My fiancee just started playing magic and wanted to play UW Spirits after playing both the new Intro UW Intro deck and the Blessed duel deck. After minimal research I've written this list;
Any thoughts? I've thrown in both Essence Flux and Slip Through Space to make sure GoST doesn't die when attacking, with one making Geist bigger and the other to draw cards. I also really like the idea of Dreamcatcher, just seems like a nice value one drop. The sideboard is a complete guess, but I had to shout out Eerie Interlude. In match ups where you'd expect sweepers, this card trumps them. At least in theory that is.
I really liked Dreamcatcher at first as well, but the problem is most of the time it's better to run Gitaxian Probe or Serum Visions. Also Essence Fluxwould be a lot better if your deck had more enter the battlefield effects, otherwise it doesn't really fit. I run Slip Through Space in my UR Prowess Modern deck, and although it is a good card, this deck wants to win by going wide instead of playing a few efficient threats, this means when you don't have a Geist, it's going to feel weak.
I highly suggest that you run Vapor Snag in the place of some of those cards, it is a very good card in the type of deck you're building.
Also, if you're going to play Lingering Souls, play a playset.
Thanks for the response, let me expand upon some of the card choices a little bit more now that it's not 4am where I am. Warning, incoming wall of text.
As far as the playset of Lingering Souls goes, I'm already 10 three drops in a deck that is only running 21 lands. While one more isn't going to change much, I am reluctant going up on Souls. If I where to increase to a play set of anything, it would probably be Geist of Saint Traft. The deck is already very capable of going wide, but I would also like the deck to be able to go vertical as well. Also with the flashback I've access to 6 instances of Souls, and that combined with the card draw the deck is able, 3 feels like a good number. If I where to cut something for another GoST or Souls, it would be Phantasmal Image. 3 feels like too many, and they often get stuck in hand with cards I'd rather not be copying (Topplegeist/Dreamcatcher/another Image).
With Essence Flux, it not only provides me with a way to get GoST into the redzone, but also can act as a protection spell. Being able to fizzle spot removal, while also pumping what ever I'm bouncing is pretty nice. I've built the rough draft of the deck (Already own most of the deck, proxied a few things) and Essence Flux has saved the Captain and Rattlechains more than it's gotten GoST to hit. It's stopped more than one Abrupt Decay, which is one of the decks bigger weaknesses.
With Vapor Snag, I don't want to spend too much time interacting with the opponents creatures. I'm more focused on getting what spirits I can into the redzone, along with light disruption. Now I think an interesting argument could be made for Vapor Snag vs Path to Exile, especially when you start looking to cards like Spreading Seas for mana disruption. I'm going to have to test moving Path to the side, and see if Snag allows me to win just a bit faster.
And finally for both Slip Through Space and Dreamcatcher, the whole idea is flexibility. Along with Remand, there are 12 cards in the main that have the text "draw a card". This makes me believe that I don't need dedicated cantrips. Dreamcatcher can get in for damage, and draw me a card at instant speed with Rattlechains involvement. Slip Through Space allows for some aggressive attacks, helps GoST, and again cantrips. If I where to cut back on any of them, it would be -2 on Slip, while adding 2 Spreading Seas to the main. The ability to mana screw an opponent is just too good to ignore I think. While each of these is worse than Serum Visions or Sleight of Hand at drawing cards, the extra effects are hopefully enough to overcome that deficiency.
In light testing this morning, I played 10 games against my Bg brew. The deck feels pretty strong in the match up. Hexproof+Essence Flux makes spot removal a loosing proposition, and Liliana really suffers in the match up. My Bg deck is a devotion deck, so things like Spreading Seas can really put a damper on the tight mana base I've constructed. I main deck two sweepers, so that can really hurt the Spirits deck. Over all it's a pretty fun deck. It's pure Tempo, which is pretty fun to play, and a nice break from the combo and midrange decks I'm usually piloting. Both me and my Fiancee are pretty excited to see what else this return to Innistrad will bring to the deck.
