I really want to try with this deck, I feel like something just isn't clicking though. I feel like I'm so close to something playable, Im trying to have multiple stratagies, but the one I think with the biggest potential is Crested Sunmare make a bunch of 1/1s with lifelink, then drop sunmare and start making horses. I feel like the peices are there, but I can't figure out how to widdle the deck down to at most 38 non lands
Also as far as mana base is concerned, obviously 4 concealed courtyards, but should I also throw in 4 Aether hubs? I need to get to 5 mana, so how many total lands should I run, is 22 enough?
Do I need more removal? I find that most top decks run about 8 pieces of removal,
Also what about Trial of Ambition for the dreaded carnage tyrant?
What do you guys think, would love some help with this
Dump the Legion Conquistador since even though the card advantage is only vanilla 2/2s.
Go to 3-4 Legion's Landing
Definitely add 4 metallic mimic
2 anointed procession
Change the two queen's procession into a full 4 call to the feast
Drop Vona for Yahenni, Undying Partisan. He has haste and can sack another vampire to give him protection while lowering your curve.
I'm trying to make this work, too. With regard to the mana, I'm definitely going to try Unclaimed Territory. It's no Shambling Vent, but we're going to have to make due until we get enemy checklands.
Oh vampires works great for an aggro build right now. I've thrown together some lists in my spare time. The thing that people find confusing is that they use life as a resource, so to get the most advantage out of them you need lifelinkers and things that give life as well as the vampires. Normally life gain is really bad in magic in terms of gameplay, but with vampires the synergy makes it more relevant. They also are the most mana efficient tribe of ixalan and offer some of the better mana sinks late game.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Oh yeah, the using life is what i love most about it, that's why I really want to run Vona's being able to vindicate a blocker for a net cost of 3 life (after i gain 4 from her attack) sounds awesome. I've been thinking more about leigons landing and I now agree that 4 is definitely the way to go, At first I thought no because it was legendary, but when i drop the second one I'm already done with the first one and even if it flips I can float the mana and maybe make another token.
How man Marven Fein's should I run, I'll have mostly tokens and he is legendary, maybe 3, I'll have 8 two drops so I can probaly get one down and go into him, also what should my other 3 drop be? How many of it should I run?
What should I expect for gameday, I know dinosaurs are going to be a big part of the meta, but my LGS usually has alot of control too so I need to figure out how to deal with that.
I think I got a good handle on Dinosaurs, Push for Shamans, that card that's kind of like smite the monstrous for bigger guys, as well as Gideon to put a stopper on something. Also gifted aetherborne for carnage tyrant, i think it's a good cancel out for him, kills it, and i only take 2 damage off it's attack. and I do have a lot of tokens so some anointed processions could probably really work. Just how fast are big dino's going to start dropping, probably by turn 3 I'm guessing, turn 1 shaman, t2 mana dork, t3 4 mana play that enrage monster that lets him draw whenever he's damaged,
And in case of the one off merfolk deck (Something I don't think alot of people are talking about) what about a solemnity or two in my sideboard
For my finishers I'm t hinking of 4 crested sunmares and 2 Vona's
You definitely do not want to run 6 5 drop creatures in your build. Unfortunately, you'll have to figure out which 5 drop curve topper you want to use in the deck. My own opinion is that Crested Sunmare is the better card for when you need to just end the game, where as Vona, Butcher of Magan is the one to run when you need more on tribe answers. Also, Vona is kind of tricky to use because if you are low on life she can out right kill you on the spot, but a 4/4 lifelink vigilance is still nothing to scoff at.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Just had a thought what about throwing bontu into this drop him on T3 call to feast on turn 4 and have three turns of ammo for bontu not to mention pumping out guys with flipped legions landing and he doesn't get wiped I think he could be the secret sauce
Consider Hidden Stockpile. It's not much for Vamps, but a lot of your 1/1s will fall to opponents' blockers [plus a LOT of the deck falls to Fatal Push, and the whole thing falls to Walk The Plank]. I've been trying it in my list and so far I really like it. Haven't used Yahenni, Undying Partisan in my playtesting yet but I feel it'd work really well with them, too.
