Here is my current take on the Ascendancy combo. It is very different then the versions that have been posted previously. Currently working on a sideboard. The deck can go off on turn 1, but is very consistent in the turns 2/3.
This is Joe Bernal's most recent list he made top 8 in the PTQ in Fond Du Lac, WI, but lost to Amulet of Vigor in the Quarters. Matt Severa was also playing Faeries(not sure if he had Pack Rat or not, he did when he made top 8 in Chicago), but he won the PTQ.
Against aggro/burn heavy decks I usually side out Thoughtseize, Bitterblossom(Burn Only), Mana Leak(depending on play/draw). In the more updated list Sower is even better after board with Kira/additional copy of Scion of Oona. The goal in the zoo/affinity matchup is getting to a stabilized game state. Once you are there then it is good to go. I found myself brining in Tectonic Edge against Twin, Scapeshift, Tron. Against twin being able to keep them on a low mana count between Edge and Bouncing a land with Cryptic gains you a huge tempo swing.
I still think it would just come to a win more condition. I don't think it would put me over the top of any matchup, where Feast and Famine, once actively getting in puts the deck in a much better position.
Cutting a River of Tears for a Swamp was so I could have some outs to Blood Moon if they happen to draw into it. This happened to me Game 2 of the Semifinals of the PTQ. Had cleared the path and determined my path of victory was through Pack Rat to pressure him. He then ripped Blood Moon off the top to lock me out. My only outs at that point of the game were 3 Islands/Cryptic Command(and hoping that it resolves.) Jace Beleren was basically a brick in my board. Only matchup I brought it in against was scapeshift. The aggro matchups are fairly difficult if you don't have some early removal/pressure/bitterblossom. I think I won more matchups via Pack Rat than I did through Bitterblossom. As far as cakewalk matchups go, I think Twin/Jund/Rock are very favorable matchups. Against most aggro decks I cut Mana Leak(except against Affinity), brought in Disfigure, Sower, and Spell Snare. Against burn I brought in Disfigures, Spell Snare, Negate, and took out Thoughtseize, and Mana Leaks. Against Twin/Scapeshift I always boarded in the 3rd Tectonic Edge, Negates, and Spell Snares.
Some changes I made to the deck for Modern States were kind of area/Weekend after GP dependent. I figured there would be lots of Junk/Rock, Jund, and Twin. There were a few Scapeshift players and lots of Affinity. I would not play the Shadow of Doubt again. In my updated list I have added a 2nd Kira as it was insane all day while in play. The swords were kind of win more in most situations. The only time I was glad to have them in my deck was when my threats were all but gone and I was able to Creeping Tar Pit Sword and hold back cryptic. From my own results I just think you want to up the percentage of drawing a Pack Rat/Spellstutter Sprite. So playing a full set of 4 seems right. I like the removal package maindeck, but the board can always change. I think Damnation is very strong currently and like Batterskull for swingy matchups.
So the above deck is what I won with at the PTQ/5K in Chicago(247 people) 2 weeks ago. The matchups I had were: BWR burn, zoo, affinity, UR Delver Aggro(Lost), RUG Twin, Jund, Scapeshift, RUG Twin(Drew). Quarterfinals played against the Faeries Mirror. Semifinals played against UR Twin. Finals played against RUG Delver.
I then proceeded to play the deck the following weekend at the Illinois Modern States/1K(77 people). The changes I made for the weekend were: Maindeck, I cut a River of Tears for a Swamp. Sideboard, I cut 2 Jace Beleren, 1 Ratchet Bomb for 1 Scion of Oona, 1 Kira Great Glass Spinner, and 1 Shadow of Doubt.
The matchups I had were Melira Pod, UW Tron, Jund, 8Rack(Lost), Rock, UR Twin, Faeries(Drew). Quarterfinals I played against Merfolk(Lost). Didn't hit a 4th land game 3 with lethal on board via Pack Rats and 2 Cryptic/Sower in hand.
Changes I would make going forward/for this weekends PTQs: I would cut the 2 Sword of Feast and Famine and Add 1 Pack Rat, 1 Spellstutter Sprite. My board would look like: 3 Sower of Temptation, 2 Kira Great Glass Spinner, 1 Scion of Oona, 3 Spell Snare, 2 Negate, 2 Disfigure, 1 Damnation, 1 Batterskull
4 Jeskai Ascendancy
4 Lotus Petal
3 Chrome Mox
3 Mox Opal
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Preordain
4 Faithless Looting
4 Force of Will
4 Fatestitcher
4 Treasure Cruise
2 Deep Analysis
4 Volcanic Island
2 Great Furnace
4 Seat of Synod
2 Ancient Den
1 Mistbind Clique
4 Spellstutter Sprite
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Vendilion Clique
Enchantments (4)
4 Bitterblossom
Spells (18)
4 Disfigure
4 Cryptic Command
4 Mana Leak
2 Smother
2 Dismember
2 Spell Snare
2 Batterskull
Lands (25)
4 Secluded Glen
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Mutavault
5 Island
4 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Tectonic Edge
2 Watery Grave
2 Hurkyl's Recall
2 Deathmark
2 Sower of Temptation
2 Duress
4 Thoughtseize
2 Negate
1 Mistbind Clique
This is Joe Bernal's most recent list he made top 8 in the PTQ in Fond Du Lac, WI, but lost to Amulet of Vigor in the Quarters. Matt Severa was also playing Faeries(not sure if he had Pack Rat or not, he did when he made top 8 in Chicago), but he won the PTQ.
