I feel like Jace, Vryn's Prodigy  ^Flip is pretty weak. I'd rather use Thoughtseize to stop Rhinos from hitting play. Even just 3 is great.

Reality Shift is also pretty decent removal, and it could be worth a shot. It seems bad, but it's actually good.

Scorprix, I'll definitely consider replacements for Jace, and Thoughtseize does seem like a good option, though I really dislike the life loss due to it. I much rather prefer options like Despise to get rid of threats, though I could very well be wrong. I'll try out some Thoughtseizes. Another concern is that I like this deck being fairly budget at around $200.

Reality Shift is an excellent card, and the original deck did run a playset of them. I think I may bring them in since exiling is really good against Deathmist Raptor decks.

Thanks for all of your suggestions, I'll further consider each of them!

What do you think about Talent of the Telepath?

Talent of the Telepath is a really fun card and has spectacular potential, but I really don't think it is viable due to the fact that there are so many creature-based decks running around, and even in the control decks, they are mostly filled with counters and lands. And yes, it does mill 7, but lots of times that's probably all that it can do.

Basically the issue I have with it is that it's not like Collected Company where you can hit yourself and you know the odds of pulling some quality cards. It is really circumstantial and can act as an inefficient use of mana.

I don't think you're going to need both Negate and Dissolve. I believe the Negate is the way to go.... yes, it doesn't hit the Sage, but it does hit the Back to Nature or Erase etc... and I do agree with your assessment re: Origins being heavy enchantment so the hate cards will come back, but you can't devote 3 slots from the board for 1 card sideboard... and that one mana makes a big difference from the Negate to the Dissolve. I might up the Negate to 3, but I think both are too many.

I also might try to find a few spots in the board for Risen Executioner. They'll be great vs control, and in the mirror -if there is such a thing lol.

But I think it's tough to really narrow down a board without doing any testing, but I think the generals are good...

And top 10 deck list- bu-ya!

Hmmm.... Risen Executioner is a really interesting suggestion. So, the game plan in a Risen Executioner game would be to take out life total not cards in library? Unless there is a synergy I am missing?

I would love to hear more about Risen Executioner bellz76, I think it does look amazing against control and mirror, but I feel like I am missing something really crucial to its strategy...

Anyway, I do agree about the Dissolves. I will consider what to sideboard in, thanks!

Yeah, it would be a switch. I was contemplating a total switch-a-roo sideboard with this deck- someone takes out all their removal and brings in enchantment hate and pow! Here's Tasigur, the Golden Fang and friends to surprise them... that might be a bit too cute.

But the executioner would be a damage based win-con. He just keeps coming back over and over again... they eat up all control's removal (except the Vault- you have to play around that) and do quick chunks of life.

Oh gosh... I forgot about Perilous Vault, that would be disastrous.

I do like the idea though of putting in Risen Executioner, that would be a really interesting idea. Though would you suggest keeping or siding out the Risen Executioner for a possible third match?

Anyway, I do like the idea, they will definitely add them in.

Doesn't Thoughtseize pretty much shut this deck down?

I've found this deck has a really tough time dealing with Thoughtseize and Duress

Also thing you should drop 2 Languish for 2 Drown in Sorrow

Still hits a lot of 2/2s against weenie rush decks and RDW but being able to play it a turn earlier when you're being overwhelmed is a BIG deal. the scry is nice too.

As neat as jace looks, I think there are better things to be doing. I also think I would cut divination down to two. Have you considered The new tutor? Five mana to tutor up sphinx's and cast that downfall in your hand (or just tutor up the downfall to cast it right away). Two of those and one more ashiok (so incredibly good against all the midrange around right now) seems good to me.

I also really, really, really like Fascination as a one-of for a finisher in the deck. Both players draw x cards. Using the stack properly, that means you draw your cards first, which means they mill off the sphinx's triggers before they get to their fascination draw, which, at a late point in the game, likely means that'll be the end of it.

Overall, I love the deck, and expect myself to make something akin to it very soon.

I'm not sure if Thoughtseize would shut this deck down or not... granted, I don't have it built yet, so no testing has been done, but there's a lot of card drawing... so unless you end up with a Tutelage in your hand every time you get Seized, you should be able to get one in play. And you can really rifle through cards with Dark Deal- so even if you don't find a Tutelage right away, or it does get Seized away, your hand should be full enough to be getting a new 4 or 5 cards a shot- maybe more.

And I think the jury is still out on Jace. Looting is really nice to help you find what you need, and the copying a spell is really what we're playing him for... it's true, he might be a removal magnet since there are no other targets, but only time will tell.

I'm not certain if you can draw your cards before they draw their cards with Fascination. The card states "each player draws X cards", so that spell would have to resolve in order for you to draw cards- and that means they get to draw their cards too. Each card you draw would put a trigger on the stack for the Tutelage, but the Fascination would be resolved before the triggers resolved. Spell is cast for 5- each players draws 5 cards- Tutelage triggers 5 times- 5 triggers go on the stack- mill 2 cards for each trigger as it resolves. It could be good late game, but it's pretty useless if you draw it early. Unless, of course, you have Jace to loot it away for a new card, and then recast it later... or Dark Deal it away, and then cast later with Jace.

I also don't think it's a good idea to take out any Languish for Drown in Sorrow. If boarding in the 2 extra Ultimate Price isn't enough to help stabilize vs the aggressive decks, maybe they become the Drown, but only having access to the Languish half the time? And the other half you'd have a mostly dead card? I feel that Drown is still only a sideboard card.

I am wondering if you could throw in any Infinite Obliteration. For 3 mana, you can call Siege Rhino or Den Protector and not only see your opponent's hand, but you are taking away a crucial piece to them winning. And then if you have two in hand, OH BOY! It is so deflating to see that you are only left with a handful of creatures that are responsible to you winning. Plus, with you milling them so your opponent's win cons are going to be very very few and far between.

I do like the Obliteration too... and it would make sense in this deck's board... plus by milling them, you'd get to see possible targets.... I like it, just need to see if there's room.

Skraz1265, I also love Fascination, are you are correct that I would draw first, and Sphinx's Tutelage would activate a ton of times. It does the same as Dark Deal, but late game, SO much mana can be sinked into it that it is an insta-kill card. I will wait until I can really playtest this deck when Origins is released, and then I may put in a Fascination. It is a dead card early game, but with Jace and Dark Deal, it should be no problem to ship it away.As for Dark Petition, I'm not too sure it would be great in this deck, simply because by turn five, there is a lot of pressure on the board against this deck, and I think that spending the mana on Dark Petition would get ugly. I think this deck has enough draw to find what it needs in a reasonable amount of time, thank you very much for bringing it to my attention!

I am also worried about Thoughtseize RickkAstleyy, but not only will it be gone in a few months (whew), but I think bellz76 is correct that it wont be too much trouble finding another Sphinx's Tutelage. Thoughtseize would be bad news, but not the end of the world. Again, only solid playtesting will tell, so we will see.

I also LOVE Infinite Obliteration army88strong, I think it would be awesome, but what cards would you (or anyone) suggest taking out? If Jace, Vryn's Prodigy  ^Flip turns out to be a dud, that would be ideal. Maybe card draw like Divination or Sign in Blood?

Waste not would be pretty awesome in this deck, it gives you a second win condition besides mill.

If you are going to be playing Infinite Obliteration, I honestly would take out Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver. If you are going to be removing specific creatures from your opponent's hand, deck, and graveyard, then those are creatures that you won't be able to hit with Ashiok. Plus, with 3 mana, you can either remove 3 cards from your opponent's deck and maybe be able to play one of them, plus you have to worry about defending Ashiok and with no creatures, that can be rather difficult at times. OR, you can choose a creature card you know that your opponent will need in order to win and, not only see what cards they have in their hand, but you remove a key cog in their machine. Playing one against Esper Dragons calling Dragonlord Ojutai will be such a huge loss it's nuts.

I don't think that this deck has enough discard for my opponent to support Waste Not. While I do have Dark Deal, that card alone is not enough to really make the strategy very viable. Cards such as Mind Rot are needed for an aggressive discard strategy.

Hydrolash, Negate and possibly Disdainful Stroke or Displacement Wave are my recommendations. Maybe replace some heroes downfall and removal, seems a bit redundant running so many wraths & howling mine-esque mill.

Artificer's Epiphany is also probably fringe better than Divination as your excess of cards will probably make being instant speed and having removal and CS ready at the same time for actual threats a big issue. Sign in Blood has a similar issue.

From my experience playing a similar deck: Dig Through Time is probably more playabe than Treasure Cruise as if you're casting draw spells you probably want instant speed and since you're already drawing so many cards chances are you're looking for something in particular.

Dictate is one of my favorite cards, however the deck probably wants to play more like a turbo-fog deck. That being said, I was always toying with a similar list myself. I just settled on Bant colours because of Dromoka is a wonderful finisher. +1 becuase respect #gangsign

Hmmm... taking out Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver is not something I had considered. It really does make sense when I think about it more, Ashiok has much less to hit, my opponent's removal is dead, and Infinite Obliteration is just simply amazing. I especially like that I get to view my opponent's deck and see what other keystones I can destroy. I'll definitely consider it further, and if the idea still sounds good by tomorrow, or maybe the next day, I'll make the change. Thanks!

You have given me a lot to think about Squid1313... I'm don't think that Disdainful Stroke is very good in this deck since it has most trouble with aggro decks like mono-red, I like your suggestion of Negate much better. As for Displacement Wave, I'm not a fan of it in this deck simply because the deck relies on Sphinx's Tutelage and bouncing that would not be ideal. It's also a big mana-sink for a sorcery, and would most likely leave me tapped out. Hydrolash is a card I REALLY like, and the original version of this deck had a playset (I forget if it was mainboard or sideboard), but the reason I took it out was that I needed room for removal and Languish. Three mana is fairly expensive for a fog effect.

I really like the idea for Artificer's Epiphany, I actually did not notice that it was instant and not sorcery, thank you for bringing that to my attention. I agree with you that it may be a better solution, I love working with instants and leaving lands untapped.

As for Dig Through Time, I really am on the fence about boarding any amount of them because this deck can go through cards to find what I need fairly easily, and the card does not trigger Sphinx's Tutelage, while Treasure Cruise does three times. And I don't mind that Treasure Cruise is a sorcery, because it usually only costs one island, and by midgame, there is usually enough graveyard presence to satisfy Jace.

Making this a turbo-fog deck does sound really interesting, I'd love to hear how your deck does, thank you very much for the +1 and your advice!

Ochvozhni Duress is also a thing aside from Thoughtseize and someone running them both is just a bad time for this deck.

I would still consider dropping a couple Languish for Drown in Sorrow. Fast decks are bad news for this deck and after testing this online for a while I find being able to wipe the field a turn earlier is a huge deal. Maybe even Virulent Plague in the sideboard for goblins.

Taken from a previous post of mine before the comment reset:

I also don't think it's a good idea to take out any Languish for Drown in Sorrow. If boarding in the 2 extra Ultimate Price isn't enough to help stabilize vs the aggressive decks, maybe they become the Drown, but only having access to the Languish half the time? And the other half you'd have a mostly dead card? I feel that Drown is still only a sideboard card.

RE: Ashiok- I think Army is right as far as the obliteration is def a nom-bo with the planeswalker... but I think that Ashiok is just better than the Obliteration- so I would think that she stays. I wouldn't worry too much about protecting her though- she'll almost always be a 5 loyalty walker, and if they are diverting resources at her, they aren't coming at you. And if you get to put a card into play off her- all the better.

And be careful with your card drawing spells.... they are dwindling away. first was 4 Divination, then 3, and now 2.... you're down to 6 spells to draw (not counting the dictate)- remember the Dark Deal is most effective if you have a hand full of cards- it is card disadvantage otherwise. That could be a reason to play Divination or Sign in Blood at sorcery speed over Artificer's Epiphany at instant speed in this deck.

At this point, the only place I can see where trimming can be done is taking down Jace, Ashiok, and\or Anticipate by 1 and having up to 3 more slots to play with. 2 of each of those is fine if you want to squeeze in any other cards- or increase one that is already here.

Thank you for the input everyone!

RickkAstleyy, I'm not really worrying about Duress, Aggro is taking up nearly 80% of the standard meta right now, so it is not the best card to mainboard for others. It may become a problem, but for now, not many decks are running Duress as far as I know.

bellz76, I never considered how Divination's sorcery speed does not matter as much as I thought, due to Dark Deal, but then again, I could always just Artificer's Epiphany end of turn, then next turn Dark Deal. It is one less card, but it leaves room for Hero's Downfall. I will keep in Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver, and then when playing paper magic, switch out the Ashiok, Nightmare Weavers for Infinite Obliteration just to see which one I like better. And the card draw spells are dwindling, but just like Mind Sculpt, the slots may be put to better use for cards that would help us stall the board and stuff.

We will definitely see fairly quickly how good Jace, Vryn's Prodigy  ^Flip is in case he needs to go out. Taking out an Anticipate worries me, just because this deck tends to be fairly clunky and needs the smoothing out, and taking out an Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver does not make Ashiok very consistent.

Also, does anyone know why this deck left the Top Ranks so suddenly?