Still no Retract? 4 artifacts, retract and 1 tendrils wins games.
I can always generate enough storm without Retract, because of all the mana producers. It would probably be better if my deck had more 1cc or 2cc tutors, but there aren't many good tutors left for legacy. Ponder and brainstorm improved the consistency of my deck. They have also saved me a few times. They let me filter out extra cards to help find tendrils or Intent after I finished going off with AdN.
I'll keep testing Retract and see if I get better results.
Ok, so here is my new list. I took Sparki's advice and splashed a little blue. The blue works wonders.
I tried out Jwar Isle Refuge and it works quite well. It helps fix mana and gives you that crucial extra 1 life while going off or surviving some burn.
Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.
Lands
3 - Swamp
4 - Underground River
2 - Island
2 - Jwar Isle Refuge
2 - Peat Bog
Solitare Scores out of 30
Turn 1 wins: 1
Turn 2 wins: 11
Turn 3 wins: 7
Turn 4 wins: 3
Turn +5 wins: 5
Fizzles: 3
I could have gotten more T2/T3 wins, but I'm still learning to pilot this deck correctly. This includes trying to win when I have 2 tendrils in my hand, but no AdN.
Serum Powder is also just a Bolt to your face randomly when comboing off, too :\
That's true, but I can't think of anything else other than adding back all the Chromatic Stars and Spheres. I don't need any color fixing, but I guess small cantrips do a lot less harm than Serum Powder.
Surprisingly enough, Serum Powder actually worked the best out of all the things I could think of. Everything else was useless all the time. The powder actually saved me a few times, because I didn't have to mulligan down to 6 or 5 while thinning my deck a little. However, it is useless outside your opening hand. My list is still Mono Black and doesn't need mana fixing. I'll probably exchange the last 2 chromatic stars for Inquisition of Kozilek to increase protection.
Any thoughts on Winds of Change? It could be pretty nasty with AdN (if it couldn't find Tendrils/extra mana) or to fix a crappy hand.
I've also been testing Serum Powder and it's great for fixing my hand, but it's a dead draw and -3 life with AdN.
4 Ad Nauseam is suicide. I would only play 1, with 2 being the max.
you have no past in flames, so Gamble is a dead card that will probably hurt more than help. I would either play Death Wish or Infernal Tutor instead. Infernal Tutor is not nearly as dead as you would think, as it can find multiple rituals for you and you can easily empty your hand even without lions eye's.
The chromatics are probably not needed, as there is no need for mana fixing and they cause you to lose storm. I would probably play some gitaxian probes in their stead.
My current list looks like this, though is still needs a few changes. At the very least, it can give you some ideas.
Ad Nauseam is a big part of my deck. I've only been killed 3 or so times out of the dozens upon dozes of gold fishes I've done with the deck. However, your concern on the number of AN I have is legit. So death wish seems like a good idea, but I'll have to create some kind of utility sideboard. Gitaxian probe looks like a good idea, since chromatics are kind of dead cards outside T1-2. However, they are decent cantrips if you set them up a turn or so earlier. Paying two life can be a big deal for this deck.
I tested out infernal tutor. An extra ritual for storm count is nice, but it doesn't help if don't have AN already in my hand. If I try to empty my hand, then I usually won't have enough mana for AN after I tutor it. I guess that replacing my chromatics with probes and maybe noxious revivals(?) can make infernal tutor a better card. It looks kind of nice on paper, but it's a dead card in this deck. I'll try testing both infernal contract and Sign in Blood.
Maybe I can try something with Ill-Gotten Gains or possibly Doomsday or maybe something techy like Gustha's Scepter + Infernal Tutor (lol)?
It's pretty straightforward. Use mana producers like the rituals/culling to increase mana + storm count. The 0cc creatures help build up storm and sacrifice for culling/diabolic intent. Ad Nauseam acts as the "yawgmoth's bargain" to set up a massive Tendrils with all the cards drawn.
Peat Bog makes the T2-3 kills much more consistent, but with slightly less of those random T1 kills (lol, not that they weren't rare already).
Duress for some protection (and disruption).
Sacrificing crystal vein can help push out that Ad Nauseam by giving it that extra crucial mana.
I need some ideas on what to do with Gamble. Infernal Tutor seems pretty useless in this deck. Personal Tutor doesn't help much, because Ad Nauseam is an instant. Maybe I might just remove the extra tutor all together and put an extra copy of something already there. I'm still testing with Gamble.
Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advance.
OK... So with all my final exams done I can finally post my brand new decklist. It's a B/U/w Reanimator using serum powder to allow you to sculpt your hand better and using pull from eternity to act as a cheap entomb. I got this idea from here http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?4725-%5BDeck%5D-Golden-Gun-(B-w-Reanimator). I've goldfished with it A LOT, possibly 100s of games and it's much more consistent than the mono black version. All constructive criticism is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
also, i think 7 fatties is too many in a reanimator deck. Try taking out 2 Pathrazer of Ulamog and putting in one more buried alive and something else. Seems like you are not really interacting with the board. maybe some creature destruction like doom blade?
