Let me see if i follow it: you sac the persist creature for a +1/+1 counter on Ghave, the persist creature comes back, you make a saproling and sac it for a +1/+1 on the persist creature.
If i got it right, even with Earthcraft out this is not infite right? And even with it depends on the number of +1/+1 counters on Ghave.
Imp's Mischief. Redirect effects are very versatile and effective against counterspells in particular.
You can change the target of counterspell to Imp's mischief to counter a counterspell, even if it can't be countered by spells or abilities. If someone tries to counter an instant you play in response to another spell you can even redirect their counterspell to someone else's spell. Or just steal a time stretch or draw spell.
Sudden spoiling is something that I'm typically very happy to draw. It has a lot of utility just from having split second. Especially if you have a sac outlet that is also a mana source, since you can cause unreactable death triggers with it on the stack and then after you don't have to worry about any activated abilities or triggers until end of turn.
Speaking of death triggers, Pattern of Rebirth dramatically increases Academy rector's utility. A sac outlet let's Academy rector get an answer to almost anything with no spells to counterspell.
Necromancy's flash option is very relevant when playing around other people's blue magic. I like it over reanimate because of the flash and sun titan interaction, but there's room to disagree. I run more ways to take advantage of it being an enchantment.
I bring up these options because they are all quite good even if you aren't swimming in blue players.
I'm trying to get hold of a Necromancy, i'll play it instead of Animate Dead. Reanimate was already cut, it's a one shot effect on a high recursive deck, i didn't like it. I'll make some space for Imp's Mischief, maybe cut Raven's Crime.
Sudden Spoiling is worth testing, i'll see if i can make space for it.
I'll also run Gaea's Herald + Leyline of Lifeforce for redundancy and tutorability with Academy Rector.
My playgroup is very blue heavy, i'm the only one playing a deck that has less than 10 counterspells, they play very controlish with tons of counterspells, even Cancel and Negate, and board wipes, wich is kinda frustrating to play against. They are fine with cut-throat cards like tutors, but infinite combos and Strip Mine are banned, go figure.
My out is bulding something resilient to those kind of plays and i thought about Karador! Being able to recur creatures from my graveyard is a big deal when everythin i play is going there. Need some advice on what cards to cut/add for improving my matchup against those pesky blue mages. The deck in question:
I'm pretty happy with the outcome, the deck seems leaner, more focused and faster. Only some things I'm not really sure:
1. How good is Commandeer? My meta has only one deck that plays Exsanguinate, I can't think of the top of my head of any other kill spell that would be worth stealing.
2. Is the number of counterspells too low? Currently it's sitting at 6 + Patron Wizard.
Oh well, it's so hard to make cuts. I'm trying to make room for a Cephalid Constable along the other things. The first cuts made room for the trio mentioned by Kraus and lands, now on 36. I'll see if i post an updated list soon.
Knowledge Exploitation -- You're not playing rogues so you have to pay the full cost, and I can't think of any instants/sorceries, even the most powerful ones up to and including Tooth and Nail, that would be worth stealing for 5UU when you're playing Azami.
Lighthouse Chronologist -- Looks tempting on paper but I promise you you'll never get him to level 7.
Graceful Adept -- Meh ability. Even though you'll be drawing lots of cards per turn, you'll also be playing those cards or dumping them to Forbid, and if you need to discard an extra land or two to get down to 7, then no big deal. I play Azami too and I can tell you you'll never need a hand-size uncapper unless your meta is full of Jin-Gitaxias or something.
Overall, you run a lot more wizards than I'd recommend (my recommended # is usually around 20-23). It might seem like a good idea to run a ton of wizards, but remember that you're not an aggro deck like Elves, you're a MUC deck, and so you actually want to run "just enough" wizards so you can devote the slots to stuff important to MUC--that is, your manabase and your countermagic.
I'll make those cuts for sure and add Sapphire Medalion and Stonybrook Banneret, the rest will be Islands. I'll see if i can trim off more pet cards, like Lab Maniac. What are your thoughts on Voidmage Prodigy?
Cut Lighthouse Chronologist (unless you want to draw table hate), Rayne (I like her too, but meh), and Ertai (too slow, I'd rather have Mnemonic Wall and a bounce engine to get back a real counterspell).
Add islands. Or/Also, add in some small draw. The trio of Ponder, Preordain and Brainstorm is oft underestimated. In a monoblue deck those 1 drop cantrips will get you to your lands, answers, whatever. I once had a Deadeye Navigator/Archaeomancer thing going and just keep reusing the Brainstorm in my graveyard. Wasn't hurting anyone so they let me go unhindered.
I had the trio but cut them for more wizards... starting to go the other way around now hehe i'll definitely check Galspanic list, thanks. Oh, and Scrivener has the same ETB effect as Mnemonic Wall but is also a wizard!
