Lich's Mirror, Channel-Fireball ~~<((0))

[Son of Serra]

Supposedly, a new card called "Lich's Mirror" will be in the upcoming Shards of Alara expansion. Rumor has it that it does the following:

Lich's Mirror        (5)
Artifact 
If you would lose the game, instead shuffle your hand, your graveyard and all permanents you own into your library, then draw seven cards and your life total becomes 20.

This card is has the potential to be broken with several other cards, but one card in particular may pair with Mirror to become the new Gush-Fastbond. In my opinion, the most powerful card that combos with Lich's Mirror is Channel. Channel has amazing synergies with with this artifact because:

1. It pays for Lich's Mirror
2. It triggers Lich's Mirror
3. It's effect is more powerful post-Mirror

With the recent unrestriction of Personal Tutor, you can now play from a large suite of first-turn tutors that setup a Channel into Lich's Mirror. For example:

1st Turn: Flooded Strand >> Tropical Island, Personal Tutor >> Channel
2nd Turn: Tropical Island, Channel, Lich's Mirror
               Gain 20 colorless mana and a new hand
               Lotus Petal, Fireball (or another Lich's Mirror...)

So what would a deck with Lich's Mirror and Channel look like? How about this:

The Lich's Ball (Updated)
x1  Black Lotus
x4  Lich's Mirror
x1  Lotus Petal
x1  Memory Jar
x3  Mox Diamond
x1  Mox Emerald
x1  Mox Jet
x1  Mox Ruby
x1  Mox Sapphire
x3  Planar Portal

x1  Platinum Angel

x1  Ancestral Recall
x1  Brainstorm
x4  Force of Will
x3  Mana Drain
x1  Mystical Tutor
x4  Pact of Negation
x1  Vampiric Tutor

x1  Channel
x1  Demonic Tutor
x1  Fireball
x1  Meltdown
x4  Personal Tutor
x1  Time Walk
x1  Timetwister
x1  Tinker
x1  Yawgmoth's Will

x3  Flooded Strand
x2  Island
x3  Polluted Delta
x3  Tropical Island
x2  Underground Sea
x2  Volcanic Island

This is a heavy control deck with the Channel finish. The following is an explanation of a few card choices:

Platinum Angel
This is the safety valve of the deck. If post-Mirror activation you have 10-15 colorless mana with no Mirror to play and no way to play a fireball, Platinum Angel will keep you in a good board position. Plus, Angel with Pacts of Negation are simply AMAZING and the Angel can swing for the kill if you are having problems resolving Channel.

Pact of Negation
Besides synergizing well with the Angel, Pacts insure that the Channel resolves through counterspells. Also, in the event that you get out Lich's Mirror without Channel you can use a Pact offensively to counter an oppontent's spell and simultateously break the Mirror next turn.

Mana Drain
Another solid control spell that also helps get Lich's Mirror into play without Channel.

Mox Diamond
Although relatively weak, this Mox provides colored mana. Why is that so imortant? Imagine a second turn Channel >> Mirror activation off your second Tropical Island... post-Mirror you cannot play a land! You have Channel up with 30+ colorless mana and no way to get that R to send off a Fireball because you already played a land! Mox Diamonds will look really good about then. Plus, they help get UU for Mana Drain or GG for Channel when you need it most.

Fireball
Although there may be a better choice for the kill, Fireball is a great choice for a one-sided blow with an X in the cost. Remember, it can also burn out an opponent's pesky Tezzeret or Platinum Angel even pre-Mirror.

Meltdown
With 4 Personal Tutors, a sorcery speed artifact destroyer that can wipe out a Workshop player's field is very powerful. And even though it kills your own Moxen, you can always Mana Drain or Channel your way back into a solid positon.

Draw 7's
Again, post-Mirror you may not have the kill. But dropping a Memory Jar or a Mox into a Timetwister may draw you into the win. The name of the game is a massive swing the turn you play Channel.

