Urza Feeling Lucky - cEDH Primer #1 Mono Blue

"#1 Mono Blue"

"#1"

It's the #1 Mono Blue general out... No where does this build claim to be the #1 deck... Even though that's very debatable. Skillville

I'm not high on Aetherflux Reservoir for Urza in cEDH. The games where I've tried it felt like it was a card that wasn't needed. If I'm already at the point where I can untap and tap with Paradox Engine at will and generating infinite mana and draw I should be able to just loop something to win that is a card I would already otherwise be running for interaction purposes. If I can just Pongify my general and replay him to create an infinite army of Apes and Constructs then the Aetherflux Reservoir is a dead card at any point in the game. It was just about the very first thing I cut and I've been very pleased with that decision.

Skillville: At this point isn't every cEDH deck with a copy and paste with a stock list of permissions, cantrips, and mana rocks with the only difference being the last few slots?

jaymc1130 - Yeah I was feeling the same way. Your comment confirms that Aetherflux Reservoir is getting cut. Enough cards on the sideboard to swap in + add Pongify for the extra removal.

ToffMcSoft - You damn dirty Ape making machine you!

I've been surprised by how often and Urza deck actually seems to win via combat damage. His construct is not legendary so you can sometimes wind up with multiple 20/20 beaters hanging around masquerading as mana dorks. Adding an army of Apes to the army of Frogs, Constructs, and Swans just takes it over the top in terms of win con resiliency while dropping the curve and improving the level of interaction available.

I've been working on my list here: Looper

Can you explain the new Jace vs Lab Man. Everybody seems to be running it, but I honestly don’t understand how a planeswalker that costs 1 more mana and is prone to being attacked is better. Am I missing something?

@ bkelly8401 As to why run Jace over Lab Man the reasoning is this: Lab Man is essentially a dead card whenever you draw it and aren't actually in the process of going off then and there. Jace at least provides some relevant utility outside of being a win condition. He can be played after an opponent top deck tutors to disrupt the tutor target. He can draw a card. And he can potentially bait opposing players into attacking him rather than your life total which can some times buy some breathing room. The downside to this utility is that he's harder to cast than a Lab Man. Personally, I don't run either card in anything because even with the extra utility on Jace it's not enough for me to warrant playing him for that much mana for that little expected value.

bkelly8401 there's also a lot less Planeswalker removal. Very rarely will you be casing Jace/Lab man unless your winning. If you have to cast Jace to dig in and draw a card, times are real rough lol. Most likely that's a situation where Urza has been recasted 3 times, current sits in the command zone and you're stuck looking for a hail Mary.

I don’t think you should cut aetherflux reservoir it’s one of the best cards in the game

It’s gets you back in the game It wins you the game It taps for one blue mana

Honestly people saying to cut that don’t know what they’re talking about

@ shadowmage When it comes to Aetherflux Reservoir consider this: at any point in the game where you will be going off and Reservoir would win you the game a dozen other less mana intensive options would also win. The card serves no utility purpose beyond winning the game as life gain in cEDH typically isn't relevant. And any opening hand in which you have it instead of something like Swan Song or Rapid Hybridization is going to be opening hand you are likely to have to mulligan. Using it in any cEDH deck at this point is typically a mistake as you sacrifice deck efficiency, consistency, and interactivity. A mana intensive dead card in 99% of situations is not a card you want to run against the most competitive and well tuned decks in the format.

@ shadowmage & jaymc1130 - More then likely aetherflux reservoir is going to make it back into the list. Cursed totem shuts off Urza too easily and there's not enough removal for that. Need the backup win con.

@ ToffMcSoft If your reasoning for returning Aetherflux Reservoir to the list is that Cursed Totem is a problem when you are far more likely to find an opponent with Stony Silence , Null Rod , or Karn, the Great Creator then you've only increased your difficulties on average over an arbitrary sample size set of games. You'd be better off, using that reasoning, adding in a card like Into the Roil to help find a way around all of those cards than to opt into either of 2 choices where neither one deals with any of those cards.

Oooffft Nice version!

How has Manifold Insights and Recurring Insight been working out for you? and I feel like Trickbind might be a bit too narrow don't you think could add more bounce for the combo turn cursed totem removal?

And I see you've been plagued by our "pro's" amongst the casuals jaymc1130 and Skillville, a VERY sad bunch of casuals xD Anyhow good list!