The deck functions similarly to the older versions of Living End. The primary objective is to cycle a bunch of 1 mana cycling creatures in the first couple of turns and then drop As Foretold on turn three and cast Living End. This moves your previously cycled creatures from your graveyard to the battlefield while putting any creatures your opponent has played in the initial turns into their graveyard.
The secondary objective is to control the game with counter magic and draw extra cards by casting Ancestral Vision with As Foretold.
The core strength of the deck is that it can be extremely explosive while also having counter magic based interaction to draw out the game if necessary and it also takes advantage of the relatively sparse amount of enchantment hate in the modern format.
The central weakness of the deck is that it's primary strategy relies on the graveyard so is therefore susceptible to graveyard hate, however keep in mind Living End manages to dodge Grafdigger's Cage. Also drawing tons of cards with Ancestral Vision and casting Curator of Mysteries to beat down while holding counter magic backup is often effective to close out games through graveyard hate.
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Here is 1310hazzzard's original mono blue 5-0 competitive list that Saffron Olive played on stream:
It's been performing well and is a blast to play. I've added white to improve my sideboard (making Leyline of Sanctity castable among other things) and in order to include Path to Exile for early creature interaction that exiles so I don't put creatures in my opponents graveyard (see also Condemn in the sideboard). Let me know what you think, cheers.
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List updates:
Most recent list from 1310hazzzard - 16th Dec 2017:
The cycling makes the deck more consistent.
That would also make it a weaker version of the "Goryo's Vengeance deck" (why go for Jin or Tyrant when you can get an Emrakul or a Griselbrand).
HolyShamgar was playing a one of Archfiend in the main. I have also questioned the low number of cycle creatures relative to traditional living end. I suppose the idea is to lean on your cycleing counterspells (remand/cryptic) and ancestrals to draw you into them. I have noticed in testing when you are going off chaining ancestrals you don't generally end up lacking in cyclers. Infact I've found it's not uncommon to discard one or two throughout the game to hand size.
Good point about Disallow, I haven't considered its stifle ability.
I've also seen Nimble Obstructionist played for the same purpose as it adds another (evasive) body to get back with Living End.
I personally feel if you’re going to make a thread on the deck you could give the original creator some credit. You shared 2 streamers streaming it when the original creator streams it daily too 1310hazzzard is his twitch name. He’s the one that did well in the challenge with it so it seems only fair.
That said I think the deck needs black sources 1 sunken ruins and 1 urborg is where I’m at.
I personally feel if you’re going to make a thread on the deck you could give the original creator some credit. You shared 2 streamers streaming it when the original creator streams it daily too 1310hazzzard is his twitch name. He’s the one that did well in the challenge with it so it seems only fair.
I have already credited them in the deck title as the author of the '5-0 list Saffron Olive played on stream'; I was unaware that 1310hazzzard was a streamer so I did not included a link to their twitch stream. Now that you have made me aware I will edit to include it.
As far as including more black sources, i think the deck has space to lean into a second color so i agree. how have the drake havens been working out for you?
Prime Titan. I like drake haven as another threat to bring in because opponents go really hard on yard hate. I’ll be cutting 1 shift 1 haven for a crucible and moving a disallow to the sb. Then I’m cutting the fiend for the 4th wraith and playing 61 cards with 2 search for azcanta now.
Hey y'all I've been very intrigued about this new deck and own everything so wanted to try my hand at this.
I've been thinking a lot about this deck for a while now and I think that it could def benefit from adding a secondary color. In this case, black. Reason for this is the best card in modern: Thoughtseize. With a package of Thoughtseize, inquisition and fatal pushes, you can stall most decks on their early plays while you develop your game plan.
I was thinking of going a slightly different route, however, in regards to the reanimation targets. In this case, principally: Tidespout Tyrant. Multiples of these guys on the board will simply end the game if you play only 2 spells. As for how to get them in the yard, the best two cards for this are: Thirst for knowledge (instant and discards 2 cards) and chart a course (you do also get access to collective brutality which does everything you need it to).