Planar Portal (Added)
Channel without a Mirror is annoying, so Planar Portar gives another option for finding Mirror once Channel resolves. And if you have both Portal and Mirror: cast both, activate Portal, then with Portal's ability on the stack Channel out to pop the Mirror and get any card post-Mirror! Extremely helpful for finding colored mana!

So what do you think? Viable?

[ristoman]

What's interesting about this card is that when it triggers it goes back into your deck and isn't RFG'd or anything, making endless loops possible.

My first reaction, as always is with new cards, is 'meh'. The trigger is pretty narrow, and most likely you won't be able to use it the turn it comes down.

Losing your entire board is pretty big even with Channel cast, I mean if you draw into no colored mana (9/60 cards if you don't count the lands you should've played already) you are effectively doing nothing once it resolves. That, and every deck packs instant speed artifact hate. I would include a DSC or a Titan or both as sinks and as Tinker targets. All people need to do would be wait and counter your Channel and nothing else, and they'd still win probably.

I'm sticking with Memory Jar for now.

[Son of Serra]

Losing your entire board is pretty big even with Channel cast, I mean if you draw into no colored mana (9/60 cards if you don't count the lands you should've played already) you are effectively doing nothing once it resolves. That, and every deck packs instant speed artifact hate. I would include a DSC or a Titan or both as sinks and as Tinker targets. All people need to do would be wait and counter your Channel and nothing else, and they'd still win probably.

To keep the loop going (even assuming that you already played a land), you need either one of the 9 colored mana sources, another one of the 4 Lich's Mirrors, or the 1 Memory Jar. You could also hit one of the 2 Platinum Angel and end up with six cards still in hand. So the odds are more like 16/60, then 16/59, 16/58, etc. The odds are really high that you would draw into one of the above cards.

As far as the instant speed artifact removal, their typical one removal card is up against my 4 Force of Wills and 4 Pact of Negations. I know that they will have their own FoWs and Duresses, but I still like the odds.

[StarOrc]

This is an interesting idea.

There are four suggestions I have.

1: I would strongly consider running 4 Misdirections instead of the 4 Mana Drains as they allow you to protect your "combo" post Mirror.

2: Kaervek's Torch instead of Fireball. I understand that it doesn't deal with Plats, but its harder to counter making back-up less important.

3: Chromatic Spheres instead of the Mox Diamonds. You have a ton of Colorless mana and they make Personal Tutors better. Also this would allow you to run Mana Severence so that post Mirror you don't draw any land.

4: Windfall seems pretty good post Mirror as you will always draw at least five if you can cast it.

Corey

[zeus-online]

Chromatic spheres and stars could really help you post-channel.

Maybe you should try a more belcher-ish approach, and maybe even use belcher as the win instead of Fireball (Which is pretty bad to be honest)

Interesting idea, but i'm not sure how good it is.

/Zeus

[Son of Serra]

Perhaps running 2 Misdirections, but 4 is simply too high. Plus, Mana Drain is good right now. It is extremely helpful pre-mirror in controlling the board and getting the mirror into play.

I'll fully acknowledge that Fireball is not an ideal kill, so perhaps Kaervek's Torch is better. Finding the best outlet for 30+ colorless mana is the great hunt right now!

Chromatic Star/Sphere is just awful. It is decent post-mirror, but pre-mirror I would never want to see one in an opening hand or topdeck. Mox Diamond is at least easier to get up first turn for Channel or Mana Drain. Chromatic Star/Sphere would just end up being an unnecessary combo piece.

Windfall is just too weak to make the cut. What would it replace?

Goblin Charbelcher would require an entirely different approach... what would the deck look like? I'm open though...

[EnialisLiadon]

I think Fastbond deserves a slot; colored mana will be at a premium once you start Channeling.

Would two kicker'd Urza's Rage to the opponent's dome be better than Fireball or Torch?  You should only need one in the deck; just keep drawing seven until you cast it twice.

I've been racking my brain all day (during classes, heh) for the best kill, and Urza's Rage seemed ideal as it's uncounterable and unpreventable.  You do have to cast it twice, though.

