Izzet Delver (https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/pauper-izzet-delver-33326#paper) is an evolution of the MonoU Delver decks (https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/pauper-mono-blue-delver#paper). The core of the decks is the same, a blue creature based tempo-control strategy. Basically every creature the deck plays is a 2-for-1 and allows the deck to slowly grind out the opponent with incremental card advantage whilst building up an army of annoying, small flyers which threaten to kill by chip damage. This deck uses red to add removals to the main deck (Lightning Bolt, Skred). This is extremely helpful to slow down hyper agressive strategies and to clear the path for Ninja of the deep Hours to make sure to bury the opponent under card advantage. Additionally, red supplies the deck with some of the best side board cards Pauper has to offer (Pyroblast, Gorilla Shaman, Electrickery, Swirling Sandstorm and others). The price of playing two colors is a slower, slightly less consistent mana base. The main deck is basically set into stone +- 3 cards (add some Brainstorms or fancy 1-ofs like Dispel or Exclude and remove some removals or cantrips).
The side board has to be adjusted to your meta. These are the most played side board cards in Izzet Delver; mix and match according to your expected meta.
As a tempo-control deck it is important to know your opponents deck and which key cards you have to take care of. This is just a very short match-up and side board guide, and is open for discussion.
Match-up analysis and side board guide
Mirror: The mirror is usually a fight for card advantage. Kill their Ninja of the Deep Hours immediately, while protecting your own. Keep a Counterspell for their Gush.
Tron: Against Tron you need a clock ASAP. If the game goes long, your chances to win become smaller and smaller. Spellstutter Sprite misses a lot of spells against this deck.
Affinity: This is a tough match-up. Kill their fatties (Myr Enforcer, Carpace Forger), even 1-for-2. Try to get slowly ahead on cards and beat down in the air. Keep a Counterspells for Atog -> Fling
Dimir Control: Attack with fliers, disrupt with counters. If you get a clear path for Ninja of the Deep Hours you should be able to easily win. Our deck is faster AND has more card advantage.
MonoB Control: This plays out very much like Dimir Control. Attack with fliers, disrupt with counters. If you get a clear path for Ninja of the Deep Hours you should be able to easily win. Our deck is faster AND has more card advantage.
MonoW Heroic: If they get down a first turn Lagonna-Band Trailblazer things look bad for you. Otherwise kill/counter their few threads and you will be fine.
Tribe Combo: A rather easy match-up, if they don't have the nut draw (which VERY rarely happens). Damage based removal doesn't work well against Tireless Tribe, so keep ALWAYS a counter open and you should be fine. If one manages to sneak onto the table, keep ALL your counters for Inside Out.
Nice primer, a good resource for someone like me who's just looking to get into Pauper with UR Delver.
A small nit-pick, in the Match-up and side board section, your card names in the "in/out-section" are linked as e.g. "-4 Lightning Bolt" instead of "-4 Lightning Bolt" which makes the popup not happen.
Thanks for the feedback! I‘ll fix that when I have time. Until then, welcome to pauper, the mtg format with the most intense games. Izzet Delver is atm the deck to beat in pauper. Enjoy the ride!
Hi everyone! I wonder if someone has some experience against the new monach decks. Any tips to face the mu after sb?? Does sb need any changes to adapt this new meta?
If you want to push your SB against Boros Monarch, I would increase the number of Stormbound Geist and maybe add a second Gorilla Shaman. To win the "value fight", countering their Hawks and Skyfishers goes a long way (don't forget to hold a Counterspell for their Palace Sentinels, unless you can immediately take over the monarch). Most of the time it's not worth to use countermagic to protect your threads, there are more creatures in your deck to draw. But keeping them from getting value with their 2-for-1 bounce creatures will lead to a situation where your opponent will run out of gas and you don't.
thanks! i'm using a golgari aristocrat deck and i'm trying to tune my sideboard against an izzet delver meta. what would you don't like to see coming out from my deck? duress or divest? thanks!
