Certainly worth considering - might test that. You get the extra Shock from your land, which most often is a feature, not a bug. The main drawback is its casting cost: UU. Since lists normally run two Blood Crypts and a Swamp, there is a fair chance that you won't be able to cast it in a lot of games. Something like Censor might be interesting 'cuz you can cycle it when it's bad, and most players don't "play around Daze." (I wish Miscalculation were legal.) It could alter people's play patterns if you get them with it in game 1, in which case you could even board it out because it will have accomplished its mission. But running Censor seems pretty loose in general.
4-0d a local yesterday, going 8-1 in games against RG TitanShift twice, UR Kiln Fiend, and Boros Burn. I wanted to test a few cards, so my list is gonna look like a bit of a pile. But I'm curious what people think of some of the choices:
Flashfreeze was a meta call, as I saw a ton of red decks in the room. I didn't see it once, so it's probably unnecessary. But it would've been good at any time.
I saw Mana Leak a ton, so at least I got good info. It countered a turn 3 Chameleon Colossus, an Eidolon, and a crucial blocker in Sakura Tribe-Elder, which the fourth Stubborn Denial would not have been able to do. It also forced one of my RG opponents to search up Wood Elves instead of Primeval Titan with Summoner's Pact because he saw Mana Leak game 1 and wanted to play around it. There was only one instance where I wanted it to be a Stubborn Denial or the second Inquisition of Kozilek. Sure, small sample size, but being able to deal with creatures on the stack is, I think, worth talking about. It's also nice in game 2, when you have Pyromancer instead of a Delve threat and need to counter something when they're playing around Stubborn Denial. Perhaps it's awkward when you have OG Lili, but that's true of Denial, too. Not saying Mana Leak is a slam dunk, but I was more impressed with it than I thought I'd be.
No Surgical with Pyromancers in the board might be a mistake, but I like the versatility of a card like Rakdos Charm because I can bring it in against Dredge, Affinity, and even EldraziTron. I also might want to add another sweeper effect in most metas.
Another question I had is about my sideboard plan. I think I did something like this:
Out: -3 Fatal Push, -1 Lightning Bolt, -1 Terminate, -1 Sleight of Hand, -1 Kolaghan's Command
In: +2 Young Pyromancer, +2 Temur Battle Rage, +1 Stubborn Denial, +1 Collective Brutality, +1 Flashfreeze (or Countersquall, which is normally in my sideboard)
In hindsight, boarding out the K-Command is probably a mistake, but I didn't think I'd get a ton of great 2-for-1 opportunities with it because I did't think the matchup is really about card advantage. But having another card that makes them discard seems worth it if you can get them hellbent. So I'd probably take out something else instead of K-Command.
Hey, y'all, longtime Legacy player slowly working my way back into Modern. I have a question about sideboarding with the discard package. Coming from Legacy Delver/Czech Pile/DeathBlade, discard's role in that format is often clear: typically to fight combo, sometimes Stoneforge Mystic, sometimes Stompy decks that play cards you can't beat, etc. You generally leave your Thoughtseizes in the board in Delver mirrors, for example, because it's tempo negative to play discard and is a poor topdeck. Yet Thoughtseize's role in Shadow decks is also to turn on the namesake card. It's still a bad draw late game, but the card has more utility in this archetype. How often are you leaving in your discard in fair matchups? On the play, do you leave in all six copies? I've been shaving my Inquisitions on the draw, but I don't know if this is correct (or if I should be taking out more copies in fair matchups in general). I feel playing with discard in this deck is a major leak in my game that I need to shore up, so thanks for accommodating a n00b question!
Hey guys, played my first Modern tournament in three years last night and went 3-0, then split the finals. I beat Infect, Grixis Delver (w/ Pyros), and Affinity. Here was my list:
I loved the glut of removal but thought there was a tad too much countermagic. I also felt it could've used one more threat, so I see why people are moving toward Pyros. I don't want to shave on business to play Probes, though. Can the deck support a fifth Delve dude? The second Angler sounds appealing, as Tasigur was an all-star all night. Any other creature candidates out there, or could I get away with running 2-3 Pyros without Probes?
