Modern: GRB Jund BRG RBU Grixis Delver UBR Legacy: W Death & Taxes W GRB Punishing Jund BRG GUR Canadian Threshold RUG Commander: RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
Overall it looks like a lot of great changes. How's 40 lands been working? I use 36 and haven't had too much issue. Are you flooded at all?
I haven't gotten one yet, but I'm probably going to try Siren of the Silent Song in place of Crosstown Courier. The courier has been one of the weaker cards in the deck as of late, and the Siren offers both flying, just as much mill assuming it's at least a 3 player game, and discard, making it quite potent. This coupled with Phenax, God of Deception could be awesome.
What is your meta like? Is there a lot of graveyard shenanigans or is everyone pretty much not using it? I strongly suggest getting Tormod's Crypt and Nihil Spellbomb as they help a lot in stopping others from making advantage out of your strategy.
No idea what my meta's like haha, I'll be starting to hit the Commander nights soon and I'll know then. I can probably find a couple of things to cut to add those though. Thanks for the suggestion!
Also, super-fun play story: I had 11 mana open and a fully levelled Echo Mage as well as a Sphinx's Tutelage out. Cast Mind Spring for 7, targeted it with Echo Mage's ability, drew 21 cards and stacked up 21 Tutelage triggers. Commander is fun.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DCI Level 2 Judge
Modern: GRB Jund BRG RBU Grixis Delver UBR Legacy: W Death & Taxes W GRB Punishing Jund BRG GUR Canadian Threshold RUG Commander: RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
Glad to hear it's been working out. I've been trying to find room for Blue Sun's Zenith because it also offers a killshot once someone's library gets low enough as well as a manadump for draw. In an emergency if you mill yourself out you can cast it for 0 each turn to put it on top also.
Ooh, I like the instant speed too. I may just give that a try.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DCI Level 2 Judge
Modern: GRB Jund BRG RBU Grixis Delver UBR Legacy: W Death & Taxes W GRB Punishing Jund BRG GUR Canadian Threshold RUG Commander: RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
Honestly, OGW is probably one of the most disappointing sets I've seen since I've started playing. Next to Dimensional Infiltrator, pretty much nothing fits for the deck, and even then it's lackluster at best. The bounce effect does pretty much nothing to help.
The other three are cool, and Mindmelter is exceptionally cool but doesn't really offer any help in mill. Siren of the Silent Song offers both mill and discard, and to a wider range of players, for much less mana.
Even my Esper Landfall deck saw nothing that was even of remote use from OGW. I think this was just a set made for the most part to be a pretty blah set so they can justify making Expeditions for pretty much every good land ever made barring ABUs.
As always for the set review we will only be covering U, B, UB and of course colorless cards and lands, the only ones relevant for the deck. Again, not all of the cards in the set will be listed, just the ones relevant to the deck or honorable mentions. Expected inclusions will be bold.
UBLUEU
-Abbarant Researcher
While a very cool Delver of Secrets esque card, and very powerful, I don't have enough instants or sorceries to really take advantage, and really have no need for it to begin with. Honestly, I just love the card because it's a kraken. I love me some krakens.
-Engulf the Shore
It was never an intention to have most of my creatures have big butts, it jut seems to be what UB mill does. I don't run a ton of islands, and I'm certain it's less than 8, so Wrexial, the Risen Deep would always brave that storm. Still, I don't know that I'd use it. As it is I'm toying with taking Cyclonic Rift out.
-Epiphany at the Drownyard
THIS CARD IS SO COOL. However, I don't run nearly as much recursion as I used to making Fact or Fiction effects much weaker. It will be going in my sedris deck for sure (one day I'll update Sedris' deck list. one day.) Plus, this is more of a Steam Augury than a FoF anyway, which is already worse (but still good.)
-Fleeting Memory
Although a mill card, and potentially good if you have a lot of investigate, I don't think I will have much use for it. Investigate seems like gravy for white and red who need any draw they can get, but I'm not struggling and doubt I'll have many clues.
-Forgotton Creation
If only it said each player; Either way, it's really cool. Probably wont use it.
-Manic Scribe
Although at first, not appearing that impressive, he's a turn 2, 0/3 body that hits at minimum 9 cards in a 4 player game, almost putting it on par with Glimpse the Unthinkable (a card I don't run because it's single target, but this spreads the love) and potentially better in a larger game. Once Delirium is online, it puts it on par often with Dreamborn Muse, which is already one of my star players. Any consistent grinding mill like this is exactly what I'm looking for. We need mill that hits and keeps hitting everyone.