[arctic79]

For a Belcher win you would more then likely go Blue Belcher with Severance, but why bother with the Mirror at that point.
Urza's Rage would be a great one of.
Sphere's are a must.  3 at least
What about Titan as a one of? You can destroy an opponent if you can't find a burn spell that turn.
Should Stroke of Genius be considered?
Is having a wish board for a win possible?

[Son of Serra]

The problem with Urza's Rage is twofold:

1. It has RR in the cost (with kicker) instead of just R
2. It has to be cast twice (as you noted)

Additionally, it's benefit is not important because the opponent should counter Channel rather than whatever results after Channel. Why wait for the Channel guy to get a new hand and 30+ colorless mana when you could just stop the whole thing right off the bat?

As far as Chromatic Spheres/Stars, they are just awful in Vintage! Imagine an opening hand with:

Polluted Delta
Mana Drain
Island
Brainstorm
Lich's Mirror
Pact of Negation

Now which is better?

Mox Diamond
or
Chromatic Sphere

The answer is MOX DIAMOND! A first turn Chromatic Sphere is a terrible play here, but a first turn Mox Diamond gets up Mana Drain! Mox Diamond is relavent pre-mirror, whereas Chromatic Sphere is not. Imagine in the above scenerio that Mana Drain is instead Channel!!!

As far as the Titan or more Platinum Angels or a Darksteel Colossus, they are all good options but do not finish the job right away. Without testing, I cannot say if more robots is the way to go.

[Son of Serra]

Fastbond could be really good as well, but it goes away post-mirror. You still need a colored mana source.

[arctic79]

honestly do think this is going to be a 1st turn deck?  I seriously doubt it.  It is a control/combo deck which means you should have some time.  Your major problem after Mirror is getting coloured mana online, I'ld rather draw into spheres because you can use them, diamond depends on you getting more than 2 lands each draw (1 to play, one to pitch).
Fastbond may work.  But I'm not convinced.

[ShawnTheDoctor]

Planar Portal belongs in this deck, maybe 4x. You can consider Planar Portal a Lich's Mirror that costs 17 colorless mana. Sounds like a lot, but it really doesn't matter once you cast Channel.

4x Mirror, 4x Portal means you don't have to go searching for a mirror. Also it means that you basically win once you pop your first mirror w/ channel because you now have 8 cards you can draw in your draw 7 to keep going (9 cards w/ Memory Jar).

[LordHomerCat]

OK seriously, not to talk about whether this deck is good or awful, but at least play better cards than Fireball.  Really, Kaervek's Torch?  Demonfire?  There's no reason to run basic Fireball because I don't expect you will often be killing things that aren't your opponent.

[ShawnTheDoctor]

I ran some maths and with 4x Mirror, 4x Portal, 1x Memory Jar, you will "draw 7" into one of these cards 70% of the time. The other 30% you can hopefully find an answer some of the time with Time Walk, Ancestral, Lotus + Tutor, etc. Add 1-2 Fabricate and you can pretty much guarantee a win once you pop the first Mirror.

Cut the Platinum Angels, they aren't needed. I think you will be able to get by with just one Torch, I don't think the second one will improve your victory % more than an extra Fabricate.

Don't forget that you can cast something or trigger an ability, in response lose the game by paying all your life through Channel, and you'll have your thing around once Mirror goes off. You can even cast Mirror with Mirror in play, in response lose the game, and no matter what you draw you're good for another go.

This deck will fishbowl 2nd turn consistently. Winning is really just a matter of resolving Channel.

[EnialisLiadon]

For some reason, I was imagining Fastbond staying in play after the mirror...I thought, "how could they miss fastbond?  you can play out all the lands in the deck!"

So yeah.  Not so good.

I can see the logic of "if you've managed to start comboing out, they probably don't have a counter," which reduces the attraction to Urza's Rage.  Also, I forgot about double red.  That would be bothersome even with Chromatic Star (superior to sphere in every way) and/or Mox Diamond.  You'd have to float red mana when you can, while looping Mirrors.  Annoying.

I also considered Stroke of Genius, but dismissed it since it forces you to chain Mirrors a number of times in succession.  At least with Torch or similar X-spell, you really only need to find it after the first Mirror--you'll have more than enough mana immediately.

