Bant Hexproof

[TLK]

Hey guys, been brainstorming a bit on a concept akin to the Blouses deck that won an SCG Open a few years back. I think there are some definite upgrades, and wanted to get people's thoughts as to its viability.


4 Noble Hierarch
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 True-Name Nemesis
3 Geist of Saint Traft
2 Invisible Stalker

4 Brainstorm
4 Daze
4 Spell Pierce

4 Unstable Mutation
3 Rancor
2 Spectral Flight
2 Berserk

2 Ajani, Caller of the Pride

3 Cavern of Souls
3 Misty Rainforest
3 Windswept Heath
3 Tropical Island
3 Tundra
1 Savannah
1 Island
1 Forest



As for the sideboard, I'm guessing this deck gets wrecked by burn/discard strategies, so Leyline of Sanctity seems like an auto-include. Probably some number of Force of Will for combo, some number of Path/Swords for removal. Standard dedication to graveyard hate. That should round it out.


4 Leyline of Sanctity
3 Force of Will
3 Path to Exile/Swords to Plowshares
2 Rest in Peace/Grafdigger's Cage
3 Meddling Mage (Terminus is bad)


Thoughts? Rancor may be unnecessary since all our creatures (aside from Geist) are unblockable so Trample is fairly irrelevant, but it's a cheap power boost that lasts more than a turn. I'm open to ideas.

[Richard Cheese]

Why bother with a bunch of pump effects when you could just run Stoneforge + Equipment?

Why Spell Pierce over Force?

Why bother with Cavern when there's not really a common creature type?

18 Lands also seems a little loose, even though you have a bunch of mana dorks. Forked bolt and Lightning bolt are getting super common.

You also have no removal at all, so even though your threats may be resilient or evasive, you probably aren't going to match the clock of Delver + Swiftspear + Bolts. At least, that's been my experience trying to brew a similar Bant list.


If you want to be fast, might as well go with Infect. Otherwise, I think there needs to be a lot more removal and control elements for something like this to work.

[TLK]

SFM seems a tad slower. I'd just assume play Deathblade. FoW is in the side, but I could definitely swap them with Pierces in the main.

18 lands is loose, yes, and I would have no problem going to 19 if the meta seemed fraught with red decks.

I had a feeling someone would suggest Infect, but Infect doesn't specialize in Hexproof creatures, which is essentially the theme of this deck.

What list have you been toying with? Appreciate your comments.

[Richard Cheese]

Infect doesn't care about hexproof because it's not looking to get in more than a couple attacks. I was trying one list that was more like Maverick with counters in the side, and another with fewer creatures and a more standard blue package like what you've got. Testing against U/R though, TNN just doesn't come down soon enough or do enough against Delver and Young Pyromancer.

[TLK]

Zealous Persecution seems like a blowout against Delver out of the board (should've added an U. Sea or two in the deck I posted for DRS anyway).

[KazinMtg]

Needs more Riding the Dilu Horse. Isn't that the only reason to play this deck?