Been playing alot of Legacy but had some ideas for this deck, anyone still on this list?
Anyway, updated my list..
Took out the Lodestone Golem and replaced with Karn, the Great Creator.
Also added Pili-Pala for combo and casting Karn when short on actual mana.
Wanted a mana source I could use Aether Vial to bring in and at the same time play my normal game without having to rely on combo..
Been pretty cool in testing, Karn adds a nice toolbox feeling and upgrades the power level of the deck imo.
My current list splashing green for everything wrong with Magic. ..
Welcome and love everything you got going on there with the green splash. If I wasn't trying to maximize leverage out of Aether Vial I'd definitely be running some Incubation // Incongruity.
One card I underestimated and I think you should consider is Emry, Lurker of the Loch, she can be be especially good with Smuggler's Copter in buying back discarded artifacts.
Here's my list below, I've been testing a Karn, the Great Creator as a way to leverage some of the sideboard artifacts I felt were too narrow for mainboard inclusion. Might include a Liquimetal Coating in the sideboard if he works out well..
Stonecoil Serpent seems neat. At the very least, it's a great budget finisher (compared to Wurmcoil Engine. I like that you can cast early to aid convoke and block or whatever. The stats seem really pushed for this guy too. Reach, trample, and protection? Jeeze. Also fetchable with Trinket Mage.
Emry, Lurker of the Loch is a cool card (I totally just lost to it on turn 2 in a Jeskai Ascendancy deck), but I am not sure it's what we want to be doing with our deck. Seems kinda slow, and there's not always going to be artifacts to cast from the graveyard or ones in play to make him cheap. I guess we can loot stuff away with Copter and then cast it. That's pretty cool.
I like the serpent as well, seems like we could abuse it.
Thoughts on Karn, Scion of Urza?
His -2 has some synergy with our deck...
Thinking more for the control matchups in place of Lodestone Golem.
I would snap build around it if he were an artifact. Sadly, he isn't. The steep cost makes it far less reliable as a finisher than it's worth. We want our non-attacking spells to either push control out of their options, or be able to assist in damage somehow, if not both. Four mana Master token that gets taxed by both Lodestone and Thorn doesn't help our control plan chug along.
Hello all. I have benefited from the discussion here so I've happily created an account to contribute. Grand Architect has been my favorite deck in cardboard since it was called 'Blue Man Group' and played Master of Waves. I recently installed MTGO and so created this on a budget
Yeah a big proponent of game one victories is to have most of the cards "just win" rather than net value. I guess since we are primarily an aggressive shell, if we net value it has to either be game-winning outright or part of (or a reinforcement of) the aggro plan to actually 'net value'.
I agree, I like incremental advantage with 2-for-1 type effects. My version of the deck is less aggro and leans more into midrange.
Since its creature based, particularity with artifacts creatures and blue creatures I want all the creatures to provide "incremental advantage" either upon arrival/death or both. Examples:
So removal against me becomes inefficient because I've either already gained or will gain some advantage.
Kill Hangarback with a non-exile spell, fine you spent removal and I get X fliers
Path Ballista, ok I ping you and/or your planeswalker/creatures and negate the exile ..for possible Academy Ruins shenanigans
Kill Filigree, Sage, Crane or Trinket Mage, you spent removal and I've drawn, gained life, fixed my next few draws, tutored etc...
If Glint-Nest Crane had the type "artifact" it would be an auto 4-of since you could potentially find another... but I guess they want to avoid it being Squadron Hawk... and Faerie Mechanist is too expensive :-(
Ideally a modern type Recruiter of the Guard would be awesome...
Trinket, Trophy and Treasure Mage kinda fit the role, but sometimes you want to find the other stuff ...
Glad to see there's still action in this thread.
I took a hiatus from the deck waiting for a Baleful Strix reprint ...
Anyways, been playing it randomly again. I feel like card advantage is still a weakness I haven't discovered how to synergize well with the taxing effects of Lodestone Golem. Since I run Aether Vial, I've been thinking of creatures that add card draw...
I don't think you want any none creature/artifact spells at all. The biggest value in this deck is the taxing on the opponent so the last thing you want to do is feel that yourself.
Specifically, why I mentioned Thoughtcast since it has affinity for artifacts...the very artifacts that tax your opponent are "negated"....which means it still has the potential to cost less than its default cmc.
One card I've toyed with is Thoughtcast. The tax effect from cards like Thorn and Lodestone get "negated" and its only one U. Would add a Darksteel Citadel or two for more consistency..
I found them to be redundant but I run a different build than most of the people here do since I play 4x Aether Vial.
3) Myr Superion - this card has always interested me. How often does this get stuck in hand? It seems like it is only playable with Heartless or Architect out...
I took out Etherium Scupltor and added Myr Superions because I needed strong threats early. Aether Vial helps alot as another way of getting Superion into play; even at "instant speed".
Overall, I feel like the aggro list such as Ace1 maybe be more consistent and powerful, but I enjoy midrange more and developed my deck to play a longer game; heres my list for reference, haven't tuned it in a while:
Anyway, updated my list..
Took out the Lodestone Golem and replaced with Karn, the Great Creator.
Also added Pili-Pala for combo and casting Karn when short on actual mana.
