UW Sanctuary (Helm/RiP combo)

[alphastryk]

Hey guys, I've been doing a lot of work on this deck, and I figured I would share my current list and some thoughts.

First, the list (As of today):

Card Selection / Tutors:
4 Brainstorm
3 Ancestral Vision
3 Sensei's Divining Top
3 Enlightened Tutor
Combo Pieces:
4 Rest in Peace
3 Energy Field
2 Helm of Obedience
Protection:
4 Force of Will
3 Spell Pierce
2 Vendilion Clique
Control Elements:
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Counterbalance
3 Swords to Plowshares
1 Detention Sphere
Manabase:
3 Tundra
4 Flooded Strand
4 Polluted Delta
6 Island
2 Plains
1 Seat of the Synod
1 Karakas
1 Academy Ruins

Sideboard:
1 Helm of Obedience
1 Luminarch Ascension
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Pithing Needle
1 Cursed Totem
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Flusterstorm
2 Supreme Verdict
1 Porphyry Nodes
2 Counterbalance
1 ?

I started with more of control shell, closer to Miracles and the list from Carsten Kotter's article. I found that some of the cards there just did not pull their weight, so I've been moving away from that.

This list is currently setup with a blue-heavy metagame in mind. Ancestral Vision is hugely powerful now, as the format is for the most part pretty slow. It lets you out-card Miracles, and you already have too many 'must counter's for them. I feel like I have a decent match-up against most decks, with the major exception being Pernicious Deed / Abrupt Decay decks. The combo has been relatively easy to assemble and protect, and gives you such a powerful endgame compared to Miracles. This deck has a lot going on, and the ability to take different lines and play control or combo as needed honestly feels like a Vintage deck to me.

Please let me know what y'all think, I'd be happy to discuss any card choices, changes, etc.