Hey everyone! thanks for your comments and interest! Lots of time since my last post, but still very actively improving my deck! I made some updates today and will address those in a separate Edit panel.

scatteredsun - I really do like the idea of Loreseeker's Stone in particular, but I feel that 6 mana initial investment is quite pricey. I think I would likely add Mind's Eye first before going that route. Strionic Resonator is another card that really has caught my eye, perhaps it deserves a spot, but there seem to be a lot of times where it will do nothing as well. I will think on it!

dizzierabit - I totally agree with your assessment - I've added Guttersnipe since your comment and I can confirm, it does work. For now, I have Thermo-Alchemist in over Firebrand Archer, but it could be that both deserve a slot.

Sun's Champion - Thanks very much! I've really enjoyed reading over your own deck list - in particular I'd like to acquire a Sword of Fire and Ice. We do have some differing philosophies on the deck, which makes it more fun to compare and contrast what we are doing! What are your thoughts on Walking Ballista? It's a card I would very much enjoy adding to the deck, once the price comes down. It seems like a "do-it-all" kind of card, but it does conflict with your philosophy of "Fireball is a boring way to win".

Thanks again everyone, I look forward to your continued feedback as I build this out! If you like my primer and deck building philosophy, be sure to check out my page for my other Primers!

I find I never have mana problems with Neheb. In a 4 player game, I can easily pull 9 mana on the second main to drop and activate. Strionic Resonator is definitely win-more, as is Doubling Cube. I cast Sizzle for 3. That's 9 mana, Resonatored into 18 and then Cube'd into 36 for a net of 28 mana.

scatteredsun - totally agree, typically no mana problems with Neheb in play. But in general I feel that with Neheb in play we are in the driver's seat and in a pretty commanding position.

I oftentimes think more deeply about what our board position looks like without Neheb in play, because in my meta he gets hated on a lot after a few explosive wins wised everyone up to the threat.

As such, I have built my deck with not only several backup big mana options, but prioritizing card draw options that hopefully help pull us back into a game rather than help us pull ahead once we are already in commanding position.

Is that your experience? I am curious because I see a lot of Neheb players go more towards the big play options, pull-it-off or die trying type builds.

Philoctetes absolutely! thanks for looking at mine.

Sword of Fire and Ice is probably the second best card in my Neheb after Chandra ToD. both are great in that niether are essential, any Neheb deck can run neither and be fine, but the work they put in for me is phenomenal. Walking Ballista is great for Neheb and probably worth trying once it rotates in the fall. As you said I don't run it because of the direction I took my list, but many have success with it. I'd run it with Basilisk Collar for sure. It's very flexible and instant speed damage, and reminds me of Pyrohemia. Two other cons for it though; it cuts the damage in half with the XX cost(as opposed to an Earthquake X-spell), and it can draw hate when played at the wrong time. I've never fully tested it so let me know if you do.

I'd like to chime in on the Thermo-Alchemist vs Firebrand Archer. I think the Archer is much better, as it can deal more damage(triggering off of artifacts and enchantments, not just instants/sorceries, which is an additional 30% of your deck), and can also attack to get in extra damage if needed. In my own deck I need both of those, as I have a lower number of instants/sorceries and need to attack for Sword of X and Y triggers etc.

In regards to what scatteredsun is saying, Loreseeker's Stone is actually surprisingly good and easy to get going. At some point with mono red you realize that you need cards, desperately, and it doesn't matter the cost. I had a game where I drew 9 cards with it and won, so one can make it work.

Strionic Resonator is very good. But only run it if you have a good number of other triggered abilities to copy. In mine it's the Swords of X and Y, Fanatic of Mogis, Stormbreath Dragon, etc.

I don't believe in the concept of "win-more"... you either have won or are in danger of losing to the other 3-7 players. Just my opinion.

I haven't had much of a problem with it. I focused my deck on doing small amounts of damage to everyone. Folks don't seem to mind taking 2-3 damage, especially if everyone is. I can usually protect/end the game before they wise up.

I also try to time my setup when there are bigger more obvious threats on the board.

I also typically don't play this deck unless it's a 5 player game and it's easy to hide.

Love the comments guys, thanks!

scatteredsun that's good feedback, 5 player games definitely change how cards play. I typically play 3 or 4 player pods where there is a bit more of a "rock, paper, scissors" element to the interaction with opponents. My meta also plays a lot of interaction.

Suns_Champion I love the feedback thanks! A lot to unpack in your comment:

1) I will be building an "acquire list" segment in my primer to catalog cards that I intend to trade for or purchase. This will include planned or theorized cuts. Should make for some discussion, cuts are always nigh impossible for me!

2) Firebrand Archer is going to find a home.

3) Feedback on Strionic Resonator is appreciated. With more uses it might find a home here.

4) "Win-more" is an interesting and I suppose controversial topic, I agree. I mean to some degree EDH is All about "win-more" and it is one of the beautiful things about the format.

I think what I really mean when I say that term goes back to a concept in my primer of "Quadrant Theory". I view "win-more" cards as cards that are only good while we are in a commanding position. I only feel like I have 1 or 2 slots to dedicate in my entire deck to cards like that.

