I know this is a little late for lists like this, as the Standard format is going to change dramatically in a few short months. This deck, though, seems like it could be a lot of fun.
I'm not sure what the mindcensor is for maybe you could add Maralen of the Mornsong so you could be searching for game-winners and yur opponent is searching the top 4 cards of his deck while Mindcensor is in play.
Ok, so, a few changes to the original list. I like Maralen of the Mornsong, and it definitely has synergy with Aven Mindcensor, I'll try it for a few games. -2 Shriekmaw, -1 Aven Mindcensor, +3 Maralen. Unmake is the tech, but I don't think that Syphon Life is very good. Maybe something more along the lines of Consume Spirit as a win condition. After all, with Urborg out, I can just tap out for it.
O-ring would be better than Unmake, simply because it'll hit Colossus. Also I would suggest taking out Inversion for something else...like Terror...Or Moonhold. Maybe add Thoughtsieze for more control? also Beseech the Queen for faster tutoring for combo pieces or Maralen and Aven Mindcensor would be an interesting card for you. Plust if you want a good beater I would suggest a nice simple Razormane Masticore as a 1 or 2 of. Oh and for random thought Flame Javelin...just throwing that one out there for thought.
That, right there, is why this deck hasn't taken off by now. Oriss takes so much work to use as a true lockdown engine, and it isn't even a hard lock to begin with. Hard locks provide no opportunity for your opponent to answer your controlling position on the game, while Oriss' grandeur recursion provides a soft lock, one turn at a time. The lock dies to a single terror in response to Grandeur, the lock dies to a single Sudden Death, and the lock dies if Undertaker is removed, or Squee is extirpated.
I've experimented a lot with Oriss, and had marginal success in using her as a lock a few turns here or there when they're most vital. Abusing interactions between Grim Harvest, Nether Traitor, and Nantuko Husk, I had a relatively high potential lock on pure Oriss recursion, but it rarely worked out that way in practice.
Anyway, I definately suggest you avoid the Undertaker route, as he can be blasted out of the way by LITERALLY every deck in the format. Sunlance, Firespout, Incinerate, Nameless Inversion, Peppersmoke, Mogg Fanatic, Shadow Guildmage,... it really doesn't matter what it is, it'll probably kill Undertaker.
Grim Harvest is much less vulnerable, and can be reused roughly as often as Undertaker if you're running the right deck for it. Making this change also allows you to get rid of the otherwise worthless Squee, freeing up VERY important deck space for cards like Thoughtseize, which go a long way in protecting your key cogs.
Squee is not a one-of card in any deck that needs to repetitively discard cards. I actually think I may be taking this in the wrong direction. I want to keep this control-oriented, but maybe black just isn't the color. I played a few games. I lost to faeries, established a lock on Demigod.dec, and won that matchup. Against slower decks with little removal, this seems fine. However, it just doesn't seem to cut it agaist tier 1 decks. Next color to try - red. I think I am gonna completely forgo Oriss recursion, and stick instead on R/W control. My version of Skred Red meats Mono-White Control.
This seems a little more viable, but still a little unstable as a control deck, for the following reasons. 1) It has a hard time with fliers. 2) It has a hard time with combo. On the other hand, it seems really good at controlling fast aggro decks. I will come back with more testing. No more scepter-chant, but still White/X control.
To be honest, I have no clue what I was smoking when I thought up this decklist. It is a complete pile, and handles like a drunk, three-legged rhino on LSD.
Anyways, I think I'm gonna go to bed for the night (before I brainstorm even more awful ideas) and be back in the morning with (hopefully) something semi-workable. One thought that went through my mind was using Enduring Renewal and some kind of wacky creatures that could use reoccurring (Kitchen Finks and Martyr of Sands come to mind). I was actually thinking a mono-ish white deck that splashed for green and red for Moonhold and Juniper Order Ranger. Perhaps even Crovax, Ascendant Hero. Who knows. All I know is that I want to play Oriss and Kitchen Finks in the same deck, and for it to actually do something productive.
Nothing amazing, but the synergy is there. Plays like an iffy Doran Rock deck, because that's pretty much what it is!
How about egg and bacon instead?I like the deck, but Oriss doesn't seem at it place.You could play a real doran rock instead for better result (you know, more distrubtion ;))
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Great thx to Zaphod from HighLight studio for this GREAT banner.
How about egg and bacon instead?I like the deck, but Oriss doesn't seem at it place.You could play a real doran rock instead for better result (you know, more distrubtion ;))
That's exactly what I said in the same post... I posted that list as the OP wanted a functioning list with Oriss and Finks worked in, so I did that. As an aside, I think Oriss compliments the list nicely, providing a chant for the more vital turns, rather than locking down the game. Pump Colossus, swing for 8, Chant for Time Walk, Pump Colossus, swing for 8... etc.
Thanks for the list, Chosen1, I will have to try it out. I found out that creating a lock with Oriss is hard, and that the best way to use her is for protection against stuff that might ruin your day (a la Cryptic Command). Thanks for the list, I will come back with some playtesting results.
