Strategy:
My first iteration of Rafiq of the Many was very aggressive. It included a large number of creatures that would pump and protect Rafiq, allowing him to eliminate an opponent in one swing. Unfortunately, creature control is the main vulnerability of Rafiq, and committing more creatures to the board made that weakness even more of a handicap. With each pass, more of the creatures were cut for card advantage and board control of my own. Now the deck plays much more like a control deck, though Rafiq can and still does end games at a moment's notice.
Why would you run a guildgate over a bounceland? That's so backwards. Bouncelands are card advantage and early discard chances for graveyard shenanigans.
Also Sadistic hypnotist allows for a combo if you really want 0 combos. How is armada wurm? He seems underwhelming to me. Also how is luminate primordial? You have a lot of good creature based removal already, and it is pretty pricey. Does he compare well with the existing removal package? I hesitated to try him because he felt redundant.
I appreciate that bouncelands have their advantages. I also know that my last four losses with this deck have been due to an early bounceland getting hit by Wasteland, Vindicate, Strip Mine, and Frost Titan, respectively. This deck is rather slow. Losing two land drops to a single card is catastrophic.
The only combo Sadistic Hypnotist would facilitate is having each opponent discard his or her hand. It would require at least two additional cards and be functionally identical to Myojin of Night's Reach. I had never considered it a combo. Perhaps considering it a "fair" combo is a better way to phrase it.
I do not have any experience with Armada Wurm. It isn't in the deck currently nor has it ever been.
Luminate Primordial is pretty pricy. However, the difference between "destroy a creature" and "exile a creature" has been huge. He's only been in the deck a few weeks and already taken down a number of Blightsteel Colossus. Vigilance has been surprisingly important. Being able to apply pressure while still being protected against surprise Maelstrom Wanderers and other hasted threats has been a factor in a few games.
He can respond to the "shuffle in" trigger and reanimate it.
From gatherer:
Worldspine Wurm’s last ability is a triggered ability, not a replacement ability. Players can respond to this ability, for example, by trying to exile Worldspine Wurm from the graveyard before it’s shuffled into a library.
Diaochan, Artful Beauty
Reins of Power
Twist Allegiance
Capricious Efreet
Fiery Gambit
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=563352
Thank you.
My first iteration of Rafiq of the Many was very aggressive. It included a large number of creatures that would pump and protect Rafiq, allowing him to eliminate an opponent in one swing. Unfortunately, creature control is the main vulnerability of Rafiq, and committing more creatures to the board made that weakness even more of a handicap. With each pass, more of the creatures were cut for card advantage and board control of my own. Now the deck plays much more like a control deck, though Rafiq can and still does end games at a moment's notice.
The Deck:
1 Rafiq of the Many [ALA]Foil
Creature Spells:
1 Angel of the Dire Hour [C14]
1 Consecrated Sphinx [MBS]Foil
1 Dragonlord Ojutai [DTK]Foil
1 Medomai the Ageless [THS]Foil
1 Myojin of Cleansing Fire [CHK]Foil
1 Novablast Wurm [WWK]Foil
1 Stoneforge Mystic [WWK]Foil
1 Stonehewer Giant [MOR]Foil
1 Sunblast Angel [SOM]Foil
Planeswalkers:
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant [ALA]Foil
1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets [SOI]Foil
1 Karn Liberated [NPH]Foil
1 Nahiri, the Lithomancer [C14]
1 Narset Transcendent [DTK]Foil
1 Tamiyo, Field Researcher [EMN]Foil
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon [FRF]Foil
Non-Creature Spells:
1 Argentum Armor [SOM]Foil
1 Azorius Signet [DIS]Foil
1 Batterskull [NPH]Foil
1 Cyclonic Rift [RTR]Foil