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Mutavault
4 Secluded Glen
4 River of Tears
4 Creeping Tar Pit
3 Island
1 Tectonic Edge
10 CREATURES
3 Spellstutter Sprite
1 Vendilion Clique
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Mistbind Clique
3 Cryptic Command
2 Mana Leak
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Thoughtseize
2 Smother
2 Disfigure
1 Far & Away
2 Serum Visions
8 OTHER SPELLS
4 Bitterblossom
2 Sword of Feast and Famine
2 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Tectonic Edge
2 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Disfigure
2 Negate
3 Ratchet Bomb
2 Spell Snare
3 Sower of Temptation
Saw this deck went 4-0 in a Daily. Also have ran into the person a few times in 2-Man's. Interesting choices.
Cutting a River of Tears for a Swamp was so I could have some outs to Blood Moon if they happen to draw into it. This happened to me Game 2 of the Semifinals of the PTQ. Had cleared the path and determined my path of victory was through Pack Rat to pressure him. He then ripped Blood Moon off the top to lock me out. My only outs at that point of the game were 3 Islands/Cryptic Command(and hoping that it resolves.) Jace Beleren was basically a brick in my board. Only matchup I brought it in against was scapeshift. The aggro matchups are fairly difficult if you don't have some early removal/pressure/bitterblossom. I think I won more matchups via Pack Rat than I did through Bitterblossom. As far as cakewalk matchups go, I think Twin/Jund/Rock are very favorable matchups. Against most aggro decks I cut Mana Leak(except against Affinity), brought in Disfigure, Sower, and Spell Snare. Against burn I brought in Disfigures, Spell Snare, Negate, and took out Thoughtseize, and Mana Leaks. Against Twin/Scapeshift I always boarded in the 3rd Tectonic Edge, Negates, and Spell Snares.
Some changes I made to the deck for Modern States were kind of area/Weekend after GP dependent. I figured there would be lots of Junk/Rock, Jund, and Twin. There were a few Scapeshift players and lots of Affinity. I would not play the Shadow of Doubt again. In my updated list I have added a 2nd Kira as it was insane all day while in play. The swords were kind of win more in most situations. The only time I was glad to have them in my deck was when my threats were all but gone and I was able to Creeping Tar Pit Sword and hold back cryptic. From my own results I just think you want to up the percentage of drawing a Pack Rat/Spellstutter Sprite. So playing a full set of 4 seems right. I like the removal package maindeck, but the board can always change. I think Damnation is very strong currently and like Batterskull for swingy matchups.
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Mutavault
4 Secluded Glen
4 River of Tears
3 Creeping Tar Pit
3 Island
2 Tectonic Edge
1 Watery Grave
12 CREATURES
3 Spellstutter Sprite
3 Vendilion Clique
3 Pack Rat
17 INSTANTS and SORC.
4 Cryptic Command
3 Mana Leak
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Thoughtseize
2 Smother
1 Doom Blade
1 Dismember
6 OTHER SPELLS
4 Bitterblossom
2 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Tectonic Edge
2 Disfigure
2 Jace Beleren
2 Negate
3 Ratchet Bomb
2 Spell Snare
3 Sower of Temptation
So the above deck is what I won with at the PTQ/5K in Chicago(247 people) 2 weeks ago. The matchups I had were: BWR burn, zoo, affinity, UR Delver Aggro(Lost), RUG Twin, Jund, Scapeshift, RUG Twin(Drew). Quarterfinals played against the Faeries Mirror. Semifinals played against UR Twin. Finals played against RUG Delver.
I then proceeded to play the deck the following weekend at the Illinois Modern States/1K(77 people). The changes I made for the weekend were: Maindeck, I cut a River of Tears for a Swamp. Sideboard, I cut 2 Jace Beleren, 1 Ratchet Bomb for 1 Scion of Oona, 1 Kira Great Glass Spinner, and 1 Shadow of Doubt.
The matchups I had were Melira Pod, UW Tron, Jund, 8Rack(Lost), Rock, UR Twin, Faeries(Drew). Quarterfinals I played against Merfolk(Lost). Didn't hit a 4th land game 3 with lethal on board via Pack Rats and 2 Cryptic/Sower in hand.
Changes I would make going forward/for this weekends PTQs: I would cut the 2 Sword of Feast and Famine and Add 1 Pack Rat, 1 Spellstutter Sprite. My board would look like: 3 Sower of Temptation, 2 Kira Great Glass Spinner, 1 Scion of Oona, 3 Spell Snare, 2 Negate, 2 Disfigure, 1 Damnation, 1 Batterskull