Essence Flux the way you described it in your deck makes it seems like a sideboard option, maybe bringing in something thats better more consistently is a better plan. In my deck I run Spell Pierce to fill the role of blanking removal. Spell Pierce can also work as a regular counterspell however, making it much more flexible. Essence Flux also doesn't work too well with Phantasmal Image.
I really want to like Dreamcatcher, don't get me wrong, but it feels very underwhelming compared to Figure of Destiny, especially in a tempo/aggro build like yours.
Slip Through Space is a good card, but it would fit a lot better into the Tallowisp variant of this deck. The biggest upside to unlockable is getting a lot of damage through at once, and your deck doesn't have enough reliable targets that work that way. Again, it also doesn't work too well with Phantasmal Image.
It's not my deck in the end, I just wanted to help you out.
Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
In my tempo control list I'm running two spectral procession. I think playing a full 4 is more than we want to do, but an unanswered spectral procession followed by a drogskol captain tends to wrap things up pretty quickly.
@Celtic Wombat: I like your list as a tempo aggro variant. How have Anafenza and Figure of Destiny been working out?
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My Decks:
UG Merfolk RG 8-Whack BWG Abzan midrange GRB Living End UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin" RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!" BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
@Kruphix7 I have a hard time justifying running a creature-heavy build without Aether Vial, so I probably should stick with the Spectral Processions. I'm only now starting to put together the deck.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
I played my first game with the deck today, and I went 2-0 against Sultai Control. Vapor Snag basically won me the games, alongside Drogskol Captain, which was gg if left unanswered. Lingering Souls is an obvious all-star. Both games started off with me beating him down with the Souls, then dropping threats methodically and eventually winning with 2/2 flying Hexproof creatures.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
I'm actually probably wrong about Spectral Procession. I was worried about Drogskol Captain getting killed way too easily, but with Rattlechains and all the counter-spells we have, that probably won't be that big of an issue.
We suck in a lot of the aggro matchups. It's a good thing we have Azorius Herald to gain us some life. In my opinion it's a 4 of in the sideboard.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
Enjoyed reading this thread. I like the looks of Rattlechains, lots of utility there. Lots of similarities to W/B token, and on that note has anyone thought of Promise of Bunrei as sideboard card to sweepers and red?
Sounds like a good idea. I've seen some decks run it main.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
I'm 2-2 right now, and the deck is promising. I'm obviously not very good with it at the moment, but I'm getting better. Control and Midrange games are where our deck really shines. I disagree with all the negative comments on Drogskol Captain, if you're playing him right, you're flashing him in as an anthem and hitting with lethal. One game I won against delverless Delver by using GoST with Azorius Charm to gain six life and hit them for six. Ghost Quarter has been really lame, and I'm thinking of cutting it for more basics.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
I agree that Drogskol Captain is a house, I was skeptical of him before testing too, but after trying him as a 3-of I quickly moved up to 4. I'll post my decklist up later today but I feel like (in general) my version is very good against most combo & midrange while having good odds against other control. Pre sb it is not good against Tron and it's a dog to most aggro (affinity and zoo have been my big problems). That said I'm playing more of tempo-control iteration so I'm curious if different versions have found they are better/worse in certain match ups.
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My Decks:
UG Merfolk RG 8-Whack BWG Abzan midrange GRB Living End UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin" RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!" BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
Spirits/Esper have a lot of great sideboard options, and you can really craft your deck to fit your meta. Kataki and Hurkyl's for Affinity, Azorius Herald and Charm for aggro, Spreading Seas for Tron, Dispel/SpellPierce for control/burn, Promise of Bunrei for Midrange.
Figure of Destiny is great, and I like how I can make him a 2/2 and back him up with countermagic. The best part about him is if left unanswered he gets super good, this makes the opponent waste their removal spells on him early, and let you play you Captians.
Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
This is my current decklist, it's a lot of fun and can switch the way it plays from tempo control to tempo aggro pretty easily w/in any given game. I love Geist of St Traft and wanting to play it is actually the reason I built this deck, but after testing Im not sure if dropping it for 2 more spectral processions isn't the better idea. Tbh I think that this archetype is still waiting on a few things before it can break out and I'm hoping Eldritch moon can provide them. Spirits got far and away the least competitive tribal support out of Inn. 5 tribes (as evidenced by this article from WOTC
). So with any luck that means they'll get more in the second block. Anyway, discussion and critique of the decklist is always welcome and thanks in advance for your thoughts.
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My Decks:
UG Merfolk RG 8-Whack BWG Abzan midrange GRB Living End UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin" RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!" BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
I agree with you about the waiting part. I'm really hoping Eldritch Moon brings us a really impactful 1-2 drop. If they give us another 3 Mana Lord I'm going to cry. Although the spirits tribe didn't get much support, there were a few individual cards that were far and away better than the creatures in the other tribes. Cards like Lingering Souls andGeist of Saint Traft
Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
I think one of the cards that should be considered more for dedicated lists is Thief of Hope since it has damage and gets back anafenza topplegeist and rattlechains
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Decks I have in my bag of tricks- Needless to say, someone who wants to play will probably have a deck UB/x Faeries UR Storm XURWB Affinity G Elves UW control
I think one of the cards that should be considered more for dedicated lists is Thief of Hope since it has damage and gets back anafenza topplegeist and rattlechains
The problem with Theif of Hope is that it's in a cmc that is already jam-packed with goodies. We have Lingering Souls, Drogskol Captain, and [card][Geist of Saint Traft/card] all in that cmc, and there really isn't room for another.
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Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
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Thanks for the response, let me expand upon some of the card choices a little bit more now that it's not 4am where I am. Warning, incoming wall of text.
As far as the playset of Lingering Souls goes, I'm already 10 three drops in a deck that is only running 21 lands. While one more isn't going to change much, I am reluctant going up on Souls. If I where to increase to a play set of anything, it would probably be Geist of Saint Traft. The deck is already very capable of going wide, but I would also like the deck to be able to go vertical as well. Also with the flashback I've access to 6 instances of Souls, and that combined with the card draw the deck is able, 3 feels like a good number. If I where to cut something for another GoST or Souls, it would be Phantasmal Image. 3 feels like too many, and they often get stuck in hand with cards I'd rather not be copying (Topplegeist/Dreamcatcher/another Image).
With Essence Flux, it not only provides me with a way to get GoST into the redzone, but also can act as a protection spell. Being able to fizzle spot removal, while also pumping what ever I'm bouncing is pretty nice. I've built the rough draft of the deck (Already own most of the deck, proxied a few things) and Essence Flux has saved the Captain and Rattlechains more than it's gotten GoST to hit. It's stopped more than one Abrupt Decay, which is one of the decks bigger weaknesses.
With Vapor Snag, I don't want to spend too much time interacting with the opponents creatures. I'm more focused on getting what spirits I can into the redzone, along with light disruption. Now I think an interesting argument could be made for Vapor Snag vs Path to Exile, especially when you start looking to cards like Spreading Seas for mana disruption. I'm going to have to test moving Path to the side, and see if Snag allows me to win just a bit faster.
And finally for both Slip Through Space and Dreamcatcher, the whole idea is flexibility. Along with Remand, there are 12 cards in the main that have the text "draw a card". This makes me believe that I don't need dedicated cantrips. Dreamcatcher can get in for damage, and draw me a card at instant speed with Rattlechains involvement. Slip Through Space allows for some aggressive attacks, helps GoST, and again cantrips. If I where to cut back on any of them, it would be -2 on Slip, while adding 2 Spreading Seas to the main. The ability to mana screw an opponent is just too good to ignore I think. While each of these is worse than Serum Visions or Sleight of Hand at drawing cards, the extra effects are hopefully enough to overcome that deficiency.