I'm also thinking of things like search for azcanta and ashen riders to get rid of problematic permanents. You get access to things like Iona and Platinum emperion post board. Someone mentioned "why not just play Goryo?", reason is: the deck is incredibly inconsistent, which is exactly the reason why no one plays it (i played it for a long time, constantly tweaking it in an attempt to reach consistency, it just never does). The way the deck is set up here, I think consistency is much more likely.
The rest can be however you prefer your configuration. Hell, you could even play Griselbrand if you wanted to!
As a side note, i def like the drake haven sideboard plan for the more stock versions. Your opponent is going to be focused on not letting you resolve the the living end so you can focus on beating them with 2/2 fliers.
Additionally, I thought about the engineered explosives play. What's the plan on a resolved chalice at zero? You can't resolve an explosives in this case. I guess bouncing it with Cryptic is the only play?
It might cost too much at 5cc, but I am mulling over the potential of Baral's Expertise as a more expensive As Foretold to cheat Living End to the battlefield. Plus the bounce "up to three" things could be useful.
Thoughts on Ratchet Bomb on the side? Could work as a wrath or to kill pesky stuff like RIPs and relics and chalices
It might cost too much at 5cc, but I am mulling over the potential of Baral's Expertise as a more expensive As Foretold to cheat Living End to the battlefield. Plus the bounce "up to three" things could be useful.
Thoughts on Ratchet Bomb on the side? Could work as a wrath or to kill pesky stuff like RIPs and relics and chalices
My thoughts are we have 11+ counterspells and we have bounce spells. I prefer they land creatures and I take a bit of damage so I can get a lot of value off of my Le. Ratchet bomb is slow I feel and it sits on the field so opponents can play around it. Ee is tutorable, can be set to 2 too, and can be used the same turn it enters.
Baral’s seems fine I just think the deck is so tight on space I wouldn’t know where to fit it in.
The reason I like and am still playing search is because it’s basically a free cycle every turn and late game it digs to what I need at instant speed allowing me to keep my mana up on opponents turn still.
I have been watching 1310hazzzard's twitch videos today and man do I prefer his videos. Some blue living end videos I have seen have been hella frustrating as people were making mistakes left and right as they are still trying to learn the deck. But this guy though, the creator of the deck, sure has had a lot of practice with it. I like seeing his lines of play that I would have otherwise neglected (e.g. Floating mana and bouncing tolaria west with cryptic to bounce a chalice before going off, and other similar nifty lines of play).
I’m pretty sure a second color (my money is on black) is coming soon, it is the natural progression of developing decks as it opens up so many possibilities (inquisition of kozilek? Transmutable Slaughter pact?) and only time will tell. I am excited.
I have been watching 1310hazzzard's twitch videos today and man do I prefer his videos. Some blue living end videos I have seen have been hella frustrating as people were making mistakes left and right as they are still trying to learn the deck. But this guy though, the creator of the deck, sure has had a lot of practice with it. I like seeing his lines of play that I would have otherwise neglected (e.g. Floating mana and bouncing tolaria west with cryptic to bounce a chalice before going off, and other similar nifty lines of play).
I’m pretty sure a second color (my money is on black) is coming soon, it is the natural progression of developing decks as it opens up so many possibilities (inquisition of kozilek? Transmutable Slaughter pact?) and only time will tell. I am excited.
Yeah it’s hard to watch some of these people go 1-3 drop while missing optimal lines. I do agree pact would be nice and who knows maybe sb into control with hive mind pact win will end up being a thing at some point.
I'am inclined to look at Black as an extra color, too. Black gives us access to discard, spot removal, Fulminator Mage, and hardcasting Leyline of the Void. Yahenni's Expertise is also interesting you move from Architects of Will to Horror of the Broken Lands, since the -3/-3 will often kill anything of theirs that does come back from the graveyard, or give a way to stall by wiping the board while digging with Ancestral Vision, especially if you're already holding a Bojuka Bog or have a Leyline in play.
It depends on what you use the extra color for. Targeted discard and spot removal can frequently buy another turn by ditching their biggest threat which you may not be able to answer or removing that threat from the battlefield that's left after Living End, for example Wurmcoil Engine against Tron. I think the biggest loss going with 2 colors is the Tolaria West/Field of Ruin/Bojuka Bog interactions. You can't run as many utility lands in a 2-color mana base, and a lot of the deck's best lines leverage Tolaria West, so they're more likely to, for example, get to tron than in the current build.
