I like the idea for this deck, and think this is a great start. I'm just worried about how low the mana curve is. Before to long you'll just be top-decking because everything in your hand will have been played, and that's not necessarily a good thing. Maybe look for some way to work in some card advantage without breaking the life-gain theme? I'm thinking something along the lines of Reviving Dose, or Survival Cache.I think Felidar Umbra is MUCH better than Spirit Link; it costs one more but can be moved, and is totem armor. And consider one of my favorite life-gain spells: congregate (especially fun to sideboard in against swarm or token decks),Also, what is your win-condition here? There are too many zero power creatures here for this deck to really threaten with fast creatures, so it's atypical among decks of its mana curve in that regard. It seems to need an Ajani's Pridemate or Sunbond enchanted creature that has been buffed to the point of being threatening. That's sort of chancy though, in my opinion—any single creature is too prone to spot removal. For starters, I'd say four Sunbonds is a must. But then, you need other options also. If you're keeping things budget I like Chalice of Life A LOT. If you have some money to spend, Felidar Sovereign is a must. Both of these cards would you provide you additional paths to victory with keeping in theme.Lastly, whatever your win condition, it needs to be protected. So, Brave The Elements (suggested above also) is a great idea. I'd also find more control/removal type spells to help ensure that your Pridemate or whatever can actually hit the opponent. Mana Tithe is a fun and unusual card that too many mono-white players forget exists. Other super budget options include: Angelic Edict, Devouring Light, Emerge Unscathed, Excoriate, Last Breath, Pillar of Light, Reciprocate, Gaze of Justice, Journey to Nowhere, and Fiend Hunter.Leaving the budget realm (but just barely) Banisher Priests are just under a buck a pop, Chained to Rocks is less than a dollar usually (thought requires you controlling a mountain), and Detention Spheres are only $1.50 or so each these days. Obviously if money weren't an issue Wrath of Gods and Path To Exiles belongs in here. Anyway, hope some of that helps. I think Life-Gain decks are really cool. In conclusion, they just need to remember that it doesn't matter how much life you're gaining unless the opponent is losing life (or you have an alt. win con like Felidar Sovereign).Good Luck!
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About 5 seconds after tearing through a box of M15 I found myself wondering about the possible combo of Ensoul Artifact and Ornithopter. My friends and I pretty quickly decided that yes Ensoul Artifact could target ornithopter, but what we disagree on is whether it would still have flying or not...So is an ensouled Ornithopter a 5/5? Or a 5/5 Flyer?Thanks!
I love this idea. Now I'm trying to figure out what a modern-legal version would look like. Here's what I have so far: http://www.mtgvault.com/professoryes/decks/torpor-strike/Obviously not quite as fast or good, what with no Dreadnaughts and no Dark Rituals; but perhaps still casually competitive? Suggestions definitely welcome. I'm brand new to mtgvault, but it seems like a helpful/friendly place so far.