Ok guys, any new developments? For now I am still running a creatureless list very similar to what was posted above. I tried playing Risk Factors, but they didn't prove very useful against the aggression in the meta. Golgari still is troublesome with all the recursion - even if I kill Carnage Tyrant once, he gets back to the board very quickly and I can't really imagine playing multiple Star of Extinctions in the deck which relies on planeswalkers. Niv-Mizzet,Parun is also laughably bad in the matchup, The Eldest Reborn and Ravenous Chupacabra are insanely good versus him. Basically what seems to be the only hope versus Carny T is the Detection Tower and Beacon Bolt or Ral, Izzet Viceroy allowing you to hit the dino multiple times. The problem is that then it's hard to deal with the Vraskas, which can be dropped after you tap out. Basically the only way seems to be firing multiple burn spells on them or killing them with Expansion // Explosion or Banefire.
I am still considering running Inescapable Blaze for instant speed strong burn, but it's very clunky at 6 mana. Fight with Fire and Explosion are much more versatile. Banefire is still of course very good out of the sideboard. Besides, I really like how Jaya Ballard performs and she has great synergy with sorcery spells. You can easily drop her and remove something with Lightning Strike or Fight with fire or cast Chemister's Insight for U. In later turns adding 3 to the X in explosions is just gravy. Also the ultimate just wins, barring some graveyard hate. Filtering up to 3 dead cards is also very good, and so is pitching some jump-start cards which are dead at the moment.
Shock, because it can burn walkers and players. Shivan Fire is good, but is completely dead vs teferi creatureless builds. Shock can finish off a Teferi who just tucked Ral or Firemind's Research. Second game you probably side them out anyway. Actually Risk Factors are very good in control matchups, they either take damage and that puts pressure on them, or give us three cards, or waste counters on it,leaving them at a disadvantage in future counter wars.
What about an alternative wincon? In this controlling shell we could easily run Naru Meha, Master Wizard. It is known from its combo potential with flickering spells for generating mana and drawing the library.
Usually there are some deader cards though. I run 4 fiery cannonades which are excellent Jump-start fodder in many matchups, as well as Radical Ideas which I often use to jump-start Chemister's Insight. I do not run Risk Factors in my version though - maybe I should do it for a more burn-oriented approach. The thing is that I noticed that Ral, if he ults, wins by itself and any previous damage is incosequential - you can burn the opponent from 30 hp in a single turn with the shocks, lightning strikes, mission briefings, radical ideas and so on. I think it's quite nice to be creatureless, and then bring the heavy hitters in from the sideboard. Possibly it would be nice to run an aggressive wizard shell (or midrange drakes shell) first game, and then go creatureless control in the later games, since a lot of spells don't change - you still want the shocks and lightning strikes and draw spells, you can just board out creatures for more countermagic and burn and perhaps some specific answers like detection tower+Ral/Beacon Bolt to kill Carnage Tyrants (or Star of Extinction :D). Vance's Blasting Cannons seem very nice versus slow decks too, as well as Azor's Gateway (but it's not so easy to get all 5 different CMC's exiled). Primal Talisman might actually be great here to make spells cheaper (and stay creatureless), and later copy those Explosions and Banefires, or even some less gamechanging spells. Mirari Conjecture seems nice too!
Hm, what about The Mirari Conjecture as a possible wincon? We could also run Jaya Ballard alongside Ral. I'm looking for other noncreature wincons as just Ral might not be enough (Unmoored Ego, Ixalan's Binding), and Firemind's Research is very slow. I know some people were running Azor's Gateway as a way to cast huge Explosions, but that was in Jeskai. We don't have lifegain in UR, so that might be a problem. Going Grixis or Jeskai might be necessary for that to work well. Thousand-Year Storm? That also requires lots of mana.
Maybe Vance's Blasting Cannons as a way to slowly burn them out? Similarly to how control decks in Innistrad's age used Nephalia Drownyard and Stensia Bloodhall. There's still Chandra, Bold Pyromancer, which adds inevitability with constant pings, but she's quite expensive at 6 mana (it's just 1 more than Ral though). Sarkhan, Dragonsoul seems rather weak, while Sarkhan, Fireblood doesn't really make any sense if we don't run Niv-Mizzet (or other dragons). With a splash of black Angrath, the Flame-Chained would be a contender. I don't consider Nicol Bolas, as he's partially a creature in his most recent incarnation. Karn, Scion of Urza doesn't really win by himself.
