@byepolarbear Hidden string allows me to tap/untap any permanent which means if I don't have the elite out yet with the triton I can tap two 1 damage cards then untap them both and hit again with both. If I do that with the gate or the druid I am adding mana to the pool for casting a second one or any other spell.

I like the spark jolt noone else seemed to thing it was of value but having 8 cards that can go with the archanist makes sense to me.

I have a couple of chandras I might add them in.

Thanks for the input.

I was thinking of building a deck like this.

You could put Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius in there for a finisher. You can get him out fairly early with all those dual lands and Voyaging Satyr .

Also, Hidden Strings is a bad idea, you really shouldn't be attacking with your creatures until that final push. You'll have enough trouble with removal without having your creatures picked off with combat tricks.

You could maybe put a couple of Vial of Poison s in there so your pingers can kill stuff instantly without attacking. Deathtouch on Izzet Staticaster can be devastating if your opponent has multiple creatures with the same name on the board.

Unexpected Results and Urban Evolution are very high costed for this deck. Unexpected Results being especially bad since you have almost nothing worth more than it's CMC to cast for free with it's effect. I would recommend some cheaper multicoloured cards for activating Lobber Crew instead. You could use Burning-Tree Emissary or Frostburn Weird to make your deck a bit more offensive if you really want to use Hidden Strings . Chemister's Trick is also a great combat trick that you can use to turtle out your opponent's offensive while you ping them down to 0. Horizon Chimera is also a good card to cipher onto since it has flying and trample. And at least one life every turn never hurt anybody.

Electrickery is a good alternative to Spark Jolt because you can hit multiple creatures with it. Or just one multiple times untapping Elite Arcanist . There's no scry but I think the versatility of the overload makes up for it.

@jetUppercut

Thanks for the input I have added some of you suggestions to the maybeboard so I can plan them into the deck.

You have a point about the urban evolution and unexpected results I was a little concerned about their casting cost for the deck.

With so many cards in the maybe board now I will take a look at the deck again and see about making some change ups.

Please note there were some suggestions that I ignored as they do not fit the theme of the deck being that no card should do more than 1 damage.

I think there may be some confusion as the the effect of Hidden Strings .

MGT rulings state that you have the choice of whether or not to have the cipher take effect.

Therefore the hidden strings is simply a 2 casting cost card that allows you to tap or untap two target permanents you do not have to accept cyper due to the wording

"Then you may exile this spell card encoded on a creature you control".

The word may in magic ruling makes this effect optional so when I cast hidden strings I just tap or untap my choice of two permanents then place card from stack into the graveyard unless I choose to enable cipher.

Hey there, glad to see someone new jump on the Elite Arcanist + Triton Tactics + Zhur-Taa Druid combo train XD. I have a deck based around this that you might be able to jet some Inspiration from:

(jet refers to Magma Jet )

Thanks @Lord007 I have taken a couple ideas from your deck and applied them. I am still waiting for some cards to come so I can playtest this baby.

I have a feeling that it is going to be fast enough to hold its own and there are plenty of chances to get the combo to come off. If I can't get the combo off there are still loads of options for tap/un-tap and 1 damage cards that can widdle down your op.

Dont forget Lightning Volley that turns all ur creatures into prod. sorcs for a turn.. could be a fun card for this deck

And instead of Vial of Poison there's now Gorgon's Head , which is much, much better for putting on Izzet Staticaster .

Arathleff Added Lightning Volley to the maybe board. That card is going to be so much fun for the deck turning all of the creatures to tim's. That is the spirit of this deck.

JetUppercut Gorgon's Head seems like a great replacement for Vial of poison, no need to sacrifice it I can just move it from creature to creature as needed, using the druids to tap for mana doing damage to opponent the whole time.

Thanks for the feedback guys I will see about working them into the deck.

Don't see why Hidden Strings is in here, you have to deal combat damage to a player for the cipher to trigger and it doesn't look like you'll be in combat a lot. I feel like if you changed those with fog or something to prevent damage to you it could be better.

The hidden strings is in there purely for the un-tapping effect and not the cypher.

I agree that the Fog would be better off in the deck for damage prevention. I have moved hidden strings to the sideboard and moved 2 fog into the deck.

Thanks for the input.

Kiora's Follower would synergize really well with your tap to do __ cards, especially since you are already running Simic. Illusionist's Bracers would also synergize well, but takes 5 mana (2 to cast 3 to equip) to get going. Running one or two though could be useful. Plus if you get both out together, you can go infinite like in my deck Kiora's Infinite Combo in Standard.

MangoPunch GREAT suggestions that would open up a second infinite tap untap loop possibility with the deck.

I have added them to the deck, just need to get the cards from the LCS.

Gorgon's Head as a 1 or 2 of for Izzet Staticaster maybe?

How do you think Prophet of Kruphix would fit in here?

I had them in originally but took them out, can't remember why. I have been thinking about putting Prophets into the sideboard.

just so you know kiora's follower cannot untap itself so all of these combos that include Kiora's Follower + Illusionist's Bracers wont work.

Kiora's Follower + Illusionist's Bracers and Lobber CrewKiora's Follower + Illusionist's Bracers and Zhur-Taa DruidKiora's Follower + Illusionist's Bracers + Crackling Perimeter + Any gate (12)Creature removalKiora's Follower + Illusionist's Bracers and Izzet Staticaster + Gorgon's Head Infinite millKiora's Follower + Illusionist's Bracers and Codex ShredderInfinite ManaKiora's Follower + Illusionist's Bracers and Any Land (23)

Because Kiora's Follower Clearly states untap ANOTHER target permanent,in other words even if you duplicate the ability the whole ability is duplicated and you cannot untap the Kiora's Follower that was tapped.

however if you had 2 Kiora's Follower and 2 Illusionist's Bracers with any one of the ping creatures u can get an infinite combo going.

Does the choose new targets not override that and allow you to untap itself?

dboss thanks for the heads up I have verified that in fact the infinites are not triggered by illusionist bracers.

I will play test the deck at the LCS and see how it holds up in its current state. Hopefully it is still a viable deck to play. The concept is still fun and I have had a blast planning and building the deck.

If it doesn't work out I can pull it apart and have some decent cards for other decks.

dboss: The Kiora's Follower combos only reqiure 1 Illusionist's Bracers , not 2 in order to go infinite.

Use equipped Follower to target pinging creature, ability goes on the stack. Copy the ability, targetting unequipped Follower and put it on the stack. Use unequipped Follower to target equipped Follower and put the ability on the stack. Resolve abilities in reverse order and all 3 end up untapped.

Neither Follower ends up targeting itself

ljs54321 Perfect that is what I wanted to hear ... so with 2 kiora's in play the infinite can be triggered still.

Yep. As long as neither targets itself and the Bracers copy doesn't trigger the one it's equipped to, you're good.

It makes the infinite a little harder to get off but still possible that is all that matters. All this deck needs to do is hold out for upto 10 turns to pull off a guaranteed infinite and its good.

Best case is an infinite can be pulled off on turn 4.

Is the idea to block with the Izzet Staticaster ? I'm not sure I understand the need for Gorgon's Head with it, since it has to deal combat damage for deathtouch to work. The two abilities don't interact and without a buff the Staticaster deals no combat damage by itself...