Based on the comments from the previous post, it seems like some readers are missing the point of Architects of Will in this deck. The deck just needs graveyard action… It kind of doesn’t matter what that action is; you just need something to activate the eight-pack of Mannequins and Soul Manipulations and Architects of Will is actually excellent. I like it so much that if my list weren’t so tight I would actually play Glassdust Hulk.
Per Aten’s question I actually cut the Murderous Redcaps a couple of days ago; since I have been batting pretty well against a variety of opponents. I blew one against U/W Reveillark. Game One I kept a three lander and didn’t have four land in play until I had drawn sixteen cards. I shredded him with Puppeteer Cliques in game two, and then just got sloppy in the third. I took too much damage from an early Mutavault due to watching Dexter out of the corner of my eye. On the last turn he topdecked a Meddling Mage right after I exhausted his Glen Elendra Archmage, and he called Cruel Ultimatum. I was kold on my next four draws (but if I had just not taken an extra four from Mutavault due to eyeing a Showtime serial killer I probably would have won). Otherwise, I can say the deck is a bit dodgy against Howling Mine / Fog decks with a lot of Runed Halos, but I haven’t lost to anything else since updating the list.
Per a Twitter reply from Mark Young, second turn Putrid Leech can be a little dangerous, but I have been doing better than even against Conley Woods decks (though I did take a three-match skid against Jund decks at one point).
Anyway, here’s the deck:
Architects of Will Deck
4 Makeshift Mannequin
2 Puppeteer Clique
4 Shriekmaw
4 Cryptic Command
4 Mulldrifter
2 Anathemancer
4 Architects of Will
4 Bituminous Blast
3 Cruel Ultimatum
4 Soul Manipulation
4 Crumbling Necropolis
3 Island
1 Mountain
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Sunken Ruins
2 Swamp
4 Vivid Creek
3 Vivid Marsh
sideboard:
2 Puppeteer Clique
2 Anathemancer
3 Caldera Hellion
4 Lighting Bolt
4 Volcanic Fallout
One of the things I like about this deck is that it is really good against the Nakamura Five-color deck that did so well in so many Nationals the past couple of weeks. The ability to play threats at instant speed really help to set up the Cruel Ultimatums; plus, both Cliques and Anathemancers are super (especially when compared with the former Redcaps).
If I PTQ this weekend, I am definitely playing it and I recommend you try it out.
LOVE
MIKE
Currently Reading: Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 4)
17 comments ↓
I like everything but the Architects, obv! Also, yes, you should PTQ Saturday, too 🙂
I love the Architects of Will, I’m not sure why everyone is saying that are awful.
In this deck you aren’t going to be doing a lot of things the first couple of turns, Architects of Will puts a creature in the graveyard to make soul manipulation a little more like cryptic command (counter+draw a card).
Looking at the number of Great Sable Stags running around I would think Lightning Bolt in the main deck would be more useful, it doesn’t seem like this deck has a way around it other than Cruel Ultimatum.
Also for the people who are saying Bituminous Blast is awful in this deck, check it out with Architects of Will! Imagine setting up the top of your library so you cascade into a cryptic command, for 3RB you just killed a creature, drew a card, and countered a spell, fantastic!
The Architects are the deck’s glue, don’t touch it.
@Mike: Have you tried fulminator mage? They are great against 5CControl/Cascade and stop annoying mutavaults/windbriks (Anyway they aren’t great Vs Kithkins). With them, Architects and Mannequin, you have mana screw like an extra gameplan. Also i’ve include 2 copies of broodmate dragon, cause i don´t like to end the games just with Shriekmaw beatdown. So my list is:
-1 Cruel Ultimatum
-1 Bituminous Blast (I cut the most expensive cards cause too many times you eat them in hand)
-2 Puppeter Clique (goes to side)
-2 Anathemancer
+4 Fulminator Mage
+2 Broodmate Dragon.
I’ve been thinking about Vendilion Clique/Sower Temptation too, but maybe your first priority should be stop early Putrid Leech.
Responses, responses…
@GRat
We’ll see. Definitely hitting *SOME* tournaments this month. Just not sure which yet 🙂
@salar
Great Sable Stag demands respect but I haven’t lost to them specifically yet. I even beat it out of Reflecting Pool Control in Game One once. Just able to race efficiently (it was a mid-game, not a third turn, Stag).
