Profaner of the Dead - Its tricky since its a tempo effect but I really don't have that much for things in my list currently to deter token tactics so I think from the standpoint of being a wizard and screwing with tokens it seems like it should be fine. Its an effect I have always liked in concept but often ended up cutting in other places. Being that I have a
wizard tutor and this effect is sort of unique on wizards I think I want to at least get to the point of testing it.
Peregrine Drake - I did think about it, some of what was holding me back though is that is somewhat off theme not to mention lots of the flicker effects are either one shot effects, end of turn effects, or I am going infinite with them. I don't really want to go infinite (in that I really don't want to). Outside of infinites it felt a bit weaker to me to run.
High Tide outside of infinites I have always viewed it as sort of a mix between
Mana Geyser and
Dark Ritual in that its not really an upfront mana but like, give me a bunch of mana when I already have access to a bit. In my mind, that burst of mana is useful for comboing off and some X mana stuff but otherwise I am not a big fan of it when running a reasonable curve.
Metallic Mimic and
Adaptive Automaton - I considered both but I haven't had very good experience with either in commander. I almost pulled the trigger on
Brass Herald until I realized it didn't become a wizard and thus would only single trigger. I would actually love to see an updated
Brass Herald to take on said templating. I feel like a strict upgrade of taking the creature type really wouldn't be that much to ask. Like others have mentioned the lack of ETB interaction on them is sort of why I held off.
Sanity_Eclipse wrote: ↑4 years ago
I like how two Naban decks were posted next to each other when I checked just now.
Anthems - How about
Naru Meha, Master Wizard and
Obelisk of Urd? Naru is an appropriately typed anthem on legs for a small boost, and the Obelisk should come down for cheap considering the creature count and game plan. Also,
Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor provides tokens and filtering to further your plan.
Enemy Tokens -
Portal Mage,
Echoing Truth, and
Inundate could all help. Alternatively, and / or in addition, you could go with -X/-0 effects, though I don't have any off the top of my head to suggest.
Draw - You're going with the simple "ETB, draw one" wizards. Thoughts on
Bazaar Trademage over one of those guys?
I actually took a look at Segrus' list and it got me thinking about how I would build it and then I was off to building lol.
Naru Meha, Master Wizard - Hu, I overlooked the fact that he buffs wizards. I cut him originally because I don't have that many spells and casting a spell plus his four mana on top felt a little heavy handed. The fact that he goes infinite with so many of the spells also wasn't a plus in my mind. More or less, he goes infinite or does nothing with almost all of the spells I run. Copying a counterspell is going to be very narrow and all of the token copy / flicker effects go infinite with him. I think I am going to omit him given this. Its true that he is a wizard and he does anthem but with me not wanting to go infinite he is like a flash
Adaptive Automaton given that I don't really want to go infinite.
Obelisk of Urd I think its a very reasonable card to consider. I probably like it a little more than
Coat of Arms just due to the concern of not having evasion often with wizards not to mention my token defenses aren't exactly stellar. I am not sure how many pump effects I want to run starting out but I think its probably among the ones I will consider as I go up in count.
Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor - I totally forget about the War walkers all the time. I think its still probably a little weak even though its two wizards, they don't do anything and you get a fragile walker that you need to protect for a turn to even get the second one. Most of the wizards we are running already because they double ETB and then I am left with bodies that can do things. Getting wizards with no effects on them seems a bit questionable I guess.
Portal Mage,
Echoing Truth, and
Inundate - I looked at Echoing Truth and Inundate. Right now I guess I just need to test with the deck before I really felt like I had the knowledge to cut into the core of what I was doing. Lots of tempo stuff can also backfire if you don't have pressure to follow it up and I wasn't sure that I had that which is part of why I cut a bit more of it out. In all reality I probably should cut more of the counters out for more pump effects and just focus first and foremost on being a wizard focused deck rather than being a blue deck.
Bazaar Trademage - I own an actual Bazaar so I have some experience with the effect. In my experience, you generally want it more when you care about your graveyard. Card disadvantage can be a bit of a bear especially stacking two of them together while not really caring about my graveyard that much. I get the whole selection thing but my issue comes from the fact that I end up with -2 cards in hand after casting a card from my hand that kind of doesn't do much itself. So..... -3 cards in hand for some selection and a bad stick. If you have things like Land Tax these effects get better as well but right now, I just don't really see incentive to be using card disadvantage to fill my graveyard in mono blue. I tend to like it a lot more in black and white decks. It also makes more sense if you focus on combo wins because then you value the selection of cards a lot more.
MeowZeDung wrote: ↑4 years ago
Sanity_Eclipse wrote: ↑
Anthems - How about Naru Meha, Master Wizard and Obelisk of Urd? Naru is an appropriately typed anthem on legs for a small boost, and the Obelisk should come down for cheap considering the creature count and game plan. Also, Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor provides tokens and filtering to further your plan.
As soon as you mentioned Kasmina tokens,
Docent of Perfection came to mind. I can't believe I didn't think of it before. Seems like a great fit: token production, an anthem that includes evasion, and it will almost always only require 1 instant/sorcery to flip in this deck.
Ohhh wow I didn't even think of that. I guess the only concern would be that you need to cast a spell to flip it but otherwise I like it. I definitely need to test that out.
Segrus wrote: ↑4 years ago
Mimic's +1/+1 counter effect doesn't get doubled with Naban and Panharmonicon, because the effect isn't a triggered ability. It's a replacement effect. They still work great as anthem effects though.
ISBPathfinder wrote: ↑4 years ago
So, my goal here was a mono blue wizard ETB deck that wins via combat or zeroing opponent HP. I think I probably still need to add some more buffs to get there but I am not sure between equipment or going for some sort of Coat of Arms. My concern offhand with Coat of Arms being token decks and how I don't really have much for answers to them here.
Instead of
Coat of Arms, there's always
Akroma's Memorial. Not actually an anthem effect, but would still likely get the job done.
Akroma's Memorial its also in my stack of potential buffs that could be tested. Its a little concerning from the standpoint that it adds no stats to them but mass evasion does help get them in and its strong defensively as well as against some red sweepers.
DECK CHANGE:
- Skullclamp → Docent of Perfection looking back a bunch of my wizards don't die to clamp going on them not to mention I lack sac outlets. I was trying to bolster Trinket Mage targets but I think I went too far with that. I also have fairly good draw in the wizards and what I want is some finishers.
- Vedalken Plotter → Brainstorm I felt like I wanted to push Brainstorm back into the list after adding Docent to the list. I fought with where to add it for a bit but a cheap cantrip is often still a strong effect and the Plotter felt a bit situational still.