How do you guys deal with a resolved mimic vat? Onlly Gate to Phyrexia and Phyexia Tribute? Graveyard hate, Nevermore naming Chainer and Vat destroyed me today several times.
If i have two Nightveil Specters and one of them die, granted the other is still alive, can i play the cards that were exiled by the effect of the one that died?
Nightveil Specter (Rare) - (U/B)(U/B)(U/B)
Creature - Specter
Flying
When Nightveil Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles the top card of his or her library.
You may play cards exiled with Nightveil Specter.
2/3
In the last SCG:Indy finals, one player got his Thragtusk exiled and forgot to put the 3/3 beast token on the battlefield, and he lost the game because of it. If he had put the beast token in play, there was a sequence of plays that would win him the game on the next turn.
The judge didn't catch this error and the Thragtusk player lost the game. I am curious about how a judge should proceed in a situation like this, where fixing the game state would grant a win to one player and if there would be any warnings to his opponent.
If i got it right, even with Earthcraft out this is not infite right? And even with it depends on the number of +1/+1 counters on Ghave.
I'm trying to get hold of a Necromancy, i'll play it instead of Animate Dead. Reanimate was already cut, it's a one shot effect on a high recursive deck, i didn't like it. I'll make some space for Imp's Mischief, maybe cut Raven's Crime.
Sudden Spoiling is worth testing, i'll see if i can make space for it.
I'll also run Gaea's Herald + Leyline of Lifeforce for redundancy and tutorability with Academy Rector.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Sweet lord, that's exactly what i need. Thanks.
My out is bulding something resilient to those kind of plays and i thought about Karador! Being able to recur creatures from my graveyard is a big deal when everythin i play is going there. Need some advice on what cards to cut/add for improving my matchup against those pesky blue mages. The deck in question:
1x Academy Rector
1x Acidic Slime
1x Archon of Justice
1x Ashen Rider
1x Avenger of Zendikar
1x Bone Shredder
1x Dimir House Guard
1x Disciple of Bolas
1x Duplicant
1x Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1x Eternal Witness
1x Fleshbag Marauder
1x Golgari Grave-Troll
1x Harmonic Sliver
1x Iona, Shield of Emeria
1x Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
1x Karador, Ghost Chieftain
1x Karmic Guide
1x Kokusho, the Evening Star
1x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1x Mindslicer
1x Necrotic Sliver
1x Qasali Pridemage
1x Reveillark
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Stinkweed Imp
1x Sun Titan
1x Sylvan Primordial
1x Viscera Seer
1x Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter
1x Wood Elves
1x Yavimaya Granger
1x Yosei, the Morning Star
Instant (6)
1x Eladamri's Call
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Entomb
1x Krosan Grip
1x Path to Exile
1x Swords to Plowshares
Sorcery (12)
1x Austere Command
1x Damnation
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Diabolic Intent
1x Farseek
1x Life from the Loam
1x Maelstrom Pulse
1x Nature's Lore
1x Raven's Crime
1x Reanimate
1x Tooth and Nail
1x Wrath of God
1x Animate Dead
1x Aura Shards
1x Greater Good
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Survival of the Fittest
1x Sylvan Library
Artifact (6)
1x Altar of Dementia
1x Birthing Pod
1x Oblivion Stone
1x Phyrexian Altar
1x Skullclamp
1x Sol Ring
Land (36)
1x Arid Mesa
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Command Tower
1x Dust Bowl
1x Fetid Heath
9x Forest
1x Godless Shrine
1x High Market
1x Marsh Flats
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
1x Misty Rainforest
1x Murmuring Bosk
1x Overgrown Tomb
1x Phyrexian Tower
5x Plains
1x Reflecting Pool
4x Swamp
1x Temple Garden
1x Temple of the False God
1x Verdant Catacombs
1x Beast Within
1x Chord of Calling
1x Fiend Hunter
1x Hokori, Dust Drinker
1x Lord of Extinction
1x Mortify
1x Putrefy
Sideboard are cards that i cut but i would like to play with. Any advice?
