So I took a look at Chapin's list from Berlin and I was amazed. It was an idea that I had invisioned back after toast came out (a 5 color wish deck). I modified a version of it for Standard (got 5/20) so that I could see how it would feel for transferring it over to Extended.
I'm not keen on the Chrome Mox and the Engineered Explosives (perhaps it's my meta) but here is what I've put together for this upcoming season (which will probably evolve as time passes)...
The sideboard is tentative. It'll change as I get a feel of what my weaknesses truly are in my local meta as well as a more PT-centric meta.... I'm wondering if running a Syphon Life would be good instead of the 3rd Mannequin. *shrug* I like how this deck rolls out the punches and keeps them coming....
Again I'm unsure of the Mox and EE's in Chapin's build (perhaps he planned for that Elves! attack). I don't expect to see that around here (but perhaps at the upper levels I will). I'll change accordingly...
This gives you more options (card draw or discard, or creature removal, or enchantment/artifact removal - or best of all countering their thirst for knowledge - ). Also went up to 24 lands so that you can at least have a decent chance of getting one in your opening hand, as well as upping the fetch count for more versatility. Should allow you to thin out your deck easier to search for combo pieces.
Honestly, my pick(s) would depend on the people I'm drafting with. Was this online or RL? If I thought I had a good chance of getting greatGrixis/Jundcards from my right, I'd probably go for it. Otherwise, the Charger seems the best choice as he doesn't immediately throw you into a shard and can cut off someone from some Exalted shennanigans... I've always thought he was a great creature to throw out turn 3/4 in my drafts when I went with him.
I will say I prefer to draft a good 2-color base with splashes from 2 shards and see if I can pull out anything good... seems to work thus far. I draft at my local store and with friends.
Had a weird thought.. What about perhaps Pollen Lullaby or Batwing Brume in the SB vs. an aggro meta? I mean, it is no *** or Firespout, just kind of brainstorming here for possibilities that would be unexpected in an unexpected meta... And also, Firespout seems to be becoming less than stellar now with a lot of x/4's running around (at least in my meta, but I still feel it is quite useful against Fae and Kithkin/WW_Exalted.dec) I have a 3/2 split with ***/Spout, and am considering dropping the 2 out of the SB for one of these two options. This is all a random thought.
@vivid count discussion: I run 8 in my "basic" build and honestly never have a problem (4 Creek, 2 Meadow, 2 Grove - or 1/1 Grove/Marsh) I do not run Sprouting Thrinax, so having more seems unwanted. My Punishing Toast runs 2 Marsh to increase the likelihood of casting Punish Ignorance.
Also, where could I go to get a breakdown of the average mana costs in my decklist? (not sure how to do this on my own :-/)
I do believe MrOrange's statement about it being the "Blue Wrath of God" was in reference to it being the textless foil promo for this year.
There was Wrath of God, Damnation, then Cryptic Command.
And as to it being compared to Wrath of God/Damnation, I think it's a pretty good analysis. (they all affect creatures on a grand scale. Think tap your dudes, swing for the win. Same logic for ***: Wrath the board, beatdown with manlands or a finisher you played post-wrath.)
Wrath of God doesn't win you games, but it does allow you to move into a winning position. Same thing with Cryptic Command.
Back after a .. short.. hiatus. (it has to do with small amount of time spent behind bars.. )
Anyway. I'm not entirely sold on Skybreaker. I believe it was discussed a good while back. The main reasons most don't like it is because it uses 6 mana, and after that requires 6 + a land drop, during your turn (in the mid/late game) that could be spent on an ultimatum or a more efficient flier. I realize MrChupee already has a Dragon in the main, but adding another to the SB or possibly a Violent Ultimatum (against an aggro heavy meta) to hold off the shift from your early game (stabilizing) to your late game (smacking them with an outstanding creature backed up by counter magic) is probably better as a SB option.
I honestly haven't tested Violent, but believe it would be pretty good vs agro at that stage when you can cast it. Maybe even after you've stabilized and it basically seals you the game. Whereas Call the Skybreaker is a 5/5 flier that gets hit with the tons of removal that is floating around or they easily get chumped by Faerie Tokens or what-have-you. I'd even go so far as to put Nucklavee in my SB over the Skybreaker... **since you have Cruel main and it's a "generic" toast list.
