Trying to improve my Matchup vs. Maverick/DnT/Goblins etc. type decks. Especially playing around Cavern of Souls, which has exploded. Combo is still a much easier matchup, but now it is much more solid postboard instead of g1.
1. Mainboard Pithing Needle. Most versatile reaction to this decks main weaknesses (deed, EE, Qasali Pridemage, Aether Vial, Knight of the Reliquary going to fetch maze of ith or Gaea's Cradle, and so on) I hedge my bets here, since it blanks against a few decks like Burn and certain combos that become much, much easier in g2 and 3.
2. Vedalken Shackles. Best thing ever with Ninjutsu. Take control of their creature, Ninjutsu it back to their hand, sit back with shackles ready to go again. Especially strong against creatures that you don't even wanna chump with. Already powerful enough, but with the decks looters it can lead to some really strong boards in your favor.
3. Misdirection in sideboard. Because I like to play this. Because I want to play this. I usually have stuff to pitch, and I really only need to establish a certain board to be in the position I want (ninjas can get in to loot) , I love using this on everything from Blue Sun Zenith to Swords to Plowshares. Against decks where FoW is crap, Misdirection typically does something much better, and can pay for itself in card advantage if you do it on a Hymn to Tourach or StP when they have a creature etc. etc.
4. Cut a Jitte. I was sad to see this go, but I only really use it to Jitte their Jitte anymore, or to go against Burn. I want a Sword of Feast and Famine the most out of any equipment, typically. I need to cut one more card, not sure what to do. I cut all the Daze in the deck: Do you all think this was a good or bad idea? Being able to threaten Daze is strong enough some times, since you're in mono blue.
Pro-green is too important vs. some matchups. Honestly, having played with Sword of Feast and Famine a lot, I like drawing it alot more than Jitte many times. Jitte is insane against aggro, but really, so is Feast and Famine if you connect. If you play it right, cantrip and equip mainphase, ninjutsu during combat, then untap all of your lands into a second main phase Jitte or Standstill.. it's completely possible to win games in one explosive turn like this. You're understating the power of Feast and Famine. If anything, Fire and Ice isn't even as good, and I still want one of them. The 3-4 equipment are the "win more" conditions for the deck, and the protections they give are crucial as well.
Jitte was also great tho. I might end up cutting daze altogether for another one + Stifle.
edit: Standstill still works most of the time, even if I'm hanging onto it and the board doesn't arise where they need to break it (it's still really easy to construct one in this way though. ) Vedalken shackles makes Standstill an absolute house. Ninjutsu their own creature + Standstill. Next turn, untap shackles
Maybe a list with Bitterblossom, Blue/Black fetches, and basic swamps.. I wouldn't mind doing that trying to find space for BB only. BB would replace Cloud of Faeries or Daze, imo.
I don't think the splash NEEDS to happen. The Back to Basics list is another solid route to go. It just plays a lot more like Mono Blue Control with Ninjutsu and Standstill,
Seems very interesting, but what does it really accomplish? If it copies our guys, it's not going to be very good (Cloud of Faeries just untaps two lands, Spellstutter Sprite doesn't have anything to counter, Ninja of the Deep Hours means it still gets blocked by everything next turn).
If the opponent has good creatures (against Maverick) it's not so bad, I guess.
If the store owner says that I can't trade in the premises, I'll just go outside. If he says that I can't trade within 10m of his premises, I'll go to 11 meters. If he says that he doesn't want to see me trading, I will put a basket over his head and continue trading.
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4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Cloud of Faeries
3 Ninja of the Deep Hours
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Brainstorm
3 Back to Basics
2 Spell Snare
4 Standstill
4 Force of Will
2 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
2 Vedalken Shackles
3 Jace, The Mind Sculptor
3 Daze
I definitely need to find spots for another Island or 2. Also,
Jace is a really good addition. I really needed a way to ensure Standstill would be broken more (Jace), and I also needed a way to win frequently from boardstate control as opposed to actually connecting for lethal damage. (Jace again)
In the SB, I can't decide between Cursed Totem or Pithing Needle. Which is better overall, in your opinion? Or can I get some sort of reasonable split between the 2?
