lilbrudder y not exotic orchard

Because I cut it for a spell. It definitely needs to go back in. What land would you suggest I cut for it?

Forbiddon orchard or a pain land

Pursonal tutor?

I'll cut a pain land. Forbidden orchard has some combo potential and taps for all colors. Personal tutor is a bit too limited for this decks needs.

I would suggest Transmute Artifact over Fabricate. The latter is incredibly slow and limited in use. Transmute Artifact lets you start the combo when you cast it while Fabricate forces you to cast Paradox Engine out of hand. Given the amount of rocks in this list, sacrificing one isn't an issue from testing.

I think Tainted Pact is reasonable as it represents any card in your deck. Unlike how cEDH plays it, I like the versatility of answering hatebears with a sweeper or setting your combo up. I don't think this deck is fragile enough that it can't afford to lose a couple of pieces. I would consider it over Ponder or Dark Petition. I do like that you've chosen Dark Petition over Bring to Light in this list.

I'm surprised I'm going to say this since I think one drop dorks are the best ramp in the game but I think Llanowar Elves doesn't do too much for this list. Adding green mana in your list is even worse than mine since I run a couple green answers. It's effectively a Boreal Druid which I don't think you need.

I think running both Aetherflux Resovoir and Walking Ballista makes this list a bit clunky.

I like that you've cut Past in Flames but I think even Snapcaster Mage felt clunky and less useful in my testing.

From testing Training Grounds feels out of place. If you're comboing off, your list is more aggressively costed than and once I go off, it's hard near impossible to brick. If you're playing for the more midrange game, I like it alot. I think the card itself has a lot of value as it makes up for itself the turn you activate Thrasios, Triton Hero. Let me know how testing it goes.

iamyoona: Thanks again for the feedback bud! With most decks I would agree with you on Fabricate, but literally every important card in the deck is an artifact (engine, top, ramp, scepter, key). In my testing Transmute Artifact was pretty bad most of the time and Fabricate has been very good. Yes it is slightly more mana intensive but its also much easier to cast since its not double blue and it doesnt blow up the very ramp I am using to power engine. Occassionally transmute works out ok, but far more often its a dead draw or the sacrafice sets me back a turn. I have never felt that way about fabricate and it has facilitated several turn 3-4 wins.

I am a big fan of Tainted Pact even outside of Food Chain decks as a cheaper but slightly more limited Dig Through Time effect and will definitely try it in place of Training Grounds as it has been a grindier play than I want. Totally agree its out of place here.

Ponder is great and I will never cut it. YOU HEAR ME! NEVER!! :-). I have been very happy with Dark Petition and will likely keep it as well.

I haven't tested snapcaster much but I feel as though I will agree its not worth it. There is a xxG regrowth effect that I cant remember the name of that may well be better. Then again I feel 3 recursion effects may be enough.

Ballista is clunky and I am replacing it with Grapeshot, which is much better for this deck for many reasons. Going below 2 true outlets is not an option since I refuse to play return from exile cards and dont want to encourage Praetor's Grasp players to get cheeky with me.

Llanowar Elves usually helps cast Thrasios on my combo turn so its never useless, but I am definitely avoiding more copies of him.

iamyoona: Ha I found it! Wildest Dreams. I will test this against snapcaster for a bit to see if either is worthy of a spot. I also think Plunge into Darkness may be something I try.

ok get rid of pact put in force of will i played it and 1 strip mine fucks u so change it

... I'm not sure you understand the point of Pact of Negation. The right time to use it is when you're comboing to finish and you need to protect against disruption. I agree Force of Will is better at utility and I have both in my list but I would never cut Pact of Negation in an combo list, especially one that is this all in.

Let me know how Wildest Dreams tests; I'm not sure I value the card past a way to continue the engine which I don't brick but maybe it'll perform better than I expect!

Yeah pact is only to be used on a combo turn or to screw over another player if you know you cant win but want to inflict pain before you die.

Ill stop being a hipster I guess and bring back force of will. You guys just want my curve to be fat and ugly...

On the Fabricate vs Transmute Artifact thing: have you considered trying Whir of Invention? Being an instant gives it a bit of an edge IMO. The looks heavy but I think your mana base can handle it.

The issue isnt my mana base to be honest. Yes I could probably cast it to get engine, but I would be paying 8 mana to do so, whereas Fabricate is an easy turn 2 play that facilitates a turn 3 win. The instant speed is very nice, but it doesn't offset the following two problems:

1) With few exceptions it is dead in my hand once engine is in play because I am often relying entirely upon mana dorks and rocks to cover the color costs at that point. If I can afford UUU, I probably am going to win with or without it.

2) The discount whir provides does not help since almost all my artifacts tap for mana already. If it was truly like convoke in that it covered color costs ot would be in the deck without a doubt, but that would be far too broken.

I think fabricate is a very meh tutor in general, but for this particular combo it is really great. It does everything I want it to do.

I see. I was thinking more in terms of sneaking a Mana Crypt or the Scepter in at the end of an opponent's turn than tutoring for the Engine.

In that capacity it may be very good and I didnt really consider the scepter applications. Given Whirs capacity to tap cards like Winters Orb and Static Orb, it could be great in a grindier midrange version of the deck. I am contemplating adding it to Leo as I adapted this combo to my Leo deck and will be playing that from now on instead of DD and high tide. Also since engine doesnt care about lands at all I can bring back winter's orb to Leo as I loved using it before I got all stormy