W/b Token Mania!

[Hanni]

Current List (as of 4/16/2018):

W/b Tokens

Lands (21)
4 Marsh Flats
4 Windswept Heath
2 Verdant Catacombs
4 Scrubland
1 Savannah
4 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Karakas

Creatures (8)
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Stoneforge Mystic

Spells (31)
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
4 Bitterblossom
4 Lingering Souls
4 Spectral Procession
4 Thoughtseize
4 Cabal Therapy
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Humility
1 Umezawa’s Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Batterskull

Sideboard (15)
2 Zealous Persecution
2 Containment Priest
2 Enlightened Tutor
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Seal of Cleansing
1 Circle of Protection: Red
1 Rest in Peace
1 Engineered Plague
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Pithing Needle
1 Ensnaring Bridge

The sideboard is a mess. It's untested, suboptimal, and very likely to change.

Original Post:
Okay, so for some reason, I got an urge to build a token deck. A really strong urge. They printed some really strong token generators and one-time token effects lately, and so I went to work. I've been working on this all day. I did a search in MWS for "token" in the text box and searched for both black and white cards. I started with a list of about 40-50 different cards, and then trimmed it down. This is what I ended up with:

W/b Token Mania!

// Lands (22)
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
4 [R] Scrubland
8 [UNH] Plains
2 [UNH] Swamp
2 [TE] Ancient Tomb
1 [MI] Crystal Vein
1 [US] Gaea's Cradle

// Spells (38)
4 [DKA] Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
2 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1 [SOM] Elspeth Tirel
4 [MOR] Bitterblossom
4 [MR] Raise the Alarm
4 [DKA] Gather the Townsfolk
4 [DKA] Lingering Souls
4 [SHM] Spectral Procession
4 [IA] Swords to Plowshares
3 [RAV] Hour of Reckoning
4 [ISD] Intangible Virtue

// Sideboard (15)
SB: 4 [M11] Leyline of Sanctity
SB: 3 [JU] Cabal Therapy
SB: 4 [AP] Vindicate
SB: 4 [HOP] Relic of Progenitus

So obviously the deck isn't Tier 1 or anything, but it's definitely not for the casual forum. The deck was suprisingly good in the two games I played on MWS, going 2-0 against Affinity and 2-1 against a B/G Rock deck (the loss was due to a mull to 5 in game 2, drew only 2 lands all game, and only drew top heavy spells).

What I like about this deck is the Goblins-ish feel. The deck just... keeps... dropping... doods. It's funny how few decks can handle a constant stream of 1/1 tokens. Even against Deed and Maelstrom Pulse (which the B/G Rock deck had), I was able to just keep overloading my opponent.

I realize this deck has an atrocious combo matchup. I'm willing to accept that. Postboard, Leyline of Sanctity + Cabal Therapy isn't bad. The opponent isn't going to win with EtW vs me, just not gonna happen, and Leyline keeps Tendrils from hitting me. I realize they can bounce it, then I'm dead. The Therapy is nice with all the tokens. Against a combo deck, my goldfish isn't too bad though, so if they don't bounce the Leyline in time, I have a chance at winning. Bad matchup regardless, but I'm okay with that. There's plenty of blue in the format to keep combo in check.

Against aggro, aggro/control, and control, I'm pretty happy with the deck.

Sorin is my MVP, pumping out lifelinking tokens, but more importantly, giving me permanent Emblems. Hour of Reckoning is my other MVP. One-sided Wrath of God that doesn't touch my tokens? Sign me up!

My 1cc curve is bad, but I can't really think of a good way to fix that. There's not a whole lot that is synergistic with my gameplan in the 1cc slot.

I'm pretty happy with the maindeck overall, but the sideboard is just a throw-together. I considered a few options here, like Humility and Ajani Goldmane, but I'm not sure what the sideboard really needs with only 2 test games on MWS.

Oh, and this deck was a blast to play.

Feel free to toss out suggestions, guys.

[Beatusnox]

If you are going to run Gaea's Cradle, wouldn't something like White sun's Zenith or Decree of Justice be with considering?

[Hanni]

That's definitely a possibility. I initially had both Decree, White Sun, and several other "pay X make X tokens" cards in the big list of cards I started with, but ultimately cut them because they were inefficient. With Cradle, I can see them being nuts... but at the point where I have enough tokens to make Cradle into Decree/White Sun worth it, that seems like it might be win-more. Definitely worth testing, though.