Mystic Sanctuary is the real deal! The combination with Deprive and Tragic Lesson gives the deck increased late game power. The numbers of each card are up for discussion. 2/2/2 seems to be the most common configuration at the moment.
Izzet Delver (https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/pauper-izzet-delver-33326#paper) is an evolution of the MonoU Delver decks (https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/pauper-mono-blue-delver#paper). The core of the decks is the same, a blue creature based tempo-control strategy. Basically every creature the deck plays is a 2-for-1 and allows the deck to slowly grind out the opponent with incremental card advantage whilst building up an army of annoying, small flyers which threaten to kill by chip damage. This deck uses red to add removals to the main deck (Lightning Bolt, Skred). This is extremely helpful to slow down hyper agressive strategies and to clear the path for Ninja of the deep Hours to make sure to bury the opponent under card advantage. Additionally, red supplies the deck with some of the best side board cards Pauper has to offer (Pyroblast, Gorilla Shaman, Electrickery, Swirling Sandstorm and others). The price of playing two colors is a slower, slightly less consistent mana base. The main deck is basically set into stone +- 3 cards (add some Brainstorms or fancy 1-ofs like Dispel or Exclude and remove some removals or cantrips).
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Faerie Miscreant
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Augur of Bolas
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
0 Brainstorm
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Skred
4 Preordain
4 Ponder
4 Counterspell
2 Gush
4 Ash Barrens
2 Terramorphic Expanse
2 Snow-Covered Mountain
10 Snow-Covered Island
4 Pyroblast
3 Hydroblast
0 Dispel
0 Exclude
0 Prohibit
0 Negate
0 Spell Pierce
0 Envelop
0 Annul
Removals
2 Electrickery
2 Swirling Sandstorm
0 Echoing Truths
0 Blazing Volley
0 Flame Slash
0 Gut Shot
0 Curse of Chains
0 Narcolepsy
0 Vapour Snag
0 Curfew
0 Smash to Smithereens
0 Shattering Pulse
0 Molten Rain
0 Earth Rift
0 Raze
2 Stormbound Geist
2 Gorilla Shaman
0 Stitched Drake
0 Coast Watcher
0 Weatherseed Faeries
Enchantments
0 Aura Flux
Artifacts
0 Relic of Progenitus
0 Serrated Arrows
Mirror: The mirror is usually a fight for card advantage. Kill their Ninja of the Deep Hours immediately, while protecting your own. Keep a Counterspell for their Gush.
Tron: Against Tron you need a clock ASAP. If the game goes long, your chances to win become smaller and smaller. Spellstutter Sprite misses a lot of spells against this deck.
Elves: Kill/counter their payoff spells (Timberwatch Elf, Wellwisher, Lys Alana Huntmaster) and you should be able to come out ahead. Keep a Counterspell for Lead the Stampede.
Stompy: Counter their pump effects or kill the creature in response to the pump. A pumped Silhana Ledgewalker is the worst that can happen.
Affinity: This is a tough match-up. Kill their fatties (Myr Enforcer, Carpace Forger), even 1-for-2. Try to get slowly ahead on cards and beat down in the air. Keep a Counterspells for Atog -> Fling
Burn: Against this deck you need a fast clock or a lot of Counterspell/Spellstutter Sprite.
Boros Monarch: Another tough match-up. Glint-Hawk and Kor Skyfisher are fantastic blockers against our faeries, so we need a lot of removal.
Dimir Control: Attack with fliers, disrupt with counters. If you get a clear path for Ninja of the Deep Hours you should be able to easily win. Our deck is faster AND has more card advantage.
MonoB Control: This plays out very much like Dimir Control. Attack with fliers, disrupt with counters. If you get a clear path for Ninja of the Deep Hours you should be able to easily win. Our deck is faster AND has more card advantage.
Bogles: Counter their toughness boosting auras to be able to trade creatures in combat.
Izzet Blitz: They have only few threats. Kill them and you will win.
MonoW Heroic: If they get down a first turn Lagonna-Band Trailblazer things look bad for you. Otherwise kill/counter their few threads and you will be fine.
