Puresteel Power

[Jabari]

So someone posted a deck earlier that got moved to casual, and I'm hoping this thread doesn't follow the same route.

I think Puresteel Paladin has some potential and may be grounds for considering a new spin on a DnT type strategy. I'm thinking a list that isn't dedicated to metal-craft but focuses more on Paladin for card draw. Here is a rough first draft:


Creatures 26

3 Puresteel Paladin
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Mother of Runes
4 Serra Avenger
4 Flickerwisp
3 Mangara of Corondor

Artifacts 9

4 Aether Vial
2 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice

Spells 4

4 Swords to Plowshares

Lands 20

4 Wasteland
3 Ancient Den
11 Plains
2 Karakas


Currently there is 1 flex slot that can either be 1 more equipment, spell, or land. The mana doesn't seem too safe, Ancient Den might just be too greedy.

Also, would it be beneficial to try and splash black and run it more of a Deadguy shell? That gives you additional artifacts in Tidehollow Sculler, and while you lose the chances of Mangara lock you do get Bob with a very low curve.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Marauder Moe]

I like this line of thinking. I liked the list from the other thread too, dunno why it has to go in casual.

I think Leonin Shikari combos REALLY well with Lightning Greaves. I think greaves are good in general too. You could drop a Puresteel Paladin on to a field of greaves + other unused equipment and then all of the sudden you're swinging with a hasty Voltron.

Going black for Bob, Hymn, and maybe Sculler also seems promising. Lets you play Vindicate too.

I would reconsider Vial in the deck. Even if it doesn't get hit by Mental Misstep, with so few 1-drops it's going to take 2 turns before it does anything. Some combination of Chrome Mox, [card]Mox Diamond[/cards] and/or Mox Opal would give a faster start.

[Jabari]

I don't know if you've ever played with DnT's, but a Vial at 3 with Karakas and an active Mangara basically means you win. If you cut Vial you should cut Mangara and probably Flickerwisp and move to a Deadguy shell. Bob can make up for lack of vial in CA, but in a mono-white version you need it. They only play 4 misstep, if they have it... oh well.

[Lathan]

I was the guy who wrote the original casual list.

If Flickerwisp removes a creature from play and back, to the equipments follow the creature?

And does this deck have any answers for Storm and other combos? I ran Solitary Confinement in my sideboard as an answer, as hopefully with the paladin and Fire/Ice you can keep your hand full. I like the inclusion of Aether Vial, especially since it gives a good shot at metalcraft as well.

Also in testing I did find that Lightning Greaves/Leonin Shikari helped a lot for protecting your weenies, and the Greaves could really speed you up in the late game when you have 2-3 equipments out. Having Puresteel out with metalcraft and a sword/batterskull/greaves led to being able to pay one for an Akroma, as you could equip all of them at once.

I might drop Mother of Runes for the Shikari/Greaves combo, as they serve the same purpose. Also, I might try and fit some other swords in the sideboard for different color match ups. Don't under estimate Light/Shadow and War/Peace against an aggro deck, as the life gain and creature recursion can buy you some extra turns.

[Gheizen64]

I was the guy who wrote the original casual list.

If Flickerwisp removes a creature from play and back, to the equipments follow the creature?

And does this deck have any answers for Storm and other combos? I ran Solitary Confinement in my sideboard as an answer, as hopefully with the paladin and Fire/Ice you can keep your hand full. I like the inclusion of Aether Vial, especially since it gives a good shot at metalcraft as well.

Also in testing I did find that Lightning Greaves/Leonin Shikari helped a lot for protecting your weenies, and the Greaves could really speed you up in the late game when you have 2-3 equipments out. Having Puresteel out with metalcraft and a sword/batterskull/greaves led to being able to pay one for an Akroma, as you could equip all of them at once.

I might drop Mother of Runes for the Shikari/Greaves combo, as they serve the same purpose. Also, I might try and fit some other swords in the sideboard for different color match ups. Don't under estimate Light/Shadow and War/Peace against an aggro deck, as the life gain and creature recursion can buy you some extra turns.