@PP-Charly
I think that Fulminator Mage’s equity has gone down a lot now that creature damage no longer stacks. I would not consider cutting the cards you want to cut (except maybe the Bituminous Blast) for the cards you want. Cruel Ultimatum is one of the main ways you race Red / Blightning and Anathemancer and Puppeteer Clique are unconditionally good pulls essentially any time against the decks they are good against, whereas Fulminator Mage is only good when you are using it to Stage-step the opponent. Just not consistent, especially on the draw. I think you will find, after you have stolen a handful of Baneslayer Angels (previously victims of 2-for-1 Soul Manipulations) that Puppeteer Clique is exactly the card you want in that slot 🙂
If you’re really worried about Putrid Leech in your meta, just throw in Plumeveil. That guy doesn’t get Bolt’d. In addition, Dexter is a great show. Well worth dropping a game/match vs. U/W Reveillark.
I did some playtesting with the original version of the deck (using Redcaps) to some success over the weekend. Granted, I did most of my testing late night Saturday and Sunday in the Tournament Practice room and I’m not sure that’s the best time/place to get a feel for a deck’s success. I gave up on playing a match since everyone in the room was intent on playing single games. That meant I played a lot of weird creature based combo decks aiming to win the first game and walk away. Most of the matches I actually played were conceded after I won the first game.
I like this deck. I was skeptical about the AoW but can’t see cutting it after playing the deck. AoW is crucial during those first few turns to make Soul Manipulation a pseudo-cantrip or as a way to get something, anything, into the graveyard for recursion with Mannequin. I’ve also played more than a couple post-Ultimatum games where I’ve had a lot of reactive cards but few threats in hand and used the Wizards to manipulate my opponent’s draws and ensure they didn’t have much action while the 3/3 did it’s job.
Another card I can’t see cutting is BituBlast. It’s one of the few non-bounce tools against a resolved Double Dragon or Putrid Leech. The latter card gave me more trouble since there’s absolutely no way I can stop that thing turn two on the draw. Even on the play it’s tough unless I can manipulate my way around the 11 CIPT lands. I can’t tell you how many times, I played Vivid, go, Vivid, cycle AoW into non-CITP land, turn three Soul Manipulation.
But I digress… don’t cut BituBlast, people. Sure, I’ve blanked on it. This isn’t a Swans Combo built to never blank. It happens… just not as often as you think. Even hitting Soul Manipulation with something in the yard is worth it.
Mike, why did Redcap get the axe? I found him invaluable against Leech and Finks. Nobody likes giving up two life on an opponent’s turn to save the Leech and then do it again on the next turn when it Redcap chumps. Admittedly, the Redcap won’t help against the stag and I didn’t see much of them over the weekend on MTGO. Maybe that’s the answer although Puppeteer Clique and Anathemancer don’t seem to do much against that card either. I like the idea of the PC. I like the idea of even more Persist creatures in this deck if there was room and it was a viable option.
I am still sceptical on the Bitu Blasts. I find that its somewhat situational play hinders the deck.
I still like the Murderous Redcap and/or Torrent of Souls, but I guess torrenting isn’t the proper card to be in here (due to the non-aggro nature of the deck). I just miss torrenting my redcap I guess…
Ever considered Profane Command? Seems like a good fit (especially if you cut the Bitu Blast)…
I think the comments most of the people made this time are summarized in my last comment(on Aug 2.) so I wont go any further. I want to point out for others (only those whom may not have noticed) that the deck is “geared” against the current crit heavy / full of nonbasic lands / wogless / control to an extent/ combo free at the moment, metagame. I still wish it was a bit more active early on… duress is back…
(My Card Breakdown in no particular order)
Hence the strength of the Remove Soul paired w/ Raise Dead in the card that is soul manipulation. (Reloads all the crits in ur deck). Also note that the card is more efficient than remove soul and raise dead. why? b/c raise dead is a sorcery…
Cryptic Command was and is still the shiz, no explanation needed. But dont forget it can return your ________ to your hand at eot and cast it again ftw.
Or the mid/late game punishment for having 4 reflecting pools and vivid lands that 2 COPIES of anathamancer brings(if you have 2 it will generally pop up later when you need it to end the game). Soul manip should let you play again after it chump blocks.
Shriekmaw is ok now b/c there arent really any pro black crits that will end you quickly now and the deck is backed up by 8 counters. and it instant speeds w/ manne and gets reloaded w/ soul and cryptic
The Clique well…. you kill/counter their crits… why not use them against them and then exile it to boot… it has psychological value more than anything. Your Opponents Thoughts, “Hmm should I evoke my thresher? should I try and play broodmate dragon? I think I’ll just hold it and alter my play….”
