First turn Mill...oh yeah.

by nickdabeefstick on 13 May 2014

Main Deck (60 cards)

Sideboard (15 cards)

Sorceries (1)


Instants (6)


Enchantments (1)


Land (1)

Submit a list of cards below to bulk import them all into your sideboard. Post one card per line using a format like "4x Birds of Paradise" or "1 Blaze", you can even enter just the card name by itself like "Wrath of God" for single cards.


Deck Description

Mill your opponent. Win the game. Smile.

It's so much fun to win via milling. It almost shouldn't be legal.

EDIT 5/14/14
Okay screw it. Let's make this thing a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off.

For the sake of the first turn mill I'm going to keep in the Chancellor of Spires, but everything else is fair game.

EDIT 4/15/14

FRONT PAGE! For a n00b that ain't too shabby. Thanks for the input so far. This deck will change your life. And if it doesn't well then okay fine. But just think about it, the perfect hand will take your breath away. That's something worth fighting for. I mean I haven't gotten it yet by drawing sample hands but all that means is I'm getting closer. It will happen. Believe!

How to Play

So you'll want to mill them before you lose. Yep that's pretty much it.

OKAY - So here's how you win on the very first turn. (ok on Your first turn...maybe)
Opening Hand =
1 Ghost Quarter
4 Archive Trap
1 Chancellor of the Spires
1 blank (whichever card that has the best artwork)

So you'll start by revealing the Chancellor of the Spires. Mill for 7.
Your opponent has to go first and play a land for this to work...but anyways moving on.
Then you play your ghost quarter. Bam. They search their deck. You play all four Archive Traps for nothing and you win!



Disclaimer: The odds of getting this are very slim. But as Lloyd would say, "So you're saying there's a chance?!"

Deck Tags

  • Mill
  • Casual
  • Fun

Deck at a Glance

Social Stats

90
Likes

This deck has been viewed 13,011 times.

Mana Curve

Mana Symbol Occurrence

0401900

Card Legality

  • Not Legal in Standard
  • Legal in Modern
  • Legal in Vintage
  • Legal in Legacy

Deck discussion for First turn Mill...oh yeah.

I'm open to all suggestions. However, these are all cards I have. Glimpse the Unthinkable is fun...but pricey. But hey maybe I'll win the lottery. So let's hear what you've got!

1
Posted 13 May 2014 at 17:02

Permalink

Your crazy-ass combo works. See: 13*4=52 milled from Archive Trap + 7 from Chancellor = 59, and they have 53. Nice job!

As cool as Chancellor of the Spires is, I think you are better off with consuming aberration or Lasav, Dimir Mastermind. They will come out much faster.

2
Posted 14 May 2014 at 06:37

Permalink

Thanks. Yeah I didn't know if I had to wait for them to draw a card on their turn for them to lose or if they were forced to mill more cards than they had left in their library if they would lose. I agree with you too that Chancellor is way too slow for this type of deck. But to see the look on a buddy's face when that combo goes off would just be way too priceless. The final build, if I wanted it even more competitive, would likely not include him. Thanks for the input!

1
Posted 14 May 2014 at 13:31

Permalink

This is the craziest way to win ever. If you managed to pull this off once in a competitive setting, your name would be legendary.

Maybe some more forced deck search is called for. I'll see what I can find.

1
Posted 14 May 2014 at 15:28

Permalink

I can already see the scenario playing out. The world will be watching. I'll reveal my hand to the judges. Then simultaneously the world and I will realize that my opening hand, the winning hand, the hand I was destined for, has come to fruition. Commentators will remain speechless. A quiet murmuring will spread through the spectators as they look on. "Mulligan?", he asks. "No thanks", I respond. I proudly reveal the Chancellor. He looks slightly bewildered as to this bold move, as if to say "Okay so you want to put some cards in the graveyard eh?" 7 cards fall. He shrugs it off. None of them were particularly necessary for his plan to work. Everyone will hold their breath as my opponent plays his first land, unbeknowest to him in vain, and passes the turn. I draw, it doesn't matter. I know that, the world knows that and yet my opponent looks on in optimistic curiosity and can only speculate as to what I might do. I play Ghost Quarter. I sacrifice it, destroy his lone land. He searches his library. all the while thinking "What is going on here?" , "milling is not a viable strategy, right?". Well, with new land put in play and library shuffled completely. His gaze moves upward our eyes meet. I know he is asking if my turn is over. Without looking away I play my first Archive Trap. He looks down. Realizes that he's already been milled for 20 of his library. A little anxiety begins to brew - these are not the happy butterflies of elation. No, in fact the exact opposite. Some might call it fear. But our opponent is not there yet. He didn't make it this far by worrying about an opponent's first turn let alone a deck that was built around milling. He places the last card from the top of his library into his graveryard. "Thirteen.", he exclaims. By now the anticipation of victory is too much for me to take . I reveal the remaining 3 Archive Traps. You can see the color leave his face. The crowd begins to cheer. He looks down and then up and then down and then back up. Our eyes meet again. He knows he has lost. He extends his hand like a true gentlemen and professional. We shake. It is over. I can barely hear myself think. Cameras are flashing. People are going wild. I can only grin. I have done it. I have milled my opponent in one turn. I have won. They will talk about this day for 100 years. There will be a yearly parade in my honor. I will retire to the countryside and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

It's the stuff legends are made of.

