[Deck] Imperial Painter

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Originally Posted by jandax

Maybe you should just jam the card and let her do some work. As a one of she's a house, rarely is it the case that she's in hand and you have no use. It's easy to think of a few simple interactions within a vacuum, and in any given game state she's easily one of the best creatures on your side once active. I'm curious, what are you looking to replace her with?

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No idea. Someone else mentioned it to me in scg Baltimore and it made me think. She has locked down many a game in the past for me. From the consensus I feel that she is not cuttable.

But as for an MB Koth... I made room main... And really like it. I'd even like to fit one side... But there is no room.

Here's my current list... Also what I ran in SCG Baltimore. The deck ran flawlessly... Unfortunately my opponent ya decks ran flawlessly also and always a turn ahead. :(

Creatures:18
3 Goblin Welder
4 Painter's Servant
2 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Imperial Recruiter
1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
1 Magus of the Moon
3 Simian Spirit Guide

Spells:23
2 Lotus Petal
2 Enlightened Tutor
4 Grindstone
4 Pyroblast
2 Red Elemental Blast
3 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Blood Moon
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Koth of the Hammer

Lands:19
4 Ancient Tomb
3 Arid Mesa
2 Bloodstained Mire
3 City of Traitors
5 Mountain
2 Plateau

Sideboard:15
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Ethersworn Canonist
3 Rest in Peace
3 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Peacekeeper
1 Trinisphere
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Helm of Obedience
1 Batterskull



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Originally Posted by StefN

I'm not sure if I really understood you right. You play R/u Painter and added SnT and Forces?
Hmm not sure if this is the way to go. I doubt that 4 Forces makes the combo matchup so much better, and SnT to put what permanent into play?
I also tested blue a while ago and the only blue cards that where good enough was Trinket Mage and Llawan, and still this way didn't fell better than the white splash.

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I would agree. Splashing Blue for Dack, Intuition, and some counter magic seems fine. No idea what show and tell is for though.

I do want to try the blue splash for Dack still...

I tested the blue splash list with intuitions and FoW. If you got an early welder the combo was super fast with an intuition. However, I found that it played more like a traditional combo deck and had a much worse MU against the delver decks. I absolutely HATE losing to delver so I scrapped it. It was at least a turn faster at getting the combo off against other combo though and with FoW the other combo MUs are much better. And to the poster above, you absolutely play FoW as painter lets you pitch any card to it and you don't have much other defense without the dragon stompy aspects of traditional painter.


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At our local tourney last night I went up against the mirror round 1. By turn 3 we both had grindstone out although I had welder and only two lands. On the fourth turn he played city of traitors and painter naming black (I was holding REB). He then elected to pass the turn and activated the grindstone on my upkeep, since I had missed my land drop the previous turn it seemed like a good opportunity. .... However I pitched SSG activated my grindstone targeting him, then used my welder to exchange his painter for a chrome mox.

Good times in the painter mirror. Cooking with gas for sure.

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Originally Posted by mcbain

At our local tourney last night I went up against the mirror round 1. By turn 3 we both had grindstone out although I had welder and only two lands. On the fourth turn he played city of traitors and painter naming black (I was holding REB). He then elected to pass the turn and activated the grindstone on my upkeep, since I had missed my land drop the previous turn it seemed like a good opportunity. .... However I pitched SSG activated my grindstone targeting him, then used my welder to exchange his painter for a chrome mox.

Good times in the painter mirror. Cooking with gas for sure.

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That is pretty fantastic. SSG can really create some surprising plays with this deck.

However, he should have AT LEAST seen the Welder activation coming. What game was this?

It was game one. He was aware of the monkey risk but after the game he mentioned his hand was fairly weak other than that kill so he went for it. Still was a fun match. I am 2-0 in tournaments in the mirror, although it sure is fun.

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Originally Posted by StefN

I'm not sure if I really understood you right. You play R/u Painter and added SnT and Forces?
Hmm not sure if this is the way to go. I doubt that 4 Forces makes the combo matchup so much better, and SnT to put what permanent into play?
I also tested blue a while ago and the only blue cards that where good enough was Trinket Mage and Llawan, and still this way didn't fell better than the white splash.

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Firstly, I would like to congratulate utley26 who played what seems like a shortcake version to number 2 on the 22 July Legacy Daily on MTGO. Looks like Imperial Painter still has legs in the current meta!

