Brought a tweaked list to FNM tonight for the first time and got first place with 2 wins and a draw against Jeskai Drakes, Esper Control and Sultai Midrange. Here's the current deck and a quick report:
Match 1 against Jeskai Drakes (2-1): Conclave Tribunal on his first Drake followed by a Plaguecrafter taking care of a Teferi; a Pilfering Imp taking out their Settle the Wreckage before attacking for lethal take care of game 1.
Game 2 I'm stuck on two lands for too long and can't get anything on board, easy scoop.
Game 3 goes really well with two Tithe Taker on the board, forcing him to play Chemister's Insight on his turn, letting me play out a massive board. I take his Syncopate with an Imp and cast a Priest that deal the last 2 points of damage through a Settle the following turn.
Match 2 against Esper Control (1-1):
I mulligan to 5 the first game, flood out and lose miserabily to Nexus of Fate.
Game 2 he mulligans to 5 (thanks karma) but manages to wipe my board twice with Kaya's Wrath. Even then, a perfectly timed topdecked Menagerie brings back the team and the Plaguecrafter takes care of a Deputy of Detention, he concedes the next turn.
Game 3 was incredibly long, between me taking care of two Thieves with a Mortify and Priestand he wiping the board again a couple times. I bring back the whole thing with Menagerie but it's too late for both of us to win. We shake hands.
Match 3 against Sultai Midrange (2-0):
Game 1 I absolutely demolish him. The deck curved perfectly and managed to make him sac his whole board with a combination of Priest, Plaguecrafeter and Menagerie. In three turns with an unanswered Priest on the board he lost 2 Llanowar Elves, 2 Merfolk Branchwalker, 1 Carnage Tyrant and 1 Hydroid Krasis. It was great.
Game 2 was extremely grindy with his 2 Wildgrowth Walker and Jadelight Ranger taking him back to 20 more than once. With 5 spirits on board I had a real clock though. His Walkers were huge and had to chump a couple times. With both of us drawing one too many lands, a miraculous Gruesome Menagerie bring back a whole lot of spirits and a Priest. The game is won in a couple turns and I am stunned that my deck was able to outgrind the best deck in competitive standard. What a joy!
The deck felt amazing honestly. Gruesome Menagerie is an incredibly powerful card when paired with such an arsenal of persistent creatures. Plaguecrafter is insane, especially when recurred and when you virtually lose nothing. In a control meta, Pilfering Imp overperformed. Being able to pack hand disruption alongside Tithe Taker and not-targeted removal all in the main deck, without it being "forced", is crazy; it gives us the edge G1 against virtually any deck. The resiliance of this list is absurd: it laughs at spot removal and can rebuild incredibly fast after a boardwipe.
After tonight, I think the deck has definitely legs and I'm gonna bring it next friday too. See you then!
Sokenzan Raiders2R
Creature - Human Samurai (U)
First strike
Bushido 1
Whenever a creature with bushido you control deals combat damage to a player, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
2/1
Soulsplit StrikeW
Instant (R)
Exile target nontoken creature. Its controller creates four 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens. "I have learned not to fear it, now I will learn how to master it."
Stage Dive2BR
Sorcery (U)
Spectacle BR(You may cast this spell for its spectacle cost rather than its mana cost if an opponent lost life this turn.)
As an additional cost to cast Stage Dive, sacrifice any number of creatures.
Stage Dive deals damage equal to the sacrificed creatures' total power divided as you choose among any number of creatures and/or planeswalkers target player control. "No! Don't catch him!"
Ajani, Hero of the Pride3GW
Legendary Planeswalker — Ajani (M)
Starting Loyalty: 4 +1: Up to one target creature gains first strike and vigilance until your next turn. -2: Exile target creature. Its controller searches their library for a basic land card, puts it onto the battlefield, and shuffles their library. -8: Create Kagiso, a legendary 5/5 white Cat Avatar creature token with hexproof and lifelink.
Whenever Kagiso attacks, you get an emblem with “Creatures you control get +1/+1.”
