In most decks Runechanter's Pike is a "win more" card. If you look at some of the metalcraft analysis from back when SoM was first getting started you can look at spell density discussions about "how many artifacts" make this card or that card worth it.
One of the advantages of Metalcraft was that the "in question" card was often itself an artifact and thus 1/3 of the battle was already over.
That's why G/W aggro never caught on the way that Tempered Steel did was because the green cards like Ezuri's Brigade needed 3 additional cards to justify themselves in the deck.
In most decks, Runechanter's Pike is just such a card. A deck that can sport a 4/4 or a 5/5 flyer has little use for another 2 points of power. (If the card provided toughness too it would be all around busted).
Normally when I've tried to include Geist of Saint Traft in a list he comes out, swings once and dies, which is hardly worth his mana cost (think of a weak white 1 turn delayed 4 damage). I've tried to combine him with things like Cobbled Wings to get him up in the air, but they don't really fit in a U/W Spirit type deck (Most of the other spirits fly) and they don't give him the power boost to make it worth taking up two slots.
At SCG Indy, players used the Geist's protective power to protect Angelic Destiny for serious beatings. While not as powerful, Runechanter's Pike gives Block Constructed the same protection for Geist of Saint Traft . I estimate that generally in the midgame the pike will provide 1-3 points of power. A 4/2 First Strike on the ground and a 4/4 in the air is hard to deal with. Even if the Geist is destroyed, the pike can be picked up by spirit tokens such as those from Mooreland Haunt.
Geist of Saint Traft + Runechanter's Pike. Viable? Discuss.
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
UWR Geist + Pike was the first list I made for Innistrad block. The deck has lots of great tools, but I think the format will be hostile to it.
Snapcaster Mage: The best two mana removal spell in the format... Geist of Saint Traft: Sans pike he dies to both Snapcaster Mage and Liliana, which should see lots of play (often together). He needs support cards to clear the way, but many of those cards pump pike. Runechanter's Pike: This is exactly what Traft needs. Unfortunately, Ancient Grudge is in the format. Will the deck be able to win without pike, especially in games 2 and 3? Geistflame, Brimstone Volley, Devil's Play: If I had to guess numbers I'd say 3/4/1, but that obviously depends on the meta. Think Twice, Forbidden Alchemy, Dissipate: Yup. Midnight Haunting: Provides instant speed bodies for pike, pumps pike, can act like removal, protects Traft from edict effects. Moorland Haunt: While we're already in UWx, it's not clear that the deck wants any creature cards except 4 Snapcaster and ~3 Traft. Colourless lands put even more strain on the mana base. I'd run 0-1.
Maybe it isn't viable with our current setup, but I was actually thinking outside of red.
Of course all the best blue spells outside of Dissipate have flashback on thier own, albiet Snapcaster makes them cheaper.
Dissipate, Divine Reckoning, Dream Twist, Feeling of Dread, Forbidden Alchemy, Frightful Delusion or Lost in Mist, Midnight Haunting, Rebuke, Silent Departure, Smite the Monstrous, Spare from Evil, Think Twice.
A lot of Werewolves have 4+ toughness and some of that burn isn't going to be as hot as we think.
Civilized Scholar is an interesting card that could fit in this deck in any build. Gets rid of extra legendary creatures, Holds a pike nicely. Going to have to think about this.
Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
Which colours were you thinking? For straight UW Silent Departure, Feeling of Dread and Diving Reckoning could work. Green offers Mayor of Avabruck and Garruk Relentless, red offers burn, black offers removal and finishers. I'm not sure which is the most powerful, but red is clearly the easiest to splash.
Flashing back Dissipate is a big deal. Snapcaster also works with important spells in other colours like Midnight Haunting, Brimstone Volley, and Tribute to Hunger. Ignoring all of that, it's still the best 2 mana removal in the format and an instant speed body for pike. 4 of.
A lot of Werewolves have 4+ toughness after they've transformed. The only werewolf opening I'm worried about is t2 Mayor of Avabruck into t3 flip, probably off a Moonmist. Gets scarier with t1 Reckless Waif. Ux control decks shouldn't run out of cheap instants, so unless the RG aggro deck with the limited mana base and 0 draw/selection spends a turn doing nothing or draws into one of four cards, I think burn will be good.
I don't think its a card to build around, just punch some finishing damage through. Probably easier to just add a couple Pikes to a Burning Vengeance deck really.
I like current block formats the most.
Its so limited to its power scale against other formats.
Block constructed should be a more competitive format like it was back in Champions or Ravnica.
Runechanter's Secrets I like that That deck is a lot more aggressive.
I think were I to rebuild this deck as UW I would get some Drogskol Captain in there.
Personally I think UB Delver has enough tools now to get over the top, or perhaps even a small white spash for either St Traft or Sorin.
