Esper Thieves

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SCORE: 15 | 43 COMMENTS | 3535 VIEWS | IN 6 FOLDERS


Sagi007 says... #1

while Chromatic Lantern is a fine card. i dont think its needed in a 3color deck. you seem to have enought duals to cut it.

i would add 1 more verdict and another revelation in its place. if revelation is to expensive add Opportunity instead.

October 19, 2013 3:31 p.m.

jermtube says... #2

good suggestion Sagi007. as i've continued to playtest, the Chromatic Lantern s haven't been 100% essential. they're in there so that i'm sure to cast whatever Nightveil Specter plucks from the opponent's deck. i think i can cut one Lantern for another Supreme Verdict and see where that takes me.

October 19, 2013 3:37 p.m.

Kcin says... #3

you do realize that you can play lands exiled with Nightveil Specter , right? sure it counts as you one land a turn land drop,, but that means up against any deck, mana color is not an issue . so the Chromatic Lantern is still kinda odd man out.... I love the idea of this deck. i really do... it seems fun. just thought i would throw in that tidbit about lands and the specter. GG +1!

October 21, 2013 2:15 p.m.

jermtube says... #4

that's a good point there, Nick, Casual Strategist. i understood the fact but for some reason it didn't really CLICK since i've just been play testing on Tappedout. i think i'll remove the Chromatic Lantern for either Read the Bones or another form of removal, since i really should be playing a control style with these colors.

October 21, 2013 2:23 p.m.

Kcin says... #5

Sounds good.

October 21, 2013 3:15 p.m.

MR H3AT says... #6

I would highly suggest a third Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver against some of these current metas. There is a large number of quality creatures that people play that makes Ashiok too good to not get nearly every game. RDW and Mono blue devotion are quite popular right now as is selsnya midrange. All of which can be abused if you steal their creatures at any point in the game. Therefore, the more the merrier.

October 21, 2013 6:48 p.m.

jermtube says... #7

i was hoping i could Scry Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver up ASAP, MR H3AT, and the 3-drops are so plentiful in this deck that I hoped I could cut down so that I don't get any awkward draws. Still, the whole deck basically caters to his Planeswalker abilities, so maybe I can remove a different 3-drop to bumb his play set up to 3x. Any ideas?

October 21, 2013 6:51 p.m.

MR H3AT says... #8

I would personally just swap out 1x Jace, Architect of Thought for another ashiok but that is mainly just because I am not a big fan of the current jace. He is a pretty good card but I just don't like him all that much.

October 21, 2013 6:55 p.m.

jermtube says... #9

since i don't have too many creatures in this deck (i'd rather pluck my favorites from the opponent) i had Jace, Architect of Thought in there to make aggro decks less effectual. i just took out one Time Ebb and put in another Ashiok and i like the change. i like using Time Ebb and then Ashiok's +2 to save that creature for later, once i have the Loyalty to recruit it, but 3x Time Ebb wasn't necessary.

October 21, 2013 6:58 p.m.

MR H3AT says... #10

I like it.

October 21, 2013 7:24 p.m.

"Your heart sweats! Your body shakes!"

Great deck, great name. Buddy of mine uses Claustrophobia as another means of turning on Thassa, but that 's not especially relevant to what you've got going on. This seems very well balanced and fun as hell.

October 22, 2013 11:54 a.m.

jermtube says... #12

hey thanks SolipsistBrigade! its fun for at least one person at the table, haha

October 22, 2013 noon

CW says... #13

Opportunity ? you have a but load of lands you could use some draw.

October 29, 2013 5:35 p.m.

jermtube says... #14

good point, CW. although Read the Bones and a decent amount of Scrying with other cards helps me set up my hands pretty well.

October 29, 2013 5:36 p.m.

CW says... #15

Well since the standard for these colors I thought you were running counters, thus Opportunity leaves mana open to hold for a counter, and if they dont use anything you want to counter you can go for the draw, any reason you dont use counters?