I still can't help but wonder as to if there's a more optimal kill, though...

[arctic79]

If you really want to get silly, Candelabra + tolarian academy, staff of domination are synergistic with vast amounts of colourless mana to use.
Chrome Mox should be good in this for colour fixing because once you have resolved channel and Mirror chances are your opponent no longer has counter magic, so start tossing counterspells to the Mox to thin your deck and fix for blue.

[Son of Serra]

OK seriously, not to talk about whether this deck is good or awful, but at least play better cards than Fireball.  Really, Kaervek's Torch?  Demonfire?  There's no reason to run basic Fireball because I don't expect you will often be killing things that aren't your opponent.

The kill card is not ideal, but it is no worse than Demonfire or Kaervek's Torch. Once you start channeling, your opponent is done anyway. If they want to counter something, it will always be Channel. At least with Fireball, if you have to kill off an Angel or something you don't have to cast twice.

Don't forget that you can cast something or trigger an ability, in response lose the game by paying all your life through Channel, and you'll have your thing around once Mirror goes off. You can even cast Mirror with Mirror in play, in response lose the game, and no matter what you draw you're good for another go.

That is awesome!!! If you have both Planar Portal and Lich's Mirror, play both, activate Planar Portal and with the activation on the stack Channel out the Mirror and you have any card (like Black Lotus) post-Mirror!

So, I updated the list above...

This is looking more and more fun!

[Dnine]

I love the idea of this deck, it seems like a fun way to win.  It does looks like the deck can't do much of anything until channel resolves.  I think it needs more help getting to that point.  For starters your mana base is a mess.  You currently have 7 ways to play channel.  1 is just GG for channel, 5 need UGG for mystical/personal then channel and one requires BGG1 for demonic then channel.  I didn't see vamp, but you should probably find space for it as well.  Maybe even emp. seal.  In most cases your plan is to tutor for channel on turn one and cast it on turn 2.  To me this means that both the lands you play turns one and two have to tap for Green.  Your color base should revolve around the green fetches (all 8) with tropical islands and bayous as the targets.  Since after you channel your plan is to chain the mirrors together then I would rely on the lotuses, mox ruby and spheres to get you the red.  The red lands really don't help as you can't play them anyway.  LED should also be tested as well as elvish spirit guide for faster mana and color fixing.

The mana drains seem out of place.  It comes down to roll assignment.  You have too many combo cards in your deck to try to play the control game against most decks.  Your pacts only are playable after you have mirror out so they can't protect you from losing.  You have to be the aggressive deck and use the pacts to protect your channel.  You must be faster, not slower.  You are basically a flash deck, you have a 2cc win condition if you have the second piece in hand.  For additional protection duress would be much better if needed.

The creature that cycles for 2 life may also be helpfull since almost all of your tutors are top deck tutors.  Allowing you to tutor and draw it on the same turn. 

[timp]

how about this

channel
lich's mirror
death cloud
repeat until opponent is dead

shell the deck around u/b control
use fetch lands and duels for green action
have moxen on color
can crack lotus or land/dark ritual to start death cloud
run all possible tutors to get what you need
maybe even reshape, trinket mage, or fabricate?
maybe run city of solitude or defense grid as counter disruption prior to landing a sweet death cloud to ruin their hand
death wish since life doesn't matter much
board a tendrils because channeling, tutoring, and mirroring can generate big storm

does trickbind/stifle stop the mirror? i am not sure how replacement effects interact with those cards. is a replacement effect considered a triggered abilities?

[ShawnTheDoctor]

I was thinking about this deck for a while today. Your goal is to resolve Channel and win. Casting Lich's Mirror off Mana Drain or any other time when you haven't resolved Channel is a weak play. Even if you cast Mirror, say go, Negation something and then die next upkeep, you aren't in a good position to win the game by starting over. So the focus needs to be first on resolving Channel, second on keeping the recursion going so that you auto-win by popping a Mirror after you've resolved Channel.