Tribe Combo: A rather easy match-up, if they don't have the nut draw (which VERY rarely happens). Damage based removal doesn't work well against Tireless Tribe, so keep ALWAYS a counter open and you should be fine. If one manages to sneak onto the table, keep ALL your counters for Inside Out.
Here is an article on the deck:
https://www.channelfireball.com/articles/deck-of-the-day-ur-skred-pauper/
And another one:
https://www.channelfireball.com/articles/is-u-r-delver-the-best-deck-in-pauper/
This is an article on how to play AGAINST this deck. This is useful to know what the opponent will bring specifically against this deck, so you are prepared for the "hate":
https://www.channelfireball.com/articles/know-your-enemy-delver-decks/
30s deck tech from TCGplayer:
https://youtu.be/2lFD3CFKCHU
Here some more deck techs with matches:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba6vZzZkbAo&list=PLnDVhI5h6G60zTWl3BU-pT2mnZjsEHuT3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI7h0rfy-3M&list=PLaUFF5spB9YEXG5KLk7QsiIUtjMuYkiJJ
Here are some vids from pro players playing the deck:
https://youtu.be/mIX66PdzsEs
https://youtu.be/DEv7WtA-HTs
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/other-formats/mtgo-pauper/developing/647850-primer-angler-delver
Modern: Sultai Death's Shadow
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/773885-sultai-deaths-shadow-bug-aggro]
Legacy: Snake&Show
http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?27217-Deck-Sneak-and-Show
Discuss my Cube @ MTGsalvation:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=207309
Thanks for the feedback! I‘ll fix that when I have time. Until then, welcome to pauper, the mtg format with the most intense games. Izzet Delver is atm the deck to beat in pauper. Enjoy the ride!
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/other-formats/mtgo-pauper/developing/647850-primer-angler-delver
Modern: Sultai Death's Shadow
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/773885-sultai-deaths-shadow-bug-aggro]
Legacy: Snake&Show
http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?27217-Deck-Sneak-and-Show
Discuss my Cube @ MTGsalvation:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=207309
If you want to push your SB against Boros Monarch, I would increase the number of Stormbound Geist and maybe add a second Gorilla Shaman. To win the "value fight", countering their Hawks and Skyfishers goes a long way (don't forget to hold a Counterspell for their Palace Sentinels, unless you can immediately take over the monarch). Most of the time it's not worth to use countermagic to protect your threads, there are more creatures in your deck to draw. But keeping them from getting value with their 2-for-1 bounce creatures will lead to a situation where your opponent will run out of gas and you don't.
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/other-formats/mtgo-pauper/developing/647850-primer-angler-delver
Modern: Sultai Death's Shadow
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/773885-sultai-deaths-shadow-bug-aggro]
Legacy: Snake&Show
http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?27217-Deck-Sneak-and-Show
Discuss my Cube @ MTGsalvation:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=207309
Does Izzet Delver have space for it? (I think yes)
How many copies main deck? (My guess would be 2-4)
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/other-formats/mtgo-pauper/developing/647850-primer-angler-delver
Modern: Sultai Death's Shadow
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/773885-sultai-deaths-shadow-bug-aggro]
Legacy: Snake&Show
http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?27217-Deck-Sneak-and-Show
Discuss my Cube @ MTGsalvation:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=207309
I am looking at how to add this as well. I think it has a place in our 75 for sure.
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/pauper-izzet-delver-33326#paper
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/other-formats/mtgo-pauper/developing/647850-primer-angler-delver
Modern: Sultai Death's Shadow
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/773885-sultai-deaths-shadow-bug-aggro]
Legacy: Snake&Show
http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?27217-Deck-Sneak-and-Show
Discuss my Cube @ MTGsalvation:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=207309
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/other-formats/mtgo-pauper/developing/647850-primer-angler-delver
Modern: Sultai Death's Shadow
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/773885-sultai-deaths-shadow-bug-aggro]
Legacy: Snake&Show
http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?27217-Deck-Sneak-and-Show
Discuss my Cube @ MTGsalvation:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=207309