Running with Scissors POST Battle?
Standard forum
Posted on Aug. 2, 2015, 10:14 p.m. by Karbon_Kamakazi
Can Izzet Thopters still be viable after we lose Shrapnel Blast and Ensoul Artifact?
Karbon_Kamakazi says... #3
I feel that the deck can be viable because Shrapnel Blast got reprinted in the form of Fiery Conclusion. That being said, we're still losing Ensoul Artifact if it doesn't get so much as a Spiritual reprint.
August 2, 2015 10:22 p.m.
Ah, forgot about Fiery Conclusion. Shrapnel Blast still better, but yeah. Ensoul Artifact is a huge blow though.
August 2, 2015 10:26 p.m.
reverendvile777 says... #5
Hate to be that guy, but Fiery Conclusion does not replace Shrapnel Blast. Read a little closer.
August 2, 2015 10:32 p.m.
Karbon_Kamakazi says... #6
Yeah, I know that Fiery Conclusion is not as good as Shrapnel Blast, but you're losing so much after M15 and Theros are gone. You can sub in the one-drop Artifact Creatures in Post Standard and still have the same effect.
August 2, 2015 10:35 p.m.
reverendvile777 says... #7
Except it doesn't hit players so the card is pretty much useless.
August 2, 2015 10:55 p.m.
reverendvile777 says... #8
At that point, you might as well just play Roast if you want removal or Collateral Damage if you want something to kill Hangarback Walker.
August 2, 2015 10:57 p.m.
I don't think that the 
Thopters deck will be a thing once M15 rotates. Shrapnel Blast is one thing, but Ensoul Artifact really made the deck tic. You can see from Mike Sigrit's Quaterfinal and Semifinal matches, that an unanswered Ensoul Artifact really just wins the game. Plus losing Ornithopter and Darksteel Citadel really hurts because of the lack of a free artifact to play for Thopter Spy Network and Ensoul Artifact.
August 2, 2015 11:08 p.m.
Dalektable says... #10
Is the argument seriously being made for Fiery Conclusion, essentially a worse Roast? Anyways, try as I might without help the deck won't survive rotation.
August 2, 2015 11:11 p.m.
Karbon_Kamakazi says... #11
OK, so here's a better question. Are there any current "reprints" of Ensoul Artifact?
August 2, 2015 11:18 p.m.
Oh shoot Fiery Conclusion only hits creatures haha. Yeaaaahhh artifacts is doomed.
August 2, 2015 11:20 p.m.
Kalibroxin says... #13
My deck Mirror Mirror on the Rogue... doesn't use Ensoul Artifact and only 2 copies of Shrapnel Blast in the main deck. I'll be fine without them. Check it out to get ideas.
August 3, 2015 8:17 a.m.
Pia and Kiran Nalaar, Whirler Rogue, Thopter Engineer, Thopter Spy Network, Hangarback Walker, Ghostfire Blade and the small BFZ Eldrazi will help us hang on to thoptermania
September 8, 2015 11:48 a.m.
Without Ensoul Artifact there's no reason to play Ornithopter or Darksteel Citadel... so losing them is meaningless... except that they make room for other/better cards.
As for Shrapnel Blast, I would look at Collateral Damage over Fiery Conclusion (with FC in sideboard). It still allows you to sac a Hangarback Walker or a Thopter token for burst damage... but Collateral Damage can still go to the face.
Although I would want to wait and see the rest of what BfZ provides, I would say there is still a decent deck to be made... especially if there is a way to make it 3-color. It just won't have the same 'umph' that an Ensouled Citadel provided.
Wabbbit says... #2
Possibly, but definitely not top tier, assuming it doesn't get huge help from BFZ. Shrapnel Blast and Ensoul Artifact are the heart and soul (ensoul?) of the deck, it loses most of its viability with losing them. You'll probably see a couple decks like it running around, but I doubt serious pro play like we've seen in Pro Tour Origins. If you were thinking of investing in it, I would not.
August 2, 2015 10:17 p.m.