It depends on what you use the extra color for. Targeted discard and spot removal can frequently buy another turn by ditching their biggest threat which you may not be able to answer or removing that threat from the battlefield that's left after Living End, for example Wurmcoil Engine against Tron. I think the biggest loss going with 2 colors is the Tolaria West/Field of Ruin/Bojuka Bog interactions. You can't run as many utility lands in a 2-color mana base, and a lot of the deck's best lines leverage Tolaria West, so they're more likely to, for example, get to tron than in the current build.
I disagree with parts of that assessment. First, playing 2 colirs does not hamper you from playing 4 field of ruins. Second, you run urborg (maybe even 2). I think it's only logical to evolve to ub. Blue has limited options to deal with many things. Going to black allows you to buy the time u need. Additionally, you could potentially every run things like wrench mind since you want to get dudes in the yard. I think the deck has potential to evolve closer to legacy reanimator than just a super linear deck like living end. Heck, one could even run something like gifts in the deck to ensure you always have the pieces.
I think it's even possible to run snap mage here since you can cast LE with AF in play.
just in case anyone's thinking of running spot removal and discard - this would give your opponent lots of things to bring back with a living end.
your removal of choice should exile if possible. Path to Exile is probably the most suitable.
also, as this is a combo deck it would probably benefit the strategy to make the mana curve a bit leaner, maybe drop those Disallows for a mix of Spell Snare, Spell Pierce and maybe a single Dispel. this allows you to not only put the brakes on very fast aggressive strategies but it would allow you to protect your As Foretold very early in the game, or force it through an early counterspell. These cheaper pieces of interaction would also come online quicker as As Foretold picks up counters.
just a few thoughts.
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Modern: G Tron, Vannifar, Jund, Druid/Vizier combo, Humans, Eldrazi Stompy (Serum Powder), Amulet, Grishoalbrand, Breach Titan, Turns, Eternal Command, As Foretold Living End, Elves, Cheerios, RUG Scapeshift
So for a 21 land mana base, what would you run? Fetches help thin the deck and get to your key pieces, so say 4 Tolaria West, 4 Field of Ruin, 6 fetches, 2 shocks, 3 island, 1 swamp, 1 urborg?
It depends on what you use the extra color for. Targeted discard and spot removal can frequently buy another turn by ditching their biggest threat which you may not be able to answer or removing that threat from the battlefield that's left after Living End, for example Wurmcoil Engine against Tron. I think the biggest loss going with 2 colors is the Tolaria West/Field of Ruin/Bojuka Bog interactions. You can't run as many utility lands in a 2-color mana base, and a lot of the deck's best lines leverage Tolaria West, so they're more likely to, for example, get to tron than in the current build.
I disagree with parts of that assessment. First, playing 2 colirs does not hamper you from playing 4 field of ruins. Second, you run urborg (maybe even 2). I think it's only logical to evolve to ub. Blue has limited options to deal with many things. Going to black allows you to buy the time u need. Additionally, you could potentially every run things like wrench mind since you want to get dudes in the yard. I think the deck has potential to evolve closer to legacy reanimator than just a super linear deck like living end. Heck, one could even run something like gifts in the deck to ensure you always have the pieces.
I think it's even possible to run snap mage here since you can cast LE with AF in play.
I don’t think these cards work the way you want them to. Cryptic deals with like 90% of anything you need to deal with except wrath effects and that’s why we have LE. You don’t want discard or creature removal when you have instant speed counters and LE. Adding black for discard doesn’t allow you to build your creatures in your graveyard and if you are discarding opponents creatures that’s working against your game plan. Snapcaster does nothing except flash back counterspells so that’s t4 at the best. You can’t cast LE or Vision off snapcaster unless you have your “combo” already online and are winning.
So for a 21 land mana base, what would you run? Fetches help thin the deck and get to your key pieces, so say 4 Tolaria West, 4 Field of Ruin, 6 fetches, 2 shocks, 3 island, 1 swamp, 1 urborg?
You want more than 3 island 1 swamp when running fields imo. You also don’t want to take damage from your mana base and want to be clear of blood moon when you’re a 4 cryptic deck.
