This deck has its roots in the mid-90s when I tried to parry my friend's Type 1 black discard with a red/blue draw deck. The Rack vs. Black Vise. Turns out making your opponent draw a lot of cards is a pretty tenuous path to victory. That deck eventually became a 60 card pure blue counter-everything deck with 4 Force of Wills (purchased from the former NYC staple Neutral Ground), etc. As a 13 year old at local tournaments I vanquished 35 year olds living in their mom's basements (I assume) even though they were running cards like Library of Alexandria and Black Lotus - so it is very near and dear to my heart. Several years ago, I combined that old deck with a few cards I had sitting around, purchased some supplemental cards, and created this EDH version, my first EDH deck.
The deck has gone through many iterations over the last few years. The struggle has always been the quintessential question - how do you win? Currently - the game plan is to ramp super hard (15+ pieces of ramp) into my ultra powerful blue heavy hitters - Expropriate, Time Stretch, Blatant Thievery, etc. And the deck mostly wants to play at instant speed (25+ instants) unless you are dropping one of those bombs. Open to suggestions!
September 2021 Deck Changes
Out
Decoy Gambit - Never got to cast it. But likely too conditional.
In
Memory Deluge - big fan of this card. in this deck it is likely 3 cmc look at 3 cards draw 2 of them at instant speed. with a reusable 6 cmc look at 6 cards draw 2 from the graveyard at instant speed.
October 2021 Deck Changes
Out
Endless Atlas - realize that it doesn't synergize with the rest of the deck. I want to be playing instants and sorceries and at instant speed. Plus first time activation = 4 mana for one card. Blue has better options
In
Jwari Disruption
- Swapping out an island for this. I'm a bit on the fence though. This deck has some basic island synergy. And doesn't want lands coming in tapped late. We'll see how it plays
Behold the Multiverse - replacing endless atlas above. the foretell ability is very relevant planning out my turns to leave enough mana open for counterspells
November 2021 Deck Changes
In
Hullbreaker Horror - Another card for my 'what I'm ramping to' category. i.e. another haymaker wincon, which the deck struggles to find. Flash + can't be countered is a lovely combination. Once it’s down A) I can start bouncing shit at will B) my instant draw spells become counter spells. People aren't going to like to see the Horror.
Aetherspouts - Had previously cut this card - but realizing how powerful it is. A fog is backbreaking enough, to lose a turn essentially, but to have those creatures go to your library can just lose someone the game.
Out
Midnight Clock - Realizing this isn't exactly what the deck wants to do, even though it is a cool card. It wants to ramp hard - so the fact that this rock disappears in a few turns means it isn't a good fit.
Overwhelming Intellect - If this was like Desertion - where I could counter any spell but if I countered a creature I would get this effect, I still like the card, even with its high cost. But the fact that it can only counter a creature spell at 6 cmc - too narrow
December 2021 Deck Changes
In
Flood of Recollection - i dont really have a way to abuse archaeomancer other than rite of replication, which would be a rare choice. so this is half the cmc.
Thaumatic Compass
- replacing maze of ith. solves the problem of working against what the deck wants to do - which is ramp hard.
Into the Roil - i think i want more cheap board removal here? testing it out - will add blink of an eye if it is good
Also this month - sold back my foil palinchron which used to be in this deck. and purchased back a non foil one for a tenth of the price. here's to store credit!
Out
Archaeomancer - see above flood of tears explanation
Maze of Ith - i was so excited for this card back on the day when i splurged for it. the truth is... a land that doesn't tap for mana, i can't miss a land drop for. and in this deck specifically - i want to be hard ramping every turn.
deck:Desertion (CN2) - too conditional/pricy
January 2022 Deck Changes
In
Blink of an Eye - i think this and its twin, into the roil, which i added last month, are going to be quality in this deck. often 1 mana bounce anything or 3 mana bounce and draw with baral out. lets me protect myself early which is key.
Wavebreak Hippocamp - i had previously cut this - but think it is good. i have 27 instant + 2 flash creatures so this can become a nice little engine. who is going to waste removal on it too.
1x Mission Briefing (GRN)
Out
Flood of Recollection - i dont know if i need a slot for recursion in this deck - every card is a powerful banger. and early the card is dead
Stroke of Genius - have been wanting to cut one of these x draw spells for a while. this with baral out = 4 mana draw 2. commanders insight = 4 mana draw 3. pull from tomorrow = 4 mana draw 3 discard 1. so think this is the worst one.
January 2022 Deck Changes Part II
In
Mission Briefing - now this is the recursion i've been looking for!!! instant speed, surveil, under $1. i had no idea this card existed.
Also... thinking about adding an island based on the high cmc of the deck. And I never ever want to miss a land drop here, even on turn 8. Plus an island for arcane lighthouse
Out
Arcane Lighthouse - i have very few things that target anyway, would rather the island
Blink of an Eye - need space for mission briefing which im excited about. just have room for one of these - into the roil, even though thats weird.
Capsize - has been in the deck for 20 years. think the buyback cost just isnt worth it. want another island because of the high cmc of the deck.
Jwari Disruption
- I don’t want tapped lands ever here. And have better counters.
February 2022 Deck Changes
In
Resculpt - think this card is great actually. adding it to a bunch of decks this month
Otawara, Soaring City - perfect in this deck where i always hold up mana. pull an island for it
Out
Into the Roil - with the two added removal can likely spare this. between this and artificers epiphany. but i can run out of gas hard in the deck.
May 2022 Deck Changes
In
Thassa's Intervention - modal 3 cmc draw 2 (with baral out) or counterspell in a pinch. joins cryptic command, mystic confluence, and archmage's charm in this valuable instant speed draw/counter slot.
Out
Artificer's Epiphany - above is a strict upgrade with baral out. card has been on the bubble for a while in this very powerful deck.
November 2022 Deck Changes
In
Adding an island - adding a land to each of my decks this month - try to increase my land count
Out
Mind's Dilation - fun, but not worth 7 mana i dont think. if im behind on board this does nothing - people can just smack me. not to mention i can hit crap on most triggers with it
February 2023 Deck Changes
In
Mindsplice Apparatus - i think this is an upgrade? flash lets me hold up removal. if i can, i drop it. get immediate value. and then it accumulates. worst comes to worst it soaks up removal.
Out
Solemn Simulacrum - pretty close between this card and the replacement. both net me mana for the following turn, this one more permanently. but mindsplice lets me hold it up and accumulates value.
May 2023 Deck Changes
In
Meeting of Minds - maybe the best 4 cmc draw 2 now? and i already have a few of those in here. with baral out, this is 2 cmc draw 2 instant speed
Out
Mindsplice Apparatus - just added, but think it ain't quite good enough
September 2023 Deck Changes
In
The Irencrag - deck loves ramp
Quick Study - 2 cmc instant draw 2 with baral out
Out
Thryx, the Sudden Storm - 5 cmc ramps me one, not good enough. though ill miss the comfort of that counter clause
Wavebreak Hippocamp - quick study immediately gets me two cards at the same mana
January 2024 Deck Changes
In
Omniscience - in a deck all about ramping to giant win cons - this one seems like a lot of fun. looking forward to the groans
Out
card:1x Swan Song - great card, deck is just tight
