Sceptertop

[cthulhuclown]

(I posted this in the Casual forum also, I'm not sure if it goes here or there, I apologize if it is misplaced).


Hello! I am attempting to make a deck with the following goals in mind:

- Is Black/Red/Blue
- Uses Ancient Tomb effectively
- Uses Isochron Scepter effectively


I'm just looking for suggestions based on the deck list below (my first build). I don't think I'm utilizing ancient tomb to maximum awesomeness. No price range is too much either, if it needs Jace or something, feel free to suggest it.

Also if anyone wants to help test, I'd be grateful. I'm not looking to make something that will win super duper consistently, but at least a chance to win in the usual Legacy metagame would be nice. Also I have no idea what my wishboard should be.

The list:

Creatures
-------------
Sphinx of Jwar Isle x2

Spells
-------------
Brainstorm x4
Counterspell x4
Cunning Wish x3
Fire/Ice x4
Force of Will x4
Terminate x4

Enchantments
-------------
Counterbalance x4

Artifacts
-------------
Isochron Scepter x4
Sensei's Divining Top x4
Vedalken Shackles x2

Lands
-------------
Ancient Tomb x4
Maze of Ith x1
Polluted Delta x4
Scalding Tarn x4
Underground Sea x4
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth x2
Volcanic Island x4


Thanks!

[Valtrix]

My question for you is this: Why do have the three imposed conditions? I think it's a bit difficult to work on a deck without understanding the goal of it. Having certain conditions are fun but I don't really understand the reasoning for the three you've outlined.

[cthulhuclown]

No worries. I just like those ideas, there's no particular reason or benefit. I'm not entirely a spike. :P

I don't think it is feasible, so I'm make a BUR countertop build.

[Mystical_Jackass]

-2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle
+2 Conundrum Sphinx

Mana cost too high, even with Tombs (and lets not kill ourselves to get the darn thing out), you practically have to S&T a 6cmc spell out in Legacy bro.
Conundrum is not only a 4/4 flyer for 4, but its ability is powerful and perfect for this type of scry build.

Before I go into adding this or taking away that, I'm thinking you could run some form of Bounce in your theme, something like:
1) Top
2) Counterbalance
3) Scepter + Boomerang

'cause then you could bounce permants that you know you could lock out with top and slowly lock them out completely forcing the "gg". mmm.. I'm not so sure about the red splash; for a good 3 cmc (I'm no CB user at all btw) I'm thinking something like Trygon Predator, or since you mentioned black, Hypnotic Scepter could be cool too and fit the theme, further denying them cards. Your CA could come from Bob and/or Conundrum Sphinx. That's my 2cents, gl man.

[Valtrix]

No worries. I just like those ideas, there's no particular reason or benefit. I'm not entirely a spike. :P

I don't think it is feasible, so I'm make a BUR countertop build.

That's fair. However, the ancient tomb condition is going to be rather difficult. Stompy decks like to quickly lock people out of the game, but in this type of shell you really just can't. Countertop by nature wants to slow the game down, so the lifeloss from ancient tomb is just going to be too much over time.

As for the color combinations you run into a lot of tough choices because the colors themselves don't have a lot of great options in the way of finishers. I definitely don't think you want wishes and that they're too slow. If you're running red, you probably should be running lightning bolt. It's great with scepter (Yay win-cons!) and is a quick answer to many decks. Otherwise, I'm not really sure...Dark confident is probably pretty good in the deck and you may want to consider Vendilion Clique. Sorry I don't have a lot of useful suggestions; I think it's a tough color combination to work effectively.

[cthulhuclown]

Thanks for the suggestions none the less. I'm pretty good at mtg but I haven't played competitive legacy in ages, so I'm trying to make something mostly functional but still not totally mainstream.

I'm thinking of taking the deck in a totally different direction, check it out:

Creatures
-----------
Sedraxis Specter x3
Trinket Mage x3

Spells
-----------
Brainstorm x4
Counterspell x4
Force of Will x4
Spell Snare x3
Terminate x4

Enchantments
-----------
Counterbalance x4

Artifacts
-----------
Engineered Explosives x1
Pithing Needle x1
Sensei's Divining Top x3
Vedalken Shackles x2

Planeswalkers
-----------
Jace, the Mind Sculptor x2

Lands
-----------
Academy Ruins x1
Island x3
Maze of Ith x1
Mountain x1
Polluted Delta x3
Scalding Tarn x4
Swamp x1
Tolaria West x1
Underground Sea x3
Volcanic Island x4


Sideboard
-----------
Firespout x3
Hydroblast x4
Thoughtseize x4
Aether Spellbomb x1
Basilisk Collar x1
Nihil Spellbomb x1
Tormod's Crypt x1


I am thinking in its current build it is pretty interesting mostly due to Sedraxis Specter, but it's too standard, and losing Swords to Plowshares for Terminate is pretty painful without using Black or Red more effectively. I really like the specter, he's a solid hitter, can afford to be destroyed, and hurts their hand, which is pretty awesome in conjunction with constant counters from Counterbalance.

There is almost assuredly too much counter magic in this current build. Dropping either counterspell or spell snare for something else would be good. Possible ideas:

- Bitterblossom
- Thoughtseize in the mainboard
- Lightning Bolt
- Fire/Ice
- Jitte

Or even some ridiculous fusion of a countertop build with the isochron scepter one with more stable damage. Whichever seems more viable competitively. I'll need at least something to justify not having white in these ideas.

EDIT: http://deckcheck.org/index.php?x=8QRflGWV2M4iF31hlGRfiaiaN4N4N4 <- This dude is where I'm building off of.

[SpeedOfDark]

Don't know how attached you are to each of your imposed conditions...

but to me, playing with isochron scpeter + countertop yells white for enlightened tutor.

[cthulhuclown]

That is one of many reasons why I am now moving away from scepter. :)