Swan song in main seem like a good idea.
But why not use Spell pierce instead? In the first 3 turns, we are likely to counter without troubles, also we reach an important threat like chalice of void, althought we miss Eidolon.
We avoid to give a 2/2 which could be sometimes important, like Burn and Liliana decks, but we take the risk with longer games, i think more dangerous give a 2/2 to agroo decks than the risk of not counter something in the long run.
Thoughts, Swan song or Spell pierce?
Assume you are on the draw. Opponent plays his third land and passes. You play your third land and want to finally play your 2drop creature with countermagic backup to protect it. Spell Pierce doesn't stop Push or Path or Bolt. Swan does.
Thanks for the feedback ktkenshinx. Given my list from my report, what do you shave for the 4th visions? I have definitely considered adding the 4th one in but have not because I can't figure out what card I'd want to shave. I guess the 21st equipment?
@slax01 @kirtash900 What do you mean my deck is less consistent than others? Could you explain what mine is lacking compared to others?
Is 15 lands really too few? I played 14 games total and got screwed on mana only once (against jund). I also thought 3 serum visions was above the norm, given I saw lists with none and more filler cards like noxious.
I'm also unsure what you mean by "didn't brick after the first guy got removed." How does your creature get removed? If you are playing him on turn 2, and jamming 3 equips, thats not correct imo. You should almost always wait until turn 3, as this provides you with an additional land drop (for swan/retract). Plus, I typically wanted to wait until they were tapped out before I chose to play my guy and combo. Why play your guy early when it's just gonna die?
Ad Nauseam was easy, sure, but Lantern and D&T x2 were not. I literally had to play against Thalia in every one of my D&T games. I wouldn't call that a fair or easy matchup. Maybe I'm wrong, I haven't played this deck much, but having your entire combo gone for game 1 is hard.
Q1. Echoing Truth vs Wear // Tear.
I'm a big fan of Echoing Truth now. I ran a 2-2 split the first time I played this deck. For the tourney I cut the two wears for two truths and was very happy. Truth answers everything that wear does, but also hits random crap like Thalia, or buys you time against combo bouncing Pentad Prism or w/e. It offers more tricks.
Q2. 2 Grapeshot?
I wanted two grapes not because of fear of discard or losing one, but because i wanted option to shoot down something like thalia or infect dude or bob. Given this, the Horizon Canopy in the board should have been a Sacred Foundry. Otherwise, if you play 1 grape, then just play canopy for the extra draw, which i used a few times.
Q3. How were maindeck swan songs?
Very very good. I like being able to interact with the opponent as well as protect my combo piece. Game 1, most decks cant handle you playing paladin t3 with swan backup. There just aren't enough cheap instant removal spells. Plus, people tap out for things. Swan can buy you so much time against combo decks, or crazy aggro decks. Hitting Eidolon is a big plus. It also randomly stops t1 discard on the play.
Q4. 15th sideboard card.
It was technically Alley Evasion because I couldnt figure out what to put in my 15th slot and i didnt want to over-sideboard in any of my matches. so i didnt need any card there. After playing through a whole tourney I have a better sideboard now. Same 12 important cards + Favor of the Mighty for Jund and possibly Paradoxical Outcome for Jund.
Q5. Details on each match and sideboard plan. (Please note, I'm no master at this deck, have only played it in two events. I may be wrong on how to sideboard)
Round 1 - Death & Taxes (2-0)
Opponent had Thalia on turn 2 game 1. I had two paladins and was able to build them up with a big butt. Game stalled for a bit but I was drawing 2-3 cards for 1 mana off of equips. Eventually he went all in on attack to put me to 1 but lost Thalia, then I combo-ed off next turn. Game 2 he had Thalia again but I had echoing truth. Game was slow until I got enough mana to bounce + combo. SB: +4 Echoing Truth, -1 Bone Saw, -1 Serum Visions, -1 Swan Song, -1 Noxious Revival.
