Here it is, my take on legacy on a fairly tight budget.
The story
Years ago, I met someone at my LGS who played competitive legacy and modern. It was my first encounter with anything so high caliber in the game. I'd recently done a Turbo Depths deck, which was awesome, and we played a few games. He pulled out a "Sneak attack reanimator" deck. Though I had no idea what was happening at the time, I now know that he was playing an insanely well tuned version of sneak and show, decked out with true duals and a playset of all the most expensive legacy staples. I managed to beat it a couple times, but got absolutely wiped the rest of the time. I decided I needed to make that deck someday, and here it is.
A couple more notes
This deck is the product of years worth of accumulation, and though I still don't have a lot of the cards, everything in the main deck and sideboard are things which I plan to get. Yes, I realize this would be much better using fetchlands and more FOW, but I simply cannot afford it (and no one seems to like trading away such things for other cards). I have also steered away from absolutely anything on the reserved list, as I aim to prove that decks are playable without those cards!
The deck
As mentioned above, this is a different version of Sneak and Show/Omnitell or what have you. This isn't the insane combo that aims to insta-win (although I am a combo player at heart, I find that version less fun, and it's much more expensive), nor is this the traditional sneak and show deck which mainboards sneak attack, show and tell and the friends. In fact, it mainboards reanimator cards...
The idea is this: This deck is effectively U/B reanimator in game 1, but then you sideboard in ALL 15 SIDEBOARD CARDS and BOOM! Sneak and show. The opponent by then has (likely) sideboarded in all kinds of graveyard hate, and they have no idea what's coming! Suddenly their sideboard has made their deck ineffective, because you're not even playing the same thing. The deck uses up the sideboard for this interaction, but that's no problem, because the other player hasn't anticipated playing against two completely different decks.
Card breakdown
Ponder/Careful study: These guys are your combo grabbers. Filter your deck like there's no tomorrow. Careful study has a role beyond that too, it puts cards into your graveyard, enabling reanimator! Two in one deal.
Force of will/Daze/Misdirection: The counters needed to lock out your opponent while you search for win cons. Of course FOW is the best one here, but I've only got one so misdirection is used as a fair substitute. Misdirection counters counterspells and is absolutely hilarious against creature removal and burn. In fact, it's better than force of will in some situations. The downside: it can't counter your opponent's win-cons (usually...). My favorite is when you counter someone's force of will with a misdirection. Take that expectations! and you didn't even have to lose a life to do it.
Entomb/Reanimate/Exhume: Put a creature in the 'yard, reanimate. Not much more to it. Clear, consistent and terribly effective.
Griselbrand: That guy you can't not play. Works in both reanimator and sneak n show. Fills your hand, or gains you life. Major threat.
Iona/tidespout/ashen rider: Killers for reanimator fun only. These should be sideboarded out along w the main 3 reanimator spells to make room for sneak n show.
Blazing archon: OK, I'll admit it. This guy is a little janky. Unless you're going pro, it's just a lot of fun. The look of your opponent when you tell them they can't attack you for 25 is priceless.
Sneak attack/show and tell/omniscience: Ideal play; show and tell early into omniscience, get a boardfull of killers for free. Otherwise, go for the grind with sneak attack and it can be enough if you're lucky.If you need more on how to play sneak and show, I'd suggest a full primer.
Emrakul: What a shame. If this thing could hit the graveyard, the deck would be much happier. As is, Emrakul is the most straightforward win-con for the sneak and show deck. Why? Well... Read the card.
Lands: Zendikar rising has made this deck SO much more affordable for me. The pathways provide viable ways to fix mana without breaking the bank, and also can stay in regardless of which deck we're playing. Ancient tomb is the big money one here, and it's really just for that rare turn one strike with sneak n show. Lotus petal, this, omniscience and show and tell in hand? You're in for a good day. The basics are pretty self explanatory. (The land base is still quite experimental. They may change, but it's all based on budget and testplaying now.)
The upgrades (for all the go-getters)
If you feel the need to spice this thing up exponentially, here are some killer tunes which could help (up to preference of course)
-Brainstorm/fetchlands. I've avoided brainstorm for the reason that I can't really deck-fix right now without fetches. It's frustrating to put two mediocre cards on top and know that for the next two turns (at least) you're going to get nothing. Add fetchlands, add brainstorm and you've got a power surge.
-Preordain? Needs test play. More filters can't hurt, depending on what you're replacing...
-The creatures: The way you win is up to you. The ones I've included are some of my favorite game-changers. the original deck version I played against included Jin-Gitaxias as a way to refill the hand, but I found that rather slow. (Also wasn't much of a fan reducing my opponent's hand size to 0. That was just mean).
-Another ancient tomb or two: More sneak n showy? Less sneak and showy? Up to you as well. I like 2 tombs for budget reasons and viability.
-force of will(s): Yes, some of you can afford to buy this, or may even own a full set. Just use it, unless you want to show off your budget skills... Speaking of counterspells, daze can be a killer sometimes. spell pierce works ok as well, but nothing beats FOW, the ruler of all disruptive magic.
-Reserved list stuff: I guess I do have to mention these. If you like the combos, check out the intuition version of sneak and show. Also grab some of those good ol' OG duals 'cuz they don't make them like that anymore. While you're at it, city of traitors does wonders to the turn 1 consistency rate for sneak n show.
Final notes
The deck is constantly being rearranged and undone to make things more interesting, or more competitive. If you have a suggestion, by all means, post! I'll do my best to check up on this as frequently as possible.
