My take on UB cycling - A mechanic that provides consistency in your draws as you can usually dig for whatever piece of the strategy you need. Against most decks, untapping with Archfiend of Ifnir wins the game, as it provides repeatable boardwipes at a negligible cost.
Some cards are only in there as a 1-Mana cycler, e.g.
Scarab Feast
, Striped Riverwinder. However, depending on the match up, they provide main deck answers to some strategies, e.g. God Pharao's Gift or Control.
Even though the splash for red is for The Locust God, it rarely ever makes an appearance. I found that sticking Archfiend of Ifnir is enough to end most games. Curator of Mysteries keeps you on a cycling string, digging for more cyclers until you find what you need.
A card that really surprised me, despite the presence of Abrade is Abandoned Sarcophagus. We only play 2 to avoid drawing it early. However, having it mid to late game provides so much value. Let's us reuse creatues, and doubles up our main deck counters and card draw. A wonderful card that allows us to trade 1-for-1 more often in the early game (Don't be afraid of that double Censor value).
The neckbreaker of the deck is Glorybringer and we dedicate 3 slots in our SB just to fight it.
I ran this deck through many leagues with varying results. Many of 4:1s, lots of 3:2s and the occasional 2:3. It's hard to avoid being matched up vs Temur and losses are usually to it.
I found the deck highly enjoyable due to it's consistency, and because many decks (with the exception of Temur) cannot answer many X/4 flyers.
I'm currently on the verge of deciding to throw out 2x Faith of the Devoted in the SB and the sole Search for Azcanta
, which we mainly use to get stuff in the Graveyard for Abandoned Sarcophagus and as card filtering.
========== The Match Ups: ==========
=== Ramunap Red === Game One can be tricky, as you usually don't have a lot of spare time Cycling around to find the pieces you need.Mono Red doesn't have a whole lot of answers for our X/4s. Usually they eat two burn spells, which prevents them from going face. I found myself losing rarely if you get to untap with an Archfiend of Ifnir.
Luckily, we have good sideboard options.
Sideboarded Games
Out: 2x
Locust God
, 2x Countervailing Winds, 1x Search for Azcanta
In: 2x Battle at the Bridge, 3x Chandra's Defeat
If possible, Battle at the Bridge should be saved for Hazoret the Fervent. Chandra's Defeat gives us pretty good coverage if they decide to go big red, boarding in Chandra, Torch of Defiance or Glorybringer.
=== UW Approach: ===
Game one is so-so. Usually, Vile Manifestation is a good wincon, as it grows pretty fast. Our 4x Censor and 2x Countervailing winds maindeck help. Archfiend of Ifnir is usually a dead card. Untapping with Locust God wins the game. This is a match up where Abandoned Sarcophagus shines, since sticking it mid to late game gives you back all Censors and Countervailing Winds, which you either used earlier, or cycled away for new cards. Worst case, it eats a Cast Out.
Sideboard Games
Out: 4x Archfiend of Ifnir, 4x Fatal Push
In: 3x Duress, 2x Countervailing Winds, 2x Nimble Obstructionist, 1x Lost LegacyDuress is obvious, while Nimble Obstructionist can unexpectedly pressure Gideon of the Trials, or stifle Cast Out.
=== God Pharao's Gift: ===
Main deck
Scarab Feast
and Abrade is key in Game One. Most of their creatures die to 2x cycling with Archfiend of Ifnir out, and I have had games where you just grind your way through an active God-Pharao's Gift. They won't have main deck answers to Archfiend of Ifnir, so sticking one or two usually wins you the game on the spot.
Sideboard Games:
Out: 4x Fatal Push, 1x Search for Azcanta
, 2x Vile Manifestation
In: 2x Nimble Obstructionist, 3x Duress, 2x Countervailing Winds
The sideboard is straight forward. I especially like Nimble Obstructionist here, because it can stifle their Gate to the Afterlife trigger.
=== UWx Tokens: ===
We are absolutely favored here. Archfiend of Ifnir presents repeatable instant board wipes at a negligible cost. Game one is usually a walk in the park, while we must be aware of Ixalan's Binding post board.
Sideboard Games:
Out: 4x Fatal Push, 4x Vile Manifestation
In: 3x Duress, 2x Countervailing Winds, 1x Lost Legacy
More counters to prevent Fumigate and more protection for Archfiend of Ifnir. Lost Legacy can take Vraska, Relic Seeker or Anointed Procession.
=== Temur Energy: ===
This is the toughest match up, mainly because of Glorybringer. All of our hard-to-remove threats (at least for other decks) are 4/4s, which Glorybringer just tears through. You have a shot to win game one only if they don't have it.
Sideboard Games
Out: 4x Vile Manifestation, 2x Abandoned Sarcophagus, 2x
Scarab Feast
In: 3x Chandra's Defeat, 3x Duress, 2x Countervailing Winds
Chandra's Defeat is our best way to fight Glorybringer. Fatal Push to be used on Longtusk Cub. Again, untapping with Archfiend of Ifnir goes a long way, as it takes care of Thopter tokens and Bristling Hydra.
=== UB Control: ===
I found myself losing rarely, if ever, to The Scarab God. Archfiend of Ifnir naturally cycles it to death. Note that you should preferably do this at your end step, as they only get it back to their hand at the end of their turn. Game one Curator of Mysteries and Archfiend of Ifnir eat their Vraska's Contempts, opening The Locust God up as a win condition.
Scarab Feast
is good value to fight their Search for Azcanta
or Torrential Gearhulk at instant speed.Sticking an Abandoned Sarcophagus mid to late game just provides you with so many options that grinds their 1-for-1 strategy put. Games get even better postboard
Sideboard Games
Out: 4x Fatal Push, 2x Abrade, 1x Curator of Mysteries
In: 2x Countervailing Winds, 3x Duress, 2x Faith of the Devoted
Sticking a Faith of the Devoted usually just outright wins, as they don't have an answer to remove it.
