Delverstill

[Protoaddict]

DelverStill

4 Delver of Secrets
3 Reckless Waif
3 Snapcaster Mage

4 Force of Will
4 Mental Misstep
2 Flusterstorm
2 Spell Pierce
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Spell Snare
1 Misdirection

4 Standstill
2 Crucible of worlds
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder

3 Lightning Bolt
1 Repeal

1 Stripmine
4 Wastelands
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
2 Volcanic Island
1 Tropical Island
2 Island
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Barbarian Ring
1 Cavern of souls

Sideboard:
3 Ancient Grudge
1 Cavern of souls
1 Forest
2 Pyroblast
3 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Pithing needle
4 Leyline of the Void


Been thinking about playing this version of delver for a bit now. Instead of playing Gush, I want to try standstill instead. The reasons I like standstill is because it nets +1 card which not only helps make up for you playing less land, just like gush, but does not cost you on board presence against decks where it will matter like shops. It also makes it much more likely that you will hit a counter in response, which is typically important. Lastly, normal delver decks are vulnerable to abrupt decay, but standstill will punish those players as well.

The idea with the deck is obviously enough, rush out a 1 drop that can close the game out quick and when you have onboard advantage, lay down a standstill. Maxed out on delver obviously, but also running reckless waif. It is not as good as delver but it fills a similar role, and a turn one waif followed by a turn 2 standstill is a big issue for your opponent because if they don't break the still you'll have a huge body. I was considering playing black vice in this slot as well but I think that may be a touch too easy to dance around. At least with waif you have a body. The other thought here is that all of your creatures are Humans, so I can include cavern in the list to punch them though. I have one in the main and one in the board right now, though I could see playing more.

Since the deck want's things it can do on board without breaking the still, it's playing land denial and 2 crucibles. I feel like Crucible will only ever come out late game to seal the match after they broke a still, but it seems strong. Since we are running a crucible, Barbarian ring seems strong as well, since it can close out the game as well as provide mana and play under a standstill.

I also am running a main deck repeal, which has tested well for me. It is really good against other delver lists right now, as it targets a fliipped delver for 1 and is card advantage off a snapcaster. EOT repeal followed by standstill can be nuts to break mirrors.

I have to test it some more, and I do not know if I will find it wanting. The deck is high on lands because of the Wastelands, but I feel like cutting anything else is problematic. I could see myself wanting 1-2 more draw spells, as standstill does a lot but it is only 4 copies.

Is there anything I am forgetting here?

[JarofFortune]

I'm glad somebody finally found a use for the red delver of secrets. No factories, though? It seems like two at the very least would be great, because they allow you to drop a standstill without having a threat in play beforehand. This deck may also want a mana leak or two if its running factories. It will be a hard counter most of the time. I like the feel of your list.

[Protoaddict]

I'm not sure I love Factory. I don't think I ever want to be in a situation where I drop a standstill without a threat on board, and its yet another land in a deck with an already high count. Likely players will be able to deal with it easier than another creature too, because of wastelands prominence. I looked at barbarian ring to fill this role, because it can also provide mana in a pinch.

The other thing with this list is i think you always always always want mana up for when they do break the standstill. Factory will eat that mana early on.

It could be viable, but I think it needs more testing.

[serracollector]

I could help you a ton but i am on my phone. go to www.morphling.de and type john knight in the search engine. i have two delver landstill lists that i top eight w in two tourney on there. my one big suggestion is yes on factories and add ninja of deep hours. resetting snap replaying a factory or just getting early ca off a delver that refuses to flip is great.

[TheJesus]

I'd like to see something like Sulfuric Vortex in a control deck. Standstill opponents won't let you sit there. They break it immediately or have an advantage. If you don't have Drains, Counterspells are required. You need an unconditional "NO" at a minimum of x7 since you don't have a draw engine. Your only disruption is counterspells and mana denial. Null Rod, Force, Drain, Wasteland make it hard to play fast. I'd rather see mox monkey at the R slot if you aren't doing tricks with Standstill. Delver flies but is not a Factory. You need to be able to block a Jugg or Golem and kill it.

I really like how you fit the creature base into a landstill shell. Ninja is in this list: http://www.morphling.de/top8decks.php?id=1541&highlight=3#place3. Each creature is one less counterspell.