14
Posted 14 May 2014 at 17:18

Permalink

Lol, now to join the League of Legends after your spark has been ignited! Congrats, Planeswalker!

3
Posted 14 May 2014 at 18:39

Permalink

That was awesome...

0
Posted 03 June 2014 at 13:31

Permalink

this happend real?

0
Posted 10 June 2014 at 00:07

Permalink

If it did I would have the most awesome fit ever

0
Posted 10 June 2014 at 23:14

Permalink

wow, what a LAD!

0
Posted 19 June 2014 at 17:44

Permalink

arebyou talking to me ?@-@

0
Posted 15 May 2015 at 20:49

Permalink

So I just noticed this and it doesn't really matter since I only usually play against friends, but what card is preventing this deck from being modern legal?

0
Posted 14 May 2014 at 05:35

Permalink

Dark Ritual.

0
Posted 14 May 2014 at 06:34

Permalink

I've never been good designing mill-decks, but I suggest Glimpse the Unthinkable.

1
Posted 14 May 2014 at 09:17

Permalink

Thanks for the suggestion. Hopefully that lottery is right around the corner! ;)

0
Posted 14 May 2014 at 13:33

Permalink

Memory Sluice, Tomb Scour definitely deserve to work alongside your Glimpse.

1
Posted 14 May 2014 at 15:30

Permalink

Nice inclusion of Jace ... wait, his 0 ability is glimpse the unthinkable. What?

1
Posted 14 May 2014 at 15:31

Permalink

Hahaha yeah Jace can wreak havoc on decks for sure. I originally had Tome Scour in the build. Maybe he belongs there. I took them out for the Glimpses. But maybe it would be better to remove the Breaking cards instead? Thoughts? I like that Memory Sluice too. I wonder what should be taken out if I were to add some? I think 22 lands is about right but maybe I'm running too many or heck even too few? That might offer more or less wiggle room. Also I was thinking of adding Fog Bank. Maybe drop a Hedron Crab or two and/or a Jace's Phantasm?

0
Posted 14 May 2014 at 17:21

Permalink

I'll do my best. Memory Sluice is highly useful, able to tap hedron crabs and use either black or blue mana. It beats out breaking/entering, hands down. Don't you dare drop any Hedron Crabs. Lasav, Dimir Mastermind should be your main creature. You should have 4 creatures, one of which is Fog Bank. Your 5 drop can be either Jace or Consuming Aberration.

Basically:
22 Lands
4 Hedron Crabs
3 Jace's Phantasm
3 Fog Bank
3 Lasav, Dimir Mastermind
3 Jace, Memory Adept

After you have your 16 creatures and 22 lands, you should think about instants, enchantments, and sorceries. Put 4 of the ones you really want (like Glimpse the Unthinkable), and 3 of the ones that aren't critical (like aqueous form if you decide to include it).

1
Posted 14 May 2014 at 18:56

Permalink

Alright I made some more changes to the deck. I've added the Lazav's. I get the feeling he might end up stealing more games than not. That will be awesome. I added a Jace but I might take 1 out and drop the 2 Chancellor of Spires and replace them with 3 Fog Banks. We'll see though. Once I get my perfect hand to go off I'll change the deck to be more consistent and faster. Then again once I get that amazing hand I will be entering retirement so the changes may not be necessary. Hahaha. I think this has some pretty decent potential, well at the kitchen table anyways. My friends aren't going to be too happy to see this deck. :)

0
Posted 15 May 2014 at 16:23

Permalink

No, not Chancellor of the Spires! Your first turn mill must remain intact!

If you want to slime down the deck, you have to choose either Jace, Memory Adept or Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker or Consuming Aberration. My vote has to go to Jace.

Your friends will hate this deck's rotten guts. There's just something deeply annoying about mill ... your cards uselessly ending up in the graveyard, your best hopes staring helplessly up at you....

If you ever get the perfect hand.....

Finally, you should think about some way to use chancellor other than hard casting him and/or having him in your opening hand. Maybe there are some black cards that could help you out. Or some way to get enough mana to cast him.

Finally, you need some more ways to force your opponent to search his/her library, preferably in a nasty milling way. What was that card that mills until you reveal the named card?

1
Posted 15 May 2014 at 16:41

Permalink

You are correct! Why forego the very thing that paved the way to my legendary status?! No, this deck's heart and soul will remain etched in stone for all of eternity....and that's a long time.

1
Posted 15 May 2014 at 17:23

Permalink

coocoo , die mill, dddddddddddddddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0
Posted 22 May 2014 at 19:10

Permalink

I'd include Traumatize in here. Even though it'll normally only be 15-25 cards, it's a bit demoralizing for the opponent as opposed to something like Glimpse the Unthinkable.

0
Posted 16 June 2014 at 16:46

Permalink

Front Page! Thanks for the support! You guys have changed my life and likely countless others. May the legendary hand be yours! And may your opponent's look of devastation remain forever burned into your retinas as you proudly play it!

0
Posted 15 May 2014 at 17:15

Permalink

Type your deck name...Special thanks to KnightoftheHokeyPokey, my mentor. Go check out his stuff, it doesn't disappoint. And Northy, I know this deck isn't fit for your genre of decks but you have contributed to my love of magic as well. Keep up the relentless onslaught of phenomenal budget-minded decks. They are so much fun to play!

