Yea, but if he just played Affinity he would've already won on turn 3.
I just noticed that a lot of the lists here are more controlling, so is this a branch of the deck that hasn't really been explored before? To me it seems like trying to go big with awkward like Myr Superion aren't going to work. I tried it before and it crashed and burned.
Yea, the premise is to try and create an asymmetrical advantage with Lodestone Golem and Tectonic Edge. Æther Vial helps with dropping creatures and playing around countermagic. It can also be used to play Myr Superion. I compare Superion to Tarmogoyf, since they virtually die to the same things, but still decent treats. Vedalken Shackles also helps and gives great interaction; Judge's Familiar provides some disruption as well as synergy with Grand Architect and Lodestone Golem. I differ in my approach to the deck as I'm not trying to dump my hand out as fast as possible. This deck will always feel suboptimal if tuned to run like Affinity and you will find yourself to just wanting play Affinity.
More so I'm looking to be a mix of Legacy MUD (tax opponent, drop big beater while doing so) and Merfolk (aggressive with bonus from Grand Architect). In reality Grand Architect allows us to do both by providing the ramp and +1/+1 bonus.
It is worth a try, but i'd stay away from it without the pili-pala combo. and even then i can't believe there isn't something more efficient, i mean 4 +2 mana/damage seems very inefficient...
EDIT: If you want to combo with pili pala staff of domination is better, at least it can always be useful and it is a great architect mana sink.
I was thinking maybe sword of fire and ice would be good?, it draw, can kill creatures, pumps our guys, might be better than thirst/thoughtcast?
Yea I've been back and forth on Swords of X and Y, pro red is good against burn, but maybe Sword of Light and Shadow is better? Protection from blk and white removal and the toughness boost gets most of our guys out of bolt range. We also play lots of creatures to recurr. What are your thoughts on Golem Artisan?
My current list below, trying Faerie Mechanist as a form of CA thats also a flying, blue artifact. Solemn Simulacrum might just turn into a Sword.
Deck really needs to play aggressive when it draws the "mana-dork" side of the deck, swords may help. Ethersworn Canonist are rarely sided in, might just turn those into Leyline of Sanctity.
Also starting to realize, Lodestone Golem is the only real form of "tax" mainboard, really wish I could make Tidehollow Sculler work as something to do in the beginning stages.
Since each activation of Goblin Cannon is separate, you could potentially wipe your opponents field or just finish them off. Also works with Pili-Pala infinite combo.
So Ace got me to bite on Myr Superion, but only because the New Phyrexia art is so awesome!
Here's the current iteration I play tested with today, its been pretty good. Like you guys mentioned, evasion is something we need to figure out.
I threw in a Thassa, God of the Sea to see if she could help with that.
Thorn: I think I will place in the sideboard and run 2 Vedalken Shackles in its place.
Tidehollow: I hear you, but don't forget I can convoke white mana off of Judge's Familiar. You are right about vialing him in instant speed, I will do more testing with him but keep your points in mind.
Ethersworn: Shes there just as another form of disruption, its just that theres not too many other good creature artifacts out there that aren't vanilla. I suppose I could try Myr Superion in this slot.
After a few games, I was beginning to see that opponents really hated Lodestone Golem and tax effects.
Wanted to try and exploit and add 2 Thorn of Amethyst.
Also wanted to go more in on just wrecking their gameplan with Tidehollow and Ethersworn.
Idea, between Æther Vial, Logic Knot (fetchlands to delve), Thoughtcast (Affinity), we should be better off where the tax effects are more asymmetrical.
As for aether vial i mean sure it'll win you games that you get land short but half of the creature base in my deck is either designed to play the role of fast mana or is cheap to cast. Like i said in the other forum, aether vial can't attack and be pumped as opposed to other creatures and it is a very bad topdeck. Vial is a fantastic card but i just don't think this deck, or at least my version of it, is the best for it. If i played vial i'd have to cut creatures, which i don't want to do.
As for the taxing effect of lodestone golem it very rarely hinders my plays, most of the times i cast architect before golem or if it is late game i have enough lands to cast it.
Same thing for thirst, i either cast it turn 3 if i need gas right now or cast it later when i have more lands. Thoughtcast is interesting but we aren't affinity. Very often i have just 2 or 3 artifacts in play, the opponent also will kill some of them most of the times. Also instant speed is somewhat useful sometimes, so it still like thirst better.
EDIT: Another option for card draw that dodges golem tax is Bident of thassa. I tried it for a while and it was fine but i like thirst better now because bident needs you to already be winning while thirst will always draw you cards.
Ah, yea I lost to Choke once, I'll add an oboro, palace in the clouds.
I see how your decks just tries to empty its hand and go the aggro route, but to me if feels too much like a slower affinity deck that can't go over the top with cards like Cranial, Ravager and Master of Etherium. Myr Superion has been discussed alot in this thread and its the goyf of the deck, but hes just two vanilla for my taste.
The more and more I play this deck, them more I realize you need interaction. With all the basic islands, Vedalken Shackles was just screaming at me to be included lol. And its worked fantastically. I might drop the Thoughtcast for Thirst, still want to to more testing. Changed my mana around to have no come into play tapped lands and added the 4 Blinkmoth I saw in your list.
Thanks for the ideas, hopefully this deck can be pushed and show some results.
Aether Vial is a pet card of mine and one of the reasons I'm playing this deck.
I think it gives good interations, flashing in Metamorph during combat and copying Wurmcoil to block and opponents creature.
Vialing in Judges Familiars to counterspells, getting around Lodestone tax, it allows you to play a more guarded game against removal by waiting until the opportune time to commit a creature like Grand Architect, knowing you can wait till EOT to do it, Vialing in Treasure Mage and still having that mana open to do other things.
If you are always tapping your creatures for mana, what are you attacking with?
I tried Vault Skirge, but it sucks that hes not blue for Grand Architect, although you can spend blue to make him blue, but then thats mana you couldve been using to activate blinkmoth or casting thirst.
If you can, just try out 4 Aether Vial in place of Vault Skirge.
Drop 2 Signal Pest and try 2 Vedalken Shackles or Batterskull to give those "mana dorks" some kick.
Hi all, i'm a new comer but i have been playing a similar deck since chief engineer was printed. I just learned about this forum's existence and decided to post the list i've been working on.
As you can see the deck is more focused on vomiting your hand turn 2 or 3 with cheap threats. It plays more like an affinity deck with a bit less firepower (no plating) and a bit more disruption.
There are no big expensive bombs, maybe this is a mistake but so far the swarming plan as worked out as I've had reasonable success with the list.
Myr superion has been very good, but i didn't see it in most list as i was skimming through this thread. In addition to architects and engineers we can cast it with double animated blinkmoth nexus or double etherium sculptor or a mix of the two. Also thirst for knowledge is super good, i often cast it main phase because even if we tap out we can still cast our stuff using our creatures.
I saw you discussing Aether Vial in the Tezz thread and thought it was better to answer here:
I think one benefit in this deck is that it helps get the non-artifact creatures down without paying the tax for Lodestone Golem.
Also if you look at this game, https://youtu.be/oY80tUVBAj8 , I was able to play everything off 2 mana and only one being a true blue source.
Also I'm not to sure how efficient Thirst is in this deck along with Lodestone, that's why I opted to play Thoughtcast, since the Golem tax is canceled out by Golem being an Artifact for Affinity.
Yea I completely get you with the mana dorks.
What do you think of adding Sword of Fire and Ice or other X/Y swords.
Bident might work, but better if it gave a power/toughness bonus. But I guess focing an attack leaves you open to attack unblocked.
What do you think of Contagion Engine as a sweeper?
Those were some sweet games (sorry on that last one). Do you usually find Aether Vial ticked up that high causes you problems?
Usually after I make the 1 drop I try to get Aether Vial on 3 and keep it there. Against junk I let it get high for Wurmcoil and Metamorph shenanigans.
Æther Vial I feel is essential to this deck. It still allows for that "turn" 1 drop to be efficient with Chief Engineer.
For example:
Turn 1: Land, Æther Vial .
Turn 2: 2nd Land, Æther Vial (add counter), play Chief Engineer, vial in 1 drop (can be done at end of your opponents turn).
Turn 3: 3rd Land, Æther Vial (add 2nd counter), vial in 2 drop, cast 6 drop artifact or 7 drop (if vialed in 2 drop was Etherium Sculptor).
My 1 drops of choice include the obvious Judge's Familiar and the unobvious Cloudfin Raptor.
Initially I wanted a blue artifact-creature 1 drop, but the only one that exist in modern is Sphinx's Herald; he's pretty lackluster.
I figure I wanted to play agro style a la merfolk, but kick into big beater gear as soon as possible, Cloudfin Raptor fits both rolls as he grows as I cast the bigger spells and more importantly has evasion (watch Junk Game 1).
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx: I wanted to find some way to abuse this land and make it the Tolarian Academy of modern. You only benefit if your devotion is greater than 3. I'm still on the fence with this, but might just switch them for another Phyrexia's Core and Ghost Quarter.
Anyway check out the videos and let me know what you guys think!
Yea, but if he just played Affinity he would've already won on turn 3.
Yea, the premise is to try and create an asymmetrical advantage with Lodestone Golem and Tectonic Edge. Æther Vial helps with dropping creatures and playing around countermagic. It can also be used to play Myr Superion. I compare Superion to Tarmogoyf, since they virtually die to the same things, but still decent treats. Vedalken Shackles also helps and gives great interaction; Judge's Familiar provides some disruption as well as synergy with Grand Architect and Lodestone Golem. I differ in my approach to the deck as I'm not trying to dump my hand out as fast as possible. This deck will always feel suboptimal if tuned to run like Affinity and you will find yourself to just wanting play Affinity.
More so I'm looking to be a mix of Legacy MUD (tax opponent, drop big beater while doing so) and Merfolk (aggressive with bonus from Grand Architect). In reality Grand Architect allows us to do both by providing the ramp and +1/+1 bonus.
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
My current list below, trying Faerie Mechanist as a form of CA thats also a flying, blue artifact.
Solemn Simulacrum might just turn into a Sword.
Deck really needs to play aggressive when it draws the "mana-dork" side of the deck, swords may help.
Ethersworn Canonist are rarely sided in, might just turn those into Leyline of Sanctity.
Also starting to realize, Lodestone Golem is the only real form of "tax" mainboard, really wish I could make Tidehollow Sculler work as something to do in the beginning stages.
7 Island
4 Polluted Delta
3 Blinkmoth Nexus
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Tectonic Edge
1 Watery Grave
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Academy Ruins
Creature (28)
4 Etherium Sculptor
4 Judge's Familiar
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Chief Engineer
4 Grand Architect
3 Myr Superion
2 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Faerie Mechanist
4 Æther Vial
2 Vedalken Shackles
1 Batterskull
Spells (4)
2 Thoughtcast
2 Murderous Cut
2 Spellskite
2 Thorn of Amethyst
2 Logic Knot
2 Disenchant
2 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pithing Needle
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Trinket Mage
Also thoughts on Nim Deathmantle
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
Recurrable with Academy Ruins, lots of synergy with Grand Architect, might even be worth it to try Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx again with it, esp if we are running things like Bident of Thassa.
Since each activation of Goblin Cannon is separate, you could potentially wipe your opponents field or just finish them off. Also works with Pili-Pala infinite combo.
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
Here's the current iteration I play tested with today, its been pretty good. Like you guys mentioned, evasion is something we need to figure out.
I threw in a Thassa, God of the Sea to see if she could help with that.
7 Island
4 Polluted Delta
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Tectonic Edge
1 Watery Grave
1 Seachrome Coast
1 Darkslick Shores
1 Academy Ruins
Creature (27)
4 Etherium Sculptor
4 Judge's Familiar
4 Lodestone Golem
3 Chief Engineer
3 Grand Architect
3 Myr Superion
2 Spellskite
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Thassa, God of the Sea
4 Æther Vial
2 Vedalken Shackles
1 Batterskull
Spells (5)
3 Thoughtcast
2 Murderous Cut
2 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
2 Thorn of Amethyst
2 Logic Knot
2 Disenchant
2 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Pithing Needle
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Spell Snare
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
Thorn: I think I will place in the sideboard and run 2 Vedalken Shackles in its place.
Tidehollow: I hear you, but don't forget I can convoke white mana off of Judge's Familiar. You are right about vialing him in instant speed, I will do more testing with him but keep your points in mind.
Ethersworn: Shes there just as another form of disruption, its just that theres not too many other good creature artifacts out there that aren't vanilla. I suppose I could try Myr Superion in this slot.
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
Wanted to try and exploit and add 2 Thorn of Amethyst.
Also wanted to go more in on just wrecking their gameplan with Tidehollow and Ethersworn.
Idea, between Æther Vial, Logic Knot (fetchlands to delve), Thoughtcast (Affinity), we should be better off where the tax effects are more asymmetrical.
Draft I will tryout when I get a chance:
6 Island
4 Polluted Delta
3 Hallowed Fountain
3 Marsh Flats
2 Watery Grave
2 Tectonic Edge
1 Academy Ruins
4 Judge's Familiar
4 Etherium Sculptor
4 Lodestone Golem
3 Chief Engineer
3 Grand Architect
3 Tidehollow Sculler
2 Spellskite
2 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Wurmcoil Engine
3 Thoughtcast
2 Logic Knot
Artifacts (Non-creature) (8)
4 Æther Vial
2 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Scourglass
1 Batterskull
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
I see how your decks just tries to empty its hand and go the aggro route, but to me if feels too much like a slower affinity deck that can't go over the top with cards like Cranial, Ravager and Master of Etherium. Myr Superion has been discussed alot in this thread and its the goyf of the deck, but hes just two vanilla for my taste.