4 Fetid Heath
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Reflecting Pool
4 Swamp
8 Plains
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Oriss, Samite Guardian
4 Undertaker
4 Squee, Goblin Nabob
4 Aven Mindcensor
2 Shriekmaw
4 Kitchen Finks
2 Wrath of God
2 Damnation
3 Syphon Life
3 Nameless Inversion
4 Unmake
The idea of this deck is to get a hardlock as early as possible, via Oriss, Samite Guardian, Undertaker, and Squee, Goblin Nabob. After that, it plays Syphon Life and beats with Finks and Mindcensor until the dirty work is done. Any ideas/suggestions?
Legacy: WUB Doomsday
Standard: WUB Reanimator
look at my list!
Legacy: WUB Doomsday
Standard: WUB Reanimator
Thats my 2 cents worth.
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
That, right there, is why this deck hasn't taken off by now. Oriss takes so much work to use as a true lockdown engine, and it isn't even a hard lock to begin with. Hard locks provide no opportunity for your opponent to answer your controlling position on the game, while Oriss' grandeur recursion provides a soft lock, one turn at a time. The lock dies to a single terror in response to Grandeur, the lock dies to a single Sudden Death, and the lock dies if Undertaker is removed, or Squee is extirpated.
I've experimented a lot with Oriss, and had marginal success in using her as a lock a few turns here or there when they're most vital. Abusing interactions between Grim Harvest, Nether Traitor, and Nantuko Husk, I had a relatively high potential lock on pure Oriss recursion, but it rarely worked out that way in practice.
Anyway, I definately suggest you avoid the Undertaker route, as he can be blasted out of the way by LITERALLY every deck in the format. Sunlance, Firespout, Incinerate, Nameless Inversion, Peppersmoke, Mogg Fanatic, Shadow Guildmage,... it really doesn't matter what it is, it'll probably kill Undertaker.
Grim Harvest is much less vulnerable, and can be reused roughly as often as Undertaker if you're running the right deck for it. Making this change also allows you to get rid of the otherwise worthless Squee, freeing up VERY important deck space for cards like Thoughtseize, which go a long way in protecting your key cogs.
look at my list!
12 Snow-Covered Mountain
8 Snow-Covered Plains
4 Mouth of Ronom
//Creatures
4 Oriss, Samite Guardian
4 Spitemare
4 Stuffy Doll
4 Stalking Yeti
4 Murderous Redcap
4 Skred
4 Molten Disaster
4 Pyroclasm
4 Moonhold
This seems a little more viable, but still a little unstable as a control deck, for the following reasons. 1) It has a hard time with fliers. 2) It has a hard time with combo. On the other hand, it seems really good at controlling fast aggro decks. I will come back with more testing. No more scepter-chant, but still White/X control.
Legacy: WUB Doomsday
Standard: WUB Reanimator
I meant if you are using Maralen. Anywho, I am disappointed this went off BW.
look at my list!
Ditto, as I feel that BW or BWg are really the only options for this kind of deck. That + Batwing Brume is nucking futs.
Anyways, I think I'm gonna go to bed for the night (before I brainstorm even more awful ideas) and be back in the morning with (hopefully) something semi-workable. One thought that went through my mind was using Enduring Renewal and some kind of wacky creatures that could use reoccurring (Kitchen Finks and Martyr of Sands come to mind). I was actually thinking a mono-ish white deck that splashed for green and red for Moonhold and Juniper Order Ranger. Perhaps even Crovax, Ascendant Hero. Who knows. All I know is that I want to play Oriss and Kitchen Finks in the same deck, and for it to actually do something productive.
Legacy: WUB Doomsday
Standard: WUB Reanimator
Then here's a nice little good morning gift for whenever you see this.
4 Oriss, Samite Guardian
3 Doran, the Siege Tower
4 Kitchen Finks
4 Shriekmaw
4 Treefolk Harbinger
3 Chameleon Colossus
3 Hag Hedge-Mage
Non-Creature Spells (14)
3 Grim Harvest
3 Commune with Nature
3 Crib Swap
3 Nameless Inversion
2 Sylvan Scrying
3 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Murmuring Bosk
4 Horizon Canopy
2 Fetid Heath
2 Twilight Mire
3 Wooded Bastion
2 Treetop Village
2 Forest
4 Thoughtseize
4 Batwing Brume
4 Gaddock Teeg
3 Ronom Unicorn
Nothing amazing, but the synergy is there. Plays like an iffy Doran Rock deck, because that's pretty much what it is!
How about egg and bacon instead?I like the deck, but Oriss doesn't seem at it place.You could play a real doran rock instead for better result (you know, more distrubtion ;))
Great thx to Zaphod from HighLight studio for this GREAT banner.
If you fail your promise Shinjutsei, i will send ninja on you!!
That's exactly what I said in the same post... I posted that list as the OP wanted a functioning list with Oriss and Finks worked in, so I did that. As an aside, I think Oriss compliments the list nicely, providing a chant for the more vital turns, rather than locking down the game. Pump Colossus, swing for 8, Chant for Time Walk, Pump Colossus, swing for 8... etc.
Legacy: WUB Doomsday
Standard: WUB Reanimator