Rakdos Charm was awesome, killing two Cranial Platings in one game. For me it'll take the Vandalblast slot in some sideboards because it doubles as Dredge hate. The rest of my sideboard is definitely up for debate. Hero's Downfall was fine, too. BB took a little work to manage, but it beat tapping out for something like Dreadbore.
Since I'm thinking about playing five Delve creatures, I don't think I can go below ten fetchlands; therefore, I'm not sure if I can afford to play a ton of Spirebluff Canals. I'm going to try one at first, then add more as necessary.
I'd love to get feedback on the list, notably the sideboard and the creature suite.
Hey, y'all, longtime Legacy player looking to get into Modern. I play mostly 4C Delver in Legacy, so I thought I'd give Grixis a shot and was wondering if you could help me with my first list. Reading Overturf's content has helped a lot and informed many of my choices. I have no idea what my local meta (L.A.) is like, so here's my first draft:
Given that Grafdigger's Cage is over ten bucks now, I assume Dredge is a formidable threat. So I'm packing three pieces of graveyard hate but don't know if the ones I chose are good. I figured Nihil Spellbomb can fight opposing Snapcaster Mages need be and at least cantrips. Maybe Surgical Extraction is better. Anger of the Gods should probably be a second Engineered Explosives, but I only own one. Plus I figured it's gotta be decent against Dredge, too. Is Crumble to Dust too slow at 3R?
And in Overturf's last sideboarding article, he championed Fulminator Mage to do double duty against Tron and Celestial Colonnade decks. Seeing as I devoted those three slots to graveyard hate, I decided to play a singleton maindeck Hero's Downfall, which can kill Nahiri and Colonnade at instant speed and perhaps deal with a resolved Karn/Ugin. Maybe that's too narrow, but again, I don't know the metagame well enough to know if it's a good choice or not.
That's why I proposed a Cabal Therapy + Lingering Souls/Squadron Hawk list, WhiteMorphious. I haven't played the Stoneblade archetype, though, so I can't speak from any experience. I just wanted to see if it was worth pursuing.
Neat list, Snickelfritz. Let me know how it's been for you. I'm curious to see how a deck like this deals with tempo decks like Delver, seeing as the Enlightened Tutor engine can be a little slow. The potential for CounterTop alongside ThopterSword intrigues me, though.
I tried one Liliana of the Veil in the main and one in the sideboard of my Tezzerator list and found it to be powerful if I could cast it, which wasn't as consistently as I would've liked. I wouldn't cut a main-deck sweeper for Liliana, though. I'm running a Toxic Deluge and wouldn't leave home without it. I've been running one Trading Post in the main as well, as it can't be Abrupt Decayed and has versatility in my very fair metagame. When it's bad, I just board it out.
Hey, y'all, brand new to Stoneblade - I'm a Tezzerator player. I wanted to theory-craft a little and run a Blade list by you guys. It leans on Squadron Hawk plus Cabal Therapy and equipment.
This deck makes lots of critters to either suit up with equipment or sacrifice to strip cards from the opponent's hand with Cabal Therapy. The blue card count (14 + 3 Force of Will) might be a little low, but it may work. Council's Judgment perhaps could be Detention Sphere - a blue card - but I like that Judgment doesn't target, providing an answer to opposing True-Name Nemesis and threats like Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. I also think the deck can get away with only two Swords to Plowshares because of the four Baleful Strix. I'm not sure which Sword to play. Sword of Fire and Ice makes sense against an average meta, but Sword of Light and Shadow might be effective in that it allows me to recycle sacrificed creatures and provides protection against opposing Batterskulls and Swords to Plowshares. (Disclosure: *lots* of Death 'n' Taxes in my meta.) Again, this is just a rough sketch. And is one Gitaxian Probe a waste? Should it be, say, a Spell Pierce or a Ponder? I'd love to hear people's thoughts.
Again, just something to get a conversation started. The mana base can probably be optimized. I'm just guessing 20 lands is fine, but I may be one off in either direction. Notably absent is a Stoneforge Mystic package. I could be swayed to include it, but I think people are prepared to beat Batterskull. The power level of the creatures is relatively low, so perhaps a couple haymakers - even something like Mirran Crusader - is necessary.