Also, IMO, Vicious Conquistador > Duskborne Skymarcher tbh. He at least does something even when he's blocked. And when he isn't blocked, it's even better.
It's really nice with Sanctum Seeker, because he drains for 2 just by swinging in.
So far in my playtesting, Bishop of Rebirth hasn't been super impressive. I wish he was basically a new Sun Titan and would give us a creature upon ETB, or return any nonland permanent when he swung. But, oh well; beggars can't be choosers I guess.
Queen’s Commission, if you just need it for Vampire tokens that's okay. I'm just thinking Start // Finish since it can be cast at instant speed and it doubles as removal cast from the graveyard.
I'm kind of scratching my head with Wizards and how they did this with vampires. They want to go wide, but then wizards doesn't even release a basic lord for vampires to anthem them? I guess they figure the lifelink + boost would have put them too far ahead math wise, since a swing with a 2/2 lifelink that connects creates a difference of 4 between ones own life total and the opponents. The best anthem effect we probably got in standard right now is Angel of Invention and Vanquisher's Banner. I want to try Trial of Solidarity as +2/+1 to a bunch of 1/1 lifelink tokens is pretty nuts. I want to try Angel of Invention, but it's too easy to remove with only 3 toughness.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Anybody bothered trying a vampire tribal with god pharoah's gift?
I mean you have a lot of good targets between vicious conquistador, gifted aetherborn, up to sanctum seeker.
I saw a friend playing with a token version and it seemed a bit on the control side with annointed procession, call to the feast, sanctum seeker and bishop of the bloodstained to close out the game. He was spouting tokens all over the place even sweltering suns wasn't enough to stem the horde of tokens
I was thinking about that today, actually. The catch with that one is it turns more into a token control deck as the color combination doesn't have a lot of ramp in itself to get the gift out and having to give space for Refurbish is rough already in a deck with a load of 4 drops.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I was thinking about that today, actually. The catch with that one is it turns more into a token control deck as the color combination doesn't have a lot of ramp in itself to get the gift out and having to give space for Refurbish is rough already in a deck with a load of 4 drops.
I agree with you there, you need at least 5 spots for the gate/gift package and attrition is really the only way to make sure you get the grave filled to activate gate.
As for a token deck I asked my friend to share his build.and this is what he showed me.
From what he told me the goal is pretty simple leech life with sanctum seeker then close out with bishop of the bloodstained. Annointed procession helps with this by doubling the tokens for bigger life drain. Not sure if I'll adopt the same strategy, but at least its a start on making a tribal token deck. Though I wish there was a way to accelerate that 5 drop banner for an anthem effect
I played some B/W vampires against some of the top decks on MTG Top 8 with my own list based off of Pierre Dagen's Sunmare Vampires.
I tried Annointed Procession and Queen's Commission/Call to the Feast but it just flat out doesn't work. It's too slow, and by the time procession is online you're sat with your thumb up your rectum waiting for a token generator. If your 4/5 drop isn't impacting the board or game state then you need to replace it.
IMO Bishop of Rebirth is a bad card but I haven't found a viable alternative yet, not too sure about Vona, Butcher of Magan. Anyway, this still beat Ram Red and Temur Energy 2-1.
I did however get smashed by UB Pirates due to an attrocious land draw game 1. I may side in Yahenni's Expertise.
I have not tested yet, but i too am going the suncrest route. I do not see running Gifted without a lot more black sources. So i run 4 courtyard 4 Aether hubs and 2 tribal lands. 5 plains and 8 swamps. Tribal land does not cast our enchantment. So this gives me 13 whites sources for turn 1 when a really want 14, and 18 black for turn 2 when i really want 20. Not ideal. Yes I realize that hub can not cast white on turn 1 and then black on turn 2. Since this will only be a problem 16% of the time, i hope this will not kill the deck. I run bishop's solder and 3 harvestors. I run 2 Gonti as well. I have an extra creature slot so i but the two drop vampire that can give itself indestructable. 2 Mavren as well.