I still love the shortcake version. Its just that I wanted to experiment with making changes for the better or worse as well as learn the pros and cons of the various painter decks. I feel that its a good learning experience trying to make changes after playing over 200 games on the original shortcake version. I am by no means a expert and continue to make mistakes and wrong play. As such, i tried the more enchantment base white version and now am trying to move to the blue version incorporating show and tell as a option b win. The deck i am currently playing is as follows. This is my first cut and I am ready to make some changes after running it for a week.

3 Volcanic Island
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Scalding Tarn
1 Polluted Delta
1 Island
3 Ancient Tomb
2 City of Traitors
4 Seat of the Synod
1 Great Furnace
3 Mox Opal
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Show and Tell
4 Painter's Servant
4 Grindstone
4 Sensei's Divining Top
3 Red Elemental Blast
4 Intuition
2 Relic of Progenitus
1 Pyroblast
1 Griselbrand
3 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn


Sideboard :-

3 Goblin Welder
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Blood Moon
3 Pyroblast
2 Imperial Recruiter


Basically I feel that blood is very good in the current meta. But its very difficult to protect painter with many running counters and multiple swords and bolts. Also So many players are playing reanimator and storm and I have lost countless of times on turn 1 or 2. I just felt that having force forces my opponent to think twice before going off which enables me to play my game. Also with show and tell in the picture, I can win on turn three with intuition depending on what I have on board and what the opponent is playing. It also makes thigns difficult for my opponent in game 1/2/3 to decide on what revoke or needle of chalice for. I still side in blood moon with REC, Welder and Blasts in game 2 and three if I feel that I can push it through siding out S&T and the 4 creatures plus some brainstorm and forces.

So far I feel that I have a fair to good chance with almost any decks even the miracles or delver decks. I even beat burn in half my games due to the S&T package. And pushing through painter on turn 1 or 2 with forces on hand is many times a win if my opponent only has 1 swords or bolt in hand and when I do not have any mana in play. With S&T package, blood moon and intuition I only need to focus on what I need to do to win instead of siding in cards to make things difficult for my opponent. I feel that it makes them react to what they need to do to ensure I do not win in the next turn instead of me reacting to them.

Some changes I would make in the current version are

1. I find that I do not use jace in the SB at all. I may change these to add another blast and make one each of welder and REC. The need for double blue is also a problem.

2. I may move the 2 Relic to the SB. I think I still prefer crypt as there is no mana requirement. I just thought to test relic in respond to so many playing shaman these days. But the single mana to cast and additiona mana to activate slows it down too much against decks like storm or reanimators. Three is better with intuition as well. I may replace the 2 relic with a REC and a revoker or 2 more blast.

3. The mana base seems pretty ok for both blue and red.

4. I may want to add koth to the SB in games where I side in blood moon for a faster win clock.

5. Still undecided on griselbrand and emrukal. Emrukal is like a win next turn most of the time cannot be killed etc. Griselbrand could be a win this turn by drawing 7 or 14 and landing ancient plus grind or painter with forces on standby.

In the past week, I have found that this deck can beat any of the current decks. this is esp so after sideboarding. Its also fun to play when you drop a grindstone turn one and push through show and tell on turn 2 or 3 or intuition a creature or S&T on turn 3.

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Originally Posted by cab0747

I would agree. Splashing Blue for Dack, Intuition, and some counter magic seems fine. No idea what show and tell is for though.

I do want to try the blue splash for Dack still...

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I have been trying to fit dack as well but so far have not been successful. As stated, blue version can often be 1 turn faster. But without a real constant threat of something like blood moon, It allows opponents to continue to develop their game state as long as they know they can kill painter. The mono red or shortcake version keeps your opponent on their toes by slowing their play so that moon does not get on board. Thats why I am trying blue with S&T which is a must deal with card when it comes down or lose next turn. Of course you could say that I can just play the sneak and show deck. But it just plays differently. I just hope that it is the best of both worlds instead of a master of none.

I feel like, if your looking at Blue you need to make it the primary colour. At that point, your looking at having more counters, Artifact tutors and deck manipulation but you lose much of the prison element that makes the Red version so successful. But I am betting it can be done because there is a thread for that.

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Originally Posted by Dice_Box

I feel like, if your looking at Blue you need to make it the primary colour. At that point, your looking at having more counters, Artifact tutors and deck manipulation but you lose much of the prison element that makes the Red version so successful. But I am betting it can be done because there is a thread for that.