1
Posted 15 May 2014 at 17:24

Permalink

Pretty good deck. I personally think Chancellor of the Spires is not so good; you'll probably never cast him, so drawing him off the top of your deck is like skipping a draw step. I also think Watery Grave is far better than Jwar Isle Refuge, especially in an aggressive and speed-intensive format like Modern, plus it turns on your Drowned Catacombs. Others lands you could include would be maybe a two-of Shelldock Isle, and maybe 1 Nephalia Drownyard.

Your mana curve also is disappointing for Modern. With a full ten 5-drops, you ought to be playing control cards so you don't lose the game too quickly. Mana Leak, Dismember, Inquisition of Kozilek, Damnation . . . the list of blue/black control cards goes on. Modern's aggressive format often makes it frustrating for players who have crafted unbeatable table-top decks.

If you need more suggestions, you can look at my "Modern Million" deck; it's definitely not perfect, but I believe playing control cards like Snapcaster Mage may be more advantageous than power cards like Mirko Vosk, Lazav, Aberration, and big Jace.

Taking out Chancellor of the Spires leaves your turn 1 Mill intact. Four Archive Traps mill for 52 and players begin with 53-card decks. If they are searching their library, it means something has to get pulled out. So even if your opponent is on the play, if they play and land and you follow it up with Ghost Quarter (even assuming their land isn't a fetchland), they'll search, putting their deck to 52 cards, then you mill them out.

1
Posted 15 May 2014 at 17:27

Permalink

This is amazing.

0
Posted 15 May 2014 at 19:28

Permalink

Good point on the mill combo. Chancellor of the spires is not necessary for the perfect hand. I also think that all cards of CMC 5 or greater other than archive trap are replaceable with counter magic - doing so would really keep your game going.

I have to stand by my man Lasav. He is almost worth his price based on his hexproof and nice body alone. His sbility makes him completely crazy. Not only can he copy milled creatures, but destroyed or discarded spells as well. AND he retains hexproof. Also, his ability works even for enemies that cannot stay in a graveyard like emkraul. If you stole one of those ...

Great suggestions man! You deserve a mythic rare in your next pack of cards.

0
Posted 15 May 2014 at 23:14

Permalink

Hahaha thanks for the love and comments everyone! I've done some tweaking to the deck. I've regrettably dropped one of my Chancellor's. I agree that he is not necessary for the combo to occur turn 1. However, if you get him in your opening hand I feel like it is added insurance. The beauty in having him mill for 7 right off the bat is that it brings your Jace's Phantasm online a lot faster. Not too mention you are only 1 Archive trap away from being able to activate a Visions of Beyond for 3 additional cards. As far as Lazav goes, I'll have to test him out. I like the idea of being able to take any creature and using it against my opponent. Oh your ___________ was just put in the graveyard? Sorry about that, but don't worry he's coming back out to play....under my control. I'll put everything together and test it out against my buddies and let you guys know the results. I look forward to seeing the tears stream down their faces.

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 04:16

Permalink

Fun combo, consuming aberration and phenax.

0
Posted 15 May 2014 at 23:21

Permalink

So much lulz ....

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 00:03

Permalink

That does sound awesome. I did make another deck that uses Phenax. I'm not sure how effective it is though. I'll look into switching it up and testing out Consuming Aberration. I've used Consuming Aberration in the past - it's super effective in the right deck. Although once my plan was turned upside down with a Psychic Spiral hahaha. That's why Magic is awesome!

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 04:23

Permalink

Phenax goes well with Consuming Aberration, Nighthowler, Wight of Precinct Six, and Jace's Phantasm. That's kinda what my deck is based around.
http://www.mtgvault.com/blackrazz/decks/jace-the-maker-of-ragers/

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 16:00

Permalink

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOM I JUST GOT THE HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1
Posted 16 May 2014 at 02:52

Permalink

Hahahaha! That's insane! You have reached legendary status, my friend.

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 03:38

Permalink

YES YES YES YES YES

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 02:52

Permalink

You win in first round when you.... *PIEP* error!
This will only happen in one of a million hands.
You need to have 4 times the same card in your hand out of 60. This is very, VERY unlikely.
Sometimes i think some people should read something about statistics.

1
Posted 16 May 2014 at 09:05

Permalink

Statistics does not easily apply to the situation. Since the sample size (7 cards in hand) is greater than 10% of the population (60 cards in deck), the events are dependent (sampling without replacement leads to dependent outcomes in cases where the sample size is greater than 5% of the population), and therefore the probability of success is not constant between trials.

Due to this, we can not use a binomial distribution nor any procedure involving the sampling distribution of a sample proportion.While there exist methods for computing statistical probabilities in this situation, we are best using classical probability to compute the chance of 4 cards in a 7 card hand being the same, given that 4 are in the deck.

It is important to remember that the probability of selecting a permutation of 7 cards is the same no matter what cards they are. However, we are only concerned with a combination of 4 cards inside those 7 cards that happens to exist.

n C x = n!/(x!(n-x)!) = 7!/(4!3!) = 35
There are 35 ways to select 4 cards that are the same.

P (permutation of 7 cards with 4 the same)
Varies from a high of 2.53 * 10e -6 (if the 4 are picked last) and a low of 2.05 * 10e -6 (if the 4 are picked first). Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the average probability of success is 2.29e -6, and that the distribution of outcome probabilities is approximately normsl and cntered st this value.

p(4 same) = nCx * average P(permutation) = 35 * 2.29e-6 = 8.02e5.
= .0080 %

Yikes, that's small.

