4 color (needs a name :P)

[silvanel]

I've been testing this list recently and it's doing pretty good.

Current list

4x noble hierarch
3x stoneforge mystic
3x knight of the reliquary
2x Geist of Saint Traft
3x snapcaster mage

4x brainstorm
2x flusterstorm
2x spell snare
4x force of will
4x swords to plowshares
4x lightning bolt

1x jace, the mind sculptor
1x batterskull
1x Umezawa's Jitte
1x sword of war and peace

3xscalding tarn
3xmisty rainforest
3xarid mesa
2xtundra
2xtropical island
2xsavanah
1xvolcanic island
1xplateau
2xtaiga
1xisland
1x plains
1xmaze of ith

Sideboard
4x leyline of sanctity
3x tormod's crypt
3x detention sphere
4x quasali pridemage
1x spell snare



Testing
-grim lavamancer


sideboard option
pyroblast
reb


Yes its 4 color but never had any problem whit it so far. I think it is a good mix between control and aggro.
Further testing comming up with some local tournament.

[Chikenbok]

I think you might want to consider (since you're essentially running bant splash bolts) a few things that might not change anything, but ought to be considered.

Knight of the Reliquary's function and power level go down the more colors you add to a deck. Not because of the colors, but because of the strain that puts on your 'cute trick lands' ala maze, karakas, bog, etc. With that said, I don't think knight is a bad card you just might need to work on the lands a bit. For instance, I would without hesitation cut the maze and make it either another fetch or a karakas, small things like that. If it can't make mana, its gonna hurt.

Other thing, and probably more important, get some pyroblast/rebs in that board!!!! If you're splashing red just for bolt, you might as well make it *extra* worthwhile and get the blasts in the board.

[Koby]

I never understood the fascination with putting Lightning Bolt and Swords to Plowshares in the same deck.

[Chikenbok]

I never understood the fascination with putting Lightning Bolt and Swords to Plowshares in the same deck.

You've clearly never seen a lightning sword.

[godofallu]

Yeah if you are going to make your deck that much weaker by adding a 4th color the least you could do is make the extra color important/useful. Bolt is not worth the splash.

I play Bant a lot and I can tell you right now it's more of an aggro-control deck. When you do start doing damage you do it 8 points at a time. Burn won't give you any reach like in most aggro decks, in fact it becomes outclassed in the mid-late game quickly weakening the control aspect of the deck.

I suppose if you were to add bloodbraid elf or grim lavamancer or wild nactl or REB you could justify the red splash potentially.

Just trust me when I say against decks with wasteland and stifle you will get color screwed a noticeable % of the time.

[Jenni]

I never understood the fascination with putting Lightning Bolt and Swords to Plowshares in the same deck.

^ This.
It doesn't seem like the kind of deck that will need to go to the face with the couple points of burn often, and swords is stronger as a removal spell, so why not just cut the red and improve your Knights by bringing in more utility lands?

[silvanel]

I will need to test it a lot more but so far Lightning bolt in this deck never really deceived me. Let me explain:
- Can work around mom when needed having both sword and bolt
- help getting the last 3-6 point of dmg in with snapcaster mid late game
- with so many rug and maverick around( my meta is all rug/maverick/stoneblade....) 4 swords to plowshares wasnt nearly enough.


Ill be working on the sideboard with the red splash
Also need to test grim lavamancer in there.

[Tanith]

You can always try to play something like a Blue Zoo (there is already a thread)