New quest decks

[Nordos]

Haha, I think the second deck was one of mine ...

anyway, I thought about having a sacrifice deck, too, my choice was G B - yet I think the AI wasn't capable enough to use it. Dunno, if you like, you may test it.

G B sacrifice | Open

6 x Forest
4 x Grave Pact
2 x Mortician Beetle
2 x Phyrexian Obliterator
4 x Verdant Catacombs
2 x Thallid
4 x Bayou
2 x Sporesower Thallid
4 x Woodland Cemetery
1 x Greater Harvester
4 x Creakwood Liege
1 x Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder
2 x Desecration Elemental
1 x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 x Hell's Caretaker
2 x Mycoloth
4 x Overgrown Tomb
2 x Utopia Mycon
4 x Awakening Zone
5 x Swamp
2 x Savra, Queen of the Golgari
4 x Prismatic Omen
1 x Marsh Flitter
2 x Spined Fluke
2 x Thallid Shell-Dweller
2 x Breeding Pit

Since I gave up on the midway, it still has 70 cards and is quite unfinished. Are there any cards which get powered up by sacrifice? (especially tokens)

Sacrifice deck with white, well, it reminds me of a human token deck which I created (featuring some cards like Village Cannibals, Ravenous Demon and it's like). If you like, I could try to recreate it.

EDIT: Hm, no good tribal cards. Even though the humans itself can be extremly strong (especially white) for its low cmc, they somehow lack syns ...


To be honest, from what I see, I really think that Da Vinci 3 can be upped. Gotta see if I get it stronger ^^

EDIT: seriously, Da Vinci reminds me of a deck based on Umbra Stalker o.O

[Nordos]

So, I guess I will just post what I have for Da Vinci 3 so far

da Vinci 3 | Open

1 x Mox Jet
1 x Ascendant Evincar
1 x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1 x Liliana of the Dark Realms
4 x Phyrexian Obliterator
1 x Visara the Dreadful
2 x Dusk Urchins
4 x Will-o'-the-Wisp
1 x Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
2 x Nantuko Shade
4 x Gatekeeper of Malakir
2 x Corrosive Mentor
4 x Temporal Extortion
23 x Swamp
1 x Geralf's Messenger
2 x Hymn to Tourach
4 x Royal Assassin
2 x Lashwrithe

I tried to reduce the 'swamp' theme, even though I included Lilith (mana ramp is very nice for this deck after all).
Problems I see:
- Nantuko Shade seems to be used suboptimal. It would waste it's mana to deal damage instead of building up its army
- Dusk Urchins were intended to be sacrifical pawns. Either attacking or blocking will already replesnish the card count (as to speak, he redraws at least one card). AI wouldn't use it to attack nor block, though. A great combination with Mikeaus, though
- Corrosive Mentor isn't very effective. Many cards in this deck are based upon 'kill with brute force) or simply 'kill'. No First Strike, Double Strike or regeneration (but the Wisp), which makes the somewhat a nice addition yet nothing more.
(- Gatekeeper don't get kicked)
- AI is somewhat scared of using the Obliterator to block. Even if they are equal strong, even if having undying, he somehow dislikes to block with it. A real shame ...

I really would include Sheoldred, Whispering One even though it has a high CMC...


Do we have an unblockable deck...?

[Sloth]

Here is a deck, which is yet not using its full potential.

take control and sacrifice | Open

Take control and sacrifice

Main:
2 x Conquering Manticore
4 x Act of Treason
4 x Mortician Beetle
2 x Molten Primordial
2 x Bringer of the Red Dawn
1 x Mox Jet
4 x Dragonskull Summit
2 x Cinder Wall
4 x Badlands
2 x Traitorous Instinct
4 x Disciple of Griselbrand
4 x Bloodflow Connoisseur
1 x Mox Ruby
7 x Swamp
2 x Attrition
4 x Threaten
4 x Zealous Conscripts
7 x Mountain

The AI doesn't yet sacrifice the creatures it has taken over ...

I've got the AI so far that it will use certain abilities to sac stolen creatures, but sometimes the timing won't work out so i guess this is medium:

Nibbler 2 | Open

5 Swamp
5 Mountain
4 Badlands
4 Dragonskull Summit
4 High Market
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
2 Act of Treason
2 Threaten
2 Traitorous Blood
4 Traitorous Instinct
4 Zealous Conscripts
4 Conquering Manticore
2 Molten Primordial
4 Gutless Ghoul
4 Nezumi Bone-Reader
1 Phyrexian Vault
2 Hanweir Watchkeep
1 Wall of Bone
1 Wall of Diffusion
1 Wall of Earth
2 Wall of Souls

EDIT: seriously, Da Vinci reminds me of a deck based on Umbra Stalker o.O

We don't have an Umbra Stalker deck yet. Maybe that's the best place for Phyrexian Obliterator?

Do we have an unblockable deck...?

