[Deck] A Different Enchantress

[MTG Guru]

First of all, do not get offended from the title of this thread, it's just a deck name. I am not a racist. I first got this cool Painter's Servant idea when I read Doug Linn's SCG.com article and noticed that he was speculating about the card Lifeforce. I then thought of all the cool anti-black cards out there and came up with this. It's sort of like prison meets enchantress. You'll see what I mean in a sec. :wink:

Jim Crow Enchantress.DEC

Spells:38
3 Exploration
4 Wild Growth
4 Painter's Servant
3 Grindstone
4 Lifeforce
4 Argothian Enchantress
4 Enlightened Tutor
4 Enchantress's Presence
4 Elephant Grass
2 Ghostly Prison
2 Mystic Enforcer


Lands:22
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
3 Savannah
1 Plains
10 Forest

Sideboard:15
4 Rule of Law (should be maindecked probably)
4 Krosan Grip
3 Orim's Chant
4 Ground Seal

The idea behind this deck is to achieve a Painter's Servant/ Lifeforce lock on your opponent. You then win by casting Decomposition on one of your opponent's creatures, then counter any attempt of him trying to get rid of it, with Lifeforce. Your opponent has no creatures in play, you say? Worry not, Forbidden Orchard fills that role over creature lite or creatureless decks altogether. This deck also sort of works like prison archetypes as well, with the two card combo Reclamation and Ghostly Prison working hand in hand to stall your opponent's creatures and destroy his manabase. I haven't tested this deck yet and it's just a raw idea. Let me know what you guys think of this idea. And thanks Doug Linn for the inspiration! :wink:

EDIT: Extirpate pwns this deck. Let's figure out a way to combat it!

Update: Alot of changes were made to the first original list. Nihil pointed out that Decomposition doesn't work as a win con just as creature removal, so I made a few changes here and there. Put in more Grindstones, upped the fetchland count and added 2 Mystic Enforcer which work great with the overall theme. I hope you guys enjoy the new list and I apologize for the initial confusion.

Latest List:


// Lands
5 [MR] Forest (3)
1 [9E] Plains (3)
3 [b] Savannah
4 [ON] Windswept Heath
4 [ON] Wooded Foothills
4 [A] Bayou
1 [b] Scrubland

// Creatures
4 [SHM] Painter's Servant
4 [US] Argothian Enchantress

// Spells
2 [ARE] Enlightened Tutor
4 [VI] Elephant Grass
2 [IN] Sterling Grove
4 [b] Wild Growth
3 [US] Exploration
4 [ON] Enchantress's Presence
3 [OD] Ground Seal
2 [TE] Grindstone
3 [LRW] Thoughtseize
1 [4E] Lifeforce
2 [VI] Squandered Resources

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [OD] Ground Seal
SB: 2 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 3 [FNM] Aura of Silence
SB: 1 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 4 [UL] Engineered Plague
SB: 4 [GP] Leyline of the Void

[raharu]

Seems very reliant on Painter, and rather unplayable without it... iDunno. It's an interesting concept though. Moar Elephant Grass? Also, why running 4x Exploration? I was under the impression that it wasn't played as a 4-of anymore in typical enchantress lists.

[MTG Guru]

Seems very reliant on Painter, and rather unplayable without it... iDunno. It's an interesting concept though. Moar Elephant Grass? Also, why running 4x Exploration? I was under the impression that it wasn't played as a 4-of anymore in typical enchantress lists.

Thanx for the response. And yes, it is very reliant on Painter which is why I run 4 Worldly Tutor. :smile:

Elephant Grass? Naaw, Reclamation + Ghostly Prison is more fun! Plus they never go away. Believe me, I've considered Grass and the idea got discarded.

Got any additional win-cons that you think I should throw in? Maybe -1 Exploration +1 random win con? :wink:

[ACME_Myst]

Grindstone looks like it could work..

[MTG Guru]

Grindstone looks like it could work...

Edit: Didn't see your edit. Try Ground Seal vs Extirpate.

Edit 2: Ah, they're side. Nvm then.

Wow, how did I forget about Grindstone?! It's still Painter reliant though, do you think it's worth it? Maybe a creature win con that can be fetched with Worldly Tutor?

