Dies to Removal

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:13 am**

I just know I'm going to want to use this thing in some draft in the future and the exemptions are going to bite me in the ass.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:23 am**

Seems pretty good honestly.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:26 am**

Phenax's mill ability requires you to have creatures in play:

Massive synergy with Consuming Aberration, even if only for casual play.

I'm actually excited to see this card, he's absolutely insane in mono U walls. I can totally splash black just to run this guy, the mana is good enough.

This basically turns Wall of Frost into "Block everything forever, mill 7." That's insane value.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:31 am**

You won't be blocking much with a tapped wall.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:33 am**

Please tell me you're trolling.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:50 am**

You won't be blocking much with a tapped wall.

That's why you tap on enemies' EOT, I guess :0

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:59 am**

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:05 am**

Cool, that's what I thought.

So, whatever you don't use to block, you tap at the end of turn for mill. Peachy.

Now, assuming you're going up against any creatures at all, you're going to be blocking with some of them. Whatever slipped past your removal/counterage if you have any. Probably a couple if you're against aggro.

Is that going to put them on a fast enough clock?

Faster than just swinging at them with something else?

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:31 am**

Am I misguided in thinking that Phenax is going to be a monster in limited?

If you ever get him and Erebos online as creatures, that's 14 cards milled just between the two of them.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:36 am**

Am I misguided in thinking that Phenax is going to be a monster in limited?

If you ever get him and Erebos online as creatures, that's 14 cards milled just between the two of them.

He definitely has a lot going for him, limited-wise; just the fact that he's asking you to build a deck based on high-toughness, non-aggressive creatures that will probably survive so he can remain a creature instead of that back-and-forth "oops you lost your devotion" bullshit you see in a lot of drafts is helpful.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:41 am**

Phenax is also going to be interesting with Triton Tactics and Nighthowler as well.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:43 am**

I guess my list on UB Devotion stands, but yet, wtf with the mill all the time? Sooooo dull

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:54 am**

Phenax is also going to be interesting with Triton Tactics and Nighthowler as well.

Or any creature with Inspired.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 9:20 am**

I'm ok with what Alex says. UB Walls with Murmuring Phantasm, Wall of Frost and other kind of shit. Nice semi-budget deck that can win.
In terms of contenders, I have to agree with LP. BW Weenie has future.
Hero of Leina Tower is meh. He scales nicely but put up no pressure on his own.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 9:33 am**

Doorkeeper? LoL.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:00 pm**

I hate casuals

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:03 pm**

Updated to this:

[deck]Dimir Artifact Control[/deck]

Artifacts
1 Elixir of Immortality
2 Haunted Plate Mail
2 Prophetic Prism
3 Ratchet Bomb
3 Trading Post

Instants
2 Bile Blight
2 Devour Flesh
3 Dissolve
1 Essence Scatter
3 Hero's Downfall
2 Opportunity
3 Syncopate
1 Ultimate Price

Sorceries
2 Read the Bones
4 Thoughtseize

Lands
4 Dimir Guildgate
4 Mutavault
4 Temple of Deceit
4 Watery Grave

7 Swamp
3 Island
[/deck]

Sideboard will require extensive testing obviously.
n
2-0 vs Esper Control
2-0 vs MBC

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:06 pm**

Its OK I am testing with Australia's No. 1 player (1 PT Top

and if it is bad, it will become clear tomorrow.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:10 pm**

Any deck with 4 Thoughtseize is going to steal some wins.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:13 pm**

Also, the deck has 0 creatures so yeah, it probably does some work against anti-creature Control decks. I'm interested in seeing how it performs against something packed with threats, though.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:33 pm**

Similarly, the deck is full of removal and will have more dead cards than say, a UW deck's 4 Verdicts when playing a control mirror.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:37 pm**

Its possible I will just play UW Control. Azorius Charm is good like that, and every deck has Last Breath targets.

I am not above 1 Elspeth, 1 Elixir either.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:38 pm**

Its OK I am testing with Australia's No. 1 player (1 PT Top and if it is bad, it will become clear tomorrow.

What will he be playing against it? Everything?

Also my official name for the two of you is Captain Casual and the Kangaroo Kid.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:40 pm**

Its possible I will just play UW Control. Azorius Charm is good like that, and every deck has Last Breath targets.

I am not above 1 Elspeth, 1 Elixir either.

1 Elspeth is not enough. I would say 3 win conditions is safe, 2 if you're greedy.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:40 pm**

I have a PTQ on the 15th, GP on the 28th.

Might play Mono U Devotion, or a rakdos aggro brew if I think the cards are there.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:41 pm**

I almost have UW finished on MTGO then we can play.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:41 pm**

Its OK I am testing with Australia's No. 1 player (1 PT Top and if it is bad, it will become clear tomorrow.
What will he be playing against it? Everything?

Also my official name for the two of you is Captain Casual and the Kangaroo Kid.

Mono U, Mono B, RW Devotion, Esper.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:43 pm**

That'll do.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:46 pm**

I was testing UW with Opportunity in place of Sphinx Rev (filthy budge caj that I am) versus Maverick's BW aggro deck, and I think I won like 2/10 games. Opportunity is really not comparable.

I should get my MTGO Rev's this week.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:47 pm**

We're going to be working together from now on (also with Dan Unwin who used to build all of Jeremy Neeman's decks) so I am afraid by budg caj days may be behind me :'(

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:49 pm**

They're just getting started.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:56 pm**

I'll have them playing a Woo Brew by the end of the week

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:13 pm**

Spike Jesters little brother unexpectedly showed up:

In Dos Rakis T2 and 4 it´s the second choice over Jester and Exava (bestowing whatever they left on the table), but still very reasonable. Pack Rat will be tested against this guy.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:17 pm**

Amazing artwork.

Pretty slick against control, seems a bit loose in creature matchups though. Will be interested in testing it.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:24 pm**

Crappy card.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:26 pm**

Great artwork, subpar card.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:26 pm**

Not a fan of the creature mode and don't think it compares to Spike Jester. They both do 3 damage to an opponent on a clear board, but Jester does it one turn faster and trades with more - and I'll take likely trading up over guaranteed 2 damage to an opponent in most cases. Not really sure how good the Bestow is... my initial gut response is "not good enough", though.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:28 pm**

There are only two Bestow cards that are constructed playable: Boon Satyr and Nighthowler.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:33 pm**

Don't like the Herald of Torment?

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:37 pm**

Wait, that's a 3/3 flyer for 3?

Yeah that's probably playable.

Dies to Removal

[Fedoras of Salvation] - White Knights ITT