Palas

I don't know if you need those many Hypnotic Specters, really. The less you "provoke" Dark Confidant, the better, so I'd advise you to soften your mana curve - which is already soft enough to let you use, dunno, 20~21 lands.

Unholy Strength is a card I like very much, but it's just a preference of mine. You could test it sometime, though. Isamaru is Legendary, so you are going to need other early creature to beat the opponent with. Savannah Lions, dunno. Also, Inquisition of Kozilek doesn't protect you against the spell you're weakest to - Wrath of God (and variantions). Consider putting Duress or Thoughtseize there. Even Unmask could do, even though your deck isn't monoblack.

Why, thank you, sir. I must admit you are an influence to me.

Concordant Crossroads is a great card. I don't know how come people DON'T use it. It just makes everything so fast. I have seen most of your decks and they are pretty creative and also balanced. I've seen the ANT build, too, but you said no one can comment - then I didn't.

*Galvanic Blast won't work at its fullest, since you have only 2 Cloud Keys (and, even if you had 4, it would be a little hard to have three of them on the battlefield at the same time).
*Redirect is too dependent on what your opponent has, so you are better off using something like, dunno, Mana Leak. Controlling your own play is the first step to controlling your opponent's play.
*Chandra's Outrage, Incinerate and Lava Axe are not that good. Alright, Incinerate is actually good, but there are better options. Classic Burn decks include Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Lava Spike etc. Flame Rift is good, too - don't be afraid to lose life. It's a resource.
*Numbing Dose doesn't seem to be in your main strategy and doesn't seem to work out right, either. It's too specific.
*Add Brainstorm and Preordain if you want to refine your deck (and you do want). Magma Jet is also an excellent option, since it also deals damage.
*Goblins are great when they are on their own - which means on a Monored Tribal Goblin Deck. You won't need these, especially the Gaveleer since you don't have any equipments.
*Try to correct your mana base with Fetch Lands (lands that search for other lands) and dual lands (lands that produce two colors of mana). Scalding Tarn is something you should be after.

I see your deck has a budget, so I'll try to be as realistic as I can with my suggestions:

*Add in Rift Bolt, Lava Spike, Lightning Bolt, Magma Jet and Flame Rift
*Add in Brainstorm and Preordain
*Instead of the Goblins, get Hellspark Elemental, Lightning Elemental and, if possible, Ball Lightning, Vexing Devil and Blistering Firecat (even though people don't like this one).

Also, if you have the time and the will, please check out my Monoblue Burn deck - it's a different take at this classic.
http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=354489

I'll have to agree with gijoehawk. There are mass removals that don't involve enchantments, and you're already at risk without "The Button", let alone with it. Ratchet Bomb/Powder Keg could work, maybe - even if I actually wouldn't bet my life on it.

Other than that, I really have no clue on how to improve your deck further. It's too much fun, and very good indeed. Congratulations.

Wait, wait, so what's the strategy? I don't get it. Do you want to infect the opponent? But the only card that has infect is Inkmoth Nexus, and even then Myojin of Infinite Rage would destroy it. If you only have it in order to combo ith Blazing Shoal and Assault Strobe, I think you have better options - even moreso because this works with life, not only with poison counters.

The only red creatures with Infect are Ogre Menial, Fallen Ferromancer and Razor Swine. You may want to take a look at them.

You also need a couple more lands. Fetch lands, to be precise. Even though 8 Mountains should get your deck rolling, they won't if you're not sure they'll come. Hence, I'd advise you to get your hands on Bloodstained Mire, Arid Mesa, Wooded Foothills, Scalding Tarn etc. 6 of them will do just fine.

Also... what is the purpose of Greater Gargadon and Street Wraith there?



If you have the time and the will, please check out my Monoblue Burn deck. It's a different take at this classic archetype, and my current pet deck. Feedback is always welcome!
http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=354489

Are you sure you don't want Dragonspeaker Shaman? You may also want less aggressive, but faster dragons, like Dragon Whelp, Fledgling Dragon or Furnace Whelp. Moltensteel Dragon is also an option, if you're feeling like spending 4 life for faster gameplay. I'm also a huge fan of Tarox Bladewing and Rorix Bladewing, because haste is my favourite ability.

Geosurge could help you, too. Crucible of Fire is useful, but I don't like it all that much.

