I've decided to get back into standard, after only playing commander and the occasional pre-release for the last few years. As such, I don't want to invest in RTR block cards, since they will rotate out of standard in October. This deck is only built from M14, Theros and Born of the Gods cards, and will be standard legal for quite some time.
This deck aims to play control, and limit enemy board presence. It's win con is Kioras ultimate, to get an emblem which produces a 9/9 leviathan every turn.
This deck came about thanks to BotG Kiora, the Crashing Wave and Whelming Wave. I think come rotation in October, this deck will be competitive in standard.
I welcome all feedback and suggestions and will continue to develop this deck. If you have any suggestions, please let me know your reasoning, and what you think should be removed. It would be most helpful!
Vortex elemental is excellent with voyage's end and retraction helix, as it allows the enemy creature to be shuffled in, and interrupt to return vortex elemental to owners hand. Retraction helix also works very well with kiora's follower and a second creature to allow 2 creatures to be returned to owners hand.
Perplexing Chimaera can be used to steal a spell, then can regain control of perplexing chimaera with retraction helix + creature/whelming wave/voyage's end.
Archaeomancer also makes an excellent target for voyage's end to allow a safe block, and reuse the etb ability. It also brings back whelming wave, which combo very well. Getting this combo allows kiora to build with very little threat, since it can ignore 1 permanent a turn for +1 ability.
Archeaomancer, Perplexing Chimaera and Whelming Wave all work well together to allow taking of spells, stopping enemy plays, and keeping the board clear.
Mutavault provides a 2/2 creature for use with kiora's follower, and avoids whelming wave.
Negate used to deal with non-creature spells, and can sb in disperse and/or dissolve if lacking. Voyage's end works nicely targeting enemy creatures, or any creature but kiora's follower.
Quicken allows curse of the swine or whelming wave to be cast as an instant, and also a bit of extra card draw.
Kiora, the crashing wave can protect itself and player from 1 permanent a turn, while just playing control style, and hopefully pulling archaeomancer and whelming wave. At 4 mana, that lets all creatures be returned to owners hands every other turn. At 8 mana, every turn. When Kiora gets to 5 loyalty, can get the emblem which will usually secure the win.
Sideboard:
Creature heavy deck:
add 2 Voyage's End, 1 Retraction Helix, 1 Archaeomancer, 2 Dissolve, 2 Quicken, 2 Curse of the Swine
remove 3 Negate, 4 Perplexing Chimera, 3 Disperse
Non-creature deck:
add 1 archaeomancer, 1 kiora's follower, 2 Dissolve, 1 Negate, 3 Swan Song
remove 2 quicken, 2 whelming wave, 1 retraction helix, 3 vortex elemental