I guess something like Doom Blade or Diabolic Edict could work, but I don't see a lot of reanimator decks actively running creature removal. My eldrazis should make short work of most defenders. Most reanimator decks I've seen run 6-8 threats, but I'd say removing 1 It That Betrays seems a little better. Pathrazer is a complete ***** to block and does enormous damage to the opponent's field with 3 annihilator. I usually can get my threats out by turns 1-3, the very latest turn 4. Adding an extra buried alive seems like a good idea.
@gallimar
Phage + Angel combo seems nice, but I think I'll stick to my eldrazis since they can already win games by themselves.
Those are all great choices. The sphinx is quite nice, I can dig really deep with Plunge into Darkness and regain some health or just do a ton of damage turns 1-3.
I hope you know that Artisan of Kozilek only works if you play him form your hand, not if you rez him.
Yeah I know that, but I needed another big guy with annihilator. Can you recommend me another big guy for under $2, who can be more useful? I'm still open to suggestions.
-2 Dance of the Dead and +2 more animate dead. The creature coming into play tapped with dance of the dead is much more relevant than a creature losing 1 power.
lose the zombie infestations and replace them with Buried alive. I love the inclusion of putrid imp though.
I REALLY do not like gemstone caverns. IMO Just have swamps.
plunge into darkness is risky, but if you like it you can keep it. if you REALLY want a tutor of some kind, run Beseech the Queen. Its much better than either of the "tutors" you have. Though really, i dont think you need any more than 2-3 "tutor" cards. Your deck is so repetitive as far as what everything does that you will just draw into everything you need more often than not.
your win conditions are fine except that included among them should be some silver bullets like Iona, sheild of emeria and blazing archon. Inkwell leviathan is nice if your opponent is running a lot of removal and both sphinx of the steel wind and Empyrial Archangel help if you need to out race an opponent. I would run some kind of combination of these rez targets along with smaller numbers of the ones you already have.
more protection would also be nice, but im not sure exactly what you could use. perhaps cabal therapy?
Ok, I'm on a REALLY low budget (like $40>>>>). So I can't really add two more animate the dead and replace the zombie infestations (and these have helped me before). I've been goldfishing using magic assistant, and the gemstone caverns and the crazy amount of tutors that I run + dark ritual have given me a lot of turn 2-4 wins that I didn't even deserve. Plunge into darkness is really risky, but the top deck advantage that it gives is amazing. I actually recommend playing around with it a bit, it's a lot better than it looks (it's an instant too). Like I said I'm on a really low budget so the Angels, sphinx, and archon are out of the question (:(). However, I really like the leviathan, so I added one of those (-1 It that Betrays) and I also added Reya Dawnbringer (-1 It that betrays). Thanks for the advice.
EDIT:
I found the Archangel to be reasonably priced, going to take out Reya now. Thanks for the suggestion.
I can always generate enough storm without Retract, because of all the mana producers. It would probably be better if my deck had more 1cc or 2cc tutors, but there aren't many good tutors left for legacy. Ponder and brainstorm improved the consistency of my deck. They have also saved me a few times. They let me filter out extra cards to help find tendrils or Intent after I finished going off with AdN.
I'll keep testing Retract and see if I get better results.
I tried out Jwar Isle Refuge and it works quite well. It helps fix mana and gives you that crucial extra 1 life while going off or surviving some burn.
Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.
Lands
3 - Swamp
4 - Underground River
2 - Island
2 - Jwar Isle Refuge
2 - Peat Bog
Artifacts [Creatures]
4 - Lotus Petal
4 - Phyrexian Walker
4 - Ornithopter
3 - Shield Sphere
Instants
4 - Dark Ritual
3 - Cabal Ritual
4 - Culling the Weak
4 - Ad Nauseam
2 - Brainstorm
Sorceries
4 - Duress
3 - Tendrils of Agony
4 - Diabolic Intent
4 - Ponder
Solitare Scores out of 30
Turn 1 wins: 1
Turn 2 wins: 11
Turn 3 wins: 7
Turn 4 wins: 3
Turn +5 wins: 5
Fizzles: 3
I could have gotten more T2/T3 wins, but I'm still learning to pilot this deck correctly. This includes trying to win when I have 2 tendrils in my hand, but no AdN.
That's true, but I can't think of anything else other than adding back all the Chromatic Stars and Spheres. I don't need any color fixing, but I guess small cantrips do a lot less harm than Serum Powder.
Surprisingly enough, Serum Powder actually worked the best out of all the things I could think of. Everything else was useless all the time. The powder actually saved me a few times, because I didn't have to mulligan down to 6 or 5 while thinning my deck a little. However, it is useless outside your opening hand. My list is still Mono Black and doesn't need mana fixing. I'll probably exchange the last 2 chromatic stars for Inquisition of Kozilek to increase protection.
Now this looks extremely interesting. Posting a list close to your original one would be really helpful.
I've also been testing Serum Powder and it's great for fixing my hand, but it's a dead draw and -3 life with AdN.