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Vedalken AEthermage
1 Voidmage Prodigy
1 Cephalid Constable
1 Fatespinner
1 Laboratory Maniac
1 Patron Wizard
1 Sigil Tracer
1 Temporal Adept
1 Trinket Mage
1 Archaeomancer
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Surgespanner
1 Venser, Shaper Savant
1 Azami, Lady of Scrolls
1 Scrivener
1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Non-Wizards:3
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1 Deadeye Navigator
1 Duplicant
Artifacts:15
1 Expedition Map
1 Library of Leng
1 Mana Vault
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Sol Ring
1 Grim Monolith
1 Sapphire Medallion
1 Scroll Rack
1 Basalt Monolith
1 Cloud Key
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Diviner's Wand
1 Vedalken Shackles
1 Caged Sun
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Fabricate
1 Rite of Replication
1 Acquire
1 Bribery
1 Tunnel Vision
Instants:14
1 Brainstorm
1 High Tide
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Capsize
1 Forbid
1 Hinder
1 Long-Term Plans
1 Spell Crumple
1 Cryptic Command
1 Desertion
1 Force of Will
1 Psychic Spiral
1 Spin into Myth
Enchantments:2
1 Rhystic Study
1 Future Sight
Others:2
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Seat of the Synod
1 Academy Ruins
1 Buried Ruin
1 Cavern of Souls
25 Island
1 Maze of Ith
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Riptide Laboratory
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Strip Mine
1 Thawing Glaciers
1 Tolaria West
1 Diluvian Primordial
1 Ertaim Wizard Adept
1 Graceful Adept
1 Lighthouse Chronologist
1 Psychosis Crawler
1 Supreme Inquisitor
1 Voidmage Husher
1 Jushi Apprentice
1 Rayne, Academy Chancellor
1 Cephalid Constable
Artifact Out (3)
1 Oblivion Stone
1 Venser's Journal
1 Gauntlet of Power
Artifact In (6)
1 Mana Vault
1 Grim Monolith
1 Basalt Monolith
1 Sapphire Medallion
1 Scroll Rack
1 Cloud Key
1 Knowledge Explotation
Sorcery In (2)
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
Instant Out (1)
1 Commandeer
Instant In (1)
1 Brainstorm
Lands Out (1)
1 Haunted Gengraf
Lands In (6)
6 Island
1. How good is Commandeer? My meta has only one deck that plays Exsanguinate, I can't think of the top of my head of any other kill spell that would be worth stealing.
2. Is the number of counterspells too low? Currently it's sitting at 6 + Patron Wizard.
I'll make those cuts for sure and add Sapphire Medalion and Stonybrook Banneret, the rest will be Islands. I'll see if i can trim off more pet cards, like Lab Maniac. What are your thoughts on Voidmage Prodigy?
I had the trio but cut them for more wizards... starting to go the other way around now hehe i'll definitely check Galspanic list, thanks. Oh, and Scrivener has the same ETB effect as Mnemonic Wall but is also a wizard!
I like to play a control playstyle but i feel i lack ramp and i'm not hitting my land drops every turn. Anything you guys suggest i cut to add those?
1x Archaeomancer
1x Azami, Lady of Scrolls
1x Deadeye Navigator
1x Diluvian Primordial
1x Duplicant
1x Ertai, Wizard Adept
1x Fatespinner
1x Glen Elendra Archmage
1x Graceful Adept
1x Jushi Apprentice
1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1x Laboratory Maniac
1x Lighthouse Chronologist
1x Patron Wizard
1x Phyrexian Metamorph
1x Psychosis Crawler
1x Rayne, Academy Chancellor
1x Scrivener
1x Sigil Tracer
1x Snapcaster Mage
1x Supreme Inquisitor
1x Surgespanner
1x Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
1x Temporal Adept
1x Trinket Mage
1x Vedalken AEthermage
1x Venser, Shaper Savant
1x Voidmage Husher
1x Voidmage Prodigy
1x Caged Sun
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Diviner's Wand
1x Expedition Map
1x Gauntlet of Power
1x Library of Leng
1x Oblivion Stone
1x Relic of Progenitus
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Sol Ring
1x Vedalken Shackles
1x Venser's Journal
Land (33)
1x Academy Ruins
1x Buried Ruin
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Haunted Fengraf
19x Island
1x Maze of Ith
1x Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1x Misty Rainforest
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Riptide Laboratory
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Seat of the Synod
1x Strip Mine
1x Thawing Glaciers
1x Tolaria West
1x Capsize
1x Commandeer
1x Cryptic Command
1x Cyclonic Rift
1x Desertion
1x Forbid
1x Force of Will
1x High Tide
1x Hinder
1x Long-Term Plans
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Psychic Spiral
1x Spell Crumple
1x Spin into Myth
Sorcery (7)
1x Acquire
1x Bribery
1x Fabricate
1x Knowledge Exploitation
1x Merchant Scroll
1x Rite of Replication
1x Tunnel Vision
Enchantment (3)
1x Future Sight
1x Rhystic Study
1x Treachery
Planeswalker (2)
1x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1x Tezzeret the Seeker
Nightveil Specter (Rare) - (U/B)(U/B)(U/B)
Creature - Specter
Flying
When Nightveil Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles the top card of his or her library.
You may play cards exiled with Nightveil Specter.
2/3
The judge didn't catch this error and the Thragtusk player lost the game. I am curious about how a judge should proceed in a situation like this, where fixing the game state would grant a win to one player and if there would be any warnings to his opponent.