I like that monstrous works at instant speed so activating it in response to say a revelation or even just after they draw is a thing

Esperret

This is why there ain't no battlefield big enough for two stormbreaths. However, you would have to do your monstrosity in response, since after the resolution of a Sphinx's, you have no priority. This is assuming they sphinx'd on their own turn, which they may very well do in the presence of a stormbreath. However, if they did it on yours, you could activate stormbreaths monstrosity NOT in response, but simply after, for increased damage.

Or at the change of a phase right? Like their turn main phase 1 they play Sphinx's Revelation change phase to combat and monstrousStormbreath Dragon for damage galore... Right?

No one sphinx rev during mane phase they usually do it at the end of your turn.

Esperret

Yeah, I always wait till end step for Sphinx's or Heliod tokens. Sometimes I use it during declare blocks phase to mitigate damage I might take, or use Heliod to flash in a blocker. Really helps to take care of those pesky Boon Satyr s.

That proposes a new question, is there time for me to activate a Stormbreath Dragon during my end step after they play a Sphinx's Revelation ? Like not in response to, so that the damage is high? Or wouldn't it be better to play after they draw for their turn?

Lol so now there's another question, can I activate Stormbreath Dragon as their draw step ends?

Doing the monstrous any later would mean that I'm playing it as their combat starts, or in response to a spell they're casting in main phase 1 meaning it'd have been better to activate before the draw step

I hope this series of questions makes more sense to who ever answers more so than it does to me.

Esperret

Check it out. So if someone Sphinx's during your end, it means that you already passed your priority over to them, because you begin the end step with priority. They can't pass it back unless you want to respond to their Sphinx's, so if you let the Sphinx's resolve and that player doesn't want to play anything else, cleanup begins and then the turn ends. The only way to abuse stormbreath like that is if they Sphinx'd during their own turn, then they passed priority to you, then you did that. That would be extremely stupid of them though.

You can activate Stormbreath during their draw step after they draw.

Awesome! Thank you for clearing that up for me! Now if only I had a stormbreath for real lol

I was of the opinion that during your end step, if they cast Sphinx's Revelation and you both pass priority, the spell resolves and you then get priority back (APNAP: active player, non-active player) The game won't proceed to the cleanup step until both players pass priority again.

That said, it's possibly still better to wait until their draw to get the most damage out of the monstrous effect.

When I playtested this, I felt like I wasn't getting access to enough lands. Since this is leaning on the control side, have you considered cutting a card to add 1 more land? Heck, maybe even 2? Because in a deck like this, you definitely don't wanna miss a land drop.

Nickarus

Usually, the scrying from Magma Jet and digging with Azorius Charm helps me hit my land drops. In addition, this playtester is a bit janky, because it usually floods my hand with mana or gives me none at all in most of my starting hands. You just need to stall until you get to 5 mana, then the real fun can begin.

And sorry for criticizing a lot. I'm actually gonna try to build this deck, and so what's the purpose of Heliod, God of the Sun being in there? He necessarily doesn't get activated until a lot of Detention Sphere and Chained to the Rocks come out. Lastly, I really like Assemble the Legion in a control deck like this, why not put more in? I think it's a pretty good wincon :/

Nickarus

It's fine, criticism is what I'm looking for. That being said, notice the type of token that Heliod, God of the Sun produces. Notice also the interaction it has with Sphere of Safety . See the picture? Anyway, the reason I only run 1 Assemble the Legion is because it's an expensive dead drop for 3 turns, at least. Only after then does it become useful.

Yeah I definitely see the purpose of Heliod, God of the Sun now. So you're making it so that it would be extremely hard for them to attack and play spells all n the same turn? That's cruel... I like it.

Nickarus

Indeed. Even Nykthos ramp decks can't handle how much mana you have to pay to attack with this, because I run 4 spheres of safety. Per game, at least 2-3 see play, and their effects stack, so enemies end up having to pay ungodly amounts of mana (most that I've ever seen this do is 126 mana). Not just that, but the best part is that I can trick an enemy into thinking they can barely eke out enough mana to attack with ONE creature, then flash in a 2/1 cleric and increase the amount they have to pay by 2 or 3.

So, how is your MU v.s. mono black devotion like Going Dark? They never have to attack you to kill you so I'm worried that you may not have a way to overcome that. (I've also seen some people sideboard Sanguine Bond for extra punch.)

Have you face mono B devotion yet? If so how did you fare?

Ohthenoises

Glad you addressed that, and I have played against them. I deal with them thusly:

Wipe the board often with verdict or enchantments to keep devotion down (works well since black cannot deal with enchantments at all), use spell counters only on Whip of Erebos and Gray Merchant of Asphodel , and side in Rest in Peace , Counterflux and AEtherling to win faster.

Not a bad strategy. Glad I'm splashing U, giving me access to Disperse effects.

Ohthenoises

Forgot to mention, in your case, I would side in Jace instead of AEtherling, because I would use Pithing Needle against your AEtherling, possibly, depending on what's giving me trouble.

He's there for that pitch to Pack Rat reanimate permanently with Whip of Erebos lol.

I'm glad you can address the top decks. (Not necessarily mine just mono B in general.)

Ohthenoises

Thanks for the support, man! Such is the nature of control decks. Gotta have answers for everything, sure, but it really depends on your comprehension of your opponent. Also important is a good poker face... Last tournament I went to, I played against this one dude who correctly predicted an Azorius Charm on his Ordealed Favored Hoplite by his second turn, but he decided not to act on it because he got no response from me. Poor sap should have played it safe because I did actually have one.