**I thought about it more and I would rather save $80 and not get fetches since this deck isn't meant to be that competitive and Evolving Wilds helps with consistency (though not as fast). However, since I got one Flooded Strand, I might make it 2 and slowly build up to more over time.
I changed to tuning against "decks that set up their winning conditions at instant speed after I tapped out for Think Twice Therefore, I plan to add 4x Dispel in addition to 2x Monastery Swiftspear and 2x Remand. I also got Research/Development for my birthday which will probably have a permanent home in this deck.
Testing on tappedout against bogles I played against the top 5 rated decks here (just one game each - not trying to prove anything more than viability). This deck beat 3 bant versions and a simic version - but lost pretty bad to a 4c version that splashed red. Note: This isn't tuned against boggles anymore.
Playing this deck: how I usually run it
Opening hand I will take an opening hand of only 1 land if it can be a blue source and the opening hand also has Delver of Secrets
. Otherwise I like to see at least 2 lands to keep an opening hand (and at least one source of red or blue).
Early game If I am not losing right away for some reason, I often hold back on playing threats until I can protect them, unless I suspect that my opponent is running very little control / interference. Instead, I will try to mess with what they try to do. At the very least, against controlly opponents it's a good idea to make sure to be in a position to get at least one use out of either Isochron Scepter or Young Pyromancer when you play them. This deck has only about a dozen threats or less, so playing them carelessly can lead to a very rough game. On the other hand, some aggro decks will require pushing limits and taking more risks to keep up, which this deck can do if not faced with too much hate. The problem is the short number of non-resilient threats combined with a high popularity in running hate for these threats even in the main board.
Mid game If I top-deck something perfect for wrecking my opponent's strategy, unless I am losing, I will hold onto that card so I can put it on a stick.
Late game If the game lasts long enough, the chances of getting Isochron Scepter off are higher and higher with increasing turns. Whether or not the stick landed and stuck more or less determines how well this phase will go for this deck.
Development Questions
I tried playtesting Monastery Mentor but didn't end up ever getting around to casting him. The mana curve is just so low in this list. I even think it is too low for Snapcaster Mage to be worth the money it would cost to add him to the list. This deck is fine on 2-4 land drops. At 2cmc+ to get use out of snappy, I am competing with Isochron Scepter's mana needs which is anti synergy.
Description
This deck is meant to be more fun than competitive. Of course having fun (for most people) does mean that you are at least in the game and have a shot at winning. On the other hand, this deck is wildly inconsistent. For me, that makes it more fun; but I know that for some the opposite would be true.
Adding Isochron Scepter to a popular U/R delver list mostly just makes the long game more fun (and opens the door for some silliness). I don't think this is among the more competitive U/Rx delver builds out there and it isn't necessarily meant to be. However, it isn't meant to just roll over and lose without pulling a few tricks first either and making your opponent fight for any win they get.
Guilty Pleasures
Isochron Scepter + Silence (pointless against things like burn, but very nasty against a lot of other things) I even like using Silence to "steal" a first turn, better enabling strategic counter spells, and buying time to get up to 4 open Mana. Another fun way to use this underrated (in my opinion) card is to set up your own turn so that it can be free of counter-spells or removal.
Isochron Scepter + Deflecting Palm I like that it doesn't target the source.
Isochron Scepter + Dawn Charm I like the versatility.
Isochron Scepter + Lightning Helix (usually the most competitive choice)
Any of the other 1 or 2 drop instants can extremely useful to put on a stick, but the ones above make me giggle a little bit extra. Many of the other instants can be situationally awesome.
Isochron Scepter
+
Boros Charm
is both a clock and insurance for your board state.
Isochron Scepter
+
Remand
can be hard for midrange to deal with.
Isochron Scepter
+
Echoing Truth
hates out tokens.
Isochron Scepter
+
Steel Sabotage
is sometimes worth the extra 1 because it is recurring, has nice synergy with other counter-spells, and can be used to protect the stick or switch its mode.
Creatures
Delver of Secrets
interacts well with instants / sorceries.
Monastery Swiftspear does as well. The haste is extra nice. However, against most aggro decks she doesn't do as much.
Young Pyromancer also interacts well with instants / sorceries. The chump blockers and extra damage is also nice. I also like how this card can still be interactive in the face of spot removal (if you hold back to protect him).
Other Card ChoicesI like Supreme Verdict against some of the bolt resistant decks in my meta. It is included here as a meta hate card.
Theme Song
Crazy Alert
I thought that the scepter reminded me of the wands and the pyromancer reminded my of HP. Actually, with that red hair, YP can be Ron. Then HP will be the actual delver as the name of the deck suggests and Hermoine can be the swiftspear.
Whine Alert
Oh how I wish (I have recently started plans to follow up on these wishes)
Orim's Chant
Counterspell
Mystical Tutor
Memory Lapse
Enlightened Tutor
Similar Decks on tappedout.net
another rwu scepter for modern
here is a control version
