I've been looking at shunt the past few days. Maybe as a 1 of if not 2 SB. I'm not sure if its ruled out for us for any reason but I think I'll give it some testing and see what I come up with
While to an extent the deck does not need big splashy finishers, I found you do need to end the game somehow, the "splashy" finishers help with that, particularly Aetherling more than Bolas (and note it is a one of) 6 mana isn't terrible for a deck that wants to snapcaster cryptic
Thoughtflare I'll test seems sweet
I understand the consistency with Serum Visions, realistically I want my cantrip to well
I am viewing the deck as a heavy permission deck, using early discard and late-game counters to control the board until you stabilize and then cast a finisher
Delay is better vs Counter magic and removal as a Mana leak/Remand looks quite bad when it comes off suspend with no spells on the stack
How do the singletons work out for you?
IMO, which isn't much, but IMO your curve looks high and makes for a slow start.
How often do you find your cruel/nicol?
Do you find yourself screwed early game more often then not?
I would like to know how testing has gone for you.
Inquisition of Kozilek can be better than Thoughtseize if you're expecting more aggro in your meta than control/combo decks where the wider selection is better. That's why I play IoK over Thoughtseize at least. I do agree with you on the Slagstorm part though, Pyroclasm is almost always better. The single red mana is allows it be cast easier, and also faster its faster.
To me it seems Volcanic Fallout would be a more viable option seeing as how it's instant and for the price you get protection from counters.
and a bunch of removal and discard will work much better here.
after seeing these it feels like it has some real potential now. I want to try a test deck and see how it fairs.
Also I admire the life drain theme but I think mana leak would fair better as a counter then countersquall . I'd hate to be restricted on what i can counter. You can possibly run 2 or 3 md if you want on the side of mana leaks but I don't think 4 is necessary.
@magicman: No, not paper events, unfortunately - but I have played my fair share of MODO games. It is true though, that I have played more Standard than Modern lately, but I think I already said that.
@Blud Ale: I didn't in any shape or form indicate that the above mentioned cards were substitutes for Izzet Charm, and having read the text again, I fail to see how you would make that connection.
As far as the discussion about finisher go, well, I agree - Cruel Ultimatum is awesome. That is, when it sticks and when you have control. There was a time when Lingering Souls and Spectral Possession was a thing, and against those Thundermaw Hellkite was quite effective.
I have played games (against aggro) where they simply depleted my resources as I was forced to respond to their many threats. In those situations, the ultimatum wouldn't have done much of anything, and I would have preferred to draw Blue Sun's Zenith in order to find Damnation or other kill spells.
As far as Izzet Charm goes, I much prefer a hard counter. The Spell Pierce effect is too easily played around, the Shock is not potent enough (and too expensive), and the cycling is card disadvantage.
I'm still fitting in Mystical Teachings in my deck, but I don't see you guys are running it. What's the reason for that?
You said izzet charm was just an awfully terrible card so I said that i would much rather draw that card then any you had mentioned. There was no connection made, I'm stating my opinion that izzet charm isn't such a bad card and that I'd much rather see it then the others.
I was actually thinking about removing my last terminate for a 3rd of something else, like izzet charm, because the likely hood of me pulling that terminate when I need/want it is unlikely.
Is the spell snare for when you drop a cruel and want to counter war? Or as a quick counter for cheap spells? I've never played one.
It's not that it was working or broken but it felt like a majority of the time I would be stuck drawing lands and have several turns of land draws so by atleast cutting it by 1 won't do harm. I've seen better results in testing now.
I've been running 26 since the get and most recently thought about dropping down to 25. I feel like it may just be the right number I'm looking for without going too low. I put a deck together the other night that is similar to yours Magicman, hope you don't mind :rolleyes:. I'm going to put it up after I get home from work.
have you thought about running pyrite spellbomb?, you have the option to use the damage if necessary otherwise we could use it as a draw engine. I'm going to give it some testing. I put something together and going to run it and see how it fairs
Opportunity is getting a reprint in m14. Would that be better than either Jace's or Thoughtflare?
if i were to pick between thoughtflare or opportunity I'd go with thoughtflare since it's a turn sooner for the same amount of draw. Same draw engine but it comes down to speed really. You could test it out but I think I'd prefer thoughtflare or jace's over opportunity.
I've tinkered around with the trinket mage combo on MTGworkstation and just me personally, I don't think I'm crazy about it. It did help me out against infinity when i laid down pithing needle but that's because I drew into it. I hardly got my trinkets and never really needed to search except for once but I'm not here to knock it, just not my preference. I could see myself switching to it if my meta switches up and it calls for more hate that the trinket package brings but other then that, it's not my style of play.
Edit: How about jace's ingenuity over thoughtflare? -1 draw but no discard for the same mana and instant speed..?
same with the parasite =\ I like the idea behind the hex parasite but seeing as how pithing needle gets the job done in one drop I'd lean more towards that myself.
How do the singletons work out for you?
IMO, which isn't much, but IMO your curve looks high and makes for a slow start.
How often do you find your cruel/nicol?
Do you find yourself screwed early game more often then not?
I would like to know how testing has gone for you.
To me it seems Volcanic Fallout would be a more viable option seeing as how it's instant and for the price you get protection from counters.
after seeing these it feels like it has some real potential now. I want to try a test deck and see how it fairs.
Also I admire the life drain theme but I think mana leak would fair better as a counter then countersquall . I'd hate to be restricted on what i can counter. You can possibly run 2 or 3 md if you want on the side of mana leaks but I don't think 4 is necessary.
You said izzet charm was just an awfully terrible card so I said that i would much rather draw that card then any you had mentioned. There was no connection made, I'm stating my opinion that izzet charm isn't such a bad card and that I'd much rather see it then the others.
Is the spell snare for when you drop a cruel and want to counter war? Or as a quick counter for cheap spells? I've never played one.
2 Watery Grave
1 Cascade Bluffs
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Mountain
2 Swamp
3 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Drowned Catacomb
2 Sulfur Falls
1 Steam Vents
1 Sunken Ruins
1 Lavaclaw Reaches
2 Reflecting Pool
1 Blood Crypt
4 Augur of Bolas
2 Serum Visions
2 Electrolyze
1 repeal
2 Cruel Ultimatum
3 Cryptic Command
2 Devour Flesh
2 Damnation
1 Remand
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Thoughtflare
2 Izzet Charm
2 Mana Leak
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 slaughter games
2 rakdos charm
2 doom blade
2 flash freeze
2 volcanic fallout
2 shadow of doubt
1 consuming vapors
if i were to pick between thoughtflare or opportunity I'd go with thoughtflare since it's a turn sooner for the same amount of draw. Same draw engine but it comes down to speed really. You could test it out but I think I'd prefer thoughtflare or jace's over opportunity.
Edit: How about jace's ingenuity over thoughtflare? -1 draw but no discard for the same mana and instant speed..?