Expansion // Explosion has been quite good. The modality is what makes the card - I am not sure it would be worth playing if it was just Explosion. It's situational, it can clog your hand versus aggro, but then again I made use of it even in the RDW matchups. Expansion can copy burn spells, killing their creatures, it's great in counter wars when you fight to keep that Teferi off the board, it can copy ramp (Circuitous Route) or other removal (Vraska's Contempt, Assassin's Trophy, Cast Down, Price of Fame, though the last two are pretty dead against my list, but it's relevant for the lists running drakes, Niv and possibly Nezahal), as well as give you the win when you chain spellcasts with resolved Ral's ultimate. Expansion usually acts as lategame removal or goes to the dome for the finish. It's been good. Could it be replaced by something better? I have no idea. Banefire comes to mind, which I do have in the sideboard - but I haven't played any Bo3 yet.
Squee and Mare definitely look interesting, but that would be transformation towards aggro. Squee could be getting tucked by Teferi, losing some of his stickiness - but he could still get back every or every second turn with the amount of draw this deck has. This wouldn't be the best use of Teferi's loyalty... I think he'd be a contender. Lightning mare just seems very fragile, but it does get past Nezahal and Izzet drakes. Niv just pings it off and it dies to every single piece of removal and every board clear. Might be hard to protect, but has the ability to close out games much faster than Squee (and leaves you with mana tapped). But as I said, no Bo3 experience so far. Going the aggro route could definitely catch some people off-guard.
Fight with Fire has the problem of being a 3 mana sorcery speed removal. I think Lava Coil is better as removal because it's one mana cheaper. Quite often on turn three you want to leave mana open to be able to counter that pesky Nullhide Ferox or Vine Mare when you are on the draw. Lava Coil does kill the Steel Leaf Champion in case it resolved T2 off of Llanowar Elves, with Fight with Fire you'd take more damage. Unless you want to run both - but then what to cut? I could see getting rid of Expansion // Explosion, as both cards can double as both removal and wincons. That could improve the aggro matchup, but worsen the control matchup as you lose that additional edge in counter wars as well as a source of draw.
Well, since I really like both Ral and Niv-Mizzet (lore-wise), I was excited to try them out on MTG Arena in an Izzet control shell. After reading through this topic and playing some games with the deck running 2 copies of Niv-Mizzet, Parun and two Ral, Izzet Viceroys as well as 3 Enigma Drakes and 4 Crackling Drakes I decided it would be better to try going creatureless rendering lots of removal useless (though still for black and green both Vraska's Contempt and Assassin's Trophy are very much alive...) Since just 3 copies of Ral is not enough wincons I decided to add two Firemind's Research.
Since I'm new to MTGA I do not have all the cards - I will get to 4 copies of Steam Vents/Sulfur Falls. Second Detection Tower would albo be nice versus Carnage Tyrant and possibly other hexproof threats. Since first game creature removal is useless, siding in the creature threats from the board should be strong in Bo3 matches. So far the deck looks decent in Constructed Events (Best of 1). This format is played until 3 losses or 7 wins. In three runs I went 6-3, 0-3 (or possibly 1-3), 7-2 (or 7-1, don't remember). I could have played the first two matches better in the second series, last one I got mana screwed and beaten down by Simic Merfolks)
4 copies of Cannonade is good versus aggro and versus other decks it's often simply jump-start fodder. Firemind's Research has been surprisingly good versus Dimir control decks (discard shenanigans) thanks to the steady stream of draw it provides, especially since counter wars produce so many charge counters. Even when they tucked with Teferi I've been able to kill him in response, which is great. I think the deck also has decent matchups versus Jeskai/Azorius control. I've been able to beat Teferi decks multiple times by patient play, usually winning with Ral's ultimate, sometimes with some help of the Firemind's Research burn.