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Yes. It's the prison element that makes the imperial more successful deck in tournaments. Which is why I prefer the shortcake version more. I am just looking to see if it is possible to make successful changes. As you can see IP although being quite successful, has not changed much In the past 12-18 months. Not saying that's bad. But it's a very known deck now to many and perhaps it's time to see if it can be improved further by going in another direction.

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Originally Posted by Ish

No idea. Someone else mentioned it to me in scg Baltimore and it made me think. She has locked down many a game in the past for me. From the consensus I feel that she is not cuttable.

But as for an MB Koth... I made room main... And really like it. I'd even like to fit one side... But there is no room.

Here's my current list... Also what I ran in SCG Baltimore. The deck ran flawlessly... Unfortunately my opponent ya decks ran flawlessly also and always a turn ahead. :(

Creatures:18
3 Goblin Welder
4 Painter's Servant
2 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Imperial Recruiter
1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
1 Magus of the Moon
3 Simian Spirit Guide

Spells:23
2 Lotus Petal
2 Enlightened Tutor
4 Grindstone
4 Pyroblast
2 Red Elemental Blast
3 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Blood Moon
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Koth of the Hammer

Lands:19
4 Ancient Tomb
3 Arid Mesa
2 Bloodstained Mire
3 City of Traitors
5 Mountain
2 Plateau

Sideboard:15
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Ethersworn Canonist
3 Rest in Peace
3 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Peacekeeper
1 Trinisphere
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Helm of Obedience
1 Batterskull



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MD Koth has always been a favorite of mine, I've been back and forth over the years running two MD as well as two MD jayas. The thing is to never forget what Seth has said; this is a combo deck so don't stray from the list that best executes that plan. (paraphrasing)

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Originally Posted by jandax

MD Koth has always been a favorite of mine, I've been back and forth over the years running two MD as well as two MD jayas. The thing is to never forget what Seth has said; this is a combo deck so don't stray from the list that best executes that plan. (paraphrasing)

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Agreed. Basically the 1 Koth takes one slot of Jack's 2 bridge from earlier lists.

Anyone play anymore with faithless looting lately?

Friend of mine plays it. Honestly I feel it crutches on welder to much. Most decks have more than enough ways to kill it.

I am not personally playing Looting any more. I just do not have the space for it. I guess it depends on what you want to be, pure combo or Control/Combo. Personally my Meta suits the Control builds so I am keeping that build.

Also I went to a event yesterday, took Jund. I saw no small amount of Bug being sleeved and decided I did not want to play te mirror all day so I pull out painter. I got bottom of the 8 Losing to ANT and Ominishow.

For those following the European meta, I'm gonna go to rock side events at a hometown GP and basically need to know this; is anything other than Seth/Jack's list a standard deviation that would be better than these two?

I would include a something like warmth in the board against the rising numbers of burn. You can always paint red against something like TES or ANT.

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Originally Posted by jandax

For those following the European meta, I'm gonna go to rock side events at a hometown GP and basically need to know this; is anything other than Seth/Jack's list a standard deviation that would be better than these two?

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I think Euro meta is much more combo heavy. I would consider playing one piece of combo hate main. Personally I would go with ethersworn canonist main as ANT can't win game one if it hits play.

BTW, my new super secret tech for this deck is word of seizing in the board. I'm sick of losing to Jace ultimate against Miracles. It's also good against 12 post and is sided in against sneak and show and any other slow matchup.


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I really don't understand the Show and Tell plan, you're on??

It seems like you wanna split one half of Sneak'n'Show with iPainter and then make it something "new"?

If you wanna do it, by all means go ahead, I won't stop you, I just don't get it? :D

I've personally never tried splashing any color, but if I had to, I would probably go for black. Cabal Therapy seems like a legit card in a R/B shell, since the recruiter, once it hits play, is that damn 1/1, that usually is on chump block mode for me.

But so far, I'm just sticking with monoR, it's as awesome as ever :D

Can anyone give me an official link of humility ruling with painter's servant and magus of the moon ? I have problems finding it and i must convince some people at my lgs that it works as i say.

http://www.mtgsalvation.com/articles...-of-operations
http://archive.wizards.com/magic/mag...icle/20091105a

Magus is layer 4, Painter is layer 5, Humility is layer 6 & 7. Since both of their layers come first, they stay.

PS -Google is your friend.

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Originally Posted by phoenix4

I really don't understand the Show and Tell plan, you're on??

It seems like you wanna split one half of Sneak'n'Show with iPainter and then make it something "new"?

