having in the back pocket, especially with pumps like titan's strength that also gives repeated scry, and psychotic fury that gives repeated draw.
go-wide tokens with global pumps (mirrorwing, zada, etc)
This is a direction a lot of people seem to be going and it's definitely interesting and high-ceiling, but I think I'm off it. Mostly because assembling a lot of tokens AND a payoff for them is really tricky in a color combo like RW that has so few tutors. The main exception being monastery mentor, since it's a setup and payoff all in one, basically. Some of the heroic dudes maybe justify themselves even without support, but I don't think I'd want to go all-in on this strat. Just seems like too many moving parts when the voltron approach is lethal so easily.
exploit draw/hand size (psychosis crawler, spiraling embers, etc)
This has sort of a similar problem where it requires some fairly specific payoffs along with setup from cantrips. Granted, we're probably playing a lot of cantrips so maybe the setup is relatively easy.
arcane splicing (hundred-talon strike)
control via burn spells as removal (aurelia's fury, orim's thunder, channel harm, intimidation bolt)
face burn (jaws of stone)
sunforger exploitation (magnetic theft)
storm (grapeshot)
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
I think there's potential with using storm cards like grapeshot as a functional 5-damage-or-so sorcery, but that does require you to tap out on your turn. Maybe more enticing is scattershot, as a way to keep the weenies off the board reliably without tapping out so hard.
My actual first decklist ended up focusing around cast triggers and in particular heroic, which I think plays more to Feather's strengths of value over time. Link in sig.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6