Round 2 - 4-Color Gifts (2-0)
He abrupt decays first paladin but I have a backup I'm holding onto, with swan song. Eventually he EoT gifts, i don't swan because i have noxious and I expect unburial rites + iona/elesh norn. So i let him grab those, he taps out next turn to revive, I noxious their iona back on top, then combo off. Game 2 he got greedy with counterspells and removal, but I was able to push through a win early. Not much happened. SB: +2 Silence, -1 Bone Saw, -1 Serum Visions.
Round 3 - Ad Nauseam (2-1)
I'm on the draw and he has the combo on turn 4. I play paladin on turn 2 and paladin again on t3. I spend my third mana to cause retract hoping to draw into a third artifact so i could equip paradise mantle to hold up swan song, or continue to combo off with retract (no opal yet). I miss in the top16 cards. He kills me, unlucky. Game 2 I have the win on turn 3 since they dont have much removal. Game 3 he plays temple on turn 2 holding up seachrome cost. I play sram into equips + opal + retract and get the turn 2 win. SB: +4 Silence, +1 Echoing Truth (for their leylines), -1 Bone Saw, -1 Noxious Revival, -2 Serum Visions, -1 Grapeshot
Round 4 - Death & Taxes (2-0)
Opponent has Thalia on t2, making my life hard. Same plan as before, playing multiple paladins and drawing lots of cards for 1 mana. Eventually get four bodies in play and can attack through anything. Finished off with grapeshot. Game 2 virtually the same plan, but had access to echoing truth on his thalia after he bumps his vial up to 3 from 2. SB: +4 Echoing Truth, -1 Bone Saw, -1 Serum Visions, -1 Swan Song, -1 Noxious Revival.
Round 5 - Lantern Control (2-1)
Game 1 he had inquisition to take my only sram. five turns go by and all i have is swan song. for whatever reason i dont counter his stirrings which finds him a lantern that kills me. i just kind of derped there. anyway, top card i would have draw was sram to combo off with many equips. so rip me. game 2 i dont recall but it ended quickly even after he surgicaled my retracts on his turn 2, i won turn 3. Game 3 was closer. he misused his mill rocks + lantern and gave me a window to draw an equip with two paladins in play. prior to this i had to save one with echoing truth. he taps all his rocks to prevent me from drawing an equip (which would draw 2 cards), sees retract on top, makes me shuffle, and i randomly draw retract. even an equip would have been fine. SB: +4 Leyline of Sanctity, +1 Echoing Truth, -1 Bone Saw, -3 Serum Visions, -1 Grapeshot.
Round 6 - Intentional Draw (0-0-3)
Would have been against griselbrand. silence would have been interacting here.
Top 8 - Jund (0-2)
Playing against my friend who I have showed my deck to and talked about it to him. He understands removal is key, as well as discard. My game 1 keep had solid start but only 1 sram. he has IoK turn 1, taking my engine, i draw blanks for 5 turns and die. Game 2 i mulligan no land into no land, but keep the six. it has noxious (so a fetch gets me to two mana), multiple paladins, leyline, equip. at some point i had three mana to try and go off, but the swan song couldnt stop his k command + bolt + terminate hand. if it were silence i would have won that turn. lesson learned. SB: +4 Leyline of Sanctity, -2 Bone Saw, -1 Grapeshot. I didn't know what else to take out, left as 61.
Played this at a $1,000 event today. Manged to top 8 out of 60 players (5-0-1 w/ ID). Had to play my friend in the top 8 who I've shared the deck with. He was on Jund and knew how to handle CheeriOs. Died, but still a good run.
Notes on MD configuration: I would have played Sigil of Distinction if I owned any; replacing all of the Bone Saws with them. The Serum Visions I enjoyed. The two Swan Songs did a lot of work, I really like them main. It may be possible it's better to just have Silence in that spot, but I like being able to hit Eidolon of the Great Revel and Stony Silence and stuff. I will continue to be playing with two swans for now.
