I've only got a teeny bit of playtesting (against myself) in, but Nic Fit seems to murder Dragon Stompy. Veteran Explorer dies to all their guys and poops out basic lands so you can get out of Moon effects. Their Chalices at 1 and 2 are very easily dodged and die to Pernicious Deed. Their curve tops out at 4-5; yours tops out at 6, and your late-game guys, Deed, and Liliana 2.0 are absolute murder against them. (At least in 4 games, Jund-coloured Nic Fit hasn't lost yet, and it's gotten through a Koth ultimate.)
Since you aren't tutoring, I see no reason why you don't want leonin arbiter. Also, why no stoneforge mystic? That card is REALLY good. Batterskull invalidates merfolk and most aggro matchups.
I'm not a fan of 4 Surgical Extractions, though (it's not often even card parity--all it does is beat up combo), and I'd rather see Tidehollow Scullers in the deck for the hand mugging (possibly at instant speed with a Vial out).
Commentary including the content of players' hands would be difficult to produce. You'd need a camera behind both players because no one plays with his/her hand face up, and then you can't exactly announce the contents of each player's hand in the same place as the competition unless someone casts a Thoughtseize.
...unless I am getting the commentary process completely wrong.
Y'know what my favourite card to put on a Mox is? Vindicate.
Also, I've been finding Liliana 2.0 to be awesome in decks like this. Throw out Chrome Mox and discard to her and she's a happy girl. She takes over games and fully deserves to eat FoW.
Plus, I think the 3+ planeswalkers (especially Liliana 2.0) 4 Lingering Souls builds are probably Chalice/Moon/Trini Stompy decks' worst nightmares, as the disruption and threats don't stop at cmc 1 and 2.
@Team-Hero, in what situations have you found yourself Wishing for Lightning Reaver? I can probably figure out when to tutor for each of the other cards, but I can't figure out a deck Reaver would be phenomenal against.
Besides the Fulminator Mage for Tron you're also considering, what do you think of Kitchen Finks (for aggro), Huntmaster of the Fells (for aggro, especially little man aggro), Ajani Vengeant (probably more for aggro again), Bant Charm (for overall), Jund Charm (for aggro and graveyard-based combo), Olivia Voldaren (for Fae/Caw-Blade/Tokens), and Zealous Persecution (as a 2-mana X/1 board wipe) as Glittering Wish targets? (Granted, you look pretty tuned to destroy aggro, and ZP actually seems more like a card you maindeck or board in more than one of to soften the Affinity/Fae/Tokens/Caw-Blade/Empty the Warrens match-ups...)
@mirrislegend, I'd estimate Strangleroot Geist is about as good as Bloodghast, with an even worse mana cost at GG (this is a primarily black deck that loves basic lands). It can block and it comes back once, but it can't recur itself nearly endlessly from the graveyard (at the expense of Bloodghast not blocking).
It's not necessarily a staple--I'd say Kitchen Finks is an even worse thorn in aggro's side (and this deck needs a bit of help against aggro), as it also blocks, comes back once, and gains life. But you may be able to stick Strangleroot in your deck without too much trouble.
What do you guys think about a red splash? After reading the Death and Taxes thread and seeing one player go up against Nic Fit splashing red and having the games be close, it might not be a bad idea.
Unfortunately, it doesn't come with as much combo hate as white does, but the anti-aggro hate looks frighteningly good, the blue hate isn't bad, and Blood Moon/Magus of the Moon definitely do something in the current meta.
That may very well be enough artifacts to turn on Mox Opal.
I'm doubtful that's enough white and black sources to run Tidehollow Sculler. Maybe run Master of Etherium instead, since he requires only blue and pitches to FoW.
I think the main reason no one has tested Auriok Champion in Zoo is because she hits like a wuss. With her replacing Goyf/power 1-drops/Pridemage/removal, the number of Turn 4 kills definitely goes down. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben sees play because she doesn't hit like a wuss. The Champion's WW mana cost also hurts quite a bit, especially in a 4+ colour mana base. I already have a hard enough time casting Kird Ape, KotR, and Tiago in a timely fashion.
Also, Auriok Champion does not prevent death by Melira Combo. When they continuously sac Kitchen Finks with one Champion out, you gain X life while they gain 2X. When they ping you with Murderous Redcap next turn, every time the Redcap ETB, you gain 1 life while Redcap pings you for 2. They need to do that about X times to kill you. You need 2 Champions out to hose the combo, and then they might reach for Orzhov Pontiff or Elesh Norn in the sideboard.
Luckily, Chalice of the Void doesn't see much play in Modern, and even if people played that card against Zoo, they'd set it to 1 to hose 1-drops, PtE, and Bolt.
Also, in a deck this suicidal from lands alone, you're probably only bouncing back up to 20 life with Auriok Champion. UR Storm can definitely kill you on Turn 4 with that life total with Grapeshot. She definitely hampers the Empty the Warrens kill, though.