If you wanna do it, by all means go ahead, I won't stop you, I just don't get it? :D

I've personally never tried splashing any color, but if I had to, I would probably go for black. Cabal Therapy seems like a legit card in a R/B shell, since the recruiter, once it hits play, is that damn 1/1, that usually is on chump block mode for me.

But so far, I'm just sticking with monoR, it's as awesome as ever :D

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Its just what I feel has been working for me. Note that I am from asia and in my timezone on MTGO, I have been seeing almost exclusively burn, S&T, Storm, Reanimator and Delver(aggro version with 4 Swords and 4 bolts).

In these match up, I do not do well with the traditional shortcake version. For some reasons, Many decks these days run Chalice 4 of in the MB. When they see either servant or grindstone, they will chalice for 1 or 2 which pretty much makes it difficult to win game 1. Also Needle and surgical and revoker see alot of play during the times I am on MTGO.

For burn, servant is pretty hard to keep alive long enough to go off. Blood moon is pretty much useless. With S&T, I have a better chance to win even game 1 If I have one piece of the S&T puzzle with intuition in hand. Painter/Grindstone also serves as a distraction to slow the burn player down. Otherwise it just to mulligun to a hand that you can possibly win by turn 4.

Reanimator is fast, same for Storm. Force of will does help somewhat to prevent any hopeful turn 1 or 2 opponent wins. Turn 1 Painter on blue with forces in hand is also a fantastic play. Most reanimator also play with many basic lands so Blood moon may or may not be very helpful.

The delver I been seeing is the more red blue version. Maybe Wasteland prices is the cause of this? They usually do not play wasteland. With 8 removals and some counters, you pretty much have little chance of going off grindstone. Bloodmoon can be sided in game 2 to assist. I usually can win this by throwing painter/grindstone to their counters and when their guard is down, intuition for S&T package. S&T package with Blast in hand also works better as their 8 removal does nothing to help them. They siding in Needle or meddling mage is a issue. But they usually have to choose which part of the combo they want to hate. And they never know if I sided out S&T and move in Blood moon as well. Delver players play differently when they know moon is in play as they will fetch basics if they have.

I do not want to sidetrack this thread too much as my deck now is more the U/R version although I have REC in the sideboard and many games, I do side out S&T package with FOW and Brainstorm to bring in almost the whole red artillery.

Does anyone think that burning wish is a possible card for Shortcake? However I am struggling to find useful red or white sorcery that moves the painter strategy faster though.

If you want blue you should be putting it in the sideboard and running the lists in the old thread fron Seth and drew.snt, intuition, and emrakul in the board from the old zoo days. Probably way better than the inbred style lists you have now as they'll give you better all around games.

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Originally Posted by Kap'n Cook

If you want blue you should be putting it in the sideboard and running the lists in the old thread fron Seth and drew.snt, intuition, and emrakul in the board from the old zoo days. Probably way better than the inbred style lists you have now as they'll give you better all around games.

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It may seem so as it does slow the deck somewhat from the pure quick combo painter version. Just wanted to test it out a while to see if it works.

Will you be recording your games again? Miss them on twitch.tv

I am going to try and stream on a more consistent basis. Life has gotten in my way as of late (looking for a house, month-end work stuff). I know I am not Jack, but if you are looking for someone streaming Painter, I am going to try to do the 7:30 EST daily on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and maybe Wednesday as well (girlfriend time).

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Originally Posted by cab0747

I am going to try and stream on a more consistent basis. Life has gotten in my way as of late (looking for a house, month-end work stuff). I know I am not Jack, but if you are looking for someone streaming Painter, I am going to try to do the 7:30 EST daily on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and maybe Wednesday as well (girlfriend time).

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Cool. Good luck, and hopefully I can catch you playing sometimes and see some different lines of play.

I'm finding now that I'm pretty damn comfortable and confident playing the deck but I suck at mulligan decisions.

I always used shortcuts for mulling decisions. One lander? Always goes back. No combo/lock piece? Ship it. No play til turn three? Mulligan. Ask yourself those three questions and you really don't have to make a decision. The deck can be suprisingly forgiving if you don't overthink things.

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Originally Posted by phoenix4

I've personally never tried splashing any color, but if I had to, I would probably go for black. Cabal Therapy seems like a legit card in a R/B shell, since the recruiter, once it hits play, is that damn 1/1, that usually is on chump block mode for me.

