I've had this idea rolling around in my head for awhile now. Basically a "...& taxes", build but with vehicles. Possibly focusing more on tokens to crew the vehicles. Here's a list of cards I'm currently considering for this brew:
Ajani, Caller of the Pride
Quite simply, it pairs well with Heart of Kiran. He's a four loyalty planeswalker for three mana, whose abilities all pump our vehicles and/or team.
Sram's Expertise
If I do decide to go in more of a token direction, there could be some killer turns. A possibility of six tokens for four mana if you can cast any of the token generators. I just wish Spectral Procession had a cmc of three or less!
Card suggestions, questions and comments are all appreciated!
I'd like to make a case for Night Market Lookout. This guy seems pretty good for us. The rulings on crewing a vehicle are such that we can get multiple triggers off of multiple lookouts on a single copter at end of turn or before a block. It seems like with fiery temper, alms of the vein and maybe flame lash, we could get there with just direct damage and madness enablers...even when the board is clogged in other aggro match ups. I'm gonna test this week and report back.
Am I just way off base here?
I completely agree, in fact i was just playtesting a similar idea. At one point i had 2 of them crewing a copter to get in that extra damage and life gain. Between those guys, alms of the vein, i was able to have just enough life to live from a big swing. Id usually finish off opponents with making guys haste from my Olivias, or a key to the city to make a guy unblockable. And restocking my hand with Bomats.
Lookout's utility could be a great addition to the list. I even like the idea of attacking, getting a trigger and then hitting for one.
I'd like to make a case for Night Market Lookout. This guy seems pretty good for us. The rulings on crewing a vehicle are such that we can get multiple triggers off of multiple lookouts on a single copter at end of turn or before a block. It seems like with fiery temper, alms of the vein and maybe flame lash, we could get there with just direct damage and madness enablers...even when the board is clogged in other aggro match ups. I'm gonna test this week and report back.
Here's the link to the list Brian Braun-Duin played at Worlds this last weekend. He did really well with it and oh by the world is the new World Champion!
I'm thinking this will be what I aim for after some advice and retooling, this creature base and splashing blue for Treasure Cruise seems to Top 8 frequently.
Obviously Soulfire Grand Master and Monastery Mentor will get some consideration, I'm just not willing to preorder at the prices they want. Also, the moar Fetches, the moar betterer...PS Steppe Lynx & Plated Geopede may find their way into this deck at some point. Banefire is also getting some SB consideration...
I'm thinking about splashing a third color for this deck as the land support and benefits from one other color could help this deck win with consistency.
Like the look of your lists. How did the matches go? Did you make use of your sideboard much?
Matches went OK. Some matches were intense. I REALLY like the variety of cards in B/W, and I'm hoping that the support for this deck is only increased as the block moves on. As far as matches go, I'm sort of drawing a blank. I remember more of the second day...were I placed 11th. lol
The main comment I have about this deck is that you HAVE to start well. If you can't hit early, this deck loses a lot of steam in the mid to late game. I'm thinking good and hard about adding 2-3 Athreos, God of Passage as he's indestructible and your opponents must think long and hard about using the removal and board wipes.
Another comment I had was about Tormented Hero. I don't like her anymore. I know she's a one drop, but she comes into play tapped and her only benefit comes from Boon of Erebos, which is always the first card I boarded out. If anything, I HAVE to play Boon of Erebos to make her any kind of playable. Gnarled Scarhide, Herald of Anafenza and Ruthless Ripper will get a good look.
Also, I'm making my removal better by adding Utter End and Hero's Downfall. Devouring Light was only good against similar aggro decks and mostly became a dead card when playing anything else (Jeskai Combo or any form of control, namely). I had a match were Prognostic Sphinx gave me fits, even though I had an active Spear of Heliod and 3 Devouring Light in hand.
FINALLY, as far as sideboard use, I boarded in Grim Haruspex and Stain the Mind to try and generate draw/remove their big cards. I never saw a single card I boarded in all weekend. lol I wish I had more to tell...there just isn't.
Here's where I started;
Thoughts?
4 Harsh Mentor
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Leolin Arbiter
4 Eldrazi Displacer
4 Flickerwisp
4 Thought-Knot Seer
1 Restoration Angel
4 Path to Exile
4 Aether Vial
23 Lands
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Inspiring Vantage
4 Eldrazi Temple
4 Ghost Quarter
2 Needle Spires
3 Plains
1 Mountain
1 Wastes
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Rest in Peace
2 Mirran Crusader
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Good Cards
If I do wind up splashing black, I'd consider:
Now to discuss some of the spicier selections:
Ajani, Caller of the Pride
Quite simply, it pairs well with Heart of Kiran. He's a four loyalty planeswalker for three mana, whose abilities all pump our vehicles and/or team.
Sram's Expertise
If I do decide to go in more of a token direction, there could be some killer turns. A possibility of six tokens for four mana if you can cast any of the token generators. I just wish Spectral Procession had a cmc of three or less!
Card suggestions, questions and comments are all appreciated!
Lookout's utility could be a great addition to the list. I even like the idea of attacking, getting a trigger and then hitting for one.
