Mask aggro (U/B atm)

[SpoCk0nd0pe]

Since Illusionary Mask will be unbanned in July, I had my thoughts on how to abuse it.
It seems to work very well with:
Phyrexian dreadnought
fathom seer
skinthinner
hunted horror

the key rules read as followed (source: magiccards.info):

You actually cast the card face-down, much as when playing a spell with Morph. It can be responded to and countered. Illusionary Mask's ability has you turn a face-down creature face up if it would assign damage, deal damage, be dealt damage, or become tapped, but not for any other reason.

Blue seems to be a good shell to play the mask because it offers counter protection, a search engine to dig for it and the fathom seer providing important card advantage. In addition it offers stifle as a backup plan for the dreadnought.

I did not decide yet if black or white is the better addidion:
Black offers tombstalker (good on aggro independent from mask) and sinkhole.
White offers stp, wayfarer, grunt and stoneforge mystic, the deck would go more into a nogoyf direction with the addition of the mask.

The list im currently tinkering with, it hasn't been playtested very much yet:

// Lands
2 [ON] Bloodstained Mire
4 [TE] Wasteland
1 [UNH] Swamp
1 [UNH] Island
3 [ON] Flooded Strand
4 [ON] Polluted Delta
4 [B] Underground Sea

// Creatures
4 [FUT] Tombstalker
4 [TSP] Fathom Seer
3 [LE] Skinthinner
4 [MI] Phyrexian Dreadnought

// Spells
4 [B] Sinkhole
2 [LRW] Ponder
4 [B] Illusionary Mask
4 [SC] Stifle
4 [NE] Daze
4 [AL] Force of Will
4 [IA] Brainstorm

What do you think?

[jrsthethird]

You should run white with Humility for maximum judge calls.

[Boogie]

I think that hunted horror is the better call, it is bigger than talker, and comes out really quick with stifle. And I think that 1 skinthinner should get cut for something a little less situational. and maybe a fathom seer as well. without mask, it a 3 mana gush or a really crappy 2 mana dude. Spell pierce and thoughtseize both look like awesome candidates.

Perhaps a daze could go to make room for 2 spell pierce, which are great with the mana denial.

I was thinking something like:
-4 stalker
-1 skinthinner
-1 fathom seer

+3 hunted horror
+2 thoughtseize
+2 spell pierce

And I have some questions: As it's worded, do you have to wait till you attack or block with it to get the effect? I'd assume so. And can you counter the creature being played with mask?

On another note, I think this deck really wants confidant, I just haven't been able to think of how to fit it.

[SpoCk0nd0pe]

You should run white with Humility for maximum judge calls.
:)

I think that hunted horror is the better call, it is bigger than talker, and comes out really quick with stifle. And I think that 1 skinthinner should get cut for something a little less situational. and maybe a fathom seer as well. without mask, it a 3 mana gush or a really crappy 2 mana dude. Spell pierce and thoughtseize both look like awesome candidates.

Perhaps a daze could go to make room for 2 spell pierce, which are great with the mana denial.

I was thinking something like:
-4 stalker
-1 skinthinner
-1 fathom seer

+3 hunted horror
+2 thoughtseize
+2 spell pierce

And I have some questions: As it's worded, do you have to wait till you attack or block with it to get the effect? I'd assume so. And can you counter the creature being played with mask?

On another note, I think this deck really wants confidant, I just haven't been able to think of how to fit it.
Nice suggestion! I did not think about being able to play hunted horror using stifle. Stifle is the backup plan for this deck, complementing the mana denial. On the other hand, you will be able to cast the stalker fairly fast. It could be a good supplement in case the mask gets countered/you do not draw it/it gets gripped. Confidant does not work too well with 4 fow though :(
Some notes about basic mask rules added to the header
The initial post now conains some basic rules about the card.

[Pastorofmuppets]

how about Willbender?

[SpoCk0nd0pe]

You cannot morph him for free in response, so he's only one mana cheaper if played with mask

[dahcmai]

Lord of Tresserhorn was the old Mask favorite. I doubt it's still worthwhile, but you might try it as 4 mana for a monster 10/4 regenerator is nothing to laugh at.

[serendib]

I would also consider a U/R shell like tempo decks, with lightning bolts, fire ice, so that denial is possible.... we already run stifle.

I would advice the use of 3/4X GILDED DRAKE. the reason is that you can chose wether to cast it normally taking control of an opponent creature (you con bolt it after that e.g.) , or cast it via-mask for a 3/3flying costed 2mana only.

GOBLIN WELDER could be usefull too, probabely in the side ... the reason is that we could take a mask of phyrexian dreadnought griped or killed or countered. and it is also a cc1 drop for the mask

[Boogie]

Actually, red seems like an awesome idea. Like 2 red duals would be enough for maybe bolts and rebs in the side, because getting blown out by counterspells suck.

And about gilded drake. that seems good too. maybe not main, but maybe. stifle would take care of the ability as well.

EDIT:

After some brainstorming, I believe that gilded drake should replace skinthinner in the main. Skinthinner is great when illusionary mask is out, but thats it. Gilded drake is a 3/3 flyer with mask or stifle, and it is useful on it's own. You can even grab a goyf and bolt or bounce it, and you get the goyf.

And also, I think that fathom seer should stay at 2-3. It isn't totally useless like skinthinner, as the morph ability is still pretty good and saves you from wastes.