Biggest problem so far have been explosive starts by aggressive decks (double or triple consecutive casts of History of Benalia, especially when I got no Cannonade in hand) and green stompy decks when they draw well, but I guess this is the case for everyone. I probably should introduce some answers for artifact threats (Immortal Sun could really screw this deck over), but so far I've run into none. Goblin Cratermaker could be decent from the sideboard. Of course, as always for UR, enchantments are a problem as we have no answers for them if they resolve. But I've been surprised by how well the deck was doing.
Possibly the deck could run a transformational sideboard towards an aggro wizards deck with Adeliz or tempo Drakes. I think it really has potential, especially since this list isn't refined.
You have no answer to Carnage Tyrant except for Time of Ice, which just buys you three turns - usually not enough to win. How do you deal with this threat?
If you have two creatures and one has runechanter's pike, and you cast a spell this turn, you can swing with both Cyclops and the other creature, and since the other deals damage in the first strike phase, cipher spell gets cast first and cyclops gets pumped and deals more damage
I don't care if this card is playable or not, the effect just oozes awesomeness and flavor... Also, the art is amazing..
Just... Imagine it... A row of vigilant soldiers stands tall against incoming wave of goblins, and then ZZZZAP, huge flux of magic passes through them and they all TURN INTO FREAKING DRAGONS :D:D Just so awesome
I guess it could be Burn at the Stake 5-8 in token storm decks ^^
I am still considering running Inescapable Blaze for instant speed strong burn, but it's very clunky at 6 mana. Fight with Fire and Explosion are much more versatile. Banefire is still of course very good out of the sideboard. Besides, I really like how Jaya Ballard performs and she has great synergy with sorcery spells. You can easily drop her and remove something with Lightning Strike or Fight with fire or cast Chemister's Insight for U. In later turns adding 3 to the X in explosions is just gravy. Also the ultimate just wins, barring some graveyard hate. Filtering up to 3 dead cards is also very good, and so is pitching some jump-start cards which are dead at the moment.
What about an alternative wincon? In this controlling shell we could easily run Naru Meha, Master Wizard. It is known from its combo potential with flickering spells for generating mana and drawing the library.
Maybe Vance's Blasting Cannons as a way to slowly burn them out? Similarly to how control decks in Innistrad's age used Nephalia Drownyard and Stensia Bloodhall. There's still Chandra, Bold Pyromancer, which adds inevitability with constant pings, but she's quite expensive at 6 mana (it's just 1 more than Ral though). Sarkhan, Dragonsoul seems rather weak, while Sarkhan, Fireblood doesn't really make any sense if we don't run Niv-Mizzet (or other dragons). With a splash of black Angrath, the Flame-Chained would be a contender. I don't consider Nicol Bolas, as he's partially a creature in his most recent incarnation. Karn, Scion of Urza doesn't really win by himself.
Expansion // Explosion has been quite good. The modality is what makes the card - I am not sure it would be worth playing if it was just Explosion. It's situational, it can clog your hand versus aggro, but then again I made use of it even in the RDW matchups. Expansion can copy burn spells, killing their creatures, it's great in counter wars when you fight to keep that Teferi off the board, it can copy ramp (Circuitous Route) or other removal (Vraska's Contempt, Assassin's Trophy, Cast Down, Price of Fame, though the last two are pretty dead against my list, but it's relevant for the lists running drakes, Niv and possibly Nezahal), as well as give you the win when you chain spellcasts with resolved Ral's ultimate. Expansion usually acts as lategame removal or goes to the dome for the finish. It's been good. Could it be replaced by something better? I have no idea. Banefire comes to mind, which I do have in the sideboard - but I haven't played any Bo3 yet.
Squee and Mare definitely look interesting, but that would be transformation towards aggro. Squee could be getting tucked by Teferi, losing some of his stickiness - but he could still get back every or every second turn with the amount of draw this deck has. This wouldn't be the best use of Teferi's loyalty... I think he'd be a contender. Lightning mare just seems very fragile, but it does get past Nezahal and Izzet drakes. Niv just pings it off and it dies to every single piece of removal and every board clear. Might be hard to protect, but has the ability to close out games much faster than Squee (and leaves you with mana tapped). But as I said, no Bo3 experience so far. Going the aggro route could definitely catch some people off-guard.