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That does sound pretty interesting. I'm running a Mono R list with Faithless Looting as a kind-of-replacement for the Enlightened Tutor, but somehow the Black Splash appeals to me. I've been searching the Thread to no real results, so has anyone ever tried splashing black and running Therapy and maybe Thoughtseizes?

Hey guys! Long time lurker, first time poster. I finally finished piecing my deck together in paper, and am excited to play it. I've tested via proxies and cockatrice before, and felt like I had a decent grasp. However when it came to decks that use a whole mess of discard (Hymn, Lili, Seize, Pox,) I found myself pretty dead in the water. Is there really anyway we can combat this, via sideboard choices or some other means? Or is it just something we have to race and beat. Here's my list for reference, and sorry if this has been asked/discussed already.



4 Painter's Servant
4 Imperial Recruiter
1 Magus of the Moon
3 Simian Spirit Guide
2 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Goblin Welder
1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

4 Grindstone
4 Pyroblast
2 Red Elemental Blast
3 Blood Moon
2 Lotus Petal
2 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Sensei's Divining Top
2 Enlightened Tutor
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Trading Post

1 Great Furnace
4 Mountain
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Arid Mesa
2 Plateau
3 City of Traitors
1 Wooded Foothills

SB: 1 Ratchet Bomb
SB: 2 Trinisphere
SB: 2 Ethersworn Canonist
SB: 1 Manic Vandal
SB: 2 Spirit of the Labyrinth
SB: 1 Koth of the Hammer
SB: 4 Firebolt
SB: 2 Tormod's Crypt

On mulligan decisions, there's a lot that goes into. One landers typically go back unless the hand is a monster and has a Top. Even then it's a huge risk. We open ourselves up to severe variance when playing this deck. Yesterday was case in point for me, where I had to mulligan in 7 separate individual games (and sometimes more than once in those games) in 5 rounds of Swiss. No landers are a bitch. There's nothing worse than keeping a one lander, spinning top and seeing 3 spells. Or keeping a one lander and having it Stifled or Wasted.

The thing I always ask myself is how does this hand win against this opponent? If you struggle to see a path to victory (for example, a hand that can't interact or combo off before T3 against Elves), ship it. There's really no substitute for just making those decisions and seeing how they go though.

Another thing to consider if you're having no-land-mulligan or just lack-of-land issues: Kap'n plays 19 lands because he's an expert with this deck. Prior to that, most lists played 20, and those lists didn't have the extra fetch and duals (and sometimes an artifact land) that shortcake has which expose them to more mana destruction effects. It's worth considering going up to 20 lands if you're having issues.

For those trying the mono-red lists, has anyone tried Coercive Portal at all? I want to try it, but I'm having a hard time seeing how it's better than Chandra (and Chandra is already borderline for the deck).

Also, anyone else hoping for something good with the new Commander 2014...lots of spec that Jaya will be the red planeswalker. If they keep the theme of having her abilities be spells she's quoted on (her abilities on her current card are Pyroblast, Incinerate, and Inferno, all of which she's quoted on in past printings), how about something like this...

+1 (Burnout): counter the next blue spell an opponent casts this turn

-2 (Pyroclasm): 2 damage to each creature.

-?: not sure for an ultimate

Would be pretty sweet for this deck, especially if it was 1RR with 3 loyalty. It'll probably be 4 - 5 cost though since it can be a commander.

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Originally Posted by Sentient6

That does sound pretty interesting. I'm running a Mono R list with Faithless Looting as a kind-of-replacement for the Enlightened Tutor, but somehow the Black Splash appeals to me. I've been searching the Thread to no real results, so has anyone ever tried splashing black and running Therapy and maybe Thoughtseizes?

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I've never seen it, but i wanna try it, so I can see if it has a place out there :D

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Originally Posted by phoenix4

I've never seen it, but i wanna try it, so I can see if it has a place out there :D

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If you do, be sure to report how it went. :)

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Originally Posted by Sentient6

If you do, be sure to report how it went. :)

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Will do :)

Played a 90 something people tournament at my lgs with the stock shortcake list. First time playing it at a larger size tournament and end up 4-3.

Round 1: 2-1 (Miracles)
Round 2: 2-0 (Miracles)
Round 3: 0-2 (Burn)
Round 4: 0-2 (Ant)
Round 5: 2-1 (Enchantress)
Round 6: 2-1 (Elves)
Round 7: 1-2 (Vial Sliver w/ no basic?) My opponent have the white Leyline from the beginning in the last 2 games and I just drew horribly. :cry:

Overall, this deck is very fine to play and I still have a lot to learn about side boarding. The least favorite cards I used today from my sideboard were the 4 Firebolts. I used it on the draw against Elves and it didn't seem so impressive.