Okay So I started a vampire thread, but I've been toying around with it and found it could be an awesome deck for bontu, the glorified to shine because of all the 1/1's so here's what I've tooled up
I think people have been approaching Vampires the wrong way, only focusing on Ixalan cards, I think they really shine with Kaladesh and Ahmonket block cards, so heres my list
Could still use some help on the manabase, honestly the biggest thing hurting me is Gifted Aetherborn, i tried running aether hub but this guy just eats it thats why I cut to three.
So a few ideas, you can either play the wide game and build alot of 1/1 lifelinks with a turn 4 call to a turn 5 sunmare, and start making horses, or bontu turn three and then bishop turn 5 and start bringing back one of your two drops to feed bontu, if you don't have hidden stockpile to create an infinite engine for him, and if you don't get either of those, sanctum seeker to drain a bunch. I don't really like vicious conquistador because i would perfer to push something turn 1/2 this is a midrange deck, you stall until you get bontu or sunmare, and if you get both, well that seems like it would be a fun board state. gain life, attack with bontu, make a horse go. I really think bontu and sunmare can be the keys to this deck, I've shifted more from vampires to just lifelink that also can feed them, if you don't have stockpile, bishop can bring a guy back and feed bontu, starcity was out of Vona's so I'm going to pick up a few from TCG player, but where should he go? what should I cut for Vona?
Okay So I started a vampire thread, but I've been toying around with it and found it could be an awesome deck for bontu, the glorified to shine because of all the 1/1's so here's what I've tooled up
I think people have been approaching Vampires the wrong way, only focusing on Ixalan cards, I think they really shine with Kaladesh and Ahmonket block cards, so heres my list
Could still use some help on the manabase, honestly the biggest thing hurting me is Gifted Aetherborn, i tried running aether hub but this guy just eats it thats why I cut to three.
So a few ideas, you can either play the wide game and build alot of 1/1 lifelinks with a turn 4 call to a turn 5 sunmare, and start making horses, or bontu turn three and then bishop turn 5 and start bringing back one of your two drops to feed bontu, if you don't have hidden stockpile to create an infinite engine for him, and if you don't get either of those, sanctum seeker to drain a bunch. I don't really like vicious conquistador because i would perfer to push something turn 1/2 this is a midrange deck, you stall until you get bontu or sunmare, and if you get both, well that seems like it would be a fun board state. gain life, attack with bontu, make a horse go. I really think bontu and sunmare can be the keys to this deck, I've shifted more from vampires to just lifelink that also can feed them, if you don't have stockpile, bishop can bring a guy back and feed bontu, starcity was out of Vona's so I'm going to pick up a few from TCG player, but where should he go? what should I cut for Vona?
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
This is what I'm running. You'll notice the only removal maindeck is Cast Out. That's by design so as to not be better or worse against mono red or UB control in game one. The 4x Gifted Aetherborn maindeck are there solely for the red deck matchup, not that there isn't enough lifegain already.
Lost Legacy in the sideboard is there for Approach. Vraska's Contempt comes in for the UB Control matchup, along with Duress. The 3x Dusk//Dawn are for the midrange matchup.
I'll update with my testing if this deck starts to work out for me.
So went to fnm today and ended up 3-2 winning against an esper vehicle deck, RG dinosaurs, and temur energy. While losing to a BG constrictor deck and sultai scarab god (due to really awful mulligans)
Observations:
-Legion's landing can be cut to just 3, still works fine.
- the 1 drop flying whote vampire really is good with a mavren fein out as they can rarely block it, and far too often I see it eat abrade or lightning strike.
- bishop of the bloodstained can be cut completely from the deck. In fact maxing out sanctum seeker while adding in more call to the feast seems to be much better route for the deck.