To get the number of hands this will happen in, divide 1 by the probability. This is the reciprocal of one success i.e. the minimum number of hands that must be drawn to expect at least one hand with 4 identical cards.

1/8.02e-5 = 12468.82 = 12469.

One can expect a hand containing 4 Archive Traps once in 12,469 hands, if 4 of them are in the deck. That's much more common than once in a million hands.

5
Posted 16 May 2014 at 16:51

Permalink

Still not high enough to warrant such an attention grabbing title. Well, it worked and I am even posting here, so who am I to complain?

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 17:02

Permalink

I just took a statistics class, and couldn't resist. If you want to waste a lot of time, you can add up the probabilities of the 35 trials. I assumed that distribution to be normal, when in fact it is scewed towards the lower probabilities as a result of the dependent trials.

1
Posted 16 May 2014 at 17:05

Permalink

Senor Harm thanks for checking out my deck. Your input IS appreciated. Sometimes I think people should read the "How to Play" section before commenting. Thanks!

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 19:57

Permalink

Knight thanks for the unwavering support. Sometimes some of us need to be taken to school. Awesome!

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 20:02

Permalink

If this is true you have to play this deck for 34,64 days (10minutes per game) to get that hand. ;)

1
Posted 16 May 2014 at 22:50

Permalink

Not necessarily, though. In fact, it is as likely that it will take the 3,464 days to get the combo as getting the combo itself, seeing as the combo can occur at any given moment. You could get the combo on your first game. You also assume that you would be playing near 40 games a day by your "calculations". I don't know how anyone finds time to play 40 games of Magic the Gathering in a day, consecutively, for almost 9 and a half YEARS in a row, let alone the fact the each game is 10 minutes long. That is completely and utterly absurd. (By the way, MrHarmful, the comma goes after the first letter in 3,464, thank you. I'm surprised no one has called you out on this already.) However, Knight, there is one thing I see wrong with your calculations. Nothing against them, they are pretty dang cool, but you haven't taken in the fact that you need Chancellor of the Spires and Ghost Quarter if the combo described in the How to Play box is to work.

0
Posted 10 August 2014 at 23:58

Permalink

I didn't calculate how likely it is you'd win ... only the approximate likely hood that you'd have 4 archive traps (which mill 52 cards, which is enough to win with ghost quarter if your opponent looks for a land). Aside from that .... %@$# it, I missed that!

This deck is a pain to face regardless ... it could easily murder someone by turn 3.

0
Posted 12 August 2014 at 16:39

Permalink

I do completely agree with you that this deck is a pain in the ass to face. Wizards should make a card to make mill decks useless, ex, 'Cards in your library can't be put into your graveyard by spells or abilities'. It would be amazing in a sideboard.

0
Posted 17 August 2014 at 02:27

Permalink

Already done. Elixir of Immortality, Wheel of Sun and Moon, and Emkraul, The Aeons Torn completely and utterly stonewall mill.

0
Posted 17 August 2014 at 20:07

Permalink

Or ... just bring glittering wish, and ask for da wheel when you need it.

0
Posted 17 August 2014 at 20:08

Permalink

Yawn.

Please note that Ghost Quarter doesn't force the opponent to search his deck, that's a MAY option. Of course he will first game but probably not second game.

Other than that, yet another run-of-the-mill mill deck. Pun intended of course to make this deck and my post less boring.

1
Posted 16 May 2014 at 13:58

Permalink

I'm sorry you are less than impressed with the deck. Being new to the game, I'm simply not as well-versed as you clearly are in the magic universe. To try and appease you and deal with the problem of your opponent deciding not to search their library I did some more research. I've updated the deck. Maybe it makes the deck better, maybe it doesn't. The point is that I found a combo that impressed me and I'm building around it. Will it ever happen? Unlikely. Does the deck work without it? I think it does.

1
Posted 16 May 2014 at 19:53

Permalink

Sorry that it hit you, it's just that this is the umpteenth mill deck on this site and I had to vent. If that is fun for you, fine, enjoy how long it will last. I'll talk to you again in some years :)

1
Posted 16 May 2014 at 20:10

Permalink

Jeez ... milll. I don't appreciate how Wizards tried to cram it down our throat with the God card. I totally understand where you are coming from Puschkin. Creatures and instant battles are so much more interesting than the slow grind of mill. In fact, mill is really one-faced. It's hard to exploit it in any other way than milling your opponent into the ground. Even in those decks, mill is never as varied as creatures or burn or MC. It can get really old after a while.

Take heart - this deck is good! It's just a little boring to old hands at the game.

0
Posted 17 May 2014 at 00:33

Permalink

For example, a good Boros, Simic, or just plain black deck can keep you going for years. Just add new cards, take out old ones, and trade with friends. Your deck becomes an old friend, steeped in experiences you've had together and matches you have played. That's the true spirit of Magic.

0
Posted 17 May 2014 at 00:45

Permalink

Dimir Aqeuduct + Hedron Crab is reliable, the more the merrier

0
Posted 16 May 2014 at 21:50

Permalink

Might want to add one Oboro, Palace in the Clouds instead of an island or a ghost quarter. (Hedron Crab + Oboro, Palace in the Clouds)

1
Posted 16 May 2014 at 23:36

Permalink

Great idea. I didn't know that card existed. Thanks!