Any other Painter pilots going to Syracuse this weekend?

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Originally Posted by NathanS2k

Played a 90 something people tournament at my lgs with the stock shortcake list. First time playing it at a larger size tournament and end up 4-3.

Round 1: 2-1 (Miracles)
Round 2: 2-0 (Miracles)
Round 3: 0-2 (Burn)
Round 4: 0-2 (Ant)
Round 5: 2-1 (Enchantress)
Round 6: 2-1 (Elves)
Round 7: 1-2 (Vial Sliver w/ no basic?) My opponent have the white Leyline from the beginning in the last 2 games and I just drew horribly. :cry:

Overall, this deck is very fine to play and I still have a lot to learn about side boarding. The least favorite cards I used today from my sideboard were the 4 Firebolts. I used it on the draw against Elves and it didn't seem so impressive.

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You seem to have a good record against Miracles! I am not sure if its the way I play but I have a pretty dismal record vs Miracles. I believe my record is closer to 75% losses against them. I always try to keep blast vs counterbalance. But its ususlly not enough as they have counters and forces. And with Swords and miracles, they pretty much get rid of magus/servant and revoker. Even a early blood moon is not sometimes enough as they play alot of basics. Unless I get a superb draw and can combo off in 2-4 turns with blast protection as well. How do you play vs miracles?

I almost given up worrying about burn. I will usually just mulligan to 6 or even 5 to try for a draw that can win in 3-4 turns. Its just a matter if you can win in 4 turns and hoping that they do not have a rift or bolt for your servant.

I am also still unsure about firebolt. It may see some use vs delver decks. But I still feel that pyroclasm is more useful for just 1 mana more. Of course pyroclasm kills your revoker and magus and REC etc etc. But pyroclasm is very good vs elves, goblins and even dredge tokens to buy a few turns. Its also a blast vs the Empty the warrens player. Having one in hand vs them is almost a win in many cases. At this time I am playing with 2 pyroclasm and 2 firebolt in my SB. Still figuring out which is more useful.

I am also deciding if I want Maniac to be in the MB. With the amount of Tez (thophy sacrifice plus Chalice) and Vial decks and even tangle wire seen these days, It seems a very useful card to have in the MB. Most decks play with a few artifact these days. Or I may up the maniac count to 2 in the SB as pithing needle seems to be a key card in many decks SB. Maybe Spree in the SB may be a better option?

Play slow vs miracles and counter card advantage stuff. The matchup is 65-35 in our favor. Firebolt shines vs creature decks since confidant destroys us. I currently have 3 but I'm still trying to fit the 4th. Pyroclasm is too slow and kills off your time walks (aka recruiters blocking goyfs and such). Dredge is already favorable with 5 pieces of yard hate at the minimum (2 tutors and 3 pieces), you don't really need to help it out there as bridge, ratchet bomb, and blasts provide interaction beyond pure grave hate. Goblins should not really be a problem as our combo is much faster and their painter removal is very limited. As for Maniac in the main, early welders provides the same help against chalice pre-board and most chalice decks struggle with removing jaya. Playing spree is fine, it's just hard to find unless you are playing 3 or more and at that point you are taking away space for helping worse matchups.

Overall though, the real thing is just more practice and learning the sequencing as well as what cards make your opponent's life tougher.

Hello guys.

I live in Brazil and I'm finishing my Imperial Painter. Few people play with this deck here, is really unpopular, there are almost nothing about it in foruns.

Well, I hope we can exchange information. Actually, I play with Death and Taxes.

I never played with the deck, but I can see that the Monored's version is doing better than R/W (starcity).

Somebody can tell me why? By logic, the R/W is more synergistic than the Monored.

Another thing...

Pyroclasm x Pyrokinesis x Firebolt

I can't understand why the players don´t use Pirokinesis. Somebody has already tested Pirokinesis? It seems really powerfull in this deck.

I'm personally running 2 Pyrokinesis in my SB for Syracuse, I'm liking it better from testing so far. As to why you see more mono red top finishes, it's been around longer.

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Originally Posted by Moomba

I'm personally running 2 Pyrokinesis in my SB for Syracuse, I'm liking it better from testing so far. As to why you see more mono red top finishes, it's been around longer.

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Sorry, i didn't understand your explanation about the reason why monored is doing better than RW.