HAL
09-28-2010, 08:35 PM
Quicksilver
By HAL
Introduction
Before I get into the actual deck itself, let me explain how it came to be.
Everyone knows affinity, right?Vomit up your hand and swing for the win. It plays like an aggro-combo deck, and in theory, it can plow over most control decks and many aggro decks. In practice, however, this is just not true. I love affinity as much as the next guy, but it's just too inconsistent. For me, if a deck is inconsistent, it had better win 100% of the time it gets going; unfortunately, affinity just can't get the job done.
But one version of affinity caught my eye. Does anyone remember Chalice Affinity, or Afownity? Good, neither do I. :tongue: Chalice affniity is an aggro-control deck that is mono blue to support force of will, and used mox diamond to consistently pull off a turn one chalice of the void at one, a very strong opening. However, like normal affinity, it only looks good in theory, and in practice it is also inconsistent, and while inconsistency in aggro is somewhat acceptable, it is absolutely unacceptable in a control deck of any kind. However, when it worked, it worked.
But somehow, artifact decks speak to me. So when Scars was spoiled I looked at all the possible card additions. My conclusion? Affinity is dead. Every time a new card is added, it takes away from the consistency. So I'll say it again: Affinity is dead. But I will never let artifacts die, so here's my attempt at an (almost) completely new artifact deck.
Card Choices
First, let's look at at some of the win conditions in affinity. Don't be fooled, affinity doesn't win by frogmite beats; it combos off with one of the following combinationgs:
Cranial plating on ornithopter
master of etherium (possibly with berserk or fling)
Arcbound ravager and disciple of the vault (also possibly with berserk or fling)
(In chalice affinity) Chalice at one on turn one, followed by artifact beats FTW
Let's go through these one at a time. First off, cranial plating. Cranial plating is a very, very powerful card, and when you put it on a creature with evasion your opponent must deal with it or he will lose. Ornithopter is the classic example, but Scars released one creature that is a prime target for plating: Etched Champion. Evasion and protection from removal? I'll take it! But since we're using a slower, controlling deck, ornithopter is cut. Sad, but necessary.
Second, master of etherium. I don't think this is even a question at this point. He's an auto four-of. The real question is whether berserk or fling are worth running. I would say no, because I'm going for a more controllish deck.
Third is the fabled "silver bullet," ravager and disciple. Let me just get this out of the way now. Ever since the m10 rules change, ravager has not been the power house he used to be. In fact, some would say he sucks. Since you can't sacrifice an artifact creature and have him do combat damage, ravager has lost most of his tricks. He's good sideboard tech though; you side him in game two to preemptively dodge their artifact hate. Disciple is iffy though. I don't think he's worth the black splash since he doesn't synergize with chalice, and the deck will probably function best as mono-blue.
Finally, the chalice. In my oppinion, chalice is a great choice because between this and FoW we can actually have a favorable match against combo, and a turn one chalice at one is a detriment to many non-combo decks. Here's a few cards it counters:
Aether Vial
Goblin Lackey
Stifle
Sensei's Divining Top
brainstorm
swords to plowshares
lightning bolt
dark ritual
Among others. Playing chalice does have one problem, though. mox diamond costs you cards. That used to be the only reason not to play it. Then they printed mox opal. Run chalice. Just do it.
Other Cards:
Aside from the cards mentioned above, the following cards are, in my oppinion, essential:
Thoughtcast
//Draw. Plain and simple.
Seat of the Synod
//Obvious.
Ancient Tomb
//helps with you chalice on turn one.
Blinkmoth Nexus
//It flies, and it's a land.
Faerie Mechanist
//It flies. It generates card advantage. It's an artifact. What more could you possibly want?
Force of Will
//If it weren't for this card the deck would be 2-3 colors. It's that good.
Darksteel citadel
//again, obvious.
These cards aren't as essential, it's up to you to decide.
