I would probably take Jarad and one Sign in Blood out and play with 4 Corpsejacks. Despite there being synergy with the sacrifice effect, I can't help but think it's not as good as running something that could double counters everyday. Sign in Blood is alright, but I agree with what hiss says and would think 4 would hamper more than provide gas (sign in blooding into sign in blood is always annoying).
Because Supreme Verdict and Terminus arent enough, against tokens you also have Cyclonic Rift if that ever becomes rampant.
Then black has mutilate, red has bonfire/mizzium mortars. There´s even Planar Cleansing if you havent got enough of it.
Your post is less than baseless.
There's even Divine Reckoning (almost a sweeper... almost) and Blasphemous Act. I agree, I think that there is enough sweepers already in standard to deal with populate and that what wizards might attempt to answer more is zombies/bant control.
This probably sounds funny but I always feel semi-uncomfortable when I see so many 2 ofs in a deck. How is the draw consistency- do you draw the right things when you want to?
I played against a couple of these kind of decks during the pre-release. I was wondering what options could there be to make it at least a little bit of a surprise at an FNM.
The list below isn't perfect for sure... the aim is to race opponents in the early stages whilst later proving to be a bit more combo-ey.
I like it and would agree Centaur Healer is a good, more budget Smiter replacement.
I'm a little unsure on the inclusion of the Avacyn's Pilgrims. With the exception of the Grove of the Guardians ability, you curve out at 3 so they don't add much to the deck in the long run. Maybe replace it with Young Wolf? If you do want mana dorks, I would run 8 instead of 4 and have something to aim for in the long run; maybe a 4-drop like Odric or just the 2-of Wolfir Silverheart?
Well I'm not looking for white weenie, for that I'd probably need to get my hands on honour the pure to beat the other white weenie decks floating around. I get the idea of arbor elf and avacyn's pilgrim, I also like the idea of using silverblade paladin and giving him counters maybe also pairing him to a herald ;). Mikaeus looks awesome but how would would i have to run of him :? Also I havnt seen him played much so I'm guessing he is hard to get hold of? Also where does garruk fit into all this?
Silverblade Paladin is an awesome card and works in many decks but is a little expensive.
Mikaeus is underrated imo. He is mythic so that adds a little extra cost to him but otherwise he's quite cheap and not too hard to get a hold of.
Garruk just seemed a little bit of a misfit to me. Theres probably a more than acceptable strategy where they all jigsaw in but for me Garruk seems an odd fit, especially with the 2GGG cost.
Thats definitely not definitive (they're all post-rotation too). I had a go at making a deck (quite quickly) just to draft up ideas. The mana curve is a bit off (7/9/5/3/7/0/2; converted cmc of 2.8)
I kinda of agree. 8 mill for a hugely mill based strategy isn't enough, 12-14 is about right. 4 Tracker Instincts should do the trick; Mulch only works well in your opening hand and Forbidden Alchemy just isn't effective, especially if it goes straight in the graveyard.
I'm not a fan of ruinator either, it takes a possible 3/3 away from Splinterfright. Nor am I convinced on Triumph of Ferocity.
The most interesting choice here is probably Counterlash which on its own seems incredibly weak. However, with a Leviathan in hand and an opponent attempting to get a creature out, it might just cheat it into play. However, its whether that would:
a) work at all
b) work in a delay-esque (control) engine
c) work in a ramp engine
I do agree probably reanimation is the best way to cheat it out, but blue is arguably the colour most left out when it comes to reanimation.
Its all post-rotation, too. Naturally, things like Skinrender and the like could help here too. And the 1BB, 1UU costs might be hard to make on turn 3.
EDIT: Looking back at it, doesn't seem like enough certain draw.
http://www.starcitygames.com/events/coverage/1267_top_16_standard_decklists.html
What I think is quite surprising is the lack of Rakdos Zombies in the top 16.
There's even Divine Reckoning (almost a sweeper... almost) and Blasphemous Act. I agree, I think that there is enough sweepers already in standard to deal with populate and that what wizards might attempt to answer more is zombies/bant control.
Invisible Stalker seems like a key card; I would probably 4 of him. I'm also unsure on the Shieldmate; Ring of Evos Isle maybe? Curiosity and Divine Favor (hampers aggro) provides more possible auras.