Cruel Ultimatum:__________________________________ fill in the blank yourself 🙂 I’d go w/ powns/owns/and smacks their momma
Bituminous well… helps kill crits and gives you “extra” copies of counters and mannequins. The targets in the deck (preboard) are 1 of the 8 counters, architects will, mannequin, and anath. The quality of the card will depend on the situations your in. i.e., are you casting it in hopes of hitting your counter (about 50% chance). Do you need recursion?… Really it is best played w/ the mindset that it is a blaze that hits crits at instant speed. It can be played strategically w/ hopes that it makes certain hits which can swing the game tempo. I feel it is the most subjectively un-subjective card in the deck. So perhaps only 3 copies…
But the last card is the namesake card of the deck. I still feel like architects is a bit overpriced for its ability but it does smooth the deck out. Its bituminous-able. And at worst, if you dont want it. cycle it. then soul manip and cycle it again. Perhaps there are some other early cycling cards you could put in for those that dislike the card.
I know I skipped a few cards but I dont think they need comments.
Oh, almost forgot: does the deck really need 25 lands? seems like u could stick in that magical singleton hellkite 🙂 make them pay for blightning’ you early on. just saying.
Care to share your sideboarding strategy with us please?
Also regarding the heavy red in the sideboard have you had any issues not having the double red to cast Hellion and Fallout?
I played this deck some more last night but used the original build with Murderous Redcap. I can’t stress enough how invaluable that card has been for me. Granted, I (for some reason) have yet to play the 5CC matchup in the Tournament Practice Room on MTGO but he’s been an all star against creature heavy decks.
Played a Merfolk deck last night. My opponent knew his deck and played it well. I don’t know his deck’s exact build but he had an updated and stable manabase (Hubs, Fortress, Gates) and played Cryptic, Harm’s Way, Dousing, Banneret, Reejery, Sovereign, Adept, and sideboarded in Forge-Tenders. I took first game on the back of Redcap and Shriekmaw alone. Second game, I failed to board in Fallouts but he had the Tender on board. I misplayed a Blast (which he leaked) when I returned a Shriekmaw the previous turn on a Soul Manipulation on a ‘Lark. I flipped Mannequin which returned a cycled AoW which forecasted my next three draws of land, land, land. He chumped a 4/4 Mutavault and, next turn, I didn’t cast the two Hellions I had in because of the Tender and he countered all my redcaps. I sided in Fallout, he overextended, I cleared, and he told me after that he de-sided the forgetender because I didn’t show any red sweepers. Good news for me but I think I would’ve taken game two had I sided in the Fallouts like I should’ve. I still think they belong in the board.
I played a few Bant decks and found that I lose if I fail to get a 2nd turn Shriekmaw.
Found Shriekmaw underwhelming against Jund decks if they ran Mannequin. Ok to good in situations where they went Bloodbraid into Ram-Gang.
So far, I really enjoy playing this deck. Has anyone who playtested it ran into Time Sieve combo or anything like that? Is it worth running Though Hemorrhage in the board? I’ve got three copies in there but have yet to board it in.
I have played around with the deck a bit now. Architects of Will sure looked sketchy just watching the decklist, but he has been good. As you said, it fills your graveyard etc. I have also won an undecent amount of games with AoW’s ability.
I’m however very displeased with Soul Manipulation. I have played around 10 2/2 matches now and I have only yet managed to 2-1 with Soul Manipulation twice. It’s also kind of poopy to flip with Bit. Blast. I would certainly want to cut at least 2 if I play the deck again. I would also like to see Volcanic Fallout main. Perhaps even Lightning Bolt. See, the following happened to me.
Example #1:
My opponent goes T2 Bitterblossom on the play pre-board. I was, as the say, basicly cold. I almost made a comeback with tripple Cryptic Command but he had a counter for the third.
Example #2:
My opponent goes (on the play, both pre and afterboard) turn 2 Putrid Leech/Wren’s Run Vanquisher, turn 3 Great Sable Stag and turn 4 Chameleon Colossus. I had virutaly zero outs after that turn 4. I feel that I could beat just Stag or just Chameleon Colossus, but them togheter was just too much.
Any thoughts about that?
Hey Mike,
I was wondering if you could adress the advantage of limiting yourself to Grixis colors. You could easily be running four vivid lands over the Crumbling Necropolis, but it seems to me like you get most of your advantage out of Sunken Ruins and a few basics. Still, can a handful of faster lands justify avoiding green and white mana? Or are there just no green or white spells you want to play? Hard to believe, but not at all impossible. I just think that any control deck that isn’t running the typical five color control manabase needs to seriously justify limiting its colors.
More Architects of Will…
Your story has been summoned to the battlefield – Trackback from MTGBattlefield…
I played the deck at my M10 day and won 2 out of 5 rounds of swiss. Ok, I admit that I made a change, namely taking out a cruel ultimatum for a Bogardan Hellkite.
First game Finest Hour (loss):
I won the first match by bringing back his rafiq with my clique and attacking with a doublestriking Hellkite.
