This is a new take on the old Laboratory Maniac + Leveler
combo, using a much more versatile threat in
Inverter of Truth
that is much less all in combo.
Deck Function and Win concept
The deck functions in a soft control/tempo shell to keep board for the first few turns. Use hand disruption and counters to keep the board clear for the first few turns, land a Laboratory Maniac under a
Shelldock Isle
or simply hard cast it and drop the
Inverter of Truth
and next turn you will have 2-3 cards in your library You can draw out for a win with a turn 1 Ancestral Vision or a Thought Scour. Or simply beat face with a 6/6 flyer. If you happen to have multiple Inverters in hand, your opponent may be expecting a combo kill, when instead you cast out your 4-5 card library, and simply cast another Inverter to recycle your cars for another round of 6/6 beats.
Special mention to Thought Scour, perhaps the best card in the deck. It digs 3 cards for a Maniac win, adds 3 cards to the graveyard for delve, gets 3 looks at hitting a Maniac (one that gets milled into your graveyard later gets shuffled into your library post-Invert), and even replaces itself. Almost always a great hit early or late game.
Graveyard Manipulation
This concept of the deck is what makes this deck much more reliable than the old
Leveler
based shell. The ability to control which cards you can stack your library with allows for a level of versatility which your opponent has to respect. Logic Knot and Murderous Cut gives you control over which cards remain in your graveyard (and thus later your library) as well as Relic of Progenitus which can exile unneeded lands from your library or can act as graveyard hate against your opponent. Maindeck Bojuka Bog always acts as a great graveyard hoser as well as a way to combo off by exiling your own graveyard and then Inverting for a win with a cantrip.
Utility Lands
The lands provide great utility for the deck
Shelldock Isle
is the all-star as it allows you to cast a number of spells at instant speed for including Laboratory Maniac, Ancestral Vision, the 1 of Griselbrand, surprise
Spellskite
s to protect your combo, etc. The 1 of Dimir Aqueduct also has nice synergy with your lands as well allowing you more looks at hideaway with
Shelldock Isle
s or reusing Bojuka Bogs.
Sideboard is still a work in progress and the 1 of Griselbrand has been very hit or miss. Comments are very welcome!
