maybe trim Goblinslide for more lands?

and is Butcher of the Horde really worth the black splash, same with the swarm?

Thank you!

Actually, I had not noticed it was only those three cards :D so thank you again for pointing that out to me. Now that I think of it, I may very well replace Butchers with those Riders - I only need to get them riders first. And Goblinslide is there to feed the Butcher and Swarm, so If I take them out, I can get rid of the slide too, maybe adding Darksteel Citadel to improve likelyhood of artifact+scissors combo...? Need to work to get them needed cards!

Any ideas is if Pearl Lake Ancient would work in a brew like this? Why people even play it as win con, I have seen some do? I got one extra laying around so I could throw it in if it would work...

Pearl Lake Ancient is really meant for control. This should be comboing turn 4-5ish, so it shouldn't be a problem. Personally, i wouldn't keep a hand with this deck without a combo piece. Ensoul Artifact makes your Ornithopters beaters, so even with that, they are on a 4 turn clock. Pearl lake is a big guy, but a 7 drop is too much in this type of aggressive deck. Id replace some of those spells with Jeskai Ascendancy and Mantis Rider the sb could use tweaking as well. Maybe more lands.

Thank you for the input!

How often do you win by milling? Ain't it a bit too much based on lucky combos?

Once so far, haven't played that much thou -> and of course it is a bit much, I could get by far a better deck by investing money in it. Creating challenging decks of cheap cards is more rewarding (that is, if you meant to ask "why" while not asking it directly?).

I would resign the mill option, but while you see it as a challange for yourself (actually I try something new with milling too, since archetype of turbomill is so both expensive and boring). Why not resign of Butcher of the Horde and Swarm of Bloodflies? You were searching some place for more Mantis Riders. Butcher of the Horde is really good creature but is it worth putting so much land coming tapped? Even 3-colored decks are sick without fetchlands.

True, I am warming up to the idea of retiring Black (Butchers und Swarm) when I get those needed Riders. Mill, it is gonna stay until them needed cards rotate out, however :) Thank you for your comments!

It was fun. I was playtesting, and by turn 6 both games, i had won on tappedout. fun combo. semi-consistent.

Nice. Not bad for so cheap, eh?

The four card infinite mill is truly abusive of the Midnight Guard mechanic... I love it. +1

Thank you very much... already afraid whats gonna happen when them combo pieces rotate out!

Disciple of Deceit lets you tutor for missing combo pieces, as 3/4 of them are 1cmc, and can be tapped with Springleaf Drum to trigger her ability without sending her into combat.

Have you considered Chasm Skulker? Not only would Disciple let you use it to tutor for Midnight Guard, its tokens also trigger Altar of the Brood when it dies.

Anaconda, when the combo pieces rotate out, come to the dark side and play modern

Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comments. I need to look into those cards, the suggestions and ideas look very good! About Modern, I really need to consider it :D

I like the idea of -2 Ankle Shankers. They look good, but 5 for a 2/2 that really doesn't do anything aside from force you to attack if you want any use from it. Would recommend Chasm Skulker as a 2 of in this spot.

Also, -1 Daghatar the Adamant and -1 High Sentinels of Arashin. Use these slots to max out Mantis Rider as they are a much better threat.

thirdly, i would cut 2x Swarm of Bloodflies as they aren't really worth the 5 mana. I would personally replace this with 2x Disciple of Deceits

Lastly, have you considered Negate in the sideboard. It protects your combo pieces etc.

Sidenote- Would definitely keep the black splash for Disciple of Deceit and sideboard cards.

Thank you so much for the comments!

First of all I wanna point out - like said in the description text - I mostly work with cards I have access to, it is very seldom when I buy particular cards to upgrade decks. Another thing is, most of proposed cards are rotating out in fall and I would need to rework the deck even more when that happens if ought to keep it in standard. Thats why I am not buying even Citadels. They, if anything, would reinforce the artifact drop + Ensoul Artifact -combo.

That said, iI will definitely look into it. Maybe some of those cards proposed here will see reprint in M0rigins, for example?

Anyways, Ankle Shanker is obviously here to boost the aggression - enemy needs to block my monsters, otherwise he will go down fast, and while at it my monsters will decimate his creatures giving me time to draw the combo pieces. The one card I am removing to make room for another Mantis Rider would be the leviathan. Otherwise I am happy with the mana curve.

Swarm of Bloodflies and other creatures working with counters support each other; of course, if the aspect won't be working I will get rid of it. For example, Ankle Shanker's deathtouch works nice with Bloodflies who benefit each time anything dies. Adamant will help me reorganize counters even during combat step based on how the enemy is arranging his defence, and so on.

Again, thank you for your input guys!

I would try and fit one or two Darksteel Citadel in. Combined with the Ensoul Artifact you have a 5/5 indestructible creature.

Yea, thats right. I am only afraid they will rotate out sooner than later.