Ray Johns's obligatory pauper delver
 
Type: Deck Idea
Format (invalid)
vinVintage
Approx. Value:
$96.83
Buy

0 Likes 9 Comments
Avg. CMC 2.42
Card Color Breakdown
Card Type Breakdown

Secrets of Strixhaven
released on April 24, 2026!

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Secrets of Strixhaven
released on April 24, 2026!

Order now on CardKingdom Order now on TcgPlayer
Main Deck - 60 cards, 13 distinct
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Name  Ed. Price Type Cost
Rarity Color
Creature (21)
4 Cloud of Faeries
$0.46
Creature - Faerie
4 Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration
$0.32
Creature - Human Wizard // Creature - Human Insect
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
$1.45
Creature - Human Ninja
4 Spellstutter Sprite
$5.48
Creature - Faerie Wizard
3 Spire Golem
$0.14
Artifact Creature - Golem
2 Zephyr Sprite
$0.21
Creature - Faerie
Instant (14)
4 Counterspell
$2.51
Instant
4 Daze
$1.84
Instant
3 Echoing Truth
$0.35
Instant
3 Gush
$3.61
Instant
Sorcery (8)
4 Ponder
$1.91
Sorcery
4 Preordain
$0.98
Sorcery
Land (17)
17 Island
$0.19
Basic Land - Island
Sideboard - 7 cards, 3 distinct
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:
Name  Ed. Price Type Cost
Rarity Color
Creature (3)
3 Dandân
$3.12
Creature - Fish
Instant (4)
2 Blue Elemental Blast
$1.45
Instant
2 Hydroblast
$4.41
Instant

Notes
 
just what it says
Comments
  • Ray Johns | 04-Mar-2012 01:23
    Hmmnn..  valid points all.  I guess for the drake I was mostly counting on a bear or myr dying early.  you are probobly right on the removal, but what to swap out for?  shock/galvanic?  I think I'd rather have the incinerate, but mabe the volley should go, or mabe I should switch to 2 shock/2 volley.  I see what you mean about sorcery spped, since vapor snag can be used to save a delver from removal as well.  For now I think I'll try it with the silent departure just because I do value the flashback.  late game a mana leak is an almost dead draw, and the flashback might just be worth it if you have no other play.  I feel like this format makes getting the most from each card important, since most of the effects arent really that powerful.



    • Folkvar | 05-Mar-2012 00:47
      I guess the point is more that if this deck is still in a game late enough to use flashback on the departure you're probably already in trouble. Delver is an early win deck.
      • Ray Johns | 05-Mar-2012 01:29
        That makes sence.  Looking both here and at the rdw I built, I may try to cut the crap from both and mash them into one deck.  I was more or less stoned on sleep deprivation yesterday, Nora has been having really rough nights.

  • Folkvar | 04-Mar-2012 00:51
    No way to fuel drake yourself, nothing to arm delver with, only 4 controls to protect delver, slow removal, and I don't agree with silent departure over vapor snag. I just really hate sorcery speed and the flashback isn't good enough. Mid-game paying that much for a bounce is rough in a deck built for speed.
    • Ray Johns | 08-Mar-2012 06:13
      made some updates.  fuel drake (slowly) with artilerizing myr or by vapor snagging/enchanting my own myr if need be.  furor and spectral flight serve as "equipment" for delver.  spectral flight is also pretty silly on the neonate, which I put in for ashmouth.  ditched the mana leaks altogather, not sure if that was wise.
      • Folkvar | Edited 09-Mar-2012 03:38
        I'm fine without the mana leaks, not sold on perilous and artillerize as it's slow. Fling is faster though less damage but really a three card combo is never fast. I'd rather see no perilous myr and no artillerize and instead four faithless looting. Gives you better tempo and no clumbsy combo as you can discard something to exile and get out drake on turn 3. I'd also shocks than incinerate just because the average pauper toughness is 2 and it's faster. The overall number of sorc/instants needs to be a bit higher too in order to flip Delver. Maybe more bounces or pumps instead of the enchantments, though keep in mind you can't target your bear with enchantments or sorcs/instants, which limits them a little. So bounces are probably the answer (unsummon). Maybe Aether Adept in the myr slot as well?
        • Ray Johns | Edited 09-Mar-2012 05:20
          Yeah, this is getting clunky, I think I need to start from scratch.  Planning on kicking out the drakes.  In reality i'll probobly build the goblin standard before I do anything else, it's cheap, probobly fnmable, and I have old goblin grenades that I love the art on.  Also, I went 5-1 with my green playing a random dude at gnome the other night, so it's not like I need another pauper until I get bored with it or start getting my ass kicked, lol.  On a side note, I think you are way too concerned about the drake, I really beleive that somthing is going to end up in the yard fairly early.  I could see NEEDing it to be a 3 drop in standard, but in pauper I beleive that a 3/4 flyer is great no matter when it casts.  As for faithless looting, I'm not sold on it, since it doesn't replace itself.  you lose 3 cards to get 2, then 2 for 2 on the flashback.  I think I'd sooner put in think twice and leak, as a block, so 2 mana left open is scary, and can still be used at the end step if nothing needed to be countered or you just didn't really have leak up.
          • Folkvar | Edited 09-Mar-2012 14:59
            Faithless is one of the best commons in the block, up there with delver and tragic slip. It's fuel for so many deck types that need it. The problem isn't so much casting drake late (though if this deck is late...it lost) it's about being able to cast it early when it's actually an advantage. Otherwise it's a dead card, and avoiding dead cards is crucial in deck building.
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