[dr.philgood]

needs more contamination!!! I mean continuous token generators+contamination=gg

[Beatusnox]

That's definitely a possibility. I initially had both Decree, White Sun, and several other "pay X make X tokens" cards in the big list of cards I started with, but ultimately cut them because they were inefficient. With Cradle, I can see them being nuts... but at the point where I have enough tokens to make Cradle into Decree/White Sun worth it, that seems like it might be win-more. Definitely worth testing, though.

The one thing I can see happening, as corner case as it may be, is being at a stalemate with an opponent for whatever reason, and the X guys get there, such as being stuck behind a moat or what have you, even if you cannot go the Cheap route with Decree, I feel with cradle, Decree should be in the 75.

[Hanni]

needs more contamination!!! I mean continuous token generators+contamination=gg

I'm not sure... I mean, it would totally destroy the Tier 1 DTB's and whatnot, but my deck is primarily white. I can't keep consistently making tokens if I can't produce white mana. I'd need to run some alternate mana sources if I went that route, like Chrome Mox or something.

The one thing I can see happening, as corner case as it may be, is being at a stalemate with an opponent for whatever reason, and the X guys get there, such as being stuck behind a moat or what have you, even if you cannot go the Cheap route with Decree, I feel with cradle, Decree should be in the 75.

Well, I play 12 flying token spells (4 being Bitterblossom, which is a constant effect). I mean, I see the benefit of Decree/Zenith, but it still seems win-more to me. I have plenty of flying tokens to fly over opposing aggro, and plenty of tokens to block the opponent's guys. If the game gets to the mid-late game, I just token-advantage my opponent out of the game, kinda the way Goblins does once it starts chaining Matrons and Ringleaders. The problem is the start up, which can sometimes be slow against disruption (or bad draws, i.e manaflood or manascrew). I'm already somewhat top-heavy, and I really don't want to be running cards that are dead in hand until I'm already winning...

I'm also not even sure if I need the singleton Cradle. I added it cause if I have 2 tokens on the board, it's an Ancient Tomb that doesn't cause me lifeloss, and if I have more than 2, it will front all of my colorless costs for the turn.

EDIT: On another note, I'm getting pissed off at MWS. I run 22 fucking lands. Why do I keep drawing 1 land hands every single game in my opening 7? Ugh...

I definitely need to cut 1 basic Swamp. Drawing 2 Swamps early is pissing me off. Spectral Procession wants WWW, and it seems like I draw 2 Swamps everytime I have a Procession or two in hand.

I'm also not sure how bad I actually need the mana ramp at all. Turn 2 Lingering Souls and turn 3 Planeswalker's are nice and all, but I do run 16 2cc spells to cover my curve at 2. I'm thinking I can drop the cute shit altogether and just run straight up Plains and a single Swamp. Maybe I'll fit in a singleton Kjeldoran Outpost or something. Anyway, I need to work on this manabase some more.

EDIT 2: Here's the new manabase...

// Lands (22)
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
4 [ON] Windswept Heath
4 [R] Scrubland
8 [UNH] Plains
1 [UNH] Swamp
1 [AL] Kjeldoran Outpost

[Freggle]

So I too am very interested in playing a W/B tokens deck.

I plan on running the below list at the Star city Tampa this Sun. I feel that given the meta lately tokens is positioned well not to suck.

I have also added other Staples to my list. I stole Tech. from standards souls sisters lists, and found room for a Stoneforge Mystic package.

Without further ado here is the list:


4 Soul Warden
4 Soul's Attendant
11 Plains
2 Auriok Champion
3 Shrine of Loyal Legions
3 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Batterskull
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Midnight Haunting
4 Lingering Souls
4 Scrubland
3 Ajani's Pridemate
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
4 Doomed Traveler
2 Vault of the Archangel
1 Swamp
3 Marsh Flats
3 Timely Reinforcements

Sideboard
4 Leyline of the Void
4 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Serenity
3 Ethersworn Canonist

I would be very interested in what people have to say before Sunday.

Personally, have found Bitterblossom to be too slow. I think Elspeth, Knight Errant is better than Sorin because she is more aggressive and therefore ends the game sooner. I should probably find more slots for her, and the actual card. I only own 1.

Shrine of loyal Legions is totally busted in this type of Mono-white deck. Especially if you are doing well with your soul sisters (Soul Warden / Soul's Attendant)

Vault of the Archangel is out of control nutz.

This deck is good against contol - Stoneblade ...

This deck is good against Aggro - Zoo ...

This deck is good against burn. - All the life gain and too many targets.

This deck s fair against tempo - Team America. You out threat them.

This deck is untested agains combo. I too assume it is bad, however I assume it is okay post board.

Thoughts?