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DarkerMagic
10-15-2015, 07:43 PM
http://agzz.team286.org/mtg/Fischer/Fischer-I.jpg

Balancing Act (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Balancing%20Act?printing=10189) is some sort of strange Five Color Control Deck that Plays the creatures in suspend and then plays Balancing Act/ Obliterate using those crappy Sac Lands. I was a huge, huge, huge fan of Balancing Tings back when it came out and have been always editing the original deck to create this one. Also a bunch of neat tricks that this deck can do via Burning Wish + 5 Colors. And for some reason my Legacy Balancing act only has 1 Balancing Act, but I guess that is like Legacy Pox now having x0 Pox in the deck.

Here's the List of what I believe is the Origins of this Deck:
http://archive.wizards.com/magic/magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/fk33

Here is what I have now:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/legacy-balancing-act-edit/

Land (23)

4x Ancient Spring (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Ancient%20Spring?printing=8668)
1x Crystal Vein (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Crystal%20Vein?printing=4310)
4x Geothermal Crevice (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Geothermal%20Crevice?printing=8670)
2x Peat Bog (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Peat%20Bog?printing=7085)
3x Sandstone Needle (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Sandstone%20Needle?printing=7086)
4x Sulfur Vent (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Sulfur%20Vent?printing=8669)
1x Thespian's Stage (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Thespian's%20Stage?printing=20685)
4x Tinder Farm (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Tinder%20Farm?printing=8671)

Creature (13)

1x Emrakul, the Aeons Torn (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Emrakul,%20the%20Aeons%20Torn)
2x Gurmag Angler (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Gurmag%20Angler?printing=27157)
4x Nihilith (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Nihilith?printing=3227)
3x Tinder Wall (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Tinder%20Wall)
1x Tombstalker (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Tombstalker)
2x Wild Cantor (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Wild%20Cantor?printing=15615)

Instant (8)

3x Fire/Ice (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Fire%20//%20Ice)
3x Insidious Dreams (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Insidious%20Dreams?printing=9871)
2x Magma Jet (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Magma%20Jet)

Sorcery (11)

1x Balancing Act (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Balancing%20Act?printing=10189)
4x Burning Wish (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Burning%20Wish)
3x Obliterate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Obliterate?printing=12112)
3x Slaughter Games (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Slaughter%20Games?printing=20523)

Artifact (5)

3x Chromatic Star (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Chromatic%20Star)
2x Expedition Map (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Expedition%20Map)

Sideboard (15)

4x Leyline of Sanctity (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Leyline%20of%20Sanctity)

1x Balancing Act (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Balancing%20Act?printing=10189)
1x Bitter Ordeal (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Bitter%20Ordeal?printing=3183)
1x Blast of Genius (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Blast%20of%20Genius?printing=21109)
1x Cave-In (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Cave-In?printing=7346)
1x Gleeful Sabotage (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Gleeful%20Sabotage)
1x Innocent Blood (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Innocent%20Blood)
1x Morningtide (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Morningtide?printing=10427)
1x Obliterate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Obliterate?printing=12112)
1x Reanimate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Reanimate)
1x Slaughter Games (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Slaughter%20Games?printing=20523)
1x Void Snare (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Void%20Snare?printing=25090)

How you Play with it:
As complicated and weird as the lands work, Do not Sacrifice them until you are going to go off. Play as much Mana as you possibly can in play and then when you are about to die you go off and Hopefully have something at the end of it all.

Vs. Counter Decks it will be Grabbing Obliterate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Obliterate?printing=12112), Burning Wish (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Burning%20Wish) for it, or End Step Insidious Dreams (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Insidious%20Dreams?printing=9871), not sacking your lands (if Possible) discarding a card to Grab an Obliterate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Obliterate?printing=12112).
Vs. Non-Counter Decks Insidious Dreams and Discard your Hand (Hoping you have 3 Cards Minimum) and Search for (In this Order):

Balancing Act (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Balancing%20Act?printing=10189)
Peat Bog (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Peat%20Bog?printing=7085)
Tombstalker (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Tombstalker)
Gurmag Angler (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Gurmag%20Angler?printing=27157)

You only need 10 cards in your graveyard for this to work.

and right now the core of the deck is the awkward mana base (22-24 lands), the Creatures(4-7 Suspend/Delve Guys), Artifacts/Creatures for mana base altering(7-10), and Explosion Spells being Obliterate, Balancing Act/Insidious Dreams, Burning Wish, (10-12).