Notes on SB configuration: 4 Leylines were a big deal, as I wanted protection from discard. Silence was an all-star. It wrecks opposing combo decks as well as completely protects you during your combo turn. Turn 3 land + silence + paladin = game. The Echoing Truths were also very very strong. I want another instant speed bounce or removal effect like this. The other cards were whatever. I will likely be trying out two Paradoxical Outcome in the SB to help against Jund. EoT their turn bring back your equips, draw cards, then go off on your turn.
Match-ups:
Round 1 - Death & Taxes (2-0)
Round 2 - 4-Color Gifts (2-0)
Round 3 - Ad Nauseam (2-1) I punted game 1.
Round 4 - Death & Taxes (2-0)
Round 5 - Lantern Control (2-1) I punted game 1.
Round 6 - Intentional Draw (0-0-3)
Top 8 - Jund (0-2)
@ktkenshinx, thanks for the feedback on the sideboard cards. I completely skipped the conflict between Defense Grid and Retract. I'll look into getting Silences.
Concerning the mana, I feel like I'll lose more games from being forced to fetch -> shock than I would using my current manabase and hitting that uncommon opening hand with serum + plains only. I will test more and we will see. I'm also not sold on Noxious. I understand it has many uses, including keeping a 1 lander to draw more, or reusing retract, or buying back paladin, or even getting grapeshot for a quick kill. I don't think it's as necessary as it is useful. More testing will tell.
I think this deck now has great potential for taking over Modern and/or forcing a shift in the meta. It's way too consistent. It feels like twin in that, you can pass with two lands up and if the opponent taps out they just lose.
I would like to find room for the fourth Serum Visions, but that will have to wait until I put more games in with the deck. The Swan Song main works similar to how a lot of twin lists ran Dispel, except it catches more things. Dispel was good in twin because games could go long or grindy. Cheeri0s won't have grindy games where you gain advantage via cards, so giving them a swan is acceptable. Spell Pierce is not good enough, as being on the draw means they will be able to pay for bolt, path, push on your turn 3.
Defense Grid is a clever answer to any removal or countermagic, forcing them to be worthless until turn 4. Leyline of Sanctity is necessary for decks with early hand disruption. The other slots are flex for the time being. Wear // Tear hits red Eidolon, Stony Silence, opposing Leylines and Chalice of the Void. Void Snare is the most efficient answer to any of the previously mentioned cards.
I don't think this deck is very fair, especially when taking it to a tournament where most competitors won't know what you are doing until they tap out t3, and then they're dead.
Yeah I like that upgrade plan. The Walking Ballista serves another purpose in buying us time against certain decks like Infect and Affinity. That and Orzhov Charm can now revive both the babies (hangarback/ballista) and the Disciple of the Vault.
Our deck can also ultilize Fatal Push really well. Not only is it additional copies of 1mana removal like Path to Exile, but it's very easy to enable Revolt.
Dunno, but the deck seems really bad in the current meta.
Lot of Eldrazi which can lock you up turn one with Chalice and board Thorn of Amethyst afterside, Grixis Delver that seems impossible to disrupt as Bug Delver.
If anyone has an update, that would be fair, but I doubt that anyone is working on this deck anymore.
Eldrazi is not a bad matchup. You slam an Energy Field game 1, how do they win? On the play you'd be able to e tutor for it.
The hard matchups are Grixis Delver, BUG decks, Storm (i think?), and Elves. Other decks like Miracles, Dredge, and Lands are all pretty favorable.
Here is my current list. The Scrublands are flex, and the sideboard is work-in-progress
@kanister I'm 100% certain it works the way I described, and the way seen in the GP OKC 2015 finals video. The head judge at the event confirmed it AND included another example where you put a Courser of Kruphix into play via an effect like Woodland Bellower or Chord of Calling. You are welcome to check with other judges and other sources to confirm.
