Really like the deck so far. Any chance the budget list will come back?

imSandstorm: Yup, I'm making the fully tuned version first and then deconstructing it to a budget version in a separate list to give budget players a feasible way to slowly upgrade their budget base.

Gotcha. Thank you!

Cool deck, will be used as inspiration to some of the upgrades I'm planing to do in my own version. Just one question though: How often are you able to activate Mistveil Plains? (considering that you're only running four white permanents in the deck)

bellyrub: It's actually pretty reliable. I run every fetchland and fetchable duals in the deck so getting is pretty easy for me.

Sorry, my question might have been unclear. I get that you can easily have three white available to cast your permanents. I mean that since you're only running four white permanents (especially with Dawn Charm probably not staying on board that long except to threat removal). How often do you acctually have two on borad? (to meet the requirement to activate Mistveil Plains)

bellyrub: Mistveil plains is meant to be activated late game and as a backup to elixir of immortality. I technically only need one white permanent since I have access to Raff already. With the card draw engine online getting to the second white permanent is pretty easy. I might actually cut it in the future after more play testing.

I love the deck, so much so that I'm building it paper right now! Just one question, what is your opinion on using In Bolas's Clutches as a sort of flash spot removal/politics machine?

faver18: I've tested it and honestly not a big fan of it because it requires you to have a legendary creature out and it's 6 mana. I would run Vedalken Shackles/Empress Galina/Memnarch over it. Glad you like the deck!

Neat deck cool backdrop

How do you usually use Honor-Worn Shaku during a game?

OneManClan: It's a great mana rock in general. I usually use it with Raff to generate at least ...obviously it can generate a lot more with more legendary permanents in play. It also synergies with Paradox Engine very well.

Been following and slowly upgrading the budget version of this for a while. Wanted to pick your brain about some of the recent changes. Was the mangara + crystal shard combo not working out for you? How do you normally use Steel Hellkite and Kefnet the Mindful in the deck? Also what was the reasoning behind Hammer of Nazahn coming in? Is it just for invincibility and the instant equip?

imSandstorm: You're correct about Mangara being too slow and clunky...I really wanted to make it work but it just falls flat every time during playtesting. Steel hellkite is the new card I'm testing due to the prevalence of going wide strategies in my meta. Flashing hellkite in eot is great because you are technically ambushing your opponent who's gone too wide. I've also realized that I need more draw outlets and Kefnet is a resilent blocker and draw that can buy me more time in the game to setup my win. Hammer of Nazahn is another card that I've been wanting to test out. The ability to flash it in response to an attack/removal/boardwipe is awesome and it is tutorable at instant speed with Whir of Invention. Also, with hammer out, I can flash in Lightning Greaves to save a creature too. I'm also testing out Orbs of Warding as a means of nerfing token strategies and protection against combo decks. As you can see from the changes, my meta is pretty aggro and combo centric, but I believe the list is pretty much tuned to have the ability to deal with most pod in my lgs. I'll probably do an official update soon.

[Enral], thanks for your reply! I totally get that. I absolutely agree on the Mangara and Crystal Shard combo. Might just replace them to play around with other options. My meta is mostly combo-oriented. I've been messing around with Venser, Shaper Savant and the like. Might try a couple of planeswalkers like Tezzeret the Seeker instead of Mangara and Crystal Shard. I'm really enjoying the overall theme of the deck and I'm excited to see how you evolve in the future. Thanks again!

Love the deck!!! THIS is my favorite way to play the game. Reacting to other players' actions.

I must give you credit, what this deck also does well is allow you to equalize the 4-pod. By that I mean, if you join a 4-pod with 1 player being a complete pro with a Tier 1 deck and the other two players are less experienced or have mid-Tier decks, you can focus on controlling the pro player while letting the other two players learn from all the interactions, still be part of the game, and hopefully create better games. I love the ability to do this because I love highly interactive games with everyone contributing. IMO it makes games more enjoyable than simply just winning.

Great deck and kudos to you!

I forgot to add that I just ordered the cards for this deck. I can't wait to play it!

OneManClan: Glad that you love the deck! It's definitely the closest deck I can get to a 75% as you've described and it's always a blast to play. Let me know how it works out for you in your playgroup!

What do you think of running Hushwing Gryff with or instead of Torpor Orb.
Gryff goes with the Instant speed theme and gives a blocker. It also allows you to still play reactive at instant speed without needing Raff on the field.

Either way I agree one or both need to be in every white deck.

Also, once I build this deck I'll be giving Platinum Angel a try. Play it in response to a combo player going for a Lab Man win and see them mill themself and lose the game.

OneManClan: I used to run it but I think it's redundant especially when I have Whir of Invention which is technically capable of getting Torpor Orb out at instant speed without Raff. Good point about Platinum Angel...it sounds like a pretty good card to test, I might give it a try too myself.

I love this, +1 for sheer awesomeness.

Two cards I like for Raff- Cultivator's Caravan and Skysovereign, Consul Flagship. A mana rock or a fatty blocker is nice, and Skysoveriegn does a wikid impression of Inferno Titan, but with flying and of course with flash.

No Cryptic Command? I know 3 blue is rough and four cmc is kinda steep, but the versatility is second to none. Plus the Iconic Masters reprint dropped the foil price.

I love this deck! +1

Playing on other people's turns is my favorite way to play magic, and I've been looking for a new control deck to work on. I plan to start with what you've got, and make some changes of my own! Thank you for the inspiration!

I like the flow of this deck. It does not scream overpowered until it slaps you in the face!

Great deck, and love the effort thats gone into it including a budget version so +1 from me. It looks fun for sure, have you considered Emergency Powers from the newest set? Could be a neat bit of tech.

Mj3913: Emergency Powers is on my radar but the only thing stopping me is the exile clause but I think it is still a card I would be testing out. Thanks! :)