[Deck] Imperial Painter

[Michael Keller]

I just came in first today at the Comix Zone in Syracuse's weekly Legacy event and wow, what a show:

Sword of Light and Shadow (x3) is utterly amazing. Playing against Di, I Recruitered for a Painter, he Thoughtseizes. I hit him with a Recruiter that's SoLS'ed, get back Painter, play Painter, and Blast Survival. I was doing these tricks all day. That card is fantastic here, and much more plausible than SoFI. The card's ability to replenish lost guys, gain life, and pump and protect dudes from spot removal is awesome.

And I was owning house all day with Dragon Whelp.

No, really.

Updated first post for new list.

[Galroth]

Just wanted to say congrats on the finish. I've been following this deck and I think it absolutely kicks ass. Not only is it competitive, but the card interactions make the deck a blast to play. That said, I'll never sleeve this deck up because Imperial Recruiters are the highest in-demand legacy card which are non-existent on the market. Seriously go eBay Imperial Recruiter right now... 0 results. 0?! I can buy peoples souls on eBay but I can't get my hands on a set of Imperial Recruiters, much less one. Quite honestly 'til the card is reprinted or the price falls down (unlikely) this deck will never see common play. That's a damn shame.

[Skeggi]

Good job! What's your current sideboard?

[Happy Gilmore]

I just came in first today at the Comix Zone in Syracuse's weekly Legacy event and wow, what a show:

Sword of Light and Shadow (x3) is utterly amazing. Playing against Di, I Recruitered for a Painter, he Thoughtseizes. I hit him with a Recruiter that's SoLS'ed, get back Painter, play Painter, and Blast Survival. I was doing these tricks all day. That card is fantastic here, and much more plausible than SoFI. The card's ability to replenish lost guys, gain life, and pump and protect dudes from spot removal is awesome.

And I was owning house all day with Dragon Whelp.

No, really.

Updated first post for new list.

I have no idea why your not playing fetchlands and Fledgling Dragon instead. So so so so so much better, deck thinning, and shuffling with top.

[Michael Keller]

If the deck played fetches, it would only play a set. That makes the list more susceptible to Stifle effects which with a City of Traitors out, is a devastating shot to your mana-base and could screw you over royally. It happens occasionally at big events, and I can't afford to take that chance.

I tried testing Top with fetches and I wasn't impressed. I rarely hit a fetch and while I was doing that I was getting smacked by two Tarmogoyfs. The list is very tight and the SoLS gives the deck a super-boost where it lacked before.

Dragon Whelp is better than Fledgling Dragon in this build, and here's why:

- SSG gets RFG.
- Chrome Mox RFG a card.
- SoLS brings guys back.
- City of Traitors stays in play from Magus.
- Dudes eat it to early StP.
- Whelp pumps itself and already has flying.
- Whelp can take down a Mongoose without having seven cards in the graveyard.
- Whelp can take down Goyf without having seven cards in the graveyard.

Seriously, I've gotten to Thresh in maybe a dozen games with this deck in a tournament.

[Happy Gilmore]

If the deck played fetches, it would only play a set. That makes the list more susceptible to Stifle effects which with a City of Traitors out, is a devastating shot to your mana-base and could screw you over royally. It happens occasionally at big events, and I can't afford to take that chance.

I tried testing Top with fetches and I wasn't impressed. I rarely hit a fetch and while I was doing that I was getting smacked by two Tarmogoyfs. The list is very tight and the SoLS gives the deck a super-boost where it lacked before.

Dragon Whelp is better than Fledgling Dragon in this build, and here's why:

- SSG gets RFG.
- Chrome Mox RFG a card.
- SoLS brings guys back.
- City of Traitors stays in play from Magus.
- Dudes eat it to early StP.
- Whelp pumps itself and already has flying.
- Whelp can take down a Mongoose without having seven cards in the graveyard.
- Whelp can take down Goyf without having seven cards in the graveyard.

Seriously, I've gotten to Thresh in maybe a dozen games with this deck in a tournament.

The build I am working with atm doesnt use SSG or Moxen, I dont feel its neccessary and can create an all in situation I would rather avoid. That being said give this list a shot when you get a chance, I think you will like it:

4 IR
4 Painter
4 Magus of the Moon
4 Goblin Welder
1 Dragon Whelp
1 Silent Arbiter



4 ReBs
4 Pyroblast
4 Magma Jet
4 Tangle Wire
4 Grindstone

4 Lotus Petal
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Great Furnace
4 City of Triators
6 Moutain



The tangle wire soft lock can make it very difficult for some decks to stop the combo, and Welder gives the deck some much needed protection both because it can resurect combo pieces and lock down opponents. Not to mention all the tricky things you can do in your Sb with it.