I got my account deleted for some EU copyright stuff, it happened to a lot of people in here. Nothing of value was lost for me though
Solid planeswalker design. I would have liked a new character over Ajani, but that's just me. As for Kagiso, I like how quickly it can take over the game and how it can create emblems by attacking, although being a bit weird ( ), it's something I've never seen before.
Ssrretch, Draconian Captain2RW
Legendary Creature - Viashino Warrior Ally (m)
Partner
When Ssretch, Draconian Captain enters the battlefield, create a Legendary colorless Equipment artifact token named Prasz, the Reptilian Halberd. It has "Equipped creature gets +3/+0 and has haste and indestructible", equip 2RW and equip commander 0.
2/2
I love names that are nigh impossible to pronounce and sounds like someone's blowing his nose. + 1 point!
This is a very cool card with a lot of interesting things going on. A Legendary Reptilian Halberd sound REALLY cool but how does it grant indestructibility? Equip commander is a great mechanic but at 0 it's maybe too good. A bit unpolished design overall, I really appreciate the uniqueness though.
Hemlock
willows
Since I tend to recognize more the unique, unsafe and creative entries, I'll give more credits to Hemlock's. Really close round though, sad to see JamBlock not participating :(.
Sokenzan Raiders2R
Creature - Human Samurai (U)
First strike
Bushido 1
Whenever a creature with bushido you control deals combat damage to a player, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
2/1
Age of Flourishing2GG
Enchantment - Saga (R) (As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — You get an emblem with "Colored mana doesn't empty from your mana pool as steps and phases end."
II — Double the amount of each type of colored mana in your mana pool.
III — Create Indomito, a legendary 1+*/1+* green Elemental creature token with trample, reach and "Indomito's power and toughness are each equal to one plus the amount of colored mana in your mana pool."
The deck aims to develop our board while at the same time emptying our opponent's, draw lots of cards and quickly bring them to 0. Our Priest is able to do all of this as just a 2 drop, which is insane. How do we take full advantage of her wide array of abilities?
First things first: we need sac fodder - a lot of it. Hunted Witness is our premium 1 drop, leaving behind a lifelinking token. Orzhov Enforcer does the same thing but is a lot better as a deathtoucher and with 2 toughness. Doomed Dissenter is less exciting but does the job well. No Imperious Oligarch as the mana cost is a bit clunky, especially with the Priest producing BB. At three mana we have Ministrant of Obligation which leaves behind not one but two flying bodies! These sixteen cards are not just cattle, they work well as early chip damage and gainst spot removal and mass removal. Midnight Reaper gives us an insane amount of cards, transforming our sacced creatures in fresh new meat to offer the Priest. The combination of these two cards quickly refill our hands letting us capitalize on the BB we get for the effort.
To top it all, Gruesome Menagerie lets us rebuy up to three of our previously sacced creatures, generating a ridiculous amount of value. In fact, the rest of the deck is built around Menagerie, rather than the Priest. We need an almost equal amount of 1,2 and 3 drops in the deck to fully get the best out of it, here is where Pilfering Imp, Deadeye Tracker and Militia Bugler come into play.
The Imp and the Tracker are both 1 drops that are still relevant in the late game. The Imp is Thoughtseize on a flying body, while the Tracker can hit some relevant spell in our opponent's graveyard while generating even more value for us. Militia Bugler finds every creature in the deck save for Midnight Reaper and is very powerful when recurred with Menagerie.
Two copies of Conclave Tribunal to have some kind of non-creature interaction, and that's it.
Feel free to leave suggestions and test it out yourself, this deck is fun and very good, I promise!
Ascend to the Heights3WW
Sorcery (R)
Create a token that's a copy of target enchantment, except it's a 3/3 white Angel creature instead of any other types and colors and it has flying.
The fact that the Angel token is a 3/3 instead of 4/4 bugs me beyond belief. Other than that, it's a nice, clean and interesting design, a bit too safe for my taste but that's ok. Just ok.
Reproof2WU
Instant {R}
Return target spell or non-land permanent to its owner’s hand.
//// Replace3UB
Sorcery {R}
Create a token that’s a copy of target creature. Exile that creature until the token leaves the battlefield.
