The most common question I hear with regards to this build is why drain/tendrils over the mass selection of ritual based tendril decks?
1. This deck has a consistant shot of making it through the more common matchups like Tezz, Stax, Steel City Vault, IonaBallsOath and many other combo/control archtypes. 2. While ritual based decks have the seer power to proccess enough for a ethal turn {between 1-3} drain based storm decks have the seer power to completely shut down {most archtypes} their game plans and recover with greater ease via the card drawing tempo most Mana Drain decks play. 3. This next answer has my sole opinion attached, but I feel when all is said and done {future restrictions of cards like Dark Ritual, Ad Nauseam ect} this archtype will be one of the strongest, if not the strongest deck on the vintage scene with regards to maintaining the tempo to exploit Tendrils of Agony while still using the Time Vault/Voltaic Key combo.
The next question I've been asked is why isn't this deck on the vintage scene of late?
1. This deck does seem to be at a loss with regards to its apperance, but don't be fooled when it shows up it does place high and it clearly has the power to take a first place slot. 2. The answer I do give alot is that this deck isn't really easy to run. Most can't understand or for that matter have enough foresight to setup the turns needed in order for success. Many players opt out for the Ritual based storm decks for this reason, and I, being a player that runs both archtypes will share this build pushes my mind to the max. It has no room for error, but if you enjoy the chess outlook of MTG as I do the rewards can be very fruitful. 3. Mana Drain's! It's hard for many to see this deck doesn't normally kill its opp in turns 1-3. When you can come to terms with this fact {though it can kill an opp between turns 1-3} then you're ready to step up to the mastermind challenge it provides. This was a deck I feel {I didn't create it, but know I was right there when it happened} I had to pursue! I remember creating this thread and thinking....why isn't one the best decks [was a top tier then} not here. But gladly it has its followers. I'll always be a fan of this archtpe, and when the dust settles...I'll return as my silver bullet of choice.
Here's the most current version that I'm running. Remember I take PM's with questions and comments as well as answer the ones posted here. I hope you enjoy this latest build from me, and know in time you can master the art of being in Drain Range...
I would love to run the Gushes if I could, and I don't think M.scroll is needed in the build I posted. It's a pretty strong without it I have to say, but I'm leaning more towards the darkside on with Grim~Long.
I know everything seems to be a Grim Tutor build now. I hope someone plays and wins with a current build of Drain~Tendrils. Mana Drain is my fav card in the whole game of MTG {Still have my 1st/only mint playset from back in the day}, and I just want to get them in a deck again outside C.S. which gets pretty boring after awhile.
Don't get my wrong I know how powerful C.S. is, but I was just hoping after that one B/R list other decks would pop out of the wood works using and abusing Drains again.
Well this thread my sleep for awhile because the arch-type is on a bit of short vaccation................. I have the paitents so waiting won't be a problem until it arrives once again.
No intuition? If your not running intuition, don't bother with accumulated knowledge.
How are the dark confidants working for you?
I think that balance is more of a sideboard card since it is nearly useless vs another storm deck, or even against welder, since your running bob.
No ancestral recall?
Do you think minds desire is a possible card for the deck? I tried Drain tendrils with Mind's Desire in it. It was kinda nice. It was OP -1 Duress + Mind's Desire.
Do you think minds desire is a possible card for the deck? I tried Drain tendrils with Mind's Desire in it. It was kinda nice. It was OP -1 Duress + Mind's Desire.
I've tried it, as I tried Memory Jar... And the real deal with those 2 is that they cost too much... Once the combo is on the run (either with Bargain, Will, Necro or Dark + AK) you can't afford that 6/5 mana, I always finished the game without casting those 2...
Besides getting your FoW in hand for him, having a Repeal before he can use it's ability, or going off before he can go off... There's not much more...
A FoW is almost essential in this matchup, but in Vintage, that's not weird...
I usually go off between 3rd and 5th turn... Versus control (with a lot of discard) it takes longer because you loose a lot of cards and your topdecking becomes a huge part
Most Current Build I have been playing testing. I welcome any comment for inprovements. The main ofcourse change is converting in the Tarmogoyfs and Repeals. This deck has a staple flow, and so far has shown some sweet results.
I would change the goyfs to 1 recoup, one more tendrils of agony, and one misdirection.
I don't think I'm changing anything after the beat down I've been giving of late, and I can't wait until I can find a local Tournement.
Yes Maggical that's exactly what I'm doing. Play out my turns, and using the Goyfs for a Beat-down! 5 spells is all I need med-game for the end result.
1. This deck has a consistant shot of making it through the more common matchups like Tezz, Stax, Steel City Vault, IonaBallsOath and many other combo/control archtypes.
