After they release series 2, the only two walkers in toy form not currently in standard will be Tezzeret and Nicol Bolas. Bolas has a connection to both Tezz and Sarkhan, so a reunion wouldn't be unheard of. It's pure speculation, but I hope there is some truth to it all. Mostly, I'm just glad to get an Tezz figure for my desk at work
I'm curious how the release of these products plays into the storyline. Wave 1 had all the M15 characters... If these point to the future (or past since Khans is supposed to have some time travel involved), then we might see a new Tezz and/or a new artifact clan. Also, with M15's inclusion of Ornithopter, Darksteel Citadel, Shrapnel Blast, and Ensoul Artifact, artifacts obviously are being pushed...
Next thing ya know, Sword of the Meek will be unbanned
I think Baleful Strix is an amazing card. I'd likely try them and hope that all 4 fit... Probably in place of my Dark Confidant. It can be recurred with Ruins/Post and blocks with the best of them
- Swap the Thirst for Knowledge for Serum Visions. Much less painful with Confidant and more synergistic.
- Too much discard... we've usually done a 2/2 split between Thoughtseize and Inquisition.
- 7 fetch lands and only 6 targets seems wrong...
- Ensnaring Bridge should probably be in the 75.
- 3 Executioner's Capsules seems a little weak against any black deck. Maybe swap 2 for 2 Damnation.
I'm a huge fan of souls... still playing them in Legacy Stoneblade over TNN.
I personally think it would be superb addition to the deck, but I don't have as much time for testing right now. 3 fetches, 2 duals and 1 plains should be enough right?
As for the fetches, I guess I don't really have a good reason. Creeping Tarpits seem like a better solution.
I think that 3 Dark Confidants will probably be the right number, but I'm going to keep testing with 4 for now. I'd probably move the Engineered Explosives back to the main if/when I drop to 3, however Serum Visions may be the right choice there too...
I really don't like Elixir. It seems like we're fighting against ourselves. We want our graveyard as a resource. If Elixir only gained 5 life, I'd be all over it, but losing our graveyard seems bad to me. What do you think about Miren, the Moaning Well? Gives us another way to remove Confidant, we can sac our 5/5's or Trinket Mages to gain some life as well.
Here are my biggest arguments for being on Trading Post.
- Abrubt Decay can't target it.
Other than Maelstrom Pulse and coutermagic, I don't think any main deck removal can stop it.
- It's not a land.
Academy Ruins is very powerful, but between Tectonic Edge and Ghost Quarters, I don't think it's as reliable.
- Life gain and recursion.
These are consistently the two greatest needs of this deck... It does suck that it comes at cmc 4, but with Bob in play, this is probably one of the best cards we can have out. It gives us another discard outlet if we get stuck with cards in hand and makes the life loss manageable.
Sorry, I'm not on mtgo yet... the lack of Mac support keeps me patiently waiting.
I wasn't a huge fan of Fabricate either. I tried it maybe 2/3 games and gave up... I'd rather have Tezzeret the Seeker. For 5cmc he can find and play a bridge. Fabricate gives them two chances to use counter magic and/or discard.
Jace seems real good with bridge and gives you some protection if you can't quite dump your hand, but I feel like I'd have to cut a 4 drop to run him. Cutting a Damnation, Tezz or Trading Post seems wrong at this point... We could maybe function on just 3 Tezz, but I'm not sold yet.
I tested a bit with Bob last night. Against UWR Control and BW Tokens, he was just amazing.
Bob actually had a bit of positive synergy with Ensnaring Bridge. The extra card allowed me to swing with Bob for a couple turns. Serum Visions was REALLY good with him out. I'm not sure I want lose the 3rd Spellskite main, so I might drop it to 3 Bob's, but I think he way over performed compared to Bitterblossom.
My life total did become a concern one game... I misplayed Serum Visions and put Lili on top with a land under (doh!), then once I landed a bridge, forgot that I could -2 myself to kill Bob, died to a topdeck trading post next turn
I think with some practice, Bob is going to be an all star.
I've often wondered if splashing white just for lingering souls would be better than 2 Bitterblossoms. Same tokens, better synergy with Liliana, no life loss...
Have you ever run into a situation where you wished you could get rid of your Ensnaring Bridge? For example, you controlling some 5/5 made with Tezz's -1 and/or Creeping Tar Pits
I've done this via trading post. Setup with a couple 5/5 darksteel citadel's, cast damnation, sac bridge to trading post and swing for 10.
What card could they unban to help aggro then? Maybe I'm wrong, but none of the current cards on the banned list seem to be holding aggro back... Aggro needs better cards printed to be better.