And no, MTGO does not handle "revealing the top card always" correctly in many cases, such as the fetchland scenario and the ancient stirrings scenario.
after testing the kanister list i think it's probably the best. cranes are good but there are a lot of advantages of mishra's being free and an artifact. i made 2 minor changes to his list though. i took out one llanowar waste for 1 forest, i also shaved one surgical in the board for a third leyline.
made changes to the list in my signature. i also made one last switch from seal of primordium to quiet disrepair, and i took out the singleton infernal tutor for a third abrupt decay main.
The first changes were what i was thinking too when i first saw the list. It seems really solid.
This may have been answered a long time ago,but When zac was in the finals of gp OKC when his opponent cracks scalding tarn and takes the island off the top he says that he has to show him the next card and then shuffles. I was in the finals of a pptq and my opponent did the same thing and i told him to show me the next card, my opponent said that isnt a rule, the judge ruled in my favor, but the head judge ruled in my opponents favor. Who is right? and would something like this also apply for ghost quarter and taking the top card?
To provide another response for you: If you take the land from the top of your deck with a fetchland and put it onto the battlefield, what does your deck look like? I'm asking in the literal sense. Is your deck on the table with all cards facing downwards? If so, that's incorrect. According to the rules of magic (with lantern in play) the top card CANNOT be facedown ever. The deck you have in front of you where cards are stacked on top of each other must have the top card revealed.
Just found this thread. Haven't read through that much of it. Glad to see Tezzerator having some success
One of the big reasons I like Hangarback Walker is that it helps you win the grindy games. Decks like Grixis Delver/Control or Jund have a hard dealing with this card. Four likely is not necessary, 3 felt great.
I'm also hesitant on bumping my tezz count up from two to three. Yes I know he's amazing and he feels awesome most of the time. However, he doesn't always impact the boardstate in a profitable manner against half the matchups (or more). That's scary to say about a 4 drop. Right now I run 3/2 lily over tezz split. It originally was 2/3 lily tezz but I felt lily offer more especially when dealing with more unfair decks like Ad Nauseam.
I would like to find room for an X-cap but my limited testing makes it hard for me to shave cards atm. Unsure how necessary the pithing needle is, but that card is great in a deck that utilizes ensnaring bridge.
At what point can Lantern move into the Tier-2 area of the forums? Ever since Kaladesh, the deck has been performing incredibly well in competitive online leagues. Take the MTG Goldfish metagame analysis, lantern has been in the top 4-8 decks for almost a full month now.
Assume you are on the draw. Opponent plays his third land and passes. You play your third land and want to finally play your 2drop creature with countermagic backup to protect it. Spell Pierce doesn't stop Push or Path or Bolt. Swan does.
Is 15 lands really too few? I played 14 games total and got screwed on mana only once (against jund). I also thought 3 serum visions was above the norm, given I saw lists with none and more filler cards like noxious.
I'm also unsure what you mean by "didn't brick after the first guy got removed." How does your creature get removed? If you are playing him on turn 2, and jamming 3 equips, thats not correct imo. You should almost always wait until turn 3, as this provides you with an additional land drop (for swan/retract). Plus, I typically wanted to wait until they were tapped out before I chose to play my guy and combo. Why play your guy early when it's just gonna die?
Ad Nauseam was easy, sure, but Lantern and D&T x2 were not. I literally had to play against Thalia in every one of my D&T games. I wouldn't call that a fair or easy matchup. Maybe I'm wrong, I haven't played this deck much, but having your entire combo gone for game 1 is hard.
Q1. Echoing Truth vs Wear // Tear.
I'm a big fan of Echoing Truth now. I ran a 2-2 split the first time I played this deck. For the tourney I cut the two wears for two truths and was very happy. Truth answers everything that wear does, but also hits random crap like Thalia, or buys you time against combo bouncing Pentad Prism or w/e. It offers more tricks.
Q2. 2 Grapeshot?