Arbor Elf is there because the deck needs 1-mana mana dork Elves, and Llanowar Elves and Heritage Druid won't be enough. Boreal Druid is there...because it's a 1-mana mana dork Elf. The fact the deck has a lot of Druids is just coincidence.
No Summoner's Pact or maindeck Lead the Stampede is a bit surprising. Seriously, if you're worried about budget, Lead the Stampede is $0.50 per card. (Summoner's Pact, sadly, is $7.00+ per card, but Chord of Calling costs about as much.)
I don't think you need that much more draw if you include the above.
On the other hand, I have seen some very Zoo-like UWR Delver lists. They bring up a pretty good argument that you can actually put green on the chopping block instead.
The OP runs 4 Leonin Arbiters in his/her deck. That and budget reasons may be reasons why there is no Stoneforge Mystic.
I'm not a fan of 4 Surgical Extractions, though (it's not often even card parity--all it does is beat up combo), and I'd rather see Tidehollow Scullers in the deck for the hand mugging (possibly at instant speed with a Vial out).
Like AEIOUsometimesY explained, your goal is to hit 6 mana--not particularly coincidentally, Summoning Trap and Primeval Titan share the exact same mana cost. Cheating guys in through Windbrisk Heights and Mosswort Bridge is also fun.
...unless I am getting the commentary process completely wrong.
Also, I've been finding Liliana 2.0 to be awesome in decks like this. Throw out Chrome Mox and discard to her and she's a happy girl. She takes over games and fully deserves to eat FoW.
Plus, I think the 3+ planeswalkers (especially Liliana 2.0) 4 Lingering Souls builds are probably Chalice/Moon/Trini Stompy decks' worst nightmares, as the disruption and threats don't stop at cmc 1 and 2.
Besides the Fulminator Mage for Tron you're also considering, what do you think of Kitchen Finks (for aggro), Huntmaster of the Fells (for aggro, especially little man aggro), Ajani Vengeant (probably more for aggro again), Bant Charm (for overall), Jund Charm (for aggro and graveyard-based combo), Olivia Voldaren (for Fae/Caw-Blade/Tokens), and Zealous Persecution (as a 2-mana X/1 board wipe) as Glittering Wish targets? (Granted, you look pretty tuned to destroy aggro, and ZP actually seems more like a card you maindeck or board in more than one of to soften the Affinity/Fae/Tokens/Caw-Blade/Empty the Warrens match-ups...)
It's not necessarily a staple--I'd say Kitchen Finks is an even worse thorn in aggro's side (and this deck needs a bit of help against aggro), as it also blocks, comes back once, and gains life. But you may be able to stick Strangleroot in your deck without too much trouble.
With red, you get Punishing Fire (and therefore an even worse mana base as you try to jam Grove of the Burnwillows and enough Mountains in your deck), Lightning Bolt (the old standby), Terminate (kills nearly everything), Huntmaster of the Fells (rips through UW Stoneblade/UR Delver/Goblins/Merfolk/Deadguy Ale/Maverick/D&T if he sticks, and leaves behind 2 life and Recurring Nightmare fodder if he doesn't), Blood Moon/Magus of the Moon (seriously, we run 6+ basics), and Pyroblast and REB in the board.
Unfortunately, it doesn't come with as much combo hate as white does, but the anti-aggro hate looks frighteningly good, the blue hate isn't bad, and Blood Moon/Magus of the Moon definitely do something in the current meta.
What do you guys think?
I'm doubtful that's enough white and black sources to run Tidehollow Sculler. Maybe run Master of Etherium instead, since he requires only blue and pitches to FoW.
Also, Auriok Champion does not prevent death by Melira Combo. When they continuously sac Kitchen Finks with one Champion out, you gain X life while they gain 2X. When they ping you with Murderous Redcap next turn, every time the Redcap ETB, you gain 1 life while Redcap pings you for 2. They need to do that about X times to kill you. You need 2 Champions out to hose the combo, and then they might reach for Orzhov Pontiff or Elesh Norn in the sideboard.
Luckily, Chalice of the Void doesn't see much play in Modern, and even if people played that card against Zoo, they'd set it to 1 to hose 1-drops, PtE, and Bolt.
Also, in a deck this suicidal from lands alone, you're probably only bouncing back up to 20 life with Auriok Champion. UR Storm can definitely kill you on Turn 4 with that life total with Grapeshot. She definitely hampers the Empty the Warrens kill, though.
No Summoner's Pact or maindeck Lead the Stampede is a bit surprising. Seriously, if you're worried about budget, Lead the Stampede is $0.50 per card. (Summoner's Pact, sadly, is $7.00+ per card, but Chord of Calling costs about as much.)
I don't think you need that much more draw if you include the above.
No, I don't get the Melira in the board.
On the other hand, I have seen some very Zoo-like UWR Delver lists. They bring up a pretty good argument that you can actually put green on the chopping block instead.
Granted, you can't make Midnight Guard immune to Bolt because he'd then also be immune to Splinter Twin.
Mutagenic Growth makes Village Bell-Ringer dodge Combust.