Infinate Persist

Was looking over the results of the LCL in Barcelona and noticed this spicy deck in the Top 8...

Infinate Persist by Carlos Minon Moreno

Creatures
4x Safehold Elite
4x Melira, Sylvok outcast
4x Kitchen Finks
4x Carrion Feeder
4x Bird of Paradise
1x Wilt-Leaf Leige
1x Viscera Seer
1x Tarmogoyf
1x Sylvan Safekeeper
1x Scarland Thrinax
1x Rendclaw trow
1x Eternal Witness

Sorceries
4x Green Sun's Zenith
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
4x Thoughtseize

Enchantment
1x Goblin Bombardment

Artifact
2x Altar of Demencia

Lands
4x Verdant Catacombs
2x Windswept Heath
1x Misty Rainforest
3x Bayou
1x Taiga
3x Swamp
4x Forest
1x Dryad Arbor


SB
4x Natural Order
1x Progenitus
1x Terestodon
3x Beast Within
2x Surgical extraction
2x Krosan Grip
2x Nihil Spellbomb

Looking it over, I think with some fine tuning this deck could be something special...What do you think guys?
I think this deck doed have alot of potential, in the correct metagame it can be quite the unexspected deck to play against.

This deck crushed me on MWS 2 minutes ago. If only I had managed to do something more powerful than City-PImp->Discard darkblast->breakthrough->dredge 3 draw 3-> dredge 3-> repeat...


In short, this deck is ok and so on, but I don't think it is viable...yet.

I think the deck has something going for it. But some of the card choice are just aweful. Almost looks if it was built kind of on a budget. Viscera Seer, Scarland Thrinax, and Rendclaw trow should all be cut. Upping the deck to 4 Goyf and going down to 1 Carrion Feeder. The deck almost wants Fauna Shaman in there which it very possible. Also not sure why Cabal Therapy isn't being used over Inquisition of Kozilek.

The only other thing the deck needs is a way to find one of the infinite win cons.

I definitely think that rendclaw troll and viscera seer can be cut. I think cabal therapy is good enough. The main card this deck is missing is bob! where is that card drawing machine? I think that red can be cut, it is nice to have scarland thrinax to be able to searched for with green sun's zenith but meh... Also goblin bombardment could easily be altar of dementia. I could see playing imperial recruiter maybe in this deck as well (although they cost a fortune)

Wouldn't Diabolic Intent kinda work here?

I also like the idea of running Bob.

Why scarland thrinax over nantuko husk?

@Perm...you are able to GSZ for it...

Really cool.

Apart from 8 discard (which is kind-of increased to 12 if flashing back therapy) there is no disruption and nothing to stop them countering your creatures. Perhaps look at something like Gaea's herald or Xantid Swarm? They're both GSZ tutorable. Your creatures are important in this deck. Perhaps a few Unearth as currently it returns EVERY creature, apart from Wilt-leaf, for 1 mana! It also makes persist creatures pretty scary.

My proposal, from the original list, would be:

-4 Inquisition
-1 Viscera Seer
-1 Tarmogoyf
-1 wilt-leaf liege
-1 Birds of Paradise

+4 Cabal Therapy
+2 Dark Confidant
+2 unearth

I don't see the point of having one Viscera Seer as it isn't searchable, and you are unlikely to have him in your opening 7, so the 1 mana cost seems irrelevant. As this deck has no instants, few sorceries, no planeswalkers and creatures that return, Goyf seems like he will be reliant on their deck to be big.

Bob draws cards in a low mana cost deck like this, without causing too much damage. Otherwise, I think it's an awesome little list.

For the sideboard, I would have:

+4 Gaea's Herald

Also, perhaps something to note, if you are looking for Melira, you can sac a creature to Altar yourself, and then unearth or eternal witness her back.


Just my 2 cents...

I think you definitely want Cabal Therapy over either Inquisition or Thoughtseize in here. I think the main question to ask is do you want to take this deck in an all combo direction with lots of tutors - diabolic intent, zenith, summoner's pact, living wish, maybe NO/Pro as well, or do you want to go in an aggro/combo direction with a few combo outs like goblin bombardment or carrion feeder/rite of consumption/fling, and if you do that, do you also include devoted druid and quillspike, or do you go in a general rockish midrange direction with the combo as just a minor part of the plan.

I'm just asking because if you want to go aggro/combo, then it might be worth looking at white for stoneforge mystic and equipments plus swords to plowshares, or if you go that route and stay in red, then maybe you should add some lightning bolts to the deck. If you go a more rocking route then maybe you want to look at including destructive flow as a method of disruption?

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Originally Posted by morgan_coke

I'm just asking because if you want to go aggro/combo, then it might be worth looking at white for stoneforge mystic and equipments plus swords to plowshares, or if you go that route and stay in red, then maybe you should add some lightning bolts to the deck. If you go a more rocking route then maybe you want to look at including destructive flow as a method of disruption?

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White would provide E Tutor to find Altar. Phyrexian Unlife would also go well with Melira, although not having that "win now" factor.

As for removal, Maelstrom Pulse doesn't seem to bad here. Flexible, can't be countered by MM and you don't run the common creatures you would normally target with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by morgan_coke

I think you definitely want Cabal Therapy over either Inquisition or Thoughtseize in here. I think the main question to ask is do you want to take this deck in an all combo direction with lots of tutors - diabolic intent, zenith, summoner's pact, living wish, maybe NO/Pro as well, or do you want to go in an aggro/combo direction with a few combo outs like goblin bombardment or carrion feeder/rite of consumption/fling, and if you do that, do you also include devoted druid and quillspike, or do you go in a general rockish midrange direction with the combo as just a minor part of the plan.