Do you think a mono-black version could work? I could see Murder for Dreadbore but would losing Devil's Play hurt too much?
The list below isn't perfect for sure... the aim is to race opponents in the early stages whilst later proving to be a bit more combo-ey.
Any thoughts?
4x Rakdos Cackler
4x Slitherhead
3x Thrill-Kill Assassin
2x Strangleroot Geist
4x Wild Beastmaster
3x Dreg Mangler
4x Corpsejack Menace
2x Primordial Hydra
1x Death's Presence
3x Ultimate Price
3x Tragic Slip
4x Rancor
LAND (23)
10x Forest
10x Swamp
3x Golgari Guildgate
I'm a little unsure on the inclusion of the Avacyn's Pilgrims. With the exception of the Grove of the Guardians ability, you curve out at 3 so they don't add much to the deck in the long run. Maybe replace it with Young Wolf? If you do want mana dorks, I would run 8 instead of 4 and have something to aim for in the long run; maybe a 4-drop like Odric or just the 2-of Wolfir Silverheart?
G Wreath of Geists
GB Disentomb/Reclaim kind of effect.
B Bone Splitters
Silverblade Paladin is an awesome card and works in many decks but is a little expensive.
Mikaeus is underrated imo. He is mythic so that adds a little extra cost to him but otherwise he's quite cheap and not too hard to get a hold of.
Garruk just seemed a little bit of a misfit to me. Theres probably a more than acceptable strategy where they all jigsaw in but for me Garruk seems an odd fit, especially with the 2GGG cost.
Mana ramp:
Avacyn's Pilgrim, Arbor Elf, Borderland Ranger, Farseek
+1/+1 counters:
Bond Beetle (lol), Timberland Guide, Blessings of Nature, Mikaeus, the Lunarch, Ajani, Caller of the Pride, Travel Preparations, Increasing Savagery, Ring of Thune (or Ring of Kalonia)
Removal:
Fiend Hunter, Oblivion Ring
Other Creatures:
Champion of Lambholt?
Thats definitely not definitive (they're all post-rotation too). I had a go at making a deck (quite quickly) just to draft up ideas. The mana curve is a bit off (7/9/5/3/7/0/2; converted cmc of 2.8)
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
2 Arbor Elf
4 Borderland Ranger
3 Timberland Guide
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Herald of War
2 Angel of Glory's Rise
2 Geist-Honored Monk
1 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
1 Ajani, Big Cat Thing
Spells (10)
2 Farseek
1 Defy Death
3 Travel Preparations
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Ring of Thune
24 Land
Maybe it will give you ideas... but thats what I came up with quickly. I'll probably look back at it in 30 minutes and think its sketchy.
EDIT: Just sure your post above... this ain't that weenie.
I kinda of agree. 8 mill for a hugely mill based strategy isn't enough, 12-14 is about right. 4 Tracker Instincts should do the trick; Mulch only works well in your opening hand and Forbidden Alchemy just isn't effective, especially if it goes straight in the graveyard.
I'm not a fan of ruinator either, it takes a possible 3/3 away from Splinterfright. Nor am I convinced on Triumph of Ferocity.
Nice list though. Oh, and have you considered Kessig Cagebreakers?
3 Augur of Bolas
4 Archaeomancer
4 Stormtide Leviathan
OTHER SPELLS (23)
3 Dissipate
3 Counterlash
2 Negate
3 Tragic Slip
2 Tribute to Hunger
4 Murder
3 Think Twice
3 Killing Wave
11 Island
9 Swamp
2 Evolving Wilds
4 Drowned Catacombs
The most interesting choice here is probably Counterlash which on its own seems incredibly weak. However, with a Leviathan in hand and an opponent attempting to get a creature out, it might just cheat it into play. However, its whether that would:
a) work at all
b) work in a delay-esque (control) engine
c) work in a ramp engine
I do agree probably reanimation is the best way to cheat it out, but blue is arguably the colour most left out when it comes to reanimation.
Its all post-rotation, too. Naturally, things like Skinrender and the like could help here too. And the 1BB, 1UU costs might be hard to make on turn 3.
EDIT: Looking back at it, doesn't seem like enough certain draw.