DD for $100
Reasons for Lazav as commander:
- Lazav has marginal use in that it can provide an additional layer of protection if Laboratory Maniac were to be killed post-DD, and is cheap enough that it can be cast on early turns without losing significant development.
- Of course, Kess, Dissident Mage is the obvious choice for DD here, but three colors both greatly reduces the quality of the land base and increases the amount of resources (i.e. money) to have an equally functional one.
- Oona, Queen of the Fae seems like a way to survive until the deck can DD, but it's too slow to have any practical use. This deck generally has a T7-8 kill, and spending either T6 or T7 casting Oona means less development to set up for the win.
- Gyruda, Doom of Depths and Thassa's Oracle gives a 2-in-1 benefit, as post-DD and after opening the pile with something like Gitaxian Probe is a win for 6 mana. However, Gyruda and Oracle are more expensive than Lazav and Laboratory Maniac, and in a format where every dollar counts, that is a serious thing to consider for only slight upside. The deck doesn't have much trouble piling as is.
Tech cards and lines:
- Dispel is a cheap source of protection, both in terms of monetary and mana value, which are both crucial for this deck.
- Desperate Research is used in a very fringe case for the pile where other methods of drawing through the pile (i.e. Thought Scour, Gush, Night's Whisper, etc.) are gone. This is not recommended as a general case, since wins with Desperate Research require opening the pile and drawing post-cast through external means, and is generally more mana-heavy than other options.
- Deep Analysis allows for some nifty Thought Scour piles, in which case would look like:
Thought Scour
Deep Analysis
(any one card)
Laboratory Maniac
(any one card)
Such a pile is primarily useful when Gush is not an available option, in the case, for example, that there are not two Islands on the board (common given the the compromises in the mana base for this deck).
- Generally, it is best, if able, to Diabolic Tutor or Mastermind's Acquisition for DD, rather than Mystical Tutor, since revealing DD with Mystical Tutor is a great way to put crosshairs on your own head.
- In the case that DD is already in hand, Mystical Tutor and Mystical Teachings become tutors instead for Dark Ritual, which can greatly speed up the win. Merchant Scroll becomes the best way to chain into these tutors.
- The general, protection-less pile is, in order:
Gush
Thought Scour / Brainstorm
Laboratory Maniac
(any one card)
(any one card)
Open the pile (best done with one of the looters or something like Conjurer's Bauble/Commander's Sphere), Gush, Laboratory Maniac, Brainstorm / Thought Scour target self. With Dark Ritual + DD, the overall mana cost for the win is 5+, dependent on the method used to open the pile.
- The general protection pile is, in order:
Predict
Deep Analysis
Gitaxian Probe
Dispel / An Offer You Can't Refuse / Pact of Negation
Laboratory Maniac
Opening the pile is the same as previous, and Predict targets self naming Deep Analysis. With Dark Ritual + DD, the overall mana cost for the win is 6+, dependent on the method used to open the pile, whether Deep Analysis was needed for the win, and whether Dispel or AOYCR was needed to prevent decking without Laboratory Maniac.
And finally, the Christmas T2 win:
T0 hand requirements:
Island
Sol Ring
Dimir Signet
As well as 3-4 of the following, the 4th-5th card(s) being drawn on T1 and/or T2:
Doomsday
Dark Ritual
Island
Gitaxian Probe
Conjurer's Bauble
T1:
Island -> Sol Ring -> Dimir Signet
T2:
Island
Tap Sol Ring (Pool: )
Tap Dimir Signet (Pool: , , )
Dark Ritual -> Doomsday (Pool: , )
Pile as follows:
. High Tide
. Gush
. Laboratory Maniac
. Thought Scour / Brainstorm
. (any one card)
Conjurer's Bauble, targeting nothing, then crack, drawing High Tide (Pool: )
High Tide, then tap Islands (Pool: )
Gitaxian Probe for Phyrexian, drawing Gush (Pool: )
Gush, bouncing 2 Islands, drawing Laboratory Maniac and Thought Scour (Pool: )
Laboratory Maniac (Pool: )
Brainstorm / Thought Scour, target self