Card Choices:


Red Cards

Magma Jet (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Magma%20Jet), Magma Jet is quite amazing merely because I can kill creatures with X/2; But on top of that you get to Scry(2) in order to look at any of the other cards that are coming up to help you get that Obliterate or land searching or w/e you need at the time. I would save this until you have a Turn of Dire need for it, but I would still use it to pop creatures ASAP.

Fire/Ice (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Fire%20//%20Ice), Fire//Ice is pretty much the same as Magma Jet except it has the added benefit of Ice. It shoots down the same creatures, or 2 weaklings and you can poke your opponent and say pew pew. Ice is strictly better but once again it is there if creatures need killing.

Burning Wish (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Burning%20Wish), THIS CARD. Thats all I have to say about it; it literally does everything as it is a problem solver: OMG you need to bait a counter? You need a win condition for after that Obliterate or Balancing Act? You NEED an Act/Obliterate? But OP, I got 3 Wishes in my starting hand and I am not sure what to do! Ill tell you what to do, you win.

Obliterate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Obliterate?printing=12112), Obliterate gets the job done when it comes to clearing the board But Daze will return that fricken island back into your opponents hand and Obliterate will then cry a place for that island to sit back and relax. Otherwise once you cast Obliterate your opponent will just be confused and wonder why you're even playing legacy with a hard-casted 8cc sorcery while putting everything into their graveyard. Just Remember:
Obliterate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Obliterate?printing=12112) > Force of Will (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Force%20of%20Will)
Obliterate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Obliterate?printing=12112) < Daze (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Daze)

Cave-In (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Cave-In?printing=7346), SB, It is a 0cc Steam Blast (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Steam%20Blast) for removing a red card which you have tons of, sounds good to me.

Meltdown (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Meltdown?printing=22), It stops that annoying affinity deck that you know; you will play against once in your life, or in my case one of my friends plays affinity so just 1RR and all lands are gone, thanks Burning Wish! Sadly no Room currently!

Red Lands

Geothermal Crevice (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Geothermal%20Crevice?printing=8670): Tap for R, Sac for BG. Useful for Life from the Loam (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Life%20from%20the%20Loam).

Dwarven Ruins (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Dwarven%20Ruins?printing=5971): Tap for R, Sac for RR. Useful for Obliterate.

Sandstone Needle (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Sandstone%20Needle?printing=7086): This boss of a land; adds RR twice, meaning you can easily play those Magma Jet, Fire, Burning Wish, Slaughter Games or use that last RR for Obliterate? Yes please Ill take 3-4.

Red Mentions:

Erratic Explosion (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Erratic%20Explosion), Lol; this is Old Tech. turned out Blast of Genius (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Blast%20of%20Genius?printing=21109) was alot easier to use

Overmaster (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Overmaster?printing=9906), Should be in SB but I have never been in the situation where I say to myself Gee, I wish I wish that Overmaster was in my Burning Wish Dish. Keep in mind that Burning Wish is R and if you had access to only 1 R its not super useful, Youll need access to 3RRWW for an un-counterable Act :/

Suspend Red Creatures, nah

Black Cards

Insidious Dreams (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Insidious%20Dreams?printing=9871), Its such a bad card but Combo'd with Balancing Act makes it a House. This card enables you to literally stack your deck with anything that you want at the cost of 3B and some cards in your hand. It really does go hand in hand with Balancing Act (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Balancing%20Act?printing=10189)/Chromatic Star (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Chromatic%20Star). Only reason this is any good is that it's an instant!

