Card Tech: “Consulting�
The staples of combo decks in every format from Vintage to standard, the “consultations� as I shall call them, are many and numerous. Each has numerous strengths and weaknesses as a tool for combo searching.
Demonic Consultation
Instant
Name a card. Remove the top six cards of your library from the game, and then reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal the named card. Put that card into your hand and remove all other cards revealed this way from the game.
Divining Witch
Creature - Spellshaper
,
, Discard a card from your hand: Name a card. Remove the top six cards of your library from the game. Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal the named card, then put that card into your hand. Remove all other cards revealed this way from the game. 1/1
Tainted Pact
Instant
Remove the top card of your library from the game. You may put that card into your hand unless it has the same name as another card removed this way. Repeat this process until you put a card into your hand or you remove two cards with the same name, whichever comes first.
Spoils of the Vault
Instant
Name a card. Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal the named card, then put that card into your hand. Remove all other cards revealed this way from the game, and you lose 1 life for each of the removed cards.
Plunge into Darkness
Instant
Choose one - Sacrifice any number of creatures, then you gain 3 life for each sacrificed creature; or pay X life, then look at the top X cards of your library, put one of those cards into your hand, and remove the rest from the game.
Entwine
Demonic Consultation is undoubtedly the strongest of this group for three chief reasons.
1) Cheaper than Âľ of the other cards
2) cannot result in loss of life unlike ½ the other cards
3) Allows you to choose what card to find (unless it is in the top six card) unlike ½ the other cards.
Each reason takes into consideration the other reasons.
The synergy between being cheap, painless and exacting is perfect when searching for a combo. Using this is a basis of comparison, we can compare the other four in relation to the afore mentioned three reasons. Each reason will be given points to determine strength of tutors.
-1 Point for each mana above 1
-1 point if it results in life loss,
-2 points if you can’t control the life loss,
-1 point if it doesn’t let you immediately choose the card,
-2 points if chance plays a factor
-3 points if chance plays a large factor.
-1 or +1 for any misc. reasons that the card displays.
On this judgment, we can give Demonic Consultation a score of 3, as it fulfills all the broad categories listed (mana, life, exacting). So on this somewhat fragile point system, we will score the other cards assuming they start out with 3 points, and devolve themselves to their current incarnation
Divining Witch
1) Cost (-1)
2) Tempo is slow (-2)
3) No life loss (-0)
4) Exacting (-0)
Score = 0
The witch is essentially a 2 mana consultation with legs. It costs one more to cast (-1) but it can’t be used until the next turn (-1). This throws off your decks temp badly, resulting in a further (-1). It doesn’t lose you life (-0) and it does let you search for the card (-0). Some could argue that because it’s a creature implies it’s fragile to kill. Others could argue its reusable implying +1. So an average of zero will be taken for the sake of simplicity. The other problem is it uses up cards in your hand. It’s arguable that he converts the cards to consultations; just run consultations instead of tossing away cards and deck slots. This can result in tempo loss or card disadvantage, but since there is a cycling of your discarded card, the card disadvantage and tempo loss is very minimal. The best use for the Witch would have been in block format or in certain extended decks. It is too slow to serve as a true consultation, but does get you your combo parts. In T1, it is infinitely too slow and is unusable outside of casual games. Even in tandem with dark ritual, it still can’t activate until the 2nd turn, when you should be playing something better anyway, not looking for a card. I would rather ritual for Necropotence than the witch any day.
Tainted Pact
1) Cost (-1)
2) No life loss (-0)
3) Exacting (-3)
Score = -1
The pact is not bad by any means, it is just sickeningly random. You really won’t hurt you because a) it doesn’t make you lose life and b) by the nature of the card you cannot cripple your deck at all, unless you’re playing with all singles. It costs one more than the Consultation (-1), doesn’t make you lose any life (-0) but is not only extremely random
(-2) but it earns another point in that category for being uncontrollably random (-1). The pact is good in decks that aren’t necessarily looking for any one card, but rather looking for any good card to put into their hand. In T1 it can be used by decks which don’t employ a lot of multiples and are combo oriented e.g. Charbelcher, Rector Tendrils or TPS. Even then the Consultation would be a better substitute.
Spoils of the Vault
1) Cost (-0)
2) No life loss (-3)
3) Exacting (-2)
Score = -2
This card is a matter of opinion. Its cost is perfect (-0) but its life loss is drastically bad. A) It can, does and will kill you sometimes, b) its only worth playing if your using 4 copies of a card in you deck, c) its random. Now the only reason it’s more random than the Consultation is synergy. Life loss plays a large role in randomness. In the consultation, its remotely random aspects of milling through your deck and the first 6 cards are outweighed by the cards power and lack of other drawbacks. The spoils will kill you if you are too random. Even with the score, it is all up to the player. Some T1 players view it as a second consultation in certain combo decks such as Charbelcher and variants of Storm, Cocoa pebbles, Mask and as a searching tool for Utility against combo decks. Recently I observed one chap using it in STD in tandem with consultation to pull a Show & Tell at my eot and casting it the following turn (Turn 2). However the resulting life loss (-11) was substantial for my FCG’s to kill him. So for the spoils, it all depends on your local or international meta. Speed will hurt this card, but if your speed is faster, this card could mean 8 consultations.
Plunge into Darkness
1) Cost (-1)
2) No life loss (-1)
3) Exacting (-1)
4) Entwine ability (+1)
Score = 1
The plunge is arguably the best alternative to the consultation. It costs a little more (-1) and results in life loss (although controlled life loss) (-1). It is slightly random, because there is a chance you won’t get your desired card at all (-1). However the slight gem of the plunge is its Entwine. Dismissing this ability is foolish, because it is not entirely useless. In a scenario with Academy Rector in play, you can Plunge for three, netting you an enchantment (Enduring Renewal, Yawgmoths Bargain, Necropotence, Illusions of Grandeur, Oath of Druids etc.) and then using the additional three life to search deeper in your deck for the second part to the combo (Goblin Bombardment, Skirge Familiar, Donate, etc) to win that turn or the next. This secondary ability also can save you in some rare cases from damage, fireballs, etc. This list of functions of entwines ability gives the Plunge (+1). It is stronger than the other three possibilities, but only slightly and all in dependence with the respective deck. Plunge is a reliable addition to any deck using consultation and any suicide black deck using creatures both as a search tool for any cards needed, and as a life reset button in certain unfortunate situations.
Tech Potentials:
Divining Witch is playable in extended and maybe 1.5. But it’s advisable to avoid this card in Vintage.
Tainted Pact is playable in any format it’s legal in, but its glaring randomness makes it a weak card.
Spoils of the Vault is a tech card which is employed in combo decks. In this sense it is a winner. It can work and can win you some games. It’s also a loser, as it loses you some games on the first turn, which is a tad embarrassing.
Plunge into Darkness is another winner and can supplement the Consultation in any deck that runs it. It really has no serious drawbacks, and is well balanced for the Consultation series.
Demonic Consultation is still the reigning consultation tool in MTG. But with the addendum of the Plunge and the Spoils, combo decks now pack more searchers to sift their deck for needed cards. Expect to see these in the coming year or two in combo decks, which will abound in the wake of fifth dawn. (See follow-up Thread entitled “Reflecting Mentality�)
Until next time
Consult the Spoils of Darkness…