0
Posted 18 May 2014 at 22:44

Permalink

This would be a pain to face. They would be sitting saying "Hey mill top 20, then mill then you get 4 lands, then mill the rest of your deck."

Mind=Blown

1
Posted 17 May 2014 at 01:12

Permalink

Deck=Graveyard

1
Posted 17 May 2014 at 02:08

Permalink

Mesmeric Orb would probably be fun

0
Posted 17 May 2014 at 16:10

Permalink

I built a deck very similar to this a while back, well done. I like where your head's at.

1
Posted 18 May 2014 at 04:19

Permalink

I don't need to be a tool and explain all the math like mrharmful (way to live up to your name, btw - and mr knight, i will say that it is one event, not conditional, as you're drawing all 7 - BOOM! - at once), but here's the number.

0.000000559%

That's the chance of getting this on your opening hand. I hate mill-decks, and you know it, but at least I can still laugh when I get milled, and laugh more if you ever try this deck (for the sole purpose of the one-turn win, at least) against me. ;)

But even still, I'll laugh.

1
Posted 18 May 2014 at 22:57

Permalink

I'm glad to be at your service.

Really, the only want to find the probability of success is to add the probability of all 35 different successful outcome. If the deck was 70 cards, it would be so much easier.

0
Posted 10 July 2014 at 17:00

Permalink

Wow i really like this deck i might build a variant of it. Also maybe a Tormod's Crypt in the sideboard for some free graveyard hate?

0
Posted 19 May 2014 at 00:21

Permalink

Maybe add Lord of Secrets?

0
Posted 19 May 2014 at 01:37

Permalink

So the odds are 3 in 1,126,436,850 of getting all 6 of those cards also the odds of getting 4 of the same cards in a deck of 60 is 1 in 487,635 hahaha such low odds bro

0
Posted 19 May 2014 at 05:31

Permalink

I also just want to say something, Archive Trap originally cost 5 mana, but with it's effect it would only cost 2 blue mana. The mana reduction only effects the COLORLESS mana cost, not the complete mana cost. Thought that might help.

0
Posted 20 May 2014 at 01:11

Permalink

i don't think thats right

0
Posted 20 May 2014 at 01:37

Permalink

That is incorrect. If that were the case it would be worded differently. It would say it costs 3 colorless mana less. Otherwise there would be no way that this card is worth 4 bucks. On the card it indicates that you don't have to pay Archive Trap's mana cost. That means you can cast it for free provided the requirement of an opponent searching their deck is met. Thanks.

0
Posted 20 May 2014 at 10:32

Permalink

It clearly states that it cost 0 mana to cast if a player were to search library. It doesn't say that it now cost 2 blue mana. There are other cards like this were the cost is reduced to zero.

0
Posted 27 May 2014 at 04:31

Permalink

SO FREAKINGLY FUN!!!

Try out:

SERUM POWDER (=you increase your chance of getting 4 archive traps).
TRAPMAKER'S SNARE (=you increase your chance of getting 4 archive traps).

For those of you who play mill a bit more seriously, here's the recent decklist played by mike donini, who won 4th place out of 115 people!
http://www.mtgvault.com/wickeddarkman/decks/mike-doninis-modern-mill/

1
Posted 21 May 2014 at 17:03

Permalink

I have a mill deck that works on a low average of converted mana cost. The differences between mine and yours, is you dual colored yours, and mine is mono blue. (I have a bit more critters too.)

One of the problems I've had is the lack of draw power. For some reason or another, I hate how slow the deck feels like it goes using the standard draw paces.

I have a few creatures to recommend, and a few other spells.
Tome Scour (already mentioned) is a {1*Blue} cost, and people look at me weird when I use it first turn.
Mind Sculpt {1}{Blue} - Seven cards milled. - Not as good as Glimpse The Unthinkable. But is viable option I think.
Surveilling Sprite and Oculus - {1}{Blue} each. 1/1 creatures that let you draw when they die.
Jace's Archivist {1}{2*Blue} - Every player discards their hand, and draws the amount of who ever discarded the most. (Situation based, I know, but if you have no hand, and they do, you purely gain, and they lose what they were holding on to)

If you have an interest in my mill deck, heres the link.
http://www.mtgvault.com/cmd276/decks/blue-mill/

0
Posted 27 May 2014 at 07:32

Permalink

Wait a second, wouldn't Maralen of the Mornsong be counter productive because a milled opponent doesn't lose until they try to draw from an empty deck?

0
Posted 28 May 2014 at 20:06

Permalink

Well, I didn't have a clue so I asked around. You are correct. Maybe this isn't the deck for that card. I'll have to do some more thinking and see if I can't find something to put in its place. I still love that card. Guess I'm going to have to find a new home for Maralen.

0
Posted 29 May 2014 at 03:38

Permalink

Although, once their library is empty they will still lose 3 life per turn. It does put them on a clock. They will likely end up with cards in their hand that are useless. Granted you are on the same clock but one turn ahead. Plus once their library is empty you can actively attack with Maralen because if they kill it then they lose on their next turn. If they let it through then you'll end up winning that much quicker.

Still it might not be the best card for the deck but I am going to give it a chance for a while and see how it goes.

0
Posted 29 May 2014 at 03:44

Permalink

Yeah, I see what you are saying, though typically a deck like yours wants to win through mill, and she damages you too. Hmmm, she would go awesome in a life drain deck. Something where you could tank the damage she does to you, but your opponent couldn't.

