"Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let Wrexial bite, for if he do, being black and blue,
he'll cast your own dead spells on you... without paying their mana cost."
- Jace's lullaby
Is Pauper EDH so narrow a format that I can't get any advice on building my WU Pauper EDH deck, or is my deck just really uninteresting? Comments welcome.
"Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let Wrexial bite, for if he do, being black and blue,
he'll cast your own dead spells on you... without paying their mana cost."
- Jace's lullaby
I've been looking at everything UW in Pauper EDH and stumbled on this list. I've also been frustrated at the lack of comments in this forum - I don't think EDH Pauper is narrow or thought of as uninteresting, but I think the more niched subforums simply don't get as many visitors.
I've found a few gems thanks to your list. Minister of Impediments for example - that's probably the best icy manipulator effect available (no extra cost, just tap!). Vivisection and Repel the Darkness also merits consideration - I had not seen those before.
TBH, I think the fact that you've not chosen a general makes it a lot harder to comment on your list. They all want slightly different cards. There's also Mistmeadow Witch, often considered one of the most powerful UW generals in Pauper. If you decide on a general, it will be easier to suggest cards.
You're also lacking a great number of must-run staples. The blue transmute cards, merchant scroll, a trinket mage package, CAPSIZE, archaeomancer/scrivener/mnemonic wall and probably vedalken aethermage as well. Not to mention Oblivion Ring and some other white goodies. I recommend looking at some other UW lists on this forum for inspiration.
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lufusol, unfortunately part of the problem is that Pauper Commander is a niche format without an official rules set that everyone follows. Look at the Commander you're running for instance. In my very small play group, we only play the Legendary Creatures that were printed at the common rarity in paper or online as our commander which means that the commander mostly only determines color identity for the deck. For my play group, this means that Azorious and Dimir decks tend to be strongest and our Azorious and Dimir play styles might be very different from your own as you run a different commander rules set.
As to feedback about your deck, I would recommend the following possible changes:
- Replace Rupture Spire with Command Tower or Desert. You've got enough mana fixing in the deck that a land that enters the battlefield tapped and costs you a second land isn't really that useful. Command Tower is clearly superior and Desert at least allows you to ping for 1 post-combat without a drawback which can be useful.
- Man-o'-War is a bounce creature you're missing that is good for what it does. I personally don't like Deft Duelist enough even as a 2/1 first striker to use it over Man-o'-War. Deft Duelist and Azorious First-Wing have no synergy with Totem-Guide Hartebeest and Steel of the Godhead as well.
- You've got Harbor Serpent, but no Spreading Seas or similar effect to make him able to attack. I would not want to play a Defender with this type of deck but instead focus on blue's control and card draw and efficient evasion creatures.
- I see a lot of efficient weenies in this deck like Delver of Secrets. Yeah, he's an efficient beater, but W/U Pauper strikes me as having more strength with repeated bounce/blink effects combined with the effects of enter the battlefield abilities like Attended Knight.
- Escape Routes, Waterfront Bouncer, and Kor Skyfisher are cards that is on theme for your deck, but you don't have yet. I'd cut Seller of Songbirds for Kor Skyfisher.
- Why Divination over Mulldrifter or Deep Analysis?
- For control or repeatable bounce, you're missing Capsize, Counterspell, Exclude, and Repulse. Mainly, I see straight upgrade cards missing from your deck list as urdjur mentioned.
1 azorius aethermage (draw)
1 azorius guildmage (control)
1 jhessian balmgiver (gets creatures through)
1 sky hussar (aggro beatstick)
1 skymark roc (for 1v1 against aggro)
Lands & Mana Stuff (40):
1 azorius chancery
1 azorius guildgate
1 bant panorama
1 esper panorama
1 evolving wilds
1 explorer's scope
1 fieldmist borderpost
1 grixis panorama
1 halimar depths
1 haunted fengraf
1 lonely sandbar
1 quicksand
1 remote isle
1 rupture spire
1 secluded steppe
1 terramorphic expanse
1 terrarion
11x Plains
12x Island
Creatures (30):
1 aether adept
1 apex hawks
1 aven fleetwing
1 azorius first-wing
1 dawnglare invoker
1 deft duelist
1 delver of secrets
1 elguad shieldmate
1 gryff vanguard (*)
1 harbor serpent
1 merfolk looter (*)
1 minister of impediments
1 mist raven
1 mistblade shinobi
1 neurok invisimancer
1 ninja of the deep hours (*)
1 primal plasma
1 reckless scholar (*)
1 runewing (*)
1 scroll thief (*)
1 seller of songbirds
1 seraph of dawn
1 silkbind faerie
1 silver drake
1 stealer of secrets (*)
1 thistledown duo
1 totem-guide hartebeest
1 ulamog's crusher
1 vedalken outlander
1 voice of the provinces
1 divination
1 foresee
1 inspiration
1 ponder
1 preordain
1 see beyond
1 vivisection
Suspension/Removal (8):
1 aether tradewinds
1 crippling chill (*)
1 dramatic rescue
1 feeling of dread
1 iona's judgment
1 journey to nowhere
1 repel the darkness (*)
1 twitch (*)
Countermagic (10):
1 bone to ash (*)
1 cancel
1 condescend
1 geist snatch
1 lost in the mist
1 mana leak
1 negate
1 overrule
1 psychic barrier
1 turn aside
Other (4):
1 steel of the godhead (pump general, hartebeest tutors)
1 ghostly flicker (seemed like a good idea)
1 artful dodge (... something better?)
1 stave off (... something better?)
1 azorius aethermage
Lands (38):
1 azorius chancery
1 azorius guildgate
1 evolving wilds
1 haunted fengraf
1 quicksand
1 terramorphic expanse
15x Plains
17x Island
Creatures (26):
1 Aether Adept
1 Apex Hawks
1 Aven Fleetwing
1 Calcite Snapper
1 Cliff Threader
1 Dawnglare Invoker
1 Delver of Secrets
1 Elgaud Shieldmate
1 Gryff Vanguard (*)
1 Harbor Serpent
1 Merfolk Looter (*)
1 Mist Raven
1 Neurok Invisimancer
1 Primal Plasma
1 Reckless Scholar (*)
1 Runewing (*)
1 Scroll Thief (*)
1 Seller of Songbirds
1 Seraph of Dawn
1 Silverclaw Griffin
1 Stealer of Secrets (*)
1 Stormbound Geist
1 Totem-Guide Hartebeest
1 Ulamog's Crusher
1 Voice of the Provinces
1 Windrider Eel
1 divination
1 foresee
1 inspiration
1 ior ruin expedition
1 ponder
1 preordain
1 see beyond
1 think twice
1 vivisection
Suspension/Removal (11):
1 aether tradewinds
1 crippling chill (*)
1 dramatic rescue
1 feeling of dread
1 iona's judgment
1 journey to nowhere
1 narcolepsy
1 paralyzing grasp
1 repel the darkness (*)
1 silent departure
1 twitch (*)
Countermagic (11):
1 bone to ash (*)
1 cancel
1 condescend
1 geist snatch
1 lost in the mist
1 mana leak
1 negate
1 outwit
1 overrule
1 psychic barrier
1 turn aside
1 steel of the godhead (mainly for my general and fished up by hartebeest)
1 ghostly flicker (just seems like a good idea)
1 artful dodge (gets damage-draw creatures or big bites through... twice)
1 stave off
"Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let Wrexial bite, for if he do, being black and blue,
he'll cast your own dead spells on you... without paying their mana cost."
- Jace's lullaby
"Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let Wrexial bite, for if he do, being black and blue,
he'll cast your own dead spells on you... without paying their mana cost."
- Jace's lullaby
I've found a few gems thanks to your list. Minister of Impediments for example - that's probably the best icy manipulator effect available (no extra cost, just tap!). Vivisection and Repel the Darkness also merits consideration - I had not seen those before.
TBH, I think the fact that you've not chosen a general makes it a lot harder to comment on your list. They all want slightly different cards. There's also Mistmeadow Witch, often considered one of the most powerful UW generals in Pauper. If you decide on a general, it will be easier to suggest cards.
You're also lacking a great number of must-run staples. The blue transmute cards, merchant scroll, a trinket mage package, CAPSIZE, archaeomancer/scrivener/mnemonic wall and probably vedalken aethermage as well. Not to mention Oblivion Ring and some other white goodies. I recommend looking at some other UW lists on this forum for inspiration.
A series of seven articles using Magic to explore the very stuff of the Universe!
"At least for those who can play cards, their present incarnation is not quite wasted."
[Click here for the articles!]
Arcane Denial is a really good 2 cost sraight counterspell.
As to feedback about your deck, I would recommend the following possible changes:
- Replace Rupture Spire with Command Tower or Desert. You've got enough mana fixing in the deck that a land that enters the battlefield tapped and costs you a second land isn't really that useful. Command Tower is clearly superior and Desert at least allows you to ping for 1 post-combat without a drawback which can be useful.
- Man-o'-War is a bounce creature you're missing that is good for what it does. I personally don't like Deft Duelist enough even as a 2/1 first striker to use it over Man-o'-War. Deft Duelist and Azorious First-Wing have no synergy with Totem-Guide Hartebeest and Steel of the Godhead as well.
- You've got Harbor Serpent, but no Spreading Seas or similar effect to make him able to attack. I would not want to play a Defender with this type of deck but instead focus on blue's control and card draw and efficient evasion creatures.
- I see a lot of efficient weenies in this deck like Delver of Secrets. Yeah, he's an efficient beater, but W/U Pauper strikes me as having more strength with repeated bounce/blink effects combined with the effects of enter the battlefield abilities like Attended Knight.
- Escape Routes, Waterfront Bouncer, and Kor Skyfisher are cards that is on theme for your deck, but you don't have yet. I'd cut Seller of Songbirds for Kor Skyfisher.
- Why Divination over Mulldrifter or Deep Analysis?
- For control or repeatable bounce, you're missing Capsize, Counterspell, Exclude, and Repulse. Mainly, I see straight upgrade cards missing from your deck list as urdjur mentioned.
I'll go look at my (not yet tuned or maximized) Azorious deck list this weekend to see if I can provide you with any helpful suggestions. In the mean time, I'd look at this search for ideas: http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3A%22draw%22+o%3A%22card%22+%28c%3Ac+or+c%3Al+or+c!wu%29+r%3Acommon&v=scan&s=color.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=477716