This deck is about controlling your opponent and forcing him to make really difficult decisions. While trying to cast spells, you'll be putting creatures back in his hand and reversing spells back at him (or countering them altogether) while forcing him to take damage for each mana tapped. He'll be asking "Do I try that lava axe again (after taking 5 damage from casting it and then having it thrown back in my face for another 5) or try to put this creature on the board again? I have to get hurt either way."
You eventually get a Manabarbs or two out, and maybe a Curse of Bloodletting on your opponent and reem him into submission by making him take tons of damage per land tapped to cast spells and bring out creatures. Then, after he's paid his life to bring something out, you simply unsummon it so he has to do it again...and again. If manabarbs won't do it, your weenies will be hitting a lot harder when your opponent doesn't have any defenders and is taking 2x-4x damage through Curse of Bloodlettings.
Mana Leak is the spell counter chosen because it's a win-win for you. He pays for a spell, hurting himself badly, then you force him to pay MORE/take MORE damage OR lose the spell and hurt himself with nothing to show for it. All of a sudden, manabarbs makes your counter spells double as an increasingly damaging burn spell.
Lastly,
Personal Sanctuary
so you can tap land on your turn without taking damage.
When your opponent has to kill himself trying to gather mana, it'll lead him to simply attack aggressively with his creatures since that's all he can do without tapping mana. I'm working on a way to turn this against him as well. Sideboard Turn to Frog should help against this.
New with AVR: Conjurer's Closet added to the deck. Never was there a card more suited for this deck! The closet will remove your bouncers (AEther Adepts and Mist Ravens at the end of your turn, every time, forcing a creature back into the opponent's hand).
Peel from Reality
added, and a couple of Unsummons removed; now you can bounce an opposing creature, and your own AEther Adepts and Mist Ravens back to your hand for even MORE bouncing! Just be careful of when you play Mana Barbs.
A bit of warning: After creating this deck, the hardest thing I have had trying to learn was when to play Mana Barbs. Do it after you put yourself into a strong position (getting into that position by unsummoning creatures and hopefully having at least 1 Mist Raven out). Once in a good position to not spend much more mana, cast Mana Barbs.
Comments and suggestions welcome. Trying to remain standard.