No sideboard yet because I haven't tested it. But I'd guess it could consist of some of the following:
Thanks for the link, BasqueRootwalla. I feel, though, that the two decks are trying to win in very different ways. My idea is more of a tempo/control deck that chips away at the opponent's life total while stripping cards out of her hand and/or preventing her from casting them. It's also less susceptible to artifact hate, packs more permission and could potentially run Brainstorm. The two lists share a few cards, for sure, but I think the games play out much differently.
Hey, y'all, I was curious about exploring an idea that uses Æther Vial to crank out dudes that disrupt the hand and packs permission. It's essentially a meld of Death 'n' Taxes and Merfolk, but I'm unsure about which direction to take a list. Here's a skeleton of the core (but PLEASE chime in with critiques):
- Stoneforge Mystic package: with equipment in the deck, perhaps cards like Squadron Hawk and/or Spellstutter Sprite become playable in this Hate Bears-style list. Having lots of bodies to sacrifice to Cabal Therapy or equip with an Umezawa's Jitte or Sword of X and Y seems plausible. Maybe even Lingering Souls would work as a sideboard card in grind-ier matchups. Perhaps it's too cute, I dunno.
- Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and/or Spirit of the Labyrinth: unsure about the former because of the countermagic in the deck. Perhaps it's a sideboard card in a list like this. As for the latter, I guess it depends on whether I'd run Brainstorms or not. Seeing as it's most likely three colors, fetches would be mandatory. So if there's space, I'd certainly include the best draw spell in Legacy. Perhaps I could skimp on Swords to Plowshares to make room for them.
- Mirran Crusader and/or True-Name Nemesis: if there's a Stoneforge package, some number of either of these should be in the deck - most likely TNN, seeing as it's blue and could pitch to Force of Will.
- Dark Confidant: if I don't run Brainstorm (which I'm not sure I'd have room for), he and Baleful Strix would provide powerful card advantage. Flipping a Force of Will feels bad, though.
- Jace, the Mind Sculptor: increase the curve and provide a non-creature win condition(?)
Perhaps a deck like this isn't viable because its mana is less consistent and can't be entirely devoted to disrupting opposing mana bases. There's probably room for at least a couple Wastelands, though.
- I'm gonna try Darkwater Catacombs, as I don't see any drawback with the absence of 1-cost spells in the maindeck.
- I took out Tezzeret the Seeker in favor of a second Jace, the Mind Sculptor - seems right.
- My metagame is very fair - lots of Jund, DnT, Delver, etc. - so Go for the Throat could be excellent. I like it better than Engineered Explosives in this list because I can't always EE for 3. (Knight of the Reliquary is in my meta.)
- I'm going with Toxic Deluge over Damnation in the main so I have a better chance against T1 Empty the Warrens. Plus, Delver decks are running around my meta, so the mana denial sometimes prevents me from sweeping for 2BB.
- Sideboard, I'm not sure about KaRnLiBERatEd, but Caleb Durward ran it to some success. I'm gonna try it.
Thanks, Snickelfritz. Big Tezz's +1 untaps lands/rocks and Ratchet Bombs for me. I'm gonna stick with the one-of for now and see how it goes.
My one criticism of River of Tears is exactly the same as yours: it can't tap for U immediately. Some people have mentioned Darkwater Catacombs as a one-of, which is interesting (albeit a little janky). I might give that a shot, though, what the heck.
The lone Transmute Artifact is a card availability issue. I intend to acquire at least a second one, maybe even a third. I'm also leaning towards more Baleful Strixes. They allow me to +1 Tezz AoB more often because the Bird can stand in front of him. Plus, having more Transmute targets at 2 seems good. Thoughtcast was really powerful sometimes, but I found it a little awkward alongside Ensnaring Bridge. The Bird seems more versatile.
Spellskite is insane! It even blocks stuff like Nimble Mongoose, every non-flying creature in Death and Taxes, etc. Plus everyone is gonna bring in artifact removal anyways, so it's probably never dead. Witchbane Orb is really good, too. I've had some opponents just scoop to it or say, "I have one out" (typically Echoing Truth, which isn't an out alongside Spellskite). Wurmcoil Engine has been strong in the couple games I've played it. I just don't like that Lodestone Golem dies to Lightning Bolt. Delver decks would have no qualms paying 1R to blow up our 4-drop (or just Daze-ing it on the stack). But Golem's gotta be good against combo.
Do people swear by the full four Force of Wills, or do people find three to be OK? (I'm in the latter camp but can be swayed.) And any thoughts on Uba Mask? Too cute? We'd probably have to alter our deck too much to accommodate it, as cards like Jace, the Mind Sculptor obviously become far less powerful.
I've been reading this thread for a little while, and I'm very seriously considering building this deck. Regarding the blue version, I assume one would want to run Force of Will, correct? In that case, a substantial number of blue cards would have to be in the list. What would the enchantment suite look like? Stuff such as ...
Someone mentioned Daze as a possibility, which I'm skeptical about but curious to hear other opinions. What's the minimum number of Islands required to make that work? Since we'd be pitching some lands to Mox Diamond, I assume the Island count would have to be higher than normal to accommodate the alternate cost of Daze.
Certainly worth considering - might test that. You get the extra Shock from your land, which most often is a feature, not a bug. The main drawback is its casting cost: UU. Since lists normally run two Blood Crypts and a Swamp, there is a fair chance that you won't be able to cast it in a lot of games. Something like Censor might be interesting 'cuz you can cycle it when it's bad, and most players don't "play around Daze." (I wish Miscalculation were legal.) It could alter people's play patterns if you get them with it in game 1, in which case you could even board it out because it will have accomplished its mission. But running Censor seems pretty loose in general.
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Watery Grave
2 Blood Crypt
1 Steam Vents
1 Island
1 Swamp
4 Death's Shadow
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Gurmag Angler
3 Street Wraith
1 Liliana of the Veil
4 Serum Visions
4 Thought Scour
2 Sleight of Hand
4 Thoughtseize
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Stubborn Denial
1 Mana Leak
3 Fatal Push
1 Lightning Bolt
2 Terminate
2 Kolaghan's Command
1 Rakdos Charm
2 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Stubborn Denial
1 Flashfreeze
1 Collective Brutality
2 Temur Battle Rage
1 Kozilek's Return
1 Anger of the Gods
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
2 Young Pyromancer
Flashfreeze was a meta call, as I saw a ton of red decks in the room. I didn't see it once, so it's probably unnecessary. But it would've been good at any time.
I saw Mana Leak a ton, so at least I got good info. It countered a turn 3 Chameleon Colossus, an Eidolon, and a crucial blocker in Sakura Tribe-Elder, which the fourth Stubborn Denial would not have been able to do. It also forced one of my RG opponents to search up Wood Elves instead of Primeval Titan with Summoner's Pact because he saw Mana Leak game 1 and wanted to play around it. There was only one instance where I wanted it to be a Stubborn Denial or the second Inquisition of Kozilek. Sure, small sample size, but being able to deal with creatures on the stack is, I think, worth talking about. It's also nice in game 2, when you have Pyromancer instead of a Delve threat and need to counter something when they're playing around Stubborn Denial. Perhaps it's awkward when you have OG Lili, but that's true of Denial, too. Not saying Mana Leak is a slam dunk, but I was more impressed with it than I thought I'd be.
No Surgical with Pyromancers in the board might be a mistake, but I like the versatility of a card like Rakdos Charm because I can bring it in against Dredge, Affinity, and even EldraziTron. I also might want to add another sweeper effect in most metas.
Another question I had is about my sideboard plan. I think I did something like this:
Out: -3 Fatal Push, -1 Lightning Bolt, -1 Terminate, -1 Sleight of Hand, -1 Kolaghan's Command
In: +2 Young Pyromancer, +2 Temur Battle Rage, +1 Stubborn Denial, +1 Collective Brutality, +1 Flashfreeze (or Countersquall, which is normally in my sideboard)
In hindsight, boarding out the K-Command is probably a mistake, but I didn't think I'd get a ton of great 2-for-1 opportunities with it because I did't think the matchup is really about card advantage. But having another card that makes them discard seems worth it if you can get them hellbent. So I'd probably take out something else instead of K-Command.
