Search options (Page 34 of 54)

Milling is typically a bad strategy, as you essentially make your own job 3 times harder than it is to begin with.  But, it holds the potential for being one of the most amusing strategies and certainly the most rewarding if you can pull it off.  A few thoughts:

1) At current the deck is not standard legal.  Geth's Verdict is from New Phyrexia which rotated out with the release of RTR.  If you're looking for a similar effect, Devour Flesh is available.  It's an easier mana cost and would result in them gaining some life, but if you're looking to kill them via mill, that's not an issue.  Then again, there are better removal options out there as Devour Flesh could end up only taking out a 1/1 when you're trying to take out a big target.

2) If you're looking to mill the opponent, you really need some better ways to do it.  At current you're only sitting on spells that will mill them a few cards at a time.  Things like Mind Sculpt can be huge in this case.  Similarly, I would look into getting some Consuming Aberrations - as they offer both an alternate win condition by becoming huge creatures AND a means to mill the opponent more.  Note that it triggers whenever a spell is cast, not when it resolves, and that cipher spells are cast when the cipher trigger is hit.

3) Sage's Row Denizen is normally not a very threatening card, but when paired with 2x Faerie Impostor.  You keep unsummoning the impostors, essentially making a one-mana - mill two effect.  Further, any flicker effects could be useful here - although most would cost more than they're worth.

4) I wouldn't rely on cipher nearly as much as you are.  Sure, you're likely going to get an extra trigger or two, but in constructed play there are a LOT of ways to deal with creatures and a cipher effect puts a big target on the creature.  To the extent that you do put it on anything, Invisible Stalker is going to be your best option.

5) I get that you're just starting out so you might not have the most extensive collection yet, but Spell Rupture is going to be a poor choice most of the time for countermagic, as, to be honest, it requires you to have a creature to have any effect.  You could achieve a more consistent effect by simply using Syncopate.

6) You can replace your draw effect with Thought Scour.  It's cheap, it draws cards, and works you closer to your goal.

7) Sadly, for any mill deck to have a prayer of being successful, you do need at least 2x Jace, Memory Adept.

8) Aetherize/Cyclonic Rift might be a good options for potential board wipes when paired with Whispering Madness - unsummon all their stuff and then cycle hands.  It could even result in a HUGE draw boom/mill if you can keep them from playing the best stuff from their draw.

9) Lastly, I'd consider the Duskmantle Guildmage as a last resort win-condition.

If you'd like to take a look at the mill build I have thought up, it's here: http://deckbox.org/sets/286911.

Good luck!

A few thoughts:

First, Slayers' Stronghold doesn't need to be a 4x of and, if anything, should probably be a 2x of.  I get that the added ability is really useful, but keep in mind that drawing a colorless producing utility land like that can throw off your curve if you're not careful.  For instance, you're needing a perfect drop of three color producing lands to play your Boros Reckoner at the proper part of the curve.

Second, what do you intend to Reverberate?

Third, Terminus seems like the last thing you would want to cast.  You're trying to have a bigger army than your opponent in order to trigger battalion.  As such, why would you want to move your whole board to the bottom of your library?

Fourth, I would find a spot for at least 2x Blind Obedience.  It's not as important to use the extort as much as the way it helps control the tempo of the game.  You can keep swinging while their blockers are tapped - answering Restoration Angel and a variety of other blockers.

Fifth, I'd consider swapping out the Angelic Skirmishers. I totally understand the appeal of giving all your creatures one of the various abilities, but at a six drop, you really need to be getting something more than a 4/4.  You can see this with Aurelia, who guarantees at least two combat phases the very first turn she's on the field.

Lastly, try tossing in a few Cloudshifts.  Not only can you use them to protect against removal (saving your Boros Charms), but more importantly, it could let you shift your soulbond pairing with the Lightning Maulers or even more importantly, you can flicker Aurelia to get a third combat phase (which would be a guaranteed victory unless she's literally the only creature you have on the board).

Thanks for the thoughts.  I too was with you thinking Agoraphobia was crap, that was, of course, until someone pointed out the combo it makes with Simic Manipulator.  I can shrink their creatures, take them, and then simply pick the enchantment back up to repeat on a new target.

The thought of Corpsejack Menace paired with ANY of these things is just nasty. Think, T3 Master Biomancer (thanks Farseek) curves into a T4 Corpsejack, which just happens to get 4 +1/+1 counters (as would every other creature you play afterward).  That pairing alone means I might not be evolving every time, but then a T8 topdecked Cloudfin Raptor isn't just a dead card.

