Oh, Sol Ring. When I first built the list I omitted Sol Ring in protest of the RC. It should probably be in. Probably will go in at some point. Might be what I replace Boonweaver with if it comes out.
You'll find that a lot of my deck decisions are based on aesthetic reasons rather than good play choices. Harmonic Sliver just has a prettier foil, that's about it. I do the same thing in RuPaul's Drag Race, running the judge foil Orim's Chant over Silence purely because of the artwork.
Strip Mine and Wasteland were in for a while. I usually feel like those cards only truly shine in this format if you're also running Crucible, but they certainly have their merits normally. I'm on a bit of a crusade against non-basics that aren't pivotal to deck function (fetches, fetchables, key utility lands e.g.). Lands that don't tap for colored mana just feel terrible, and I found myself almost never actually using them for their intended purpose. If I were to add one back, I'd probably add Ghost Quarter back first, since at least that can awkwardly help you fix your own mana.
I haven't tried Eidolon, but I've tried Mentor in the past. They could both be good. Last time I tried Mentor I found the card underwhelming, but it was a very different build of the deck than I have now.
I've used Mirror Entity in the past to get around things like Null Rod, when used in conjunction with Boonweaver + Pattern of Rebirth. You keep getting reanimators into play until eventually you pattern into Harmonic Sliver and blow up the Rod. Generally speaking it's just there for resilience's sake, but I've also used it to buff my creatures and put pressure on another player.
Fetch cycle may get finished, but foil fetches are freaking expensive haha.
April 14, 2017 2:45 p.m.
Loving this.
How about Angel of Glory's Rise? Have you already tried and cut it? Goes infinite with saffi.
May 9, 2017 2:19 p.m.
Yeah, I tried it for a while and ultimately cut it for Boonweaver, which then got cut for Protean Hulk - seven mana is just a ton. I did like that it could bring back Mirror Entity as well, so you could do goofy things with Angel, Saffi, Mirror Entity, and Fiend Hunter, for example. It's cute, but I don't think it makes the cut any more.
May 9, 2017 4:39 p.m.
Fair enough. Do you think there's any merit to playing both protean hulk and boonweaver, to play around Extract and the like?
May 9, 2017 5:49 p.m.
-Logician - since the combo density is already so high (in terms of things that combo with Saffi), it's not really an issue. There's no single card that they can exile to stop the deck, so losing Hulk/Boonweaver doesn't really stop things. It's a benefit to having half the combo in the command zone at all times.
enpc - better than Boonweaver, certainly. Being able to maintain priority and then immediately get value out of it is huge, compared to Boonweaver getting disrupted in response to the trigger. It's just a lot more resilient because they have to exile it from your yard to keep you from getting value out of it if you have a sac outlet. Where Boonweaver was a strong maybe, Hulk is a must-include at this point, imo.
May 9, 2017 7:10 p.m.
+1 for the name and b/c there is someone commenting named Mr Krabs
So much win
May 10, 2017 1:16 a.m.
On the stax theme, what're your thoughts on Hokori, Dust Drinker, Tsabo's Web, Choke and Spirit of the Labyrinth?
May 12, 2017 1:08 a.m.
I've considered Spirit for a little while - I'd have to find a cut for it but I wouldn't be entirely opposed. It shuts off Skullclamp and Greater Good (though I know you don't love Greater Good, eheh), but I suppose I can sac it with either if I absolutely have to.
I've tried Hokori, but four mana is just so much when I'm not actively dodging the effect. If I had more mana rocks and dorks maybe, but the last time it was in I was unsatisfied.
Choke might be worthwhile, and Tsabo's Web can be useful in the right meta, but those aren't super high on my radar at the moment. Choke would come in before Web, for sure.
May 12, 2017 2:36 p.m. Edited.
Hey, I'm running GG now :P Renegade Rallier was the tipping point for me on that one.
May 12, 2017 6:05 p.m.
enpc - since I don't feel like paying the current price for a foil Protean Hulk at the moment I'm just playing Spirit of the Labyrinth in it's spot - I already had a foil on-hand and swapping a 7-drop for a 2-drop feels sweet. I'll let you know how Spirit goes.
If you try Hulk in your build, let me know how it turns out. Something tells me the threat density is already high enough in the deck without it, but idk.
May 17, 2017 12:49 p.m.
Nim Deathmantle doesn't really do anything in this. Saffi is always available in the command zone, so Deathmantle is just unnecessary.
May 19, 2017 4:41 p.m.
Updated the list with most of the alters - I still need to grab pictures of the last few.
May 22, 2017 4:08 p.m.
Thanks! Eric Klug is insanely talented. I'm waiting on a Karmic Guide and a Reveillark from him to complete the set (along with the Sun Titan).
May 22, 2017 5:04 p.m.
Yeah, saw the Sun Titan as well. Very impressed. Should get a Blasting Station done the same so your whole combo matches :P
May 22, 2017 5:26 p.m.
Ah, I already have RockyAlters working on a Blasting Station. I was thinking about having Klug do the Renegade Rallier as well, since it's also a part of the combo.
May 23, 2017 1:14 a.m. Edited.
I like this list a lot! Would Hall of Gemstone make sense to delay your opponents? I've had luck using it to keep people off of their mana, but usually I'm using it in a monocolored deck, or I have mana rocks that can produce colored mana.
May 31, 2017 10:33 a.m.
freakingShane says... #23
Those art nouveau-style alters (your Saffi, Sun Titan, Karmic Guide, and the likes) are absolutely amazing. Klug does amazing work.
+1 for the alters (and for the deck, of course!). Haha.
And if you don't mind me asking, how much did those alters run you?
June 5, 2017 6:52 p.m.
The Klugs ran $400 apiece, but they were absolutely worth it.
enpc says... #1
So first off, I really like the direction you've taken the deck in. I've always been interested in stax build Saffi, and this seems strong.
A few questions/comments:
Why no Sol Ring? It's one of the most powerful ramp pieces in the game and it helps basically every deck. It feel silly not to run it.
Harmonic Sliver should probably be Reclamation Sage. Better body, easier to cast. Unless you come up against a lot of Priest of Titanias it's a direct upgrade in moat circumstances.
If you're running a stax/tax deck, Strip Mine and Wasteland are right at home. I personally think that unless you're a super greedy combo deck, you should be at least running Strip Mine.
have you considered cards like Mentor of the Meek and Eidolon of Blossoms? Both would work well here and I have been impressed by both of them.
how does Mirror Entity go? I've always seen this card as underwhelming.
Other than that the list looks tight. I'm presuming you're going to finish the cycle of fetches?
April 14, 2017 6:53 a.m.