2. While ritual based decks have the seer power to proccess enough for a ethal turn {between 1-3} drain based storm decks have the seer power to completely shut down {most archtypes} their game plans and recover with greater ease via the card drawing tempo most Mana Drain decks play.
3. This next answer has my sole opinion attached, but I feel when all is said and done {future restrictions of cards like Dark Ritual, Ad Nauseam ect} this archtype will be one of the strongest, if not the strongest deck on the vintage scene with regards to maintaining the tempo to exploit Tendrils of Agony while still using the Time Vault/Voltaic Key combo.
The next question I've been asked is why isn't this deck on the vintage scene of late?
1. This deck does seem to be at a loss with regards to its apperance, but don't be fooled when it shows up it does place high and it clearly has the power to take a first place slot.
2. The answer I do give alot is that this deck isn't really easy to run. Most can't understand or for that matter have enough foresight to setup the turns needed in order for success. Many players opt out for the Ritual based storm decks for this reason, and I, being a player that runs both archtypes will share this build pushes my mind to the max. It has no room for error, but if you enjoy the chess outlook of MTG as I do the rewards can be very fruitful.
3. Mana Drain's! It's hard for many to see this deck doesn't normally kill its opp in turns 1-3. When you can come to terms with this fact {though it can kill an opp between turns 1-3} then you're ready to step up to the mastermind challenge it provides. This was a deck I feel {I didn't create it, but know I was right there when it happened} I had to pursue! I remember creating this thread and thinking....why isn't one the best decks [was a top tier then} not here. But gladly it has its followers. I'll always be a fan of this archtpe, and when the dust settles...I'll return as my silver bullet of choice.
Here's the most current version that I'm running. Remember I take PM's with questions and comments as well as answer the ones posted here. I hope you enjoy this latest build from me, and know in time you can master the art of being in Drain Range...
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Mox Jet
1x Mox Ruby
1x Mox Pearl
1x Mox Emerald
1x Mana Crypt
1x Sol Ring
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Voltaic Key
1x Time Vault
1x Inkwell Leviathan
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Yawgmoth's Will
1x Tendrils of Agony
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Brainstorm
4x Force of Will
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Rebuild
1x Chain of Vapor
2x Intuition
1x Fact or Fiction
4x Mana Drain
1x Gifts Ungiven
4x Accumulated Knowledge
2x Repeal
1x Misdirection
1x Thirst for Knowledge
1x Tinker
1x Merchant Scroll
1x Timetwister
1x Time Walk
4x Polluted Delta
3x Island
1x Swamp
1x Tolarian Academy
1x Scalding Tarn
4x Underground Sea
1x Darkblast
2x Hurkyl's Recall
1x Massacre
2x Mystic Remora
1x Slaughter Pact
2x Mindbreak Trap
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Ravenous Trap
2x Extirpate
2x Yixlid Jailer
3 Flooded Strand
3 Island
3 Polluted Delta
1 Tolarian Academy
3 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
// Spells
4 Accumulated Knowledge
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Black Lotus
1 Brainstorm
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Fact or Fiction
4 Force of Will
2 Intuition
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
4 Mana Drain
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Rebuild
1 Sol Ring
1 Tendrils of Agony
3 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Time Walk
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Mana Vault
1 Dark Ritual
1 Recoup
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Ponder
As proposed by Cody on July 14th.
I just want to shuffle up and beat on a elf deck for awhile lol.
Maindeck:
Artifacts
1 Black Lotus (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Lotus Petal (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Mox Emerald (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Mox Jet (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Mox Ruby (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Mox Sapphire (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Sensei's Divining Top
Creatures
2 Dark Confidant
Enchantments
1 Fastbond (Restricted in Vintage)
Instants
1 Ancestral Recall (Restricted in Vintage)
4 Brainstorm (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Chain Of Vapor
4 Force Of Will
4 Gush (Restricted in Vintage)
1 High Tide
2 Mana Drain
1 Mystical Tutor (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Vampiric Tutor (Restricted in Vintage)
Sorceries
1 Demonic Tutor (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Duress
1 Empty The Warrens
4 Merchant Scroll (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Mind's Desire (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Tendrils Of Agony
4 Thoughtseize
1 Time Walk (Restricted in Vintage)
1 Yawgmoth's Will (Restricted in Vintage)
Basic Lands
2 Island
Lands
3 Flooded Strand
1 Library Of Alexandria (Restricted in Vintage)
4 Polluted Delta
2 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
Sideboard:
1 Tormod's Crypt
2 Quirion Dryad
4 Leyline Of The Void
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Extirpate
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Oxidize
2 Red Elemental Blast
1 Trickbind
Any current List?
I know everything seems to be a Grim Tutor build now. I hope someone plays and wins with a current build of Drain~Tendrils. Mana Drain is my fav card in the whole game of MTG {Still have my 1st/only mint playset from back in the day}, and I just want to get them in a deck again outside C.S. which gets pretty boring after awhile.