0
Posted 29 May 2014 at 18:21

Permalink

Hey Nick,
have a look at my deck and let me know what you think.
Thanks!
:)

http://www.mtgvault.com/datazord/decks/inst-mindcrduskm-comb/

0
Posted 04 June 2014 at 04:39

Permalink

i love this deck but you should consider putting Breaking // Entering into the main deck instead of Mind Grind. It costs less and its almost as good as Glimpse. I would get rid of Maralen and maybe put Wight of Precinct Six, Nighthowler, Avatar of hope, or if you really want to focus on milling put in the Consuming Abberation or Nemesis of Reason. i think your sideboard could use some help... remember... its there to help your deck deal with all the different decks you might encounter while playing... you might want creature removal like Go for the Throat, for the big creatures. the black decks version of pyroclasm (Infect) to take care of wenie decks.... take a look at this deck and sideboard... see if you get any ideas http://www.mtgvault.com/trips/decks/aggromill/

1
Posted 04 June 2014 at 11:24

Permalink

Hey now ... Lasav, Dimir Mastermind ain't too shabby either. He's a beast in a mill deck, sometimes even more than consuming aberration. A hexproof Emkraul on turn 4 or 5 ... oh hell yes.

1
Posted 10 June 2014 at 05:40

Permalink

beautiful piece of work you've got here

1
Posted 06 June 2014 at 19:38

Permalink

Agreed. This is hilarious !!

1
Posted 08 June 2014 at 16:57

Permalink

Kudos to you!

0
Posted 10 June 2014 at 05:41

Permalink

So call me crazy, but i like mindshreiker in this deck, just to keep it aggro while stil mill'ing them. also really like spell snare, if you go play in modern events alot of the most powerful stuff you play will have killers with CMC 2, helpful stuff to counter

1
Posted 11 June 2014 at 15:25

Permalink

Sweet, that is a cool card. I'll try them both out. Thanks.!

2
Posted 11 June 2014 at 15:56

Permalink

No problem! i got a major card crush on Mindshreiker right now. i was running a aggro mill on FNM and went 4-1 for 3rd place, think it was 24 people? i got great draws and consistnatly did over 14 damage in the air by turn 3...

http://www.mtgvault.com/zaklax13/decks/mill-for-damagebudget/

1
Posted 11 June 2014 at 16:29

Permalink

That sounds awesome. I'll go check it out. Admittedly, I'll probably make it and play it too!

2
Posted 11 June 2014 at 17:34

Permalink

Its yours to take! might steal some card ideas from you too. Archive trap looks great

0
Posted 11 June 2014 at 17:38

Permalink

Amazing you found a way to win on turn 1. Great deck and a great job putting it together!

1
Posted 14 June 2014 at 07:20

Permalink

I suppose it is not surprising that the win con is mill based.

Also, this deck murders fetch lands. Added bonus!

0
Posted 14 June 2014 at 16:28

Permalink

Knight, you are just loving this damn deck aren't you? lol

1
Posted 14 June 2014 at 18:02

Permalink

Hey ... I love crazy win-cons.

That's what it's all about.

1
Posted 14 June 2014 at 19:00

Permalink

#The simple pleasures in life

0
Posted 14 June 2014 at 23:45

Permalink

Throw some fetches in? If not fetches then things like Terramorphic Expanse? Or Esper Banorama for the double hedron crab landfall.

-1
Posted 17 June 2014 at 04:50

Permalink

Getting the perfect starting hand is nearly impossible, but it's still fun to hope that it will actually happen. Haha. I am still waiting for the day when my dragon deck (http://www.mtgvault.com/milfstink/decks/second-turn-win/) brings me a second turn win. It will happen!!! Haha.

0
Posted 17 June 2014 at 23:13

Permalink

Even if it doesn't ... 13 mill for 0 mana is nothing to laugh at.

0
Posted 23 June 2014 at 01:32

Permalink

Grindstone and painters servant is the infinite mill combo. With only a one drop and two drop. I use a standard speed mill deck. Epic experiment casts traumatize on the opponent, then traumatize on yourself and then psychic spiral and bam you win. You may like epic experiment in your deck. It's amazing. Here check out my deck.

http://www.mtgvault.com/tjraiderfan/decks/control-surprise-mill/

0
Posted 18 June 2014 at 02:57

Permalink

This deck could use a traumatize and consuming aberration

0
Posted 01 July 2014 at 13:07

Permalink

What mill deck wouldn't?

0
Posted 01 July 2014 at 22:25

Permalink

Hey ... Lantern of Insight can force a player to shuffle his or her library for Archive Trap.

1
Posted 08 July 2014 at 15:58

Permalink

Shuffling is not searching :D

0
Posted 10 July 2014 at 12:29

Permalink

Bollocks! The only card I can think of that forces deck search is Path to Exile ...

0
Posted 10 July 2014 at 16:51

Permalink

Path to Exile, Ghost Quarter, and there are a couple others.

0
Posted 10 July 2014 at 16:53

Permalink

Ghost Quarter doesn't ... it says "may".

0
Posted 10 July 2014 at 17:34

Permalink

So does Path to Exile. But usually when you blow up a land and exile a creature, they will take it game 1.

0
Posted 10 July 2014 at 18:22

Permalink

Yeah ... then they will live in fear. =).