It's a well balanced card, with great versatility and would definitely see play if ever printed. Thing is, it's just two effects already existing stapled on a single card. Great, not exciting sadly.
Necrotic Deluge3UUBB
Sorcery (M)
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for 1.)
Create a token that’s a copy of target creature.
For each permanent card exiled with Necrotic Deluge’s delve ability, create a token that’s a copy of that permanent. The poisons of the Marang have an interesting effect on the dead.
This is a very interesting card with a cool flavor and concept but it's just too powerful. Delve is a busted ability on its own and you're pushing it even further beyond that by getting insane value out of the exiled cards. I see how you tried to balance it with a harsh mana cost and a maximum of 3 discount, but it's not enough. I really like it overall, though.
Copy target instant or sorcery spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Copy target activated or triggered ability. You may choose new targets for the copy. (Mana abilities can't be targeted.)
Create a token that's a copy of the card target permanent spell would become as it resolves.
Nice concept with a lot of utilities, I love the idea of copying an activated or triggered ability a lot. I feel the third choice is overcomplicated though, I guess you were trying to play around hexproof/shroud but I don't see the need, honestly. I appreciate the effort of making something new nonetheless.
Swelling Splendor(G/W)(G/W)(G/W)
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant player or permanent
At the beginning of your end step, for each other Aura attached to enchanted player or permanent, create a token that's a copy of that Aura attached to enchanted player or permanent.
Jeez, Bogles are annoying already! It's a fine design, but this shouldn't be able to copy token Auras.
Utter Dominance4RG
Enchantment (MR)
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, if that creature was dealt damage by a source you control, create a token that's a copy of that creature. 2RG: Target creature you control fights target creature an opponent controls. I will take victory. You can have that other thing.
I feel this card should have B somewhere, somehow. I also would have liked this at 5 cmc and just as a rare, doesn't really stands out as mythic to me. It's a good and clean design overall, just a bit too safe.
Ora, Seraph of Mirrors3UW
Legendary Creature - Angel Illusion (m)
Flash
Flying
At the end of each combat, create a token that's a copy of the creature with the highest converted mana cost among creatures that dealt combat damage to you this turn. If two or more creatures are tied for the highest converted mana cost, choose one of them.
3/4
I like this a lot. Surprise flying blocker plus a second body the same turn it comes out. Really powerful but completely fair, with a cool flavor attached. It just has nothing wrong honestly, good job!
ProgenitoozeGGUU
Legendary Creature - Ooze (R)
When Progenitooze enters the battlefield, exile another target creature until it leaves the battlefield. XT: Create a token that's a copy of a creature with converted mana cost X or less exiled with Progenitooze, except it's an Ooze in addition to its other types. "What do you mean it's not the Soul of the World?!"
2/2
Reckless Prosecution 1W
Enchantment (Uncommon)
Whenever Reckless Prosecution enters the battlefield or a creature you control dies, investigate. R, Sacrifice a Clue: Exile the top card of your library. You may play that card until the end of the turn. “No, don’t burn the evidence! We need that!”
I feel like this card should be BW, even though the second ability belongs to R. Speaking of that second ability, I find it a bit redundant as you can already sac a Clue to draw a card. As for the first abilityUlvenwald Mysteries did something simlar to this but had a more interesting twist by producing tokens while generating card advantage. Neat design, but nothing really new.
Inspector's Case1WU
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever a creature dies for the first time each turn, that creature's controller investigates. 2, Sacrifice two clues and an equipment: Exile target creature. Any player may activate this ability. "Old Rustein is the murderer! And he did it with this fork!"
I really like this card flavourfully, but it's just too niche. Sacrificing equipments is something so weirdly appealing and at the same time so counterproductive! I see what you were aiming for and it's awesome, but I'm not gonna fill my deck with durdly equipments just to make this work. So close to be so good!
Question Reality1UU
Enchantment (R)
Flash
When Question Reality enters the battlefield, exile any number of other permanents you own, then investigate that many times.