No need for the Spellbook there, mister. You can easily replace it with Hymn to Tourach or Thoughtseize, because even though you'll profit from making the opponent draw and discard, you don't have anything to prevent him/her from using what you're cycling for him/her. A Burn deck might actually profit from your strategy, so common discards are useful here. Still, very nice deck and very nice budget.

Heartless Summoning is just so badass. I think you have too few creatures if you want to keep these many cards that require sacrifices. Besides, I'm not sure only Quest for the Gravelord will make you win - and Heartless Summoning would kill Carrion Feeder. Well, this is a VERY strong combo, but beware the rest of the play - you can only control the opponents' creatures, not their hands, graves, spells or libraries. They could easily dismantle your setup.

Very interesting. the Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond combo is a damn fine one. I don't think you need both combos, though, even moreso because I didn't quite understand how Mikaeus and Vish Kal make for infinite removal. Well, anyway, it's too hard to pull off both, so focus on only one strategy.

Also, I'm pretty sure your mana base needs to be corrected, favouring black. You have many cards with multiple black mana symbols, whereas you don't even have those many white cards. A few more swamps and a few less plains will do it. 9 Swamps and 2 Plains, perhaps. Don't be symmetric about your mana sources if the deck isn't symmetric about its needs.

I'm not sure you need Jace's Ingenuity. True, drawing cards is what it is, but you're not really going to have a hard time with your hand - besides, its mana cost and the fact that you'll rely only on islands makes it a little impractical. It'll stay there waiting for its time to be played - since your deck needs little to no setup, you'll seldom desperately need 3 extra cards, but, instead, will almost always have something to play.

Well, your deck is Green/Red, so Firespout will always have a chance. On the sideboard, I don't know.

I had never seen a BW land destruction and I loved it. I must say Diabolic Edict won't hold off much and, as aforementioned, Go for the Throat will serve you better.

There are Cleansing and Angel of Despair, but I don't think you would want them, because your deck is pretty sift right no. However, I think the pain lands are a little obsolete - they have so many effective dual lands right now. The ones from Innistrad, for example. Evolving Wilds, if you will. Dunno.

Vindicate was an awesome addition. Gotta love its flexibility and straightforwardness.

Thank you for your feedback!

I hate cumulative upkeep more than I can deal with. That's why I put basically everything that could help me, but then what helps me also has cumulative upkeep costs. How terrible can that be. Anyway, your idea of returning stuff to my hand is excellent, I'll implement it. Heidar, Rimewind Master could do the job safely - but, then again, guy's a Legend and I sort of dislike Legends. Still, neat idea.

And I don't know if I really want a kill condition right now - but Black Vise/Ebony Owl Netsuke indeed would work.

I don't really know what is valid in a Modern format, but here's my feedback.

I like this deck, except for Thundersong Trumpeter (feels a little displaced, out of the engine) and Terashi's Grasp. Don't bother gaining life - go for Smash to Smithereens or Shattering Spree instead of the latter and you could dump 2 of these Trumpeters to use something else. Anything that deals steady damage, like Sulfuric Vortex (which I think is not in the Modern format, am I right?), could work. Honden of Infinite Rage, Pyrohemia, I don't know.

And perhaps you may want Arcane Teachings instead of Power of Fire? This one would be useful on every creature of yours.

You can sort of overcome your problem with fast decks using, say, Pyroclasm or something like that. At least in the sideboard.

Blue Sun Zenith is a little too expensive right now, and doesn't work well with non-monoblue decks. You could consider replacing it with Stroke of Genius if you're soo adamant about using the X factor.

And don't bother gaining life. Spellbook will work out much better than Venser's Journal.

Black and white is my favourite combination! Liked and commented.

Azure Flames is a Monoblue Burn deck - it was made for the Out of Colour challenge, but I now like it very much and would love suggestions. It's weird and all, and that's why I like it.

http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=354489

I hate this strategy. It's annoying as fuck. It's very clever anyway, so it's legitimate to win like this. Standstill is a nice card, you could consider using it. Even moreso because you can use it earlier or later and it is an interesting card to use with Ebony Owl Netsuke.

I love decks like these! It's strategy at its best. I do think your creatures are a bit fragile, even with Aether Spellbomb. Discard decks could get you cornered very fast, so maybe it's ok to main Pemmin's Aura? I don't really know what you could take out, but it's just an intuition.

Also, Surgical Extraction is always a danger. Counterbalance is more than able to deal with it.

Very, VERY interesting deck. Another take at Burn decks. Maybe a Howling Mine could fit in?