Yeah Keyrune is really only good for cipher focused decks, so not really something you might want, but a possibility. Yeah Boros, Naya, and B/W/R is the main standard play I see at my local shop. I'm actually an aggro player, but I want to build a control deck, just need to find one that doesn't spend my college tuition! (and that I like playing)Also, you are definitely right, the cipher drops off a flickered creature, also it doesn't seem like a great back-up plan. A better one I feel would be to swing for a crap ton of damage with an Aberration or pumped up Mindshrieker.
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So for now, I have two recommendations, but I'll keep looking into it and see if I can find anything else that will help you deal with aggro (especially Boros, ugh Boros.) Anyways to the actual point! First, I think you should reconsider Balustrade Spy, not because it is a bad card, but because it only mills once, and not for very much. It also isn't powered up by mill, not does it assist in controlling the board to allow you to mill your opponent. While not a bad card on the surface (its pretty amazing in draft and decent in other formats), against an aggro deck (which standard is filled with at the moment), you will just be playing it for the active and then eventually blocking with it, as your deck doesn't seem to win mainly by damage, but rather by milling. Correct me if I am wrong about that. Anyways, now that I have suggested you remove something, I'll give you a card to add. I know it may sound silly or obvious, or stupid, or whatever, but maybe consider adding Hands of Binding. It is great against things like Boros Reckoner (if you can get by with Mindshrieker or Stalker), can slow down aggro decks, and you can use it on a bigger threat should something come up. This also allows you to stay in Dimir instead of splashing white for Verdict of Detention Sphere. Later in the game if they have few creatures it can even allow you to get in some swings with Consuming Aberration. Also consider Dimir Keyrune with the HoB, as you can cipher onto the Keyrune and avoid board wipers, saving your tapper. Just something to consider.Wow, can't believe I wrote that much. Ah well, hope you take this to heart, respond to me if you have any questions or anything of the sort. If you do, I'll keep looking through the standard pool for some more answers to current standard threats.Good luck at FNM, maybe find out what decks others play and think about responses to that. I can only help you with standard decks in general, you have to tailor your deck to your play group.
Just a suggestion, you might wanna take out Serra's Blessing as it doesn't seem to do much for your deck, you aren't winning by attacking so vigilance won't help a lot. Maybe consider replacing it with either Tezzeret's Gambit or Steady Progress (draw cards and proliferate), which would help get more counters and draw into more stall effects.
Awesome deck! Thief of Hope is a great card, I always enjoy watching my opponent cringe as their life gets slowly sucked away! Can you take a look at my Hidden Fees prison deck? Thanks! (well thanks if you do, no thanks if you don't :/) http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=220419
All I can say is I'm sorry for anyone who plays against you! At first I was thinking "How are you going to stop people from teaming up and killing you?" but then I got to the spells... I guess since you have almost no creatures, a turn 4 damnation or wrath isn't such a bad thing for you! Great way to use a lot of cards not normally played due to high mana cost! That's why I love about Commander! Amazing deck! Well done!
Overall a good deck, the only problem I see with it is that it is easily controlled by any deck with decent removal or counter. The only counter you can do is with Ertai, but what if they counter/kill him? A burn deck can easily kill any one of your creatures (well aside from Wall of Denial). Blue/White decks, though not only made for counter have the ability for some great counterspells! I think it would really help your deck out! Azorious Guildmage, though it can counter abilities doesn't really help you control your opponent much. I know most of these cards work great with the deck, and it would be hard to remove some of them, some card draw would help you accelerate your game. Otherwise a good deck and fits the challenge criteria very well!
wat happens when you fail to get out the 1 land that helps you win? also all they need is one creature even as small as 3/3 to win. with one creature they can easily kill you.
all you need is one forest :)
might need some more plains to play juniper order. all in all a good deck though
dude u will never be able to get this deck unless u win the lottery.
yeah but magus is to easily destroy. there are to many destruction possibilities. not so many enchantment destructions and less people run them.
take out bombardiers
maybe add some glimpse the unthinkables. they tend to help.
not bad i like battletide alchemist it helps prevent damage without blocking.
omg such a good deck... nooooooooot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
not too bad but all it takes is a nice kill card or counterspell to stop you combo in its tracks. or they can just have a wall with at least 3 def.
what i meant to say was maybe a tutor might help or druids oath since you have mostly no creatures out u get one each turn
get whispersilk cloak like someone said before and put on husk. then use living death to get all you sacked creatures back from the dead and not lose husk cause it cant be targeted by spells or abilites.
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