Nihilith (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Nihilith?printing=3227), For just 1B you can put this guy out to say hello. Once your Obliterate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Obliterate?printing=12112) spells go out to say hello and your opponent loses everything; this guy gets to come out with Haste and Fear and starts smashing face. This is technically the main Win Condition.

Reanimate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Reanimate), SB, an amazing Win Condition against creatures with Fat Creatures, very surprising to the enemy 12Post / Reanimator Player.

Bitter Ordeal (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Bitter%20Ordeal?printing=3183), SB, What a hoser this card is. After Act or Obliterate and you have the mana floating for this bad boy? Trust me; its such a weird card to choose but removing around 10-15ish duals/basics from your opponents library you'll be pretty happy with yourself.

Innocent Blood (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Innocent%20Blood), SB, It kill's a guy just in case you need to kill a guy, so its alright.

Black Lands

Sulfur Vent (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Sulfur%20Vent?printing=8669): Tap for B, Sac for UR. Useful for Fire/Ice, Burn, etc.

Peat Bog (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Peat%20Bog?printing=7085): I like that it adds BB, which means Nihilith comes out T2 and Makes the Delve Creatures amazing! But more on that Later

Ebon Stronghold (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Ebon%20Stronghold?printing=19304): Tap for B, Sac for BB, not amazing unless you playing lots of black cards.

Black Honorable Mentions

Blood Pet (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Blood%20Pet?printing=9048), He is Old Tech, Wild Cantor (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Wild%20Cantor?printing=15615) took the spot a while ago.

Discards (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Thoughtseize): Definitely deserve a slot with the amount of black I play but just not sure what to take out.

Surgical Extraction (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Surgical%20Extraction)/Extirpate (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Extirpate): I tried playing with x3 Surgical and x3 Extirpate which was pretty cool for a while (All that Deck Info) but then when it came down to actually dealing with creatures it got pretty tough. INFORMATION!

Unmask (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Unmask?printing=7683), SB, Remove a black card in my hand to discard a card in your hand; ok sure sounds good for 0cc except for the fact I no longer have room in my Sideboard!

Haunting Echoes (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Haunting%20Echoes), SB, its pretty much the only thing i have do defeat Dredge except Morningtide is Better merely because it is cheaper.

Blue Cards

Fire/Ice (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Fire%20//%20Ice), Other part of Fire/Ice. You get to tap a permanent and draw a card? OK. that 1 untapped land, Isochron Scepter (if anyone even plays this anymore), Batterskull attacking you, Aethervial, Trinisphere? etc.

Void Snare (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Void%20Snare?printing=25090), takes care of anything else that is problematic, kinda like Innocent Blood (Innocent Blood redundancy

Blue Lands

Ancient Spring (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Ancient%20Spring?printing=8668): Taps for U. Sac for BW. I use it for that Swan Song that I am always hoping to draw if I play this 1st turn.

Svyelunite Temple (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Svyelunite%20Temple?printing=5998): Taps for U. Sac for UU, Swan Song tapping mana, otherwise its pretty useless

Saprazzan Skerry (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Saprazzan%20Skerry): add UU Twice for Impulse (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Impulse?printing=26005)? Standstill (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Standstill)? I guess?

Oboro, Palace in the Clouds (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Oboro,%20Palace%20in%20the%20Clouds?printing=13854), If you wanted to you could play with this, but meh.

Blue Mentions

Impulse (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Impulse?printing=26005), I have been using it to dig for Business Spells, Threats, as well as just using it like a pseudo Crop Rotation against Wasteland. It's kinda like: Scry 4, Draw a Card. It's a good 1-of but no Room right now.

Spell Pierce (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Spell%20Pierce?printing=16105)/Swan Song (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Swan%20Song?printing=21763), I made slots for counters a while ago and I have fallen in love with it but i cannot make room for it now. Stops threats for U and can be used both offensively and defensively against control decks. Right now I am preferring Swan Song because its a hard counter.