So for a 21 land mana base, what would you run? Fetches help thin the deck and get to your key pieces, so say 4 Tolaria West, 4 Field of Ruin, 6 fetches, 2 shocks, 3 island, 1 swamp, 1 urborg?
You want more than 3 island 1 swamp when running fields imo. You also don’t want to take damage from your mana base and want to be clear of blood moon when you’re a 4 cryptic deck.
That's the broader problem when I try putting together something multi-color. Black is probably the best added color, and Collective Brutality is a nice black flex card since for checking/getting rid of things counters before playing As Foretold, it can kill early mana dorks, and it's life gain can help in burn matchups. Yahenni's Expertise as a one-of extra sweeper/way to dig for Living End is also not bad. But what I do I give up for that? A mana base that's more fragile to resurgent Blood Moon strategies, is more painful for the burn matchup, and is less effective in fighting big mana decks. I think the mono-U version is actually well placed right now.
Watching the Twitch streams I have also observed many instances wherein baral's expertise would have been better than cryptic, i.e. many cases of tap + draw to find As Foretold.
Baral's expertise would have been able to cast living end in many of those matches. Having only 4 copies of As Foretold has shown its disadvantage in several matches and I think having at least one (max 2) Baral's expertise adds to the consistency of the combo.
Also, even without As Foretold/living end, return 3 creatures/artefacts + draw 3 cards is cryptic command on steroids. And theres many other fabulous lines of play.
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The deck functions similarly to the older versions of Living End. The primary objective is to cycle a bunch of 1 mana cycling creatures in the first couple of turns and then drop As Foretold on turn three and cast Living End. This moves your previously cycled creatures from your graveyard to the battlefield while putting any creatures your opponent has played in the initial turns into their graveyard.
The secondary objective is to control the game with counter magic and draw extra cards by casting Ancestral Vision with As Foretold.
The reason this interaction works is because both Ancestral Vision and Living End have CMCs of 0 which means that you are able to cast them from hand through As Foretold as soon as it comes down and for subsequent turns. The other key interaction to keep in mind with this deck is the ability to tutor for any 0 CMC card by transmuting Tolaria West. This means you can fetch up cards like Living End, Ancestral Vision, Bojuka Bog, Ghost Quarter, Field of Ruin or Engineered Explosives whenever you need them most.
The core strength of the deck is that it can be extremely explosive while also having counter magic based interaction to draw out the game if necessary and it also takes advantage of the relatively sparse amount of enchantment hate in the modern format.
The central weakness of the deck is that it's primary strategy relies on the graveyard so is therefore susceptible to graveyard hate, however keep in mind Living End manages to dodge Grafdigger's Cage. Also drawing tons of cards with Ancestral Vision and casting Curator of Mysteries to beat down while holding counter magic backup is often effective to close out games through graveyard hate.
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Here is 1310hazzzard's original mono blue 5-0 competitive list that Saffron Olive played on stream:
(1310hazzzard Twitch channel - https://www.twitch.tv/1310hazzzard)
(MTG Goldfish Twitch video - https://www.twitch.tv/videos/207586827)
3 Architects of Will
4 Curator of Mysteries
1 Drift of Phantasms
3 Street Wraith
4 Striped Riverwinder
Spells
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Living End
3 Cryptic Command
2 Disallow
3 Mana Leak
4 Remand
4 As Foretold
Lands
4 Field of Ruin
1 Ghost Quarter
12 Island
4 Tolaria West
3 Dismember
2 Dispel
2 Hurkyl's Recall
4 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Leyline of the Void
This is the latest (as of this post) list that HolyShamgar has been streaming online and tuning as he goes:
(HolyShamgar's twitch link with other iterations- https://www.twitch.tv/holyshamgar/videos/all)
3 Architects of Will
4 Curator of Mysteries
1 Archfiend of Ifnir
4 Street Wraith
4 Striped Riverwinder
Spells
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Living End
3 Cryptic Command
4 Remand
4 As Foretold
Artifacts
4 Chalice of the Void
Lands
2 Field of Ruin
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Gemstone Caverns
2 Darkslick Shores
3 River of Tears
8 Island
4 Tolaria West
1 Negate
1 Restore Balance
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Echoing Truth
2 Commandeer
2 Disdainful stroke
3 Faerie Macabre
3 Leyline of Sanctity
And this is my list I've put together and been testing:
3 Architects of Will
4 Curator of Mysteries
4 Street Wraith
4 Striped Riverwinder
Spells
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Living End
4 Path to Exile
3 Remand
2 Cryptic Command
Enchantments
2 Search for Azcanta
4 As Foretold
1 Engineered Explosives
Lands
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Bojuka Bog
4 Tolaria West
4 Flooded Strand
2 Glacial Fortress
2 Celestial Colonnade
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Seachrome Coast
2 Island
1 Plains
2 Negate
1 Disdainful Stroke
2 Disenchant
2 Condemn
2 Stony Silence
3 Leyline of Sanctity
3 Faerie Macabre
It's been performing well and is a blast to play. I've added white to improve my sideboard (making Leyline of Sanctity castable among other things) and in order to include Path to Exile for early creature interaction that exiles so I don't put creatures in my opponents graveyard (see also Condemn in the sideboard). Let me know what you think, cheers.
