We don't have any card draw besides horizon lands, and the Unearth that Dregscape provides is a kind of virtual card advantage (since we are recycling slivers where the opponent, presumably, spent removal) for an acceptable cost. Reanimating one or two slivers in a turn (more or less the average I have been reanimating) could be devastating, even if it is for a lord, a key ability like flying or just one more beater. Besides, mind that the reanimated sliver has haste.
Against control and grindy matchups, it shines. Against aggro decks, is just a decent beater that can provide value in case one of our slivers gets killed. Basically, we are more resilient to removal in a way that fits the beatdown plan.
Mariner is like Diffusion, but with two important differences: stats are better (which matters a lot) and protection covers all our permanents and ourselves.
The problem with Diffusion was that it was weak, and its ability would be useless in non-point-removal matchups. Mariner solves both problems nicely. Even when the opponent is not targeting our slivers, Mariner could be useful: hand hate (discard, Thought-Knot Seer), land destruction (Field of Ruin, Ghost Quarter), Liliana -2, direct damage (Mariner is basically a Thalia, Guardian of Thraben against burn), Valakut, Ballista, artifact hate... the list is very long.
And if its role is relegated to lower the opponent lives, it truly does a better job than Diffusion.
I don't think Dregscape and Mariner could be compared one with the other. They fill different roles in the deck, and I think both are a nice inclusion. Numbers can vary, but I would not be less than 3 of each (and I am very comfortable with 4 mariners). If I have to choose, I think will bet for Mariner, but I am not sure.
About lands: Gemstone and Ziggurat are poor replacements of Cavern of Souls. Gemstone is somewhat acceptable, Ziggurat is horrible when we try to activate mutavault, unearth, sliver hive or cast Aether Vial.
Horizon Lands have been very good (card drawing helps a lot) but I would set the number to 3. Don't think of them as color fixers: they are just card drawers that don't provide tempo loss. I would not rely on them to construct the manabase.
If you can afford them, pick x4 Caverns, x4 Sliver Hives and x4 Unclaimed Territory. With 3 Horizon lands and 1-2 Gemstone Mine if there are still slots, the manabase is perfetcly fine. If you can, avoid ziggurat.
(sorry for the multiple post, I was making updates as I was playing, and I thought some activity will be good for the forum)
Tried very similar list to ekienhol's one, wanting to test new meta.
Very surprised to see how solid it is. Fast, consisten and with a lot of outs.
Swapped one Dregscape Sliver and three Diffusion Sliver for four Unsettled Mariner
Beat 2-0 UW Control and WB Stoneblade, 1-2 against Burn.
-List is very solid, kills fast and has good recovery. All slivers are good. The weakest one is, as far as I tested, Leeching Sliver, but it gives a lot of reach.
-Chalice is, what a surprise, an all-star
-Hollowhead Sliver is surprisingly good, specially when topdecking. Between him and horizon lands, the deck draws a lot.
-Dregscape Sliver also rocks, giving virtual card advantage in grindy matchups while still being a decent beater.
-Unsettled Mariner is a hell of a card. Decent stats while protecting lands, vial and chalice, and being a nice edge against burn and storm.
Considering adding more 1-drops to side/Hivelord or First sliver for grindy matchups. Testing will tell.
Good sensations about this list. Feels powerful and with a lot of options. After refining, could be a decent Tier 3 or 2.
I still miss Manaweft Sliver explosive starts, but we can't have everything, I guess
2
Against control and grindy matchups, it shines. Against aggro decks, is just a decent beater that can provide value in case one of our slivers gets killed. Basically, we are more resilient to removal in a way that fits the beatdown plan.
Mariner is like Diffusion, but with two important differences: stats are better (which matters a lot) and protection covers all our permanents and ourselves.
The problem with Diffusion was that it was weak, and its ability would be useless in non-point-removal matchups. Mariner solves both problems nicely. Even when the opponent is not targeting our slivers, Mariner could be useful: hand hate (discard, Thought-Knot Seer), land destruction (Field of Ruin, Ghost Quarter), Liliana -2, direct damage (Mariner is basically a Thalia, Guardian of Thraben against burn), Valakut, Ballista, artifact hate... the list is very long.
And if its role is relegated to lower the opponent lives, it truly does a better job than Diffusion.
I don't think Dregscape and Mariner could be compared one with the other. They fill different roles in the deck, and I think both are a nice inclusion. Numbers can vary, but I would not be less than 3 of each (and I am very comfortable with 4 mariners). If I have to choose, I think will bet for Mariner, but I am not sure.
About lands: Gemstone and Ziggurat are poor replacements of Cavern of Souls. Gemstone is somewhat acceptable, Ziggurat is horrible when we try to activate mutavault, unearth, sliver hive or cast Aether Vial.
Horizon Lands have been very good (card drawing helps a lot) but I would set the number to 3. Don't think of them as color fixers: they are just card drawers that don't provide tempo loss. I would not rely on them to construct the manabase.
If you can afford them, pick x4 Caverns, x4 Sliver Hives and x4 Unclaimed Territory. With 3 Horizon lands and 1-2 Gemstone Mine if there are still slots, the manabase is perfetcly fine. If you can, avoid ziggurat.
(sorry for the multiple post, I was making updates as I was playing, and I thought some activity will be good for the forum)
1
Very surprised to see how solid it is. Fast, consisten and with a lot of outs.
Swapped one Dregscape Sliver and three Diffusion Sliver for four Unsettled Mariner
Beat 2-0 UW Control and WB Stoneblade, 1-2 against Burn.
-List is very solid, kills fast and has good recovery. All slivers are good. The weakest one is, as far as I tested, Leeching Sliver, but it gives a lot of reach.
-Chalice is, what a surprise, an all-star
-Hollowhead Sliver is surprisingly good, specially when topdecking. Between him and horizon lands, the deck draws a lot.
-Dregscape Sliver also rocks, giving virtual card advantage in grindy matchups while still being a decent beater.
-Unsettled Mariner is a hell of a card. Decent stats while protecting lands, vial and chalice, and being a nice edge against burn and storm.
Considering adding more 1-drops to side/Hivelord or First sliver for grindy matchups. Testing will tell.
Good sensations about this list. Feels powerful and with a lot of options. After refining, could be a decent Tier 3 or 2.
I still miss Manaweft Sliver explosive starts, but we can't have everything, I guess
1
I don't know you, but i am pretty excited with the Unearth one