God i wrote such a long post and misclicked and lost it.

Long story short:

Mom is better than shikari/greaves. Cost 1 instead of 4, gives ground control via unblockability and unkillability via combat damage. Also occupy 4 spots instead of 8. Way superior.

White has one of the best card for anti-storm combo: Ethersworn Canonist . If you fear combo so much, run 3 in the main +1 sb or a similar split. I'd remove batterskull (too slow in a pure aggro deck with no way to cheat on mana) , 1 Avenger (drawing 2 early without vial is annoying) and the puresteel paladin altogether, they make you play a bad mana base (relevant against merfolk, goblin) and they don't draw more than 1 card a game on average.

Card that could be considered: Oblivion Ring (if i'm not mistaken you can remove one permanent forever + another permanent when it re-enter into play via vialing Flickerwisp in response to Enter into play trigger), Mirran Crusader, Weathered wayfarer, leonin ward-reliquary or whatever it's called.

[Jabari]

God i wrote such a long post and misclicked and lost it.

Long story short:

Mom is better than shikari/greaves. Cost 1 instead of 4, gives ground control via unblockability and unkillability via combat damage. Also occupy 4 spots instead of 8. Way superior.

White has one of the best card for anti-storm combo: Ethersworn Canonist . If you fear combo so much, run 3 in the main +1 sb or a similar split. I'd remove batterskull (too slow in a pure aggro deck with no way to cheat on mana) , 1 Avenger (drawing 2 early without vial is annoying) and the puresteel paladin altogether, they make you play a bad mana base (relevant against merfolk, goblin) and they don't draw more than 1 card a game on average.

Card that could be considered: Oblivion Ring (if i'm not mistaken you can remove one permanent forever + another permanent when it re-enter into play via vialing Flickerwisp in response to Enter into play trigger), Mirran Crusader, Weathered wayfarer, leonin ward-reliquary or whatever it's called.

DAMNIT, I just wrote out a long ass explanation then changed the page on accident. This thread is cursed...

Anyway I don't feel like re-typing everything either so I'll say it bluntly.

The changes you are suggesting basically mean - play DnT. That's fine, but this is a different deck with different goals. Paladin as opposed to Wayfarer means less flexibility but stronger beatdown. I'll elaborate later if necessary.

Batterskull looked bad to me too, but it did so well in Providence I want to test and see for myself.

Mirran Crusader means cutting other 3 drops, your suggestions?

The mana base might be better as -3 Ancient Den, +3 Rishadan Port.

I hate having to re-type posts.

[Marauder Moe]

Batterskull is often a 2-drop.

[Greenpoe]

What if the deck was built focused more on Puresteel Paladin? Something with one or two zero drop equipment cardss (Accorder's Shield, Bonesaw), Steelshaper's Gift (grab an equip and play it with Paladin to cantrip and add to metalcraft), maybe even Kor Skyfisher to bounce the zero drops, or to vial in to respond to removal, and Kemba, Kha Regent to get more CA out of those Bonesaws.

[Richard Cheese]

Doesn't seem like enough artifacts to consistently get metalcraft if you're really trying to abuse Paladin. You might want to go for a white-affinity type approach


Porcelain Legionnaire
Ethersworn Canonist
Cranial Plating
Mox Opal
Dispatch
Auriok Edgewright

[Jabari]

Kemba will die in response to an equip, it's too much of a tempo loss.

Synergy doesn't excuse playing bad cards. If you don't have Paladin then you just have a really bad equipment filling up cards slots that could just be better cards.

I considered Kor Skyfisher and if someone were to try him it would probably involve cutting 1 Flickerwisp and probably 1 land or 1 Mangara. I wouldn't want to play him as a 4, and I'm very hesitant to play 3. I think 2 or 1 (as a 5th 'wisp) is a safe number. It's only good when you have a board already established to use it for vial tricks etc.

I also considered Steelshaper's gift, but I can't figure out on what to cut, and it's only worthwhile if you're metalcrafted so you can search out something like the Vindicate equipment. The problem with that is you end up having to play Ancient Den and I'm not sure if the weaker mana-base is worth it yet.

EDIT: I hadn't refreshed so I didn't see your comment Richard, I like that idea a lot. Maybe drop the Mangara lock altogether and replace it with Canonist and Legionnaire?

With such a list what do you think would be good with the 1 Flex slot?

[Richard Cheese]

Kemba will die in response to an equip, it's too much of a tempo loss.

Synergy doesn't excuse playing bad cards. If you don't have Paladin then you just have a really bad equipment filling up cards slots that could just be better cards.

I considered Kor Skyfisher and if someone were to try him it would probably involve cutting 1 Flickerwisp and probably 1 land or 1 Mangara. I wouldn't want to play him as a 4, and I'm very hesitant to play 3. I think 2 or 1 (as a 5th 'wisp) is a safe number. It's only good when you have a board already established to use it for vial tricks etc.

I also considered Steelshaper's gift, but I can't figure out on what to cut, and it's only worthwhile if you're metalcrafted so you can search out something like the Vindicate equipment. The problem with that is you end up having to play Ancient Den and I'm not sure if the weaker mana-base is worth it yet.

EDIT: I hadn't refreshed so I didn't see your comment Richard, I like that idea a lot. Maybe drop the Mangara lock altogether and replace it with Canonist and Legionnaire?

With such a list what do you think would be good with the 1 Flex slot?

I just threw this list together and tested it a bit in Cockatrice. Absolutely trounced Merfolk over about 4 games.


4 Puresteel Paladin
4 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Auriok Edgewright
3 Cranial Plating
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Body and Mind
3 Ethersworn Canonist
3 Phyrexian Revoker
4 AEther Vial
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Dispatch
1 Batterskull
3 Mox Opal
4 Porcelain Legionnaire
4 Ancient Den
4 Darksteel Citadel
8 Plains
4 Wasteland

[Jabari]

Why Body and Mind over Feast and Famine? It seems to me like that's more of a swarming type of list so wouldn't the untap be more valuable?

Also I still think Serra Avenger is worth consideration. Not an artifact but gets past moat and stays back on defense as well.

Also 3 Cranial Plating seems like A LOT wouldn't 2 be fine?

[Richard Cheese]

Because B&M is pro Merfolk/Bant/Zoo, and gives you a free blocker so you can swing all-in. In just a hand full of matches, that deck is really sick. Dropping Puresteel, cheating in Batterskull, then immediately transferring it to a Legionnaire that's ready to swing is just awesome. There are a few issues I noticed though:

1. Aether vial - this could probably be something like Signal Pest for a more aggro strategy. Getting one to stick is a PITA for blue decks.

2. One plating could probably be something else...possibly something that gives flying or trample to push damage through, or a third sword. I like it because it's cheap to play/equip if you don't have Puresteel out, and goes great with first strike.

3. Possibly more equipment to abuse the Paladin's first ability? Or maybe just things that can easily be returned to your hand...a cursory search doesn't turn up much. Maaaaaaaybe worth splashing blue for something like Esperzoa or Master Transmuter...seems more cute than effective though.

4. Etched Champion may be better than Edgewright here, but double-strike is seriously nuts with swords.

5. Dispatch was really good in testing, might warrant a 3/3 split with swords.

6. This deck feels like it needs E. Tutor, but I'm not sure what to drop...just 2 would be good.

7. Definitely gets hosed by Null Rod, but Disenchant could easily be run in the board, or Seal of Cleansing, which could be tutored for.

[Lathan]

I'm going to test Court Homunculus in the Aether vial spot. 2/2 for one artifact sounds decent enough to me.

[Jabari]

@ Richard: I was thinking about E-Tutor as well, you could cut 1 Revoker and 1 Ethersworn Canonist for a 2-of.

My biggest worry about this type of all in artifact strategy is splash hate meant for Affinity.

Which incidentally raises the question is this list better than affinity?

