The Deck
This is an Azorius control deck that was originally built around the combo of Teferi's Protection + Elite Arcanist and expanded from there into the deck it is today. Taigam, Ojutai Master allows us to do this without fear of this being countered.
The plan of the deck is to find the pieces necessary to generate infinite untap and use it to:
- Draw cards.
- Ping opponents to death.
- Deck your opponents.
- Remove all permanents your opponents control from the battlefield.
- Remove yourself from the fight and let your opponents fight it out.
- Be the only one able to resolve spells.
- Be the only one taking turns (effectively infinite turns).
- Beat your opponents to death with a wizard bird army.
The combo's:
Infinite untap. (More than 2 mana results in generating infinite mana) (Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal) or (Isochron Scepter + Paradox Engine + any 2cmc or less instant that can be appropriately used such as Brainstorm (same thing can be done with Elite Arcanist if necessary) and Thran Dynamo or Sol Ring or Mana Vault or Gilded Lotus.
Infinite draw. Infinite untap + Azami, Lady of Scrolls or Arcanis the Omnipotent.
Can also be done with infinite mana and Sphinx's Revelation or Pull from Tomorrow or Blue Sun's Zenith. It's also possible with the Paradox Engine variation of the infinite untap using Brainstorm or Hallowed Moonlight or Cryptic Command/Mystic Confluence on Elite Arcanist if you have the mana rocks for it.
Infinite ping. Infinite untap + Staff of Nin or Aetherflux Reservoir which also gains absurd amounts of life.
Infinite counter. Any combination of mana rocks producing 2 mana or more + Paradox Engine + Isochron Scepter + Mana Drain or Counterspell or Swan Song. This can also work with Paradox Engine + Elite Arcanist + mana rocks able to produce the mana necessary to cast Disallow/Summary Dismissal/Mindbreak Trap/Cryptic Command/Mystic Confluence or Time Stop all of which have their own benefits
- Cryptic Command and Mystic Confluence are very flexible.
- Disallow/Summary Dismissal and Time Stop remove triggers from the stack (Paradox Engine untap trigger will resolve first as it is placed onto the stack after the spell).
- Summary Dismissal/Mindbreak Trap and Time Stop exile spells from the stack.
- Time Stop allows you to end the turn at instant speed as you please. With this you effectively make an infinite turn combo that is unaffected by ability's preventing the taking of infinite turns.
You can also lock out opponents with the Decree of Silence + Solemnity combo or use Dovescape to stop the casting of noncreature spells while allowing yourself to still cast instant and sorcery spells with Taigam, Ojutai Master. I've found this to be particular fun with any variation of the infinite untap combo as although the spell is not countered you still get the birds, as many as you want, Coupled with Arcane Adaptation naming wizard allows you to buff them with Final Iteration (the flip of Docent of Perfection
) draw more cards with Azami, Lady of Scrolls or bounce your opponents nonland permenants with Galecaster Colossus. Using Guile along with any of these counter-locks is funny as hell and I'd suggest slamming it when you find it.
Untouchable. Elite Arcanist with Teferi's Protection and mana necessary to cast it can effectively put you out of your opponents reach, this can be improved with Lightning Greaves to protect it, Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir, Grand Abolisher and Linvala, Keeper of Silence to prevent interaction during your turn, make sure to phase out at the end of your turn to make yourself much harder to deal with. just be extremely careful of Stasis and damage cannot be prevented Infect as they are the only possible way to kill you with this set up. win the game effects also bypass you so I'd suggest not phasing out and leaving up interaction if you suspect cards like Laboratory Maniac are your opponents win cons.
The stuff that matters.
Card draw/advantage/deck manipulation
Tutors
Board clears
Targeted removal
Utility
- Taigam, Ojutai Master, Instants and Sorcery's can't be countered + rebound value (not that I use it much).
- Pull from Eternity, when someone removes something that actually matters.
- Day's Undoing, hand and grave reset (budget Timetwister).
- Elixir of Immortality, grave reset + life.
- Fractured Identity, fun for the whole table also funny as hell.
- Reliquary Tower + Thought Vessel + Nezahal, Primal Tide, no max hand size.
- Leyline of Anticipation, instant speed play.
- Containment Priest + Hallowed Moonlight, cost cheating hate (crushes the dreams of most Meren of Clan Nel Toth players.
- Solemnity, combo piece but also hate vs Infect, +1 counter, and Experience counter commanders.
- The Immortal Sun, planeswalker hate + card draw, cost reduction and anthem effect.
- Nephalia Academy, discard protection.
- Homeward Path, anti creature theft.
- Arcane Lighthouse + Detection Tower, hexproof/shroud removal.
- Minamo, School at Water's Edge, originally a combo piece with Willbreaker now a good bargaining chip.
Any suggestions will be appreciated. Currently I'm looking for a spot for Force of Will and Rest in Peace (always need more hate).