Whenever you sacrifice a clue, you may put a card exiled with Question Reality onto the battlefield.
What a card! Abusing enters the battlefield effect, protecting anything from removal while also drawing cards? That's crazy good! Maybe a bit too much in fact. Flash definitely break this card. Also, you could tap all of your lands, floating a lot of mana, exile all said lands, sac some clues, getting back those same lands untapped, and draw some more. Whew! Make it nonland permanents, non-Flash and it's ok. Great design, just a bit overpowered.
Mad Constable 2U
Creature--Human (Uncommon)
When Mad Constable enters the battlefield investigate
Sacrifice a clue: swtich target creature's power and toughness until end of turn
1/4
I wish this would switch power and toughness as an additional effect to sacrificing a Clue. As it is, I feel I never want to give up card draw for an effect like that. Also, just "human"? Cool concept, just low power level.
Weregild1BB
World Enchantment (R)
Whenever a nontoken creature dies, its controller creates a colorless Treasure artifact token with “ , Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.” 2: Sacrifice a creature. Any player may activate this ability. Every soul has value. A set amount.
World Enchantments, nice! A safe, symmetrical design, nothing new nor groundbreaking. It works nonetheless!
Biomechanical Engineering2U
Enchantment (R)
When Biomechanical Engineering enters the battlefield and whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, investigate.
Sacrifice a Clue: Add CC. Spend this mana only to cast artifact spells.
Now, this is something I like to see. Great design with a lot of space to work around and cool flavour. It's just waiting to be broke!
Nephalia ExtortionistUB
Creature - Human Rogue (R)
Menace
Whenever Nephalia Extortionist deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card. If he or she can't, Investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with “2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
1/2
4x Hunted Witness
3x Pilfering Imp
4x Priest of the Forgotten Gods
4x Orzhov Enforcer
4x Tithe Taker
3x Doomed Dissenter
4x Plaguecrafter
3x Midnight Reaper
2x Militia bugler
2x Ministrant of Obligation
3x Gruesome Menagerie
Enchantments:
2x Conclave Tribunal
Lands:
4x Godless Shrine
3x Isolated Chapel
7x Swamps
7x Plains
1x Memorial to Folly
4x Vicious Offering
4x Kitesail Freebooter
3x Mortify
2x Plague Mare
2x Inspiring Cleric
Match 1 against Jeskai Drakes (2-1):
Conclave Tribunal on his first Drake followed by a Plaguecrafter taking care of a Teferi; a Pilfering Imp taking out their Settle the Wreckage before attacking for lethal take care of game 1.
Game 2 I'm stuck on two lands for too long and can't get anything on board, easy scoop.
Game 3 goes really well with two Tithe Taker on the board, forcing him to play Chemister's Insight on his turn, letting me play out a massive board. I take his Syncopate with an Imp and cast a Priest that deal the last 2 points of damage through a Settle the following turn.
Match 2 against Esper Control (1-1):
I mulligan to 5 the first game, flood out and lose miserabily to Nexus of Fate.
Game 2 he mulligans to 5 (thanks karma) but manages to wipe my board twice with Kaya's Wrath. Even then, a perfectly timed topdecked Menagerie brings back the team and the Plaguecrafter takes care of a Deputy of Detention, he concedes the next turn.
Game 3 was incredibly long, between me taking care of two Thieves with a Mortify and Priestand he wiping the board again a couple times. I bring back the whole thing with Menagerie but it's too late for both of us to win. We shake hands.
Match 3 against Sultai Midrange (2-0):
Game 1 I absolutely demolish him. The deck curved perfectly and managed to make him sac his whole board with a combination of Priest, Plaguecrafeter and Menagerie. In three turns with an unanswered Priest on the board he lost 2 Llanowar Elves, 2 Merfolk Branchwalker, 1 Carnage Tyrant and 1 Hydroid Krasis. It was great.
Game 2 was extremely grindy with his 2 Wildgrowth Walker and Jadelight Ranger taking him back to 20 more than once. With 5 spirits on board I had a real clock though. His Walkers were huge and had to chump a couple times. With both of us drawing one too many lands, a miraculous Gruesome Menagerie bring back a whole lot of spirits and a Priest. The game is won in a couple turns and I am stunned that my deck was able to outgrind the best deck in competitive standard. What a joy!
