With only 22 lands (right number for this deck) turn 3 Architect into turn 4 Waves is not so probable.
Old Blue Devotion had 25 lands and it was fine, 22 doesn't help with Master.
In my book, RiP is not a strictly better card than Relic. For example, with only 10 sources of white mana you are guaranteed to play only one of those cards.
Plains in a mono blue deck is a huge cost. You are probably taking damage to cast RiP. Your mana base makes you infinitely more vulnerable to Burn, Scapeshift, colorscrew and other aggressive decks. Drawing two RiP and two Relic is huge difference. Relic works with this deck (namely Trinket and it's "free" to play in many scenarios). After you finish screwing with your opponent you draw a card. None of these thing makes RiP strictly better.
Other than Verdict you haven't mentioned other cards that you wish to fight. Verdict is powerful but if it costs 5-6-7 mana like against us, I find Thorn and Lodestone enough to fight it, with Copter and Blinkmoth in reserve if things go south. We don't need Queller that bad.
Thalia and Canonist can easily be replaced by Thorn and Lodestone, with added pressure from our 1-drops. Combo should fear us, I think.
You are not casting white Leyline in this deck, mana just isn't there, only hope is starting hand, just not sure why you need that card.
Disenchant destroys... what?
Personally, I have 4 Ceremonious Rejection in the side because Eldrazi Tron and Tron are not easiest matchups.
Then tutor targets like graveyard hate (Cage, Relic with Trinket), combo hate (Chalice with Trinket, Thorn), possibly Annul (deals with everything like Disenchant, just less expensive and in color), some Gut Shot/Dismember (for creature and creature/combo decks), Hangarback (tutor target against grindy decks), Unified Will (Titan, Tron, combo), maybe Echoing Truth as catch all.
Blue Steel is not the best deck (yet) but I feel white is not needed.
Really good points - thanks.
I initially went to white splash because of how many times I was being beat by U/W Control and not being able to stop Supreme Verdict.
I think your sideboard plan seems really good and is a better direction that what I had previously, though the only card I am not sold on is Unified Will, only because I can see it being situationally dependent.
Other things I have trouble with are:
T1 hand disruption (not on the play), and not having access to removal (sans Basilisk Collar.)
Also, I have trouble against Merfolk, unless I'm T1-1 drop into T2-Convoke/Cost Redux into T-3 Architect into Lodestone.
Also, Bident of Thassa drawing cards off our flyers is always welcomed, as I am often low on cards in hand.
In terms of splashing, I really have liked Spell Queller coming in against U/W control in defense of Supreme Verdict, though I understand it's hard to leave Mana sitting open in the aggro deck. Though in G2/3, T2 Thorn of Amethyst allows me to still wait till T4 or T5, depending - to use Spell Queller.
Been lurking on the MTG Salvation forums for quite some time. First with the U/B Whir/Tezzerator build discussion, which I have since sold out of and bought paper and online version of the Blue Steel deck. I have added a twist on the Blue Steel deck and was hoping to get some feedback on what changes I've made.
I've had mixed, but mostly positive results - just MTGO testing right now, though the games I don't draw lands far exceeds anything I have ever experienced in paper magic, by a factor of 10!...
I have changed the deck to U/W, though the white cards are only coming out of the sideboard.
Really good points - thanks.
I initially went to white splash because of how many times I was being beat by U/W Control and not being able to stop Supreme Verdict.
I think your sideboard plan seems really good and is a better direction that what I had previously, though the only card I am not sold on is Unified Will, only because I can see it being situationally dependent.
Other things I have trouble with are:
T1 hand disruption (not on the play), and not having access to removal (sans Basilisk Collar.)
Also, I have trouble against Merfolk, unless I'm T1-1 drop into T2-Convoke/Cost Redux into T-3 Architect into Lodestone.
Welp, after getting opponent down to 1, Phexian Unlife with Solemnity could use Disenchant.
I have particularly liked the Master of Waves as a 2 off. At worst, even if you only have a Turn 3 Grand Arhitect into Turn 4 Master of Waves, it allows you to drop a 5/5 Walking Ballista.
Also, Bident of Thassa drawing cards off our flyers is always welcomed, as I am often low on cards in hand.
In terms of splashing, I really have liked Spell Queller coming in against U/W control in defense of Supreme Verdict, though I understand it's hard to leave Mana sitting open in the aggro deck. Though in G2/3, T2 Thorn of Amethyst allows me to still wait till T4 or T5, depending - to use Spell Queller.
Aside from that, aside from being an artifact, Rest in Peace is strictly better than Relic of Progenitus.
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Disenchant are good, but maybe not over powerful. Having access to white might allow me to consider other cards such as Leyline of Sanctity, Ethersworn Canonist, and other white sideboard tech.
I've had mixed, but mostly positive results - just MTGO testing right now, though the games I don't draw lands far exceeds anything I have ever experienced in paper magic, by a factor of 10!...
I have changed the deck to U/W, though the white cards are only coming out of the sideboard.
Looking for any and all advice!
Thanks!
LANDS (22)
CREATURES (30)
ARTIFACTS (8)
SIDEBOARD (15)