Edit: My opinion on that new ninja is that it's awesome. I will definitely be getting 4 of them, although to fit them in this deck, it would definitely move me toward a blue/black FNS with duals instead of a MuC list with Back to Basics. That blue/black version would probably fair really well against other midrange/aggro decks, and be really fun to play .
At best, Sakashima's Student is best on the sideboard, IMO. Copy effects in this deck are more dependent on opponents' decks; best case, you're maybe offing a Geist of Saint Traft or copying a Goyf, and at worst, you're copying one of your own creatures. It's not bad, but it certainly doesn't put us over the top, not to mention that our slots are pretty tight already.
Cloud + Vial is really, really nuts. Especially in a blue/white version I had a friend test on cockatrice that ran Rishadan Ports. I can pull up that list off my computer if anyone wants to see; that list is impossible for me to build irl cause I don't have half of the cards, but it seemed really, really good when it worked.
Maverick - get a really fast start rolling, cloud of faeries into a standstill or jitte. Flash in SSS sometimes even if you can't counter anything with it, just for Ninjutsu. Have the force/misdirection/spellsnare up for Pridemage, or StP. Daze when possible, or Stifle if you're running it. Pithing Needle stuff like Knight of the Reliquary, Fauna Shaman, Loyal Retainers, and their equipment. Board out Force, maybe bring in Misdirection for StP (getting one of their knights, then Tormod's Crypt them and chump the other with 1 faerie + use flash on SSS or Vendilion cliques)
Aggro Loam - board in Crypts and Surgical extractions, counter the relevant things, try to resolve your engine to gain a huge card advantage.
Bant - Same as maverick, only pithing needle also hits jace. Use Spellstutter sprite to eat their cantrips or swords. Because they are slower, like blue/white stoneblade, try to use a recurring engine of Vendilion Clique + Ninjutsu to keep them off stuff.
Sakashima's student would be a good addition. it would be nice if you'd fit him into mainboard instead of sideboard. he's best boarded out instead of boarding in, why? your opponents best creatures are in the mainboard most of the time, he is pretty useless in sideboard if all your opponents would board in are elemental blasts and removals.. so here is my list... just crossed my mind the other day.
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EDH - UWGrand Arbiter Agustin IV UBW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic Modern - Mono U tron / Polymorph / NFTW (ninja for the win)GR tronGR
Buy All the planeswalkers!!!
Buy All the Dual Lands!!!
Buy All the fetches!
Create tons of EDH Decks!!!
Eat Nothing but Oats!! (LOL, not true)
Train MMA!!!
Marry My girlfriend!!!
Get her Pregnant only Once!
Teach my Son/Daughter Sports and magic cards!!!
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weapons and any other tricks besides from ninjutsu + flash + fliers does not fit in this deck, go play UW stoneforge/geist and leave FNS alone with the eqipment package idea. makes the deck reallllly sllllllooooooow.
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A team should be as happy as a meal - TEAM HAPPYMEAL
EDH - UWGrand Arbiter Agustin IV UBW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic Modern - Mono U tron / Polymorph / NFTW (ninja for the win)GR tronGR
Buy All the planeswalkers!!!
Buy All the Dual Lands!!!
Buy All the fetches!
Create tons of EDH Decks!!!
Eat Nothing but Oats!! (LOL, not true)
Train MMA!!!
Marry My girlfriend!!!
Get her Pregnant only Once!
Teach my Son/Daughter Sports and magic cards!!!
Continue my legacy son!!!/Daughter!!
I don't mind if the deck is slowed down for some resiliency. You can get all kinds of fast starts and dominating positions with this deck, and sometimes you can just lose outright to a resolved Tarmogoyf or Knight of the Reliquary. Getting STP and a way to tutor for equipment instead of relying on topdecks is probably one of the better routes for the deck. Also, being able to actually keep playing when something like a Choke or Iona resolves is another plus. You get access to stuff like Disenchant, Elspeth (fantastic) and Path to exile as well.