-STARTLED AWAKE
IN ADDITION to being perfect for the deck, it's just so damn cool. It's kind of like Archive Trap, but eventually becomes a 1/1 skulker, then you get to do it again. it's wonky, but effective, and can really do work once the game boils down to 1v1. I'm super excited for it.
Vessel of Paramensia
I'm pretty sure this is just for standard to get to dementia faster. It's not powerful or anything, but it's mill and deserved a mention. If you're really having trouble getting dementia, go for it.
BBlackB
-Behold the Beyond
This card is also really cool, and again may find home in my Sedris deck. rarely do I need specific cards, normally just more cards. The CMC of my deck is low so burning out can be an issue in the later game. While late game on a dead hand this would be an amazing topdeck, I'd just the same rather have a Concentrate, so I'm afriad I'll have to pass.
-Ever After
Another really cool card I'm glad exists, but I don't know that I need it
-Shamble Back
Decent grave hate, but if I get to the point where I need 1CMC instant grave hate like that, Cremate has it booked.
-Sinister Concoction
This card is so damn wonky I had to mention it. The colon isn't even until the third to last word.
-To the Slaughter
I'm glad to see a "Sacrifice a planeswalker" starting to be a thing. We've got so many damn planeswalkers around having easy access to defeating them has been a welcome change.
-Triskaidekaphobia
Another really neat flavorful card with no place in my deck. I swear eventually I'll just make a UB-coolstuff deck.
-Haunted Cloak
This could very well see play eventually in Lightning Greaves place. I like having vigilance since my only attackers often have big butts and make great blockers. the trample works well withS Szadek as well.
-Choked Estuary
Probably worth running. I've got so many good UB nonbasics I don't know if I need more, but they'll probably be cheap and worth running.
-Drownyard Temple
It's like Ramp I didn't need! I'm not sure it'll make the final cut, but it makes sense and if your landbase isnt as streamlined, this would be a great utility card.
I have been toying with the deck a lot lately-- so much that I haven't wanted to make any official changes to the decklist just yet. But, there is a lot of cards moving around and it has been working better than ever.
2 Shadow of Doubt
2 Sign in Blood
6 Grave Titan
4 Mindbreak Trap
1 Sage of Epityr
5 Magus of the Future
2 Lighthouse Chronologist
2 Skirsdag High Priest
6 Guile
0 Terramorphic Expanse
2 Telling Time
1 Quicken
3 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Whelming Wave
6 Life's Finale
2 Mind Grind
2 Merfolk Mesmerist
2 Mesmeric Orb
1 Sol Ring
5 Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker
6 Sire of Stagnation
5 Telemin Performance
0 Nephalia Drownyard
2 Crosstown Courier
5 Psychic Spiral
1 Altar of the Brood
EDIT: Traded for a Demonic Tutor and ordered a Yawgmoth's Will as well. Really looking forward to seeing how this turns out
Modern:
GRB Jund BRG
RBU Grixis Delver UBR
Legacy:
W Death & Taxes W
GRB Punishing Jund BRG
GUR Canadian Threshold RUG
Commander:
RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
I haven't gotten one yet, but I'm probably going to try Siren of the Silent Song in place of Crosstown Courier. The courier has been one of the weaker cards in the deck as of late, and the Siren offers both flying, just as much mill assuming it's at least a 3 player game, and discard, making it quite potent. This coupled with Phenax, God of Deception could be awesome.
What is your meta like? Is there a lot of graveyard shenanigans or is everyone pretty much not using it? I strongly suggest getting Tormod's Crypt and Nihil Spellbomb as they help a lot in stopping others from making advantage out of your strategy.
UBRSedris, the Necromancer KingUBR
No idea what my meta's like haha, I'll be starting to hit the Commander nights soon and I'll know then. I can probably find a couple of things to cut to add those though. Thanks for the suggestion!
Also, super-fun play story: I had 11 mana open and a fully levelled Echo Mage as well as a Sphinx's Tutelage out. Cast Mind Spring for 7, targeted it with Echo Mage's ability, drew 21 cards and stacked up 21 Tutelage triggers. Commander is fun.
Modern:
GRB Jund BRG
RBU Grixis Delver UBR
Legacy:
W Death & Taxes W
GRB Punishing Jund BRG
GUR Canadian Threshold RUG
Commander:
RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
UBRSedris, the Necromancer KingUBR
Modern:
GRB Jund BRG
RBU Grixis Delver UBR
Legacy:
W Death & Taxes W
GRB Punishing Jund BRG
GUR Canadian Threshold RUG
Commander:
RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Dimensional Infiltrator
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Mindmelter
UBarrin, Master WizardU
USticher GeralfU
UIxidor, Reality SculptorU
UWNoyan Dar, Roil ShaperUW
The other three are cool, and Mindmelter is exceptionally cool but doesn't really offer any help in mill. Siren of the Silent Song offers both mill and discard, and to a wider range of players, for much less mana.