I'm just asking because if you want to go aggro/combo, then it might be worth looking at white for stoneforge mystic and equipments plus swords to plowshares, or if you go that route and stay in red, then maybe you should add some lightning bolts to the deck. If you go a more rocking route then maybe you want to look at including destructive flow as a method of disruption?

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I was thinking along the same lines. Since Goblin Bombardement is the "key" combo and G is needed as well it should at minimum be GR. Then either W (StoP and good creatures like Mother, Pridemage, Gaddock ... see GW Aggro) or B (Creatures with sac effect, Discard) could be added. I would not favor a 4 color build. The sweeper combo Enchanted Evening + Patrichian's Scorn probably is too much casual.

I think defining a core would be helpful:

4 Safehold Elite
4 Melira, Sylvok outcast
4 Kitchen Finks
1 Eternal Witness
4 Green Sun's Zenith

8 Disruption
7 Win Conditions
10 Open Slots

7 Fetches
4 Dual Lands
7 Basics
1x Dryad Arbor

A list of win conditions:
Altar of dementia
Blasting Station (I think this works)
Goblin Bombardment
Carrion Feeder
Nantuko Husk/Phyrexian Ghoul/Scarland Thrinax/Bloodthrone Vampire
Spawning Pit (sort of)


I think Oran Reef, The Vastwood should be a two of in this deck. It keeps persist guys alive indefinitely as blockers. The Open Slots consideration for open slots I think are BOB BOP Goyf and one ofs for searching with GSZ.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Guy I Don't Know

I think defining a core would be helpful:

4 Safehold Elite
4 Melira, Sylvok outcast
4 Kitchen Finks
1 Eternal Witness
4 Green Sun's Zenith

8 Disruption
7 Win Conditions
10 Open Slots

7 Fetches
4 Dual Lands
7 Basics
1x Dryad Arbor

A list of win conditions:
Altar of dementia
Blasting Station (I think this works)
Goblin Bombardment
Carrion Feeder
Nantuko Husk/Phyrexian Ghoul/Scarland Thrinax/Bloodthrone Vampire
Spawning Pit (sort of)


I think Oran Reef, The Vastwood should be a two of in this deck. It keeps persist guys alive indefinitely as blockers. The Open Slots consideration for open slots I think are BOB BOP Goyf and one ofs for searching with GSZ.

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Glistening Oil seems ridiculous with Melira. Melira says "creatures your OPPONENTS control lose Infect." Also, I'd recommend Greeater Good as a possibility.

It seems like protecting Melira is vital for this combo. Could Sylvan Safekeeper be included to do so?

G/U/w ???

Fortunately none of the creatures seem very color intensive

Daze
Mental Mistep
Brainstorm

Noble Heirarch

Swords to Plowshare
Enlightened Tutor

Karakas

My 2-cents

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rukcus

It seems like protecting Melira is vital for this combo. Could Sylvan Safekeeper be included to do so?

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It is.

I feel that in order to really be competitive, a deck like this would need to be able to go aggro as a backup. Is that possible?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zork

It is.

I feel that in order to really be competitive, a deck like this would need to be able to go aggro as a backup. Is that possible?

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Exalted creatures (Pridemage, Noble) would certainly serve this purpose. Although Pridemage would more or less require the white splash.

Other than that, there's always Tarmogoyf, especially with GSZ.

You don't want to go 4 color. White doesn't really give the deck anything. Black pretty much covers anything you want white for here.

Quote:

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Other than that, there's always Tarmogoyf, especially with GSZ.

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The deck needs 4 Goyf as the back up plan. There is too much removal in this format to only play one.

Quote:

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I feel that in order to really be competitive, a deck like this would need to be able to go aggro as a backup. Is that possible?

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There is that and the SB does have NO into Progs. I think the deck could get away with also playing Woodfall Primus as a NO target as well.

What the deck needs is more search and/or draw. If the deck doesn't find Melira, then the plan goes out the window. Fauna Shaman or Diabolic Intent should be looked at as more ways to find her or other missing pcs. This is a 3 card combo deck no matter what way you go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brushwagg

You don't want to go 4 color. White doesn't really give the deck anything. Black pretty much covers anything you want white for here.



The deck needs 4 Goyf as the back up plan. There is too much removal in this format to only play one.



There is that and the SB does have NO into Progs. I think the deck could get away with also playing Woodfall Primus as a NO target as well.

What the deck needs is more search and/or draw. If the deck doesn't find Melira, then the plan goes out the window. Fauna Shaman or Diabolic Intent should be looked at as more ways to find her or other missing pcs. This is a 3 card combo deck no matter what way you go.

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Could Lightning Greaves or Darksteel plate have a home here? Greaves makes your Melira immune to all removal, and plate allows Melire to go into the Red Zone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brushwagg

There is that and the SB does have NO into Progs. I think the deck could get away with also playing Woodfall Primus as a NO target as well.

What the deck needs is more search and/or draw. If the deck doesn't find Melira, then the plan goes out the window. Fauna Shaman or Diabolic Intent should be looked at as more ways to find her or other missing pcs. This is a 3 card combo deck no matter what way you go.

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This. And Murderous Redcap, or Glen Elendra Archmage (extra protection fro Melira).

Melira + Murderous Redcap (killing itself) + Essence Warden --> infinite life.
Melira + Murderous Redcap + Carrion Feeder --> infinite damage.
Melira + Murderous Redcap + Goblin Bombardment --> ends the game 3x faster on Magic Online ;) (if your opponent didn't concede first)

Yeah, it's still a 3-card combo.... Buried Alive + Victimize? Shoots, that's only two creatures. Oh well. Perhaps Survival of the Fittest?