[Michael Keller]

There are a lot of hybrids for this deck that have been brought up in recent weeks. I think it's imperative that people understand why the basic list (with a slight evolution) has done extremely well in such a short order of time. Going in and making unnecessary changes only dilutes an already winning solution.

I'd maintain Simian Spirit Guide in any list. The ability to pseudo-Force of Will when your opponent thinks your tapped out is amazing and it's won so many games. He's far too important to cut out of the standard build. If you're taking the deck in a different direction, that's fine. But SSG is too good to pass up here.

Remember, turn one Magus wins games alone. Without SSG, you're putting yourself on one of three Chrome Mox to achieve that feat.

[DrewliusMaximus]

While I agree with Legend that the basic Imperial Painter list is an already well-oiled machine, I still like to see all the experimenting that's happening around the Recruiter/Servant/Grindstone package. There's already been one top 8 on deckcheck with a White splash for Enlightened Tutor, and I'm sure there will be many more competitive variants in the future. I'm not sure that a build will arise that performs as consistently in as many different metas as the basic build, but since Imperial Painter was basically Recruiter's coming out party, we should see alot of new stuff come up.

Legend, I tested SoLS last night and like you, I saw it do some amazing things. However, what bothered me about putting it the MD was that it isn't valuable on its own. In a MD where 8 Blasts and 4 Grindstones are somewhat dependent on other cards, I feel like adding 3 more dependent cards weakened the MD overall. On the other hand, SoLS was so good in many situations that it has to be somewhere in the SB or MD. I know this totally depends on what kinds stuff is in your meta, but what are your thoughts on this?

[Skeggi]

I'd maintain Simian Spirit Guide in any list. The ability to pseudo-Force of Will when your opponent thinks your tapped out is amazing and it's won so many games. He's far too important to cut out of the standard build. If you're taking the deck in a different direction, that's fine. But SSG is too good to pass up here.

Plus Welder seems to be the only reason to run Petals instead of SSG.

[Michael Keller]

Simian Spirit Guide believe it or not also counters Daze. Oh snap.

[chokin]

Where the heck do I find Imperial Recruiters? The deck looks really awesome, but if I wanted to make it, is it impossible to do just because of the fact Recruiters are nearly impossible to obtain?

[Hide]

I found that the deck loses to counterspell heavy decks that play with daze, spell snare counterspell and fow... also since we run 16 1 cc spells... decks that boarded in chalice of the void for 1 is really hard to deal with... any suggestions for that? (An example of the deck would be Madness... so the also plays with circular logics... 16+ counterspells in total)

[Michael Keller]

I found that the deck loses to counterspell heavy decks that play with daze, spell snare counterspell and fow... also since we run 16 1 cc spells... decks that boarded in chalice of the void for 1 is really hard to deal with... any suggestions for that? (An example of the deck would be Madness... so the also plays with circular logics... 16+ counterspells in total)

Pre-board the deck has about a 75-25 over MUC. Post board turns to about 70 because MUC brings in their own Blast effects. These numbers have come from team-testing on a routine basis for several months now.

You run 8 main-deck Blast effects, Vexing Shusher, and Jaya Ballard to crush mono blue-based decks alone. And Grindstone (even by itself) is a very good alternative to winning the game as I've seriously decked my opponent without Painter's Servant in tournament play several times. I have no idea how you came to that conclusion.

[TrialByFire]

I have no idea how you came to that conclusion.

Probably because a good percentage of the people in here don't actually test; they just fabricate their own opinions based on what they think should happen, play a few games against a suboptimal opponent or two (read: MWS randoms) and then call that testing data.

[Skeggi]

Probably because a good percentage of the people in here don't actually test; they just fabricate their own opinions based on what they think should happen, play a few games against a suboptimal opponent or two (read: MWS randoms) and then call that testing data.

That's a fact. But still this deck packs so much blue hate it's hard for me to see someone would overlook that.

[Frenkill]

I tested the deck online. This is my list now:

4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
10 Mountain
4 Chrome Mox
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Painter's Servant
4 Imperial Recruiter
4 Magus of the Moon
3 Blood Moon
1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
4 Grindstone
4 Red Elemental Blast
4 Pyroblast
2 Active Volcano
4 Spark Spray

Spark Spray:
I play it over Lightning Bolt. You possibly wouldn't believe how good that card realy is. But just remember all the matchups and situation in your testings in which you simply needn't your Bolt. And there are so many targets for Spark Spray left. I think I don't have to list them all.

Jaya Ballard:
Situation: You keep a Servant and a Recruiter in your hand and nothing important else. You need Jaya in your deck to do anything meaningful with that hand.
Next Situation: You have 7 Mana a Recruiter and you want to clean the board. (It happens often)
It's quite useful to play it at least one times.