The deck felt amazing honestly. Gruesome Menagerie is an incredibly powerful card when paired with such an arsenal of persistent creatures. Plaguecrafter is insane, especially when recurred and when you virtually lose nothing. In a control meta, Pilfering Imp overperformed. Being able to pack hand disruption alongside Tithe Taker and not-targeted removal all in the main deck, without it being "forced", is crazy; it gives us the edge G1 against virtually any deck. The resiliance of this list is absurd: it laughs at spot removal and can rebuild incredibly fast after a boardwipe.
After tonight, I think the deck has definitely legs and I'm gonna bring it next friday too. See you then!
Soulsplit Strike W
Instant (R)
Exile target nontoken creature. Its controller creates four 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens.
"I have learned not to fear it, now I will learn how to master it."
Sorcery (U)
Spectacle BR (You may cast this spell for its spectacle cost rather than its mana cost if an opponent lost life this turn.)
As an additional cost to cast Stage Dive, sacrifice any number of creatures.
Stage Dive deals damage equal to the sacrificed creatures' total power divided as you choose among any number of creatures and/or planeswalkers target player control.
"No! Don't catch him!"
I got my account deleted for some EU copyright stuff, it happened to a lot of people in here. Nothing of value was lost for me though
Solid planeswalker design. I would have liked a new character over Ajani, but that's just me. As for Kagiso, I like how quickly it can take over the game and how it can create emblems by attacking, although being a bit weird (
I love names that are nigh impossible to pronounce and sounds like someone's blowing his nose. + 1 point!
This is a very cool card with a lot of interesting things going on. A Legendary Reptilian Halberd sound REALLY cool but how does it grant indestructibility? Equip commander is a great mechanic but at 0 it's maybe too good. A bit unpolished design overall, I really appreciate the uniqueness though.
- Hemlock
- willows
Since I tend to recognize more the unique, unsafe and creative entries, I'll give more credits to Hemlock's. Really close round though, sad to see JamBlock not participating :(.Sokenzan Raiders 2R
Creature - Human Samurai (U)
First strike
Bushido 1
Whenever a creature with bushido you control deals combat damage to a player, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
2/1
Enchantment - Saga (R)
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — You get an emblem with "Colored mana doesn't empty from your mana pool as steps and phases end."
II — Double the amount of each type of colored mana in your mana pool.
III — Create Indomito, a legendary 1+*/1+* green Elemental creature token with trample, reach and "Indomito's power and toughness are each equal to one plus the amount of colored mana in your mana pool."
4x Hunted Witness
4x Pilfering Imp
2x Deadeye Tracker
4x Priest of Forgotten Gods
4x Doomed Dissenter
4x Orzhov Enforcer
4x Midnight Reaper
4x Ministrant of Obligation
3x Militia Bugler
3x Gruesome Menagerie
Enchantment:
2x Conclave Tribunal
Lands:
4x Godless Shrine
3x Isolated Chapel
1x Memorial to Folly
9x Swamp
5x Plains
The deck aims to develop our board while at the same time emptying our opponent's, draw lots of cards and quickly bring them to 0. Our Priest is able to do all of this as just a 2 drop, which is insane. How do we take full advantage of her wide array of abilities?
First things first: we need sac fodder - a lot of it. Hunted Witness is our premium 1 drop, leaving behind a lifelinking token. Orzhov Enforcer does the same thing but is a lot better as a deathtoucher and with 2 toughness. Doomed Dissenter is less exciting but does the job well. No Imperious Oligarch as the mana cost is a bit clunky, especially with the Priest producing BB. At three mana we have Ministrant of Obligation which leaves behind not one but two flying bodies! These sixteen cards are not just cattle, they work well as early chip damage and gainst spot removal and mass removal.
Midnight Reaper gives us an insane amount of cards, transforming our sacced creatures in fresh new meat to offer the Priest. The combination of these two cards quickly refill our hands letting us capitalize on the BB we get for the effort.
