Discussion Forum

Deck advice?

http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=261430
(Please note, I did NOT create the base of this deck myself.)
My take on the Stalking Stalkers deck over Here.

A short backstory. I'm coming back to Magic after about 7 years, and decided to jump into Standard and possibly local FNM/tournaments. I figure Standard is small, so I shouldn't be very overwhelmed with the sheer number of cards that exist. Anyway- on to the deck.

The idea is to get a Curse of Stalked Prey on the opponent, then pound away with various evasive creatures. Invisible Stalker is the primary culprit, being Hexproof and completely unblockable.
The secondary mechanic is to get counters via the Falkenrath Marauders and to a lesser extent Stormblood Berserker, then pump them and the Curse-boosted creatures with Proliferate via Thrummingbird, Volt Charge, and Tezzeret's Gambit.
Ponder and Curiosity help me get the cards I want, mainly a Curse of Stalked Prey.

Win Conditions are Ludevic's Test Subject and generally anything with Curse of Stalked Prey. Test Subject does not benefit from the Curse, but does benefit from Proliferation, and serves as a mana-dump to get out of hand quickly. (That is, if you can dump mana on your opponent's End Step in the case a Mana Leak is not used. Rules?)

The sideboard contains the alternate win condition, Shrine of Burning Rage, another card that gets out of hand quickly with proliferation.
Master Thief is my answer to dangerous artifacts, turning them against my opponent. Shatter could just as easily fit in that slot. Advice?
This deck has trouble with large creatures that manage to hit the table. Turn to Frog and block them with.. anything, or pewpew a Geistflame from the graveyard.
Flashfreeze is the obligatory anti-Red/Green answer, but feels a little redundant with Leaks. Perhaps Dissipate for some/all of this slot?

Probably asking, Glimmerposts? EH!? Placeholder "colorless" land until I can obtain better lands like Inkmoth Nexus, Ghost Quarter, or Tectonic Edge.

Apologies for a long post. (Especially if it is in the wrong forum section, or violating any rules.)
I am seriously considering buying most of this deck, and am looking for input before I do so. It's fairly budget-friendly, only costing ~$20 to order the cards I am missing. (I plan to trade for Sulfur Falls)
Thoughts? Ideas? Off-the-wall card suggestions?
Posted 17 November 2011 at 16:06

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2 replies

One thing that cOmes to mind is that you are about three or four instants or sorceries away from making delver of secrets one of the best one drops in your colors. I think upping the count with 2-3arc trails and 3 gitaxian probes, then adding in 4 delivers would give you an evasive turn one drop that can win a game by itself with the right plays. Just a thought.
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Posted 17 November 2011 at 21:21

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I thought about it. Delver of Secrets that is. The way I see it, I have three options for powerful one drop creatures in this deck:

Stromkirk Noble: Very expensive card, beyond my price range. It has great synergy with the deck and gaining +1/+1 counters. It can also bypass the Red and White Crusaders (I forgot their names, but they are classed as Humans). It's red, so works to power up my Shrine of Burning Rages. Unfortunately, it has poor evasion against non-humans (most anything) and is less than wonderful unless it falls turn 1.
Delver of Secrets: Inexpensive. This card has mediocre synergy. I compare it most to Stormblood Berserker in that it is a 3 power evasive. Optimally, Delver reaches this at turn 2. Berserker only reaches this on turn 2 with one-drop out on turn 1 (Which I don't have.. Hmm.) Stormblood has inferior evasion, but better synergy by being Red (Shrines) and having +1/+1 counters (Proliferate). Delver is just faster. I like Delver, but it feels more like a threat for a more U and possibly U/B deck than this.
Reckless Waif: A somewhat inferior version to Delver, but is Red. I originally thought of putting this in the deck as a placeholder for Stromkirk Noble, but decided that Stormblood Berserker is a tad more dangerous.

Any thoughts on Contagion Clasp?
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Posted 18 November 2011 at 06:34

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