October 29, 2013 5:38 p.m.

jermtube says... #16

because the deck is trying to be streamlined to steal things instead of cancel them away when i can't use it for myself.

October 29, 2013 5:41 p.m.

CW says... #17

Hmm, oh well, have you given Dimir Charm a shot yet?

October 29, 2013 5:43 p.m.

jermtube says... #18

not yet but i've thought about the potential. since i had a playset of the Azorius Charm s i thought the Dimir would be too much but i think i can get rid of some things to get that sorcery protection... i can play test it and see how it goes!

October 29, 2013 5:44 p.m.

SharuumNyan says... #19

1x Sphinx's Revelation isn't going to do much for you. You would be better off with 3 to make a consistent impact on your deck.

I playtested the deck quite a few times, and was mana flooded a lot. Also, it was hard to get enough creatures in my hand, and the control cards (like the charms) aren't effective enough on their own to make wins.

I think you need to either get rid of creatures, and just use Ashiok to steal your opponent's creatures and make more room for control, or get rid of the control and a bunch of lands to create a tempo deck.

As it is right now, Supreme Verdict is your strongest card, and you should run 4 of them. Also, Hero's Downfall > Doom Blade because there is so much black out there.

October 29, 2013 6:57 p.m.

jermtube says... #20

thanks for putting the time in to playtest, SharuumNyan. how were you using the Charms? preferably i use Azorius Charm to return a creature to the top of the deck, then use Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver 's plus ability to exile cards from the top of the deck. Sphinx's Revelation is honestly just too much of a pain in the ass to collect. there's no way i'll purchase cardboard that costs that much and i doubt i can trade for 3x. i can tone down the 4x Omenspeaker s to try and make it more about tempo, since i get bored playing straight-up control. Azorius Charm is good for that, but do you have other suggestions?

October 29, 2013 7:01 p.m.

Demarge says... #21

running 4 verdicts in a deck that needs it's creatures isn't the best of ideas, try Far / Away in that slot instead.

Also I'd suggest bumping the creature count to be closer to 20 instead of 10, your deck can't really afford to cast it's creatures and protect them at the same time, so a higher threat count is needed.

Overall I don't think this strategy is viable as most decks are going with a synergy strategy instead of a good stuff deck, or they're control and you're less likely to connect with your thieves and less likely to get threats. Though it wouldn't be too hard to turn this deck into a control deck.

Also if revelations are a problem in acquiring Thassa is only about $5 below them in value so they wouldn't be out of your reach to get.

October 29, 2013 7:32 p.m.

Badhand says... #22

Lazav, Dimir Mastermind will let you "steal" anything you kill. Soul Ransom can also let you take control of what's on the board. Even if your opponent sacs it you get two cards and get rid of their creature plus whatever they discard. That's not too awful for four mana.

October 29, 2013 8:31 p.m.

Demarge says... #23

Badhand Soul Ransom doesn't get rid of the creature.

October 29, 2013 8:53 p.m.

sadiuh says... #24

I would take out the time ebbs and the stymied hopes. Put some Dissolve in place of stymied hopes and +2 Hero's Downfall for the time ebb.

October 31, 2013 11:15 a.m.

jsansoldo says... #25

You have 19 removals, wipes, bounces, counters and exiles at hand... and that without the blades. Call the redundancy squad.

I would take out those 2 Doom Blade for more offense: 2 AEtherling .

You need is a deadly threat. If AEtherling goes in and its not countered, they are toast. Specter is great and all, but its a removal magnet. Same goes for the PW. But the Changeling... oh boy, lemme se you kill THAT. :D

PS: Get Dissolve or Psychic Strike in Stymied Hopes slot. The cheaper cost is not worth his uselessness in lategame. If you absolutely require the cheaper cost, even Negate , Annul , Essence Scatter or Swan Song are better than giving the opponent a choice. If nothing else appeal to you but a better version of your girl, Syncopate is her sexy older sister.

October 31, 2013 11:31 a.m.

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