Discard: Duress, I don't know if I should try Leyline of Sanctity, I already aggressively mulligan as it is.
Path to Exile : The only removal spell that can stop the combo, I use Slaughter Pact to kill my thing first to prevent RFG.
Does anyone have any suggestions from where to go from here? I've only done testing on MWS where it is excelling but the opponents are never very strong compared to MTGO but I'm testing a bit before I buy the cards online.
I have a couple decks I'm working on at the moment and I can't decide which one to focus on, this one is my pet/favorite one that I really want to make work.
In this same kind of "color denial" strategy, would a modern version of the old Spread'em deck maybe be viable? The only decks running on mono U are faeries and Merfolk, which of course would be an issue...but you could always SB into all swamps or something. I dunno, an idea.
I agree with your points, that you can't also rely on the 4-5 finish and some decks will grind you out. But on that note, I still believe that Beseech the Queen and Phyrexian Arenas still too slow, even to that game. The Phyrexian Obliterators on the other hand are very good at ending games after you've lost your steam and a pair even inthe SD against grindy decks could be a strong contender.
The thing I loved about the U/B version the most was the resilience to the those decks, remand or mana leak depending on your playstyle. But it also comes with inconsistencies through mana base, and sometimes you just don't need the blue tempo and you need more beef.
On a sidenote...a mono black control deck with a playset of Phyrexian Obliterators and a Beseech the Queen toolbox seems pretty strong right now. That could also be a deck to be considered.
Edit: What does anyone think about stuff like Nights Whisper? I know bob doesn't work in this deck with the 4-5 pre-prowl CMC cards...but it really needs some form of CA. Think just putting 4 probes in to cantrip for free (2 life) would thin it abit?
I updated the original post with my current list, this incarnation is very tempo oriented.
I can't decide between Mana Leak and Remand, Remand seems to be the stronger choice in a pure tempo situation with the Vapor Snags but sometimes the hard counter is what you need.
The Profane Commands are really strong finishers, nuke a blocker, return a creature, give the few evasive creatures fear and alpha. Distortion Strike is there for the same idea, make Stinkdrinker Bandit unblockable and alpha. Although I feel like the Distortion Strikes might just be unneeded.
This build also has no had disruption, I will probably fill those last SB slots with inquisition of kozilek.
So I wanted to try and make a Life of the Loam kind of tempo control deck with Thoughts of ruin, assault, BBE, bolt, helix. This is my current list and the SB is all over the place.
Its been my pet deck for awhile and I'm trying to get it working smoothly, really looking for some input thanks
Consistent wins on turns 1-3.
4 City of Brass
4 Gemstone Mine
1 Mountain
4 Gemstone Caverns
4 Blackcleave Cliffs
// Creatures
4 Protean Hulk
4 Simian Spirit Guide
2 Viscera Seer
2 Reveillark
2 Body Double
1 Mogg Fanatic
2 Wild Cantor
4 Seething Song
4 Through the Breach
4 Footsteps of the Goryo
4 Faithless Looting
4 Peer Through Depths
3 Summoner's Pact
3 Wild Guess
4 Slaughter Pact
4 Guttural Response
4 Duress
3 Echoing Truth
Its very consistent and does quite well, some things it has problems with are:
Counter spells of course: SB Guttural Response and Duress
Gaddock Teeg : SB Slaughter Pact and/or Echoing Truth
Discard: Duress, I don't know if I should try Leyline of Sanctity, I already aggressively mulligan as it is.
Path to Exile : The only removal spell that can stop the combo, I use Slaughter Pact to kill my thing first to prevent RFG.
Does anyone have any suggestions from where to go from here? I've only done testing on MWS where it is excelling but the opponents are never very strong compared to MTGO but I'm testing a bit before I buy the cards online.
I have a couple decks I'm working on at the moment and I can't decide which one to focus on, this one is my pet/favorite one that I really want to make work.
Thanks for the input
If you through the breach your Protean Hulk it definitely doesn't matter when you cast it.
Or maybe Delver of Secrets for the games you think might go longer?
Volcanic Strength against mountains?
The thing I loved about the U/B version the most was the resilience to the those decks, remand or mana leak depending on your playstyle. But it also comes with inconsistencies through mana base, and sometimes you just don't need the blue tempo and you need more beef.
On a sidenote...a mono black control deck with a playset of Phyrexian Obliterators and a Beseech the Queen toolbox seems pretty strong right now. That could also be a deck to be considered.
Edit: What does anyone think about stuff like Nights Whisper? I know bob doesn't work in this deck with the 4-5 pre-prowl CMC cards...but it really needs some form of CA. Think just putting 4 probes in to cantrip for free (2 life) would thin it abit?
The evasive 1 drops and a Stinkdrinker Bandit are your best play, I think 8 of them is definitely a fine number.
I can't decide between Mana Leak and Remand, Remand seems to be the stronger choice in a pure tempo situation with the Vapor Snags but sometimes the hard counter is what you need.
The Profane Commands are really strong finishers, nuke a blocker, return a creature, give the few evasive creatures fear and alpha. Distortion Strike is there for the same idea, make Stinkdrinker Bandit unblockable and alpha. Although I feel like the Distortion Strikes might just be unneeded.
This build also has no had disruption, I will probably fill those last SB slots with inquisition of kozilek.
Do you think playing Noggin Whack over Inquisition of kozilek is stronger? You get less info and less choice.
I am considering Morsel Theft, its good card advantage most of the time aswell.
Original Decklist:
Creatures: 28
4x Frogtosser Banneret
4x Invisible Stalker
4x Nightshade Stinger
4x Oona's Blackguard
4x Oona's Prowler
4x Prickly Boggart
4x Stinkdrinker Bandit
4x Mana Leak
4x Inquisition of kozilek
2x Smother
Land: 22
4x Watery Grave
4x Drowned Catacomb
5x Island
9x Swamp
Current UB Version:
9 Swamp
4 Watery Grave
4 Drowned Catacomb
5 Island
4 Stinkdrinker Bandit
4 Oona's Blackguard
4 Oona's Prowler
4 Prickly Boggart
3 Frogtosser Banneret
4 Nightshade Stinger
3 Earwig Squad
2 Distortion Strike
4 Remand
4 Vapor Snag
4 Dunerider Outlaw
4 Faerie Macabre
3 Deathmark
4 Duress
Current MB Version
22 Swamp
Creatures
4 Stinkdrinker Bandit
4 Oona's Blackguard
4 Oona's Prowler
4 Prickly Boggart
3 Frogtosser Banneret
4 Nightshade Stinger
3 Earwig Squad
2 Profane Command
4 Duress
2 Dismember
4 Crippling Blight
4 Dunerider Outlaw
4 Faerie Macabre
4 Wrench Mind
2 Pithing Needle
1 Earwig Squad
Mono B adds consistency but loses a lot of the blue tempo.
I'm not 100% sure which version I like more at the moment.
4x Bloodbraid Elf
4x Sakura-Tribe Elder
3x Birds of Paradise
Instants:
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
3x Harrow
4x Life from the Loam
3x Thoughts of Ruin
Enchantments:
3x Seismic Assault
Artifacts:
2x Crucible of Worlds
Lands:
2x Stomping Ground
2x Sacred Foundry
1x Temple Garden
4x Arid Mesa
4x Treetop Village
3x Rootbound Crag
1x Raging Ravine
1x Plains
5x Forest
3x Mountain
Anyone have any ideas/thoughts?