- mavren fein is really among the more necessary cards to ensure max token output and in fact am considering to up to 3 copies while cutting or moving yahenni to the sideboard.
- sword point diplomacy is the real deal. In all my games today I was able to draw an average of 2 cards with it, the opponent choosing to take 3 damage to just get rid of a sanctum seeker or removal spell that I already have a copy in my hand. In one game I was able to make an opponent take 6 with it because he wanted to get rid of ixalan's binding and a aanctum seeker, but I already have one at hand.
So went to fnm today and ended up 3-2 winning against an esper vehicle deck, RG dinosaurs, and temur energy. While losing to a BG constrictor deck and sultai scarab god (due to really awful mulligans)
Observations:
-Legion's landing can be cut to just 3, still works fine.
- the 1 drop flying whote vampire really is good with a mavren fein out as they can rarely block it, and far too often I see it eat abrade or lightning strike.
- bishop of the bloodstained can be cut completely from the deck. In fact maxing out sanctum seeker while adding in more call to the feast seems to be much better route for the deck.
- mavren fein is really among the more necessary cards to ensure max token output and in fact am considering to up to 3 copies while cutting or moving yahenni to the sideboard.
- sword point diplomacy is the real deal. In all my games today I was able to draw an average of 2 cards with it, the opponent choosing to take 3 damage to just get rid of a sanctum seeker or removal spell that I already have a copy in my hand. In one game I was able to make an opponent take 6 with it because he wanted to get rid of ixalan's binding and a aanctum seeker, but I already have one at hand.
The problem with Sword-Point Diplomacy is that if you are ahead, then it just puts you more ahead because no matter what the opponent does it isn't going to make things worse. However, if you're behind and desperately need the cards, then the effect just falls through the floor.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
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Do I need more removal, should I drop the 1 drops? I need a non-token so Marvin can start making tokens,
other cards I want to include, either in sideboard or find something I can knock out and add in here
Also as far as mana base is concerned, obviously 4 concealed courtyards, but should I also throw in 4 Aether hubs? I need to get to 5 mana, so how many total lands should I run, is 22 enough?
Do I need more removal? I find that most top decks run about 8 pieces of removal,
Also what about Trial of Ambition for the dreaded carnage tyrant?
What do you guys think, would love some help with this
Have you tried mtgo and see how the deck squares up against the tier 1 decks?
Go to 3-4 Legion's Landing
Definitely add 4 metallic mimic
2 anointed procession
Change the two queen's procession into a full 4 call to the feast
Drop Vona for Yahenni, Undying Partisan. He has haste and can sack another vampire to give him protection while lowering your curve.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
How man Marven Fein's should I run, I'll have mostly tokens and he is legendary, maybe 3, I'll have 8 two drops so I can probaly get one down and go into him, also what should my other 3 drop be? How many of it should I run?
What should I expect for gameday, I know dinosaurs are going to be a big part of the meta, but my LGS usually has alot of control too so I need to figure out how to deal with that.
I think I got a good handle on Dinosaurs, Push for Shamans, that card that's kind of like smite the monstrous for bigger guys, as well as Gideon to put a stopper on something. Also gifted aetherborne for carnage tyrant, i think it's a good cancel out for him, kills it, and i only take 2 damage off it's attack. and I do have a lot of tokens so some anointed processions could probably really work. Just how fast are big dino's going to start dropping, probably by turn 3 I'm guessing, turn 1 shaman, t2 mana dork, t3 4 mana play that enrage monster that lets him draw whenever he's damaged,
And in case of the one off merfolk deck (Something I don't think alot of people are talking about) what about a solemnity or two in my sideboard
For my finishers I'm t hinking of 4 crested sunmares and 2 Vona's
What's my plan for control?
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Also, IMO, Vicious Conquistador > Duskborne Skymarcher tbh. He at least does something even when he's blocked. And when he isn't blocked, it's even better.
