TheGodofNight I finally finished my mill deck, and I was wondering why do you run Relic of Progenitus over something like Tormod's Crypt? Drawing a card off of the Relic's ability is nice, but is it worth exiling your graveyard when you have things you want to flashback with Snapcaster Mage?

@ Vinman

While Tormod's Crypt is a great card, I like the utility of Relic of Progenitus. I can exile a single card from their graveyard, like Elzdrazi or something with flashback, or I can remove all graveyards and draw a card. Sadly, Tormod's Crypt doesn't offer you a choice. As for flashing something back from the graveyard with Snapcaster Mage, sure, that sucks, but if it puts me in a better position to win the game, then so be it. Versatility is vital for winning. I hope that clarifies my choice.

TheGodofNight yeah you can exile a card, but it is the opponents choice, not yours. So I don't see how helpful that is when your dumping about 15% of their library into their graveyard at a time.

@ Vinman

You are correct, I misread that. Still, I like having the options, and for a mass effect, I can rely on Crypt Incursion for all creatures and a bit of life gain and I also run Ravenous Trap which works as a mass graveyard exile. Again, the positive of Relic of Progenitus is that the card replaces itself which is helpful in getting to an answer or another mill spell. So far, it has worked for me, so I'll stick with it. I do have Tormod's Crypt in my testing toolbox though.

@TheGodofNight Would another Ravenous Trap be another option? I do like the replacement Relic has, but I don't know how I feel about losing my graveyard too when I want things to snapback. On a side note, I remember when we conversed before about Goyf being a possible sideboard or even mainboard card for the deck, would you consider Tasigur, the Golden Fang a good card for this deck? Or for the same reasons as Goyf, we just want to keep the deck consistent?

@TheGodofNight

Nihil Spellbomb?

@ Vinman

That is a good option. I'll have to test it out, and get back to you.

@ TheGodofNight

What do you think about adding Sphinx's Tutelage to your deck? I suggest it would fit very well because of its main condition, repeating the process until a land occurs. Of course the colours need to be the same but this chance is high in many decks. At least with Visions of Beyond three trigger can occur. Your opinion?

@greeny9000

I like Sphinx's Tutelage, I do, but it's not designed for this deck. It requires a specific deck build to maximize your draw power, and to land the Sphinx's Tutelage as soon as possible, coupled with counterspell, and removal. It's a great card in the right deck.

I think you need to control the battlefield more efficiently. I tell you this because I have a mill deck too, I have used it in some tournaments in more than one occasion; and I found out that some creatures can make you lose without attacking (Eidolon, Lavamancer, Tasigur, Dark Confidant, Platinum Angel). You got them in suggestions already: Damnation, Ensnaring Bridge (but most of all the first one). Another pretty good card can be Drown in Sorrow. I noticed also the choices of running a single Crypt Incursion and only 2 Ghost Quarter, which I don't share.

Speaking about the sideboard, I suggest to deal with the Leyline with the Echoing Truth instead of the Horror, because you can bounce the Leyline, mill some cards and, if you are lucky and hit another Leyline in graveyard, you can remove it with a Surgical Extraction. The solution you are using is original and simple, but if the opponent shots that lone creature you drop, you are basically dead. I don't understand the value of the chalice of the void, since you don't ramp and you counter your own spells either (which have low cmc). Last thing, I find the Ratchet Bomb too slow to charge up (I used it in sideboard first times with this deck).

Good to see that some people still use this deck. Admit it: mill is love, mill is life, no matter how much difficult the meta is.

@Daedra117

I have some successes with this deck in quite a few modern events. As I said, I the deck isn't built around control, but around aggressive milling. You make some excellent suggestions and I look forward to testing them out. Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.

Any spot for Shred Memory against tron, loam, living end?

This is simply magnificent. My friend and I have been discussing putting together a mill deck. We were going to use Haunting Echoes as the finisher, but after seeing your list i'm going to reconsider. Solution for bob, exchange breaking for Mind Sculpt. Have you tried this?