Even my Esper Landfall deck saw nothing that was even of remote use from OGW. I think this was just a set made for the most part to be a pretty blah set so they can justify making Expeditions for pretty much every good land ever made barring ABUs.
UBRSedris, the Necromancer KingUBR
UBLUEU
-Abbarant Researcher
While a very cool Delver of Secrets esque card, and very powerful, I don't have enough instants or sorceries to really take advantage, and really have no need for it to begin with. Honestly, I just love the card because it's a kraken. I love me some krakens.
-Engulf the Shore
It was never an intention to have most of my creatures have big butts, it jut seems to be what UB mill does. I don't run a ton of islands, and I'm certain it's less than 8, so Wrexial, the Risen Deep would always brave that storm. Still, I don't know that I'd use it. As it is I'm toying with taking Cyclonic Rift out.
-Epiphany at the Drownyard
THIS CARD IS SO COOL. However, I don't run nearly as much recursion as I used to making Fact or Fiction effects much weaker. It will be going in my sedris deck for sure (one day I'll update Sedris' deck list. one day.) Plus, this is more of a Steam Augury than a FoF anyway, which is already worse (but still good.)
-Fleeting Memory
Although a mill card, and potentially good if you have a lot of investigate, I don't think I will have much use for it. Investigate seems like gravy for white and red who need any draw they can get, but I'm not struggling and doubt I'll have many clues.
-Forgotton Creation
If only it said each player; Either way, it's really cool. Probably wont use it.
-Manic Scribe
Although at first, not appearing that impressive, he's a turn 2, 0/3 body that hits at minimum 9 cards in a 4 player game, almost putting it on par with Glimpse the Unthinkable (a card I don't run because it's single target, but this spreads the love) and potentially better in a larger game. Once Delirium is online, it puts it on par often with Dreamborn Muse, which is already one of my star players. Any consistent grinding mill like this is exactly what I'm looking for. We need mill that hits and keeps hitting everyone.
-STARTLED AWAKE
IN ADDITION to being perfect for the deck, it's just so damn cool. It's kind of like Archive Trap, but eventually becomes a 1/1 skulker, then you get to do it again. it's wonky, but effective, and can really do work once the game boils down to 1v1. I'm super excited for it.
Vessel of Paramensia
I'm pretty sure this is just for standard to get to dementia faster. It's not powerful or anything, but it's mill and deserved a mention. If you're really having trouble getting dementia, go for it.
BBlackB
-Behold the Beyond
This card is also really cool, and again may find home in my Sedris deck. rarely do I need specific cards, normally just more cards. The CMC of my deck is low so burning out can be an issue in the later game. While late game on a dead hand this would be an amazing topdeck, I'd just the same rather have a Concentrate, so I'm afriad I'll have to pass.
-Ever After
Another really cool card I'm glad exists, but I don't know that I need it
-Liliana's Indignation
I'm not really worried about self mill, or getting zombies.
-Shamble Back
Decent grave hate, but if I get to the point where I need 1CMC instant grave hate like that, Cremate has it booked.
-Sinister Concoction
This card is so damn wonky I had to mention it. The colon isn't even until the third to last word.
-To the Slaughter
I'm glad to see a "Sacrifice a planeswalker" starting to be a thing. We've got so many damn planeswalkers around having easy access to defeating them has been a welcome change.
-Triskaidekaphobia
Another really neat flavorful card with no place in my deck. I swear eventually I'll just make a UB-coolstuff deck.
UBMulti, Artifacts, and LandsUB
-Prized Amalgam
neat. Not too much use for it though.
-Brain in a Jar
Again, Neat. Not much use for it.
-Corrupted Graftstone
Although it may seem like an easy inclusion, it's still deterring that it comes in tapped. I'd perfer Talisman of Dominance or Dimir Signet any day.
-Haunted Cloak
This could very well see play eventually in Lightning Greaves place. I like having vigilance since my only attackers often have big butts and make great blockers. the trample works well withS Szadek as well.
-Shard of Broken Glass
If only it was your or an opponents library. So close.
-Choked Estuary
Probably worth running. I've got so many good UB nonbasics I don't know if I need more, but they'll probably be cheap and worth running.
-Drownyard Temple
It's like Ramp I didn't need! I'm not sure it'll make the final cut, but it makes sense and if your landbase isnt as streamlined, this would be a great utility card.
I have been toying with the deck a lot lately-- so much that I haven't wanted to make any official changes to the decklist just yet. But, there is a lot of cards moving around and it has been working better than ever.
UBRSedris, the Necromancer KingUBR