In light testing this morning, I played 10 games against my Bg brew. The deck feels pretty strong in the match up. Hexproof+Essence Flux makes spot removal a loosing proposition, and Liliana really suffers in the match up. My Bg deck is a devotion deck, so things like Spreading Seas can really put a damper on the tight mana base I've constructed. I main deck two sweepers, so that can really hurt the Spirits deck. Over all it's a pretty fun deck. It's pure Tempo, which is pretty fun to play, and a nice break from the combo and midrange decks I'm usually piloting. Both me and my Fiancee are pretty excited to see what else this return to Innistrad will bring to the deck.
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I really want to like Dreamcatcher, don't get me wrong, but it feels very underwhelming compared to Figure of Destiny, especially in a tempo/aggro build like yours.
Slip Through Space is a good card, but it would fit a lot better into the Tallowisp variant of this deck. The biggest upside to unlockable is getting a lot of damage through at once, and your deck doesn't have enough reliable targets that work that way. Again, it also doesn't work too well with Phantasmal Image.
It's not my deck in the end, I just wanted to help you out.
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
3 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Drogskol Captain
4 Figure of Destiny
4 Rattlechains
Sorceries:
4 Lingering Souls
4 Spectral Procession
Instants:
4 Vapor Snag
4 Remand
4 Path to Exile
3 Spell Pierce
2 Azorius Charm
4 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Watery Grave
1 Godless Shrine
3 Glacial Fortress
2 Moorland Haunt
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Plains
2 Island
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
4 Figure of Destiny
3 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Drogskol Captain
4 Rattlechains
2 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
2 Azorius Herald
3 Spell Pierce
4 Remand
4 Path to Exile
2 Azorius Charm
4 Vapor Snag
4 Lingering Souls
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
@Celtic Wombat: I like your list as a tempo aggro variant. How have Anafenza and Figure of Destiny been working out?
RG 8-Whack
BWG Abzan midrange
GRB Living End
UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin"
RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!"
BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
RG 8-Whack
BWG Abzan midrange
GRB Living End
UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin"
RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!"
BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
Figure of Destiny is great, and I like how I can make him a 2/2 and back him up with countermagic. The best part about him is if left unanswered he gets super good, this makes the opponent waste their removal spells on him early, and let you play you Captians.
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
4x Drogskol Captain
4x Rattlechains
2x Geist of St. Traft
3x Thing in the ice
Noncreature
4x Path to exile
4x Remand
3x Mana leak
3x Supreme Verdict
4x Lingering Souls
2x Spectral Procession
1x Elspeth, Sun's champion
1x Declaration in stone
1x Anguished Unmaking
4x Flooded Strand
2x Hallowed Fountain
1x Godless Shrine
3x Isolated Chapel
1x Glacial Fortress
1x Vault of the archangel
1x Moorland Haunt
2x Ghost Quarter
5x Island
4x Plains
This is my current decklist, it's a lot of fun and can switch the way it plays from tempo control to tempo aggro pretty easily w/in any given game. I love Geist of St Traft and wanting to play it is actually the reason I built this deck, but after testing Im not sure if dropping it for 2 more spectral processions isn't the better idea. Tbh I think that this archetype is still waiting on a few things before it can break out and I'm hoping Eldritch moon can provide them. Spirits got far and away the least competitive tribal support out of Inn. 5 tribes (as evidenced by this article from WOTC
RG 8-Whack
BWG Abzan midrange
GRB Living End
UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin"
RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!"
BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
UB/x Faeries
UR Storm
XURWB Affinity
G Elves
UW control
The problem with Theif of Hope is that it's in a cmc that is already jam-packed with goodies. We have Lingering Souls, Drogskol Captain, and [card][Geist of Saint Traft/card] all in that cmc, and there really isn't room for another.
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR