...For this tournament, I added Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in place of Thorn of Amethyst. It was fine, but I lost a couple games due to damage from lands. Ah the days of fetchless mono blue...
To be honest I think eight fetchlands in a 20 land deck is too much, especially if you aren't running Aether Vial or mana-dorks. I'd recommend going down to 4 fetches max and switch out the others for fastlands like Seachrome Coast.
Also as just a sidenote, Path to Exile is anti-synergistic with Lodestone and Thalia when it comes to taxing your opponent. Hatebears can run it because of cards Leonin Arbiter and Aven Mindcensor. I ran a build one time with delve cards like Murderous Cut and Logic Knot since they could get around Lodestone Tax...but it did require atleast 6 fetchlands for delve fodder...
I'm thinking about throne of the god-pharaoh. We do tap our stuff a lot with chief engineer and grand architect, or just from attacking. Could provide extra reach and extra clock we could use. Too bad its legendary but still?
Was thinking about it as well, would like to hear how it works for you.
Oh, so you run Vial in the slot where I run Etherium Sculptor. I do see how that would make Myr Superion better. Interesting.
I am intrigued by Vial for sure. Seems like it could make the deck more explosive. Although we already do essentially cheat a lot of cards into play, just like Shadow Gripper said, so I am a little hesitant to pick em up just yet. I could always sell them I guess. MTGO is the best for that. Rental Cards
Yea, I had Etherium Sculptor in some initial builds but felt it was too redundant with Architect and Chief; it also doesn't help you cast them or the other non-artifact creatures.
Aether Vial isn't necessary but its allowed me to play a more methodical and slower game. Without Cavern of Souls it helps me to get around countermagic. It also allows me to play with less mana.
I've thought about switching out the Trophy Mage for Trinket Mage, but she fetches Sword of Light and Shadow, which has been so invaluable. Its the best piece of equipment for this deck.
I think of this deck as a blue artifact "death and taxes".
Trinket Mage and Trophy Mage = "Stoneforge Mystic"
Judge, Wanderer and Lodestone = Thalia and Vryn Wingmare
Ghost Quarter, Tect Edge = Port and Wasteland
...Also, I can't help but notice that Aether Vial is relatively affordable online. Does anybody have experience with it? I have played it in Merfolk, and quite frankly, it seems much better in that deck than this. However,I'm still thinking of replacing the Sage of Epityr with it. It's tough though because here are pros/cons to each card...
I've been using Aether Vial since the beginning, esp with Sage of Epityr....one of my favorite plays is turn one Vial, turn two during upkeep Vial in Sage and effectively "Ponder". Vial also helps play Myr Superion when I don't have Architect or Chief.
Heres the list I've been on since Ballista's release:
Looks good, I'd try and find room for atleast 2x Spellskite between the main/side...card is invaluable.
Also with 22 artifacts, Glint-Nest Crane could help with some card advantage...pilots Copter and wears equipment well as a flier.
...It wasn't me who suggested the Trophy Mage into Crucible tech. But I kind of like it. Tron and Scapeshift are notoriously bad matchups and that would definitely help sealing the deal. I do think if you were to include the combo that you probably want 4 GQs or 3 GQs + 1 Tech Edge or something to that extend...
Since Smuggler's Copter is now banned in Standard, the price has dropped to 1.07 tix on mtgo and $6.99 on paper. I may try to modify my list to run a couple alongside 2x Glint-Nest Crane.
This makes me also think back to what Badabing said about Trophy Mage getting Crucible of Worlds.
Running a Crucible maindeck could allow for synergy with Copter by discarding lands. Crane and the Mage also help us to find Crucible faster for the Tron match-up.
Yes i really like strenghtening ballista, it is also a great mana sink we can use all our grand architect extra mana on. It can be early removal or late game reach, which super good...
Don't forget it can also hit planeswalkers and has a nice interaction with Basilisk Collar..
I really liked how thopter engineer makes drawing your threats late still very good. Hasty signal pests or superion are great! Also the 2 bodies pair up nicely with chief's convoke and battlecry triggers from pest.
Easier since I run Aether Vial aswell...its my "Stoneforge Mystic" impersonation.
Also you guys seem to be not running Academy Ruins? Its always served me well..
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Also as just a sidenote, Path to Exile is anti-synergistic with Lodestone and Thalia when it comes to taxing your opponent. Hatebears can run it because of cards Leonin Arbiter and Aven Mindcensor. I ran a build one time with delve cards like Murderous Cut and Logic Knot since they could get around Lodestone Tax...but it did require atleast 6 fetchlands for delve fodder...
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Nice!
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Aether Vial isn't necessary but its allowed me to play a more methodical and slower game. Without Cavern of Souls it helps me to get around countermagic. It also allows me to play with less mana.
I've thought about switching out the Trophy Mage for Trinket Mage, but she fetches Sword of Light and Shadow, which has been so invaluable. Its the best piece of equipment for this deck.
One of the things I've been trying to figure out is how to get card advantage around Lodestone tax with cards like:
Bident of Thassa, Thoughtcast, Mindless Automaton, Smuggler's Copter.
Right now I'm using Sea Gate Wreckage and its been pretty decent, I really really wish Glint-Nest Crane was also an artifact.
I think of this deck as a blue artifact "death and taxes".
Trinket Mage and Trophy Mage = "Stoneforge Mystic"
Judge, Wanderer and Lodestone = Thalia and Vryn Wingmare
Ghost Quarter, Tect Edge = Port and Wasteland
Twitch: gamerchamp
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Heres the list I've been on since Ballista's release:
8 Island
4 Polluted Delta
2 Blinkmoth Nexus
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Sea Gate Wreckage
1 Academy Ruins
1 Watery Grave
1 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (8)
4 Aether Vial
1 Vedalken Shackles
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
1 Engineered Explosives
4 Mausoleum Wanderer
4 Grand Architect
4 Chief Engineer
3 Sage of Epityr
3 Lodestone Golem
3 Myr Superion
2 Hangarback Walker
2 Walking Ballista
2 Spellskite
1 Filigree Familiar
1 Trophy Mage
1 Trinket Mage
1 Glint-Nest Crane
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Filigree Familiar
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Dismember
1 Spell Snare
1 Echoing Truth
1 Silent Arbiter
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pithing Needle
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Crucible of Worlds
Also here's some Vial footage from abt a year ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muv3fVf96CU
Twitch: gamerchamp
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Also with 22 artifacts, Glint-Nest Crane could help with some card advantage...pilots Copter and wears equipment well as a flier.
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Thank goodness I pre-ordered @ $2.99.
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Twitch: gamerchamp
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What's your guys thoughts on Pilgrim's Eye and Solemn Simulacrum to ensure land drops/filter?
Trophy Mage can even find Pilgrim's Eye, which is a good blocker...
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Twitch: gamerchamp
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Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
This makes me also think back to what Badabing said about Trophy Mage getting Crucible of Worlds.
Running a Crucible maindeck could allow for synergy with Copter by discarding lands. Crane and the Mage also help us to find Crucible faster for the Tron match-up.
Maybe even run Buried Ruin...
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
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Swapping:
Treasure Mage for Trophy Mage
Triskelion for Walking Ballista
Wurmcoil Engine for Filigree Familiar
8 Island
4 Polluted Delta
2 Blinkmoth Nexus
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Sea Gate Wreckage
1 Academy Ruins
1 Watery Grave
1 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (8)
4 Aether Vial
1 Vedalken Shackles
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
1 Engineered Explosives
4 Mausoleum Wanderer
4 Grand Architect
4 Chief Engineer
3 Sage of Epityr
3 Lodestone Golem
3 Myr Superion
2 Hangarback Walker
2 Walking Ballista
2 Spellskite
1 Filigree Familiar
1 Trophy Mage
1 Trinket Mage
1 Glint-Nest Crane
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Filigree Familiar
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Dismember
1 Spell Snare
1 Echoing Truth
1 Silent Arbiter
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pithing Needle
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Crucible of Worlds
Twitch: gamerchamp
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Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
Twitch: gamerchamp
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Its practically a Triskelion you can grow or play for less, six mana gets you the same amount of counters. Also can find with Trinket Mage.
Now all we need is one that draws cards...
Twitch: gamerchamp
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I do hope Aether Revolt gives us some blue artifact-creature versions of Thopter Engineer...
A blue Doomed Traveler would also be nice..
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