AoW/Nyxa/Stalker B/u control

[Nessaja]

I was looking to utilize Nyxathid from conflux as soon as it was printed. So I build a deck around him but I wasn't liking it enough, just because it was only Nyxathid using the advantage of my opponent being on 0 cards. Then I saw Avatar of Will again and figured, why the hell not; the list

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Creatures
4 Nyxathid
4 Hypnotic Specter
4 Tombstalker
4 Avatar of Will

Discard
4 Thoughtseize
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Blackmail
4 Wrench Mind

Other
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder

Lands
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Underground Sea
5 Swamp
3 Island

// Sideboard
4 Extirpate
4 Pithing Needle
4 Blue Elemental Blast
~not sure
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This is what I have right now. And to a certain extend while it's rough and all, it's working, I can easily empty my opponents hand, gain control and then cast fatties for 2 mana. The decks I tested against so far weren't the top tiers though so I'm looking for ideas and optimization.

So far Hypnotic Specter hasn't done that much for me, I was considering the Rack, just because I can easily keep my opponent on 0-1 cards most of the time.

[Jaynel]

Is Blackmail really the best discard you could run in that slot? Would Wrench Mind be better? How about Raven's Crime?

Edit: Didn't see Wrench mind there the first time. Durr.

[Nessaja]

I run both Black Mail and Wrench Mind. But I have to say that Raven's Crime is really intrigueing and I wanted to try it out. Just because lands become sort of useless anyway.

Blackmail can be superior to thoughtseize.. just not as a 1 drop though. I definitly agree that I should pack some copies of Raven's Crime.

[scrow213]

Why blue? I figure if you run :b::g: you can play Deed, for instance, and also Raven's Crime + Life from the Loam = Profit? Deed is exceptionally potent when you can hit it for 2 at no cost to you.

[Nessaja]

For Avatar of Will? And I have to say that the cantrips are excellent as well. I think you missed the point a little..

[scrow213]

For Avatar of Will? And I have to say that the cantrips are excellent as well. I think you missed the point a little..

Sorry brain fart. Avatar of Will would be the blue one. Retarded me.

[Isamaru]

Blackmail is so great - sometimes the opponent laughs at you and thinks they can just show you a land and their two "worst" cards. That's when you shut them up by taking the land they thought you wouldn't take and manascrewing them.

In fact, there are a ton of situations where it is better than Thoughtseize AND Duress.

I think you should play Augur of Skulls over Wrench Mind. It's easier to cast obviously, but if you draw too much discard, it can still have a purpose as being a Tarmogoyf blocker. Also, there are so so many decks that can discard an artifact card to it - most of them are the ones where it matters most like combo, etc.

With all the failed suggestions so far, I'm surprised nobody has yelled "Dark Ritualz NAOW" yet.

[rufus]

If you're going to play Raven's Crime, you might consider using it with Darkmoor Salvage.

If you can get your opponent's hand emtpy reliably, Howltooth Hollow and
Nezumi Shortfang might be interesting.

There's also Ravenous Rats/Corrupt Court Official, Rotting Rats, Headhunter, Riptide Pilferer,and Dimir Cutpurse. Critter-based discard is nice because it gives the cards a backup use.

Smallpox?

I've always wanted to see a deck play Parallax Nexus + Stifle.