1 Day of Judgment [ZEN]Foil
1 Descend upon the Sinful [SOI]Foil
1 Final Judgment [BOK]Foil
1 Finest Hour [ARB]Foil
1 Fumigate [KLD]Foil
1 Future Sight [ONS]Foil
1 Hallowed Burial [EVE]Foil
1 Mana Crypt [Judge]Foil
1 Marble Diamond [7ED]Foil
1 Mind Spring [MOR]Foil
1 Moss Diamond [7ED]Foil
1 Mystic Confluence [Judge]Foil
1 Path to Exile [CON]Foil
1 Phyrexian Rebirth [MBS]Foil
1 Relic of Progenitus [ALA]Foil
1 Rest in Peace [RTR]Foil
1 Return to Dust [TSP]Foil
1 Rhystic Study [PCY]Foil
1 Rout [CNS]Foil
1 Selesnya Signet [RAV]Foil
1 Simic Signet [DIS]Foil
1 Sky Diamond [7ED]Foil
1 Sol Ring [Judge]Foil
1 Sphinx's Revelation [RTR]Foil
1 Stroke of Genius [Judge]Foil
1 Supreme Verdict [RTR]Foil
1 Sword of Body and Mind [SOM]Foil
1 Sword of Feast and Famine [MBS]Foil
1 Sword of Fire and Ice [Judge]Foil
1 Sword of Light and Shadow [Judge]Foil
1 Sword of War and Peace [NPH]Foil
1 Swords to Plowshares [Judge]Foil
1 Sylvan Reclamation [C16]
1 Talisman of Progress [MRD]Foil
1 Talisman of Unity [MRD]Foil
1 Terminus [AVR]Foil
1 Umezawa's Jitte [Promo]Foil
1 Wargate [ARB]Foil
1 Wrath of God [7ED]Foil
1 Adarkar Wastes [7ED]Foil
1 Bant Panorama [ALA]Foil
1 Breeding Pool [DIS]Foil
1 Brushland [7ED]Foil
1 Canopy Vista [BFZ]Foil
1 Command Tower [Judge]Foil
1 Dust Bowl [MMQ]Foil
1 Flooded Grove [EVE]Foil
1 Flooded Strand [ONS]Foil
1 Forest [UNH]Foil
1 Glacial Fortress [M10]Foil
1 Hallowed Fountain [DIS]Foil
1 Hinterland Harbor [ISD]Foil
1 Island [UNH]Foil
1 Island [UNH]Foil
1 Island [UNH]Foil
1 Island [UNH]Foil
1 Krosan Verge [JUD]Foil
1 Misty Rainforest [ZEN]Foil
1 Mystic Gate [SHM]Foil
1 Opal Palace [C13]
1 Plains [UNH]Foil
1 Plains [UNH]Foil
1 Plains [UNH]Foil
1 Plains [UNH]Foil
1 Prairie Stream [BFZ]Foil
1 Savannah [REV]
1 Seaside Citadel [ALA]Foil
1 Strip Mine [FTV]Foil
1 Sunpetal Grove [M10]Foil
1 Temple Garden [RAV]Foil
1 Temple of Enlightenment [BNG]Foil
1 Temple of Mystery [THS]Foil
1 Temple of Plenty [BNG]Foil
1 Tropical Island [REV]
1 Tundra [REV]
1 Wasteland [MPR]Foil
1 Windswept Heath [ONS]Foil
1 Wooded Bastion [SHM]Foil
1 Yavimaya Coast [APC]Foil
In:
Out:
Ark42 tells me that there isn't a single card from the set worth more than $4.
In:
Decree of Pain
Liliana Vess
Mana Crypt
Martial Coup
Master of the Wild Hunt
Necrogenesis
Wurmcoil Engine
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
Out:
Avenger of Zendikar
Forgotten Ancient
Garruk Relentless
Kamahl, Fist of Krosa
Praetor's Counsel
Solemn Simulacrum
Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
Worldspine Wurm
Deck
In: Rune-Scarred Demon
Out: Stonecloaker
Planechase
In: The Maelstrom
Out: Astral Arena
I appreciate that bouncelands have their advantages. I also know that my last four losses with this deck have been due to an early bounceland getting hit by Wasteland, Vindicate, Strip Mine, and Frost Titan, respectively. This deck is rather slow. Losing two land drops to a single card is catastrophic.
The only combo Sadistic Hypnotist would facilitate is having each opponent discard his or her hand. It would require at least two additional cards and be functionally identical to Myojin of Night's Reach. I had never considered it a combo. Perhaps considering it a "fair" combo is a better way to phrase it.
I do not have any experience with Armada Wurm. It isn't in the deck currently nor has it ever been.
Luminate Primordial is pretty pricy. However, the difference between "destroy a creature" and "exile a creature" has been huge. He's only been in the deck a few weeks and already taken down a number of Blightsteel Colossus. Vigilance has been surprisingly important. Being able to apply pressure while still being protected against surprise Maelstrom Wanderers and other hasted threats has been a factor in a few games.
Out
In
Out
In
From gatherer:
Worldspine Wurm’s last ability is a triggered ability, not a replacement ability. Players can respond to this ability, for example, by trying to exile Worldspine Wurm from the graveyard before it’s shuffled into a library.