It's really nice with Sanctum Seeker, because he drains for 2 just by swinging in.
So far in my playtesting, Bishop of Rebirth hasn't been super impressive. I wish he was basically a new Sun Titan and would give us a creature upon ETB, or return any nonland permanent when he swung. But, oh well; beggars can't be choosers I guess.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I mean you have a lot of good targets between vicious conquistador, gifted aetherborn, up to sanctum seeker.
I saw a friend playing with a token version and it seemed a bit on the control side with annointed procession, call to the feast, sanctum seeker and bishop of the bloodstained to close out the game. He was spouting tokens all over the place even sweltering suns wasn't enough to stem the horde of tokens
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I agree with you there, you need at least 5 spots for the gate/gift package and attrition is really the only way to make sure you get the grave filled to activate gate.
As for a token deck I asked my friend to share his build.and this is what he showed me.
3 mavren fein, dusk apostle
3 sanctum seeker
2 paladin of the bloodstained
3 bishop of the bloodstained
2 annointed procession
4 call to the feast
4 queen's commission
4 legion's landing
3 duress
2 fatal push
1 doomfall
4 concealed courtyard
4 aether hub
2 unclaimed territory
5 plains
5 swamp
3 ifnir drealands
1 duress
1 doomfall
2 vraska's contempt
3 lost legacy
2 fatal push
2 liliana's defeat
2 crook of condemnation
2 ixalan's binding
From what he told me the goal is pretty simple leech life with sanctum seeker then close out with bishop of the bloodstained. Annointed procession helps with this by doubling the tokens for bigger life drain. Not sure if I'll adopt the same strategy, but at least its a start on making a tribal token deck. Though I wish there was a way to accelerate that 5 drop banner for an anthem effect
I tried Annointed Procession and Queen's Commission/Call to the Feast but it just flat out doesn't work. It's too slow, and by the time procession is online you're sat with your thumb up your rectum waiting for a token generator. If your 4/5 drop isn't impacting the board or game state then you need to replace it.
Here's my list:
4x Aerial Responder
2x Bishop of Rebirth
4x Crested Sunmare
4x Gifted Aetherborn
4x Glory-Bound Initiate
3x Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle
4x Concealed Courtyard
10x Plains
10x Swamp
Sorcery (7)
4x Call to the Feast
3x Walk the Plank
Instant (4)
4x Fatal Push
4x Legion's Landing
3x Authority of the Consuls
3x Demystify
3x Doomfall
3x Dusk / Dawn
3x Fragmentize
IMO Bishop of Rebirth is a bad card but I haven't found a viable alternative yet, not too sure about Vona, Butcher of Magan. Anyway, this still beat Ram Red and Temur Energy 2-1.
I did however get smashed by UB Pirates due to an attrocious land draw game 1. I may side in Yahenni's Expertise.
Modern:R 8Whack R|W White Knights W
2 duskborne skymarcher
2 bloodcrazed paladin
4 adanto vanguard
4 gifted aetherborn
2 mavren fein, dusk apostle
1 yahenni, undying partisan
3 skymarch bloodletter
3 sanctum seeker
3 bishop of the bloodstained
3 fatal push
2 ixalan's binding
2 sword point diplomacy
4 concealed courtyard
4 unclaimed territory
6 swamps
5 plains
2 evolving wilds or ifnir dreadlands
2 yahenni's expertise
1 liliana's defeat
4 duress
2 vraska's contempt
2 forsake the worldly
1 gideon's defeat
3 lost legacy
I like sword point diplomacy a lot since its either card draw for you or damage for the opponent.
Was thinking of including metallic mimic, but decided against it til I give this version a spin.
I think people have been approaching Vampires the wrong way, only focusing on Ixalan cards, I think they really shine with Kaladesh and Ahmonket block cards, so heres my list
Sideboard
Could still use some help on the manabase, honestly the biggest thing hurting me is Gifted Aetherborn, i tried running aether hub but this guy just eats it thats why I cut to three.