I wanted two grapes not because of fear of discard or losing one, but because i wanted option to shoot down something like thalia or infect dude or bob. Given this, the Horizon Canopy in the board should have been a Sacred Foundry. Otherwise, if you play 1 grape, then just play canopy for the extra draw, which i used a few times.
Q3. How were maindeck swan songs?
Very very good. I like being able to interact with the opponent as well as protect my combo piece. Game 1, most decks cant handle you playing paladin t3 with swan backup. There just aren't enough cheap instant removal spells. Plus, people tap out for things. Swan can buy you so much time against combo decks, or crazy aggro decks. Hitting Eidolon is a big plus. It also randomly stops t1 discard on the play.
Q4. 15th sideboard card.
It was technically Alley Evasion because I couldnt figure out what to put in my 15th slot and i didnt want to over-sideboard in any of my matches. so i didnt need any card there. After playing through a whole tourney I have a better sideboard now. Same 12 important cards + Favor of the Mighty for Jund and possibly Paradoxical Outcome for Jund.
Q5. Details on each match and sideboard plan. (Please note, I'm no master at this deck, have only played it in two events. I may be wrong on how to sideboard)
Round 1 - Death & Taxes (2-0)
Opponent had Thalia on turn 2 game 1. I had two paladins and was able to build them up with a big butt. Game stalled for a bit but I was drawing 2-3 cards for 1 mana off of equips. Eventually he went all in on attack to put me to 1 but lost Thalia, then I combo-ed off next turn. Game 2 he had Thalia again but I had echoing truth. Game was slow until I got enough mana to bounce + combo.
SB: +4 Echoing Truth, -1 Bone Saw, -1 Serum Visions, -1 Swan Song, -1 Noxious Revival.
Round 2 - 4-Color Gifts (2-0)
He abrupt decays first paladin but I have a backup I'm holding onto, with swan song. Eventually he EoT gifts, i don't swan because i have noxious and I expect unburial rites + iona/elesh norn. So i let him grab those, he taps out next turn to revive, I noxious their iona back on top, then combo off. Game 2 he got greedy with counterspells and removal, but I was able to push through a win early. Not much happened.
SB: +2 Silence, -1 Bone Saw, -1 Serum Visions.
Round 3 - Ad Nauseam (2-1)
I'm on the draw and he has the combo on turn 4. I play paladin on turn 2 and paladin again on t3. I spend my third mana to cause retract hoping to draw into a third artifact so i could equip paradise mantle to hold up swan song, or continue to combo off with retract (no opal yet). I miss in the top16 cards. He kills me, unlucky. Game 2 I have the win on turn 3 since they dont have much removal. Game 3 he plays temple on turn 2 holding up seachrome cost. I play sram into equips + opal + retract and get the turn 2 win.
SB: +4 Silence, +1 Echoing Truth (for their leylines), -1 Bone Saw, -1 Noxious Revival, -2 Serum Visions, -1 Grapeshot
Round 4 - Death & Taxes (2-0)
Opponent has Thalia on t2, making my life hard. Same plan as before, playing multiple paladins and drawing lots of cards for 1 mana. Eventually get four bodies in play and can attack through anything. Finished off with grapeshot. Game 2 virtually the same plan, but had access to echoing truth on his thalia after he bumps his vial up to 3 from 2.
SB: +4 Echoing Truth, -1 Bone Saw, -1 Serum Visions, -1 Swan Song, -1 Noxious Revival.
Round 5 - Lantern Control (2-1)
Game 1 he had inquisition to take my only sram. five turns go by and all i have is swan song. for whatever reason i dont counter his stirrings which finds him a lantern that kills me. i just kind of derped there. anyway, top card i would have draw was sram to combo off with many equips. so rip me. game 2 i dont recall but it ended quickly even after he surgicaled my retracts on his turn 2, i won turn 3. Game 3 was closer. he misused his mill rocks + lantern and gave me a window to draw an equip with two paladins in play. prior to this i had to save one with echoing truth. he taps all his rocks to prevent me from drawing an equip (which would draw 2 cards), sees retract on top, makes me shuffle, and i randomly draw retract. even an equip would have been fine.
