...It wasn't me who suggested the Trophy Mage into Crucible tech. But I kind of like it. Tron and Scapeshift are notoriously bad matchups and that would definitely help sealing the deal. I do think if you were to include the combo that you probably want 4 GQs or 3 GQs + 1 Tech Edge or something to that extend...
Since Smuggler's Copter is now banned in Standard, the price has dropped to 1.07 tix on mtgo and $6.99 on paper. I may try to modify my list to run a couple alongside 2x Glint-Nest Crane.
This makes me also think back to what Badabing said about Trophy Mage getting Crucible of Worlds.
Running a Crucible maindeck could allow for synergy with Copter by discarding lands. Crane and the Mage also help us to find Crucible faster for the Tron match-up.
brewed up this list. It's actually kinda neat, lots of ways to abuse push plus it's fairly low to the ground and has great filtering/draw. Has been pretty smooth in my goldfishing. I wish I could fit in a couple more artifacts, I just wish there were more good 1 drops. I'm sure there's a way by removing liliana for something. The better question would be, what would you want to add...
Disciple of Deceit and Scrapheap Scrounger look like they may synergize really well with Smuggler's Copter and I think fits the curve/theme of your Confidant build. Alot of 2 cmc cards that you can discard to Disciple of Deceit, with Scrapheap Scrounger being ideal...you can "activate" inspired by using Smuggler's Copter..
Yes i really like strenghtening ballista, it is also a great mana sink we can use all our grand architect extra mana on. It can be early removal or late game reach, which super good...
Don't forget it can also hit planeswalkers and has a nice interaction with Basilisk Collar..
I really liked how thopter engineer makes drawing your threats late still very good. Hasty signal pests or superion are great! Also the 2 bodies pair up nicely with chief's convoke and battlecry triggers from pest.
...I was brainstorming a UW version to take advantage of flicker effects. Using Venser, the Sojourner or Flickerwisp to remove GA for a turn and make a ton of Thoptors doesn't seem like the worst idea ever.
If you do go the UW route and still want to keep the tax angle, Grand Arbiter Augustin IV could be a decent replacement for Lodestone Golem...makes Venser cost 1UW
Battle at the Bridge, "Improvise" is definitely a downgrade from the "Affinity" mechanic...but hopefully we get some tier worthy blue/artifact spells with it...
@streetmage: Thanks for the suggestion, I'll keep it mind, though I am honestly more interested in testing Smuggler's Copter.
How have been your experience with Skeleton Key?
Its been good so far in testing, its virtually Smuggler's Copter in equipment form. Its provides evasion via skulk and can be found with Trinket Mage.
After testing Ulka's U/B version, I was inspired to try my own version of a Grand Architect deck and ended up with this U/W list.This can be particullary useful in a grindy match, though the Sword of Feast and Famine has been the least impressive one...
Glint-Nest Crane has been amazing so far, whether on turn 2 or t7, it has been overperforming so far. This creature helps us to find our equipment, disruption, blocks, attacks with/without a sword, it has been almost always fantastic. I think every list can play at least 3 copies of it...
Yea, Glint-Nest Crane can do a good Stoneforge Mystic impersonation, atleast the "search" part if you run enough equipment...it definitely carries them well.
I've been trying Skeleton Key as a piece of draw equipment, could give it a try if you are looking for something to replace Sword of Feast and Famine.
I would like to make an argument against Collective Brutality...I understand that there is an argument to be made for flexibility, an argument to be made for pitching dead cards, but each of these modes will always cost you a card.
Not if you are pitching cards like Sword of the Meek or even in the list above Lingering Souls. I think Collective Brutality is one of the best cards to come out of the set and if used wisely can be very beneficial to this deck...esp when it comes to being hellbent for Ensnaring Bridge.
Don't forget cards like Academy Ruins and Crucible of Worlds that act as "recursion"...
And the life gain makes it never really a "dead" card..
The toughest matchups for me are usually aggro decks (Burn) in particular and the various Tron variants.
For Tron I have Ceremonious Rejection (counters Karn, Wurmcoil, various Eldrazi, Ugin, O-stone etc), Disdainful Stroke and Crucible of Worlds.
For burn and aggro I have Elixir (can fetch with Trinket Mage).
Recall is for Affinity and sometimes works against Infect (for Inkmoth).
Silent Arbiter was there mainly for Twin, but I've left it in to deal with Merfolk, B/W Tokens etc.
Those are some differences I see in our sideboards, I think yours as is should cover most things in the meta.
Would recommend adding some disruption to the sideboard like IOK, Duress or Thoughtseize since you have access to black...
Mainboard looks great, hope you have fun and win some games!
This makes me also think back to what Badabing said about Trophy Mage getting Crucible of Worlds.
Running a Crucible maindeck could allow for synergy with Copter by discarding lands. Crane and the Mage also help us to find Crucible faster for the Tron match-up.
Maybe even run Buried Ruin...
Also low cost artifacts like Hangarback Walker and the new Walking Ballista would be good additions...
Swapping:
Treasure Mage for Trophy Mage
Triskelion for Walking Ballista
Wurmcoil Engine for Filigree Familiar
8 Island
4 Polluted Delta
2 Blinkmoth Nexus
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Sea Gate Wreckage
1 Academy Ruins
1 Watery Grave
1 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (8)
4 Aether Vial
1 Vedalken Shackles
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
1 Engineered Explosives
4 Mausoleum Wanderer
4 Grand Architect
4 Chief Engineer
3 Sage of Epityr
3 Lodestone Golem
3 Myr Superion
2 Hangarback Walker
2 Walking Ballista
2 Spellskite
1 Filigree Familiar
1 Trophy Mage
1 Trinket Mage
1 Glint-Nest Crane
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Filigree Familiar
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Dismember
1 Spell Snare
1 Echoing Truth
1 Silent Arbiter
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pithing Needle
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Crucible of Worlds
Its practically a Triskelion you can grow or play for less, six mana gets you the same amount of counters. Also can find with Trinket Mage.
Now all we need is one that draws cards...
I do hope Aether Revolt gives us some blue artifact-creature versions of Thopter Engineer...
A blue Doomed Traveler would also be nice..
Mage that finds 3 cmc artifacts and an artifact that revives artifacts.
Definitely excited for this set!
I've been trying Skeleton Key as a piece of draw equipment, could give it a try if you are looking for something to replace Sword of Feast and Famine.
Don't forget cards like Academy Ruins and Crucible of Worlds that act as "recursion"...
And the life gain makes it never really a "dead" card..
@Ulka, first, hope you do well!
Here is my sideboard below, its in constant flux btw...:
2 Filigree Familiar
1 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Spellskite
1 Spell Pierce
1 Echoing Truth
1 Silent Arbiter
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pithing Needle
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Crucible of Worlds
The toughest matchups for me are usually aggro decks (Burn) in particular and the various Tron variants.
For Tron I have Ceremonious Rejection (counters Karn, Wurmcoil, various Eldrazi, Ugin, O-stone etc), Disdainful Stroke and Crucible of Worlds.
For burn and aggro I have Elixir (can fetch with Trinket Mage).
Recall is for Affinity and sometimes works against Infect (for Inkmoth).
Silent Arbiter was there mainly for Twin, but I've left it in to deal with Merfolk, B/W Tokens etc.
Those are some differences I see in our sideboards, I think yours as is should cover most things in the meta.
Would recommend adding some disruption to the sideboard like IOK, Duress or Thoughtseize since you have access to black...
Mainboard looks great, hope you have fun and win some games!