Lodestone golem
//He's good, but to run him you may have to cut some non-artifact cards.
Etherium Sculptor
//I like the whole "reverse affinity" deal with him. Pretty good, not necessary though.
Vedalken Certarch
//don't doubt him! This little guy can perpetually tap a tarmogoyf, so he can't be all bad. He just costs one mana, so he's no good with chalice at one.
Frogmite
//Just because he's free doesn't mean he's good. Same thing with memnite. Myr enforcer might be worth considering though.
Sword of Fire and Ice
//Since a ton of your creatures have evasion, it's worth noting that it will get through quite a few times in a given game. Maybe not worth the mana to you, but I think it's pretty good. Your call though.
Umezawa's Jitte
//A much better option that Sword of Fire and Ice when it comes to creature removal, but gives no card advantage. Again, your call.
Esperzoa
//It flies and it hops over the curve like no other, but it's not necessary.
Thirst for Knowledge
//More draw. Not as good as thoughtcast, but any draw is good draw.
Mox Diamond
//It's good to have one or two instead of just four opals so you don't get screwed with multiples.
Somber Hoverguard
//I wish it were an artifact, but it's not. Still good though, since it flies.
Sample ListS
Here's one using lodestone Golem.
//Mana
4x Seat of the Synod
4x Darksteel Citadel
4x Blinkmoth Nexus
4x Ancient Tomb
3x Island
2x Mox Opal
1x Mox Diamond
//Creatures
4x Master of Etherium
4x Etched Champion
4x Faerie Mechanist
4x Lodestone Golem
4x Etherium Sculptor
2x Steel Hellkite
//You shouldn't run the hellkites, they're more there for sentimental value than anything. Literally any card I listed that isn't already being used could be used in this spot instead, and be better.
//Other Spells
4x Chalice of the Void
4x Force of Will
4x Cranial Plating
4x Thoughtcast
Please post ideas for cards, lists, etc. I worked really hard to make this look all fancy, so any input is greatly appreciated.
--HAL
By HAL
Introduction
Before I get into the actual deck itself, let me explain how it came to be.
Everyone knows affinity, right?Vomit up your hand and swing for the win. It plays like an aggro-combo deck, and in theory, it can plow over most control decks and many aggro decks. In practice, however, this is just not true. I love affinity as much as the next guy, but it's just too inconsistent. For me, if a deck is inconsistent, it had better win 100% of the time it gets going; unfortunately, affinity just can't get the job done.
But one version of affinity caught my eye. Does anyone remember Chalice Affinity, or Afownity? Good, neither do I. :tongue: Chalice affniity is an aggro-control deck that is mono blue to support force of will, and used mox diamond to consistently pull off a turn one chalice of the void at one, a very strong opening. However, like normal affinity, it only looks good in theory, and in practice it is also inconsistent, and while inconsistency in aggro is somewhat acceptable, it is absolutely unacceptable in a control deck of any kind. However, when it worked, it worked.
But somehow, artifact decks speak to me. So when Scars was spoiled I looked at all the possible card additions. My conclusion? Affinity is dead. Every time a new card is added, it takes away from the consistency. So I'll say it again: Affinity is dead. But I will never let artifacts die, so here's my attempt at an (almost) completely new artifact deck.
Card Choices
First, let's look at at some of the win conditions in affinity. Don't be fooled, affinity doesn't win by frogmite beats; it combos off with one of the following combinationgs:
Cranial plating on ornithopter
master of etherium (possibly with berserk or fling)
Arcbound ravager and disciple of the vault (also possibly with berserk or fling)
(In chalice affinity) Chalice at one on turn one, followed by artifact beats FTW
Let's go through these one at a time. First off, cranial plating. Cranial plating is a very, very powerful card, and when you put it on a creature with evasion your opponent must deal with it or he will lose. Ornithopter is the classic example, but Scars released one creature that is a prime target for plating: Etched Champion. Evasion and protection from removal? I'll take it! But since we're using a slower, controlling deck, ornithopter is cut. Sad, but necessary.