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List updates:
Most recent list from 1310hazzzard - 16th Dec 2017:
4 Tolaria West
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Polluted Delta
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Steam Vents
1 Mountain
8 Island
Spells
4 Living End
4 Ancestral Vision
4 As Foretold
4 Remand
4 Cryptic Command
3 Blood Moon
1 Disallow
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Curator of Mysteries
4 Striped Riverwinder
3 Street Wraith
4 Leyline of the Void
3 Dispel
3 Madcap Experiment
2 Platinum Emperion
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Nimble Obstructionist
Recent (6-1) 10th place list from Kombo11408 for Modern Challenge #11063097 - 23rd Dec 2017:
2 Architects of Will
4 Curator of Mysteries
4 Street Wraith
4 Striped Riverwinder
Spells
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Living End
2 Serum Visions
4 Cryptic Command
4 Remand
2 Supreme Will
4 As Foretold
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Bojuka Bog
3 Field of Ruin
1 Ghost Quarter
9 Island
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 Sunken Ruins
4 Tolaria West
3 Dismember
2 Dispel
2 Hurkyl's Recall
4 Leyline of the Void
3 Nimble Obstructionist
1 Tormod's Crypt
Competitive Modern League Jan 6th 2018, (5-0) - urzatheplaneswalker
3 Architects of Will
4 Curator of Mysteries
1 Nimble Obstructionist
3 Street Wraith
4 Striped Riverwinder
Spells
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Living End
4 Cryptic Command
4 Remand
2 Spell Pierce
4 As Foretold
1 Search for Azcanta
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Darkslick Shores
2 Field of Ruin
1 Ghost Quarter
10 Island
2 River of Tears
1 Sunken Ruins
4 Tolaria West
1 Nimble Obstructionist
1 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Collective Brutality
2 Dismember
1 Dispel
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Leyline of the Void
UW version placed top 32 at Modern MOCS - Jan 7th 2018 - Erus
4 Curator of Mysteries
1 Nimble Obstructionist
3 Street Wraith
4 Striped Riverwinder
Spells
4 Ancestral Vision
4 As Foretold
4 Cryptic Command
4 Living End
3 Path to Exile
4 Remand
1 Spell Pierce
3 Spell Snare
1 Bojuka Bog
3 Field of Ruin
4 Flooded Strand
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Hallowed Fountain
2 Island
1 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
1 Snow-Covered Island
3 Tolaria West
2 Condemn
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Dispel
1 Engineered Explosives
4 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Pact of Negation
1 Path to Exile
2 Stony Silence
1 Surgical Extraction
1 Tormod's Crypt
MKM Series Rome - Modern Main Event - 192 players - Mar 17th 2018
3rd place Ub Living End - Lorenzo Farotti
2 Bojuka Bog
1 Drowned Catacomb
3 Field of Ruin
8 Island
1 Sunken Ruins
4 Tolaria West
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Creatures
4 Curator of Mysteries
2 Nimble Obstructionist
4 Street Wraith
4 Striped Riverwinder
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Censor
4 Cryptic Command
4 Living End
4 Remand
2 Spell Snare
4 As Foretold
3 Ceremonious Rejection
3 Collective Brutality
1 Engineered Explosives
4 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Swan Song
1 Tormod's Crypt
Competitive Modern League 22nd Jan 2019, (5-0) - UR Electro End by TSPJendrek
1 Architects of Will
4 Curator of Mysteries
1 Deadshot Minotaur
4 Desert Cerodon
2 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
4 Striped Riverwinder
Spells
4 Ancestral Vision
3 Living End
1 Abrade
3 Cryptic Command
4 Electrodominance
2 Lightning Bolt
4 Remand
1 Tormod's Crypt
3 As Foretold
2 Cascade Bluffs
2 Island
2 Mountain
1 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Spirebluff Canal
2 Steam Vents
2 Tolaria West
1 Anger of the Gods
2 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Dispel