Thanks, y'all!
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Bloodstained Mire
2 Steam Vents
2 Watery Grave
1 Blood Crypt
3 Island
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
1 Vendilion Clique
3 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Gurmag Angler
4 Serum Visions
4 Thought Scour
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Terminate
1 Hero’s Downfall
1 Electrolyze
1 Kolaghan’s Command
4 Mana Leak
1 Remand
1 Izzet Staticaster
2 Magma Spray
1 Go for the Throat
2 Countersquall
2 Spell Pierce
1 Dispel
1 Flashfreeze
1 Crumble to Dust
1 Rakdos Charm
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Painful Truths
I loved the glut of removal but thought there was a tad too much countermagic. I also felt it could've used one more threat, so I see why people are moving toward Pyros. I don't want to shave on business to play Probes, though. Can the deck support a fifth Delve dude? The second Angler sounds appealing, as Tasigur was an all-star all night. Any other creature candidates out there, or could I get away with running 2-3 Pyros without Probes?
Rakdos Charm was awesome, killing two Cranial Platings in one game. For me it'll take the Vandalblast slot in some sideboards because it doubles as Dredge hate. The rest of my sideboard is definitely up for debate. Hero's Downfall was fine, too. BB took a little work to manage, but it beat tapping out for something like Dreadbore.
Changes I'm considering:
-1 Remand, -1 Mana Leak, -1 Island // -1 Painful Truths
+1 Collective Brutality, +1 Gurmag Angler, +1 Spirebluff Canal // +1 Kolaghan's Command
Since I'm thinking about playing five Delve creatures, I don't think I can go below ten fetchlands; therefore, I'm not sure if I can afford to play a ton of Spirebluff Canals. I'm going to try one at first, then add more as necessary.
I'd love to get feedback on the list, notably the sideboard and the creature suite.
Thanks!
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Bloodstained Mire
2 Steam Vents
2 Watery Grave
1 Blood Crypt
1 Darkslick Shores
2 Island
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
1 Vendilion Clique
3 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Gurmag Angler
4 Serum Visions
4 Thought Scour
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Terminate
1 Hero’s Downfall
1 Kolaghan’s Command
3 Spell Snare
4 Mana Leak
1 Remand
1 Countersquall
1 Anger of the Gods
2 Magma Spray
1 Go for the Throat
2 Countersquall
2 Spell Pierce
1 Dispel
1 Crumble to Dust
1 Vampiric Link
1 Crypt Incursion
2 Nihil Spellbomb
Given that Grafdigger's Cage is over ten bucks now, I assume Dredge is a formidable threat. So I'm packing three pieces of graveyard hate but don't know if the ones I chose are good. I figured Nihil Spellbomb can fight opposing Snapcaster Mages need be and at least cantrips. Maybe Surgical Extraction is better. Anger of the Gods should probably be a second Engineered Explosives, but I only own one. Plus I figured it's gotta be decent against Dredge, too. Is Crumble to Dust too slow at 3R?
And in Overturf's last sideboarding article, he championed Fulminator Mage to do double duty against Tron and Celestial Colonnade decks. Seeing as I devoted those three slots to graveyard hate, I decided to play a singleton maindeck Hero's Downfall, which can kill Nahiri and Colonnade at instant speed and perhaps deal with a resolved Karn/Ugin. Maybe that's too narrow, but again, I don't know the metagame well enough to know if it's a good choice or not.
Any changes to the 75 you'd suggest?
Thanks!
I tried one Liliana of the Veil in the main and one in the sideboard of my Tezzerator list and found it to be powerful if I could cast it, which wasn't as consistently as I would've liked. I wouldn't cut a main-deck sweeper for Liliana, though. I'm running a Toxic Deluge and wouldn't leave home without it. I've been running one Trading Post in the main as well, as it can't be Abrupt Decayed and has versatility in my very fair metagame. When it's bad, I just board it out.