So a few ideas, you can either play the wide game and build alot of 1/1 lifelinks with a turn 4 call to a turn 5 sunmare, and start making horses, or bontu turn three and then bishop turn 5 and start bringing back one of your two drops to feed bontu, if you don't have hidden stockpile to create an infinite engine for him, and if you don't get either of those, sanctum seeker to drain a bunch. I don't really like vicious conquistador because i would perfer to push something turn 1/2 this is a midrange deck, you stall until you get bontu or sunmare, and if you get both, well that seems like it would be a fun board state. gain life, attack with bontu, make a horse go. I really think bontu and sunmare can be the keys to this deck, I've shifted more from vampires to just lifelink that also can feed them, if you don't have stockpile, bishop can bring a guy back and feed bontu, starcity was out of Vona's so I'm going to pick up a few from TCG player, but where should he go? what should I cut for Vona?
I think people have been approaching Vampires the wrong way, only focusing on Ixalan cards, I think they really shine with Kaladesh and Ahmonket block cards, so heres my list
Sideboard
Could still use some help on the manabase, honestly the biggest thing hurting me is Gifted Aetherborn, i tried running aether hub but this guy just eats it thats why I cut to three.
So a few ideas, you can either play the wide game and build alot of 1/1 lifelinks with a turn 4 call to a turn 5 sunmare, and start making horses, or bontu turn three and then bishop turn 5 and start bringing back one of your two drops to feed bontu, if you don't have hidden stockpile to create an infinite engine for him, and if you don't get either of those, sanctum seeker to drain a bunch. I don't really like vicious conquistador because i would perfer to push something turn 1/2 this is a midrange deck, you stall until you get bontu or sunmare, and if you get both, well that seems like it would be a fun board state. gain life, attack with bontu, make a horse go. I really think bontu and sunmare can be the keys to this deck, I've shifted more from vampires to just lifelink that also can feed them, if you don't have stockpile, bishop can bring a guy back and feed bontu, starcity was out of Vona's so I'm going to pick up a few from TCG player, but where should he go? what should I cut for Vona?
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
4 Sanctum Seeker
3 Yahenni, Undying Partisan
4 Metallic Mimic
4 Gifted Aetherborn
4 Bishop of the Bloodstained
4 Vicious Conquistador
3 Legion's Landing
4 Cast Out
4 Concealed Courtyard
4 Aether Hub
11 Swamp
7 Plains
This is what I'm running. You'll notice the only removal maindeck is Cast Out. That's by design so as to not be better or worse against mono red or UB control in game one. The 4x Gifted Aetherborn maindeck are there solely for the red deck matchup, not that there isn't enough lifegain already.
Lost Legacy in the sideboard is there for Approach. Vraska's Contempt comes in for the UB Control matchup, along with Duress. The 3x Dusk//Dawn are for the midrange matchup.
I'll update with my testing if this deck starts to work out for me.
Observations:
-Legion's landing can be cut to just 3, still works fine.
- the 1 drop flying whote vampire really is good with a mavren fein out as they can rarely block it, and far too often I see it eat abrade or lightning strike.
- bishop of the bloodstained can be cut completely from the deck. In fact maxing out sanctum seeker while adding in more call to the feast seems to be much better route for the deck.
- mavren fein is really among the more necessary cards to ensure max token output and in fact am considering to up to 3 copies while cutting or moving yahenni to the sideboard.
- sword point diplomacy is the real deal. In all my games today I was able to draw an average of 2 cards with it, the opponent choosing to take 3 damage to just get rid of a sanctum seeker or removal spell that I already have a copy in my hand. In one game I was able to make an opponent take 6 with it because he wanted to get rid of ixalan's binding and a aanctum seeker, but I already have one at hand.
The problem with Sword-Point Diplomacy is that if you are ahead, then it just puts you more ahead because no matter what the opponent does it isn't going to make things worse. However, if you're behind and desperately need the cards, then the effect just falls through the floor.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!