Yes, X is 0 but scry 2 is better than nothing and Repeal on a Chalice or token can be relevant. This mostly doesn't matter however as you will be hitting Spatial, Thirst, Supreme Will, Remand, ... almost always. Spell Burst cannot be bought back.
Why does it matter that it "nonbos" with Condescend and Repeal? First of all it doesn't, Gearhulk Repeal has won me games. Secondly I usually hit Thirst, Dismember, Summary Dismissal, Remand...
If you weren't playing a playset of Anticipate before you shouldn't be playing a playset of Opt now. For U Tron their powerlevel is comparable, since we have excess colorless mana and are constrained on blue. I think I will keep playing Anticipate over Opt.
Another thing about Serum Visions is that 1) It's a 1 Drop which nonbos with chalice (we can at least pitch maps to Thrist profitably) and 2) It's a sorcery in a deck with 8+ counter spells that often has to operate on 1 blue source. When considering both points I think Serum Visions loses a lot of value for us. Those slots would be much better served as Anticipates or Thirsts (or Opt if it were legal?). That said, regarding the original post, Thirst For Knowledge is definitely the best draw spell available to us, much more powerful than Visions for us.
Tapping your only blue source sorcery speed for a Serum Vision is the worst.
I used to say Anticipate is our instant speed Serum Vision. With this deck you really don't want to tap your blue sorc speed and then have your opponent resolve something you could've Remanded/Condescended. Anticipate/Supreme Will/Thirst allows you to keep a counter open and then draw EOT if possible.
@Pelikanudo: It's a solid list, I don't know what you want to hear? I like my own list more and my suggestions would just be to play my list but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your list.
Edit: somebody asked me to write about how I board so here it goes.
Titanshift: Chalice can be ok on 0 vs Summoning Pact and 2 vs Ancient Grudge. Chalice not great.
Grixis Shadow: Chalice on 1, gg. Without Chalice it's hard because of Stubborn Denial and Ceremonius Rejection.
Affinity: Chalice on 0 and 2. Chalice is great but often slow. Angel and Chalice on 1 is very strong, usually they cannot beat it (since you draw more counterspells than they draw Ancient Grudge/Dismember...)
EldraziTron: No chalice, is bad.
Burn: 1 and 2. Both are good, actually prefer on 1 lately because new lists are focues more on 1 drops than 2 drops and 2 drops are weaker to our interaction and on 1 hurts us less!
UW Ctrl: Chalice on 0 against AV otherwise 1 to hit Path/Serum Vision/Dispel/Snare/Swang Song...., it's ok.
UR Storm: Chalice on 1 is okay, hurts consistency a lot, and sideboard cards but on 2 is just crazy and they cannot win without removing it usually.
Vizier decks: Is bad, no play.
Gx Tron: Chalice on 1 is good, hurst their consistency a lot.
Ad Naesy: Chalice on 0 and 1 are good, post board I prefer 1, preboard I prefer 0. Both are great.
Right now the meta game seems to be partiuclarly weak to U Tron. Maybe as weak as I've ever seen it. There are so many good to great matchups among the most played decks right now.
8 most played decks with meta game share and my winrate vs them:
7% Affinity 47%
7% Titanshift 73%
7% Eldrazitron 70%
7% Burn 66%
6% Grixis Shadow 56%
5% UW Ctrl 100% (12-0)
5% UR Storm 62%
4% Vizier 77%
I am 14-1 in my last 15 matches and 17-3 in my last 20. I will try to play/stream this weeks Modern Challenge as well as I got some vacation days so this is the first week I got time to play it.
TKS is horrible against Shadow decks. Solemn is great against Shadow decks. TKS is bad when your opponent can easily kill it (Terminate, Fatal Push, ...) and has bigger creatures (Shadow, Tasigur, Angler). TKS is good when your opponent cannot kill it (only Path or Bolt) and has mostly 2 and 3 power creatures. If you want to beat Shadow just play WCE, Solemn, Chalice, Gearhulk, Repeal, Spell Burst
Spell Swindle seems unplayable in every way.
I used to say Anticipate is our instant speed Serum Vision. With this deck you really don't want to tap your blue sorc speed and then have your opponent resolve something you could've Remanded/Condescended. Anticipate/Supreme Will/Thirst allows you to keep a counter open and then draw EOT if possible.
Edit: somebody asked me to write about how I board so here it goes.
UW Ctrl:
-2 Spatial -Angel -Spell Burst -Treasure Mage -Oblivion Stone
+Negate +2 Summary Dismissal +Dismember +Mindslaver +Wurmcoil Engine
If they play Ancestral Vision I play more Chalice (3-4)
Dredge:
-Snapcaster -Gearhulk -2 Solemn -2 Spatial
+2 Grafdiggers Cage +Wurmcoil Engine +Slaver +Gemstone Caverns +Chalice?
Grixis Shadow:
-2 Spatial -Snapcaster -Angel -Supreme Will -2 Remand
+2 Chalice +Wurmcoil +2 Grafdiggers Cage +2 Dismember
UR Storm:
-Cyclonic Rift -2 Spatial -Supreme Will -Gearhulk -Snapcaster -Wurmcoil Engine -2 Solemn -Tectonic Edge -Treasure Mage
+2 Summary Dismissal +2 Chalice +2 Grafdiggers Cage +Slaver +2 Dismember +Negate +Gemstone
RG Titanshift:
-2 Spatial -Cyclonic Rift -Angel -Chalice
+Negate +2 Summary Dismissal +Slaver +Engine
About Chalice:
Titanshift: Chalice can be ok on 0 vs Summoning Pact and 2 vs Ancient Grudge. Chalice not great.
Grixis Shadow: Chalice on 1, gg. Without Chalice it's hard because of Stubborn Denial and Ceremonius Rejection.
Affinity: Chalice on 0 and 2. Chalice is great but often slow. Angel and Chalice on 1 is very strong, usually they cannot beat it (since you draw more counterspells than they draw Ancient Grudge/Dismember...)
EldraziTron: No chalice, is bad.
Burn: 1 and 2. Both are good, actually prefer on 1 lately because new lists are focues more on 1 drops than 2 drops and 2 drops are weaker to our interaction and on 1 hurts us less!
UW Ctrl: Chalice on 0 against AV otherwise 1 to hit Path/Serum Vision/Dispel/Snare/Swang Song...., it's ok.
UR Storm: Chalice on 1 is okay, hurts consistency a lot, and sideboard cards but on 2 is just crazy and they cannot win without removing it usually.
Vizier decks: Is bad, no play.
Gx Tron: Chalice on 1 is good, hurst their consistency a lot.
Ad Naesy: Chalice on 0 and 1 are good, post board I prefer 1, preboard I prefer 0. Both are great.
Maybe watch me play the matchup?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID7eF6MYAho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBDq1NO3xeo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ErJVP119g8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6mTzgND4js
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmCAu67I6Y4
These meta numbers are not from 5-0s, they are from PPTQs and Modern Challenge. 5-0 lists are worthless yes.
https://twitter.com/lejooon/status/895580963543015424
@kharniverous
What kind of prop bet? I'm interested.
8 most played decks with meta game share and my winrate vs them:
7% Affinity 47%
7% Titanshift 73%
7% Eldrazitron 70%
7% Burn 66%
6% Grixis Shadow 56%
5% UW Ctrl 100% (12-0)
5% UR Storm 62%
4% Vizier 77%
I am 14-1 in my last 15 matches and 17-3 in my last 20. I will try to play/stream this weeks Modern Challenge as well as I got some vacation days so this is the first week I got time to play it.
Everyone get in here!