Playtesting with my friends so far has yielded the following:
2-2 vs Elves
3-1 vs Grixis Pyro
2-2 vs Jeskai Control
2-2 vs Humans
We were essentially just jamming games (and assessing some of the proxied deck's powerlevels anyhow).
Now I don't technically own a Karn at this point as I mentioned up above, so would it then make sense to run 2 Supreme Will and take it and the Noxious out? And the 2nd Mindslaver for a 2nd Snap?
Padeem is something I wanted to tinker with, especially since Path is a big problem with the creatures. The card draw is also nice and we can pretty much guarantee it. I've also really appreciated the Gifts lines, and it's been great to work with so far.
Sidenote: This list has been amended based on the later comments
I do have a question; I've noticed a lot of decks run Aetherspouts in the main, is Evacuation just not as good since there's the chance you hit your things?
I figured the unconditional bounce would have been stronger but I'm probably wrong.
I’m not advocating for one being better than the other, though if I had to pick it’d be Ballista, unquestionably - I thought my example regarding path best illustrated how I felt about both cards but granted I wrote that at stupid-o-clock in the morning so it probably sounded better then lol.
I’ve seen the argument made for Silent Arbiter over Solemn in cases where it’s basically a meta call. I know I face Humans, Zoo, Elves and Merfolk so in that instance, sure, Arbiter may be more useful in that it stalls the going wide approach.
I think Ballista should absolutely be in the main, And you’re right, there are a lot of answers to creature decks, Ugin, O-stone and Ballista being the most prominent. EE is pretty bad against humans but it’s fine for the others. Ballista is just a fairly easy thing to tutor or to cast and I feel some may try to answer that via Meddling Mage, or Pithing Needle, or Surgical Extraction or what have you. So in that aspect, running more of a card that will be likely to get hit may not be as beneficial as giving them one more thing to worry about.
If your opponent sees one card as their biggest threat, it’s easier to sideboard against it than it is to have backups 2 or 3. Humans for example can just meddling mage you ballista and then running more than one feels sillier.
Then again running a hangerback is also so crippling in a path-heavy environment, when it doesn’t affect ballista in the same way.
I was also contemplating Hangarback and Silent Arbiter for that reason.
Is there any context or meaning behind what inspired Proce to design the SDCC cards with regards to Amonkhet's Lore? Why is Bolas carving them into a wall?
And thank you! I originally had a Sundering (and Supreme Wills) in the main but I think I took it out for Epiphany and a MB Chalice. It's tough I've gotten suggestions from every which direction that kind of pull all sorts of places, which is also the beauty of the deck and why it appealed to me so much.
And for Noxious, I have it this Gifts line: Ugin, Expedition Map, Mindslaver, Noxious Revival, but in general it's just a really good synergistic "Blank" 4th slot for Gifts.
So I guess the thing to do is:
MB
-2 Epiphany
+1 Wurmcoil
+1 Dismember
SB
-1 Wurmcoil
+1 Crucible
Or would a MB crucible make more sense, and if so what would you recommend? *updated the list above*
Why? I am familiar with gifts in general (I used to pilot storm), I know its reanimator piles in Esper renaimator decks, and am familiar with the piles that give the illusion of giving an opponent a choice with the 75 I currently have. I just want to know what the lines are for crucible, because someone suggested running it.
But I don't think me not knowing 1 card's interaction makes me ignorant of how to use Gifts Ungiven. That just makes me admittedly ignorant of how Crucible fits, which was why I sought to rectify that by asking anyone familiar with an answer.
2-2 vs Elves
3-1 vs Grixis Pyro
2-2 vs Jeskai Control
2-2 vs Humans
We were essentially just jamming games (and assessing some of the proxied deck's powerlevels anyhow).
Now I don't technically own a Karn at this point as I mentioned up above, so would it then make sense to run 2 Supreme Will and take it and the Noxious out? And the 2nd Mindslaver for a 2nd Snap?