Fight with Fire has the problem of being a 3 mana sorcery speed removal. I think Lava Coil is better as removal because it's one mana cheaper. Quite often on turn three you want to leave mana open to be able to counter that pesky Nullhide Ferox or Vine Mare when you are on the draw. Lava Coil does kill the Steel Leaf Champion in case it resolved T2 off of Llanowar Elves, with Fight with Fire you'd take more damage. Unless you want to run both - but then what to cut? I could see getting rid of Expansion // Explosion, as both cards can double as both removal and wincons. That could improve the aggro matchup, but worsen the control matchup as you lose that additional edge in counter wars as well as a source of draw.
3 Ral, Izzet Viceroy
2 Firemind's Research
2 Expansion // Explosion
Removal (13):
3 Shock
2 Lava Coil
3 Lightning Strike
4 Fiery Cannonade
1 Beacon Bolt
Counters (9):
2 Essence Scatter
2 Negate
1 Devious Cover-Up
4 Sinister Sabotage
3 Radical Idea
3 Chemister's Insight
1 Mission Briefing
Lands (24):
8 Island
6 Mountain
4 Izzet Guildgate
2 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
1 Detection Tower
2 Niv-Mizzet, Parun
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
1 Dream Eater
2 Shivan Fire
1 Lightning Strike
2 Fight with Fire
3 Banefire
1 Star of Extinction
1 Expansion // Explosion
1 Lava Coil
Since I'm new to MTGA I do not have all the cards - I will get to 4 copies of Steam Vents/Sulfur Falls. Second Detection Tower would albo be nice versus Carnage Tyrant and possibly other hexproof threats. Since first game creature removal is useless, siding in the creature threats from the board should be strong in Bo3 matches. So far the deck looks decent in Constructed Events (Best of 1). This format is played until 3 losses or 7 wins. In three runs I went 6-3, 0-3 (or possibly 1-3), 7-2 (or 7-1, don't remember). I could have played the first two matches better in the second series, last one I got mana screwed and beaten down by Simic Merfolks)
4 copies of Cannonade is good versus aggro and versus other decks it's often simply jump-start fodder. Firemind's Research has been surprisingly good versus Dimir control decks (discard shenanigans) thanks to the steady stream of draw it provides, especially since counter wars produce so many charge counters. Even when they tucked with Teferi I've been able to kill him in response, which is great. I think the deck also has decent matchups versus Jeskai/Azorius control. I've been able to beat Teferi decks multiple times by patient play, usually winning with Ral's ultimate, sometimes with some help of the Firemind's Research burn.
Biggest problem so far have been explosive starts by aggressive decks (double or triple consecutive casts of History of Benalia, especially when I got no Cannonade in hand) and green stompy decks when they draw well, but I guess this is the case for everyone. I probably should introduce some answers for artifact threats (Immortal Sun could really screw this deck over), but so far I've run into none. Goblin Cratermaker could be decent from the sideboard. Of course, as always for UR, enchantments are a problem as we have no answers for them if they resolve. But I've been surprised by how well the deck was doing.
Possibly the deck could run a transformational sideboard towards an aggro wizards deck with Adeliz or tempo Drakes. I think it really has potential, especially since this list isn't refined.
There's still Planar Cleansing and Terminus
They are both uncommon I think.
Glimpse the Future, 2U
Sorcery
Look at three, take one, rest into grave...
Sounds good, let's look at Innistrad now
Forbidden Alchemy, 2U
Instant
Look at four, take one, rest into grave.
Flashback 6B.
Really?
It's fringe though
I don't care if this card is playable or not, the effect just oozes awesomeness and flavor... Also, the art is amazing..
Just... Imagine it... A row of vigilant soldiers stands tall against incoming wave of goblins, and then ZZZZAP, huge flux of magic passes through them and they all TURN INTO FREAKING DRAGONS :D:D Just so awesome
I guess it could be Burn at the Stake 5-8 in token storm decks ^^