Hesitation (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Hesitation?printing=13233)/Standstill (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Standstill)l: I would think this card would work? you might be able to stall a bit but its really not that amazing.

Breakthrough (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Breakthrough): It was useful back in the day or if you choose to play U/W that way you can run like 4x Balancing Acts; All for the low-low price of 3UWW (+1R with Burning Wish (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Burning%20Wish) as you can target both of them)

Show and Tell (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Show%20and%20Tell), For the sideboard if you get Emrakul, the Aeons Torn (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Emrakul,%20the%20Aeons%20Torn)

White Cards

Balancing Act (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Balancing%20Act?printing=10189), The Deck's Main sake, it wrecks boards AND HANDS! but is also super easy to counter; otherwise it will wreck everyone playing not FoW (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Force%20of%20Will).

Leyline of Sanctity (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Leyline%20of%20Sanctity), SB, Only thing I have to play against Burn or Discard Decks for added protection. other than possibly Gilded Light (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Gilded%20Light?printing=11646)/Counters/Discard; Not sure what else will Compliment this.

Morningtide (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Morningtide?printing=10427): Burning Wish List for Vs. Dredge or Lands.

White Lands

Irrigation Ditch (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Irrigation%20Ditch?printing=8667): Taps for W, Sac for UG. Not too amazing

Remote Farm (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Remote%20Farm?printing=7083): WW, Great for Act!

Ruins of Trokair (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Ruins%20of%20Trokair?printing=5993): Taps for W, Sac for WW. Thats mana for Act!

White Honorable Mentions

Silence (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Silence)/Orim's Chant (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Orim's%20Chant): Definitely worth slots except I dont play with them because It really is just a dead card until you decide to go off; and you need 2WWW for Silence + Balancing which can be pretty tough.

Gilded Light (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Gilded%20Light?printing=11646), This PoS card; I know its pretty crappy. But before you disregard it remember that you play lands that add 1W when you sacrifice them; meaning that turn 2-3 Tendrils without backup then that play backfires. Trying to target you with something horrible like Hymn backfires. Burn Deck? Backfires.

Enduring Ideal (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Enduring%20Ideal?printing=15213), This would be fun to play instead of Balancing Act but it can be countered!

Form of the Dragon (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Form%20of%20the%20Dragon?printing=5719) + x3 Second Chance (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Second%20Chance?printing=1447) is pretty sweet.

Green Cards

Tinder Wall (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Tinder%20Wall), I really, really, really-really LOVE this wall. For just a G it will add RR when you sac it, it will block for you, it kills all of those pesky Bridge from Below as an added bonus. I LOVE IT. And if you give the wall a chance you will love it too. Only reason for x3 is because Green can be some-what hard to find.

Gleeful Sabotage (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Gleeful%20Sabotage), SB, Destroys Enchantments and Artifacts; you can possible use the Conspire on it too. Mostly vs. Blood Moon (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Blood%20Moon?printing=21257) locks, also Dodges Non-Stifle (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Stifle?printing=24690) counters with Conspire!

Green Lands

Tinder Farm (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Tinder%20Farm?printing=8671), Tap for G, Sac for RW. Just Wow.. White and Red? Thats just amazing!

Hickory Woodlot (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Hickory%20Woodlot?printing=7087), Tap for GG? Sweet.

Havenwood Battleground (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Havenwood%20Battleground?printing=26645), Tap for G, Sac for GG. I guess? Thats all the green you could ever want.

Green Honorable Mentions

Realms Uncharted (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Realms%20Uncharted?printing=16902), You get two of your lands at Instant Speed; what's not to like?

Life from the Loam (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Life%20from%20the%20Loam), I also like this card, gets back lands that you have lost from wastelands or past explosions and always comes back with dredge, but sadly no room for it.

Durkwood Baloth (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Durkwood%20Baloth), for just G you can have a 5/5 Haste that smashes face after that Obliterate you played on turn 4. Yeah k.