4 Baleful Strix
3 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Squadron Hawk
1 Vendilion Clique
2 True-Name Nemesis
(23)
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Brainstorm
1 Gitaxian Probe
2 Swords to Plowshares
2 Thoughtseize
3 Cabal Therapy
1 Umezawa’s Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
2 Lingering Souls
1 Council’s Judgment
1 Batterskull
3 Force of Will
4 Flooded Strand
3 Polluted Delta
2 Marsh Flats
3 Tundra
2 Underground Sea
1 Scrubland
2 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Karakas
1 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Wasteland
This deck makes lots of critters to either suit up with equipment or sacrifice to strip cards from the opponent's hand with Cabal Therapy. The blue card count (14 + 3 Force of Will) might be a little low, but it may work. Council's Judgment perhaps could be Detention Sphere - a blue card - but I like that Judgment doesn't target, providing an answer to opposing True-Name Nemesis and threats like Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. I also think the deck can get away with only two Swords to Plowshares because of the four Baleful Strix. I'm not sure which Sword to play. Sword of Fire and Ice makes sense against an average meta, but Sword of Light and Shadow might be effective in that it allows me to recycle sacrificed creatures and provides protection against opposing Batterskulls and Swords to Plowshares. (Disclosure: *lots* of Death 'n' Taxes in my meta.) Again, this is just a rough sketch. And is one Gitaxian Probe a waste? Should it be, say, a Spell Pierce or a Ponder? I'd love to hear people's thoughts.
Thanks!
4 Judge's Familiar
3 Meddling Mage
4 Tidehollow Sculler
4 Baleful Strix
3 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Dark Confidant
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Flickerwisp
1 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Æther Vial
3 Cabal Therapy
2 Swords to Plowshares
4 Force of Will
2 Daze
Lands (20)
3 Tundra
2 Underground Sea
1 Scrubland
3 Flooded Strand
3 Polluted Delta
2 Marsh Flats
1 Island
1 Swamp
1 Plains
2 Wasteland
1 Karakas
Again, just something to get a conversation started. The mana base can probably be optimized. I'm just guessing 20 lands is fine, but I may be one off in either direction. Notably absent is a Stoneforge Mystic package. I could be swayed to include it, but I think people are prepared to beat Batterskull. The power level of the creatures is relatively low, so perhaps a couple haymakers - even something like Mirran Crusader - is necessary.
No sideboard yet because I haven't tested it. But I'd guess it could consist of some of the following:
Thoughtseize and/or the fourth Cabal Therapy
Spell Pierce and/or Flusterstorm
Grafdigger's Cage and Rest in Peace
Disenchant
Umezawa's Jitte
Detention Sphere (or Vindicate, but that doesn't pitch to Force of Will and can't be brought into play from Show and Tell)
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and/or Spirit of the Labyrinth
Ethersworn Canonist
Submerge and/or Dismember
Let me know what y'all think!
4 Meddling Mage
4 Tidehollow Sculler
4 Baleful Strix
3 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Flickerwisp
3 Cabal Therapy
2 Swords to Plowshares
4 Force of Will
2 Daze
Choices to consider for the remaining slots
- Stoneforge Mystic package: with equipment in the deck, perhaps cards like Squadron Hawk and/or Spellstutter Sprite become playable in this Hate Bears-style list. Having lots of bodies to sacrifice to Cabal Therapy or equip with an Umezawa's Jitte or Sword of X and Y seems plausible. Maybe even Lingering Souls would work as a sideboard card in grind-ier matchups. Perhaps it's too cute, I dunno.
- Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and/or Spirit of the Labyrinth: unsure about the former because of the countermagic in the deck. Perhaps it's a sideboard card in a list like this. As for the latter, I guess it depends on whether I'd run Brainstorms or not. Seeing as it's most likely three colors, fetches would be mandatory. So if there's space, I'd certainly include the best draw spell in Legacy. Perhaps I could skimp on Swords to Plowshares to make room for them.
- Mirran Crusader and/or True-Name Nemesis: if there's a Stoneforge package, some number of either of these should be in the deck - most likely TNN, seeing as it's blue and could pitch to Force of Will.
- Dark Confidant: if I don't run Brainstorm (which I'm not sure I'd have room for), he and Baleful Strix would provide powerful card advantage. Flipping a Force of Will feels bad, though.
- Jace, the Mind Sculptor: increase the curve and provide a non-creature win condition(?)