Yes:

Robin 3 | Open

4 Volcanic Island
4 Tropical Island
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Hinterland Harbor
1 Island
2 Flooded Strand
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Polluted Delta
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
4 AEther Figment
4 Invisible Stalker
4 Jhessian Infiltrator
1 Metathran Soldier
1 Thalakos Seer
1 Thalakos Sentry
4 Curiosity
1 Keen Sense
1 Latulla's Orders
2 Curse of Stalked Prey
1 Sigil of Sleep
1 Destructive Urge
1 Snake Umbra
1 Specter's Shroud
1 Quietus Spike
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Sword of War and Peace
3 Lightning Bolt
1 Naturalize
1 Propaganda

But there is room for more.

[Nordos]

The Problem with Obliterarot being in the Umbra deck, is, that the AI is unwilling to sacc it (exchange it), thus, it won't be in a graveyard that often.
Good cards, though, are cards like Hymn to Torach and Geth's Verdict. Two sorceriers with CMC 2, strong effect, and two black mana in their cost ... Maybe I will build another deck around it.

Ah, good. I just saw Necropolis Regent ... And reminded me of the Harbor Bandit. Gotta do a B U unblockable deck
EDIT2: Somehow seems alike a cipher deck ... oh well ^^

EDIT: Completely missed that one, do we have an aura deck?

[Sloth]

do we have an aura deck?

The Elrond opponents are aura themed.

[Nordos]

B U shooters | Open

1 x Pestilence Demon
4 x Thornwind Faeries
2 x Sigil of Sleep
4 x Watery Grave
4 x Thrashing Wumpus
4 x Underground Sea
1 x Mox Jet
1 x Sygg, River Cutthroat
3 x Hermetic Study
2 x Island
1 x Mox Sapphire
1 x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 x Mephidross Vampire
4 x Drowned Catacomb
4 x Charisma
1 x Tandem Lookout
3 x Fledgling Mawcor
2 x Typhoid Rats
3 x Tainted Isle
3 x Somnophore
4 x Polluted Delta
4 x Curiosity

can be strong. Can be useless. Dunno, any suggestions how you can improve it...?
The AI doesn't seem to realize what Charisma does. Trashing Mumpus is pretty much useless, too...


For the Aura deck, I wanted to create a somewhat magemark deck (probably W B U. Gotta see around. U for sure)

[Nordos]

W U enchantment deck | Open

4 x Ethereal Armor
2 x Evershrike
3 x Nomad Mythmaker
4 x Umbra Mystic
2 x Rayne, Academy Chancellor
4 x Angelic Destiny
4 x Tundra
4 x Island
3 x Spirit Loop
1 x Auramancer's Guise
4 x Infiltrator's Magemark
2 x Followed Footsteps
4 x Nimbus Maze
4 x Kor Spiritdancer
2 x Daybreak Coronet
1 x Kitsune Mystic
8 x Plains
4 x Glacial Fortress

[friarsol]

I just randomly tried playing two quest decks in constructed mode. Apparently Storm 3 is only 59 cards and thus doesn't pass the conformance test in constructed.

[Sloth]

I just randomly tried playing two quest decks in constructed mode. Apparently Storm 3 is only 59 cards and thus doesn't pass the conformance test in constructed.

Fixed! Thanks sol.

W U enchantment deck | Open

4 x Ethereal Armor
2 x Thran Golem
3 x Nomad Mythmaker
4 x Umbra Mystic
2 x Rayne, Academy Chancellor
4 x Angelic Destiny
4 x Tundra
4 x Island
3 x Spirit Loop
1 x Auramancer's Guise
4 x Infiltrator's Magemark
2 x Followed Footsteps
4 x Nimbus Maze
4 x Kor Spiritdancer
2 x Daybreak Coronet
1 x Kitsune Mystic
8 x Plains
4 x Glacial Fortress

Looks good. The power level is sitting between medium and hard though. I think it's better to reduce the powerlevel somewhat and call it medium. Angelic Destiny would have to go and be replaced with some random auras (maybe some other auras that give flying?).
Other random notes:
1. The AI can't make good use of Kitsune Mystic.
2. Followed Footsteps doesn't have much synergy and costs 5 mana (Daybreak Coronet, Kor Spiritdancer and most other cards work better with cheap auras).

[Sloth]

So, I guess I will just post what I have for Da Vinci 3 so far

da Vinci 3 | Open

1 x Mox Jet
1 x Ascendant Evincar
1 x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1 x Liliana of the Dark Realms
4 x Phyrexian Obliterator
1 x Visara the Dreadful
2 x Dusk Urchins
4 x Will-o'-the-Wisp
1 x Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
2 x Nantuko Shade
4 x Gatekeeper of Malakir
2 x Corrosive Mentor
4 x Temporal Extortion
23 x Swamp
1 x Geralf's Messenger
2 x Hymn to Tourach
4 x Royal Assassin
2 x Lashwrithe

I tried to reduce the 'swamp' theme, even though I included Lilith (mana ramp is very nice for this deck after all).
Problems I see:
- Nantuko Shade seems to be used suboptimal. It would waste it's mana to deal damage instead of building up its army
- Dusk Urchins were intended to be sacrifical pawns. Either attacking or blocking will already replesnish the card count (as to speak, he redraws at least one card). AI wouldn't use it to attack nor block, though. A great combination with Mikeaus, though
- Corrosive Mentor isn't very effective. Many cards in this deck are based upon 'kill with brute force) or simply 'kill'. No First Strike, Double Strike or regeneration (but the Wisp), which makes the somewhat a nice addition yet nothing more.
(- Gatekeeper don't get kicked)
- AI is somewhat scared of using the Obliterator to block. Even if they are equal strong, even if having undying, he somehow dislikes to block with it. A real shame ...

