Totally agree. Harbinger is almost required in a Doran deck. 3 colors is hard enough even with Harbinger. I applaud the attempt at trying something new but I do think you are making it hard without it
I've actually been ok with 3 Doran and 4 Assault Formation. I've been able to find my enablers every game lately with the addition of Commune with the Gods. It finds enablers and pumps my Tarmogoyf very quickly. Sometimes you get stuck wanting more than 1 card from the 5 but it really helps smooth out finding key cards.
In versions that run Ensnaring Bridge main, this is a good way to dump your hand faster and ramp at the same time. Also, with Assault Formation out (using the +ability), it can potentially eat Arclight Phoenix every turn
I like the Eldritch Evolution approach. This was on my short list of things to try but just haven't got around to it yet. I'll move this up the list to try it out sooner than later. I like the idea of sacking a mana dork to go get Doran or pretty much anything in this deck. I also need to find a home for Rhox Faithmender. That card just ends Burn.
Looks similar to a list I am currently testing. The following list is after testing an initial 4 color build with sylvan caryatid and path to exile. I think this deck wants all in on its gameplan and with Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive, PtE is less important. Wall of Denial was just a house at stalling when you are missing your enablers. I am really liking the Aether Vial approach as it lets us hold up certain creatures as ambush or in the case of Spellskite protection for permanents. Commune with the Gods is a new addition to try and make the deck even more consistent. The graveyard text of Commune isn't ideal but I think digging for enablers far outweighs that downside. Could also try Ancient Stirrings as a way to smooth out the mana and find Vials and Bridge.
Edit: In regards to deputy of detention, I think the upside is it takes the removal heat away from Doran while providing removal in the absence of Path to Exile. That might be my next test.
Someone at WoTC must really want this deck to be a thing. This makes Bant way more attractive for this deck. Not sure where that leaves Doran however. Is 4 colors too much?
At 3 mana it's a bit high for what this deck is trying to do. If you do find a slot for it, it would be a 2 of at most since you want to see this card when you need more gas. I've been playing around with a non-souls version with this format getting faster so maybe take out two souls and add those?
I think it dilutes the deck having a bunch of discard spells. You want bodies swinging with this deck. These are in the air which makes them even more dangerous. I tried the discard plan a while back and I didn't like T1 having to choose between Inquisition/Thoughtseize and Birds of Paradise/Treefolk Harbinger. Topdecking those mid-late game when you are trying to find more gas was also terrible. If you can land a Spellskite, you are not always giving the card back.
G1
T1: Birds. Bird dies on his turn to Push.
T2: Kitesail take his LoTV. See he has Goyf, Temur Battlerage, LoTV, lands. He plays Goyf
T3: Kitesail take his Temur Battlerage. Take a hit from his Goyf.
T4: Drop Assault Formation. He's at 14. Swing two freebooters he goes to write down 4 damage and I cast Tower Defense. 14 damage.
G2
T1: Birds. Bird lives.
T2: Freebooter. Take Abrupt Decay since it's his only removal. He gets himself to 12 and plays Death Shadow
T3: Doran. He takes his turn and drops 2 more Death Shadows.
T4: Top deck my third land. Play Ensnaring Bridge. Opponent sinks back in his chair and shakes his head.
T5-8: Freebooter just hits for 2 until he's dead
Note for this match: Freebooter was nuts. Almost won this match by itself.
2-1 Elves
G1
T1: Harbinger go get land. Opp plays mana dork
T2: Harbinder go get Doran. Opponent makes Commander comment about Doran and plays visionary.
T3: Doran. Swing 6.
T4: Opponent scoops to the fast start.
G2
Don't remember but it ended in me taking just enough damage from swings and a Shaman post combat.
G3
Let him build up his board while getting in damage. Slaughter the Strong his board away just enough to slow him down. He puts himself to 1 life digging with Horizon Canapy. I swing in with Freebooter for win.
1-2 Tron
Note: Don't forget your 2 sideboard Stony Silences in your hotel room. It may cost you the match.
G1
Fast start. T2 Goyf into Doran T3 with T4 Tower Defense.
G2 - Don't see my Stony Silences in the side. WTF
I get him dead on board turn 4. He top decks O'stone into Ulamog next turn.
G3
Turn 1: Birds.
Turn 2: I give him a Goyf to exile if he has tron T3 instead of playing Doran. No Karn from him T3: Durdles and passes.
Turn 3: Doran. Swing in with Goyf. He plays Karn this time and exiles Doran.
Turn 4: Cast Freebooter. See Ulamog and enough mana to cast it next turn. FML. Kill Karn with Goyf. Plays Ulamog and exiles Freebooter and Goyf. EOT Path Ulamog.
Turn 5: Deploy Harbinger grab third Doran and play second Doran. He top decks his second Ulamog. GG as I have no paths in hand and no more gas.
Some key takeaways. 4 Freebooters are a must in this deck. Stripping win conditions and removal is absolutely devastating in this deck with its fast starts. Also Slaughter the Strong is nuts in our deck
Agreed. Behind the Scenes is better if you want this angle. I just forgot about that card when I posted. Going to be taking this deck to FNM tonight. Will report back with the list and results.