I too am not comfortable with the removal options, but I was torn with regard for how else to go.  Obviously Mutilate would likely be worse for me than for them.  Similarly, given the three colors, I was trying to avoid things like Murder for the double symbols.  Obviously I can go that route if need be.  Similarly, Tragic Slip is always a good option, but one that is sadly underpowered unless things are dying.  Perhaps I should go with Prey Upon or Pit Fight since I'm likely going to have the biggest creature(s) on the field?  It's certainly a cheap option.  The rationale behind my leaning toward Devour Flesh came from the idea that it's instant speed, cheap, and can deal with ANYTHING, hexproof or not.  They have a choice if they have multiple creatures, but often times if something is really warranting removal, it's alone on the field.  But I'm definitely not set on the current list there.  I also thought Rapid Hybridization could serve as both an offensive and defensive spell, as I could, in theory, transform a Cloudfin Raptor or something into a 3/3 to block with AND hit a few evolve triggers.  I could see Sever in the mainboard, at least as a 2x of - not a problem.

I really do wish I had a clear idea of the meta at post-GTC as I'm sure a few players will shift things around, but I can say that one guy is running American mid-range (following the pro decklist to a T), another was running bant hexproof auras, one guy plays R/B zombies with Falkenrath Aristocrats and Blood Artists (although he doesn't play as frequently), another person is playing a strange four color control, and then there are your run of the mill tusk/angel whatnot decks.

In either event, thanks for the input.

nsongster and DrSatan - I can do that in both cases.  Foundry for Godless Shrine in each case.

So the first question would be, what are you looking to build the deck for?  Casual play?  Potentially competitive play?  Is there a format you're looking to play?  Most of the deck appears to be standard, but then you have items from the original Ravnica block and other older sets that result in it being a legacy deck.

The reason I ask is because each level of play and format carries different expectations and different requirements.  Casual decks can afford to have 1x of most cards like you do as people typically aren't as ruthless in casual play and are just looking to have a good time.  Competitive play would require a lot more attention to the decklist to ensure that you have higher amounts of consistency and more powerful combos.

That aside, if you're looking to shave value off of the deck, the two most obvious places would be Serra Ascendant and Sphinx's Revelation as those two cards alone are almost $30.  Personally, I would take out the ascendant as its value is inflated by EDH and legacy players far more than anyone else.  It doesn't really fit into what you appear to be doing with the deck and aside a few cards, you're unlikely to reach the 30 life to make it a real threat anyway.  That would bring the deck value down to $77.70.  If you were to drop the Revelation, you're already down to $60.06.

If you were to keep the revelation, you'll end up having to drop Grand Arbiter Augustin IV and a bunch of other $1-3 dollar cards (most notably Glacial Fortress).

Ultimately it's up to you what stays and goes, but if you're looking to keep it under $60, those two will definitely get you there.

M13 is in standard until the October rotation of the Innistrad block.  You should contact deckbox support regarding where you see the erroneous statement.  On a side note, if you do a search and select "standard" in the format filter, you will note that M13 is still listed.

You're spot on about Mayor and Experiment One getting the same pumps.  Good catch on that one, I didn't even think about it.

I would say it's okay to drop the Rancors as it really seems like a win-more card for you here.  If you're really looking for something that the opponent wouldn't expect and that can be used in late game situations where you're stalled out, Assemble the Legion could prove useful.  It's resistant to board wipes as it'll just spit out more tokens and they would get pumps from the Mayors.  I'd only run 1-2 of them, but it could be a curve ball in those situations where you don't have the game in hand just yet.

I think the shaman is going to be a hit-or-miss card that a lot of people are going to try to force into decks.  That might be the case here, but he does provide an alternative to the Halberders.  But if you have any aspirations for playing aggressively, he definitely could prove useful.

I wouldn't worry too much about your lands, although I think the Gavony Township is expendable if you're having trouble with your colors.  To that end, I don't think hitting double of any color would be difficult, so I wouldn't be afraid to run Ash Zealot/Elite Inquisitor or anything of that like.