A red splash sounds rather interesting. Do you by any chance have a list to help me generate more ideas?
Ad Nauseam is a big part of my deck. I've only been killed 3 or so times out of the dozens upon dozes of gold fishes I've done with the deck. However, your concern on the number of AN I have is legit. So death wish seems like a good idea, but I'll have to create some kind of utility sideboard.
Gitaxian probe looks like a good idea, since chromatics are kind of dead cards outside T1-2. However, they are decent cantrips if you set them up a turn or so earlier. Paying two life can be a big deal for this deck.
I tested out infernal tutor. An extra ritual for storm count is nice, but it doesn't help if don't have AN already in my hand. If I try to empty my hand, then I usually won't have enough mana for AN after I tutor it. I guess that replacing my chromatics with probes and maybe noxious revivals(?) can make infernal tutor a better card. It looks kind of nice on paper, but it's a dead card in this deck. I'll try testing both infernal contract and Sign in Blood.
Maybe I can try something with Ill-Gotten Gains or possibly Doomsday or maybe something techy like Gustha's Scepter + Infernal Tutor (lol)?
Peat Bog makes the T2-3 kills much more consistent, but with slightly less of those random T1 kills (lol, not that they weren't rare already).
Duress for some protection (and disruption).
Sacrificing crystal vein can help push out that Ad Nauseam by giving it that extra crucial mana.
I need some ideas on what to do with Gamble. Infernal Tutor seems pretty useless in this deck. Personal Tutor doesn't help much, because Ad Nauseam is an instant. Maybe I might just remove the extra tutor all together and put an extra copy of something already there. I'm still testing with Gamble.
Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advance.
Creatures
4 - Phyrexian Walker
4 - Ornithopter
2 - Shield Sphere
Instants
4 - Dark Ritual
4 - Cabal Ritual
4 - Culling the Weak
4 - Ad Nauseam
Sorceries
4 - Duress
3 - Tendrils of Agony
4 - Diabolic Intent
1 - Gamble
Artifacts
2 - Chromatic Sphere
4 - Chromatic Star
4 - Lotus Petal
Lands
6 - Swamp
4 - Peat Bog
2 - Crystal Vein
Deck List:
Creatures
3 - Empyrial Archangel
4 - Pathrazer of Ulamog
4 - Hapless Researcher
1 - Putrid Imp
1 - Stormtide Leviathan
Spells
4 - Pull from Eternity
4 - Exhume
4 - Dark Ritual
4 - Careful Study
3 - Plunge into Darkness
4 - Spoils of the Vault
Artifacts
4 - Serum Powder
3 - Lotus Petal
Enchantments
4 - Animate Dead
Lands
4 - Forsaken City
3 - Underground River
4 - Ancient Spring
2 - Island
I guess something like Doom Blade or Diabolic Edict could work, but I don't see a lot of reanimator decks actively running creature removal. My eldrazis should make short work of most defenders. Most reanimator decks I've seen run 6-8 threats, but I'd say removing 1 It That Betrays seems a little better. Pathrazer is a complete ***** to block and does enormous damage to the opponent's field with 3 annihilator. I usually can get my threats out by turns 1-3, the very latest turn 4. Adding an extra buried alive seems like a good idea.
@gallimar
Phage + Angel combo seems nice, but I think I'll stick to my eldrazis since they can already win games by themselves.
Those are all great choices. The sphinx is quite nice, I can dig really deep with Plunge into Darkness and regain some health or just do a ton of damage turns 1-3.
Yeah I know that, but I needed another big guy with annihilator. Can you recommend me another big guy for under $2, who can be more useful? I'm still open to suggestions.
4 - Exhume
4 - Duress
2 - Dance of the Dead
4 - Plunge into Darkness
1 - It That Betrays
4 - Pathrazer of Ulamog
4 -Putrid Imp
2 - Animate Dead
22 - Swamp
4 - Dark Ritual
1 - Inkwell Leviathan
1 - Empyrial Archangel
1 - Artisan of Kozilek
3 - Blackmail (can help discard cards in my own hand if I don't have imps and can double as a slightly weaker duress, but is capable of taking out lands too)
3 - Buried Alive
Ok, I'm on a REALLY low budget (like $40>>>>). So I can't really add two more animate the dead and replace the zombie infestations (and these have helped me before). I've been goldfishing using magic assistant, and the gemstone caverns and the crazy amount of tutors that I run + dark ritual have given me a lot of turn 2-4 wins that I didn't even deserve. Plunge into darkness is really risky, but the top deck advantage that it gives is amazing. I actually recommend playing around with it a bit, it's a lot better than it looks (it's an instant too). Like I said I'm on a really low budget so the Angels, sphinx, and archon are out of the question (:(). However, I really like the leviathan, so I added one of those (-1 It that Betrays) and I also added Reya Dawnbringer (-1 It that betrays). Thanks for the advice.
EDIT:
I found the Archangel to be reasonably priced, going to take out Reya now. Thanks for the suggestion.