0
Posted 10 July 2014 at 18:28

Permalink

Game 2 they will be unsure of whether or not to play fetches or tutors. Or anything that searches out anything. Archive trap is good.

0
Posted 10 July 2014 at 18:30

Permalink

TSK!
Inexperienced millers...
Real millers would not miss out on knowing that archive trap is GOD with fertilid, "THE" choice when you want to force a search...

0
Posted 11 July 2014 at 08:01

Permalink

Thank you dude! I don't play much mill. However, I do quite like Lasav, Dimir Mastermind.

I try to run aggro ... it works well against mill, infect, and burn shenanigans. More importantly, it's usually more fun than mill (there aee notable exceptions).

0
Posted 11 July 2014 at 16:56

Permalink

Fertilid is 3 mana that you would have to splash for. Ghost Quarter and Path to Exile are better. Yes, Path to Exile is white and you need to splash for it, but you get creature removal for one mana and if they search you mill for however many traps you have in your hand.

0
Posted 11 July 2014 at 17:28

Permalink

But fertilid FORCES deck search and is flexible.

0
Posted 11 July 2014 at 17:56

Permalink

KNIGHTOFTHEHOKEYPOKEY: When I play mill, my best defence against aggro is crypt incursion. Since 4 is not enough to draw this reliably i compensate by using noxious revival in the deck, so I can selfmill into it and then topdeck it :)

COUCH 312:
When I started out playing mill I had a build in legacy with 4 archive traps, 4 trapmakers snare, 4 veteran explorer, 4 fertillids and 4 noble benefactor (Most players overlook the noble benefactor/archive trap interaction), and the design was pretty fast, but lacked something, which turned me to use UB designs instead, but that core was so wild, and I had at least 5-10 turn 1-2 kills by archive trap+trapmakers snare interaction. Veteran explorer, fertillid and noble benefactor went a good way against aggro, and the traps were superior against combo. The main reason why I abandonned this build was the birth of sneakattack with emrakul in it...

0
Posted 14 July 2014 at 07:52

Permalink

I like it! Those cards, especially Veteran Explorer, are awesome. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

0
Posted 14 July 2014 at 16:06

Permalink

Surgical Extraction and Tormod's Crypt stop emrakul. I played legacy mill recently with painter's servant and grindstone. Archive traps were there, ghost quarter was there. I never had a problem casting the traps since fetches are so relevant in the format.

0
Posted 14 July 2014 at 16:08

Permalink

Well, in legacy I predict that burn (played by 5%) will lead to leyline of sanctity being played Again! (The amount of painter and stormdecks may increase this) so mill in legacy will be troublesome, especially with lots of decks running discard (deathblade, pox, jund) not to talk about a new type of reanimate deck. Tormod's crypt and surgical extraction can only go a Little.

I'm interrested inviewing the painter mill with archive traps though :D

0
Posted 14 July 2014 at 16:33

Permalink

http://www.mtgvault.com/couch312/decks/painterstone-mill/
Painter mill.
I've had good luck wiht it so far. I've crushed elves and reanimater, along with show and tell. So it works, just gotta know when to mulligan.

0
Posted 14 July 2014 at 16:45

Permalink

Hmm ... can Lasav be of Assistance? :).

0
Posted 14 July 2014 at 16:50

Permalink

COUCH312:
Looks like a good build, but I think the hedron crab is sort of redundant! Also is there any reason why you do not use stuff like chrome mox? And finally, how do you get past phyrexian revoker? (I guess hedron crabs fine there?)

KNIGHTOFTHEHOKEYPOKEY:
I generally avoid cards with more than cc 3 :D

0
Posted 15 July 2014 at 08:02

Permalink

Painter's Servant, name red, blow up everything with hyrdoblast. Also, it is very easy to win with just 2 or 3 hedron crabs on the field. After all, 2 hedron crabs +1 fetch is 12 cards, and since fetchs are in just about every deck archive trap does get there. Grindstone and Painter's Servant are just good compliments that can't be turn 1 Iona naming blue.

0
Posted 15 July 2014 at 14:10

Permalink

I never run fetches. Must be in the minority.

wickeddarkman:

Could you make an exception for the lulz?

0
Posted 15 July 2014 at 23:44

Permalink

KNIGHTOHEHOKEYPOKEY:
I already make an exception with bloodbraid elf, but that's another deck :D

1
Posted 16 July 2014 at 07:54

Permalink

Question, doesnt ghost quarter say target opponent 'MAY' search their deck for a land card. Wouldnt that mean knowing your playing a mill deck they'd expect archive trap and choose not to search for a land? Granted they are now depleted a land but still seems a better option than milling a possible 12 to 52 cards.

0
Posted 29 July 2014 at 17:15

Permalink

I don't think most people expect a pesky archive trap when they see ghost quarter, precisely because of it's unreliable nature in forcing a deck search. Your opponents will start worrying when Maralen hits the field (she also works wonders with Ob Nixilus, which is what your opponent is probably worried about).

On the other hand, Ghost Quarter is used to destroy their most important land, possibly a multicolored one, in exchange for one land of your own. Not a bad deal, especially if they drop the equivalent of Tolarian Academy on turn one along with 5 artifacts, and that land needs to die. Or Cathedral of War, Emeria the Sky Ruin, etc.

Ghost Quarter should slow them down enough for Maralen to be on the field. Once that happens ...