Perhaps a deck like this isn't viable because its mana is less consistent and can't be entirely devoted to disrupting opposing mana bases. There's probably room for at least a couple Wastelands, though.
I'd love to hear your thoughts - thanks!
4 Ancient Tomb
2 City of Traitors
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Vault of Whispers
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Academy Ruins
1 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Darkslick Shores
1 Darkwater Catacombs
1 Island
Creatures (3)
3 Baleful Strix
Planeswalkers (6)
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Transmute Artifact
1 Go for the Throat
2 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Toxic Deluge
3 Force of Will
Artifacts (21)
3 Chalice of the Void
3 Mox Opal
3 Dimir Signet
2 Ratchet Bomb
4 Thopter Foundry
3 Sword of the Meek
2 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Trading Post
1 Chalice of the Void
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Pithing Needle
1 Defense Grid
1 Spellskite
1 Trinisphere
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Damnation
1 Lodestone Golem
1 Witchbane Orb
1 Misdirection
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Karn Liberated
- I'm gonna try Darkwater Catacombs, as I don't see any drawback with the absence of 1-cost spells in the maindeck.
- I took out Tezzeret the Seeker in favor of a second Jace, the Mind Sculptor - seems right.
- My metagame is very fair - lots of Jund, DnT, Delver, etc. - so Go for the Throat could be excellent. I like it better than Engineered Explosives in this list because I can't always EE for 3. (Knight of the Reliquary is in my meta.)
- I'm going with Toxic Deluge over Damnation in the main so I have a better chance against T1 Empty the Warrens. Plus, Delver decks are running around my meta, so the mana denial sometimes prevents me from sweeping for 2BB.
- Sideboard, I'm not sure about KaRnLiBERatEd, but Caleb Durward ran it to some success. I'm gonna try it.
My one criticism of River of Tears is exactly the same as yours: it can't tap for U immediately. Some people have mentioned Darkwater Catacombs as a one-of, which is interesting (albeit a little janky). I might give that a shot, though, what the heck.
The lone Transmute Artifact is a card availability issue. I intend to acquire at least a second one, maybe even a third. I'm also leaning towards more Baleful Strixes. They allow me to +1 Tezz AoB more often because the Bird can stand in front of him. Plus, having more Transmute targets at 2 seems good. Thoughtcast was really powerful sometimes, but I found it a little awkward alongside Ensnaring Bridge. The Bird seems more versatile.
Spellskite is insane! It even blocks stuff like Nimble Mongoose, every non-flying creature in Death and Taxes, etc. Plus everyone is gonna bring in artifact removal anyways, so it's probably never dead. Witchbane Orb is really good, too. I've had some opponents just scoop to it or say, "I have one out" (typically Echoing Truth, which isn't an out alongside Spellskite). Wurmcoil Engine has been strong in the couple games I've played it. I just don't like that Lodestone Golem dies to Lightning Bolt. Delver decks would have no qualms paying 1R to blow up our 4-drop (or just Daze-ing it on the stack). But Golem's gotta be good against combo.
I agree about Wasteland and may try a single Crucible of Worlds in the board.
Do people swear by the full four Force of Wills, or do people find three to be OK? (I'm in the latter camp but can be swayed.) And any thoughts on Uba Mask? Too cute? We'd probably have to alter our deck too much to accommodate it, as cards like Jace, the Mind Sculptor obviously become far less powerful.
Propaganda (because it's blue and Ghostly Prison is not)
2 Rest in Peace
Energy Field (since we're running Rest in Peace)
Back to Basics
Humility
2-3 Detention Sphere (because it's blue and pitches to FoW)
1-2 Standstill (drop Land Tax, drop Standstill, make them cringe?)
Supreme Verdict seems like an auto-include. Would a blue version want a win condition like Jace, the Mind Sculptor? I assume cards like Meddling Mage don't synergize with wrath effects.
Someone mentioned Daze as a possibility, which I'm skeptical about but curious to hear other opinions. What's the minimum number of Islands required to make that work? Since we'd be pitching some lands to Mox Diamond, I assume the Island count would have to be higher than normal to accommodate the alternate cost of Daze.
Thanks!