SO this is what I'll be running today for a sweet $5 entry to win a Liliana of the Veil:
1 Walking Ballista
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Treasure Mage
2 Wurmcoil Engine
Planeswalkers
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Spells
4 Condescend
2 Repeal
2 Dismember
2 Supreme Will
1 Cyclonic Rift
2 Remand
4 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Aetherspouts
Artifacts
1 Engineered Explosives
4 Expedition Map
1 Talisman of Dominance
2 Talisman of Progress
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Oblivion Stone
2 Mindslaver
1 Academy Ruins
1 Buried Ruin
1 Gemstone Caverns
3 Island
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 River of Tears
2 Snow-Covered Island
1 Tolaria West
4 Urza's Mine
4 Urza's Power Plant
4 Urza's Tower
2 Chalice of the Void
1 Field of Ruin
2 Walking Ballista
3 Spatial Contortion
2 Spreading Seas
2 Dismember
2 Padeem, Consul of Innovation
1 All Is Dust
Padeem is something I wanted to tinker with, especially since Path is a big problem with the creatures. The card draw is also nice and we can pretty much guarantee it. I've also really appreciated the Gifts lines, and it's been great to work with so far.
Sidenote: This list has been amended based on the later comments
I figured the unconditional bounce would have been stronger but I'm probably wrong.
I’ve seen the argument made for Silent Arbiter over Solemn in cases where it’s basically a meta call. I know I face Humans, Zoo, Elves and Merfolk so in that instance, sure, Arbiter may be more useful in that it stalls the going wide approach.
I think Ballista should absolutely be in the main, And you’re right, there are a lot of answers to creature decks, Ugin, O-stone and Ballista being the most prominent. EE is pretty bad against humans but it’s fine for the others. Ballista is just a fairly easy thing to tutor or to cast and I feel some may try to answer that via Meddling Mage, or Pithing Needle, or Surgical Extraction or what have you. So in that aspect, running more of a card that will be likely to get hit may not be as beneficial as giving them one more thing to worry about.
Then again running a hangerback is also so crippling in a path-heavy environment, when it doesn’t affect ballista in the same way.
I was also contemplating Hangarback and Silent Arbiter for that reason.
Before seeing the panorama, I had originally thought it was Bolas pressing down on the walls of the gatewatch.
And thank you! I originally had a Sundering (and Supreme Wills) in the main but I think I took it out for Epiphany and a MB Chalice. It's tough I've gotten suggestions from every which direction that kind of pull all sorts of places, which is also the beauty of the deck and why it appealed to me so much.
And for Noxious, I have it this Gifts line: Ugin, Expedition Map, Mindslaver, Noxious Revival, but in general it's just a really good synergistic "Blank" 4th slot for Gifts.
So I guess the thing to do is:
MB
-2 Epiphany
+1 Wurmcoil
+1 Dismember
SB
-1 Wurmcoil
+1 Crucible
Or would a MB crucible make more sense, and if so what would you recommend? *updated the list above*
But I don't think me not knowing 1 card's interaction makes me ignorant of how to use Gifts Ungiven. That just makes me admittedly ignorant of how Crucible fits, which was why I sought to rectify that by asking anyone familiar with an answer.
1 Walking Ballista
1 Snapcaster Mage
2 Treasure Mage
1 Solemn Simulacrum
2 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Platinum Angel
Planeswalkers
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Spells
4 Condescend
1 Noxious Revival
3 Repeal
1 Cyclonic Rift
2 Remand
4 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Gifts Ungiven
Artifacts
1 Chalice of the Void
1 Engineered Explosives
4 Expedition Map
1 Talisman of Dominance
2 Talisman of Progress
1 Oblivion Stone
2 Mindslaver
1 Academy Ruins
1 Field of Ruin
1 Ghost Quarter
3 Island
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 River of Tears
2 Snow-Covered Island
1 Tolaria West
4 Urza's Mine
4 Urza's Power Plant
4 Urza's Tower
1 Chalice of the Void
3 Spatial Contortion
2 Spreading Seas
2 Dismember
2 Unwind
2 Aetherize
1 Jester's Cap
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 All Is Dust
Would love some help/feedback on my first draft