General idea: I love Paradox engine a lot and would love to see it combined with the insanity of Isochron sceptre. Can win without the combo getting off with guttersnipe + the damage spells, but enjoyable that I could boomerang an opponents entire fields back to their hand. Once the combo starts, can't be interrupted (as I can just keep casting the sceptre over and over again).
Main concerns: seems like the land has to be carefully chosen, as there are so many gold cards in the deck. I can see myself getting easily mana screwed.
Any general suggestions to improve the deck would be appreciated, too.
Can’t the opponent respond to the triggered ability of the Paradox Engine? Or the initial activated ability of the Scepter itself? I’m missing how it can continue going off in response to an instant speed answer.
There are a couple spells that can prevent new spells from entering the stack.
But since I *cast* the spell off isochron scepter I believe I would untap the thing before passing priority. Even if they removed the engine or sceptre, I could just cast another spell off the sceptre in response and keep it going. By the time their spell resolves, I've done as much damage as I want to.
Assuming you’ve got your Scepter, your Myr, and your Engine, I’m reasonably certain that it will play out as follows:
Tap your Myr for two mana (or just tap two lands I suppose). Mana abilities do not use the stack so there is no passing of priority.
Spend the 2 mana to tap and activate the scepter. As an activated ability, This does use the stack, and does give your opponent a chance to respond and break up the combo. Then, due to the way it’s worded, you weirdly have to decide if you actually want to cast the spell. This is obviously a yes, and at this point you cast it.
Casting the spell uses the stack as well, but also triggers the Paradox Engine. Triggered abilities, like activated abilities, also go on the stack and priority passes to your opponent before it resolves. At this point, your scepter is still tapped, and once again your opponent has a chance to blow something up.
The only way to keep the combo going at this point is if you have an instant in hand And enough mana to cast it in response to your opponents abrupt decay or whatever. Your response to his response will trigger the Engine again, which will untap your stuff and you can carry on while everything else is still waiting to resolve.
Doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying, but it’s not an auto-win once assembled.
Hmmm, so if that's correct, that wouldn't necessarily be an issue (as I have loads of instants). But basically, the spelling isn't on the stack yet once I tap the sceptre?
Sceptre: "You cast the copy while the ability is resolving and still on the stack."
Engine: "Paradox Engine’s triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. The ability will resolve even if that spell is countered."
Correct on the first question, and correct on the second statement.
That Paradox Engine’s triggered ability resolves prior to and independent of the spell that causes it to pop off is consistent with what I wrote above. That does not mean that your opponent doesn’t get a chance to respond to it. So if the scepter is gone before the Engine’s ability resolves, you’re out of luck. Your Myr will still untap and whatever spell you cast off the scepter in the first place will still resolve.
Remand is fun on a scepter and pairs nicely with an early boomerang to stall your opponent. Angel’s Grace is a crowd fave as well in Scepter decks.
Main concerns: seems like the land has to be carefully chosen, as there are so many gold cards in the deck. I can see myself getting easily mana screwed.
Any general suggestions to improve the deck would be appreciated, too.
3 Boomerang
3 Boros Charm
3 Izzet Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
3 Muddle the Mixture
Sorceries
3 Fabricate
4 Serum Visions
4 Isochron Scepter
3 Paradox Engine
Creatures
3 Guttersnipe
3 Palladium Myr
Lands
3 Cascade Bluffs
3 Flooded Strand
1 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
2 Mountain
1 Plains
2 Rugged Prairie
1 Steam Vents
4 Sulfur Falls
But since I *cast* the spell off isochron scepter I believe I would untap the thing before passing priority. Even if they removed the engine or sceptre, I could just cast another spell off the sceptre in response and keep it going. By the time their spell resolves, I've done as much damage as I want to.
Tap your Myr for two mana (or just tap two lands I suppose). Mana abilities do not use the stack so there is no passing of priority.
Spend the 2 mana to tap and activate the scepter. As an activated ability, This does use the stack, and does give your opponent a chance to respond and break up the combo. Then, due to the way it’s worded, you weirdly have to decide if you actually want to cast the spell. This is obviously a yes, and at this point you cast it.
Casting the spell uses the stack as well, but also triggers the Paradox Engine. Triggered abilities, like activated abilities, also go on the stack and priority passes to your opponent before it resolves. At this point, your scepter is still tapped, and once again your opponent has a chance to blow something up.
The only way to keep the combo going at this point is if you have an instant in hand And enough mana to cast it in response to your opponents abrupt decay or whatever. Your response to his response will trigger the Engine again, which will untap your stuff and you can carry on while everything else is still waiting to resolve.
Doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying, but it’s not an auto-win once assembled.
Sceptre: "You cast the copy while the ability is resolving and still on the stack."
Engine: "Paradox Engine’s triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. The ability will resolve even if that spell is countered."
That Paradox Engine’s triggered ability resolves prior to and independent of the spell that causes it to pop off is consistent with what I wrote above. That does not mean that your opponent doesn’t get a chance to respond to it. So if the scepter is gone before the Engine’s ability resolves, you’re out of luck. Your Myr will still untap and whatever spell you cast off the scepter in the first place will still resolve.
Remand is fun on a scepter and pairs nicely with an early boomerang to stall your opponent. Angel’s Grace is a crowd fave as well in Scepter decks.