Likewise, with my card draw I want it to be good in the early game to help setup the mid/late game, and I want it to be good while things are not going smoothly to help me draw out of the situation. A card like Outpost Siege hits that sweet spot - comes down relatively early, helps me create velocity and develop a new board if something goes wrong. A card that to me embodies the opposite of that is Knollspine Dragon - only good when a lot of things go right. Loreseeker's Stone occupies an interesting space - it is pretty pricey at 9+ mana for the first 3 cards, but it is at it's best when things are going poorly and we are out of gas. I need to think about it, because for whatever reason I have found my current card draw suite to be sufficient, but my style of play is very patient so that could be driving my experiences as well.

Good stuff guys!

Philoctetes

No problem! I'm glad we can start having more in depth discussions about Neheb! Love it and look forward to further dialogue!

1) Sweet! Can't wait! Yeah after fine tuning my list for 6 months cuts are so difficult haha!

2) Glad I sold you Firebrand Archer. Only question is do you replace the Alchemist or compliment it?

3) If you snag a Sword of Fire and Ice and a few more good triggered effects, resonator will do well. It can always copy Neheb's trigger, but to shine(and preferably we want everything to really shine) you'll need some more juicy targets.

4) I like the Quadrant Theory. I guess we differ in philosophy slightly due to meta. I regularly play 8 player games where all of our decks are swingy, win outa nowhere decks. Neheb, Mizzix, Nekusar, Narset, Ezuri, etc. There literally is no such thing as a "commanding position" or "being ahead" haha! interesting to see the differences in meta effecting deckbuilding and playstyle.

I desperately need to test out Outpost Siege. Haven't gotten around to it. I'm scarred of all the exile this turn effects, I already have Chandra ToD and Prophetic Flamespeaker and I hate exiling late game stuff that I can't play :(

Suns_Champion

Made the cut and updated the primer! Tough cut but I cut Temple of the False God for The Archer. I hate cutting lands but it's not exactly a land, more of a ramp spell I feel.

Your meta sounds insane and fun! It is good to know what drives decisions, and that is certainly a different environment than my own.

Outpost Siege is one of my favorite red cards, so perhaps I am a bit biased, but I find it is just phenomenal. With your level of "Exile Draw" I get the hesitation, but I just find that as an enchantment the resiliency is so important for an effect like this one. It will consistently get you value. With the level of redundancy in your list, too, even if you exile a "game-breaker" you have so many more that can still be drawn!

I'm less sold on Vance's Blasting Cannons  ^Flip - not being able to play lands is a major downside. I am thinking of cutting it at some point, perhaps for that Sword of Fire and Ice I have yet to pick up :)

Side note - Sensei's Divining Top could help quite a lot in sculpting the flips. I may have to try to acquire another copy to shoehorn in here....

since you already have all the snow permanents i don't see any reason to keep Skred out of this deck, it's really good especially late game

Philoctetes! Played a couple games this week with my list, wanted to tell you about:

You should test out Loreseeker's Stone. Every game get this out I've won! Neheb can easily pay for the cards, Even if your hand is half-full still. Last night I played it turn 6, and drew 6 cards with it.

A shoutout to Humble Defector, who drew me 6 cards in one game! The politics involved are amazing! for 6 cards, not being attacked by a Uril, the Miststalker, and not having something Counterspelled is a sweet deal! Glad you run him too!

Still haven't had the chance to test Outpost Siege.

@Suns_Champion

Love the reports!

You continue to rave about Loreseeker's Stone - I think I have to test it out at this point! It is no doubt quite powerful.

Humble Defector is undoubtedly a powerhouse, I am actually considering running him in a couple of my Mardu decks at this point, I completely agree the politics of it all are an impressively powerful bonus on the draw.

I also played a game with Neheb this weekend. Ended up winning a 4 player pod, Dakkon Blackblade control, Kruphix, God of Horizons ramp/control, a friend borrowing my The Spirit of Self-Sacrifice Zurgo Helmsmasher piloted Aikido/control list, and myself on Neheb.

Kruphix got out to an early lead with a Seedborn Muse + Capsize lock on the table. I had a ramp heavy hand, doing nothing until turn 4 but landing Thran Dynamo followed by Hedron Archive + Caged Sun. I was identified as the biggest competition for the Kruphix player, who basically just forced me to re-deploy my ramp every turn with his Capsize lock.

At some point I had a miniature explosive turn dropping Neheb + Price of Progress instead of re-deploying ramp, playing Reforge the Soul and praying. I hit support pieces - Lightning Greaves and a few other things. Greaves + Neheb were summarily bounced in that order, setting us back to square 1.

Dakkon player interacted enough to force the Kruphix player to over-extend his own interaction, allowing the Zurgo player to wipe the board with a Blasphemous Act, Kruphix dropped the Capsize shields to save his Seedborn Muse bouncing to hand. I was next and was able to follow up with Neheb plus Lightning Greaves and Acidic Soil, generate big mana, Aggravated Assault and technically go infinite (my meta typically doesn't allow, but we needed the game to end so we called it!)

It was an oppressive game that we all felt was clearly over due to the Kruphix player's dominant early position, but Neheb can truly win from a lot of very behind situations!