And yes, I definitely run Ground Seal and didn't even realize how good it is against Extirpate. :smile:

[Nihil Credo]

You then win by casting Decomposition on one of your opponent's creatures, then counter any attempt of him trying to get rid of it, with Lifeforce.

They just choose not to pay the cumulative upkeep and let the creature die. You can't stop that.

[MTG Guru]

They just choose not to pay the cumulative upkeep and let the creature die. You can't stop that.

Good call. I just took them out, adjusted the manabase and included more Grindstone and Mystic Enforcer. Didn't even realize that was merely creature kill and a Lightning Bolt. :tongue:

[raharu]

@ Extirpate: not getting your stuff ganked/ keeping it out of the yard? Fountian Watch? Wheel of Sun and Moon? Privileged Position?Well, that's all I got

[MTG Guru]

@ Extirpate: not getting your stuff ganked/ keeping it out of the yard? Fountian Watch? Wheel of Sun and Moon? Privileged Position?Well, that's all I got

I also think that decks that run Extirpate get pounded anyway by all the anti-black cards. Call me niave, but every deck I've went up against that ran Extirpate was either Sui-Black or Discard. :tongue:

[xsockmonkeyx]

Light of Day is better than Reclamation, but both are inferior to Elephant Grass. Also, Utopia Sprawl is better than Wild Growth with so many Forests, but you can try both. Enlightened Tutor grabs a lot more cards in your deck than Worldly Tutor does.

[MTG Guru]

Light of Day is better than Reclamation, but both are inferior to Elephant Grass. Also, Utopia Sprawl is better than Wild Growth with so many Forests, but you can try both. Enlightened Tutor grabs a lot more cards in your deck than Worldly Tutor does.

Yeah, I'm convinced. After analyzing the card choices more thoroughly, I have to agree that Elephant Grass is the superior choice. I don't like Light of Day all that much though since I won't be able to attack with my Enforcer.

And Enlightened Tutor can grab more stuff, but Worldly Tutor can grab Painter's Servant. :wink: That's the main reason I run Worldly Tutor becuase this entire deck is shamelessly reliant on Painter's Servant, itself. Thanks for the suggestions! :smile:

[Nightmare]

And Enlightened Tutor can grab more stuff, but Worldly Tutor can grab Painter's Servant. :wink: That's the main reason I run Worldly Tutor becuase this entire deck is shamelessly reliant on Painter's Servant, itself. Thanks for the suggestions! :smile:

You realize that Enlightened Tutor can ALSO find Painter's Servant, right?

[MTG Guru]

You realize that Enlightened Tutor can ALSO find Painter's Servant, right?

Wow, that totally never crossed my mind. I need to stop smoking bud. Good call. Worldly Tutors are out, Enlightened Tutors are in.

LIST UPDATED.

[xsockmonkeyx]

Ha! I remembered the stupid card I was going to suggest, as long as we are doing cute things with Painter:black and Enchantments:

Compost

That is all.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

The enchantment count is only 21. That needs achangin'.

Perhaps change some E Tutors into Groves.

Also, you don't need that many win cons. I would run 1x Grindstone and 1x Sacred Mesa.

Also, why no Ground Seal if you're worried about Extirpate?

[MTG Guru]

Ha! I remembered the stupid card I was going to suggest, as long as we are doing cute things with Painter:black and Enchantments:

Compost

That is all.

I considered Compost, but I don't really have any removal spells or discard to take advantage of it besides Lifeforce.


The enchantment count is only 21. That needs achangin'.

Perhaps change some E Tutors into Groves.

Also, you don't need that many win cons. I would run 1x Grindstone and 1x Sacred Mesa.

Also, why no Ground Seal if you're worried about Extirpate?

Good idea. The enchantment count is a little on the lowside. Cutting down win-cons for consistency should help, as well.

I do run Ground Seal.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

I meant in the MD.

[MTG Guru]

I meant in the MD.

That's actually not a bad idea, since I've seen many people maindeck Extirpate nowadays.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

It's also just randomly useful. It stops Loam, Witness, Dread Returns, and most importantly, it draws two cards with one Enchantress.

[MTG Guru]

It's also just randomly useful. It stops Loam, Witness, Dread Returns, and most importantly, it draws two cards with one Enchantress.


Good point. The worst thing it's going to be is a cantrip or Night's Whisper, if I'm playing against, let's say, Dragon Stompy. It's random usefulness does outwin it's cons though, especially in today's metagame.