Active Volcano:
Sure, the card is worse than the Pyroblasts. It can't protect the Painters' Stone Combo like the Blasts, because it can't counter a FoW or a Swords to Plowshares targeting your Painter.
But Active Volcano can bounce your oponents Tundra at end of turn for example, so you can play the Combo without lose it on a Swords to Plowshares.
When you have Blood Moon and Painter, you now need to destroy your ememys coloured Mana Sources like Basics, Birds, Moxes and I think the 8 Vindicates simply aren't enough to handle them all.
When your oponent plays an early Daze you can use Active Volcano to bounce his Land a second time and throw him back.

My Sideboard:

1 Blood Moon (#8)
4 Shattering Spree
4 Tormod's Crypt
2 Lightning Bolt
1 Goblin Tinkerer
1 Vexing Shusher
1 Goblin Pyromancer
1 Faerie Macabre

Pyromancer:
I play it because you have nothing else to handle with Empty the Warrens, it also handles with the whole Goblindeck and off course it is a Recruiter-Target.
So you need to play only one SB and can play 5! Postboard.

Tinkerer:
I don't know why you are playing Viashino Heretic over Goblin Tinkerer. Tinkerer destroys Moxes and Dreadnoughts just as well.

Lightning Bolt:
I need the card when all the Moons have to leave the Deck.

For example, I can board against Stompy Decks:

-4 Magus
-3 Blood Moon
+4 Shattering Spree
+1 Tinkerer
+2 Lightning Bolt

Please tell me what do you think about my list. (Especialy about Spark Spray.)

[Skeggi]

Spark Spray:
I play it over Lightning Bolt. You possibly wouldn't believe how good that card realy is.

You're right, I don't. Or actually I think I do, but I don't believe you can actually prefer that over Lightning Bolt.

[DrewliusMaximus]

In very limited testing, I found Powder Keg to be an excellent sideboard card. It seems like a great answer to so many problems. I know it was used in one of the builds that top-8'ed on deckcheck, but I haven't seen it mentioned too frequently. What do people think of the Keg?

Using the MD I listed in post #91, I tried the following SB:
3 Trinisphere
3 Powder Keg
3 Blood Moon
2 Faerie Macabre
1 Stuffy Doll
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Vexing Shusher
1 Wildfire Emissary / Duplicant / Stingscourger ?

I feel like I've got a decent variety of answers in this SB, but I'm not exactly sure what to do with that last spot. Since I don't have a team to do ultra-comprehensive testing with, any feedback I can get is appreciated.

[Michael Keller]

In very limited testing, I found Powder Keg to be an excellent sideboard card. It seems like a great answer to so many problems. I know it was used in one of the builds that top-8'ed on deckcheck, but I haven't seen it mentioned too frequently. What do people think of the Keg?

Using the MD I listed in post #91, I tried the following SB:
3 Trinisphere
3 Powder Keg
3 Blood Moon
2 Faerie Macabre
1 Stuffy Doll
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Vexing Shusher
1 Wildfire Emissary / Duplicant / Stingscourger ?

I feel like I've got a decent variety of answers in this SB, but I'm not exactly sure what to do with that last spot. Since I don't have a team to do ultra-comprehensive testing with, any feedback I can get is appreciated.

The sideboard again is really meta-dependent. No one really comes prepared to a tournament for this deck because of the scarcity of Imperial Recruiters - you really can't expect to play against it unless you're a regular and you do well with it. For the most part, every Imperial Painter sideboard should consider including the following cards:

Trinisphere
Vexing Shusher
Faerie Macabre
Pyrokinesis

These cards are fantastic against some of the best decks in the format and they provide great synergy post-board (provided your board strategy is correct). Games two and three, I almost always side out Grindstone, as most hate comes in the form of artifact destruction or Pithing Needles. I've been kind of working on more of a man-plan sideboard to see how that would strengthen the match games two and three. So far, the sideboard I run has been working just fine.

[DrewliusMaximus]

For the most part, every Imperial Painter sideboard should consider including the following cards:

Trinisphere
Vexing Shusher
Faerie Macabre
Pyrokinesis

I'm obviously with you on 3 of 4. Here's what I was thinking about Pyrokinesis vs. Powder Keg though:
1. Powder Keg handles both cheap creatures and cheap artifacts - this allowed me to free up 1 SB slot by having only 1 Viashino Heretic.
2. Keg is a better answer than Pyrokinesis to tokens
3. Keg gets around protection-red
4. Keg actually costs something, but you don't have to discard anything to it
5. But Keg is not an instant, may take a few turns to build up, and can affect your own stuff

Again, I know everything, especially sideboards, depend on specific metagames. But let's say I go with the Kegs and the list I mentioned...what matchups have I weakened by not using Pyrokinesis?

Edit: This question was answered for me today. Since Pithing Needle is sideboarded in against us all the time, things that get shut down by it are not great cards for us to sideboard in.