I really would include Sheoldred, Whispering One even though it has a high CMC...

Removing the Swamp theme is ok (because we have the swamp themed opponent Wolverine 3) and i think you can remove Lashwrithe and Liliana of the Dark Realms (second ability has some AI problems) as well.
We should make use of most of the synergies we have left: Ascendant Evincar, Bad Moon, Corrosive Mentor, maybe Midnight Banshee. So Will-o'-the-Wisp, Gatekeeper of Malakir, Geralf's Messenger and Phyrexian Obliterator are definitely solid, the rest is up to testing. If you don't like Nantuko Shade or Dusk Urchins, throw them out.

[Nordos]

I inlcuded Lilana for a simple reason: The very strong black cards tend to be >CMC 5
For Corrosive Mentor, there aren't enough good first strike cards (your best bet is a legendary creature - Mirai, the Cursed ...), and many regeneration creatures ... aren't that strong in comparison.
Midnight Banshee is a nice addition, yet quite costly yet again.
Dusk Urchins can be pretty powerful in combination with Mikeaus, yet, as stated before, doesn't really seem to be used that often. Maybe the AI isn't really aware of the undying ability?
Another Addition I was thinking of, was Shade's Form. It is, somewhat, an upped version of a Totem Armor aura, since you, theoretically, could enchant an enemy creature with it, then kill it off, to get it under your control. If the AI realizes that, though, is another question. Anyway, that thing on an Obliterator is just hilarious, additionally it can preserve all the valuable black creatures (and we have a lot which are worth being protected). [Another interesting thing could be Skeletal Grimace, even though it isn't as strong, it is still pretty mean...]

Even though I reeeally like Lashwrithe, it is true that the CMC 4 Spot is pretty overused, so, yes, I agree with removing it. If we don't have so many CMC 2 cards, how about the Ring of Xathrid? [I see the Gatekeeper as more of a CMC 3 card] It powers the creatures up, while even giving them the ability to regenerate (even though it costs 2 instead of 1) ...
EDIT: Does the AI now know how to use the Cabal Coffers?

EDIT: Lilana has another advantage: It thins the deck's landcount. Thus the probability to draw a non-land card in the lategame is highly increased
I wanted to include Sorin Markov, too, actually. Hm.

[Nordos]

Is there a way to make the AI use of Kiku, Night's Flower?

Umbra Stalker | Open

1 x Sorin Markov
4 x Umbra Stalker
4 x Phyrexian Obliterator
4 x Dark Ritual
2 x Dash Hopes
4 x Unmake
2 x Geralf's Messenger
4 x Geth's Verdict
23 x Swamp
4 x Hymn to Tourach
4 x Temporal Extortion
1 x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
2 x Divinity of Pride
1 x Mox Jet

That's what I have so far for it ... Dunno if he uses Dark Ritual / Sorin Markov correctly, though

[Sloth]

EDIT: Does the AI now know how to use the Cabal Coffers?

Is there a way to make the AI use of Kiku, Night's Flower?

Dunno if he uses Dark Ritual / Sorin Markov correctly, though

I don't know about Sorin Markov, but the others are out of reach for the AI yet.

[Nordos]

Ok. Too bad, Cabal Coffers would have been a really great addition. Too bad for the Ritual, too. Maybe Executioner's Capsule or Dead Weight instead?

Forest Elfes | Open

4 x Joraga Warcaller
4 x Elvish Champion
22 x Forest
1 x Ezuri, Renegade Leader
4 x Wirewood Hivemaster
4 x Ranger's Path
4 x Ambush Commander
3 x Wood Elves
4 x Nature's Lore
2 x Fyndhorn Elves
4 x Imperious Perfect
4 x Elvish Archdruid

Looks IMO quite good. Maybe any suggestions?
This whole deck is based on getting forest for two things: 1. Joraga Warcaller and 2. Ambush Commander ...
Another idea could be including 1-2 copies of Coat of Arms

[Nordos]

no creature milling | Open

4 x Spreading Plague
4 x Nephalia Drownyard
4 x Pilfered Plans
4 x Tainted AEther
2 x Ward of Bones
4 x Underground Sea
2 x Grisly Spectacle
8 x Island
1 x Jace, Memory Adept
3 x Psychic Strike
4 x Drowned Catacomb
3 x Glimpse the Unthinkable
2 x Invoke Prejudice
2 x Curse of the Bloody Tome
4 x Forbidden Orchard
3 x Thought Scour
4 x AEther Barrier
2 x Keening Stone

ATM medium. Maybe including some Darkest Hour to maximize the effect from Spreading Plague ... ? hm. I'm somewhat dissatified, though