Ninjas (NoTDH and this new clone one) seem like a really good inclusion in a blue/white fish deck.
Only thing about that version posted is that I don't think there's enough creatures to use Aether Vial. I'd rather have Stifle, a sword, more STP, more daze, and/or more spell snare than the Vial.
i still do not agree having eqipment package on mainboard. can be a plan B on game 2 though IMHO. this deck depends on heavy counter style and removals and not equipments.... though a little innovation might be a bit convenient to some players.
I also like the idea of mother of runes on mainboard. makes you ninja's itch your opponent.
A team should be as happy as a meal - TEAM HAPPYMEAL
EDH - UWGrand Arbiter Agustin IV UBW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic Modern - Mono U tron / Polymorph / NFTW (ninja for the win)GR tronGR
Buy All the planeswalkers!!!
Buy All the Dual Lands!!!
Buy All the fetches!
Create tons of EDH Decks!!!
Eat Nothing but Oats!! (LOL, not true)
Train MMA!!!
Marry My girlfriend!!!
Get her Pregnant only Once!
Teach my Son/Daughter Sports and magic cards!!!
Continue my legacy son!!!/Daughter!!
I also think that maybe cutting batterskull/stoneforge for mother of runes could work too. And cut the swords altogether to just try and topdeck Jitte. Also possibly adding Bitterblossom, which I think is much more threatening than Sfm/batterskull.
edit Also you def. need spell pierce and graveyard hate in the sideboard.
Dunno if you need CoP Red with a batterskull and Jitte, and disenchant for Sulfuric Vortex. Meddling Mage is hit or miss, since most degenerate decks run 2 or 3 routes to victory. 2x Tormod's Crypt helps alot against a number of decks.
Right now the bogle's were sort of an inclusion just to see what they do as I really wasnt feeling signal pest but Im thinking that mother of runes may be an awesome 1 drop for that slot now. The swords are also test slots and the light and shadow may change if I add mother of runes but the life gain and creature regeneration was amazing. It shored up a few weak spots making racing more winnable and gave me back creatures when I was trying to force damage through. The body and mind is a meta choice.
So far its worked great cabals tear a hand apart and the forces and sprites clean up. The blossoms and equipment provide threats while allowing me to worry less about leaving back defenders and the paths are right there if Im in need of land or a creature removed.
On swords vs path I chose path as with the hand disruption and counter land doesnt usually bother me however the few life or sometimes more that swords provided was costing me games more frequently then Id care.
I know 61 cards but I tend to not mind if I feel its not a wasted slot.
Walker, Bogle, and Geist seem like odd choices to me.
Walker seems very underwhelming for what she does.
Bogle should be any number of different things.
And Geist seems way out of place.
Geist I love in here for a few reasons
Under standstill he destroys
With a sword hes god
Need force fodder there you go
In a pinch ninjitsu the token for draw to NotDH
I do say his price and low 2/2 body means a 2 maybe 3 of in the deck but when I get him early mid-game he quickly become some of my opponents least favorite creature.
Walker was to help with the blind cabals which are proving more and more valuable as I play the deck besides which Id prefer the information to the other ninjas. Decks so mana hungry anything above 3 to ninjitsu is to high and I love mistblade but I prefer him sideboard as his ability is to dependent on opponents board. Her bounce has come in handy on enough occasions for me to make it worth mentioning. I have been pondering the black rat ninjas though some of them seem useful.
Bogle is by far the weak spot as I mentioned mainly I didnt like signal pest and the preferred creature control around here is StP or PtE and for a 1 drop the hex proof was worth trying but I actually pulled him and put Mother of Runes in his place and so far a definite upgrade.
Mana base is rough to as I had building them and there really is not much in the way of waste or blood moon around here and the few who do I cabal or force usually so this far it hasnt proven to be a problem.