SB: +4 Leyline of Sanctity, +1 Echoing Truth, -1 Bone Saw, -3 Serum Visions, -1 Grapeshot.
Round 6 - Intentional Draw (0-0-3)
Would have been against griselbrand. silence would have been interacting here.
Top 8 - Jund (0-2)
Playing against my friend who I have showed my deck to and talked about it to him. He understands removal is key, as well as discard. My game 1 keep had solid start but only 1 sram. he has IoK turn 1, taking my engine, i draw blanks for 5 turns and die. Game 2 i mulligan no land into no land, but keep the six. it has noxious (so a fetch gets me to two mana), multiple paladins, leyline, equip. at some point i had three mana to try and go off, but the swan song couldnt stop his k command + bolt + terminate hand. if it were silence i would have won that turn. lesson learned.
SB: +4 Leyline of Sanctity, -2 Bone Saw, -1 Grapeshot. I didn't know what else to take out, left as 61.
Updated decklist:
4 Puresteel Paladin
4 Retract
3 Serum Visions
2 Swan Song
2 Grapeshot
1 Noxious Revival
4 Mox Opal
4 Accorder's Shield
4 Cathar's Shield
4 Spidersilk Net
4 Paradise Mantle
3 Sigil of Distinction
2 Kite Shield
2 Windswept Heath
2 Marsh Flats
2 Arid Mesa
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Seachrome Coast
2 Plains
4 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Silence
4 Echoing Truth
2 Paradoxical Outcome
1 Favor of the Mighty
My bad, they were 2 Seachrome Coast.
4 Puresteel Paladin
4 Retract
3 Serum Visions
2 Swan Song
2 Grapeshot
1 Noxious Revival
4 Mox Opal
4 Accorder's Shield
4 Cathar's Shield
4 Spidersilk Net
4 Paradise Mantle
3 Bone Saw
2 Kite Shield
2 Windswept Heath
2 Marsh Flats
2 Arid Mesa
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Seachrome Coast
2 Plains
1 Horizon Canopy
4 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Silence
4 Echoing Truth
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender
1 Flex Slot
Notes on MD configuration: I would have played Sigil of Distinction if I owned any; replacing all of the Bone Saws with them. The Serum Visions I enjoyed. The two Swan Songs did a lot of work, I really like them main. It may be possible it's better to just have Silence in that spot, but I like being able to hit Eidolon of the Great Revel and Stony Silence and stuff. I will continue to be playing with two swans for now.
Notes on SB configuration: 4 Leylines were a big deal, as I wanted protection from discard. Silence was an all-star. It wrecks opposing combo decks as well as completely protects you during your combo turn. Turn 3 land + silence + paladin = game. The Echoing Truths were also very very strong. I want another instant speed bounce or removal effect like this. The other cards were whatever. I will likely be trying out two Paradoxical Outcome in the SB to help against Jund. EoT their turn bring back your equips, draw cards, then go off on your turn.
Match-ups:
Round 1 - Death & Taxes (2-0)
Round 2 - 4-Color Gifts (2-0)
Round 3 - Ad Nauseam (2-1) I punted game 1.
Round 4 - Death & Taxes (2-0)
Round 5 - Lantern Control (2-1) I punted game 1.
Round 6 - Intentional Draw (0-0-3)
Top 8 - Jund (0-2)
Concerning the mana, I feel like I'll lose more games from being forced to fetch -> shock than I would using my current manabase and hitting that uncommon opening hand with serum + plains only. I will test more and we will see. I'm also not sold on Noxious. I understand it has many uses, including keeping a 1 lander to draw more, or reusing retract, or buying back paladin, or even getting grapeshot for a quick kill. I don't think it's as necessary as it is useful. More testing will tell.
Here's what I'm currently testing.
