Time-Control Buyback (feedback wanted)

Legacy* Combo Control Counters Infect Lifegain Mono-Blue

sumneuron

Creature (20)

• 4x Blighted Agent
• 4x Chasm Skulker
• 4x Lighthouse Chronologist
• 4x Thrummingbird
• 4x Wall of Frost

Artifact (8)

• 4x Aetherflux Reservoir
• 4x Memory Crystal

Land (20)

• 20x Island

Sorcery (4)

• 4x Mystic Speculation

Instant (8)

• 4x Clockspinning
• 4x High Tide

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Help Request

I am looking for any suggestions that may improve this deck or make it more competitive.

Summary

The core of this deck is "Time-Control"* (although it has several synergized mechanisms). Time control is achieved by seizing extra turns and Clockspinning your way to victory. Hence the star of this deck: Lighthouse Chronologist. While Clockspinning is often dismissed in forums (on its own), when paired with Memory Crystal and / or High Tide Clockspinning is quite the treasure. This deck has a bit of a slow start and you may have to loose some life at first, but you'll make it up with buyback and Aetherflux Reservoir.

*The original version of this deck used Deep-Sea Kraken and Ludevic's Abomination  . Hence time control by removing time counters from the suspending kraken and pushing opponents for every spell they cast for their impending unblock-able doom.

Ways to win

1. Poison: with Blighted Agent being unblock-able it is easy to give your opponent a poison counter by the third turn. Once the poison counter is there, the rest is quite easy. Combined with Thrummingbird's proliferate ability, it is simple to acquire the necessary 10 poison counters to win. In addition Clockspinning, Memory Crystal , and High Tide can be used to achieve this aim even sooner. It doesn't matter how much life your opponent has, it only takes 10 poison counters.

2. Aetherflux Reservoir's -50 life: Once a Memory Crystal is in play, Mystic Speculation has no buyback cost. Since it takes 4 mana to cast Aetherflux Reservoir, in principal the following turn you can gain (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 (+5) = 8/(13 if you have another land)) life. Combined with High Tide, this is even more dramatic. Using Mystic Speculation this way lets you "burn" (although you don't lose your cards :) ) through your deck to find exactly what you need for the next turn. No way to draw a card? Look for Lighthouse Chronologist and draw it on one of your many extra turns!

3. Brute Force: Although Chasm Skulker might start small, paired with Memory Crystal, High Tide, and Clockspinning you will have some truly powerful creatures. They are also useful for taking out cards with deathtouch as then you will have an army of card: Squid Tokens with island walk to act as defenders. Paired with the extra turns from Lighthouse Chronologist, attack to force your opponent to block, and then stride through their tapped out defense on the next turn, where your Chasm Skulkers will be at least +1/+1 stronger.

4. Resource advantage: If you start with Lighthouse Chronologist, you can activate his ability as early as turn 4. If you have High Tide in hand you can also get another defender out, but a 1/3 -> 2/4 -> 3/5 Lighthouse Chronologist can act as a defender in the early game as well. Once you get extra turns, no matter how competitive your opponents deck is, it is much simpler to activate any of the above strategies. In addition most opponents will target Lighthouse Chronologist to get rid of him. So use this to your advantage to say clear a death touch creature in your way while you prep your Chasm Skulkers.

Modifications

This is an easy to modify, balanced, and flexible deck. The one listed is a modification of the original which used Deep-Sea Kraken, Ludevic's Abomination   and Riptide Mangler instead of Blighted Agent, Thrummingbird, and Wall of Frost. If you need to make the mana curve a bit more competitive (even though the most expensive creature card is costs ) add Retraced Image. Another good modification utilizes Riptide Mangler, Dragon Engine and Training Grounds.

Date added	7 years
Last updated	7 years
Legality	This deck is Legacy legal.
Rarity (main - side)	4 - 0 Mythic Rares 12 - 0 Rares 8 - 0 Uncommons 16 - 0 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.20
Tokens	Squid 1/1 U
Folders	Cool decks