maybe that one turn makes a difference but the double black in murder is his reasoning to take it out

Thanks for all of the comments and +1's everyone!

@ bcoots -- when you cast a spell with cipher, let's say Hands of Binding , you cast the spell and it resolves (so, in this case, you tap a creature and it doesn't untap during your opponent's next upkeep). Then, if you have a creature, you may "attach" the spell to a creature card. When that creature deals combat damage to your opponent, you cast a copy of that spell (which is what makes it so lethal with Consuming Aberration ). Thanks for the +1 and I'm glad this deck inspired you to get into mill!

@ w999 -- I didn't.... I must've either traded them or never had them to start with... I'll probably try to get my hands on 4x Drowned Catacomb . Regarding Shimian Specter , I think it has potential, but is an extremely easy target for burn spells, even Pillar of Flame , which is prominent in my current meta. And, for a 2/2 flyer for 4 isn't my first choice play when I get my fourth land.

@ GTKA666 -- I would be too, but usually my black mana goes towards the Guildmage's first ability, or leaving open for a counterspell.

I like Paranoid Delusions over Mind Sculpt because if you do it right your opponent mills 6 instead of 7 for 2 mana but then they mill 3 every turn thereafter. But I pair it with Invisible Stalker . I use Unsummon and counterspells to deal with their creatures as well as Soul Ransom (which I will eventually move to my sideboard) so I never really need a chump blocker.

That's how I run my deck but the U/B combo is so crazy right now, there are TONS of cards you can put in and make them effective.

Also, I'm not saying don't run Mind Sculpt and Paranoid Delusions especially if you're trying to mill as quickly as possible and don't have jace.

I can see where you're coming from tristenbruce. And you're right, there are so many combinations with Standard U/B Mill decks. For this one, I think Mind Sculpt works a little better than Paranoid Delusions because I'm not running Invisible Stalker . But, running both never hurts, and seems to be working for me :P

Ah nice deck, I can't believe I forgot about [Cyclonic Rift] to bounce back annoying permenants. +1 I'm going to try and find a place for it in my Dimir Deck too.

I'm glad my deck gave you some ideas for your own! And thanks for the +1 :)

I would remove Lazav, Dimir Mastermind and Cyclonic Rift and put in a 3 Balustrade Spy 's. They are immediate impact, on budget and you can rely more on him than getting any good abilities from your 1-of Lazav or trying to Overload Rift.

On the same side, Rift should be a sideboard after you see how many ETB cards they have. If you push it back to the hand, it just let's it come off again.

duals maybe?

Thanks for the comments guys, and don't forget to +1 if you like the deck and haven't already!

@ Enyeto -- Lazav, Dimir Mastermind and Cyclonic Rift are extremely helpful in this deck, while Balustrade Spy 's ability only only triggers once. After that, he just turns into a chump blocker. I do agree that Cyclonic Rift might not always be the best option, but if a do bounce a card with ETB, I'll be sure to have an answer to it.

@ shainatao -- Depending on what I can trade for (reduce price of cards I have to purchase), I might try to get a playset of Drowned Catacomb s.

I found it hard to deal with enchantments or artifacts that make it onto the battlefield with my U/B deck. Rest in Peace was always killer. The Cyclonic Rift helps that, but yeah its mostly a sideboard card.

@ducttapedeckbox -- I'm pretty new to playing black and blue myself. Always play Red/White/Green mono, paired, or all three together and stay away from black and blue. How is Lazav, Dimir Mastermind effective? I think I'm really missing how to play the card.

Might want to consider a few dream twist as its instant and can be flashed back cheaply. I also like increasing confusion as it can hit them pretty hard and you usally get 2 activations/uses out of it. I also hae a mill deck you may want to check out. +1

I don't understand hands of binding, dream twist and maybe an extra artful dodge

Thanks for all of the comments everyone! Don't forget to +1 if you like it!

@ Marinia -- Agreed. One thing I use Cyclonic Rift for is bouncing a creature so that Consuming Aberration can get through. Too bad it doesn't have trample...

@ Enyeto -- Lazav, Dimir Mastermind is really helpful versus almost any deck. When you mill something really good from them, let's say something like a Thragtusk , you get one for yourself! With hexproof! Don't like Thragtusk anymore? Mill again and you could get an Aurelia, the Warleader ! It's really the luck of the draw (or mill) to his effectiveness.

@ Rage!!! -- I don't like Increasing Confusion because it requires me to tap out. I usually like to leave lands open to use for instants. Dream Twist is a good card, but for this deck, I think Mind Sculpt , Thought Scour , and Paranoid Delusions are more effective.

@ Esuelflow -- Hands of Binding is for control. Especially against decks like Boros, which don't run too many flying creatures early game. They're great to use on card:Jace's Phantasm early game to lock down their Loxodon Smiter or Boros Reckoner - cards that this deck can't take too many hits from.

@ducttapedeckbox Oh ok. So the ETB effects won't happen, but the LTB from Thrag would if you bounced Lazav-tusk. And He would gain Aurelia's Haste, Vigilance, Flying and 2 combat phases?

Exactly. Thragtusk isn't great to copy, but it's still a 5/3 with hexproof. Aurelia would be Amazing to copy though, because he would get everything you've listed

Perhaps not very 'Dimir' but I like the Bloodline Keeper  ^Flip and Shadow Alley Denizen combination for making creatures unblockable.

Also, what about a card:Rogue's Passage?

That's a good combo with the Keeper and Shadow Alley Denizen , but I'm not sure what I'd remove for them. It would require me removing at least four cards, and that didn't work out too well with Undercity Informer + Undead Alchemist .

I was running card:Rogue's Passage, but I think Artful Dodge is much more playable and efficient.

you can add more creatures in a turn 3 you should be out of creatures due to removals. Please comment in my main deck, Dimir Finest Army.

Please clarify, I'm not sure that I understand your comment. But I will check out your deck.

maybe drop the guildmage and put in Invisible Stalker for your cipher

well im dumb just read the comments sorry for wasting your time

Nah it's fine! I appreciate the suggestion, I never read comments before I post either. Invisible Stalker is good, but didn't provide the damage I needed. Duskmantle Guildmage can win the game for me :P

Have you considered a Codex Shredder ?Mill + utility.

The mill doesn't really do much, and I can usually deal with losing a card or two. The second ability seems a little costly, once I get my fifth land I want to be dropping Consuming Aberration . I'll consider playtesting with it though. Thanks for the suggestion!