A try on a competitive Standard BUG deck utilizing Ashiok. BUGShok is the name.
The Strategy
discard, destroy, counter, exile, steal & keep the tempo of this strategy high through Scry & Card draw.
Winning
Beat them down with their own creatures using [Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver]]. Otherwise beat down with your own Desecration Demon, Reaper of the Wilds, [Scavenging Ooze]], Or finish with Vraska the Unseen or deck them with Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver (I have won games like that against control decks).
I haven't seen any one around my store trying this. I like brewing new stuff with less than straightforward powerful cards (Ashiok)
This deck has already had many iterations before I posted it. I think this is the best one so far. I also got some extra inspiration from : this article. I think my deck is stronger as it has smoother draws/ less mulligans & better defense against aggro.
The why and how of the deck:
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver: Early game (on the play, a big distractor that cannot be ignored and gets out of hand quick, both against control and midrange). Late game when you established control it ensures victory. Loves
Dimir Charm
. Let's admit it, I am also a fan and its just soo much fun to play. Stealing that stormbreath, descration, master of waves etc. ahhhh :D.
Jace, Architect of Thought: Acceleration and defense. Works well with
Omenspeaker
,
Dimir Charm
, Reaper of the Wilds (yes you could also use it on yourself to dig 5 deep if you REALLY need an answer.
Vraska the Unseen: Flexible recurring removal and finisher.
Omenspeaker
: This is one of the quiet powers in this deck. I used to use Sylvan Caryatid for early defense and mana fix. Then I replaced it with this guy. The result: Less muliggan's due to me being able to fix my draws (2 land hands and this guy is no problem). In defense it kills a lot of early agro (Soldier of the Pantheon, etc. and it survives due to its 3 defense). Late game it helps to further smooth out my draws and provide some chump block material if needed and helps my Jace, Architect of Thought. Example with jace on the table and I play this one, I can dig 5 deep for an answer. That is almost a certainty to find one.
Reaper of the Wilds: It ducks so much removal, is powerful and with all my removal it smooth's out my draws late game to dig for more answers or agression. Synergises with my removal package & Desecration Demon
Scavenging Ooze: Early defense / pressure and it starts to retrieve lost life. Also a more overlooked card in the deck but essential. Synergises with my removal package & Desecration Demon.
Pharika's Cure
: Yes main board. In the current meta the likelyhood of being able to kill something and get 2 life is very certain. The deck is already well positioned against mid-range. So late game its a way to push some damage to a creature to kill it after combat or give me that life gain I just needed.
Dimir Charm
: Not sure about that one yet. Kills a creature, synergises with Ashiok. Once you have control you can control their draws and get rid of two cards. I think it will do very well against control like decks, please provide feedback on that one. Also I will do some extreme experimenting by playing with 3 or 4 to see how it fares.
Syncopate: Targeted at countering top curve threats and making sure they never come back. Thinking of doing one of these and Psychic Strike. Mill2 and counter everything seems better ? Would love to know your opinion.
Golgari Charm: In the main-board currently. Provides mass removal against some white weenie and some agro strategies. Gets rid of master of the waves, Bident, and all the other artifacts. And an answer against verdicts.
Desecration Demon: Powerfull beast. A lot of pressure to put on the oponent.
The removal package
Putrefy (flexible, and easy to cast), Hero's Downfall (All round removal), Abrupt Decay (All round removal), Devour Flesh (Does not care about hex-proof, protection, can be used to give me that extra turn I needed to survival and maybe pivot the game), Ultimate Price (quick removal for biggies).Golgari Charm (Flexible but limited side effect),
Dimir Charm
(Less flexible but has more functions)
Sideboard
Not really happy with this yet. Any input is welcome.
Golgari Charm: Esper, Mono Blue, Weenie Aggro, Mono Black.
Dark Betrayal
: Mono Black, Rakdos Aggro, Golgari Agro, Orzhof
Dimir Charm
: Midrange control decks. Golgari/Orzhof/Esper/UW Control.Duress, Thoughtseize: Any control deckRatchet Bomb, Mono Blue, Mono Black, AggroPithing Needle, Thinking of ditching it as it is most effective against Jace. For the rest only usefull against Gruul Planeswalkers or maybe Ajani.Mistcutter Hydra: Mono Blue, Esper controlNegate: Control decks