[Brushwagg]

I've been working on a deck simular to this since Puresteel got spoiled. http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?20673-Deck-Steel-Foundry

[Richard Cheese]

@ Richard: I was thinking about E-Tutor as well, you could cut 1 Revoker and 1 Ethersworn Canonist for a 2-of.

My biggest worry about this type of all in artifact strategy is splash hate meant for Affinity.

Which incidentally raises the question is this list better than affinity?

Better? Probably not, although it isn't completely hated out by Null Rod, and isn't as dependent on specific creatures.

@Brushwagg - A few comments on your list:

How are you finding the 2-color manabase? Looks like you aren't running a lot of artifact lands, but are still really susceptible to Wasteland.

4 Crusaders seems like too many, 3 mana for a 2/2 that gets hit by all the most prominent removal.

Also, why Chrome Mox? With so many artifacts it seems like you're going to be either stuck with it in hand, or pitching something you'd rather cast.

[nedleeds]

If you are building this deck under the assumption that you will be able to land a Puresteel and have metalcraft then I can't see how you can't run

4 x Manamorphose
1 x Sunforger

It's draw 4 (assuming you have no MM in hand) and Sunforger is far from the worst equip. It can get your Dispatches and +4/+0 is pretty good with your first strikers.

[Richard Cheese]

If you are building this deck under the assumption that you will be able to land a Puresteel and have metalcraft then I can't see how you can't run

4 x Manamorphose
1 x Sunforger

It's draw 4 (assuming you have no MM in hand) and Sunforger is far from the worst equip. It can get your Dispatches and +4/+0 is pretty good with your first strikers.

Sunforger is easy to squeeze in, but what would you cut for 4 Manamorphose?

[Jabari]

I think a better equipment to include in light of all the first strikers is Basilisk Collar.

Also I'm gonna try to test a less artifact heavy list like the one in the OP and see how good paladin is without metalcraft.

The changes I plan on making to the OP list as of right now are swapping Dens for Citadels, and adding 1 more Equipment. What that equipment is, is still up in the air. I can either cut 1 Mangara and 1 Flickerwisp for 2 Steelshaper's Gift, and run the vindicate sword. Or just add a Sword of War and Peace or Light and Shadow.

[bokwinkle]

Something I've been messing with:

Artifacts:
4 x Vault Skirge
4 x AEther Vial
3 x Bonesplitter
3 x Mox Opal
2 x Tidehollow Sculler
1 x Phyrexian Revoker
1 x Umezawa's Jitte
1 x Sword of Fire and Ice
1 x Ethersworn Canonist

Black:
4 x Dark Confidant
2 x Night's Whisper

White:
4 x Puresteel Paladin
4 x Swords to Plowshares
3 x Kor Duelist
3 x Stoneforge Mystic
2 x Enlightened Tutor

Land:
4 x Ancient Den
4 x Marsh Flats
4 x Scrubland
3 x Plains
1 x Swamp
1 x Vault of Whispers
1 x Arid Mesa

Sideboard:
1 x Ensnaring Bridge
1 x Pithing Needle
1 x Sword of Body and Mind
1 x Enlightened Tutor
1 x Humility
1 x Runed Halo
2 x Engineered Plague
3 x Perish
4 x Seal of Cleansing

I've liked vial, but generally found that using vial required the use of extensive card advantage engines (bob, etc).Vault Skirge has been absolutely amazing in testing, as has Kor Duelist. Cranial plating probably needs to go in here, as well as batterskull, but this is a pretty rough list atm. Also one of the sculler's should probably be the 4th SFM. And I might potentially go to 1 maindeck e-tutor with 2 in the board.

I think generally everyone here is missing the boat on Enlightened tutor as well - the versatility is amazing and it's randomly a mana fixer as well - and it's sideboard applications really shore up many of the toughest matches for the deck.

So far my biggest fear has been Null Rod, which is why I'm running the disenchant's (seal's) in the board. I'm curious if anyone has tested their decks against anything other than merfolk?