3 Dragon's Claw
3 Fulminator Mage
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Negate
2 Surgical Extraction
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Living Dominance by twinlesstwin
Competitive Modern League 2019-01-29, (5-0)
Format: Modern
Jan 29, 2019
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1618013#paper
Goryo's Vengence by Tom Medvec
Star City Games Modern Classic Baltimore, 11th Place
Format: Modern
Feb 03, 2019
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1631350#paper
Living Dominance by Hayseed
Competitive Modern League 2019-02-05, (5-0)
Format: Modern
Feb 05, 2019
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1635680#paper
Glassdust Hulk seems like a decent option (and also Archfiend of Ifnir in the SB against aggro decks).
The cycling makes the deck more consistent.
That would also make it a weaker version of the "Goryo's Vengeance deck" (why go for Jin or Tyrant when you can get an Emrakul or a Griselbrand).
I've also seen Nimble Obstructionist played for the same purpose as it adds another (evasive) body to get back with Living End.
That said I think the deck needs black sources 1 sunken ruins and 1 urborg is where I’m at.
1 Archfiend of Ifnir
3 Architects of Will
4 Curator of Mysteries
3 Street Wraith
4 Striped Riverwinder
4 As Foretold
Instant (13)
4 Cryptic Command
2 Disallow
3 Mana Leak
4 Remand
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Living End
Land (20)
1 Bojuka Bog
3 Field of Ruin
1 Ghost Quarter
9 Island
1 Sunken Ruins
4 Tolaria West
1 Urborg, tomb of yawgmoth
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Hurkyl's Recall
4 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Leyline of the Void
2 Nimble Obstructionist
2 Reality Shift
1 Tormod's Crypt
Disallow also counters Titan trigger while keeping Titan in play so they don’t get it when you Le. The card has been great!
I have already credited them in the deck title as the author of the '5-0 list Saffron Olive played on stream'; I was unaware that 1310hazzzard was a streamer so I did not included a link to their twitch stream. Now that you have made me aware I will edit to include it.
As far as including more black sources, i think the deck has space to lean into a second color so i agree. how have the drake havens been working out for you?
I've been thinking a lot about this deck for a while now and I think that it could def benefit from adding a secondary color. In this case, black. Reason for this is the best card in modern: Thoughtseize. With a package of Thoughtseize, inquisition and fatal pushes, you can stall most decks on their early plays while you develop your game plan.
I was thinking of going a slightly different route, however, in regards to the reanimation targets. In this case, principally: Tidespout Tyrant. Multiples of these guys on the board will simply end the game if you play only 2 spells. As for how to get them in the yard, the best two cards for this are: Thirst for knowledge (instant and discards 2 cards) and chart a course (you do also get access to collective brutality which does everything you need it to).
I'm also thinking of things like search for azcanta and ashen riders to get rid of problematic permanents. You get access to things like Iona and Platinum emperion post board. Someone mentioned "why not just play Goryo?", reason is: the deck is incredibly inconsistent, which is exactly the reason why no one plays it (i played it for a long time, constantly tweaking it in an attempt to reach consistency, it just never does). The way the deck is set up here, I think consistency is much more likely.
Your core:
4 As Foretold
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Thirst for Knowledge
3 Tidespout Tyrant
2 Ashen Rider
The rest can be however you prefer your configuration. Hell, you could even play Griselbrand if you wanted to!