Am I just way off base here?
http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=13424&d=278777&f=MO&show_pts=Y
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Helix
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Rift Bolt
4 Lava Spike
4 Searing Blaze
4 Treasure Cruise
Creatures
4 Goblin Guide
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
Land
5 Mountain
4 Arid Mesa
4 Wooded Foothills
2 Bloodstained Mire
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Steam Vents
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Boros Charm
4 Flame Javelin
4 Skullcrack
4 Searing Blaze
Creatures
4 Figure of Destiny
4 Goblin Guide
4 Vexing Devil
4 Kitchen Finks
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Arid Mesa
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Marsh Flats
4 Rugged Prairie
3 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Magma Jet
4 Searing Blood
4 Volcanic Fallout
3 Earthquake
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
4 Tormented Hero
4 Chief of the Edge
4 Seeker of the Way
3 Sightless Brawler
2 Master of the Feast
1 Cavalry Pegasus
Support
4 Banishing Light
4 Thoughtseize
4 Boon of Erebos
3 Athreos, God of Passage
2 Spear of Heliod
1 Return to the Ranks
4 Mana Confluence
4 Temple of Silence
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Plains
2 Swamp
1 Return to the Ranks
2 End Hostilities
2 Cavalry Pegasus
3 Murderous Cut
3 Bile Blight
4 Suspension Field
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
4 Chief of the Edge
4 Seeker of the Way
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Athreos, God of Passage
4 Thoughtseize
4 Mardu Ascendancy
4 Crackling Doom
4 Stoke the Flames
Land 21
4 Mana Confluence
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Battlefield Forge
3 Caves of Koilos
2 Nomad Outpost
2 Mountain
2 Swamp
1 Plains
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
4 Tormented Hero
4 Gnarled Scarhide
4 Chief of the Edge
4 Seeker of the Way
3 Athreos, God of Passage
2 Sightless Brawler
2 Master of the Feast
4 Thoughtseize
4 Boon of Erebos
3 Murderous Cut
2 Spear of Heliod
1 Return to the Ranks
Land
4 Mana Confluence
4 Temple of Silence
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Plains
4 Swamp
General
Sliver Overlord
Slivers (37)
Support (24)
Land (38)
Looking For:
I'm thinking about splashing a third color for this deck as the land support and benefits from one other color could help this deck win with consistency.
The colors under consideration:
Red for a Mardu theme:
With Nomad Outpost and Mana Confluence the land base will be easy to fix. Red gives us access to: Monastery Swiftspear, Mardu Charm, Mardu Ascendancy, Chained to the Rocks, Magma Spray, Rouse the Mob, Deflecting Palm, Fall of the Hammer, Jeering Instigator, Tymaret, the Murder King Lightning Strike, Goblin Rabblemaster, Magma Jet, Stoke the Flames, etc.
Green for a Abzan theme:
With Sandsteppe Citadel and again Mana Confluence the land base is easily fixed. Green gives us access to: Fleecemane Lion, Feed the Clan, Heir of the Wilds, Kin-Tree Invocation, Rakshasa Deathdealer, Abzan Charm, Abzan Ascendancy & Anafenza, the Foremost.
Thoughts? Comments? Other Card suggestions?
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
4 Mardu Skullhunter
4 Chief of the Edge
4 Seeker of the Way
3 Sightless Brawler
2 Cavalry Pegasus
2 Master of the Feast
2 Timely Hordemate
3 Banishing Light
3 Spear of Heliod
2 Return to the Ranks
2 Bile Blight
2 Hero's Downfall
Planeswalkers (3)
3 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4 Caves of Koilos
4 Mana Confluence
4 Temple of Silence
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Swamp
3 Plains
Tormented Hero has been replaced by Mardu Skullhunter. Also added a 3rd Spear of Heliod. I had matches where I didn't seem to draw one. Also trying out 2 Timely Hordemate, seems pretty good mid to late game.
I will report back!
Matches went OK. Some matches were intense. I REALLY like the variety of cards in B/W, and I'm hoping that the support for this deck is only increased as the block moves on. As far as matches go, I'm sort of drawing a blank. I remember more of the second day...were I placed 11th. lol
The main comment I have about this deck is that you HAVE to start well. If you can't hit early, this deck loses a lot of steam in the mid to late game. I'm thinking good and hard about adding 2-3 Athreos, God of Passage as he's indestructible and your opponents must think long and hard about using the removal and board wipes.
Another comment I had was about Tormented Hero. I don't like her anymore. I know she's a one drop, but she comes into play tapped and her only benefit comes from Boon of Erebos, which is always the first card I boarded out. If anything, I HAVE to play Boon of Erebos to make her any kind of playable. Gnarled Scarhide, Herald of Anafenza and Ruthless Ripper will get a good look.
Also, I'm making my removal better by adding Utter End and Hero's Downfall. Devouring Light was only good against similar aggro decks and mostly became a dead card when playing anything else (Jeskai Combo or any form of control, namely). I had a match were Prognostic Sphinx gave me fits, even though I had an active Spear of Heliod and 3 Devouring Light in hand.
FINALLY, as far as sideboard use, I boarded in Grim Haruspex and Stain the Mind to try and generate draw/remove their big cards. I never saw a single card I boarded in all weekend. lol I wish I had more to tell...there just isn't.