You can't really replace Mox Opal. You need all the 0 drop artifacts you can fit in the deck. It's what makes the deck fast enough to win by t3-4.

I reckon you’ll be mostly fine. Hardened Scales variants aren’t as reliant on Mox Opal (i’ve actually dropped to only running 2) - but you’ll probably want to ditch the drum. It’s great in normal affinity but terrible here.

So i’d be thinking of dropping the 4 drums in place of:

2x Buried Ruin (you’ll be slower without the opals, so you’ll need more land. These ones in particular can help in longer games).

2x Metallic Mimic (you can replace T1 speed of opal with potential T2 speed of dropping all your walkers and ballistas for free)

Even if you don’t like those cards, the general idea would be to drop the drums for 2 lands and 2 other things, imo. And best of luck!

I'd agree with others that Mox Opal is a tough one to replace, you could try Paradise Mantle, which appears in the puresteel cheerios lists, or try and play the odds with Lotus Bloom, but I don't think either are good enough, though Paradise Mantle is probably better than Springleaf Drum. I'd agree with wallisface that Metallic Mimic could be a good fit...

Anyway, hope this is of some help and good luck with your brew. As an aside, I actually run a version of the puresteel deck Cheap & Cherio, more casual than competitive but it might give you some ideas...

Hey together, thanks for all your impressions. Of course Mox Opal isn't easy to replace, but I don't think its as important as in regular affinity. I own a playset of Lotus Bloom and also two copies of Metallic Mimic. I don't know Buried Ruin and will test it in MTGO. I tried Paradise Mantle in regular affinity and wasn't completely satisfied with it.

I think you guys are right with Springleaf Drum, I tried it, because it was really great in the classic affinity.

I tested a little bit with Metallic Mimic and I think its quite good as a budget replacement (maybe I would play 1 copy in a non-budget build aswell). It can give you T2-speed like you said, if you're a little bit lucky with your draws. I also tested the Drums and they're just dead cards in my hands all the time. Completly useless in this list.

Currently I'm thinking about dropping all copies of Darksteel Citadel and replace them with basics. I have no metalcraft-cards in this deck and also no Cranial Plating of course. Because of this the basics could be better, until I can get some Mox Opal finally.

Sounds like a good plan.

Can I ask how Commune with the Gods has been for you? On face value it seems like a good way to either grab Ravager, Overseer, or Scales. But it’s 2 mana cost kindof means a whole turn’s (T2/T3) being wasted doing so. It’d be cool to hear how it’s gone for you and whether you see it as a good card or not

I just tested it in 2 games yesterday against a friend (playing merfolk-aggro). I think the value of the card is in this deck far better than Stirrings, but like you said the mana costs are a big problem.

I suppose this didnt change much with the banning of opal, lol