Love the theory crafting, but actual play is unfortunately very boring
I am enjoying it. I find Jarad to be better with relentless rats than the apostles. I can imagine it getting repetitive. My combo based version seems to be less repetitive than I imagined however. There is so many different synergies and combos to be found. I actually about to place the order now when I decide on a final list.
Ok, well that I can help you with. In case of exile: Pull from Eternity or Riftsweeper. Destruction: Regrowth-type effects (to recover from bin). In case of tuck or not drawing them: tutor effects (to find and refind).
As always, the hard part is finding things to take out for these cards...
How good is Mana Echoes? You don't have many ways to abuse big amounts of colorless mana, so it seems to me, that Echoes could be useless at times.
Mana Echoes helps if I am in the middle of the Thrumming Stone / Bloodbond March sheniangians and I Sacrifice the apostles for Harvester of Souls and "cascade",so to speak, and sacrifice until I hit a wincon. At that point, I am going to be running low on mana most of the time. Like you said, it is useless at times though. I will consider taking it out for something. Thank you for your input.
I don't know if cutting Shirei is an optimal choice. Redundancy is necessary in key areas unless you like being crippled by a well placed deck-rape card (cards like Extract, but that actually get played). Having a single point of failure is generally a bad idea. It might help to look at your deck from an engineering standpoint. If there's one card people can attack to make an entire series of combos or synergies collapse, that's bad. As soon as people figure out it's a key piece with no backup, it'll become their first target. And unlike you, they may not hesitate to share this information (they may even realize it here).
Door of Destinies only triggers on casting, so it may under-perform for you. Coat of Arms cuts both ways, but it's more consistent (and instant gratification). However, it would seem survival is not important for you so Shared Animosity would almost certainly serve your purpose.
I agree about the redundancy point. However, if I am going to be running Coat of Arms and the other anthems, Shirei wont be able to his/her thing. Also Door of Destinies does work on Thrumming Stone triggers.
As for the engineering standpoint, If Thrumming Stone and/or Bloodbond March is removed, my deck is almost if not dead in the water. It just happens that the deck is that reliant on those cards. That is the obvious weakest link so to speak and I don't really know how to fix that.
If those were not in consideration, I wouldn't even be running the apostles. That is the theme of the deck and I don't want to deviate from it too much.
Now, that doesn't mean I'm open to changing it to make it more redundant. It just is that is the main combo of the deck.
You will often find people view the deck and not make a comment as they do not have any constructive criticism. Personally I can see what you are doing and I like that it is different than what I have seen done with Shadowborn Apostle My only suggestions would be look into things like Eldrazi Monument. Some other Big finishers that may help you out is creatures like Vulturous Zombie and Deathbringer Thoctar
That's done it, much better. You should get a better response now.
I was wondering why I was getting so many views with no responses. What did it look like before? I think autocard anywhere was the reason why it appeared normal to me...
For the sanity of others, could you please put a "1 " infront of each card without a number already in front of it? That's how the deck tags are supposed to be used. Makes for much easier reading.
Of course, this is my first post so I'm not used to the formatting yet. It looks fine from my end. I will fix it though. My apologies.
Hello ladies and gentlemen, this is my first deck listing on MTGS, so forgive me for formatting errors. This is my latest version of the shadowborn apostle deck. At first it was just demon tribal, but then I realized the combo potential of the shadowborn apostles. This is just a quick list that I threw together and tested a bit. I hope y'all like it and I will always accept suggestions.
This one might be a bit confusing. You get Thrumming Stone, Bloodbond March, and Goblin Bombardment or Vicious Shadows out on the field. All you have to do is cast a Apostle and "cascade" for like of a better word through your deck. In between bloodbond triggers, you sac all the apostles on the field to deal damage to your opponents. This also works with Purphoros or blood artist or another damage dealer. Even Extractor demon would work which you can tutor for through the apostles. This does not kill the entire table all the time but the possibility is there. This is the main combo of the deck most of the time. Add Nantuko Shrine for extra style.
There's a ton of combos and synergies that intertwine with each other and it's hard to differentiate ones to post.
I will be updating the post with the synergies and combos of the deck.
1 Shirei OUT
1 Lifeline IN
I'm wanting to try out Lifeline. The obvious downside is that it effects everybody. I would be able to return a demon back to the field which is nice.
Have you noticed any speed or performance issues on that as compared to a win native machine? (Shouldn't be right?)
I've been contemplating getting a Linux laptop for some time now since being able to play MTGO in the kitchen/living room would be a lot better when the kids are awake than when I'm in my cave.
I've ran a virtual machine before, I could do basically anything but game on it. Of course you can't expect the same speed as a normal machine, but I don't think it would be an issue. I would do the virtual machine setup if I had a dedicated linux box. I just dual boot right now so really no point.
I just use MTGOTraders most of the time. You can shop around and save a few cents but I've grown to dislike having partial credits spread out among bots. MTGO Library is good at getting a price snapshot, though.
It's quite possible, I just wonder if the current team at WOTC are capable of it.
I think they need to realise that the client/server side has to be done by an actual development studio, with close collaboration with the people from WOTC.
I think they need to outsource it personally, I know that would be costly but it would be worth it for them in the long run.
