Splinter Nin
Commander / EDH*
SCORE: 9 | 18 COMMENTS | 6070 VIEWS | IN 5 FOLDERS
Finding the Right Tutor —July 6, 2015
As the deck has become more combo-centric, I began to look for ways to efficiently and reliably find combo pieces. Both of this deck's combos require a creature, so I figured blue tutors wouldn't be helpful, and I didn't fill the 'yard quickly enough for Dig Through Time to be efficient. I figured my best option was Gamble.
Drawing seven new cards with Nin and seeing a Gamble and another combo piece meant that I could reasonably tutor up the missing link, with a slim chance to discard what I needed--or so I thought. I remembered that both combos operate strictly out of the hand, so the chance of discarding a key piece was effectively doubled. Despite how efficient Gamble is, it isn't the right tutor for this combo.
Drifting Phantasms is a card that I dismissed long ago. Actually, it was probably the right thing to do then, but I have reconsidered. Straight up, Drifting Phantasm protects me and Nin from taking unnecessary damage, it's a great target for Nin's ability, and the option to find any of 17 cards in this deck is excellent.
It may not look that potent, but Drifting Phantasms finds every combo piece except Kiki-Jiki/Splinter Twin. It finds Imperial Recruiter, which can find Kiki-Jiki. It also tutors for several other tools including Chaos Warp/Oblivion Stone, Burnished Hart/Coalition Relic, Darksteel Plate, Magus of the Moon, Mimic Vat, and Dack Fayden. That versatility is hard to ignore.
As it stands, Drifting Phantasms has earned a spot in the 99, but I will continue to watch this slot for better opportunities.