0
Posted 29 July 2014 at 17:49

Permalink

Wow, one in a thousand victory... Enjoy the other 999 defeats.

-2
Posted 07 May 2015 at 13:10

Permalink

Nice to see you care. Thanks for sharing.

0
Posted 07 May 2015 at 13:12

Permalink

Just unburied this with a search...

0
Posted 07 May 2015 at 13:15

Permalink

This deck even without the combo coming about turn 1 is really effective...Jace's phantasm turns into a 5/5 very early, Surgical Extraction to get rid of annoying cards, Mana Leak for counters and everything else combos for a very quick/cheap mill.

0
Posted 08 May 2015 at 04:49

Permalink

Have you tried it before saying it's effective?

0
Posted 08 May 2015 at 05:33

Permalink

I play a lot of mill and have tried many designs, and I can say that this deck is not among the top performers, but it is unique and simply has "something" about it that many people seem to like.

Here's some usefull info for anyone trying to improve on the deck.

One of the least played mill-cards is chancellor of the spires, and I have done some experimenting with it in the past, but was not happy with the results. The secret to play this card is to play enough of them to have a reliable chance of getting it during the oppening hand, and on the other side you don't want too many of them so that you draw it later when you actually need cards that DO something.

After having played close to 200 games I got the amount narrowed down into playing with a total of three!

Playing with 4 is doable, but should only be done if you can use the chancellor in other way's like placing it under shelldock isle...

0
Posted 08 May 2015 at 06:41

Permalink

If you want to mill seven cards you don't need to hope to get chancellor, there's good news for all of you millers: Mind Sculpt! From now you can mill seven cards for two miserable mana! Take it now!

0
Posted 08 May 2015 at 08:47

Permalink

I use both :D as well as a couple of other millcards:
Here's a milldeck that I've won 4th place prices with:
http://www.mtgvault.com/wickeddarkman/decks/small-4thplace-modern-mill/

But since I opted to sideboard the chancellor into the deck each game I'd recommend this instead:
http://www.mtgvault.com/wickeddarkman/decks/noxmill/

0
Posted 11 May 2015 at 06:44

Permalink

I like to play mill a lot as well and yes I have tried decks similar to this in many duels and come out on top. The chancellor is just in the deck for the combo, its a gimmick, why everyone gets worked up about it is kinda silly. My deck is slightly similar to this one and the win rate is very good

Here is my deck if your interested - http://www.mtgvault.com/sugarrush005/decks/mill-deck/

And wickeddarkman that tourney deck is pretty good in itself too, very fast paced but I feel it needs some draw to accelerate drawing those low mana mill cards for a more fluid win. Nice deck thou.

0
Posted 12 May 2015 at 08:36

Permalink

A lot of people like to draw cards, thinking that card advantage will work for their deck.
It won't work with every deck out there, and I have studyed the esper-mill intensely (4 thought scour, 4 visions of beyond, 4 snapcaster mage) and find it lacks mill enough to win faster. This is my experience of it.
Having followed competitive modern mill designs a lot I can also say that thought scour has fallen into disgrace from it's past dominance, and I believe that visions of beyond will fall as well.

I'm in the process of analysing modern mill to the bones, and there are plenty of weird stuff to be noticed, for example snapcaster mage is by way the most popular pick when set in front of augur of bolas, but when you look at the decks that have won with the augur, they are also the decks that have won at very large tournaments, which seems to indicate that snapcaster mage might be the best choice in your local meta, but augur of bolas seems to be the best pick when you face an unknown environment of decks.

There are other fun things sticking out as well!
It seems that when it comes to mainboard anti-aggro cards there is a rather large number of decks with exactly 15 preventive cards, despite many of the decks being radically different in all other aspects.
What is meant by "anti-aggro" ?
Cards that remove or bounce critters, creatures you can block with, cards that discard or extirpate the opponent's aggro from their hand, stuff like ensnaring bridge or darkness, and finally lifegain.
And despite this covering a lot of different cards it really seems that having around 15 cards of this type seems to bring success.

The main weight f these cards have secondary use inside the mill-deck, echoing truth may be used to throw a leyline of sanctity back on hand, hedron, snappy and augur brings more mill,, surgical extraction removes emrakul and so on. All of the anti aggro stuff except for direct removal/mass removal covers secondary functions in design.

I will start putting up a post with research Immediatelly :D

0
Posted 13 May 2015 at 06:22

Permalink

Visions of Beyond will fall like saying Ancestral Recall will fall...

0
Posted 13 May 2015 at 06:37

Permalink

And people said there would never come a time where pro's would play less than 4 force of will :D

0
Posted 13 May 2015 at 06:55

Permalink

Force of Will has never been banned or a p9 :P

0
Posted 13 May 2015 at 07:06

Permalink

So you consider visions to be a P9 equivalent?

0
Posted 13 May 2015 at 09:54

Permalink

y

0
Posted 13 May 2015 at 10:06

Permalink

Well, so far a few mill players have cut down on the visions or removed them all.
Out of 28 people only 4 have managed to win top-places, ranking 5, 7, 7, and 8th place.
I can proudly proclaim that I have the best ranking among these people with a 4th place, but if you include me it will be 5, and out of those 5 people 2 plays entirely without visions (ranking 4 and 7) while the remaining 3 plays 3 visions. The majority so far plays 4

0
Posted 15 May 2015 at 06:32

Permalink