Terravore (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Terravore?printing=9992), sadly it is Old Tech and too hard to play with unless you're playing with Lotus Bloom (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Lotus%20Bloom), is usually a dead card in your hand.

Devoted Druid (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Devoted%20Druid?printing=3171) Is literally the Summonable Havenwood Battleground (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Havenwood%20Battleground?printing=26645), which is pretty snazzy; but sadly i have no room for that much green in the deck currently.

Moment's Peace (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Moment's%20Peace): You gain 2 turns of no damage in combat? Sounds sexy.

Living Wish (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Living%20Wish): If I wasn't so focused on a Burning Wish Board; Living Wish would be nice to play around for Win Conditions and Lands!

Colorless Spells

Chromatic Star (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Chromatic%20Star), You are playing 5 color with nonbasic lands that give you the most random assortment of mana colors. This straightens it out for you as well as being able to play other colors if they drop Blood Moon (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Blood%20Moon?printing=21257) effects and Draws Cards for Insidious Dreams. Super Useful.

Expedition Map (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Expedition%20Map), I have currently been using 2 of them in the Main as they help search for color-fixing.

Emrakul, the Aeons Torn (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Emrakul,%20the%20Aeons%20Torn), I am not entirely sure why Emrakul is still in this deck, But I like him as a 1-of for the following reasons:
1) 15 Damage with Blast of Genious,
2) Cannot be Painter Combo'd
3) Hardcastable?
4) Show and Tell (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Show%20and%20Tell) 'Target' with Insidious Dreams (Insidous Dreams + Chromatic Star (Chromatic Star. Otherwise He's just a piece of History with the old Erratic Explosion (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Erratic%20Explosion) + Draco (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Draco) Combo.

Colorless Lands

Crystal Vein (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Crystal%20Vein?printing=4310), It comes into play untapped? Wuuut nice.

Thespian's Stage (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Thespian's%20Stage?printing=20685), as a 1-of can be used to add mana when I need to and can transform to color fix my lands for me! I like it.

Gemstone Mine (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Gemstone%20Mine?printing=809): it adds any color you want, and dies after its 3rd use? Maybe.. just maybe...

Archeological Dig (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Archaeological%20Dig?printing=8677): It comes into play untapped? Wuuu- oh nvm adds only 1 of anything when you sac it. Merely ok.

Colorless Honorable Mentions

Lotus Bloom (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Lotus%20Bloom), Its really just a counterable land that comes into play 3 turns after you need it.

Terrarion (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Terrarion?printing=14960)/Chromatic Sphere (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Chromatic%20Sphere), These bad boys are the same as the Chromatic Star (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Chromatic%20Star) by fixing colors. The coming into play tapped thing and No free card when i is alot of no bueno.

Sensei's Diving Top (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Sensei's%20Divining%20Top), Without shuffle effects it's not that amazing. We need to sadly rely on Scry to go through the deck.

Multicolor cards! Hard to Play but If you wish to focus on 2-3 colors:


Slaughter Games (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Slaughter%20Games?printing=20523), Its that card that solves a problem, Was mainly in the deck for Vs. OmniTell but now I am just not sure.

Wild Cantor (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Wild%20Cantor?printing=15615), AMAZING CARD! Sacrifice to add any color I want, with 4x this and 4x Chromatic Star (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Chromatic%20Star) = I really cannot get Blood Moon (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Blood%20Moon?printing=21257) Locked.

Blast of Genius (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Blast%20of%20Genius?printing=21109), SB: You have Emrakul and Burning Wish in your hand, the enemy has no Counterspells, and the enemy has 15 life? You win for 5RRU. This is such cheese but just think of it as your opponent will always start the game with 5 life, as soon as they lose that 5, you can just pull this win out of your pocket.

Guided Passage (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Guided%20Passage?printing=9502), This card is just really, really random as it's kind of like Realms Uncharted but the opponent gives me 4 Cards from my deck for 3 mana, which is really nice.

Rise/Fall (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Rise%20//%20Fall): Very nice; can return creatures vs. aggro or discard spell vs. control, just haven't added a space for it yet.

