Oh, and for the Phyresis analysis, happy to help. Takes me back to my university days (discrete mathematics subject especially), whee!

I see, I often overlook Necropotence as I rarely ever get it out.

have you considered the new Arcane Lighthouse? Looks promising if you need to remove something that has shroud/hex proof that perhaps you couldn't manage to counter at the time of its casting.

@MyUsernameWasTaken: No I haven't really considered it mainly due to the fact that the majority of the time I don't care what creatures my opponents have... If it's a serious threat I'll either counter it, destroy it before hexproof/shroud can be given, or just target and kill that specific player first (if multiplayer). If it's not a serious threat then I'll just let them keep it and use Solitary Confinement if my health gets too low.

The main interest I've had in Arcane Lighthouse has been how to counter it with this deck as it poses a serious threat to Zur hence the added Wasteland to back up my Strip Mine.

Well you have got Vanishing which admittedly is a quick avoidance, but yes, I'm in the same predicament getting around the lighthouse, guess I'll need to get my hands on a wasteland...pricey as I recall.

I've just found myself on a couple of occasions with a hexproofed/shrouded Blightsteel Colossus bearing down on me with no counter on hand at time of casting for instance.

I was holding (+1) hostage for attention... I'd take out the signets, theres nothings wrong with them, they are just too slow for my tastes. anything past turn 4 they are great though.

Edit: nvm, im dumb, they provide the same speed, I always assumed they were 3 cmc

I don't know if you are not running these because a lot of $$$$ but Ravages of War and Imperial Seal look like they would be awesome in here

Hello again. I have nearly completed my Zur build, but I ran into some dire situations in some games and was wondering if you had the same troubles. Hallowed Burial and Terminus. Do you have any answer for these other than a counter? And if Zur does get tucked (by any card), how do you plan to retrieve him? I was thinking of cutting my Umbra Mystic for Proteus Staff, but I wouldn't have a guaranteed way to get the staff out every game. Any advice you have on that subject is much appreciated, as you have way more Zur experience than me. Maybe I should just go balls out with counter spells?

edit: Also, I wouldn't have another creature to go find Zur with the Staff. I guess what my point was, is do you know a good way to retrieve a tucked commander for this kind of build?

@Darnok: I have considered both of those cards and feel like I don't really need another Armageddon in the deck; I do however still need to find one for my avacyn deck, Avacyn, EDH of Hope though... Regardless, yes very pricey and still rising. Imperial Seal, on top of it's $800 price tag is just a really slow Vampiric Tutor. I prefer tutors that cost a little more and bring it right to hand (with the constant deck shuffling, top of library effects often don't work very well). If it was an instant or brought it right to hand it'd be in here regardless of the cost. Thanks for the suggestions!

@CrovaxTheCursed: Commander "tucking" is the best way to semi-permanently get rid of someone's general. This deck relies upon it's abundant supply of counter spells and/or shroud/hexproof to hopefully avoid it happening. If it's unavoidable then I'll have to tutor for him (or tutor for a tutor that searches for him... ugh) or worst case scenario try and mess up everyone else's game till I top deck him lol. Another strategy other than counterspells that is viable albeit costly is to use one of your own removal cards on him (ie. Mortify, Swords to Plowshares, etc...) thereby sending him to the command zone instead of the library. Hope that helped.

Hmm, interesting indeed. Yeah, after I posted that, I remembered you have oodles of tutors. I suppose I'll just have to shell out the money for the good ones. Also, I know you know this, but Hexproof/Shroud does nothing for Terminus or Hallowed Burial, but that's neither here nor there. Vanishing is a great way to protect from those, but I've had Zur tucked before I could grab one. Anyway, yes that was very helpful, thank you. I will start saving up for more tutors!

Have you given any thought to See Beyond? I was thinking of putting it in mine for when I draw into those enchantments after Zur has Diplomatic Immunity. It really sucks when you draw into Vanishing after Immunity and someone does a Supreme Verdict.