To top it all, Gruesome Menagerie lets us rebuy up to three of our previously sacced creatures, generating a ridiculous amount of value. In fact, the rest of the deck is built around Menagerie, rather than the Priest. We need an almost equal amount of 1,2 and 3 drops in the deck to fully get the best out of it, here is where Pilfering Imp, Deadeye Tracker and Militia Bugler come into play.
The Imp and the Tracker are both 1 drops that are still relevant in the late game. The Imp is Thoughtseize on a flying body, while the Tracker can hit some relevant spell in our opponent's graveyard while generating even more value for us. Militia Bugler finds every creature in the deck save for Midnight Reaper and is very powerful when recurred with Menagerie.
Two copies of Conclave Tribunal to have some kind of non-creature interaction, and that's it.
Feel free to leave suggestions and test it out yourself, this deck is fun and very good, I promise!
The fact that the Angel token is a 3/3 instead of 4/4 bugs me beyond belief. Other than that, it's a nice, clean and interesting design, a bit too safe for my taste but that's ok. Just ok.
It's a well balanced card, with great versatility and would definitely see play if ever printed. Thing is, it's just two effects already existing stapled on a single card. Great, not exciting sadly.
This is a very interesting card with a cool flavor and concept but it's just too powerful. Delve is a busted ability on its own and you're pushing it even further beyond that by getting insane value out of the exiled cards. I see how you tried to balance it with a harsh mana cost and a maximum of 3 discount, but it's not enough. I really like it overall, though.
Nice concept with a lot of utilities, I love the idea of copying an activated or triggered ability a lot. I feel the third choice is overcomplicated though, I guess you were trying to play around hexproof/shroud but I don't see the need, honestly. I appreciate the effort of making something new nonetheless.
Jeez, Bogles are annoying already! It's a fine design, but this shouldn't be able to copy token Auras.
I feel this card should have B somewhere, somehow. I also would have liked this at 5 cmc and just as a rare, doesn't really stands out as mythic to me. It's a good and clean design overall, just a bit too safe.
I like this a lot. Surprise flying blocker plus a second body the same turn it comes out. Really powerful but completely fair, with a cool flavor attached. It just has nothing wrong honestly, good job!
Legendary Creature - Ooze (R)
When Progenitooze enters the battlefield, exile another target creature until it leaves the battlefield.
XT: Create a token that's a copy of a creature with converted mana cost X or less exiled with Progenitooze, except it's an Ooze in addition to its other types.
"What do you mean it's not the Soul of the World?!"
2/2
I feel like this card should be BW, even though the second ability belongs to R. Speaking of that second ability, I find it a bit redundant as you can already sac a Clue to draw a card. As for the first abilityUlvenwald Mysteries did something simlar to this but had a more interesting twist by producing tokens while generating card advantage. Neat design, but nothing really new.
I really like this card flavourfully, but it's just too niche. Sacrificing equipments is something so weirdly appealing and at the same time so counterproductive! I see what you were aiming for and it's awesome, but I'm not gonna fill my deck with durdly equipments just to make this work. So close to be so good!
What a card! Abusing enters the battlefield effect, protecting anything from removal while also drawing cards? That's crazy good! Maybe a bit too much in fact. Flash definitely break this card. Also, you could tap all of your lands, floating a lot of mana, exile all said lands, sac some clues, getting back those same lands untapped, and draw some more. Whew! Make it nonland permanents, non-Flash and it's ok. Great design, just a bit overpowered.
I wish this would switch power and toughness as an additional effect to sacrificing a Clue. As it is, I feel I never want to give up card draw for an effect like that. Also, just "human"? Cool concept, just low power level.
World Enchantments, nice! A safe, symmetrical design, nothing new nor groundbreaking. It works nonetheless!
Now, this is something I like to see. Great design with a lot of space to work around and cool flavour. It's just waiting to be broke!
Creature - Human Rogue (R)
Menace
Whenever Nephalia Extortionist deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card. If he or she can't, Investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with “2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
1/2