Hey guys!

I didn't check on this site for quite some time - now i'd like to respond and comment on your list, deadmanwaltzing, cause I also did some playtesting and changes to mine. I'll create a deck soon to also show you my current list.

Last time I asked a lot of questions regarding some cardchoices. Maybe you didn't feel like answering to all of these, so this time I'm gonna just outline the cardchoices that are different in my list from yours. Also, I'd like to tell you that I agree with most of your decisions regarding your development of a competitive Arbiter-List and that I respect you as the more experienced player in this regard.

I started playing EDH about a year ago in a quite competitive playgroup (General Tazri, Teferi, Derevi, Prosh, meanwhile also a Thrasios/Tymna list, a Keranos, a Rashmi and a Kaho which is very fun to play against). Starting with Brago I shifted to GAA4 because it felt like my Brago was always a bit slow in comparism to the others at the table... With GAA4 everyone is frowning at your Commander, hoping that it doesn't come down in T1-2 :) also I do like the control-playstyle and the interaction it provides.

Well, the different cardchoices in my list are:

1. Gitaxian Probe
2. Spell Pierce | I don't run Flusterstorm
3. Prismatic Lens
4. Sphere of Resistance | I don't run Torpor Orb
5. Reshape | Don't have Transmute Artifact yet
6. Whir of Invention
7. Blue Sun's Zenith | I don't run Sphinx's Revelation but not 100% sure
8. Thirst for Knowledge | I don't run Manifold Insights
9. Glen Elendra Archmage | Instead of Wrath of God because I feel like non-creature spells are a lot stronger and both the Yisan-Deck and the Derevi-Deck aren't present in my playgroup anymore
10. Consecrated Sphinx still playtesting - current experiences: good in midrange- and, prism-matchups. Actually awfully slow in most games against combo or combo/control

Cards I don't run from your list are:

• Into the Roil
• Relic of Progenitus
• Mystic Gate
• and Mana Drain & Timetwister which are obvious inclusions but I couldn't afford them yet.

I currently think about how to get rid of Staff of Domination because it feels clunky lots of times when drawn to early and Sensei's Divining Top also does his job together with Scepter. I will playtest an Academy Ruins for the case that Top gets countered. Also Lotus Petal might be good in matchups like General Tazri and Thrasios/Tymna where they are quite slowed with Arbiter in play and you want fast mana as soon as possible...

Best regards!

ToshiroU

Yo buddio, let's have a look shall we:

1. Gitaxian Probe - What're you hoping to actually achieve with it? Storm decks run it as a free draw w/ doomsday, free spell that cantrips whilst generating info about what the control players are up to, why this over something like Opt for you - or something higher impact? I just don't see where this fits into your overall strategy. I'd rather run Telepathy over this and I'm not a Telepathy fan. I'd just want something higher impact.
2. Spell Pierce - Sure, meta call - totally fine.
3. Prismatic Lens - Yeah, filtering for coloured mana when you're going off w/ Paradox is hella good in certain scenarios. Fine inclusion.
4. Sphere of Resistance - Personally hate Sphere, we run a pseudo turbo xerox gameplan, a lot of cheap cantrips and mana rocks, Sphere is super bad for these, great if your meta is all fast combo and food chain though. Decent silver bullet.
5. Reshape is fine. You're gonna love Transmute when you get it. Paradox all day erry day.
6. Whir of Invention - Yeah fine. Pretty 'okay' feeling card when I've played it; very infrequently been impressed by it, but always at least decent.
7. Blue Sun's Zenith - I mean, I guess. Rev is really good w/ lifegain and the double GAA4 benefit. Honestly don't see the 'can function as a win condition' as much as a pro considering how the deck currently operates.
8. Thirst for Knowledge Yeah, I used to run it myself, Manifold is getting cut actually too actually.
9. Glen Elendra Archmage u wot m9? Nah. I'm not down with this. I'd suggest introducing a Counterbalance package if you want repeatable countermagic. 6 mana for double negate is super clunky. Bad! Stop!
10. Consecrated Sphinx - Yup. Top banana that card, in the right matchup. Sometimes a man just needs haymakers.

Overall a fine list, but yeah, not liking 1, 7, 9 and iffy on 4. I'd also suggest another piece of spot removal if you're dropping wrath. Reality Shift is tutorable with Muddle, Merchant Scroll and functions as a Paradox/Scepter wincon by exiling people's entire libraries (providing they have at least one valid target).

I've found the above to be true.

Reality shift is also ballin if you're living in a creature heavy meta as it's relevant af as a standalone and functions as a reliable finisher as well.

The hell is that art for him? It looks amazing.

Godhead_Initiated - It's an alter done by MIB alters. You can contact him on Facebook for commissions.