Second, master of etherium. I don't think this is even a question at this point. He's an auto four-of. The real question is whether berserk or fling are worth running. I would say no, because I'm going for a more controllish deck.
Third is the fabled "silver bullet," ravager and disciple. Let me just get this out of the way now. Ever since the m10 rules change, ravager has not been the power house he used to be. In fact, some would say he sucks. Since you can't sacrifice an artifact creature and have him do combat damage, ravager has lost most of his tricks. He's good sideboard tech though; you side him in game two to preemptively dodge their artifact hate. Disciple is iffy though. I don't think he's worth the black splash since he doesn't synergize with chalice, and the deck will probably function best as mono-blue.
Finally, the chalice. In my oppinion, chalice is a great choice because between this and FoW we can actually have a favorable match against combo, and a turn one chalice at one is a detriment to many non-combo decks. Here's a few cards it counters:
Aether Vial
Goblin Lackey
Stifle
Sensei's Divining Top
brainstorm
swords to plowshares
lightning bolt
dark ritual
Among others. Playing chalice does have one problem, though. mox diamond costs you cards. That used to be the only reason not to play it. Then they printed mox opal. Run chalice. Just do it.
Other Cards:
Aside from the cards mentioned above, the following cards are, in my oppinion, essential:
Thoughtcast
//Draw. Plain and simple.
Seat of the Synod
//Obvious.
Ancient Tomb
//helps with you chalice on turn one.
Blinkmoth Nexus
//It flies, and it's a land.
Faerie Mechanist
//It flies. It generates card advantage. It's an artifact. What more could you possibly want?
Force of Will
//If it weren't for this card the deck would be 2-3 colors. It's that good.
Darksteel citadel
//again, obvious.
These cards aren't as essential, it's up to you to decide.
Lodestone golem
//He's good, but to run him you may have to cut some non-artifact cards.
Etherium Sculptor
//I like the whole "reverse affinity" deal with him. Pretty good, not necessary though.
Vedalken Certarch
//don't doubt him! This little guy can perpetually tap a tarmogoyf, so he can't be all bad. He just costs one mana, so he's no good with chalice at one.
Frogmite
//Just because he's free doesn't mean he's good. Same thing with memnite. Myr enforcer might be worth considering though.
Sword of Fire and Ice
//Since a ton of your creatures have evasion, it's worth noting that it will get through quite a few times in a given game. Maybe not worth the mana to you, but I think it's pretty good. Your call though.
Umezawa's Jitte
//A much better option that Sword of Fire and Ice when it comes to creature removal, but gives no card advantage. Again, your call.
Esperzoa
//It flies and it hops over the curve like no other, but it's not necessary.
Thirst for Knowledge
//More draw. Not as good as thoughtcast, but any draw is good draw.
Mox Diamond
//It's good to have one or two instead of just four opals so you don't get screwed with multiples.
Somber Hoverguard
//I wish it were an artifact, but it's not. Still good though, since it flies.
Sample ListS
Here's one using lodestone Golem.
//Mana
4x Seat of the Synod
4x Darksteel Citadel
4x Blinkmoth Nexus
4x Ancient Tomb
3x Island
2x Mox Opal
1x Mox Diamond
//Creatures
4x Master of Etherium
4x Etched Champion
4x Faerie Mechanist
4x Lodestone Golem
4x Etherium Sculptor
2x Steel Hellkite
//You shouldn't run the hellkites, they're more there for sentimental value than anything. Literally any card I listed that isn't already being used could be used in this spot instead, and be better.
//Other Spells
4x Chalice of the Void
4x Force of Will
4x Cranial Plating
4x Thoughtcast
Please post ideas for cards, lists, etc. I worked really hard to make this look all fancy, so any input is greatly appreciated.
--HAL