I'm going to enter a Legacy tournament on the 17th with FNS, so I'm looking for some input. Bardo how is your Back to Basics build treating you? I'm still running a mono blue aggro build with Mutavaults and Signal Pests, but I'm worried I might not have enough answers for the tourny.
It's very weird. You have really swingy games. You have a great matchup against Stoneblade variants (Blue white, Black white, Esper) barring Lingering Souls tokens, and you have good matchups versus Combo and stuff like Enchantress..
but then you can lose outright to stuff like a resolved Tarmogoyf or Knight of the Reliquary. There are way too many counter spells in the deck and not enough answers to resolved threats. All this while you have to constantly keep stuff back for Choke . Also, you rely way too much on getting perfect hands in order to get the right number of Fairies to make Spellstutter sprite work.
This is why I think you need stuff like Jace.
I would suggest running the deck more like MUC with Back to Basics. Jace, Vedalken Shackles, some mix of S. Stutter and Cloud of Faeries, a few Ninjas (2-3). Either Deep hours, or a mix with 1 or 2 of the new clone Ninjas.
Either run Stifle, Brainstorm, Spell Snare/pierce, or try Trinket Mage + Chalice of the Void, a Top, a Grafdigger's Cage and Crypt in sideboard. Some combination.
The last thing I would try that I never did (I'm actually taking apart my FNS deck now) is run 4 blue/black fetches, possibly 4 blue/green, a few basic swamps, and Bitterblossom. Jace + blossom + shackles + counter spells + stifle + Spell stutter, with a few ninjas, Standstills, 1-3 Jitte (Cutting both swords, because to tap out like swords require means I only want to do one of three things: Jace, Cast+equip a Jitte, Cast a Shackles and have mana up to use it. Sword of fire and ice + feast and famine were great, but they were really slow, especially since you have to goldfish for them.) AND lastly, something that I've ALWAYS wanted to play in this deck, Snuff Out becomes an option.
This is where I would take the deck.
The aggro version was fun and insanely fast with the right hands, OTOH (still remember my turn 3 kill, swinging for 19 damage) . You could probably still make it work, but it was definitely an all in strategy. And a lot weaker against burn/control/combo.
Lands
13 x Island
4 x Mutavault
2 x Cavern of Souls
Creatures
4 x Spellstutter Sprite
4 x Cloud of Faeries
4 x Ninja of the Deep Hours
4 x Signal Pest
3 x Mistblade Shinobi
3 x Ornithopter
1 x Vendillion Clique
Spells
4 x Force of Will
4 x Daze
3 x Stifle
Enchantments / Artifacts
4 x Standstill
2 x Umezawa's Jitte
1 x Sword of Fire and Ice
My sideboard includes Pithing Needle, Echoing Truth, Tormod's Crypt, Surgical Extraction, and Annuls. I'm worried about Wastelands with my 6 non basics plus anything that manages to get through before I play Standstill. With Caverns, I can pull a lot of shenanigans with my Faeries and the ninjas already can't be countered. I don't currently have Jace, BtB, or Shackles so I'm not sure if I can build something more control-like in time. I've thought about splashing black too however those fetch lands are pretty pricey for me right now. Should I just stick with this and hope?
someone had posted an interesting UG ninja deck in the modern forum, and I was wondering if it would be worth it to try and power it up to play it in legacy?
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
2 Vendilion Clique
3 Pithing Needle
4 Brainstorm
3 Back to Basics
3 Spell Snare
4 Standstill
4 Force of Will
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
2 Vedalken Shackles
3 Spell Pierce
3 Surgical Extraction
2 Sower of Temptation
1 Vedalken Shackles
1 Back to Basics
3 Misdirection
Changes
1. Mainboard Pithing Needle. Most versatile reaction to this decks main weaknesses (deed, EE, Qasali Pridemage, Aether Vial, Knight of the Reliquary going to fetch maze of ith or Gaea's Cradle, and so on) I hedge my bets here, since it blanks against a few decks like Burn and certain combos that become much, much easier in g2 and 3.
