Cipher actually doesn't trigger heroic. The wording is "Encode on a creature you control" not "Target creature". I did the same thing with a deck I made and was corrected by a ref at FNM. I also used to run Nivmagus Elemental and Dauntless Onslaught but found that they slowed down my deck significantly. Just a thought or two.

so you can encode on a creature that has shroud? cause shroud prevents targeting of any kind, and since it's "encoding" not ''targeting', Encoding becomes a legal move in this case.

Yes, you can Cipher a spell onto a creature with Shroud.

The cipher encoding thing aside, I'd like to do more playtesting before I make anymore changes.

HOWEVER, suggestions and criticisms are ALWAYS welcome.

You don't have anything besides Ordeal of Heliod to pump fencing ace, you could get a better two drop like Battlewise Hoplite or Precinct Captain, even Keening Apparition is better now with Theros being so enchantment heavy.

The reason behind having Fencing Ace in the list in the first place is to abuse ciphered spells. double strike = double cipher trigger. thus allowing me to tap down my opponents creatures.

I also have Phalanx Leader to pump up Fencing Ace as well, btw.

I had no idea that double strike triggered cipher twice, that's actually really cool.

but if you have another suggestion for a better double strike creature, by all means, I'm all ears.

NickStorm

here's another way on how double strike can make things broken:

Medomai the Ageless + something to give it double strike = two follow up turns from his ability.

Daxos of Meletis + double strike = his ability triggers twice

and those are just examples off of the top of my head

Gods Willing all the way. You won't often run into situations where all your creatures need to be protected at once, plus the heroic trigger is always helpful. However, I would probably run 2 Brave the Elements as well, just to get your guys through for a finishing blow.

It's a copy of the spell, rather than the spell itself, so I don't think you can exile it. You'd have to ask an actual judge to be sure though.

+1 for helping me realize how awesome double strike is. I knew I was missing something seeing all those Fabled Hero es in people's decks!

@ Nyrab the Nivmagus Elemental trick, ya I will look into that more, but I don't think the fact that if the spells are copies is an issue, all the same, I still think friend "Buck" is still a genius for thinking of this if the first place.

@ Forceofnature1 the reason most people would put Fabled Hero in their deck is because he has double strike and gets bigger, The only other creature that does this that I can think of is Savageborn Hydra .

@Nyrab and feyn_do_alduin, Ciphered spells are cast and targeted, so they can trigger heroic, even if they do not resolve. It is when a targeted spell is copied or altered on the stack (i.e. Melek, Izzet Paragon 's triggered ability or the effect of Wild Ricochet ) that it wouldn't trigger (as those copies aren't "cast").

So if you get an attack through with a creature with doublestrike that has Hidden Strings encoded on it, you can target Fabled Hero and Phalanx Leader , exile that copy of Hidden Strings with Nivmagus Elemental twice (once during first strike damage, once during normal damage). In this case, all your creatures would get 2 +1/+1 counters, and Fabled Hero and Nivmagus Elemental would each get an additional 2, and your opponent may cry.

yeah that Fabled Hero , Phalanx Leader , Nivmagus Elemental , and Hidden Strings combo is sick and awesome. VERY fun!

thanks for the clarification, Dracoson.

I actually took out Nivmagus Elemental in favor of Boros Elite for more white weenie. And I took out Heliod, God of the Sun because he costs too much.

now that I look at it, this deck is both a tribal human and tribal soldier deck. Even the creatures in the side-board.

and the double strike + Hidden Strings combo also works pretty well, even when I sub out Precinct Captain for Battlewise Hoplite because of scry.

Fiendslayer Paladin ??

3 cmc is THE highest cost in the deck, and in total I only have 6 3 cost cards in the deck. but yes, If I can find the room, sure Fiendslayer Paladin will find a home in the deck.

But don't forget that one of the core themes of the deck is evasion/tap down.

Maybe consider Mizzium Skin for removal heavy decks, it triggers heroic and can cause you to evade Anger of the Gods if overloaded

true, but I have Gods Willing to trigger heriocs in a Anger of the Gods situation, and Brave the Elements for removal heavy decks, and circle of protection effects can make my creatures unblockable.

Still, it's always a good idea to try things out in play testing.

I feel like Skygames or something that could give Fabled Hero flying could work here.

For flying, I think Cavalry Pegasus . Mostly because I visualize 10 soldiers zipping across on the back of a single 1/1 flying horse.

i'd +1 your comment if I could Dracoson, for that visualisation of hilarity!