This primer for Esper I'd call a control deck though it functions mid rangy because of The Scarab God and the way he functions.
I took this deck to a 3-1 at FNM
Merfolk 2-0
Vehicles 0-2
BG constrictor 2-0
UB Midrange 1-0-0
Vehicles went first and curved, then Heart of Kiran and Chandra, Torch of Defiance'd me out.
So aside from Vehicles... this has tested for me outside of that 3-1 quite well.
Profane Procession I was doubtful of but wanted to try out and it over-performed. It basically locked Merfolk down completely and BG was unable to overcome it. The reason for all the Enchantments is to achieve 'the city's blessing' and close out/catch up with Twilight Prophet.
Against UB Midrange Ixalan's Blessing got rid of The Scarab God and they were stuck though this was a LONG game as they were taking everything until locked down. Both of us down to 6 cards in the deck left. Without that I think I was done and their deck is really annoying.
Creature decks in general don't seem to pack the answers. Sideboard could use work but the life gain keeps tempo and life total out of surprise defeat range.
Looking for constructive ideas, thanks.
I agree that 4 drop is a problem but the cards there are key for the deck to push the game late. Chupa's too good and twilight is the whole point so I feel those 8 are solid.
Baffle does get you where you're going quicker, I cheated in Moment to get a little life gain as well as kill the super annoying Adanto Vanguard before I really turned the deck into full enchantment monster. I'd take those out and put in the x2 Baffles.
I find the draw is necessary as only 2 Scarab God sometimes has you top decking till you get there if they're good at killing Twilights.
Only thing I can imagine is another land but really with Azcanta I don't feel like more than 25 is helpful.
Profane Procession completely locks them down. Many players can't decide whether to push through and let you take all their creatures or wait for a miracle top deck.
Will test this list out over the next two weekends and post results here. Personally, I feel like more land is really just necessary to activate Profane Procession and The Scarab God consistently, so I ran with the controllish 26. I also wanted to manage the enchantment count slighty to curve a little nicer against mostly creature decks in the format while still creeping towards Ascend a little better.
Creature
2 The Scarab God
4 Twilight Prophet
4 Ravenous Chupacabra
Enchantment
3 Search for Azcanta
2 Ixalan's Binding
3 Authority of the Consuls
2 Profane Procession
2 Baffling End
4 Fatal Push
1 Vraska's Contempt
1 Glimmer of Genius
2 Moment of Craving
1 Pull from Tomorrow
1 Settle the Wreckage
Land
3 Plains
2 Swamp
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Concealed Courtyard
4 Glacial Fortress
3 Irrigated Farmland
4 Fetid Pools
1 Arch of Orazca
3 Fumigate
This primer for Esper I'd call a control deck though it functions mid rangy because of The Scarab God and the way he functions.
I took this deck to a 3-1 at FNM
Merfolk 2-0
Vehicles 0-2
BG constrictor 2-0
UB Midrange 1-0-0
Vehicles went first and curved, then Heart of Kiran and Chandra, Torch of Defiance'd me out.
So aside from Vehicles... this has tested for me outside of that 3-1 quite well.
Sideboard
Profane Procession I was doubtful of but wanted to try out and it over-performed. It basically locked Merfolk down completely and BG was unable to overcome it. The reason for all the Enchantments is to achieve 'the city's blessing' and close out/catch up with Twilight Prophet.
Against UB Midrange Ixalan's Blessing got rid of The Scarab God and they were stuck though this was a LONG game as they were taking everything until locked down. Both of us down to 6 cards in the deck left. Without that I think I was done and their deck is really annoying.
Creature decks in general don't seem to pack the answers. Sideboard could use work but the life gain keeps tempo and life total out of surprise defeat range.
Looking for constructive ideas, thanks.
Baffle does get you where you're going quicker, I cheated in Moment to get a little life gain as well as kill the super annoying Adanto Vanguard before I really turned the deck into full enchantment monster. I'd take those out and put in the x2 Baffles.
I find the draw is necessary as only 2 Scarab God sometimes has you top decking till you get there if they're good at killing Twilights.
Only thing I can imagine is another land but really with Azcanta I don't feel like more than 25 is helpful.
Profane Procession completely locks them down. Many players can't decide whether to push through and let you take all their creatures or wait for a miracle top deck.
Thanks for the input
2 The Scarab God
4 Twilight Prophet
4 Ravenous Chupacabra
Enchantments:
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Profane Procession
2 Ixalan’s Binding
3 Baffling End
4 Fatal Push
1 Vraska’s Contempt
2 Pull from Tomorrow
4 Opt
3 Supreme Will
Sorceries:
2 Fumigate
4 Plains
3 Swamp
2 Island
3 Drowned Catacomb
3 Glacial Fortress
4 Concealed Courtyard
3 Fetid Pools
3 Irrigated Farmlands
1 Arch of Orazca