Hey there, Ive been toying around with the idea of running a control built around the solid artifacts and mechanized production. I started playing Standard back in the days where Esper reigned over everything an iron fist. Back when you could chain two Spinx's Revelations in a row and laugh as Nephalia Drownyards dwindled them to nothing... There havent been too many alt-wincons since that matched that mill, but I think Mechanized Production can do it in the right set up.
The general idea of the deck is to utilize some of the utility artifacts (mostly drawing) as targets for Mechanized Production, then controlling the board as the clock ticks down. You can also win with some good ole fashioned gearhulks, Tezzeret's ult, or use the prophetic prisms to make swinging with the Vents a viable option (bonus points because people see only blue and black and forget the prisms make it easy to get em alive).
This is the first draft of this deck but I will provide a description for why I have each card in there currently, please give advice!
1x Cogworker's Puzzleknot: Another target for Yaheeni's cast and Mechanized Production. Dropping the MP on this will do two things. First it will provide a chump blocker/attacker every turn. If you are going against a control deck that isnt bringing much artifact/enchant hate, then you can probably win after a few turns from just swinging with the servos. And secondly, it has the fastest clock of a MP target besides Tezzy's mana rocks because you can win off of getting to 8 servos instead of just 8 Puzzleknots. Which, due to the sacrifice ability for the token puzzleknots, means you put your opponent on a 4 turn clock instead of 8.
1 x Confirm Suspicions: Counter everything, and provide a target for MP (clues) and a bit of a head start compared to most targets for getting to 8. Plus, even if you dont want to target it, by this time in the game, you might need some more cards, and those clues help.
3 x Disallow: A better counterspell than void shatter against every deck except 3 cards (Haunted Dead, Prized Amalgm, Scrapheap Scrounger). If your opponent is packing alot of those, then sideboard these for shatters
4 x Fatal Push: Duh
1 x Noxious Gearhulk: Very very good target for MP. Every upkeep, kill one of their creatures, gain a bunch of life, and get a bulk SOB to swing with menace. Just keep him alive.
3x Mechanized Production: Your main wincon with this deck and very versatile depending on target. Hey, if you want, just target one of the Gearhulks and swing for wins.
2x Metalspinner's Puzzleknot: Not quite as good as Prophetic Prism in this deck, but it does basically the same thing, plus it can be sac'd to trigger Fatal Push's stronger form...
1x Murder: Number may go up depending on playtesting, but a solid "kill it" spell. Could go with unlicensed disintegration with the prisms, aether hub, and tezzy's rocks.
4x Prophetic Prism: Most games this will be your target for MP. It gives you an extra card draw a turn, fixes mana, and is not usually going to be the target of your opponents removal. Even early game it helps you cycle through cards, and will help you cast Reverse Engineer earlier. Just fits pretty well.
4x Reverse Engineer: I know its not at instant speed (which DOES make me sad), but the ability to easily cast a cost 2 spell and draw 3 cards is very powerful in standard.
4x Shambling Vent: Some lifegain and wincon, this deck does create a pretty solid mana base to splash any color it feels like, so activating it usually isnt much of a problem.
2x Tezzeret the Schemer: This deck just screams Tezzeret. Mostly because I built it with him in mind, as he is my favorite Planeswalker. Every one of his abilities makes the deck more lethal and provides an ability to win.
2x Torrential Gearhulk: Auto take in anything with blue.
2x Transgress the Mind: Helps in control and midrange matchups, yaheeni's expertise can cast it too
1x Void shatter: for that scrounger that just won't stay dead.
3x Yaheeni's expertise: a valuable boardwipe that also lets you cast an artifact for free!
Sideboard: 3x Void Shatters: Sub out with Disallow in aforementioned matchups
2x Negate: against control
1x Yaheeni's Expertise: against aggro
2x Grasp of Darkness: against aggro
2x Cogworker's puzzleknot: against control/midrange
2x To the Slaughter
1x Jace, the Unraveler
2x Ruinous Path
Also thinking about running a more Azor setup and going for 8 servos instead, or a UG and clues... Not completely sure how I want Mechanized to win, but I definitely want some help!