2. Vedalken Shackles. Best thing ever with Ninjutsu. Take control of their creature, Ninjutsu it back to their hand, sit back with shackles ready to go again. Especially strong against creatures that you don't even wanna chump with. Already powerful enough, but with the decks looters it can lead to some really strong boards in your favor.
3. Misdirection in sideboard. Because I like to play this. Because I want to play this. I usually have stuff to pitch, and I really only need to establish a certain board to be in the position I want (ninjas can get in to loot) , I love using this on everything from Blue Sun Zenith to Swords to Plowshares. Against decks where FoW is crap, Misdirection typically does something much better, and can pay for itself in card advantage if you do it on a Hymn to Tourach or StP when they have a creature etc. etc.
4. Cut a Jitte. I was sad to see this go, but I only really use it to Jitte their Jitte anymore, or to go against Burn. I want a Sword of Feast and Famine the most out of any equipment, typically. I need to cut one more card, not sure what to do. I cut all the Daze in the deck: Do you all think this was a good or bad idea? Being able to threaten Daze is strong enough some times, since you're in mono blue.
Jitte was also great tho. I might end up cutting daze altogether for another one + Stifle.
edit: Standstill still works most of the time, even if I'm hanging onto it and the board doesn't arise where they need to break it (it's still really easy to construct one in this way though. ) Vedalken shackles makes Standstill an absolute house. Ninjutsu their own creature + Standstill. Next turn, untap shackles
I don't think the splash NEEDS to happen. The Back to Basics list is another solid route to go. It just plays a lot more like Mono Blue Control with Ninjutsu and Standstill,
If the opponent has good creatures (against Maverick) it's not so bad, I guess.
As usual, testing.
-T
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20 Island
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Cloud of Faeries
3 Ninja of the Deep Hours
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Brainstorm
3 Back to Basics
2 Spell Snare
4 Standstill
4 Force of Will
2 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
2 Vedalken Shackles
3 Jace, The Mind Sculptor
3 Daze
2 Tormod's Crypt
3 Spell Pierce
3 Surgical Extraction
1 Back to Basics
3 Misdirection
3 Cursed Totem / Pithing Needle
[/DECK]
I definitely need to find spots for another Island or 2. Also,
Jace is a really good addition. I really needed a way to ensure Standstill would be broken more (Jace), and I also needed a way to win frequently from boardstate control as opposed to actually connecting for lethal damage. (Jace again)
In the SB, I can't decide between Cursed Totem or Pithing Needle. Which is better overall, in your opinion? Or can I get some sort of reasonable split between the 2?
Edit: My opinion on that new ninja is that it's awesome. I will definitely be getting 4 of them, although to fit them in this deck, it would definitely move me toward a blue/black FNS with duals instead of a MuC list with Back to Basics. That blue/black version would probably fair really well against other midrange/aggro decks, and be really fun to play .
Aggro Loam - board in Crypts and Surgical extractions, counter the relevant things, try to resolve your engine to gain a huge card advantage.
Bant - Same as maverick, only pithing needle also hits jace. Use Spellstutter sprite to eat their cantrips or swords. Because they are slower, like blue/white stoneblade, try to use a recurring engine of Vendilion Clique + Ninjutsu to keep them off stuff.
As for the other thing..
3 Tundra
2 Karakas
9 Plains
1 Island
4 Rishadan Port
3 Wasteland
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Umezawa's Jitte
3 Flickerwisp
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Mother of Runes
3 Serra Avenger
4 Aether Vial
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Thalia, Guardian of the Thraben
3 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Meddling Mage
3 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Serenity
3 Enlightened Tutor
3 Phyrexian Revoker
Something like that. This wasn't the finalized version he did.
