daniellindsey

This is an older, more creature heavy version of this deck. Please see the updated version for better play.

80% of the time, I am able to put out at least one of the hexproof equipments, then pull Kaalia out on turn 4 or 5, with a land destruction spell on turn 5, 6 or 7. Another 15% of the time, I am able to tutor for one of the deck's reset buttons. The last 5% of the time, I've kept a bad hand.

You have to know when to mulligan. By the time you have used your "free" tourney mulligan, you should have what you need to get started (I have gone down to 5 cards in the past). The number and type of creatures you start out with in your hand is negligible versus the mana, plus ramp, in your starting hand. I would rather draw into big beefys than have a starting hand full of them.

If Kaalia is out, with no creatures in my hand, I tutor for Dragon Mage. If he goes unblocked every turn, he refills your hand every time he does damage.

***You must keep your opponents mana base as small as possible as you continue the game (Very Important)***

Mental Misstep and Surgical Extraction will provide balance :)

I agree. I'm not much into playing 1 of's in my decks. I generally play no less than 3 copies of any particular spell. I like the consistancy.

However, if you do like the current format of your deck, but are having problems getting to those cards that you need quickly, then insert some sort of search spell or draw spell. No less than 2. Either some sort of Tutor for searching or for drawing, Howling mine (if your ballsy, Font of Mythos). Just remember than your opponent will be able to draw as well. It will come down to who has the mana to cast spells at that point.

Good formula for Tutors: 2 copies of a spell + 2 Tutors = 4 copies of that spell (roughly, just an extra step involved)

Another example: With Elvish Piper (3G) in Play, Worldly/Sylvan Tutor (G) for a creature at end of opponents turn, next upkeep draw the creature and pay (G) to put it in play. A potential Turn #4 big meany in play.

turn 1: forest, llanowar elf
turn 2: forest, llanowar elf
turn 3: forest, elvish piper, tutor
turn 4: forest, BIG UGLY IN PLAY (5 mana left over)

Hope my example helps...

Going back to what botmaster5 said, this is not a Turn 1 Kill.

Turn 1: play a land, cast Raging Goblin (it stays in play after turn)
Turn 2: play a land, cast Blazing Shoal on Raging Goblin, discard Gargadon (11/1 gets blocked by a 1/1)
Turn 3: play a land, cast Spark Elemental and Blazing Shoal on Spark Elemental, discard Dragon Tyrant (13/1 Trample blocked by 1/1, equals 12 damage to player)
Turn 4: play a land, cast Lightning Bolt for 3 damage, AND YOU'RE SCREWED

The rest of your cards cost too much to cast and your opponent catches up and surpasses you. Read your cards... Spark Elemental leaves play AT THE END of the turn it was cast.

You have it coming into play on Turn 2, keeping it and attacking with it on Turn 5.

Kabira Vindicator is better than Coat of Arms, if you want to stay creature-based.

Light from Within would be the better go to card if you have no preference (2WW).

Just remember, Emeria will bring the Vindicator back from the graveyard and not Light from Within.

Without Dark Ritual, a 9/9 flying, trample creature is not possible on turn two...

Turn 1, swamp + dark rit = three 1-cast creatures
Turn 2, demon of deaths gate + demonic appetite (NO HASTE)
Turn 3, without another creature in play, BYE BYE DEMON

Luck would have to give you a swamp on turn 2 to cast another 1-cast creature.

Howling Mine & Teferi's Puzzle Box plus Liliana's Caress & Underworld Dreams.... You don't need much more than that.

I play that combo with these others (mono black).

My friends hate this deck.

4 Font of Mythos = Draw more cards!
2B Megrim = More discard damage!
1 Feldon's Cane = Recycle your overflow cards from the graveyard to your library
2BB Locust Miser = Reduces your opponents hand size by 2 per
4BB Yawgmoth's Bargain = Negates Teferi's effect on you
4 Geth's Grimoire = Gives you fresh cards without paying one life per (Yawgmoth).

Student of Warfare is not absolutely needed. Leveling sometimes takes too long. Use the mana for other pieces of the puzzle. Get it together quick and there will be nothing your opponents can do to you.

I have levelers in this deck, but they are not the main focus. They're just something used to help along the way.
http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=99545

daniellindsey

So... Just to see if I understand.

The painter makes everything red as well as whatever color it is.

3 Pyros and 3 Mantles to pay for Izzets ability. (otherwise, not infinite)

Cast an instant or sorcery, copy, repeat.

These other guys were right about blue/black offering a lot of combos. However, if you wanted to keep it mono blue, concentrate on drawing cards for yourself to take full advantage of the crabs landfall. Rhystic Study is one of my favorites. Just know that your opponent will eventually be able to play something. So something in the form of capsize, with buyback, should help.

Very nice, very fast...

What are your thoughts on Keening Stone? It would work well with the Traumatize mid-game.

Very nice.
For me, I would increase the number of Howlie's to 4 to take full advantage of the draw aspect. Although I must admit, I find creature-based discard to be too clumsy (my own opinion). I would increase the enchantment count to 4 each and insert as many 1 cost black discard spells that would fit, starting with duress.
Once again, this is all what I would do. Your deck seems very balanced around turn 3, as it would need to be to start getting all of the pieces out. To make it faster, 1 cost black would be the way to go. Best of luck.

Oh.... one more. Diabolic Edict doesnt care what color the opponents creature is.

Discard is very hard to master. It, by far, is my favorite trick and I would't say that I have mastered it yet. Just from experience, if you are counting on the Planeswalker abilities in your deck, then you need to put two more Planeswalkers in the deck or two more Diabolic Tutors to fetch them. If your not worried about what format your deck is, I would suggest Rhystic Study instead of playing the Helm. Just a thought...

You're right... I just re-looked it. My apologies. I was smokin a fat "J" or somethin; had my head in the clouds.

The Everflowing Chalice would be a tough pick for me. By the time you had acquired enough mana to use it, you have already emptied your hand. I would ten to agree with the other guy above. Use other higher cost rats or rat-like creatures to boost your rats in play. I like stronghold rats personally, but only because of the discard effect. Swarm of rats would be better for you in this instance instead of the Chalice. Just a thought...

I like the addition of Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile. But it would stop their creatures from dealing the damage once the attack has been declared, i.e. your opponent attacks with five 2/2 goblins. Yeah, his creatures are dead but the attack damage has to resolve somewhere. Maybe the inclusion of a couple copies of Wall of Glare? It would provide a little safety on turn 2, before you cast the Brigid on turn 4. Just a thought...