Can you explain the reason forNissa, Steward of Elements? I am a bit confused on this card. Is it mainly for the scry 2? Then maybe get lucky with a dude. I feel like there maybe a better slot here, but you designed this particular version, so before I bash the card I am trying to understand the selection

Lorderos23 yes exactly it is mostly for free manipulation of the draw, like Mirri's Guile and Sylvan Library and to bypass counterspells. I have often been more happy to see nissa than for example Sensei's Divining Top because she does her job without further costs and can surprise with an uncounterable creature (or additional land drop), especially after a tutor that puts a card on top. If I draw her later in the game a high value for X can be quite hard to deal with, never a dead draw.

I can dig it. I forgot she just dumps the dude onto the field. Fairly sweet tech, I like it.

why don't you run Grand Abolisher instead of Spellskite, since its the same cmc and is much better protection.

Wurmlover it's there because it can protect my stuff during ALL turns (which was the main purpose in almost all games in which I had spellskite) and because I can pull off the hulk combo in an opponent's turn as well...and it's easier to cast if it's outside the hulk combo. Double white isn't easy to get for a 2 drop. Another bonus is that it has the potential to interact with targeted stuff that opponents want to cast on their own creatures and artifacts, for example to steal a Power Artifact or something like that.

I might exchange Vexing Shusher with grand abolisher though...but then, if Abolisher doesn't even resolve, the shusher is better again.

That's an interesting point. I'll have to keep that in mind when building my own.

Wurmlover maybe that's because i don't play it as an all in combo but rather try to get it through with protection and backup and have some hatebears and interaction available.

ah I see. My build would probably be balls-to-the-walls combo, considering there is only one pact of negation in my whole meta.

what would you say would be a budget version of this deck (like cuts/replacements)? I'm looking for a base to build off of, and then upgrade over time.

Exchange the duals with lands that produce all colours for some drawback. You will be paying far more life and some of these lands have stupid restrictions but it's most likely still playable. Chromatic Lantern and Vizier of the Menagerie can help you over missing expensive lands as well. The creatures aren't what makes the deck expensive anyway so you won't gain anything from cutting and replacing key cards. Fewer tutors is also no option because you want to find your stuff reliably.

Have you ever been hit with a Containment Priest while trying to combo off? Do you find you have enough creature removal to deal with such a disruption? Sweet deck, definite +1!

dalton345 I don't think anyone here plays that one because it either would disrupt their own deck or they don't play white. I do have some removal though, also walking ballista can be cast from the hand to shoot hatebears like that or magus of the moon. If I knew someone played containment priest I'd try to get elesh norn rather than going all in with a combo.

I believe mana echoes is a better plan than worldgorger, and im not sure how prevalent flametongue kavu is. Why not just run a low-cost kill spell instead?

Athraithe I would say the main reason is the ability to tutor for them. I've had several situations in which I had the ability to get every creature I'd like, for example with survival or pod, and all I needed was a creature removal. Having a creature available to shoot hatebears would have helped quite often so I use the kavu now. Before, I had path to exile in addition to StoP, but it felt like a dead draw too often and when I needed it, it wasn't possible to find it.

As for mana echoes, it fulfills the same function as any infinite mana combo but I have to cast it and sliver queen without any tricks. It's not fetchable directly into play and sliver queen isn't either. Dragon combo is riskier but it's also just one card and that one is fetchable...the combo would pay for sliver queen and the tokens. In tournament play a draw can be forced as well (even though that's not the plan, lol). I'm testing both variants but I currently lean more towards the dragon.

This looks crazy! I'll have to give it a more in-depth look when I'm not at work. In the mean time here's a +1!

Mana Echoes goes infininte with sliver queen

SpecialPerson had it in the deck, have a look at the update as for why I have currently removed it (it will most likely stay removed)

Just so you're aware, Volrath's Shapeshifterdoesn't work in your Hulk line, as once Flash is done resolving, Hulk is underneath Flash in your graveyard

Deck looks good otherwise!

ChaosHazard I know, but if the hulk dies in any other way I can get shapeshifter. Do you think this is not enough reason to play it? Shapeshifter can also copy ETB effects if the top cards in the graveyard, or it can be used to discard hulk when a sac outlet is on the board

throw in Pact of Negation and Diabolic Intent to add another layer of protection to the combo. sac hulk to intent, fetch pact, and then combo.

Wurmlover Diabolic intent is already on my want list. I'm going to cut fauna shaman for it (usually too slow).

At the last FNM I went 2nd among 18 players and afterwards I have reconsidered some card choices because I was often not too happy to see certain cards. I'll definitely get a baby jace, search for azcanta is worth a try and I'll remove gaea's cradle. It also has to be noted that I won 2 of 3 games with the kiki-jiki combo and not with flash. One game was won with commander beatdown.

As for pact...the problem is usually getting the hulk to die, then getting no response to his trigger. If I can fetch once, it's already hard to interact properly, so counterspells would mostly be needed to protect the plan BEFORE hulk dies and the trigger resolves. Not much space left for a reliable number of counters though.

ChaosHazard and Wurmlover, I've considered your input again and found that some changes were needed in order to separate the multiplayer from the 1vs1 build. It's probably only around 5 cards difference but in multiplayer I need to have cut some long-term plans like Nissa and Search for Azcanta in favor of early card advantage and disruption.

Why do you play Spellskite over Grand Abolisher in your Protean Hulk combo loop? Wouldn't the latter be way better?

HobbyGamer007 I cut it altogether because it is only protection when Hulk dies from something like necromancy, apprentice necromancer or anything that leaves hulk as the topmost card in the graveyard. The fastest way however is Flash and it's the way I usually try to go for first.

Spellskite is moved to my 1vs1 build, while the multiplayer list will use phyrexian revoker and aven mindcensor instead (see changelog at the bottom of deck description). The occasional protection after hulk has been allowed to die wasn't worth 2 slots.

this deck is awesome I copied it and tried to fidget with it but no matter what i did it was always way to costly so i could never really build this but still sweet deck