I am enjoying it. I find Jarad to be better with relentless rats than the apostles. I can imagine it getting repetitive. My combo based version seems to be less repetitive than I imagined however. There is so many different synergies and combos to be found. I actually about to place the order now when I decide on a final list.
As always, the hard part is finding things to take out for these cards...
Mana Echoes helps if I am in the middle of the Thrumming Stone / Bloodbond March sheniangians and I Sacrifice the apostles for Harvester of Souls and "cascade",so to speak, and sacrifice until I hit a wincon. At that point, I am going to be running low on mana most of the time. Like you said, it is useless at times though. I will consider taking it out for something. Thank you for your input.
I agree about the redundancy point. However, if I am going to be running Coat of Arms and the other anthems, Shirei wont be able to his/her thing. Also Door of Destinies does work on Thrumming Stone triggers.
As for the engineering standpoint, If Thrumming Stone and/or Bloodbond March is removed, my deck is almost if not dead in the water. It just happens that the deck is that reliant on those cards. That is the obvious weakest link so to speak and I don't really know how to fix that.
If those were not in consideration, I wouldn't even be running the apostles. That is the theme of the deck and I don't want to deviate from it too much.
Now, that doesn't mean I'm open to changing it to make it more redundant. It just is that is the main combo of the deck.
I can afford to run some of the anthem stuff such as Eldrazi Monument and Door of Destinies now that I took out Shirei. Deathbringer Thoctar can get big really quick. I like it. The hardest thing is finding things to take out.
I decided to try out lifeline. It could help my deck more than most decks. I also took out an apostle for 1 Phyrexian Arena
I was wondering why I was getting so many views with no responses. What did it look like before? I think autocard anywhere was the reason why it appeared normal to me...
Of course, this is my first post so I'm not used to the formatting yet. It looks fine from my end. I will fix it though. My apologies.
It should be fixed now.
1 Sek'kuar, Deathkeeper
The Mighty Apostles
31 Shadowborn Apostles
Sacrifice Outlets
1 Perilous Forays (Mana Ramp)
1 Ashnod's Altar (Mana Generation)
1 Phyrexian Altar (Mana Generation)
1 Attrition (Control)
1 Skullclamp (Draw Engine)
1 Goblin Bombardment (Damage)
Sacrifice Token Enablers
1 Xathrid Necromancer
1 Rotlung Reanimator
1 Tooth and Claw
Enter the Battlefield Damage Effects
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
Sacrifice Control Effects
1 Grave Pact
1 Havoc Demon
1 Pestilence Demon
Sacrifice Damage Effects
1 Vicious Shadows
1 Blood Artist
1 Falkenrath Noble
Sacrifice Draw Effects
1 Harvester of Souls
1 Fecundity
1 Extractor Demon
Same Name Effects
1 Thrumming Stone
1 Bloodbond March
1 Nantuko Shrine
Recursion
1 Lifeline
Tutors
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Diabolic Tutor
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
Ramp/Mana Fixing
1 Cultivate
1 Kodama's Reach
1 Expedition Map
1 Chromatic Lantern
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Reflection
1 Mana Echoes
Lands
1 Bayou
1 Badlands
1 Taiga
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Stomping Ground
1 Blood Crypt
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Twilight Mire
1 Graven Cairns
1 Fire-Lit Thicket
1 Woodland Cemetery
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Rootbound Crag
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Command Tower
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Crypt of Agadeem
4 Forest
3 Mountain
5 Swamp
Shadowborn Apostle + Thrumming Stone + Bloodbond March + Goblin Bombardment/Vicious Shadows/Purphoros, God of the forge
This one might be a bit confusing. You get Thrumming Stone, Bloodbond March, and Goblin Bombardment or Vicious Shadows out on the field. All you have to do is cast a Apostle and "cascade" for like of a better word through your deck. In between bloodbond triggers, you sac all the apostles on the field to deal damage to your opponents. This also works with Purphoros or blood artist or another damage dealer. Even Extractor demon would work which you can tutor for through the apostles. This does not kill the entire table all the time but the possibility is there. This is the main combo of the deck most of the time. Add Nantuko Shrine for extra style.
Shadowborn Apostles + Xathrid Necromancer and/or Rotlung Reanimator and/or Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper + Sac Outlet + Vicious Shadows
This one can add up to a ton of damage pretty fast. Throw in a Purphoros for extra damage. This can kill somebody pretty fast.
There's a ton of combos and synergies that intertwine with each other and it's hard to differentiate ones to post.
I will be updating the post with the synergies and combos of the deck.
1 Shirei OUT
1 Lifeline IN
I'm wanting to try out Lifeline. The obvious downside is that it effects everybody. I would be able to return a demon back to the field which is nice.
1 Shadowborn Apostle OUT
1 Phyrexian Arena IN
Trying to add some extra card draw in.
I've ran a virtual machine before, I could do basically anything but game on it. Of course you can't expect the same speed as a normal machine, but I don't think it would be an issue. I would do the virtual machine setup if I had a dedicated linux box. I just dual boot right now so really no point.
I use MTGO Traders as well, I have no complaints.
I think they need to outsource it personally, I know that would be costly but it would be worth it for them in the long run.