Swan Song in place of Turn Aside also seems worth considering. It's not a tempo card but it stops pretty much all the things that would cause me problems not just what targets my side of the field. (sweepers, o-ring, ghostly prison etc.) The 2/2 flier is a tad steep though.
I will for sure have hexproof creatures at least in my sideboard. The Silhana Ledgewalker for sure and one of the 1 drops you suggested for a 1-drop substitute.
If I were to put in the Coiling Oracle which creature would you take out? They all have some kind of ability I like on an attacker. I guess what I'm really asking is which one would you consider the weakest and/or least useful?
I've been tinkering with a U/G aggro deck idea for a few days. I've got it pretty close to what I've pictured in my mind.
The Strat:
1) Abuse rancor on everything, specially the deathtouch creatures.
2) Use and abuse all the other creature abilities. Cause problems, get that damage in there.
3) Mix a tiny bit of control (ie- Simic Charm, Turn Aside, Umezawa's Jitte) with a little bit of pump (Simic Charm, Predator's strike, Umezawa's Jitte) to cause more problems,
Before I continue, here is the current list:(sideboard is just a place holder)
I pretty much agree with Palnar's above comments. There is a difference between casual and just plain suicidal. While this build isn't quite suicidal it's a tad on the " throw a hail-marry pass" kind of go for broke.
Urzatron will help you get things out much faster and play some early medium-to-big threats or have plenty of mana for some kind of sweeper. When they're done dealing with that then you drop big daddy and beat face(s).
It'll work but they'll be one-shot deals and get removed from the game rather easily. If you can get one to hit it'll be devastating. The reason I point out the obvious is because even in a casual setting I think it'll be a little easy to hate out.
I'd cut out at least one color (red or the blue splash), use Urzatron in your land base and lean more black. I see why you included the Traitor King but it feels a little too gimmicky in here.
You're going to want to lean more towards one color than the other two. Since Bolas has BB in his casting cost you'll probably want to go more towards Black and splash the other two.
Crumbling Necropolis will help for a budget build unless you have the funds for 8 shock lands. You may also want to consider Grixis Panorama
You have a very large card pool in these colors. We will be able to suggest more once you decide which color you will lean more towards. Leaning black would make things a little easier.
Land 4Underground River 9Swamp 8island Creature 4Brass Man 4Vault Skirge 4Fledgling Djinn 4Oona's Prowler 4invisible Stalker 2 Shimmering Efreet
The Shimmering Efreet where surprisingly good. They forced a couple scoops when I got one in play. They used a lot of their removal removing early threats. By the time I dropped an Efreet I still had Dismember and Terror in hand so they had no answer to the Efreet nor enough manpower to get any damage through. In one game it functioned like a flying Unsummon the turn before swinging for 6.
With the Oona's Prowler forcing them to dump cards to avoid 3-6 damage in the air, 7 pump cards seemed to be sufficient for the most part. This opens up many more options. There are a number of things I could sideboard out Terror for.
Your curve is a teeny-tiny bit higher than mine is creature wise. I don't have any Funeral Charm but I do have the blue version in Piracy Charm. Go for the Throat would be nice. I'm actually looking for one more copy of Diabolic Edict.
My version is just centered around pumps and beating face more or less.
:confused2:...is it just a general rule of your group or something? I can see how it can be a dominating deck in casual but it really doesn't seem to push any limits as far as casual is concerned.
If anything I think you'd actually need the Vindicate. I do see how the maze and that particular printing of liliana could be pushing it. Maybe take out the Maze to mellow it out a bit?
Yup, tried Unstable Mutation. It works and I might go back to using it. Having the deck mostly black just makes it run a little more consistent. (right now)
All those cards look interesting. I'll have to look through my box again for other things at 3 CMC. That Nightveil Specter artwork just looks cool. If nothing else I'd use it just for that reason. I use the Brass Man for more or less the same kind of reason.:laugh:
I have to say those goldfish sessions were a lot of fun with Coiling Oracle. By turn 4 I had a decent weenie army on the board and cards in hand.
Those 1 or 2 lands put into play are a timely boost.
While Umezawa's Jitte is really nice I would feel fine replacing it with more pump spells now that I see what Coiling Oracle can do for me.
Slippery Bogle is starting to look pretty good.
Swan Song in place of Turn Aside also seems worth considering. It's not a tempo card but it stops pretty much all the things that would cause me problems not just what targets my side of the field. (sweepers, o-ring, ghostly prison etc.) The 2/2 flier is a tad steep though.
9x Forest
4x Hinterland Harbor
7x Island
Creatures
4x Ambush Viper
4x Coiling Oracle
3x Pestermite
4x Sedge Scorpion
4x Strangleroot Geist
4x Twinblade Slasher
3x Predator's Strike
4x Simic Charm
3x Turn Aside
4x Rancor
3x Ponder
If I were to put in the Coiling Oracle which creature would you take out? They all have some kind of ability I like on an attacker. I guess what I'm really asking is which one would you consider the weakest and/or least useful?
