Simic Infinite Counters Combo deck help

Modern Deck Help forum

Posted on July 25, 2017, 11:05 a.m. by StoryArcher

Good day, all. I have a core concept that I'd really like to turn into a competitive Modern deck if its possible.

(EDIT: if you wish, you can view my updated deck here - Simic Counter-Combo)

These are the primary cards:

Combos:

(Leech Bonder + Paradise Mantle + Hardened Scales + Fathom Mage will allow infinite draws as well, but I'm not automatically including it due to its higher casting cost and the fact that it would be a bit redundant with the Sage of Hours combo.)

So here's my quandary - how to turn that core of 20 cards into an effective and competitive deck strategy. I started off with the following:

Let's say I go with those - that leaves 12 slots. At the moment, some of the options I'm eyeing hardest are:

For card draw/counter creation (3):

For protection/disruption (8):

And then there are the 'X-Factor' cards, cards which could accelerate the combo like Summoner's Pact or give me alternate win conditions, like Helix Pinnacle or Sphinx's Tutelage. At this point I'm mentally dealing with a bit of 'option paralysis', so any and all help in sifting through the possibilities would be more appreciated.

Qolorful says... #2

You're point for fathom mage is.. I want to say weak. You are creating infinite mana in multiple ways, and card draw is so important there is no reason not to run it. It will almost always be good for you. As for the rest. Cards that aid consistency. Answers for things that will stop your combos. Will make the deck feel better I think

July 25, 2017 11:22 a.m.

StoryArcher says... #3

Qolorful,

I appreciate you taking the time to offer input. The primary reason that I didn't include Fathom Mage was a combination of its redundancy with Sage of Hours (infinite turns will give infinite draws, along with a host of other things) and the fact that I think I really need those slots for the cards that will aid in consistency and answer things that might stop my combos. Can you make any suggestions on that front?

July 25, 2017 11:33 a.m.

StoryArcher says... #4

Anyone think Ancestral Vision might actually be too slow here?

July 25, 2017 11:36 a.m.

Epidilius says... #5

Leech Bonder + Paradise Mantle + Devoted Druid

Wouldn't this just kill your Bonder or Druid? You would need a way to generate +1/+1 counters for free to get infinite mana from this.

July 25, 2017 11:53 a.m.

StoryArcher says... #6

Epidilius, good point.

It would be more accurate in that case to say that I can generate as many -1/-1 counters as I might need (to, say, clear my opponent's creatures from the board), rather than to simply say 'infinite', and of course to gain the mana that goes with it.

July 25, 2017 12:02 p.m.

aholder7 says... #7

One thing I want to make sure is covered. The Leech Bonder combo as I see it can only move counters around (albeit with Hardened Scales it can make more +1/+1 counters) but it can not get rid of them. Sure you can put your -1/-1 counters on your opponents creatures but eventually they will die. So how do you get infinite mana from this? With scales and already having a +1/+1 counter you could get the counters to cancel out. But now we need a lot more moving pieces.

For your infinite +1/+1 counters it's important to note that even with Hardened Scales you do still need at least one +1/+1 counter to start. Sage of Hours doesn't bring any in and I don't recall seeing any spells that target him in your list. Fathom Mage can get one assuming you play another bigger creature after (not terribly hard but not necessarily a given).

July 25, 2017 12:04 p.m.

StoryArcher says... #8

aholder7 - the original post contained Birds of Paradise from an older version, rather than the Cloudfin Raptor that eventually replaced it; I've updated the post to fix that.

Between the raptor, Give / Take and the other potential options, I would hope that would be enough to get me the counter(s) I need to trigger.

July 25, 2017 12:08 p.m.

Switch303 says... #9

Obelisk Spider as a good defender and alternate method of winning the game.

January 18, 2018 2:20 a.m.

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