There are at least 5 new answers that this deck can run (in whatever fashion you like) that will deal with Realm Razer the turn he is played (assuming you can float the mana):
As well as a few others we already have:
Nameless Inversion
Crib Swap
Unmake
Dream Fracture
Cancel
Broken Ambitions
Cryptic Command
Shock
Incinerate
Flame Javelin
I am not trying to say that any of these are better at dealing with him than any of the others. These are just the options some toast players may have available to them (in their respective builds) that deal with a number of cards other than Realm Razer. The fact is: Realm Razer doesn't "seem" to be a problem as of now.
In terms of art, the Tower Gargoyle's Vedalken has given it a command and it, the gargoyle, is carrying it out freely.
In this one, he is commanding it, but he is having to maintain the commands, hence the reason he is riding with it ("...laboring along...") That to me suggests a lack in abundant blue mana sources (which would give logical/analytical thinking to artificial creatures which are in fact those colors), hence the reason the vedalken is riding along and continuing to maintain it so that it won't just forget what it's doing and stare at the ground... lol
Also notice there is FIRE burning within his chest and his eyes are glowing the same color. Or it could just be from the glow of super-heated, freely suspendable etherium spheres. ("Computer, is there another Etherium Sphere on board?"... lol.)
Jokes aside, I do believe there will be enemy color wedges. I may in fact be seeing what I want to see.
Aerie Mystics sounds about right.
What are you talking about with the vedalken? I see no sign of desperation. I see a grim emotionless frown. Pretty much inline with the other vedlken we've seen sofar. Other than the name "Dragonsoul Knight" I see no sign of enemy color pairs sofar.
I don't think I've ever seen a vedalken riding another "creature" per se. I say this speaking from art alone. They've always had the appearance of being in power.
In this picture, he is still in power, but he is sitting and riding (notice his hand is on his knee, giving a "tired" feeling to the character. His brow also appears to be furrowed.) He is not commanding the gargoyle but laboring along with it. The last instance of a Vedalken interacting with a gargoyle is Tower Gargoyle in which it appears the vedalken has instructed the gargoyle to go find more etherium (notice his hands behind his back). That's just what it appears to be.
Also, Tower Gargoyle is more "artistic" in appearance. Look at his head. In this picture however, there tends to be less abstract thinking done to the newer creations and it has more of a human feel to it. Also, other gargoyles have usually had some sort of animal feel to their facial features. The Esper gargoyles don't seem to.
Think golems in terms of artificial human-like facial features and then compare that to those of gargoyles.
You can also notice that the background is very bleak and the spires are seemingly covered with soot and the sky is darker/smoggier (sp?) as opposed to the shining spires and clear skies of the previously discussed card which suggests things burning.
This makes me believe that the U aspect of Esper is deteriorating (from the influx of fire infusing with water/air during the Conflux) and is being replaced with R. Which would leave RWB artifact creatures or combinations thereof. Not to say blue still wouldn't be present in some form somewhere, but from this picture that is what I feel to be happening.
Perhaps it is Darklit Gargoyle and is a 2/3 artifact creature, 1WRB with maybe a 1U flying activation cost? *shrug*
The owls look really great. I think it's the first time I've seen an owl with anthromorphic limbs.. sweet.
Edit: I don't think they're Aven Squire, but rather Aerie Mystics.
Also, the Esper Gargoyle... the background seems to be less striking in color/brilliance. Something must be amiss here. The vedalken appears to be less logical and more desperate. Perhaps he is fueled by fire now?
I'm not keen on the Chrome Mox and the Engineered Explosives (perhaps it's my meta) but here is what I've put together for this upcoming season (which will probably evolve as time passes)...