I'd be very interested to hear some ideas on boarding against scapeshift... I played a couple rounds against that deck last night and it seems nigh unbeatable. I got lucky once when he stalled on blue mana (couldn't cast cryptic) and a citadel beatdown sealed that one quickly, but outside of that I don't feel like I stood a chance.
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=FU4571
I'm curious how the release of these products plays into the storyline. Wave 1 had all the M15 characters... If these point to the future (or past since Khans is supposed to have some time travel involved), then we might see a new Tezz and/or a new artifact clan. Also, with M15's inclusion of Ornithopter, Darksteel Citadel, Shrapnel Blast, and Ensoul Artifact, artifacts obviously are being pushed...
Next thing ya know, Sword of the Meek will be unbanned
- Swap the Thirst for Knowledge for Serum Visions. Much less painful with Confidant and more synergistic.
- Too much discard... we've usually done a 2/2 split between Thoughtseize and Inquisition.
- 7 fetch lands and only 6 targets seems wrong...
- Ensnaring Bridge should probably be in the 75.
- 3 Executioner's Capsules seems a little weak against any black deck. Maybe swap 2 for 2 Damnation.
I personally think it would be superb addition to the deck, but I don't have as much time for testing right now. 3 fetches, 2 duals and 1 plains should be enough right?
I haven't been able to play much this week. Should get in a bunch of games tomorrow night.
I'm going to change to 3 Dark Confidant, 1 Engineered Explosives, 3 Creeping Tar Pit and 1 Miren, the Moaning Well
As for the fetches, I guess I don't really have a good reason. Creeping Tarpits seem like a better solution.
I think that 3 Dark Confidants will probably be the right number, but I'm going to keep testing with 4 for now. I'd probably move the Engineered Explosives back to the main if/when I drop to 3, however Serum Visions may be the right choice there too...
I really don't like Elixir. It seems like we're fighting against ourselves. We want our graveyard as a resource. If Elixir only gained 5 life, I'd be all over it, but losing our graveyard seems bad to me. What do you think about Miren, the Moaning Well? Gives us another way to remove Confidant, we can sac our 5/5's or Trinket Mages to gain some life as well.
Here are my biggest arguments for being on Trading Post.
- Abrubt Decay can't target it.
Other than Maelstrom Pulse and coutermagic, I don't think any main deck removal can stop it.
- It's not a land.
Academy Ruins is very powerful, but between Tectonic Edge and Ghost Quarters, I don't think it's as reliable.
- Life gain and recursion.
These are consistently the two greatest needs of this deck... It does suck that it comes at cmc 4, but with Bob in play, this is probably one of the best cards we can have out. It gives us another discard outlet if we get stuck with cards in hand and makes the life loss manageable.
I hope to take it to a PTQ next weekend in New Mexico.
Please feel free to critique, especially the mana base.
4 Dark Confidant
3 Spellskite
2 Trinket Mage
Spells
2 Thoughtseize
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Serum Visions
2 Damnation
Planeswalkers
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
3 Liliana of the Veil
Artifacts
1 Trading Post
3 Ensnaring Bridge
3 Talisman of Dominance
2 Pithing Needle
1 The Rack
1 Executioner's Capsule
1 Nihil Spellbomb
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Watery Grave
2 Marsh Flats
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Swamp
1 Island
3 Ghost Quarter
4 Darksteel Citadel
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Academy Ruins
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Dispel
1 Chalice of the Void
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Torpor Orb
2 Spell Snare
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Duress
I wasn't a huge fan of Fabricate either. I tried it maybe 2/3 games and gave up... I'd rather have Tezzeret the Seeker. For 5cmc he can find and play a bridge. Fabricate gives them two chances to use counter magic and/or discard.
Jace seems real good with bridge and gives you some protection if you can't quite dump your hand, but I feel like I'd have to cut a 4 drop to run him. Cutting a Damnation, Tezz or Trading Post seems wrong at this point... We could maybe function on just 3 Tezz, but I'm not sold yet.
Bob actually had a bit of positive synergy with Ensnaring Bridge. The extra card allowed me to swing with Bob for a couple turns. Serum Visions was REALLY good with him out. I'm not sure I want lose the 3rd Spellskite main, so I might drop it to 3 Bob's, but I think he way over performed compared to Bitterblossom.
My life total did become a concern one game... I misplayed Serum Visions and put Lili on top with a land under (doh!), then once I landed a bridge, forgot that I could -2 myself to kill Bob, died to a topdeck trading post next turn
I think with some practice, Bob is going to be an all star.
I've done this via trading post. Setup with a couple 5/5 darksteel citadel's, cast damnation, sac bridge to trading post and swing for 10.
According to Matt Tabak, it does work...
https://twitter.com/TabakRules/status/484423849086173185