For the board, I would toss in a few Nevermores for your wipes/Tusks/Thundermaw.  I'd toss in 1-2 Rest in Peace for insurance.  I'd also go with a few Naturalizes/Ancient Grudges  and/or Paraselenes as Bant hexproof auras has gained some steam.  To that end, perhaps a few Glaring Spotlights would be more effective.  You'll definitely want some sort of additional burn in here too, whether it be Pillars, Spears, or Volleys (or maybe even Flames of the Firebrand).  The only other thing I could think of would be some anti-flying creatures/spells, whether that be Plummet or Silklash Spider.  Oh yeah, and Blind Obedience, definitely Blind Obedience.

Aside from that, I really don't see any reason why this wouldn't at least be competitive.

So I guess the first question I would ask is: What format are you looking to play?  The most likely is casual for the time being, but I have to ask because you're sitting at 100 cards in your deck when most decks (outside of EDH play) are 60 cards (or a bit above).  As such, that'd be my first step if I were you, try to figure out the two or three card combinations that you like most and build around those.  For instance, you have Garruk, Primal Hunter, a great card, but no mana acceleration to ensure you get him out early in the game.

But before I, or anyone gets too far into things, it would be good if you could tell us more about your play style, how you like to play, etc.  Are you a defensive player?  Do you play aggressively and attack relentlessly to win the game ASAP (making you an aggro player)?  Do you prefer extending the game by killing their creatures?

Really once you give us a feel for how you like to play we can offer some added insights, as, at current the deck isn't really that focused and could go in a number of ways.

I think two colors could work alright, but I would swap some things around.

1) Wight of Precinct Six has the potential to be HUGE, but he needs creatures in their graveyard.  This means you need removal (of which you only have enchantments) and potentially some discard/mill action.  Thankfully, GTC has Devour Flesh for spot removal and Grisly Spectacle.  I know the spectacle is a high cost to cast; however, it mills them some to help build up the Wight.  If you were hoping to win solely by populating their 'yard with combat, you'll likely never see the Wight make it to any real size.

2) What were you planning on bonding the Silverblade Paladins with?

3) I'm not sure Contaminated Ground will do much.  I mean it would be convenient in some sort of a control deck to take care of an opponent's Cavern of Souls so you can get your counter-magic online.  Otherwise, there's way too much mana fixing available for this really to achieve much.

4) As another aura to add, I would suggest Skeletal Grimace it might not give you the added punch you're looking for; however, it provides regeneration, which is priceless in a world with Supreme Verdict.

5) I know things like Dead Weight are cheaper than Oblivion Ring, but if you kill the creature they're off the field and not helping your armor.  The added mana cost is easily justified by the increased versatility of the rings AND they stay put.

6) Lastly, nothing with extort?  I could see at least Blind Obedience making its way in here as a means to stop aggro decks while also letting you ping away with any extra mana.

I'm not really sure how a G/W deck would be control, but I can see where you're coming from with regard to people playing the same thing over and over.

Perhaps you could offer some more details regarding what it was you struggled against?  I know Supreme Verdict is a big problem for this type of a deck, but what else were people playing that caused you trouble?  Without more input on your local meta, it's really hard to offer any more meaningful insights.

Sorry to hear it was frustrating.

Here's the link for interested parties:  http://deckbox.org/sets/219478

The way I see this deck, you're pulling in two separate directions.  One, you're wanting to capitalize on the damage abilities of Stuffy Doll and Boros Reckoner.  Two, you're trying to pump out a butt-ton of tokens.  You're welcome to go either route, but I could see where it'd be more fun to go with the Doll and Reckoner - but it would need some changes.

Some general thoughts:

First off, you're relying entirely on Blasphemous Act for the doll damage.  Why not splash in some other more general burn like Searing Spear/Brimstone Volley?  Or, even better, go with some board-wiping type damage like Rolling Temblor and Magmaquake.  Both those will damage your ground guys (that you're trying to get hit) while hopefully wiping the board on their side, all while not dinging any of your spirits.

Second, if you're after spirit tokens, toss in the new Orzhov one-drop spirit creator Beckon Apparition over the Mausoleum Guards - it both lets you get rid of undying creatures but also creates spirits for less mana.  I'd also take a look at Geist-Honored Monk for an alternate finisher.

Third, Inquisitor's Flail?

Lastly, I'd say to throw Burn at the Stake in if you're going tokens like this.  Then you could target a flail-equipped doll for a ton of damage.

Keep in mind that this deck is INCREDIBLY vulnerable to Electrickery, Izzet Staticaster, Illness in the Ranks, and Curse of Death's Hold until you get at least one Intangible Virtue out - hence why I'm hesitant to even suggest going the token route.

Anyway, good luck with it!