4 Wall of Roots
2 Kitchen Finks
2 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Oona, Queen of the Fae
1 Meloku, the Clouded Mirror
Sorceries: 8
3 Wrath of God
3 Glittering Wish
1 Life from the Loam
1 Worm Harvest
Instants: 16
3 Makeshift Mannequin
3 Mana Leak
4 Gifts Ungiven
2 Bant Charm
2 Putrefy
1 Mortify
1 Oona's Grace
Land: 26
4 Windswept Heath
4 Flooded Strand
2 Breeding Pool
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Temple Garden
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Godless Shrine
1 Steam Vents
1 Secluded Steppe
1 Lonely Sandbar
1 Tranquil Thicket
1 Snow-Covered Island
1 Snow-Covered Forest
1 Island
1 Forest
1 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Mystic Gate
1 Flooded Grove
1 Putrefy
1 Mortify
1 Esper Charm
1 Jund Charm
1 Bant Charm
1 Castigate
1 Tidehollow Sculler
1 Firespout
1 Harmonic Sliver
1 Mystic Enforcer
2 Kami of Ancient Law
3 Tormod's Crypt
The sideboard is tentative. It'll change as I get a feel of what my weaknesses truly are in my local meta as well as a more PT-centric meta.... I'm wondering if running a Syphon Life would be good instead of the 3rd Mannequin. *shrug* I like how this deck rolls out the punches and keeps them coming....
Again I'm unsure of the Mox and EE's in Chapin's build (perhaps he planned for that Elves! attack). I don't expect to see that around here (but perhaps at the upper levels I will). I'll change accordingly...
Whatcha think?
Just for comparison's sake, this is the old list I ran (circa 1998 type 1):
1 Enlightened Tutor
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Lightning Bolt
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
4 Counterspell
Sorceries: 5
1 Balance
2 Wrath of God
2 Hammer of Bogardan
Enchantments: 4
2 Goblin Bombardment
2 Enduring Renewal
Creatures: 6
4 Shield Sphere
2 Rainbow Efreet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
Land: 24
4 Volcanic Island
4 Tundra
4 Plateau
4 Mishra's Factory
2 Kjeldoran Outpost
2 Island
2 Plains
1 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
2 Karma
4 Disenchant
4 Holy Day
3 Moat
2 Fireblast
I only really had this deck perform well once, but it was really great that day. Everyone pretty much hated it out after that.
For your deck, I would suggest:
-4 Condescend
-1 Brain Freeze
-2 Orzhov Pontiff (what's his purpose?)
-3 Snow-Covered Island
-2 Snow-Covered Plains
+2 Breeding Pool
+2 Flooded Strand
+1 Watery Grave
+1 Temple Garden
+3 Bant Charm
+3 Esper Charm
This gives you more options (card draw or discard, or creature removal, or enchantment/artifact removal - or best of all countering their thirst for knowledge - ). Also went up to 24 lands so that you can at least have a decent chance of getting one in your opening hand, as well as upping the fetch count for more versatility. Should allow you to thin out your deck easier to search for combo pieces.
My playtest buddy uses her in a BantMender deck, with Finks, Archmage, Heartmender, etc etc... nasty stuff..
edit: Other colorshifts... Drowned = Walking Dead I suppose... hrmmm ?
Vindicate is ferocious in Extended. Unmake is more like malicious in standard.
I will say I prefer to draft a good 2-color base with splashes from 2 shards and see if I can pull out anything good...
@vivid count discussion: I run 8 in my "basic" build and honestly never have a problem (4 Creek, 2 Meadow, 2 Grove - or 1/1 Grove/Marsh) I do not run Sprouting Thrinax, so having more seems unwanted. My Punishing Toast runs 2 Marsh to increase the likelihood of casting Punish Ignorance.
Also, where could I go to get a breakdown of the average mana costs in my decklist? (not sure how to do this on my own :-/)
There was Wrath of God, Damnation, then Cryptic Command.
And as to it being compared to Wrath of God/Damnation, I think it's a pretty good analysis. (they all affect creatures on a grand scale. Think tap your dudes, swing for the win. Same logic for ***: Wrath the board, beatdown with manlands or a finisher you played post-wrath.)
Wrath of God doesn't win you games, but it does allow you to move into a winning position. Same thing with Cryptic Command.
edit: or better yet.. I Memory Plunder your Cruel Ultimatum, then Wincast it.