Trace of Abundance (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Trace%20of%20Abundance?printing=5197): I really did like this card while testing for two reasons,
1) Wasteland (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Wasteland) Protection
2) When you sacrifice the land, you get that extra color.
If I played with more Green I might add them in.

That is all!

Hope you enjoy the read and hoping for some Constructive Criticism and Fresh Ideas!

Moczoc
10-22-2015, 01:45 PM
Hey, I like decks that reset the game. I recently tinkered around with Obliterate. The main problem I discovered is that it doesn't deal with planeswalkers because it was printed some time before they took over the game. I think the only solution for this is to play a planeswalker as win-condition by ourselves. The best to do this job are probably Garruk Wildspeaker and Xenagos, the Reveler because they can both ramp up mana for Obliterate and produce tokens as the win condition.

Balancing Act on the other hand does deal with all kind of permanents but it certainly harder to play the right way. You need to set up a win condition and empty your hand and your board while playing it.


A few things to your decklist:

Emrakul and Expedition Map don't make sense to me as the don't support the deck`s plan

I would only play sac lands because if you keep one land, your opponent can keep something like a Knight of Reliquary

Slaughter Games seems like a SB card to me

have you done some tests?

DarkerMagic
10-22-2015, 02:56 PM
Hey, I like decks that reset the game. I recently tinkered around with Obliterate. The main problem I discovered is that it doesn't deal with planeswalkers because it was printed some time before they took over the game. I think the only solution for this is to play a planeswalker as win-condition by ourselves. The best to do this job are probably Garruk Wildspeaker and Xenagos, the Reveler because they can both ramp up mana for Obliterate and produce tokens as the win condition.

Balancing Act on the other hand does deal with all kind of permanents but it certainly harder to play the right way. You need to set up a win condition and empty your hand and your board while playing it.


A few things to your decklist:

Emrakul and Expedition Map don't make sense to me as the don't support the deck`s plan

I would only play sac lands because if you keep one land, your opponent can keep something like a Knight of Reliquary

Slaughter Games seems like a SB card to me

have you done some tests?

Balancing Act is only good if you can set it up with Insidious Dreams. Dreams empties your hand, sets up Act, and your win conditions. I also have no idea why I am not play with 4 as well as you can just discard them to each other :rolleyes:

I have tried Garruk Wildspeaker (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Garruk%20Wildspeaker) but its pretty hard to get GG in the deck unless you are playing with Hickory Woodlot (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Hickory%20Woodlot?printing=7087) and Durkwood Baloth (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Durkwood%20Baloth) for a more Green-Based Deck. As far as Xenagos, the Reveler (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Xenagos,%20the%20Reveler?printing=21766) goes, I think Garruk would still be the way to go Planeswalker-wise.

Emrakul, the Aeons Torn (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Emrakul,%20the%20Aeons%20Torn) I would have to agree is quite odd in the deck list; but it adds some things as a 1-of that makes the deck a bit more interesting. I listed the 4 reasons why he might be a good one of and Why I keep him in.

Expedition Map (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Expedition%20Map) is extremely nice after play testing with it. It color fixes for you and essentially gives you 2 mana.

And so far I am playing only Sac-Lands, only Thespian's Stage (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Thespian's%20Stage?printing=20685) is a pseudo Sac-Land that I have been liking because it says 'target land' so its can be a copy of your opponents lands (Namely Islands with all the Blue we have), or with Dark Depths running around you can get a 20/20 in a rare case. Plus it's only a 1-of.

Right now I have taken out all 4 copies of Slaughter Games (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Slaughter%20Games?printing=20523) have been taken out and I have replaced it with the following:
1x Impulse (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Impulse)
1x Fire//Ice (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Fire%20//%20Ice)
1x Magma Jet (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Magma%20Jet)

1x Meltdown (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Meltdown?printing=22) in SB


I also have tested this deck very extensively to get this list to this point, this is my original list of Hodge Podge:

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/legacy-balancing-act/

but I would really like to add 4x Swan Song (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Swan%20Song?printing=21763) back into the deck but that means adding 1x Svyelunite Temple and maybe taking out one of each Magma Jet, Fire/Ice, Tombstalker, Peat Bog, Geothermal Crevise. This is what I am testing currently.