The Strat:
1) Abuse rancor on everything, specially the deathtouch creatures.
2) Use and abuse all the other creature abilities. Cause problems, get that damage in there.
3) Mix a tiny bit of control (ie- Simic Charm, Turn Aside, Umezawa's Jitte) with a little bit of pump (Simic Charm, Predator's strike, Umezawa's Jitte) to cause more problems,
Before I continue, here is the current list:(sideboard is just a place holder)
4x Ambush Viper
3x Gaea's Skyfolk
3x Pestermite
4x Sedge Scorpion
4x Strangleroot Geist
4x Twinblade Slasher
Spells
3x Ponder
2x Predator's Strike
3x Simic Charm
3x Turn Aside
4x Rancor
2x Umezawa's Jitte
9x Forest
4x Hinterland Harbor
7x Island
1x Predator's Strike
4x Silhana Ledgewalker
1x Simic Charm
4x Treetop Scout
3x Vines of Vastwood
2x Viridian Longbow
The Questions:
1) Am I crazy for thinking about taking out Ponder For something like Eel Umbra?
-3 Ponder, +1 Predator's Strike, +2 Eel Umbra * possible change
2) I'd like to get that 23rd creature in but it'll cost me a spell.
-3 Ponder, +1 Gaea's Skyfolk, +2 Eel Umbra *possible change
3) Given the deck's intent would something other than Ponder fit better? Other cards I've considered where:
Vines of Vastwood
Tumble Magnet
Æther Spellbomb
Pongify
Ovinize
I'm still looking for better options that will A) be versatile or B) add control or C) add to the offensive punch.
My preference is for versatility. I like options that help the game plan. Thank you for your time.
Urzatron will help you get things out much faster and play some early medium-to-big threats or have plenty of mana for some kind of sweeper. When they're done dealing with that then you drop big daddy and beat face(s).
The Layline may not be much of an issue even if they do start the game with it. Without Talrand and the Fog Banks they don't have a whole lot.
Personally, I would take the infect-pauper deck against this. It'll be over rather quickly for them. A Burn or Sligh deck will work just fine to.
It'll work but they'll be one-shot deals and get removed from the game rather easily. If you can get one to hit it'll be devastating. The reason I point out the obvious is because even in a casual setting I think it'll be a little easy to hate out.
I'd cut out at least one color (red or the blue splash), use Urzatron in your land base and lean more black. I see why you included the Traitor King but it feels a little too gimmicky in here.
I would much rather have a set of Savannah Lions or evenSanctuary Cat over the Lynx. Leonin Elder may even be decent in here.
You can also run Sphinx of Jwar Isle to replace Phage and a bunch of excellent card draw options.
Crumbling Necropolis will help for a budget build unless you have the funds for 8 shock lands. You may also want to consider Grixis Panorama
You have a very large card pool in these colors. We will be able to suggest more once you decide which color you will lean more towards. Leaning black would make things a little easier.
Tested this list for a few hours today...
4Underground River
9Swamp
8island
Creature
4Brass Man
4Vault Skirge
4Fledgling Djinn
4Oona's Prowler
4invisible Stalker
2 Shimmering Efreet
The Shimmering Efreet where surprisingly good. They forced a couple scoops when I got one in play. They used a lot of their removal removing early threats. By the time I dropped an Efreet I still had Dismember and Terror in hand so they had no answer to the Efreet nor enough manpower to get any damage through. In one game it functioned like a flying Unsummon the turn before swinging for 6.
With the Oona's Prowler forcing them to dump cards to avoid 3-6 damage in the air, 7 pump cards seemed to be sufficient for the most part. This opens up many more options. There are a number of things I could sideboard out Terror for.
Dimir Charm
Smother
Snuff out
My favorite thing to do with him though is to flash him in at the end of a turn...and then enchant him with Hermetic Study on my turn.:D
Pestermite for the tap/ untap effect, 2/1 Flyer as well.
I have a U/G deck that flash is a big part of the deck's concept. It works different than what you're looking for though.
Yup, that's what Sinister Strength does for me. It also turns Mr. Brass Man Black so he's immune to Doom Blade as well as Go for the Throat.
My version is just centered around pumps and beating face more or less.
If anything I think you'd actually need the Vindicate. I do see how the maze and that particular printing of liliana could be pushing it. Maybe take out the Maze to mellow it out a bit?
I suppose to tone it down you could replace a few with things like Culling Sun, Mortify and Castigate. Death Grasp and/ or Gerrard's Verdict might find a spot in your more mellow list.
All those cards look interesting. I'll have to look through my box again for other things at 3 CMC. That Nightveil Specter artwork just looks cool. If nothing else I'd use it just for that reason. I use the Brass Man for more or less the same kind of reason.:laugh:
I found a couple Shimmering Efreet and Hand of Cruelty I may try the next chance I get.