Anyway. I'm not entirely sold on Skybreaker. I believe it was discussed a good while back. The main reasons most don't like it is because it uses 6 mana, and after that requires 6 + a land drop, during your turn (in the mid/late game) that could be spent on an ultimatum or a more efficient flier. I realize MrChupee already has a Dragon in the main, but adding another to the SB or possibly a Violent Ultimatum (against an aggro heavy meta) to hold off the shift from your early game (stabilizing) to your late game (smacking them with an outstanding creature backed up by counter magic) is probably better as a SB option.
I honestly haven't tested Violent, but believe it would be pretty good vs agro at that stage when you can cast it. Maybe even after you've stabilized and it basically seals you the game. Whereas Call the Skybreaker is a 5/5 flier that gets hit with the tons of removal that is floating around or they easily get chumped by Faerie Tokens or what-have-you. I'd even go so far as to put Nucklavee in my SB over the Skybreaker... **since you have Cruel main and it's a "generic" toast list.
edit: **
Jund Charm
Bant Charm
Naya Charm
Grixis charm
Agony Warp
As well as a few others we already have:
Nameless Inversion
Crib Swap
Unmake
Dream Fracture
Cancel
Broken Ambitions
Cryptic Command
Shock
Incinerate
Flame Javelin
I am not trying to say that any of these are better at dealing with him than any of the others. These are just the options some toast players may have available to them (in their respective builds) that deal with a number of cards other than Realm Razer. The fact is: Realm Razer doesn't "seem" to be a problem as of now.
Let me expand on what I meant:
In terms of art, the Tower Gargoyle's Vedalken has given it a command and it, the gargoyle, is carrying it out freely.
In this one, he is commanding it, but he is having to maintain the commands, hence the reason he is riding with it ("...laboring along...") That to me suggests a lack in abundant blue mana sources (which would give logical/analytical thinking to artificial creatures which are in fact those colors), hence the reason the vedalken is riding along and continuing to maintain it so that it won't just forget what it's doing and stare at the ground... lol
Also notice there is FIRE burning within his chest and his eyes are glowing the same color. Or it could just be from the glow of super-heated, freely suspendable etherium spheres. ("Computer, is there another Etherium Sphere on board?"... lol.)
Jokes aside, I do believe there will be enemy color wedges. I may in fact be seeing what I want to see.
I don't think I've ever seen a vedalken riding another "creature" per se. I say this speaking from art alone. They've always had the appearance of being in power.
In this picture, he is still in power, but he is sitting and riding (notice his hand is on his knee, giving a "tired" feeling to the character. His brow also appears to be furrowed.) He is not commanding the gargoyle but laboring along with it. The last instance of a Vedalken interacting with a gargoyle is Tower Gargoyle in which it appears the vedalken has instructed the gargoyle to go find more etherium (notice his hands behind his back). That's just what it appears to be.
Also, Tower Gargoyle is more "artistic" in appearance. Look at his head. In this picture however, there tends to be less abstract thinking done to the newer creations and it has more of a human feel to it. Also, other gargoyles have usually had some sort of animal feel to their facial features. The Esper gargoyles don't seem to.
Think golems in terms of artificial human-like facial features and then compare that to those of gargoyles.
You can also notice that the background is very bleak and the spires are seemingly covered with soot and the sky is darker/smoggier (sp?) as opposed to the shining spires and clear skies of the previously discussed card which suggests things burning.
This makes me believe that the U aspect of Esper is deteriorating (from the influx of fire infusing with water/air during the Conflux) and is being replaced with R. Which would leave RWB artifact creatures or combinations thereof. Not to say blue still wouldn't be present in some form somewhere, but from this picture that is what I feel to be happening.
Perhaps it is Darklit Gargoyle and is a 2/3 artifact creature, 1WRB with maybe a 1U flying activation cost? *shrug*
That is just my impressions of the art.
Edit: I don't think they're Aven Squire, but rather Aerie Mystics.
Also, the Esper Gargoyle... the background seems to be less striking in color/brilliance. Something must be amiss here. The vedalken appears to be less logical and more desperate. Perhaps he is fueled by fire now?