Wanted a mana source I could use Aether Vial to bring in and at the same time play my normal game without having to rely on combo..
Been pretty cool in testing, Karn adds a nice toolbox feeling and upgrades the power level of the deck imo.
Only missing some Force of Negation, but man too expensive lol.
12 Island
2 Field of Ruin
2 Blinkmoth Nexus
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Academy Ruins
1 Sea Gate Wreckage
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
Artifacts (7)
4 Aether Vial
2 Smuggler's Copter
1 Basilisk Collar
Spells (1)
1 Dismember
Planeswalkers (2)
2 Karn, the Great Creator
4 Grand Architect
4 Chief Engineer
4 Mausoleum Wanderer
4 Faerie Seer
3 Myr Superion
2 Spellskite
2 Pili-Pala
1 Hangarback Walker
1 Walking Ballista
1 Filigree Familiar
1 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Trinket Mage
1 Pithing Needle
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Soul-Guide Lantern
1 Dismember
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Damping Sphere
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Hangarback Walker
1 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Throne of the God-Pharaoh
1 Walking Ballista
1 Liquimetal Coating
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
One card I underestimated and I think you should consider is Emry, Lurker of the Loch, she can be be especially good with Smuggler's Copter in buying back discarded artifacts.
Here's my list below, I've been testing a Karn, the Great Creator as a way to leverage some of the sideboard artifacts I felt were too narrow for mainboard inclusion. Might include a Liquimetal Coating in the sideboard if he works out well..
11 Island
2 Blinkmoth Nexus
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Minamo, School at the Water's Edge
1 Sea Gate Wreckage
1 Academy Ruins
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
Artifacts (8)
4 Aether Vial
2 Smuggler's Copter
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
Planeswalkers (1)
1 Karn, the Great Creator
4 Mausoleum Wanderer
4 Grand Architect
4 Chief Engineer
3 Faerie Seer
3 Lodestone Golem
3 Myr Superion
2 Walking Ballista
2 Spellskite
2 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
1 Hangarback Walker
1 Trinket Mage
1 Trophy Mage
1 Filigree Familiar
3 Force of Negation
2 Dismember
1 Throne of the God-Pharaoh
1 Silent Arbiter
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Hangarback Walker
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pithing Needle
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Ensnaring Bridge
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
As a general rule I tend to cap at 4 cmc for artifacts. Anything higher is used to sink into Hangarback Walker or Ballistas..
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
Also against control decks that usually play Stony Silence, not being an artifact can make certain sideboard options even that much better.
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
His -2 has some synergy with our deck...
Thinking more for the control matchups in place of Lodestone Golem.
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
Yesterday I got beatdown by Gideon Jura and Gideon of the Trials... new legend rule is brutal lol
Thoughts on bringing in Thopter Spy Network for Lodestone Golem in these types of matchups?
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
Since its creature based, particularity with artifacts creatures and blue creatures I want all the creatures to provide "incremental advantage" either upon arrival/death or both. Examples:
- Walking Ballista
- Trinket Mage
- Filigree Familiar
- Hangarback Walker
- Glint-Nest Crane
- Sage of Epityr
So removal against me becomes inefficient because I've either already gained or will gain some advantage.Kill Hangarback with a non-exile spell, fine you spent removal and I get X fliers
Path Ballista, ok I ping you and/or your planeswalker/creatures and negate the exile ..for possible Academy Ruins shenanigans
Kill Filigree, Sage, Crane or Trinket Mage, you spent removal and I've drawn, gained life, fixed my next few draws, tutored etc...
If Glint-Nest Crane had the type "artifact" it would be an auto 4-of since you could potentially find another... but I guess they want to avoid it being Squadron Hawk... and Faerie Mechanist is too expensive :-(
Ideally a modern type Recruiter of the Guard would be awesome...
Trinket, Trophy and Treasure Mage kinda fit the role, but sometimes you want to find the other stuff ...
Foul Emissary and Matter Reshaper would be an auto includes if they were blue and/or artifact creatures ...
But I'll continue to test Champion of Wits and maybe Court Hussar.
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
I took a hiatus from the deck waiting for a Baleful Strix reprint ...
Anyways, been playing it randomly again. I feel like card advantage is still a weakness I haven't discovered how to synergize well with the taxing effects of Lodestone Golem. Since I run Aether Vial, I've been thinking of creatures that add card draw...
Thoughts on Court Hussar and Champion of Wits?
Here's the draft list:
9 Island
3 Polluted Delta
2 Blinkmoth Nexus
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Sea Gate Wreckage
1 Academy Ruins
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
Artifacts (8)
4 Aether Vial
2 Smuggler's Copter
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
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
2 Trinket Mage
1 Filigree Familiar
1 Glint-Nest Crane
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
2 Dismember
1 Filigree Familiar
1 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Disdainful Stroke
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
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
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
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
I took out Etherium Scupltor and added Myr Superions because I needed strong threats early. Aether Vial helps alot as another way of getting Superion into play; even at "instant speed".
Overall, I feel like the aggro list such as Ace1 maybe be more consistent and powerful, but I enjoy midrange more and developed my deck to play a longer game; heres my list for reference, haven't tuned it in a while:
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
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant