I've had a deck idea of trying to abuse Soulshift to its max, but I'm not exactly sure how should I do about it. So basically, the deck would have a lot of Soulshifting creatures to ensure that I'll have a constant stream of Spirits.
The problem is, I haven't figured out what should the constant stream of Spirits do.
The other way is to recur Rootrunner for great misery. I think this might be more viable in T2 with Hell's Caretaker, since cards like Honden of Life's Web can provide me with a constant stream of creatures to sac.
The third option is to go for a 5-color toolbox deck with the channelers. you get life gain, you get counterspells, you get board sweepers, and stuff. These could be gotten back by other utility creatures with a sac ability and soulshift, like Scuttling Death.
The problem is, even though I have those ideas, I can't find a way to make a deck hat fully uses one of the ideas. Also, the Johnny in me keeps trying to include cards like Oyobi or Spiritual Visit just to show people these cards are playable.
I'd appreciate it if someone helps me to come out with a deck based on these ideas, a deck good enough for FNM and casual play. I also have limited budget, so no Tendo Ice Bridges, unfortunately.
One underestimated soulshifter is kami of the tended garden. He's a pretty nice turn 3 drop if you run tribe elders, and when he winks out he can bring back thief of hopes, elder pines, etc.
In general you like to be able to choose when your spirits die so you can get them soulshifting in the right order. Compliment your soulshifters with kami that you can sac and you should be in good shape... kami of ancient lawfrostling and hana kami are all good examples of this.
The other half of soulshifting is spiritcraft, taking advantage of replaying your spirit spells. This is why thief of hope is downright awesome in this sort of deck. waxmane baku is also nice, and I've seen people get good use out of petalmane baku and blademane baku, both of which are easy to shift.
I have a white/black deck that is based upon spirits/arcane and what I feel is the best way to abuse the He Who Hungers (HWH), namely Spiritual Visit. I run 4 x He Who Hungers in my deck since if you draw 2 then you can sac the first one to its own ability and then play the second one, after attacking for 3 of course. It's almost like he has vigilance! I really like HWH and I would love to hear some more ideas for him!
I tried going Rootrunner-lock, but it doesn't seem to work that well in goldfishing. I don't have the decklist with me now but it somewhat lookd like this:
Hammer - The HWH/Spiritual Visit deck sounds interesting Could I have a decklist of it? I've been trying to break Spiritual Visit, perhaps Zubera + Promise of Bunrei + Devouring Greed would do.
PlanesJaywalker: Terribly sorry for my delay in responding, I was away on vacation for a week without access to a computer ... shudders... Anyway, here is my latest list:
The deck works by playing out cheap spirits for early defense and then eventually imprinting some powerful arcane spell on the mirror. Note that the copies of the spell on the mirror trigger all of the spiritcraft triggers, like on Thief and Painted Road. The finishers are the He Who Hungers and Kami of Painted Road, who works very well in this deck since he is hard to kill and only 1 white mana in his cost. This is obviously a type 2 deck and not a block deck but you could remove the mirrors and lose hope and replace with stuff like otherworldly journey etc. although the mirror is very hard to replace since it is so powerful. Have fun!
The problem is, I haven't figured out what should the constant stream of Spirits do.
One way is to abuse Spiritcraft triggers. In that case, 4 Thief of Hope and 4 Elder Pine of Jukai is a must, for deck thinning and win condition. He Who Hungers could be played to get creatures dying (Hell's Caretaker would be another option, but then I wouldn't be posting it here.), or perhaps Devouring Greed and Hana Kami to get it back.
The other way is to recur Rootrunner for great misery. I think this might be more viable in T2 with Hell's Caretaker, since cards like Honden of Life's Web can provide me with a constant stream of creatures to sac.
The third option is to go for a 5-color toolbox deck with the channelers. you get life gain, you get counterspells, you get board sweepers, and stuff. These could be gotten back by other utility creatures with a sac ability and soulshift, like Scuttling Death.
The problem is, even though I have those ideas, I can't find a way to make a deck hat fully uses one of the ideas. Also, the Johnny in me keeps trying to include cards like Oyobi or Spiritual Visit just to show people these cards are playable.
I'd appreciate it if someone helps me to come out with a deck based on these ideas, a deck good enough for FNM and casual play. I also have limited budget, so no Tendo Ice Bridges, unfortunately.
Level 2 Judge
Token and Playmat Store
Beyond the Guildpact
9 Forest
4 Plains
3 Llanowar Wastes
4 Brushland
4 Hell's Caretaker
4 Promised Kannushi
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
2 Loam Dweller
2 Elder Pine of Jukai
4 Rootrunner
3 Yosei, the Morning Star
1 Iname, Death Aspect
3 Dark Banishing
4 Kodama's Reach
3 Promise of Bunrei
1 Honden of Cleansing Fire
2 Honden of Life's Web
This is what I came up with. Rootrunner is good with Hell's Caretaker, but Yosei is MUCH better
Psst.. Alex.. this is the block constructed forum.. Hell's Caretaker is a no-no - Raia
*stupid "new posts" button... Sorry *cries*
Rootrunner, Hana Kami, Soulless Revival
Sac Rootrunner, soulshift back the Hana Kami, Sac the Hana Kami to get back Soulless Revival, Soulless Revival Rootrunner, repeat.
It is very easily disruptable though... so you're going to want to get it up and running ASAP.the latest you should establish lock by is turn 5.
WoW is so addictive.
In general you like to be able to choose when your spirits die so you can get them soulshifting in the right order. Compliment your soulshifters with kami that you can sac and you should be in good shape... kami of ancient law frostling and hana kami are all good examples of this.
The other half of soulshifting is spiritcraft, taking advantage of replaying your spirit spells. This is why thief of hope is downright awesome in this sort of deck. waxmane baku is also nice, and I've seen people get good use out of petalmane baku and blademane baku, both of which are easy to shift.
4 Hana Kami
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
4 Thief of Hope
4 Rootrunner
4 Kodama's Reach
4 Soulless Revival
4 Uproot
Hammer - The HWH/Spiritual Visit deck sounds interesting Could I have a decklist of it? I've been trying to break Spiritual Visit, perhaps Zubera + Promise of Bunrei + Devouring Greed would do.
Level 2 Judge
Token and Playmat Store
Beyond the Guildpact
4 He Who Hungers
4 Kabuto Moth
4 Thief of Hope
3 Kami of the Painted Road
4 Kami of False Hope
3 Panoptic Mirror
3 Spiritual Visit
3 Rend Flesh
3 Terashi's Grasp
3 Lose Hope
3 Soulless Revival
12 swamp
11 plains
The deck works by playing out cheap spirits for early defense and then eventually imprinting some powerful arcane spell on the mirror. Note that the copies of the spell on the mirror trigger all of the spiritcraft triggers, like on Thief and Painted Road. The finishers are the He Who Hungers and Kami of Painted Road, who works very well in this deck since he is hard to kill and only 1 white mana in his cost. This is obviously a type 2 deck and not a block deck but you could remove the mirrors and lose hope and replace with stuff like otherworldly journey etc. although the mirror is very hard to replace since it is so powerful. Have fun!