EDIT: @Spatula - Do you have a sample list that you feel would be more optimal?

[rufus]

Reap is potentially very strong if you're playing Painter's Servant/Lifeforce. I'm not sure how strong the enchantress shell is with Painter's Servant.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

Good point. The worst thing it's going to be is a cantrip or Night's Whisper, if I'm playing against, let's say, Dragon Stompy. It's random usefulness does outwin it's cons though, especially in today's metagame.

EDIT: @Spatula - Do you have a sample list that you feel would be more optimal?

Not really. The problem is that I'm not sure where the strategies of your deck and Solitaire overlap, and where they're different.

I guess a good focusing point is where do you think Painter's Servant strengthens the deck? In what match-ups do it and its synergies really shine?

[Pinder]

I considered Compost, but I don't really have any removal spells or discard to take advantage of it besides Lifeforce.


Oracle wording for compost:



Whenever a black card is put into an opponent's graveyard from anywhere, you may draw a card


So you draw cards whenever you counter anything with Lifeforce, sure, but you also draw cards if they Fetch, or if they play any instants or sorceries. Combined with the card drawing off of Enchantresses, it could be pretty sweet. I'd say it's definitely worth testing.

Oh and if you're already in white, any reason not to run Solitary Confinement instead of, say, Ghostly Prison?

[Julian23]

I strongly advise you to run Sterling Grove; still I don't see this deck being anywhere close to Tier 2/3.

[MTG Guru]

So I finally downloaded the Eventide/Shadowmoor module for MWS and this is the list I'm currently testing.

// Lands
5 [MR] Forest (3)
1 [9E] Plains (3)
3 [B] Savannah
4 [ON] Windswept Heath
4 [ON] Wooded Foothills
4 [A] Bayou
1 [B] Scrubland

// Creatures
4 [SHM] Painter's Servant
4 [US] Argothian Enchantress

// Spells
2 [ARE] Enlightened Tutor
4 [VI] Elephant Grass
2 [IN] Sterling Grove
4 [B] Wild Growth
3 [US] Exploration
4 [ON] Enchantress's Presence
3 [OD] Ground Seal
2 [TE] Grindstone
3 [LRW] Thoughtseize
1 [4E] Lifeforce
2 [VI] Squandered Resources

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [OD] Ground Seal
SB: 2 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 3 [FNM] Aura of Silence
SB: 1 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 4 [UL] Engineered Plague
SB: 4 [GP] Leyline of the Void

I chose to cut all win cons besides grindstone/painter. I'm also splashing black for a gem, Squandered Resources. The logic behind Resources is to "go off" and draw into the combo, then cast the combo by sacking your avaliable mana to Resources and activating Grindstone, as well. I also run Thoughtseize which is a "give in" becuase I chose to splash black.

Elephant Grass is great in the deck since it's very similiar to a cheaper Moat with a Painter in play. With Squandered Resources you're able to keep it in play for a very long time, though I've never reached that point in a game. Elephant Grass and Painter stalls creature hordes until your able to draw into your win con, Grindstone (which isn't hard, since I generate so much card advantage with the deck).

I cut the Lifeforce to one since I can search for it via Sterling Grove. I never really found it useful which is another reason I cut the card to a single copy. Elephant Grass is pretty much the best anti-black card that you can have which is all I really needed when it came to anti-black cards.

This deck is actually a decent Painter's Servant/Grindstone combo deck when you think about it, becuase it excels at generating card advantage which most Painter decks lack. An Enchantress shell is actually a decent approach.

Let me know what you guys think of this latest list. :smile:

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

Ok, so here are the benefits of the Servant/Stone win con:

-Able to exploit Servants synergy with powerful color-hating cards.

Downside:

-Requires two cards in play instead of one.
-Opens you up to some spot removal.

So the question is how much can you exploit the benefits?

Elephant Grass is stronger with Servant out. This is good against Thresh, but they also play spot removal.

Lifeforce is potentially strong. But this is kind of slow. And without Servant, Lifeforce is only good against a limited number of decks.

You can potentially win with a Servant out by topdecking Grindstone. But without taking up a lot of slots this probably won't happen that often.

So first we should probably figure out a list of all the color hating enchantments, and find out what other tricks we can use(note, not just black-hating cards like Compost).