The more and more I play this deck, them more I realize you need interaction. With all the basic islands, Vedalken Shackles was just screaming at me to be included lol. And its worked fantastically. I might drop the Thoughtcast for Thirst, still want to to more testing. Changed my mana around to have no come into play tapped lands and added the 4 Blinkmoth I saw in your list.
Thanks for the ideas, hopefully this deck can be pushed and show some results.
Aether Vial is a pet card of mine and one of the reasons I'm playing this deck.
I think it gives good interations, flashing in Metamorph during combat and copying Wurmcoil to block and opponents creature.
Vialing in Judges Familiars to counterspells, getting around Lodestone tax, it allows you to play a more guarded game against removal by waiting until the opportune time to commit a creature like Grand Architect, knowing you can wait till EOT to do it, Vialing in Treasure Mage and still having that mana open to do other things.
If you are always tapping your creatures for mana, what are you attacking with?
I tried Vault Skirge, but it sucks that hes not blue for Grand Architect, although you can spend blue to make him blue, but then thats mana you couldve been using to activate blinkmoth or casting thirst.
If you can, just try out 4 Aether Vial in place of Vault Skirge.
Drop 2 Signal Pest and try 2 Vedalken Shackles or Batterskull to give those "mana dorks" some kick.
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
I saw you discussing Aether Vial in the Tezz thread and thought it was better to answer here:
I think one benefit in this deck is that it helps get the non-artifact creatures down without paying the tax for Lodestone Golem.
Also if you look at this game, https://youtu.be/oY80tUVBAj8 , I was able to play everything off 2 mana and only one being a true blue source.
Also I'm not to sure how efficient Thirst is in this deck along with Lodestone, that's why I opted to play Thoughtcast, since the Golem tax is canceled out by Golem being an Artifact for Affinity.
Is the Minamo, School At Water's Edge for the lone Kira?
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
What do you think of adding Sword of Fire and Ice or other X/Y swords.
Bident might work, but better if it gave a power/toughness bonus. But I guess focing an attack leaves you open to attack unblocked.
What do you think of Contagion Engine as a sweeper?
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
Here's a list I brewed this weekend and a couple match videos.
https://youtu.be/7w5-Oa6KWMs - vs Junk, Game 1
https://youtu.be/ePBK9MpUBf4 - vs 8rack/pox, Game 2
https://youtu.be/oY80tUVBAj8 - vs WRG midrange, Game 1
https://youtu.be/oyzddSykVoY - vs WRG midrange, Game 3 (forgot I could counter Collected Company with Judge's Familiar, but shows Spine of Ish Shah action)
8 Island
4 Polluted Delta
2 Watery Grave
2 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Academy Ruins
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Tolaria West
1 Phyrexia's Core
Creatures (29)
4 Judge's Familiar
4 Etherium Sculptor
4 Grand Architect
3 Cloudfin Raptor
3 Chief Engineer
3 Lodestone Golem
3 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Treasure Mage
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
2 Thoughtcast
Artifacts (8)
4 Æther Vial
2 Vedalken Shackles
1 Staff of Nin
1 Batterskull
2 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Spell Pierce
2 Logic Knot
2 Dismember
2 Spellskite
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Spine of Ish Sah
Noticeable inclusions:
Æther Vial I feel is essential to this deck. It still allows for that "turn" 1 drop to be efficient with Chief Engineer.
For example:
Turn 1: Land, Æther Vial .
Turn 2: 2nd Land, Æther Vial (add counter), play Chief Engineer, vial in 1 drop (can be done at end of your opponents turn).
Turn 3: 3rd Land, Æther Vial (add 2nd counter), vial in 2 drop, cast 6 drop artifact or 7 drop (if vialed in 2 drop was Etherium Sculptor).
My 1 drops of choice include the obvious Judge's Familiar and the unobvious Cloudfin Raptor.
Initially I wanted a blue artifact-creature 1 drop, but the only one that exist in modern is Sphinx's Herald; he's pretty lackluster.
I figure I wanted to play agro style a la merfolk, but kick into big beater gear as soon as possible, Cloudfin Raptor fits both rolls as he grows as I cast the bigger spells and more importantly has evasion (watch Junk Game 1).
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx: I wanted to find some way to abuse this land and make it the Tolarian Academy of modern. You only benefit if your devotion is greater than 3. I'm still on the fence with this, but might just switch them for another Phyrexia's Core and Ghost Quarter.
Anyway check out the videos and let me know what you guys think!
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant