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klaus
05-23-2012, 05:29 AM
http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width_scaled/hash/b0/b4/b0b49496a1c777405e1b9550844d63bb.jpg

I must admit, I'm pretty intrigued by that card. Stoneforge Mystic + Vial semi-break it imo for obvious reasons.
Strix is comparable to Snapcaster Mage on several levels: replaces itself, can serve as creature removal, with the exception that it can take down 3+ toughness creatures AND replace itself. Its -1 power is balanced out by the ability to conveniently fly over your opponents' forces, which is especially nice for Stoneforge shells - in fact Snappy would probably be even more broken as a 1/1 flyer.
I'm not implying that Strix will be format warping, but I'm sure it will see play in UWB shells. Below is the list that I'm testing atm.

4 Aether Vial

4 Baleful Strix
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Spellstutter Sprite
3 Snapcaster Mge
2 Vendilion Clique
3 Flickerwisp (flows with every creature beside Sprites)
1 Jotun Grunt

1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Umezawa's Jitte

4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Vindicate (isn't random due to its swiss-knifeness)
4 Force of Will
4 Brainstorm

4 Flooded Strand
2 Polluted Delta
2 Marsh Flats
4 Tundra
2 Underground Sea
1 Scrubland
1 Island
1 Plains
3 Wasteland

SB:
2 Disenchant
1 Extirpate
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Jotun Grunt
2 Ghastly Demise
1 Perish
2 Jace, the Mindsculptor
3 Spell Pierce

Cards that didn't make it into the MD, but are feasible nevertheless: Daze, Bitterblossom, Lingering Souls, Serra Avenger, Dark Confidant (hot candidate for the next test session), Cavern of Souls, Mother of Runes, Chrome Mox (tempting with 19 creatures basically replacing themselves)
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Thanks in advance for your input!

igri_is_a_bk
05-23-2012, 09:30 AM
Unearth on Strix nets an insane amount of value. It conveniently works with every creature you're considering too. Just something to consider, especially if you're expecting Strix to be a pseudo-removal spell.

Thorondor
05-23-2012, 09:55 AM
i miss jace, it is not a beatdown deck, I can see that vial does not work with planeswalker but a 2 of jace never hurts. ;-)

rufus
05-23-2012, 11:30 AM
As was mentioned in the SCD thread, I think you're better with Strix in some kind of artifact oriented deck, maybe affinity, Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas or Thopter Foundry/Sword of the Meek.

klaus
05-23-2012, 11:35 AM
i miss jace, it is not a beatdown deck, I can see that vial does not work with planeswalker but a 2 of jace never hurts. ;-)

There are 2 Jaces in the SB for MUs creatures have a hard time winning.
As for the MD - 18 creatures that generate C/A are included already ;)
And I like to keep the land count low (20) and use my Wastelands freely - Jace doesn't roll that way imo.

Mastikor
05-23-2012, 12:12 PM
I've been toying with this as well.
My take:

4 Dark Confidant
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Mother of Runes
3 Strix
3 Spellstutter Sprite

4 Vial
1 Batterskull
1 Jitte
1 SoFI

4 StP
4 FoW
4 Brainstorm
3 Spell Snare
2 Ponder

4 Flooded Strand
3 Delta
3 Tundra
3 Sea
1 Island
1 Plains
3 Wasteland

I think Dark Confidant is pretty hot here. Also, Mom, for protecting key creatures and better curve. I run only 18 lands, so Jace is too greedy and Lingering Souls too. Snapcaster would probably be nice in here, but I really don't know what to cut. Deck has enough removal anyway (note that Mom protecting Strix is evil tech ;).

klaus
05-24-2012, 05:09 AM
I've been toying with this as well.
My take:

4 Dark Confidant
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Mother of Runes
3 Strix
3 Spellstutter Sprite

4 Vial
1 Batterskull
1 Jitte
1 SoFI

4 StP
4 FoW
4 Brainstorm
3 Spell Snare
2 Ponder

I think Dark Confidant is pretty hot here. Also, Mom, for protecting key creatures and better curve. I run only 18 lands, so Jace is too greedy and Lingering Souls too. Snapcaster would probably be nice in here, but I really don't know what to cut. Deck has enough removal anyway (note that Mom protecting Strix is evil tech ;).

Nice to see other people starting with similar shells.
A couple of thoughts on your list:

Mother and Sprite fullfil a similar role in protecting our guys from STPs, which is why I don't like them together
Confidant and Snappy battle over the same slots and I'm really not sure who's better in this deck. In a RUG-heavy meta Snappy does better imo - well, testing will tell
I would play Clique over Spell Snare
Have you done any testing yet? What were your insights?


PS: Strix was very good in testing and I think I'd play 8 in this deck :)

Mastikor
05-24-2012, 01:39 PM
No serious testing, just goldfishing around. Too busy atm.

I see your point regarding mom/sprite, in that case I'd rather pick mom. She can be used multiple times and provides better curve. Having creature on 1cc is always cool in vial decks. Another thing is that best use of Strix is to surprise drop it from Vial and block, but in that situation you often don't have a chance too cast Sprite too. If mom is on board already, she takes care of things :)
Why do you think bob and Snappy compete for same slots? They have different roles. I'm a fan of Confidant myself, but he doesn't seem to find much attention in legacy atm, and I've always wanted to play some sort of vial deck with him. If I'd drop Sprites from my list, I'd run Snappies in their place.
Clique is very good ofc, but still a bit expensive...and the list is really tight.
Unearth seems sweet, probably a 1-of.

ScatmanX
05-24-2012, 01:52 PM
Batterskull could be another equippament?
It looks like you have a whole lot of bodies here, so another Sword could be better?

klaus
05-25-2012, 04:32 AM
Clique is very good ofc, but still a bit expensive...and the list is really tight.
Unearth seems sweet, probably a 1-of.

Clique is among the top 3 blue guys ever printed and I think two is the correct number here. I've tested Flickerwisp too and it's been awesome - flowing with more creatures than in Death & Taxes, it's been great even w/o Vial online.
Unearth as a 1-of was ok.

@scatmanX:
That's exactly what I did: adding SoLaS