As a side note, i def like the drake haven sideboard plan for the more stock versions. Your opponent is going to be focused on not letting you resolve the the living end so you can focus on beating them with 2/2 fliers.
Additionally, I thought about the engineered explosives play. What's the plan on a resolved chalice at zero? You can't resolve an explosives in this case. I guess bouncing it with Cryptic is the only play?
Thoughts on Ratchet Bomb on the side? Could work as a wrath or to kill pesky stuff like RIPs and relics and chalices
My thoughts are we have 11+ counterspells and we have bounce spells. I prefer they land creatures and I take a bit of damage so I can get a lot of value off of my Le. Ratchet bomb is slow I feel and it sits on the field so opponents can play around it. Ee is tutorable, can be set to 2 too, and can be used the same turn it enters.
Baral’s seems fine I just think the deck is so tight on space I wouldn’t know where to fit it in.
The reason I like and am still playing search is because it’s basically a free cycle every turn and late game it digs to what I need at instant speed allowing me to keep my mana up on opponents turn still.
I’m pretty sure a second color (my money is on black) is coming soon, it is the natural progression of developing decks as it opens up so many possibilities (inquisition of kozilek? Transmutable Slaughter pact?) and only time will tell. I am excited.
Yeah it’s hard to watch some of these people go 1-3 drop while missing optimal lines. I do agree pact would be nice and who knows maybe sb into control with hive mind pact win will end up being a thing at some point.
That’s why it and obstructionist are great!
I disagree with parts of that assessment. First, playing 2 colirs does not hamper you from playing 4 field of ruins. Second, you run urborg (maybe even 2). I think it's only logical to evolve to ub. Blue has limited options to deal with many things. Going to black allows you to buy the time u need. Additionally, you could potentially every run things like wrench mind since you want to get dudes in the yard. I think the deck has potential to evolve closer to legacy reanimator than just a super linear deck like living end. Heck, one could even run something like gifts in the deck to ensure you always have the pieces.
I think it's even possible to run snap mage here since you can cast LE with AF in play.
your removal of choice should exile if possible. Path to Exile is probably the most suitable.
also, as this is a combo deck it would probably benefit the strategy to make the mana curve a bit leaner, maybe drop those Disallows for a mix of Spell Snare, Spell Pierce and maybe a single Dispel. this allows you to not only put the brakes on very fast aggressive strategies but it would allow you to protect your As Foretold very early in the game, or force it through an early counterspell. These cheaper pieces of interaction would also come online quicker as As Foretold picks up counters.
just a few thoughts.
I don’t think these cards work the way you want them to. Cryptic deals with like 90% of anything you need to deal with except wrath effects and that’s why we have LE. You don’t want discard or creature removal when you have instant speed counters and LE. Adding black for discard doesn’t allow you to build your creatures in your graveyard and if you are discarding opponents creatures that’s working against your game plan. Snapcaster does nothing except flash back counterspells so that’s t4 at the best. You can’t cast LE or Vision off snapcaster unless you have your “combo” already online and are winning.
You want more than 3 island 1 swamp when running fields imo. You also don’t want to take damage from your mana base and want to be clear of blood moon when you’re a 4 cryptic deck.
That's the broader problem when I try putting together something multi-color. Black is probably the best added color, and Collective Brutality is a nice black flex card since for checking/getting rid of things counters before playing As Foretold, it can kill early mana dorks, and it's life gain can help in burn matchups. Yahenni's Expertise as a one-of extra sweeper/way to dig for Living End is also not bad. But what I do I give up for that? A mana base that's more fragile to resurgent Blood Moon strategies, is more painful for the burn matchup, and is less effective in fighting big mana decks. I think the mono-U version is actually well placed right now.
There is so much card draw and cantrip in this deck that it's so easy to go through your multiple copies. I dunno maybe I will try it out.
Baral's expertise would have been able to cast living end in many of those matches. Having only 4 copies of As Foretold has shown its disadvantage in several matches and I think having at least one (max 2) Baral's expertise adds to the consistency of the combo.
Also, even without As Foretold/living end, return 3 creatures/artefacts + draw 3 cards is cryptic command on steroids. And theres many other fabulous lines of play.