Lost the third match to a Sable stag. Didn’t draw any of the fallouts, bolts or hellions and I couldn’t keep him off with shriekmaw alone since sable stag finished it. I would have taken a mulligan if I hadn’t dropped to 5 cards in hand already.
I drew one fallout. Rafiq + Sable Stag finished it at lightning speed.
Second game Transmuter (win):
Nothing worth mentioning, I finished both game quite easily with cruel ultimatum.
Third game Jund (loss):
Won the first game thanks too cruel and hellkite.
Lost the two next games. Putrid leech, sable stag, blightning and Bloodbraid into anathemancer was just horrible. Didn’t see hellkite or cruel which was pretty meh.
Fourth game Merfolk (win):
I lost the first game.
Swept his field with Hellion and Fallout AND Hellkite ftw.
He got to attack with a banneret. I countered or killed all his other creatures. Shriekmaw came back 7 times and eventually beat him down together with mulldrifter.
Fith game Conley Woods Mannequin (loss):
I won the first game thanks to pulling back Hellkite over 4 times.
I once again failed to draw any Hellions or Fallouts. A field of two putrid leeches and sable stag was just too much.
I was keeping of his Leech and Sable stag. Then he played bloodbraid into kitchen finks ftw. I played a Hellion but that simply wasn’t enough.
So…I hate Putrid leech and sable stag. Despite multiple riffle shuffles and mulligans I simply failed to draw my Hellions in time to fend off some dangerous fields. Lightning bolt certainly helped. Yet putrid leech and the Great Sable Stag got to me. Despite this I must say that I enjoyed playing the deck a lot and that the use of AoW was complimented positively a couple of times. I found that the Hellkites were super though and that it was worth removing Cruel Ultimatum as it won me a few matches which Cruels wouldn’t have been able to pull off.
Again, loved the deck and I hope you don’t mind me using it or maybe killing the design in some way by removing an Ultimatum 😉
(P.S.: the deck that came in first was remarkably simular to the rhox meditant deck with 100% less rhox :p And sorry for the long post ^^;)
If they go turn4 Chamelon Colossus and you don’t have Soul Manipulation, you just lose. This seems a bit of a problem. Any idea on how to fix that?
@Weiss,
Due to a lack of the 3rd ultimatum, I too replaced it with a single Hellkite. Besides that, I also -4 Bitu Blast +4 Lightning Bolt maindeck for reasons stated later. I bought it to FNM and won all 3 games against 5CC, 5CB (sygg-cryptic command version), and mono-white kithkins/soldier hybrid.
The reason why I chose to maindeck lightning bolts are the following:-
1) With soul manipulation and cryptic command, you do not have a control over your cascades. Although there is a chance to cascade into a counterspell when you need it, it makes the bituminous blast a situational play. It also cost 5CMC.
2) Lightning bolt deals with mainboard stags, and an early putrid leech if they fall for the 2 life trap. It is also an additional reach and only worth 1 cmc.
3) Opens up 4 slots in my sideboard, possibly for volcanic fallouts against faeries.
Bitu Blast is no doubt a strong card, but in this deck, I actually prefer the bolt.
@Weeksy: You need a soul manipulation against the colossus, however in my sideboard, I bring in Sower of Temptations to add some depth to my answers against it.
Took this deck to a PTQ, changed 4 Bit Blasts to 4 bolt, and cut 1 Cruel and 1 manipulation for 2 fallouts main. Added Cascade Bluffs to the manabase accordingly. My sideboard was dedicated anti kithkin, merfolk, and jund in the form of doom blades, fallouts, firespouts, the third cruel, and caldera hellions (which were bad for me, should have been thought hemhorrages)
On the day, I beat mono-red twice, UW Lark once, G/W tokens once, Jund once, and G/R Hackblade beats once.
I lost to John Mahon’s U/G Savor the Moment combo deck, after reanimating Anathemancer 3 times to attempt to kill his jace, he just dropped a Garruk and used 5 turns to make beasts, beat me down, and overrun.
Lost to Sanity Grinding, same situation.
Also lost to Jund where Game 1 I drew all 4 shriekmaws and he thoughtseized away my cryptic and my mannequin in turn 3, and then ripped a seize on turn 6 to hit my cruel. G2, I mulled to 5 lands on the play and stole the game with a flashfreeze, mannequin’d puppeteer clique, and a topdecked cruel. G3 was close, but I drew poorly and couldn’t deal with 2 leech beatdown.
On the whole, I feel like I would have made T8 if I had my sideboard prepared for combo, but I can’t metagame against everything. The deck is powerful and synergistic, but the list posted right now needs more early plays and Vendillion Clique needs to find it’s way in somewhere imo.
It was also tons of fun to play 😀
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