So Dominaria recently brought us a couple fun build arounds in Valduk, Keeper of the Flame, Danitha Capashen, Paragon, and Champion of the Flame.
The fact we have received these cards right now leads me to believe that they will be at least partially supported by the equipments in future sets.
Without further ado, this is where I'm at with this list...
We are light on interaction... Like we have none. I'm almost certain the final list includes a full 4 of Spell Pierce, but for now, until I can figure out what to cut, I'm all in on the race them down plan. We partially mitigate this flaw through card draw. A turn with Sram, Senior Edificer is more than enough to power through the removal options of most meta decks. Plus our enchantments replace themselves for the most part to add more fuel to the fire.
Because the equipment in Standard is not really powerful on its own, I've prioritized cheap cheap cheap!
I think that our main targets in Valduk and Champion will be able to compensate for the low power level of the equipment.
Now, there are some powerful enchantments in the set... However, like I already said we do not have many ways to protect our creatures... It is inevitable that we lose some dudes, if we were entirely aura based, I feel that our liability to be blown out increases dramatically. I've chosen auras that should replace themselves in our hand so that we DON'T consistently 2 for 1 ourselves. Equipment is slightly more resilient in this department because they remain on the field. The equipment has some additional perks over auras in our deck, because they are artifacts!
Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle is what actually makes me think that our deck can grind out some wins after the initial round of removal from our opponent. Once we start resurrecting our dudes we'll be just as good at popping off in the mid-late game as we are early on! And we have enough artifacts and Legendaries to turn on that engine at any point in the game.
I haven't tested it yet. So, I'm not actually sure if Danitha Capashen, Paragon helps us win more games, or just "win more" the games we are already ahead in... Gotta get the number right. I really hope it's not 0 though, that would make me sad.
Uhhh, let's see... we are in three colors which will most likely cause us to lose some games... However, the artifacts help us spend all of our mana every turn partially mitigating the problem...
I guess it's time to talk about some side board options!
Here are some of the things that I first imagined, I think Knight of Grace will help us cheese out wins against black based removal.
I think due to the fact we run so low to the ground, Spell Pierce is a good offering in removal heavy match-ups as well. It definitely loses effectiveness as opponents stabilize though.
The idea behind Sacred Cat is that we bring him in against the mono-red match up as a recursive equipment user that puts us enough life ahead
of mono-red's burst. Mono-red probably still has a bit of an advantage as they are kind of doing the same thing we are, but are more consistent... It's not all bad though, we draw more cards and our turn 3 can be just as scary!
Shock if there is a low toughness creature that has to go early, or if we are struggling to get through for that last tick of damage...
Here are some of the other cards I am considering as well... I've been particularly split over Curator's Ward vs Curious Obsession. I think they kind of do the same thing for us, but that in MOST match-ups Curious Obsession might do it better because it's faster. On the other hand, Curator's Ward could just blow out some opponents without a way to deal with hexproof.
Well, that's all I've got for you... Planning on purchasing soon, though nothing is set in stone... Let me know what you think, and the important things that I've missed.
The deck is currently fairly budget, not that I was really trying to be... The cards are just cheap!
So Dominaria recently brought us a couple fun build arounds in Valduk, Keeper of the Flame, Danitha Capashen, Paragon, and Champion of the Flame.
The fact we have received these cards right now leads me to believe that they will be at least partially supported by the equipments in future sets.
Without further ado, this is where I'm at with this list...
4x Bomat Courier
4x Champion of the Flame
1x Danitha Capashen, Paragon
4x Sram, Senior Edificer
3x Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle
3x Valduk, Keeper of the Flame
4x Honed Khopesh
3x Prying Blade
4x Short Sword
Enchantments
4x Cartouche of Knowledge
3x Curious Obsession
2x Cartouche of Zeal
4x Glacial Fortress
3x Mountain
4x Inspiring Vantage
3x Island
4x Plains
3x Spirebluff Canal
Here are some of my thoughts on the current list:
We are light on interaction... Like we have none. I'm almost certain the final list includes a full 4 of Spell Pierce, but for now, until I can figure out what to cut, I'm all in on the race them down plan. We partially mitigate this flaw through card draw. A turn with Sram, Senior Edificer is more than enough to power through the removal options of most meta decks. Plus our enchantments replace themselves for the most part to add more fuel to the fire.
Because the equipment in Standard is not really powerful on its own, I've prioritized cheap cheap cheap!
I think that our main targets in Valduk and Champion will be able to compensate for the low power level of the equipment.
Now, there are some powerful enchantments in the set... However, like I already said we do not have many ways to protect our creatures... It is inevitable that we lose some dudes, if we were entirely aura based, I feel that our liability to be blown out increases dramatically. I've chosen auras that should replace themselves in our hand so that we DON'T consistently 2 for 1 ourselves. Equipment is slightly more resilient in this department because they remain on the field. The equipment has some additional perks over auras in our deck, because they are artifacts!
Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle is what actually makes me think that our deck can grind out some wins after the initial round of removal from our opponent. Once we start resurrecting our dudes we'll be just as good at popping off in the mid-late game as we are early on! And we have enough artifacts and Legendaries to turn on that engine at any point in the game.
I haven't tested it yet. So, I'm not actually sure if Danitha Capashen, Paragon helps us win more games, or just "win more" the games we are already ahead in... Gotta get the number right. I really hope it's not 0 though, that would make me sad.
Uhhh, let's see... we are in three colors which will most likely cause us to lose some games... However, the artifacts help us spend all of our mana every turn partially mitigating the problem...
I guess it's time to talk about some side board options!
4x Sacred Cat
2x Shock
1x Sorcerous Spyglass
4x Spell Pierce
Here are some of the things that I first imagined, I think Knight of Grace will help us cheese out wins against black based removal.
I think due to the fact we run so low to the ground, Spell Pierce is a good offering in removal heavy match-ups as well. It definitely loses effectiveness as opponents stabilize though.
The idea behind Sacred Cat is that we bring him in against the mono-red match up as a recursive equipment user that puts us enough life ahead
of mono-red's burst. Mono-red probably still has a bit of an advantage as they are kind of doing the same thing we are, but are more consistent... It's not all bad though, we draw more cards and our turn 3 can be just as scary!
Shock if there is a low toughness creature that has to go early, or if we are struggling to get through for that last tick of damage...
Here are some of the other cards I am considering as well... I've been particularly split over Curator's Ward vs Curious Obsession. I think they kind of do the same thing for us, but that in MOST match-ups Curious Obsession might do it better because it's faster. On the other hand, Curator's Ward could just blow out some opponents without a way to deal with hexproof.
1x Dowsing Dagger
1x Forebear's Blade
1x Scavenger Grounds
1x Siren Stormtamer
1x Crook of Condemnation
1x Tiana, Ship's Caretaker
1x Toolcraft Exemplar
1x Hope of Ghirapur
1x Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp
1x Seal Away
Well, that's all I've got for you... Planning on purchasing soon, though nothing is set in stone... Let me know what you think, and the important things that I've missed.
The deck is currently fairly budget, not that I was really trying to be... The cards are just cheap!
Cheers, Jordan