Dream Theatre (Dream Halls/Show and Tell)

[ReinVos]

So I've been looking at some Dream Halls builds and I really think they could be built better. The combo takes up too many slots to make sure it wins as soon as Halls land. I've been trying to free up some slots by making the deck a bit more flexible and at the same tried to make sure that when this deck utilizes Dream Halls, the opponent doesn't get an extra turn. The plan B is not to be underestimated. This deck is capable of dropping a Progenitus on turn one. This is not only powerful in it's own right, it allows for your opponent to board all the wrong cards, only for you to crush him with Dream Halls the second game.

Dream Theatre

4 Show and Tell
4 Dream Halls
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Force of Will
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Intuition

4 Progenitus
4 Conflux
1 Time Stretch

4 Lotus Petal

2 Scalding Tarn
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
3 Ancient Tomb
1 City of Traitors
4 Volcanic Island
4 Island

Card explanations:

4 Show and Tell: Helps accelerating into Dream Halls or powers out Progenitus.

4 Dream Halls: With Conflux, the opponent never gets another turn. Get multiple Confluxes, Progenitii and Time Stretch. Play Progenitus, then Time Stretch and you should win the game.

4 Brainstorm: Draw and dig.

4 Ponder: Draw and dig.

4 Force of Will: Protection.

4 Lightning Bolt: Gets rid of problematic creatures like Insectile Aberration or hate bears after boarding. If for some reason opponent has more than 20 life and you're going the Dream Halls route, you can make sure you'll deal lethal damage by chaining Conflux to get some Lightning Bolts. Don't know if four is the right number though.

3 Intuition: Powerful tutor in this deck. Sol lands power this out a turn earlier.

4 Progenitus: Surprisingly important to the deck. This is your finisher.

4 Conflux: This is the combo card with Dream Halls.

1 Time Stretch: This combines well with Progenitus. Allows you to beat for 20 before opponent gets a turn. I've decided to play Time Stretch instead of Cruel Ultimatums or other stuff because it takes up too many slots.

4 Lotus Petal: Acceleration and prophylactic response to Daze, which is nice because this deck is already playing around Spell snare like a champ.

Manabase: Needs some testing but looks right.

I haven't made a sideboard yet but the first things that need to be addressed are edict effects and lots of counterspells. I think Defense Grid might be a powerful tool for that (Dream Halls route won't allow for them to cast edicts in their turn) as well as rendering Stifles useless. Also, Ensnaring Bridges, Humilities and Moats ruin my day so for that I want a Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker in the board. Nicol Bolas is ridiculous combined with Time Stretch =D Probably want some Blood Moons in there as well. I'm open to suggestions on the board so fire away.

I really think this deck could be very powerful in today's meta, for the same reasons Sneak Show and Hive Mind are solid decks. Spell Snare is not an issue and the sol lands and petals help playing around Daze.

To help the players out that never heard of Dream Halls. This is how it plays out:

Ingredients: Dream Halls, Conflux, any colored card.

Play the Dream Halls, then play Conflux by pitching the colored card. Get the following cards: Conflux (white), Lightning Bolt (red), Progenitus (green), Progenitus (black), Time Stretch (blue). Play Progenitus by pitching another Progenitus, then play Time Stretch by pitching Conflux. The extra Lightning Bolt serves as some extra reach or to blow stuff like Peacekeeper out of the way before attacking with the hydra.

If for some reason the opponent has more than 23 life or 26 life you can easily repeat the loop to gather more Lightning Bolts.

This deck also seems like a blast to play so let's discuss and improve it to beat up on the metagame!

[from Cairo]

Probably makes sense to run at least 1 bounce spell to get around a Moat, Humility, Solitary Confinement, etc.

[ReinVos]

Probably makes sense to run at least 1 bounce spell to get around a Moat, Humility, Solitary Confinement, etc.

Yeah, good call. I don't want to scoop to any of those cards game one. I think it would be wise to cut a Lightning Bolt and replace it with a Chain of Vapor.

After boarding I will have Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker. Show and Tell into Progenitus isn't very good against Moat, Humility and cohorts but Show and Tell into Dream Halls is still powerful, as well as just looking for aggressive mana and hardcast Dream Halls. From there on, I can do the Conflux loop twice, leaving me with a Progenitus, a Nicol Bolas, as well as taking two extra turns. This should put the opponent away.
For this reason it's unnecessary to waste more slots on bounce in the sideboard.

I do like having a maindeck answer to some of these cards. Especially as Chain of Vapor can bounce creatures giving me breathing room. Chain of Vapor might be useful against Zoo, where a main board Nicol Bolas would be overkill. Chain of Vapor can also be good against Aether Vial.

Do you think Chain of Vapor is the best option as it is cheap and I usually don't have any permanents (and when I do, I can first do all the ridiculous stuff and then bounce the problem card, at that point it doesn't matter if Dream Halls gets bounced)?

[optml]

Sorry, but does noone else see the main issue with this deck???

Dream Halls is BANNED in Legacy.

Without it, you just have a very high cc deck.
With it, you lose games out of default as you're playing with banned cards. You may as well throw in a Black Lotus if you want speed.

[jjjoness']

Sorry, but does noone else see the main issue with this deck???

Dream Halls is BANNED in Legacy.

Without it, you just have a very high cc deck.
With it, you lose games out of default as you're playing with banned cards. You may as well throw in a Black Lotus if you want speed.

If you're living in the past it is. Dream Halls has been around for at least a year iirc.

First of all your deck needs more Train of Thought and Stream of Consciousness.

I always try being constructive about new decks, but there is this one thing that I see when I look at your list. It looks just like Hive Mind Combo. So the first question that needs to be adressed is, whether Dream Halls has any advantage over Hive Mind as a wincon whatsoever.

[optml]

Ah, you're right; comment withdrawn.

Wizards really need to update Gatherer then!
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Printings.aspx?multiverseid=5105
Clearly says Legacy - BANNED.

As far as the deck goes, I'm with jjjjones'. Hive Mind is a beast of a deck, and I think you have to dedicate more slots for your combo. I guess the benefit is that DreamHalls can win late game (if needed) whereas if the oppenent has open mana of the correct colour, it is difficult for Hive Mind to win later.

[moseby]

Kill con should be beacon of immortality, and false cure.
I strongly suggest you run lim duls vault also as it digs for Halls or conflux. Maybe 1 cruel ultimatum.

In the board 3 death marks for Gaddock Teeg, and mind censor.