Don't get my wrong I know how powerful C.S. is, but I was just hoping after that one B/R list other decks would pop out of the wood works using and abusing Drains again.
Well this thread my sleep for awhile because the arch-type is on a bit of short vaccation................. I have the paitents so waiting won't be a problem until it arrives once again.
The downside is that in my tournaments we won't allow proxies, and I don't have any of the P9 :S So decklist won't help much I think...
Let me know,
Javier
I'll post it today as soon as I get home from work...
Javier
- BW Control (Sinkhole, Vindicate, Wasteland, Necro, Bargain, etc.)
- Red Goblins (Lackey, Mutant, Ball Lightning, etc.)
- Artifacts (Goblin Welder and normal stuff)
- Tyrant Oath
This deck works great vs all those... The hardest matchup is Oath if you can't counter it...
1x Tolarian Academy
1x Vault of Whispers (amazing for Tolarian and Tinker)
1x Seat of the Synod (same as the Vault)
2x Polluted Delta
3x Flooded Strand
2x Scrubland
4x Watery Grave (should be Underground River)
2x Swamp
1x Island
Creatures (4):
1x Darksteel Colossus
3x Dark Confidant
Artifacts (5):
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Lotus Petal
1x Mox Diamond
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Gifts Ungiven
4x Force of Will
1x Misdirection
4x Accumulated Knowledge
1x Brainstorm
1x Ponder
1x Tinker
2x Repeal
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Merchant Scroll (thinking of taking this out, it's rarely used)
Black (16):
4x Duress
4x Dark Ritual
2x Tendrils of Agony (1 isn't good at the moment)
1x Necropotence
1x Yawgmoth's Bargain
1x Cabal Ritual
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Yawgmoth's Will
1x Balance (really helpful against Aggro and Control decks)
I don't have a sideboard at the moment, because we play casually...
Javier
No intuition? If your not running intuition, don't bother with accumulated knowledge.
How are the dark confidants working for you?
I think that balance is more of a sideboard card since it is nearly useless vs another storm deck, or even against welder, since your running bob.
No ancestral recall?
Do you think minds desire is a possible card for the deck? I tried Drain tendrils with Mind's Desire in it. It was kinda nice. It was OP -1 Duress + Mind's Desire.
No artifact bounce?
No time walk?
EDIT:Nevermind about the power nine stuff.
I'm having a hard time getting 2 of these. As soon as I get them they'll go in for that Merchant Scroll and something more...
Amazing, it's the key of the deck IMO, at least these one... You get that boy on the table and the card advantage is great...
The Balance is a card I run as a meta, you can change it to adpt yours.
I've tried it, as I tried Memory Jar... And the real deal with those 2 is that they cost too much... Once the combo is on the run (either with Bargain, Will, Necro or Dark + AK) you can't afford that 6/5 mana, I always finished the game without casting those 2...
Again, meta call...
------------
Javier
what is your strategy against welder anyways?
Besides getting your FoW in hand for him, having a Repeal before he can use it's ability, or going off before he can go off... There's not much more...
A FoW is almost essential in this matchup, but in Vintage, that's not weird...
I usually go off between 3rd and 5th turn... Versus control (with a lot of discard) it takes longer because you loose a lot of cards and your topdecking becomes a huge part
Maggical
If you consider this things is not:
- I'm not playing any P9 cards... My meta isn't playing those either.
- With this deck you control the game until you explode.
Maggical
2x Underground Sea
2x Tropical Island
3x Polluted Delta
1x Tolarian Academy
2x Flooded Strand
1x Library of Alexandria
2x Volcanic Island
2x Island
Artifact {11}
1x Black Lotus
1x Lotus Petal
5x Moxen
1x Mana Crypt
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Memory Jar
1x Darksteel Colossus
3x Tarmogofy
Spell {30}
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Brainstorm
1x Fact or Fiction
4x Force of Will
4x Thirst for Knowledge
4x Mana Drain
4x Repeal
1x Rebuild
1x Tinker
1x Mechant Scroll
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Gifts Ungiven
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Yawgmoth's Will
1x Tendrils of Agony
1x Empty the Warrens
1x Regrowth
2x Oxidize
4x Leyline of the Void
1x Extripate
1x Pyroclasm
1x Rack and Ruin
4x Thoughtseize
1x Hurkyl's Recall
1x Chain of Vapor
Maggical
I don't think I'm changing anything after the beat down I've been giving of late, and I can't wait until I can find a local Tournement.
Yes Maggical that's exactly what I'm doing. Play out my turns, and using the Goyfs for a Beat-down! 5 spells is all I need med-game for the end result.