4 Puresteel Paladin
4 Retract
3 Serum Visions
2 Swan Song
2 Grapeshot
1 Noxious Revival
4 Mox Opal
4 Accorder's Shield
4 Cathar's Shield
4 Spidersilk Net
4 Paradise Mantle
3 Bone Saw
2 Sigil of Distinction
4 Adarkar Wastes
4 Gemstone Mine
3 Plains
4 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Defense Grid
3 Wear // Tear
2 Void Snare
2 Swan Song
I would like to find room for the fourth Serum Visions, but that will have to wait until I put more games in with the deck. The Swan Song main works similar to how a lot of twin lists ran Dispel, except it catches more things. Dispel was good in twin because games could go long or grindy. Cheeri0s won't have grindy games where you gain advantage via cards, so giving them a swan is acceptable. Spell Pierce is not good enough, as being on the draw means they will be able to pay for bolt, path, push on your turn 3.
Defense Grid is a clever answer to any removal or countermagic, forcing them to be worthless until turn 4. Leyline of Sanctity is necessary for decks with early hand disruption. The other slots are flex for the time being. Wear // Tear hits red Eidolon, Stony Silence, opposing Leylines and Chalice of the Void. Void Snare is the most efficient answer to any of the previously mentioned cards.
I don't think this deck is very fair, especially when taking it to a tournament where most competitors won't know what you are doing until they tap out t3, and then they're dead.
Our deck can also ultilize Fatal Push really well. Not only is it additional copies of 1mana removal like Path to Exile, but it's very easy to enable Revolt.
Eldrazi is not a bad matchup. You slam an Energy Field game 1, how do they win? On the play you'd be able to e tutor for it.
The hard matchups are Grixis Delver, BUG decks, Storm (i think?), and Elves. Other decks like Miracles, Dredge, and Lands are all pretty favorable.
Here is my current list. The Scrublands are flex, and the sideboard is work-in-progress
4 Lantern of Insight
4 Codex Shredder
3 Pyxis of Pandemonium
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mox Opal
3 Enlightened Tutor
4 Unexpectedly Absent
2 Swords to Plowshares
3 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Energy Field
4 Rest in Peace
3 Pithing Needle
1 Porphyry Nodes
1 Runed Halo
1 Helm of Obedience
3 Marsh Flats
1 Polluted Delta
1 Scrubland
4 Tundra
4 Plains
2 Island
1 Karakas
1 Flusterstorm
3 Swan Song
2 Metamorphose
2 Swords to Plowshares
2 Seal of Cleansing
2 Peacekeeper
2 Meddling Mage
1 Ethersworn Canonist
And no, MTGO does not handle "revealing the top card always" correctly in many cases, such as the fetchland scenario and the ancient stirrings scenario.
To provide another response for you: If you take the land from the top of your deck with a fetchland and put it onto the battlefield, what does your deck look like? I'm asking in the literal sense. Is your deck on the table with all cards facing downwards? If so, that's incorrect. According to the rules of magic (with lantern in play) the top card CANNOT be facedown ever. The deck you have in front of you where cards are stacked on top of each other must have the top card revealed.
One of the big reasons I like Hangarback Walker is that it helps you win the grindy games. Decks like Grixis Delver/Control or Jund have a hard dealing with this card. Four likely is not necessary, 3 felt great.
I'm also hesitant on bumping my tezz count up from two to three. Yes I know he's amazing and he feels awesome most of the time. However, he doesn't always impact the boardstate in a profitable manner against half the matchups (or more). That's scary to say about a 4 drop. Right now I run 3/2 lily over tezz split. It originally was 2/3 lily tezz but I felt lily offer more especially when dealing with more unfair decks like Ad Nauseam.
I would like to find room for an X-cap but my limited testing makes it hard for me to shave cards atm. Unsure how necessary the pithing needle is, but that card is great in a deck that utilizes ensnaring bridge.
In other news, SaffronOlive put out a sweet deck tech here:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/much-abrew-lantern-control-modern