"Blue Steel" A new look at Mono-U

[b_1e1_n]

The purpouse of this deck is to be able to hold the opponent off from attacking by using counters for the first few turns, and then playing big creatures in order to shut the opponent down.  It's budget in an underpowered metagame, excluding 1-2 decks.

counters
4 Mana Leak
4 Counterspell

creatures
4 Man-O'-War
4 Juggernaut
4 Serendib Efreet
2 Cathodian

draw
4 Brainstorm (I wanted acc knowledge here but I know you guys would kill me if I didn't include 4 brainstorms)
4 Standstill

creature control
4 Powder Keg

sideboard
4 Tormod's Crypt
4 Null Rod
3 Hydroblast
3 Blue Elemental Blast
1 Misdirection

I don't plan on adding
Wastelands
Masticores
Morphlings
P9
Mana Drains
LoA

They cost too much or wouldn't help enough in my metagame.

[Necrologia]

If this is a deck list Running Mana sources is tech. Otherwise what cards are you considering? Impulse? If you aren't running fetchies it will probably work out better for you than the Brainstorms.

[b_1e1_n]

I won't use fetchlands.

Some cards I am considering:
Accumulated Knowledge
Impulse
Flying Man (probably won't want)
Su-Chi
Stroke of Genius
Brainstorm
Psionic Blast

[snotball007]

This looks like an Ice Blue Zoo list. Your missing many things that you should have or not even bother playing the deck.

4x Force of Will
2-3x Psionic Blast

Without these cards the deck is severely hampered. I dont even play blue in T1 unless I can use Force of Will, it is the counter of choice.

And why not use fetchlands? They are cheap and effective. They are good in any metagame (well, unless ankh's are played alot.)

Also, please list mana sources, without it we cant tell you if you are running light or heavy or just right.

[b_1e1_n]

Updated List:

Counters:
4 Mana Leak
4 Counterspell

Creatures:
4 Man-O'-War
4 Juggernaut
4 Serendib Efreet

Draw:
4 Standstill
4 Brainstorm
4 Curiosity

Utilities:
4 Powder Keg

Land:
19 Island
4 Mishra's Factory
1 Sol Ring

Sideboard:
4 Tormod's Crypt
4 Back to Basics
3 Hydroblast
2 Red Elemental Blast
2 Null Rod

[ReAnimator]

Voidmage prodigy looks like a good idea in this deck and you may want to think about faerie conclave as well,

are the brainstorms really cutting it without fetchlands? impulse might be better, tho that does leave you with alot of 2cc, you could try opt or sleight of hand see if you like them more,

since you have curiosities in here but not alot of creatures Mask of Memory could serve you better since it will rarely result in card dissadvantage it also works well with your manlands

if you do run Mask or curiosities a couple of forbids may help keep the presure on your opp with a soft lock, should the game go long.

Nevenyralls disks may be better at removing things then kegs if your in a creatur based metagame

juggernaut doesnt look very exciting in here seeing as your in a creature heavy and unpowered meta, you have no way of accelerating him and he might die in combat (no evasion, little removal) and to bolts/swords alot. im not sure what a suitable replacement would be maybe one of the 2 3cc 3/1 fliers (cloud spirit? rishidan air ship?) or pyrexian war beast

here is a stab at your deck off the top of my head

4 counterspell
2 manaleak
2 forbid

4 voidmage prodigy
4 serendib
4 juggernaut (or something else)
3 man o war

3 standstill
4 Mask of memory

2 keg
2 disk
2 psyonic blast

1 sol ring
4 mishras factory
2 faerie conclave
3 ancient tomb ( or city of traders)
the rest islands

SB
3 tretchery (or control magic)
4 Beb
2 null rod
2 B2B
4 crypt

Good luck

[LoA]

I would really try to get some Psi Blasts and Force of Wills.  Are either/both of those feasible?  FoW should have priority, but 2-3 PsiBlasts could be great in your meta.  Could you give a more precise description of your meta?  I'll assume an even distribution of beat down and burn decks.

Here's a converted version of my CounterHammer deck (those were the days).  I'll assume you can get Fow/PsiBlasts.

//counter//
4x Counterspell
4x Force of Will
2x Misdirection

//kill//
4x Rainbow Efreet

//removal//
4x Nevinyrral's Disk
2x Psionic Blast
2x Control Magic/Treachery
2x Capsize

//draw & search//
4x Impulse
1x Fact or Fiction (shouldn't be too expensive)
4x Opt

//land//
4x Mishra's Factory
4x Thawing Glaciers (if Wastelands aren't run, this is golden)
2x Faerie Conclave
17x Island

Why Standstill isn't in here: If your intent is to hold off the other deck for a few turns and then establish a threat, Standstill isn't a good card for your deck.  If you want to drop an early threat and ride it out (see: Fish), then Standstill is great.

Opt?  WTF?: Without fetchlands and the standard array of shuffle effects, Brainstorm is actually weaker in a lot of cases.  Sure, it can dig one deeper than Opt, but you're forced to re-draw over the next 2 turns.  Opt allows you to dig and, critically, keep your cards fresh.

[b_1e1_n]

Counters:
4 Counterspell
4 Mana Leak

Creatures:
4 Man-O'-War
4 Serendib Efreet
3 Voidmage Prodigy
3 Juggernaut

Draw:
4 Curiosity
4 Accumulated Knowledge
2 Opt

Other Control:
4 Powder Keg

Mana:
19 Island
4 Mishra's Factory
1 Sol Ring