4 ninja of the deep hours
4 spellstutter sprite
3 vendilion clique
3 Savannah Lions
4 standstill
4 brainstorm
4 force of will
2 spellsnare
3 spell pierce
4 swords to plowshares
3 mishra's factory
4 Flooded strand
4 tundra
4 island
2 plains
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 path to exile
4 ethersworn cannonist
3 phyrexian revoker
2 pithing needle
EDH - UWGrand Arbiter Agustin IV
UBW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Modern - Mono U tron / Polymorph / NFTW (ninja for the win)GR tron GR
Buy All the Dual Lands!!!
Buy All the fetches!
Create tons of EDH Decks!!!
Eat Nothing but Oats!! (LOL, not true)
Train MMA!!!
Marry My girlfriend!!!
Get her Pregnant only Once!
Teach my Son/Daughter Sports and magic cards!!!
Continue my legacy son!!!/Daughter!!
EDH - UWGrand Arbiter Agustin IV
UBW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Modern - Mono U tron / Polymorph / NFTW (ninja for the win)GR tron GR
Buy All the Dual Lands!!!
Buy All the fetches!
Create tons of EDH Decks!!!
Eat Nothing but Oats!! (LOL, not true)
Train MMA!!!
Marry My girlfriend!!!
Get her Pregnant only Once!
Teach my Son/Daughter Sports and magic cards!!!
Continue my legacy son!!!/Daughter!!
Ninjas (NoTDH and this new clone one) seem like a really good inclusion in a blue/white fish deck.
Only thing about that version posted is that I don't think there's enough creatures to use Aether Vial. I'd rather have Stifle, a sword, more STP, more daze, and/or more spell snare than the Vial.
I also like the idea of mother of runes on mainboard. makes you ninja's itch your opponent.
EDH - UWGrand Arbiter Agustin IV
UBW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Modern - Mono U tron / Polymorph / NFTW (ninja for the win)GR tron GR
Buy All the Dual Lands!!!
Buy All the fetches!
Create tons of EDH Decks!!!
Eat Nothing but Oats!! (LOL, not true)
Train MMA!!!
Marry My girlfriend!!!
Get her Pregnant only Once!
Teach my Son/Daughter Sports and magic cards!!!
Continue my legacy son!!!/Daughter!!
edit Also you def. need spell pierce and graveyard hate in the sideboard.
4 Underground Sea
2 scrubland
4 misty rainforest
4 wasteland
2 mishras factory
3 Bitterblossom
4 cabal therapy
4 force of will
4 standstill
3 Spellstutter Sprite
4 ornithopter
4 Ninja of the deep hour
3 Walker of the Secret Ways
3 Slippery bogle
2 Geist of Saint traft
1 sword of body and mind
1 sword of light and shadow
Right now the bogle's were sort of an inclusion just to see what they do as I really wasnt feeling signal pest but Im thinking that mother of runes may be an awesome 1 drop for that slot now. The swords are also test slots and the light and shadow may change if I add mother of runes but the life gain and creature regeneration was amazing. It shored up a few weak spots making racing more winnable and gave me back creatures when I was trying to force damage through. The body and mind is a meta choice.
So far its worked great cabals tear a hand apart and the forces and sprites clean up. The blossoms and equipment provide threats while allowing me to worry less about leaving back defenders and the paths are right there if Im in need of land or a creature removed.
On swords vs path I chose path as with the hand disruption and counter land doesnt usually bother me however the few life or sometimes more that swords provided was costing me games more frequently then Id care.
I know 61 cards but I tend to not mind if I feel its not a wasted slot.
Walker seems very underwhelming for what she does.
Bogle should be any number of different things.
And Geist seems way out of place.
I'm liking the idea of Mom in Uw builds btw.
Legacy: Pox | Tiny Leaders: Thalia Hatebears
Under standstill he destroys
With a sword hes god
Need force fodder there you go
In a pinch ninjitsu the token for draw to NotDH
I do say his price and low 2/2 body means a 2 maybe 3 of in the deck but when I get him early mid-game he quickly become some of my opponents least favorite creature.
Walker was to help with the blind cabals which are proving more and more valuable as I play the deck besides which Id prefer the information to the other ninjas. Decks so mana hungry anything above 3 to ninjitsu is to high and I love mistblade but I prefer him sideboard as his ability is to dependent on opponents board. Her bounce has come in handy on enough occasions for me to make it worth mentioning. I have been pondering the black rat ninjas though some of them seem useful.
Bogle is by far the weak spot as I mentioned mainly I didnt like signal pest and the preferred creature control around here is StP or PtE and for a 1 drop the hex proof was worth trying but I actually pulled him and put Mother of Runes in his place and so far a definite upgrade.
Mana base is rough to as I had building them and there really is not much in the way of waste or blood moon around here and the few who do I cabal or force usually so this far it hasnt proven to be a problem.
...Wingcrafter is also a decent option for those who don't like the white splash.
but then you can lose outright to stuff like a resolved Tarmogoyf or Knight of the Reliquary. There are way too many counter spells in the deck and not enough answers to resolved threats. All this while you have to constantly keep stuff back for Choke . Also, you rely way too much on getting perfect hands in order to get the right number of Fairies to make Spellstutter sprite work.
This is why I think you need stuff like Jace.
I would suggest running the deck more like MUC with Back to Basics. Jace, Vedalken Shackles, some mix of S. Stutter and Cloud of Faeries, a few Ninjas (2-3). Either Deep hours, or a mix with 1 or 2 of the new clone Ninjas.
Either run Stifle, Brainstorm, Spell Snare/pierce, or try Trinket Mage + Chalice of the Void, a Top, a Grafdigger's Cage and Crypt in sideboard. Some combination.
The last thing I would try that I never did (I'm actually taking apart my FNS deck now) is run 4 blue/black fetches, possibly 4 blue/green, a few basic swamps, and Bitterblossom. Jace + blossom + shackles + counter spells + stifle + Spell stutter, with a few ninjas, Standstills, 1-3 Jitte (Cutting both swords, because to tap out like swords require means I only want to do one of three things: Jace, Cast+equip a Jitte, Cast a Shackles and have mana up to use it. Sword of fire and ice + feast and famine were great, but they were really slow, especially since you have to goldfish for them.) AND lastly, something that I've ALWAYS wanted to play in this deck, Snuff Out becomes an option.
This is where I would take the deck.
The aggro version was fun and insanely fast with the right hands, OTOH (still remember my turn 3 kill, swinging for 19 damage) . You could probably still make it work, but it was definitely an all in strategy. And a lot weaker against burn/control/combo.
Lands
13 x Island
4 x Mutavault
2 x Cavern of Souls
Creatures
4 x Spellstutter Sprite
4 x Cloud of Faeries
4 x Ninja of the Deep Hours
4 x Signal Pest
3 x Mistblade Shinobi
3 x Ornithopter
1 x Vendillion Clique
Spells
4 x Force of Will
4 x Daze
3 x Stifle
Enchantments / Artifacts
4 x Standstill
2 x Umezawa's Jitte
1 x Sword of Fire and Ice
My sideboard includes Pithing Needle, Echoing Truth, Tormod's Crypt, Surgical Extraction, and Annuls. I'm worried about Wastelands with my 6 non basics plus anything that manages to get through before I play Standstill. With Caverns, I can pull a lot of shenanigans with my Faeries and the ninjas already can't be countered. I don't currently have Jace, BtB, or Shackles so I'm not sure if I can build something more control-like in time. I've thought about splashing black too however those fetch lands are pretty pricey for me right now. Should I just stick with this and hope?
And probably to cut the ornithopters for Spell Snare / Pierce mainboard. 3 Snare is ideal, or a combination of snare/pierce.
Otherwise it looks really good! I miss the old days of Factory (or Mutavault) , Island , Cloud, Cloud, Pest, Pest, turn 3 swing for 19
a link to the modern deck
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showpost.php?p=8550097&postcount=387