Here's my version of the deck:

Finding Channel:

4x Personal Tutor
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Imperial Seal
1x Channel

Resolving Channel:

4x Force of Will
4x Pact of Negation
3x Duress
2x Misdirection

Recursion:

4x Lich's Mirror
4x Planar Portal
4x Fabricate

Misc:

1x Time Walk
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Stroke of Genius
1x Brainstorm
2x Divining Top

Mana Sources:

1x Emerald
1x Sapphire
1x Jet
1x Lotus
1x Lotus Petal
4x Chrome Mox
1x Bayou
2x Tropical Island
3x Green search land
4x Gemstone Mine

That's 59 cards, not sure what the last card should be. Candidates:

Memory Jar - Strong candidate, but I don't like the idea of giving my opponent a chance to draw FoW.
Timetwister - See above, also discards to FoW and gets back Channel should it end up in the grave somehow.
Bounce spell - Is it even needed? Null Rod is a problem.
Another Stroke of Genius
Street Wraith - A strong card, but 17 life is necessary to play Mirror through the Portal. FoW and search lands also are in the deck so you can get below 18 pretty easily.  I think Divining Top may be better here because it runs off colorless too.

So let's say you manage to resolve Channel and cast Mirror. Now what? Do you auto-win? No, you do not.

If you have no mana floating after popping the Mirror, you are drawing to 8 outs - 4x Mirror, 4x Portal. 65% chance of drawing at least one of those. The other 35% of the time hopefully you can make blue through Sapphire / Lotus / Petal / Chrome and cast Fabricate or Stroke. Divining Top is a 2 life tutor for your top 3 cards that you can always cast off Channel. Sometimes you aren't going to make it though and it will be pretty much game.

If you have one blue floating then you are drawing to 13 outs (if you count Stroke as a sure-Mirror, which it is almost) and you have a 83% chance of drawing one. 17% of the time you will have to use your Ancestral, Divining Top, etc to find something to continue.

Note that if you discard non-outs to Chrome Mox your chances will improve slightly.

After a few cycles, it's hard to lose because you will put effects on the stack in resonse to losing the game. Ex. Activate Portal, in response lose the game. Portal resolves after you D7.

After you have gone through about five or so cycles and have a bunch of mana of all your colors floating, just find a Stroke and win.

I need to do some playtesting to determine the probability of winning given that Channel has resolved and Mirror has popped. It's easy to fishbowl, just D7 and pretend you're in this situation.

[KingHeavy]

Hey all, I was reading and it occured to me that the oft forgotten artifact tutor from Antiquities would work well as Mirror 5-8

Transmute Artifact

With all the tutors to find Channel, and the Mirrors and Portals, 4x Transmute Artifacts could really help chances of chaining the mirrors, especially with 30+ colorless mana around to keep the mirror on the board after sacking a mox or some such.


Oh and personally, just for fun, I think the kill should be Hurricane , hopefully an "edgar" version as you're so much in green, also adding 4x ESG can make it all first turn possible and up the chances.   And yes Mox diamond rules.  What about land grant?

[Relwarbeht]

This is a pretty interesting deck.  I wonder if Tinker doesn't have a place in here, basically its fabricate after your channel/mirror and its better before.  Also against some hate decks you can board in a single 11/11 (Or Plats if you want to be tricky with pacts) to give you a second win condition.  I think that Tinker is particuarly powerful since all your channel tutors double as tinker tutors.  Also, as far as someone's suggestion of LED goes, its really strong if you have tutors-to-hand as opposed to Topdeck tutors, which require that you have a Top.  Also, i recognize Time Walk is good, but I would question its place in this deck, particuarly if you are playing it in this sort of all in way (turn 2 channel->win), and additionally since you don't need to pass the turn for your win.  Lastly, Shawn is 'Green Land Search' land grant or Fetches?  Each are interesting but have what i feel are significantly different effects on the chrome mox vs Mox Diamond discussion.  One last thing, why Gemstone Mines over Polluted Delta or Green Fetchs.  PS. Sideboard Regrowth/Reasearch/Development?