Im curious, why are you playing both Unquestioned Authority and Steel of the Godhead? Dont they fill what would be considered the same role? Or is UA just there as a tutorable cantrip?

also, if you get a chance, could you take a look at my Zur list? Tricolour Toolbox

Unquestioned Authority serves a much bigger purpose than Steel of the Godhead. Steel is geared toward the attack phase, while Authority has implications outside of combat. For instance, Zur with a Steel on him can still be killed by Royal Assassin or Avatar of Woe, but not with an Authority enchanted on him. Those creatures are probably not the best example, as I don't know how much they're played in EDH, but that's how Steel of the Godhead and Unquestioned Authority serve different roles in Zur Voltron, and why both should always be included.

Zur almost always has shroud, hexproof, or phasing though. So targeted abilities like that should never be something to worry about.

I suppose that's a valid point, since stuff like Mageta the Lion and Magister of Worth get around the protection rule I believe...

Yeah, wraths would still wreck a non-phasing Zur and those get around protection because they dont target or damage.

@PlattBonnay: I usually grab Steel of the Godhead as a first choice due to the p/t buff while saving Unquestioned Authority as a back up in case Steel of the Godhead gets removed. Also I do sometimes grab UA just for the card like you suggested.

I'll try and have a look at your deck when I get some free time!

Very nice deck. It's actually very close to my own Zur deck. I'm VERY close to being done foiling and I'll be thrilled when I"m there. I've also started adding 24k gold leaf borders to my deck. I have a imagur album in my deck description.

The Kobayashi Maru

The main difference is that I don't run Stasis or Mana Vortex so that I don't actually impede anyone else's game plans. I defend my board Necropotence + Solitary Confinement with counter magic and I always get Vanishing first so that i can just hold up to keep Zur the Enchanter safe.

The main reason for this is that it garners less hate than if you layer in stax with volton. In my league that has earned me more "Diplomacy Points".

I also run a few extra utility creatures that help me do what the rest of my deck is trying to do already like the "A" Team: Dark Confidant, Stoneforge Mystic, Snapcaster Mage and Vendilion Clique.

As far as suggestions go, I would say that you may wish to consider something that fits with your play style: Scroll Rack - You can put auras back into your library for when you already have Diplomatic Immunity or Greater Auramancy out. I'm also pleased with Library of Leng because I can tutor for it with Trinket Mage and that lets me kill someone with Empyrial Armor. There is actually some other really nice synergy with Solitary Confinement because you can put an aura or some land you don't need on top of your library instead of exiling it thanks to Necropotence's second drawback.

Since you're obviously into premium cards, I'm going to be playing The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale as soon as I can find one.

Cheers

Only suggestion I have is why not use Hinder over Spell Crumple hinder gives u the option of pitting the card back on top or bottom just a little more versatile or u could run it as a second Spell Crumple

@ gkilgore98: Thanks for the feedback! I enjoy the lockdown invoked from Stasis and Mana Vortex and generally don't mind group hate. Scroll Rack would've been a great suggestion but I've already got it in my maybeboard! I'm actively trying to acquire an arsenal version at the moment and it'll probably replace Brainstorm. Library of Leng is handy but I don't have room for it (let alone Trinket Mage); I generally just make Reliquary Tower suffice. I am however now considering Snapcaster Mage. Any ideas for potential cuts?

@ dementedchild686: I don't have room for both of them anymore as they're relatively slow being 3 mana and all but I did previously have Hinder in the deck... I chose to run Spell Crumple over it because I have the potential to get it back and I've NEVER seen anybody use Hinder's top of deck ability in this format as it's usually used to tuck commanders or other undesirables out of play for as long as possible.

If you're looking to put Snapcaster Mage in, you might be better switching to Hinder though because it goes to graveyard so you can potentiallly recur it unlike Spell Crumple which goes to the bottom of your library.

outofnothing0 I would cut Copy Enchantment because it is the one enchantment that you cant use on it's own. When you get to the point where want to add more new capabilities to the deck, you will need to become single threaded in certain aspects.