This may be a reason to try splashing blue. Low cmc, decent size butt, makes all our creatures unblockable which can just come down and we win. 4 colors are a pain but with Birds of Paradise and Noble Hierarch it should be doable. Maybe a 1-2 of.
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/cards/war-of-the-spark/36308-arboreal-grazer
In versions that run Ensnaring Bridge main, this is a good way to dump your hand faster and ramp at the same time. Also, with Assault Formation out (using the +ability), it can potentially eat Arclight Phoenix every turn
Edit: In regards to deputy of detention, I think the upside is it takes the removal heat away from Doran while providing removal in the absence of Path to Exile. That might be my next test.
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Treefolk Harbinger
3 Nyx-Fleece Ram
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Spellskite
3 Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive
3 Doran, the Siege Tower
3 Wall of Denial
Spells:14
4 Aether Vial
4 Assault Formation
2 Commune with the Gods
2 Ensnaring Bridge
2 High Alert
2 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
1 Hallowed Fountain
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Murmuring Bosk
2 Overgrown Tomb
1 Plains
2 Razorverge Thicket
1 Temple Garden
2 Verdant Catacombs
4 Windswept Heath
1 Anafenza, the Foremost
1 Eidolon of Rhetoric
2 Knight of Autumn
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Assassin's Trophy
2 Damping Sphere
2 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
2 Slaughter the Strong
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/the-rumor-mill/803482-high-alert
Someone at WoTC must really want this deck to be a thing. This makes Bant way more attractive for this deck. Not sure where that leaves Doran however. Is 4 colors too much?
Wall of Denial anyone? 8/8 flying shround sounds pretty tasty.
Note: I made some changes after the matches. There were two Stony Silences but went down to 1 and changed it up to add Pithing Needles.
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Treefolk Harbinger
4 Kitesail Freebooter
2 Nyx-Fleece Ram
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Spellskite
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Doran, the Siege Tower
Spells:14
4 Path to Exile
1 Abrupt Decay
3 Assault Formation
3 Tower Defense
3 Lingering Souls
2 Blooming Marsh
2 Forest
2 Murmuring Bosk
1 Godless Shrine
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Plains
1 Swamp
2 Temple Garden
3 Verdant Catacombs
4 Windswept Heath
1 Eidolon of Rhetoric
2 Pithing Needle
1 Abrupt Decay
2 Golgari Charm
1 Stony Silence
2 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Slaughter the Strong
4 Leyline of Sanctity
First event:
2-0 5c Death Shadow
G1
T1: Birds. Bird dies on his turn to Push.
T2: Kitesail take his LoTV. See he has Goyf, Temur Battlerage, LoTV, lands. He plays Goyf
T3: Kitesail take his Temur Battlerage. Take a hit from his Goyf.
T4: Drop Assault Formation. He's at 14. Swing two freebooters he goes to write down 4 damage and I cast Tower Defense. 14 damage.
G2
T1: Birds. Bird lives.
T2: Freebooter. Take Abrupt Decay since it's his only removal. He gets himself to 12 and plays Death Shadow
T3: Doran. He takes his turn and drops 2 more Death Shadows.
T4: Top deck my third land. Play Ensnaring Bridge. Opponent sinks back in his chair and shakes his head.
T5-8: Freebooter just hits for 2 until he's dead
Note for this match: Freebooter was nuts. Almost won this match by itself.
2-1 Elves
G1
T1: Harbinger go get land. Opp plays mana dork
T2: Harbinder go get Doran. Opponent makes Commander comment about Doran and plays visionary.
T3: Doran. Swing 6.
T4: Opponent scoops to the fast start.
G2
Don't remember but it ended in me taking just enough damage from swings and a Shaman post combat.
G3
Let him build up his board while getting in damage. Slaughter the Strong his board away just enough to slow him down. He puts himself to 1 life digging with Horizon Canapy. I swing in with Freebooter for win.
1-2 Tron
Note: Don't forget your 2 sideboard Stony Silences in your hotel room. It may cost you the match.
G1
Fast start. T2 Goyf into Doran T3 with T4 Tower Defense.
G2 - Don't see my Stony Silences in the side. WTF
I get him dead on board turn 4. He top decks O'stone into Ulamog next turn.
G3
Turn 1: Birds.
Turn 2: I give him a Goyf to exile if he has tron T3 instead of playing Doran. No Karn from him T3: Durdles and passes.
Turn 3: Doran. Swing in with Goyf. He plays Karn this time and exiles Doran.
Turn 4: Cast Freebooter. See Ulamog and enough mana to cast it next turn. FML. Kill Karn with Goyf. Plays Ulamog and exiles Freebooter and Goyf. EOT Path Ulamog.
Turn 5: Deploy Harbinger grab third Doran and play second Doran. He top decks his second Ulamog. GG as I have no paths in hand and no more gas.
Some key takeaways. 4 Freebooters are a must in this deck. Stripping win conditions and removal is absolutely devastating in this deck with its fast starts. Also Slaughter the Strong is nuts in our deck
Just throwing out some stuff to get ideas moving with Magistrate's Scepter
Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive