Wow! I can't believe I never noticed that card! I love how it's way cheaper in terms of playing and activation cost, but I'm weary about how I would get 3 quest counters on it. I may very well put that in, but I just need to know how viable it is in terms of speed.

Great suggestion! Thanks! Remember to throw up a +1 if you like the deck, and if you have more good ideas, let me know!

Sorry, forgot to say +1, I'll get back on ways to activate it

This build isn't anything new, so I'm not sure what you are talking about. Duskmantle Guildmage + Mindcrank is a really common combo. That said, there's a ton of issues that can be worked out. My Mill and Torture deck runs the same build, but is really fine tuned. If you're looking to make this good, you may seriously want to consider checking that out.

Thanks for sharing your build on here! I have seen just a couple other builds of this combo on TO, and I think I like yours by-far the best! I still think my version is a little more control based, but at the same time I like a lot of what you have there! Ghost Quarter looks amazing as a a means of triggering the combo and limiting their non-basics! I also like Halimar Depths as another means of filtering for the most helpful pieces. I'll likely integrate those into my land choices. Also, I'll probably swap out Doom Blade and Go for the Throat for Dismember; I just think it's better and more versatile against PW's and indestructables. Something I noticed you had was AEther Vial! If you look up 7 comments from here, you'll see that I made a strong consideration for that card in here, especially since I have quite a bit of 2 CMC drops. How does that card play for you? Does it seem to make dropping Duskmantle Guildmage safer/quicker? I'll make some changes and you can see what you think! Keep in mind that I'm going for more control and alternate ways to beat down. Also throw up a +1 if you like my build! If not, I enjoy advice!

AEther Vial is amazing. It can accelerate the combo by an entire turn! I think it's an amazing addition. You can drop it Turn 1, Drop Mindcrank Turn 2, and on Turn 3 you can drop Duskmantle Guildmage for no mana and be able to trigger his ability... then use, say Gut Shot and the game is over on Turn 3!...

Long story-short, though, AEther Vial really can accelerate you by an entire turn... Plus, it can drop Spellskite too as insurance for your combo, in addition to Apostle's Blessing.

U got a problem... First of all, amazing combo.Second-The combo of them: Duskmantle Guildmage + Mindcrank doesn't work with ur land Inkmoth Nexus, pretty sure that u kno it.

Another misktake is Inkmoth Nexus + Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas , it doesn't work good, because the -1 is not in addition, it is becomes 5/5 artifact creature, it is not what u said, that its addition... (Pretty sure, not 100%)

Valid first point! I do realize that Inkmoth Nexus doesn't trigger the infinite combo, but like you noticed, its intention was for the combo with Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas. I've looked into this smaller combo quite a bit to make sure it works, and here are some things I found:

Tezzeret, Inkmoth, and Timestamps

The above article is helpful to read, and the 2nd comment in it gives a pretty clear scenario. In addition, take a look at the "turn" half of Turn / Burn. If it's ability took away the creature's current abilities, then there would be no need to specify that it loses all abilities. By all means, let me know if that doesn't make sense or you still don't agree, but assuming it does, then it is in fact in the deck for that very combo (a 2 turn clock).

Well, it's very original. However, I think you should look into your land base a little. Only ten lands actually provide colored mana, which makes the combos hard to create. I would take out the Ghost Quarters, as they don't seem to be very effective.

Good point, but you also have to take into account that 4 Polluted Delta's act as 4 copies of colored mana as well as a deck-thinning mechanic. Plus there are 2 Dimir Signet's to add in as well, making somewhere closer to 16 colored mana sources.. The reason Ghost Quarter is so effective is that it's a free (mana) way to trigger the combo and win once their land hits the graveyard.

Treasure cruise was just recently banned in modern :( You probably know that I just wanted to let you know

I think you meant Dig Through Time, but yes! Same point. Thank you for reminding me; needed to update the list.

I have one card you might like in your deck, it's Bloodchief Ascension.

Bloodchief Ascension was recommended before up in comment #25.. I definitely love the card, but I don't think it is the best fit for the deck. Getting the 3 quest counters would require a deck design overhaul to fit that requirement of them losing 2 life for 3 turns straight. It ends up actually being slower in the long run for the deck.

Have you considered Anticipate from Dragons of Tarkir? It can help to dig for your combo pieces and filter your draws.

I've certainly thought about it, but I like having just Serum Visions and Augury Owl's for top-deck manipuation.. Also, I'm thinking about putting in maindeck Muddle the Mixture for more control and its 'transmute' ability.

Invisible Stalker For the 1 poke to trip Duskmantle Guildmage + Mindcrank ?

If I were to put in Invisible Stalker for the 1 poke, I would rather have Dimir Infiltrator because he can transmute for combo pieces, but even then, I would just add Gut Shot at that point.

Why no Ensnaring Bridge?

Ensnaring Bridge can be pretty awesome for sure. I'm on the fence about it in this deck though. It could definitely be super helpful in certain matchups, but at the same time, I am eventually going to need to win by either Batterskull, Creeping Tar Pit, or an Inkmoth Nexus that Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas has made a 5/5. (The card would likely prevent me from attacking in those situations as well). I think that I would have to sculpt more of the deck to fit it into the strategy, but as you also may have noted, there is a healthy amount of creature removal in both the main and the side.

Have to agree HaazdaGerfson, Ensnaring Bridge is amazing.

Tezzeret's Torture Tools Playtest

Modern* jackanukealty

SCORE: 24 | 0 COMMENTS | 2769 VIEWS

My take on Tezzeret control. A budget version, but has proven to be quite effective so far. But, as budget doesnt seem to concern you, I'd say cut the Mindlock Orbs, go for 2 Damnations. Seriously. They will save you more than once. Even Crux of Fate, which I run as a budget substitute, has saved me multiple times. I would cut 2 Thirst for Knowledge and add 3 Ensnaring Bridge. Chalice of the Void is also a good card, but it can hurt you more than your enemy. I like it though. I prefer Dismember over Doom Blade, Because you can pay with life if you need to. I'm also a fan of Ensoul Artifact, but if you hate getting 2for1ed, your mileage may vary. Anyhow, have fun playing with control decks for terrible people. Like you and I

Made some changes that you may agree with! Changed up the removal quite in both main and side. Decided against Ensnaring Bridge, partly because it's just not exactly the strategy I want and partly because it isn't cheap. With that being said, yes, I know the deck isn't budget, but a majority of these cards I already own. Chalice of the Void also is just an expensive card that I don't have which may or may not be so great for me. I don't like the idea of buying Damnation, but I have to fold to putting it in because I more so don't like the idea of not playing 2-of.

+1 from me. A friend plays a very similar deck and its gross. Id add Ensoul Artifact and possibly Remand but i see thats already been suggested, nice deck.

I don't want to change your deck too much, but if you think you could work with it, Trinisphere fucks up all sorts of shit. But like I said, you do need to be careful that it doesn't mess you up as well.

Yeah, thanks for the suggestion! and I appreciate that you aren't trying to overhaul my shit haha. I've seen Trinisphere do great things in Legacy U/B Tezzeret Control, so I'm definitely willing to consider it! If I were to run that, I would likely have to change up my mana-source base a little and also be careful with things like Inquisition of Kozilek and Thoughtseize as 7/60 of my cards.. I think for now, I'll run what I currently have, then I'll consider if I want to shift to more of a "prison-style" similar to what the legacy version runs, or similar to legacy "Stax" decks run.