After a few more test games, I have to recant my earlier statement about Leeching Sliver being an option for an additional lord. I think Phantasmal Image is strictly better as it's blue and can be pitched to Force of Will. Currently, I have two Images. I will also consider adding additional Venom Slivers.
I have been testing a version with Brainstorm over Striking Sliver. The deck feels far weaker and more vulnerable without the first strike. In the board, I'll be testing 1 Syphon Sliver, 1 Frenetic Sliver. Is the Syphon Sliver good against anything but Burn? Frenetic can be a 5th Hibernation Sliver against control.
I was considering a Poisonous Sliver variant with 4 Virulent Sliver, 3 Green Sun's Zenith to find more Virulents, and 4 Phantasmal Images to copy them. I then goldfished it with a variety of hand compositions, comparing it to a traditional Full Slivers list. In only one scenario out of eight did the Virulent Slivers help, with a turn three kill: t1 Vial, t2 Virulent + t2 Heart Sliver, t3 Virulent + any other sliver = ten poison damage. In all other cases, the poison deck hadn't killed by turn three. On turn four, it overkilled, often with 14-20 poison.
The traditional slivers with their lords didn't waste damage, so to speak. Most any sequence of slivers (with two lords) added up to twenty damage by turn four. It is more likely they would draw two lords, and their slivers have additional powers thanks to Striking Sliver played turn one over Virulent Sliver. And getting the opponent close to death with damage is better than with poison, for reasons such as Ad Nauseum. Phantasmal Image is another option, though they're harder to cast (and easier to counter unless you dedicate a Cavern of Souls to illusion), with potential upside of copying an Emrakul.
I suspect Virulent Sliver isn't good here or in any format, which is a shame. I like Striking Sliver in their slot, as it combined with Crystalline Sliver creates an unbreakable wall. Plus upside with Venom Sliver, as Daniel Nunes said. If you're looking for additional lords, don't feel bad about playing Leeching Sliver. I play them in Modern, and they're great.
Or, do you feel the t3 poison kill described above is valuable enough to pursue? Note, the composition of the slivers required included no evasion or protection for the first two turns. How likely do you feel this specific scenario is? (Vial isn't necessary if you have a third land and another 1-drop sliver on t3.)
In my testing I've been enjoying reasonable success with a Full Slivers list (originally by Daniel Nunes). It plays Force of Will, AEther Vial, and 31 slivers. It has enough blue to support the Forces, and Hibernation Slivers are especially helpful to that end. Let me know if you have any tips. I could play 3 Striking Sliver and 2 Venomous Sliver.
I have been testing a version with Brainstorm over Striking Sliver. The deck feels far weaker and more vulnerable without the first strike. In the board, I'll be testing 1 Syphon Sliver, 1 Frenetic Sliver. Is the Syphon Sliver good against anything but Burn? Frenetic can be a 5th Hibernation Sliver against control.
The traditional slivers with their lords didn't waste damage, so to speak. Most any sequence of slivers (with two lords) added up to twenty damage by turn four. It is more likely they would draw two lords, and their slivers have additional powers thanks to Striking Sliver played turn one over Virulent Sliver. And getting the opponent close to death with damage is better than with poison, for reasons such as Ad Nauseum. Phantasmal Image is another option, though they're harder to cast (and easier to counter unless you dedicate a Cavern of Souls to illusion), with potential upside of copying an Emrakul.
I suspect Virulent Sliver isn't good here or in any format, which is a shame. I like Striking Sliver in their slot, as it combined with Crystalline Sliver creates an unbreakable wall. Plus upside with Venom Sliver, as Daniel Nunes said. If you're looking for additional lords, don't feel bad about playing Leeching Sliver. I play them in Modern, and they're great.
Or, do you feel the t3 poison kill described above is valuable enough to pursue? Note, the composition of the slivers required included no evasion or protection for the first two turns. How likely do you feel this specific scenario is? (Vial isn't necessary if you have a third land and another 1-drop sliver on t3.)
4x Crystalline Sliver
4x Galerider Sliver
4x Hibernation Sliver
2x Hunter Sliver
4x Muscle Sliver
1x Necrotic Sliver
4x Predatory Sliver
1x Sidewinder Sliver
4x Sinew Sliver
2x Striking Sliver
1x Winged Sliver
4x Cavern of Souls
1x Gemstone Mine
1x Karakas
3x Mana Confluence
4x Mutavault
4x Sliver Hive
4x Force of Will
4x AEther Vial
1x Ethersworn Canonist
3x Faerie Macabre
2x Harmonic Sliver
1x Hunter Sliver
3x Meddling Mage
1x Pithing Needle
1x Venom Sliver