@TheGodofNight

What are your thoughts on the recent unbanning of Ancestral Vision? Could it replace Serum Visions or is it too slow?

@hwagner

Shred Memory is an interesting choice, although, I have always been more fond of the functionality of Surgical Extraction, especially because of it's cost. I will look into the viability of Shred Memory. Thanks for the suggestion.

@am122808

After play testing with Dark Confidant, I was unimpressed with the excess damage, and opted not to use him. And as far as Mind Sculpt is concerned, it is a good card, but there are same cost options with better results, Glimpse the Unthinkable and Breaking. Also with the addition of the Onslaught fetch lands, there are now many more modern decks running fetches, so there is a better likelihood of getting a free Archive Trap, and I assure you, there is no better feeling than casting 1 or 2 free Archive Traps on your opponent's first turn, before you lay down a land. It's incredibly satisfying and very revealing.

@Vinman

This one is a tough call. Serum Visions can setup your next couple draws by getting rid of unnecessary land drops by moving them to the bottom of the library, or just setting yourself up for success. Ancestral Vision is an amazing card, no doubt, but 4 turns is a long time to wait for card advantage, and in this deck, that might mean the difference between living and dying. If I can pick some up, I may toy with them as an option over Visions of Beyond, but not over Serum Visions.

@TheGodofNight

I didn't think about replacing Visions of Beyond. I do like the instant speed reward of Visions of Beyond as well as instant reward if you meet the requirements. Ancestral might just not work given the deck type and strategy.

@Vinman

Ancestral Vision is a viable option sure, but it's steep price tag make it a less popular option for a lot of folks. You can get playsets of both Visions of Beyond and Serum Visions for almost the cost of one Ancestral Vision. It has merit, and I acknowledge that, but I'm not rushing out to buy a playset when I already have a proven and cheaper alternative.

Love it!

Do you think Dimir Aqueduct would make any sense?

As a budget alternative, sure, it is cheaper, but it is slower because it comes in tapped and it bounces a land. There are better, more costly choices, but if you are working on a budget, it is viable, just not the best option.

On another note, I absolutely love this deck you have made. Mill has and always will be my favorite thing to do in Magic. Everything you wrote in your description just makes way too much sense. It opened my eyes to a lot of fun strategies to try out on my own. Thanks for posting.

Have you seen the mill list that went 8-0-1 on day 1 in GP LA? It lost big in day 2, but I've been thinking of incorporating some parts of that list into my own. With your list here, you could replace the serum visions and a few Darkness for 3 Ensnaring Bridges and perhaps a few Jace's Phantasms or Manic Scribes.

@greenwithevil

Thanks for the feedback and positive comments, always appreciate the feedback.

@GeminiSpartanX

I saw the list, it made me smile when I saw it kicked ass. I had considered picking up Ensnaring Bridges for the longest time, but never got around to it. I love this deck, but it always felt a little too fringe to go big. The stars aligned for him on day one, definitely, and there are some pieces worth looking at. This will always be one of my favorite decks to play and tinker with, but should more decks like this press on through, you'll start seeing a lot more Mill hate.

Still kicking after a year... Unfortunately for us Mill is going down. Modern Nexus Metagame Spreadsheet

Didn't see the synergy of Shelldock Isle - Breaking / Entering. But still, you hope to see a Archive Trap for cc 5, saving you 4 plus that land comes tapped and it isn't even sure, that you meet the condition.

In my opinion, a combination of Tome Scour and Serum Visions does way more than Thought Scour.

I would probably also pick Mind Sculpt, Startled Awake  ^Flip or Mind Funeral before Trapmaker's Snare->Archive Trap, making a 3cmc 13 card mill at best.

I'm probably also going to add a Ghost Quarter too, great for both Hedron Crab and Archive Trap.

If you want, you can take a look at my mill deck at [click me hard], I would apreciate that :)