Just wondering, but I think I know the answer to this question. How is this deck's delver match up? It seems like the disruption/discard package with a clock is bad for this deck.
I've got the custom card bug again. What about these?
Inspecting Sprite U
Creature - Faerie Rogue
Flash, Flying
Exploit (...)
When Inspector Sprite exploits a creature, look at the top two cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the other into your graveyard.
1/1
Growthdrifter 2UG
Trample
When ~ enters the battlefield, return target card from your graveyard to your hand and draw a card.
Evoke 1UG
2/2
Cruel Dillusions BR
Sorcery
Target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. All players lose life equal to the card's converted mana cost.
Leeching Dead 1BB
Creature - Zombie
When ~ enters the battlefield or attacks, target opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
1/4
Haha, yeah. The 2s are a lot, but I think fair. The 2 damage doesn't really weaken it too much against creature decks. It's still a 2-for-1 that can also take over a game. I'd cube it. Maybe he could be a 3/2 and still be alright. Somewhere around Flametongue Kavu power level seems decent.
Being able to suspend him with just 1W seems really OP against removal/sweepers. I think the suspend should cost 2W and it should be 2 time counters or maybe be at sorcery speed. Another option would be to reduce the damage to a shock instead of a bolt.
What do you guys think? My current setup is similar to the 2 burn decks at Pro Tour FRF but I'm not running shard volley and running 10 fetches instead of 12-13. I took out 3 shard volley for 3 lightning helix. Is this ok or should I 100% have volley?
Overall thoughts or improvements?
This list looks solid, but I think you'll find that 4 Searing Blazes MD are gonna be a little Overkill, especially if you have only 10 fetches. When you have a target on the exact same turn that you have your infra led fetch in play, it's great, but it can end up being an effectively dead card in some MUs that unreliable deals 3. I've run 3 MD and been totally satisfied.
I think Helix is fine, but filling your deck with 2CMC cards can reduce the consistancy of dealing 20 due to being constrained on mana. I'd shave the Helixes a bit in favor of 2ish volleys.
Sideboard-wise:
I'm not a huge fan of Relic of Progenitus. There really aren't any GY decks in modern that are threatening enough to waste a card on slowing down. The best case is against Living End which is a deck you'll usually be able to outrace.
I'd also consider shaving Smash to Smithereens to potentially just a 1-of since you have 4 Destructive Revelry. Obviously, that depends on whether or not your meta has a lot of Affinity.
Look into adding some copies of Combust. As it stands, your only Twin hate is D.Rev. Which isn't a guaranteed out at all.
Also, if your meta is full of burn, don't be shy about adding more Kor Firewalker. Chances are it'll come in handy with how common the mirror match is.
The card is very good but doesn't really help with the main problem aggro decks have in this standard. Right now, a lot of aggro decks have to go wide enough to beat Caryatid/Courser decks, but also have to face cheap 3CMC sweepers (Anger of the Gods, Drown in Sorrow). This guy is good only if you've managed to maintain a wide board state on turn 4 and your opponent doesn't have removal to kill him pre-combat. He is no Hellrider. Hellrider was fantastic in the aggro decks of yore because it had Haste and because the aggressive creatures were better suited for attacking into things like Augur of Bolas. So many of the midrange decks are fantastic at mucking up the ground and this guy just doesn't quite get there until turn 5 which is a lot of time and resources for an aggro deck to be able to invest. I think he'll see play eventually, but not right now with all the midrange decks.
I'm still not totally sold on this guy's power level. The main reason I don't think he's as strong as Rabblemaster is that he doesn't bring you back from being behind. Rabblemaster can win games on its own, and this guy just can't: you need to be able to cast a lot of non creature spells in order to get anything out of him.
I could see him fitting really well into a token deck or a heroic deck potentially. You just need to build your deck maxed out on protection spells.
Answer to the question:
He is stuck in your hand while you're dead on turn 4. Or he's in the graveyard after being Mana Leaked. He's a good card and has been played but is too slow in a field of Delver, Combo, Burn, and doesn't do enough against Pod.
Inspecting Sprite U
Creature - Faerie Rogue
Flash, Flying
Exploit (...)
When Inspector Sprite exploits a creature, look at the top two cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the other into your graveyard.
1/1
Growthdrifter 2UG
Trample
When ~ enters the battlefield, return target card from your graveyard to your hand and draw a card.
Evoke 1UG
2/2
Cruel Dillusions BR
Sorcery
Target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. All players lose life equal to the card's converted mana cost.
Leeching Dead 1BB
Creature - Zombie
When ~ enters the battlefield or attacks, target opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
1/4
This list looks solid, but I think you'll find that 4 Searing Blazes MD are gonna be a little Overkill, especially if you have only 10 fetches. When you have a target on the exact same turn that you have your infra led fetch in play, it's great, but it can end up being an effectively dead card in some MUs that unreliable deals 3. I've run 3 MD and been totally satisfied.
I think Helix is fine, but filling your deck with 2CMC cards can reduce the consistancy of dealing 20 due to being constrained on mana. I'd shave the Helixes a bit in favor of 2ish volleys.
Overall, I'd suggest these changes:
Out: 1x Searing Blaze, 1x Lightning Helix
In: 2x Shard Volley
Sideboard-wise:
I'm not a huge fan of Relic of Progenitus. There really aren't any GY decks in modern that are threatening enough to waste a card on slowing down. The best case is against Living End which is a deck you'll usually be able to outrace.
I'd also consider shaving Smash to Smithereens to potentially just a 1-of since you have 4 Destructive Revelry. Obviously, that depends on whether or not your meta has a lot of Affinity.
Look into adding some copies of Combust. As it stands, your only Twin hate is D.Rev. Which isn't a guaranteed out at all.
Also, if your meta is full of burn, don't be shy about adding more Kor Firewalker. Chances are it'll come in handy with how common the mirror match is.
I could see him fitting really well into a token deck or a heroic deck potentially. You just need to build your deck maxed out on protection spells.
Peacemaker of Thraben 1WW
Creature - Cleric Soldier
First Strike
As long as ~ is untapped, nonland cards you draw have Miracle 2W.
2/2
He is stuck in your hand while you're dead on turn 4. Or he's in the graveyard after being Mana Leaked. He's a good card and has been played but is too slow in a field of Delver, Combo, Burn, and doesn't do enough against Pod.