Surprised nobody has mentioned Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir yet. Tons of counters, Knowledge Pool lock, and when he comes down nobody can stop the combos from going off.
Having played all the competitive generals at one time or another, he's by far the strongest I've seen.
I took this apart after Gencon, primarily because of the fragility of response. Let me explain:
If you're sitting at a 4-person table with other combo decks present, the game becomes a race to who can combo first. What this deck lacks is solutions...which means you have to pray that your starting hand is solid enough.
While I appreciate this list and enjoy goldfishing (which is what this deck does at a table), its not the best choice for a tournament.
Serra's Sanctum both belong in this deck...Snapcaster Mage probably, but with the addition of Rest in Peace, the graveyard is looking less viable an option. Sun Titan sounds great, but it's a tad slow and vulnerable for this deck's play style. Angelic Arbiter is too slow and underpowered.
Topor Orb would fit very well...but I'm so tight on room! Having redundant lock-pieces (such as multiple wraths, moat, humility) is what keeps your safe, and I'm not sure what to cut. I've already dropped windborn muse, what next?
Tezz could be good, but I don't run enough artifacts to really maximize it.
He comes into play, at the end of your last opponent's turn, and allows you one full turn without anyone being able to stop you. For a mono-blue deck, that means you win.
Add in the fact that he hard-locks with Knowledge Pool or Omen Machine, and he is BY FAR the most powerful creature and general in EDH.
Added Helm/RIP combo...let's see how it goes. If I don't like it, I'll swap it out for an Entreat the Angels and bring back Tamiyo. Remember, this deck is about control and the long-game...you win by inevitability while keeping yourself protected.
Having played all the competitive generals at one time or another, he's by far the strongest I've seen.
I hear a lot of you mentioning turn 2-3 kills with Academy...please elaborate.
Grand Arbiter Augustine, VIII
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed
Norin the Wary
Ghave is my new go-to general. So interactive and reactive, and so many different ways to play it!
If you're sitting at a 4-person table with other combo decks present, the game becomes a race to who can combo first. What this deck lacks is solutions...which means you have to pray that your starting hand is solid enough.
While I appreciate this list and enjoy goldfishing (which is what this deck does at a table), its not the best choice for a tournament.
Also, a new addition arrived recently
Cylonic Rift: Staple
Detention Sphere: Oh so amazing removal
Abrupt Decay: yay for uncounterable removal of hate cards
Rest in Peace: goodbye graveyard strategies
Chromatic Lantern: staple (for 3+ color decks)
I picked up a new Jace...but have yet to test it.
Sphinx's Revelation is nice, but Blue Sun's Zenith shuffles back in. For this deck, I have limited recursion so having Blue Sun come back is enormous.
Forcefield I tried and cut. It ended up being mana-intensive in my meta (with creature token swarms everywhere) and became a target pretty quick.
Tezz could be good, but I don't run enough artifacts to really maximize it.
He comes into play, at the end of your last opponent's turn, and allows you one full turn without anyone being able to stop you. For a mono-blue deck, that means you win.
Add in the fact that he hard-locks with Knowledge Pool or Omen Machine, and he is BY FAR the most powerful creature and general in EDH.
Added Helm/RIP combo...let's see how it goes. If I don't like it, I'll swap it out for an Entreat the Angels and bring back Tamiyo. Remember, this deck is about control and the long-game...you win by inevitability while keeping yourself protected.