So, I'm an old vet who sold off the bulk of his collection years ago who is returning to play casual games very, very infrequently. MBC will always be my favorite archetype, so I've decided to build a deck that attempts to capture the essence of the Odyssey era MBC decks.
However, I've placed a few limitations on deck construction:
1) Legacy B&R list.
2) Nothing too expensive that I don't already own unless it's just too good or irreplaceable.
3) If at all possible, cards with the current card face will be omitted unless it's just too good or irreplaceable. Color me nostalgic.
Nothing too fancy or wildly inventive. Just an efficient, focused, consistent control deck.
I think the manabase is pretty self-explanatory. Factories beat and provide mana, Coffers generates dumb amounts of mana, and Tomb makes the above into Swamps and consequently 100% better. I think 25 is the right number, but 26 might be okay.
Korlash probably isn't the most optimal choice, but I absolutely love the future shifted frame and his art. The fact that he gets really fat for only 4cmc and survives Disk are really, really strong points in his favor, but I do wish he had some kind of evasion or real utility. I tried Tombstalker in this spot and found it to be utterly dreadful. Sheoldred is probably the strongest contender for this slot though honestly her one-sided Abyss might be overkill, but being unblockable is pretty nice. Griselbrand is likely a decent choice, too, but is a bit too pricy $$ and mana wise. I'm not necessarily looking for the most efficient and optimal janitor here, I want to play something with a bit of style.
I went back and forth between Inquisition of Kozilek and Duress for awhile, but I decided that IoK is probably the better pick. Being able to hit creatures is a big deal now with all the ETB effects and whatnot going on. Duress may be a slightly better topdeck mid/lategame, but quite frankly they're both awful topdecks at that point so Duress being the better tasting light beer holds no sway over me.
The removal suite looks kind of overkill at first glance, but there's a method to the madness. Innocent Blood is a no brainer in a deck running few creatures, and Chainer's Edict's flashback gives it the edge over Diabolic Edict. Five mass removal seems like the right choice, and I'm confident with the split. Disk may hit everything but taking a turn to come online means I don't want to rely on it as my mass removal. Mutilate is run because I can't justify spending the money for Damnations, though I do admit it's likely the better card. Consume Spirit is probably subpar, but it stays for nostalgia reasons. Plus, it doubles as a win condition with all of that delicious Coffers mana and helps offset Skeletal Scrying and Phyrexian Arena.
I'm pretty clueless on how to fill in the targeted removal spot. I dislike Doom Blade/Go For the Throat/Ghastly Demise since they're utterly dead draws against some decks, so I'm looking for something a little more universal in application. Right now, I'm leaning towards Smother, but I would like something a little less limited in scope, since the whole point of running the targeted destroyer is to get rid of a particular creature I don't like my opponent having.
Phyrexian Arena needs little justification, and Skeletal Scrying is just amazing. Refilling your hand at the end of your opponent's turn is very hard to turn down, particularly in this deck.
The empty slot I'm really not sure about. It feels strange to not have any tutor effects in MBC, but the Legacy legal tutors leave a lot to be desired. Beseech the Queen is probably the best choice, and since nothing in the deck is above 4cmc odds are good I'd be able to find anything I wanted with it. But man, what a stupid card name. I'd like to run 2 if possible, but I'm not sure what to cut. Maybe a Korlash, since Beseech could just find him when I'm ready to win, but I'm not too crazy about diluting my already low threat density. Maybe an Arena?
Whelp, this has already turned into a wall of text so I'll just stop here. Thanks in advance for any feedback, criticism, or ideas.
However, I've placed a few limitations on deck construction:
1) Legacy B&R list.
2) Nothing too expensive that I don't already own unless it's just too good or irreplaceable.
3) If at all possible, cards with the current card face will be omitted unless it's just too good or irreplaceable. Color me nostalgic.
Anyway, let's get down to business.
15 Swamp
3 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Cabal Coffers
4 Mishra's Factory
Janitors: 3
3 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Hymn to Tourach
Removal: 17
4 Innocent Blood
2 Chainer's Edict
2 1-2cmc targeted removal
3 Mutilate
2 Nevinyrral's Disk
4 Consume Spirit
4 Phyrexian Arena
2 Skeletal Scrying
Empty Slot: 1
1 nothing
Nothing too fancy or wildly inventive. Just an efficient, focused, consistent control deck.
I think the manabase is pretty self-explanatory. Factories beat and provide mana, Coffers generates dumb amounts of mana, and Tomb makes the above into Swamps and consequently 100% better. I think 25 is the right number, but 26 might be okay.
Korlash probably isn't the most optimal choice, but I absolutely love the future shifted frame and his art. The fact that he gets really fat for only 4cmc and survives Disk are really, really strong points in his favor, but I do wish he had some kind of evasion or real utility. I tried Tombstalker in this spot and found it to be utterly dreadful. Sheoldred is probably the strongest contender for this slot though honestly her one-sided Abyss might be overkill, but being unblockable is pretty nice. Griselbrand is likely a decent choice, too, but is a bit too pricy $$ and mana wise. I'm not necessarily looking for the most efficient and optimal janitor here, I want to play something with a bit of style.
I went back and forth between Inquisition of Kozilek and Duress for awhile, but I decided that IoK is probably the better pick. Being able to hit creatures is a big deal now with all the ETB effects and whatnot going on. Duress may be a slightly better topdeck mid/lategame, but quite frankly they're both awful topdecks at that point so Duress being the better tasting light beer holds no sway over me.
The removal suite looks kind of overkill at first glance, but there's a method to the madness. Innocent Blood is a no brainer in a deck running few creatures, and Chainer's Edict's flashback gives it the edge over Diabolic Edict. Five mass removal seems like the right choice, and I'm confident with the split. Disk may hit everything but taking a turn to come online means I don't want to rely on it as my mass removal. Mutilate is run because I can't justify spending the money for Damnations, though I do admit it's likely the better card. Consume Spirit is probably subpar, but it stays for nostalgia reasons. Plus, it doubles as a win condition with all of that delicious Coffers mana and helps offset Skeletal Scrying and Phyrexian Arena.
I'm pretty clueless on how to fill in the targeted removal spot. I dislike Doom Blade/Go For the Throat/Ghastly Demise since they're utterly dead draws against some decks, so I'm looking for something a little more universal in application. Right now, I'm leaning towards Smother, but I would like something a little less limited in scope, since the whole point of running the targeted destroyer is to get rid of a particular creature I don't like my opponent having.
Phyrexian Arena needs little justification, and Skeletal Scrying is just amazing. Refilling your hand at the end of your opponent's turn is very hard to turn down, particularly in this deck.
The empty slot I'm really not sure about. It feels strange to not have any tutor effects in MBC, but the Legacy legal tutors leave a lot to be desired. Beseech the Queen is probably the best choice, and since nothing in the deck is above 4cmc odds are good I'd be able to find anything I wanted with it. But man, what a stupid card name. I'd like to run 2 if possible, but I'm not sure what to cut. Maybe a Korlash, since Beseech could just find him when I'm ready to win, but I'm not too crazy about diluting my already low threat density. Maybe an Arena?
Whelp, this has already turned into a wall of text so I'll just stop here. Thanks in advance for any feedback, criticism, or ideas.
EDIT: Current list:
14 Swamp
3 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Cabal Coffers
1 Unholy Grotto
4 Mishra's Factory
4 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
Discard: 8
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Hymn to Tourach
Removal: 17
4 Innocent Blood
2 Chainer's Edict
2 Smother
3 Mutilate
2 Nevinyrral's Disk
4 Consume Spirit
4 Phyrexian Arena
2 Skeletal Scrying