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
FWIW, here is a deck that includes the Pike + Geist. I have not seen much of this deck in the 2 mans, but it could be a good shell to work from if anyone is looking to develop this with the new set.
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One of the advantages of Metalcraft was that the "in question" card was often itself an artifact and thus 1/3 of the battle was already over.
That's why G/W aggro never caught on the way that Tempered Steel did was because the green cards like Ezuri's Brigade needed 3 additional cards to justify themselves in the deck.
In most decks, Runechanter's Pike is just such a card. A deck that can sport a 4/4 or a 5/5 flyer has little use for another 2 points of power. (If the card provided toughness too it would be all around busted).
However there is one card that a lot of people have been trying to use that Runechanter's Pike could give the needed boost. Geist of Saint Traft.
Normally when I've tried to include Geist of Saint Traft in a list he comes out, swings once and dies, which is hardly worth his mana cost (think of a weak white 1 turn delayed 4 damage). I've tried to combine him with things like Cobbled Wings to get him up in the air, but they don't really fit in a U/W Spirit type deck (Most of the other spirits fly) and they don't give him the power boost to make it worth taking up two slots.
At SCG Indy, players used the Geist's protective power to protect Angelic Destiny for serious beatings. While not as powerful, Runechanter's Pike gives Block Constructed the same protection for Geist of Saint Traft . I estimate that generally in the midgame the pike will provide 1-3 points of power. A 4/2 First Strike on the ground and a 4/4 in the air is hard to deal with. Even if the Geist is destroyed, the pike can be picked up by spirit tokens such as those from Mooreland Haunt.
Geist of Saint Traft + Runechanter's Pike. Viable? Discuss.
Snapcaster Mage: The best two mana removal spell in the format...
Geist of Saint Traft: Sans pike he dies to both Snapcaster Mage and Liliana, which should see lots of play (often together). He needs support cards to clear the way, but many of those cards pump pike.
Runechanter's Pike: This is exactly what Traft needs. Unfortunately, Ancient Grudge is in the format. Will the deck be able to win without pike, especially in games 2 and 3?
Geistflame, Brimstone Volley, Devil's Play: If I had to guess numbers I'd say 3/4/1, but that obviously depends on the meta.
Think Twice, Forbidden Alchemy, Dissipate: Yup.
Midnight Haunting: Provides instant speed bodies for pike, pumps pike, can act like removal, protects Traft from edict effects.
Moorland Haunt: While we're already in UWx, it's not clear that the deck wants any creature cards except 4 Snapcaster and ~3 Traft. Colourless lands put even more strain on the mana base. I'd run 0-1.
Of course all the best blue spells outside of Dissipate have flashback on thier own, albiet Snapcaster makes them cheaper.
Dissipate, Divine Reckoning, Dream Twist, Feeling of Dread, Forbidden Alchemy, Frightful Delusion or Lost in Mist, Midnight Haunting, Rebuke, Silent Departure, Smite the Monstrous, Spare from Evil, Think Twice.
A lot of Werewolves have 4+ toughness and some of that burn isn't going to be as hot as we think.
Civilized Scholar is an interesting card that could fit in this deck in any build. Gets rid of extra legendary creatures, Holds a pike nicely. Going to have to think about this.
Edit: Blue and White ISD Spells:
"]&color=|[W]|[U]&type=|["Instant"]|["Sorcery"]">http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&output=spoiler&method=visual&set=+["Innistrad"]&color=|[W]|[U]&type=|["Instant"]|["Sorcery"]
Flashing back Dissipate is a big deal. Snapcaster also works with important spells in other colours like Midnight Haunting, Brimstone Volley, and Tribute to Hunger. Ignoring all of that, it's still the best 2 mana removal in the format and an instant speed body for pike. 4 of.
A lot of Werewolves have 4+ toughness after they've transformed. The only werewolf opening I'm worried about is t2 Mayor of Avabruck into t3 flip, probably off a Moonmist. Gets scarier with t1 Reckless Waif. Ux control decks shouldn't run out of cheap instants, so unless the RG aggro deck with the limited mana base and 0 draw/selection spends a turn doing nothing or draws into one of four cards, I think burn will be good.
4 Invisible Stalker
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Delver of Secrets
Spells:
4 Thought Scour
4 Silent Departure
4 Geistflame
4 Brimstone Volley
4 Burning Vengeance
3 Devil's Play
2 Runechanter's Pike
Land:
9 Mountain
10 Island
4 Sulfur Falls
I like current block formats the most.
Its so limited to its power scale against other formats.
Block constructed should be a more competitive format like it was back in Champions or Ravnica.
Sig by DD Awie by CC
I think were I to rebuild this deck as UW I would get some Drogskol Captain in there.
Personally I think UB Delver has enough tools now to get over the top, or perhaps even a small white spash for either St Traft or Sorin.