Thanks for you for the Imput though! Slaughter Games hasn't been doing it's job against Combo as I would hope. I would rather just Sac everything to Bitter Ordeal (http://deckbox.org/mtg/Bitter%20Ordeal?printing=3183) to get rid of win conditions if that is the case.

Weapon X
10-22-2015, 08:31 PM
I played something like this two years ago. Really it was just an updated balancing tings list though. It's a blast to play but it folds to decks with wasteland and soft permission. It will catch the odd person extremely off guard. Terravore is the key beater here. Orims chant should be present as well.

Edit
Fwiw I tried tarmogoyf, but the trample of terravore made it better.

DarkerMagic
10-22-2015, 09:14 PM
I played something like this two years ago. Really it was just an updated balancing tings list though. It's a blast to play but it folds to decks with wasteland and soft permission. It will catch the odd person extremely off guard. Terravore is the key beater here. Orims chant should be present as well.

Edit
Fwiw I tried tarmogoyf, but the trample of terravore made it better.

Orim's Chant was alright, but it was hard to focus on getting W mana without saccing lands which I needed for later and opted for Magma Jets instead for digging and stopping creatures.

I haven't had too much of an issue facing Wasteland as the Deck runs 23 lands w/ Expedition Maps and Sac Creatures. Literally half the deck (30 cards!) are dedicated to getting mana on the board. I HAVE had issues with Wasteland + Life from the Loam though.

As for Soft Permission I have all my burn to stall for time and hopefully gets countered because the plan is to find Obliterate to level the playing field again and start putting any Win Conditions to use (Black Creatures, Bitter Ordeal). Insidious Dreams x3 + Burning Wish x4 + Obliterate x3 is like 1/6 of the deck can try and get it into my hand. The Magma Jets, Impulse, Ice all to some extent let me run through my deck to look for it.

So decks like RUG Delver; for instance; with Wastelands and Counters and a Fast Clock can make games a bit unfavorable but I still manage to pull out some wins. Having Slaughter Games to get rid of FoW was always amazing but I dunno If I still want my 3 copies in, not sure yet. If I had more practice against Non-Glass Canon Combo Decks like TES and knew what to name it might make things easier too.

I was happy when I got to take Terravore out of the deck actually most because I hated Lotus Bloom. I don't even remember a game where Terravore's Trample became relevant but it has been awhile since I have used him in this deck, hahah.

Tarmo would be interesting but I think you are right. If you were playing a Green Version and setting up Insidious Dreams could look like Dreams w/ 4 cards --> Balancing Act / Hickory Woodlot / Tarmo / Tarmo. It wouldn't be such a dead card like the Suspend/Dredge cards.

apple713
10-23-2015, 01:51 AM
There are so many ways to go with a deck like this but i think that the combo aspect of it is incredibly weak, especially for legacy. If you are gonna spend 4 mana on something that requires more than 1 card to work with it then you want to win right away.

I think that you could introduce a ramp aspect to the deck instead of using all sacrifice lands which would strengthen the manabase. so far you need Red for obliterate, white for balancing act and maybe black for insidious dreams. Why not run greater gargadon and a early nic fit package with veteran explorers / cabal therapies. They can ramp you into mid game planes walkers / suspend cards and you can close the game out with obliterate / balancing act. Really the point is to sweep the board and gain advantage again quickly so you could cut balancing act all together and run jokolhaups + obliterate for consistency and try and crush with planeswalkers.

Weapon X
10-23-2015, 04:08 PM
I think you'll find if you use the original sac land mana base you won't have problems with mana and needing to sacrifice land.

Why would you be playing lotus bloom anyway? The c2007 list doesn't require much change. I used emrakul instead of draco, that was about it.