My little drain deck.

[the_lord_shaper]

This is the deck I'm currently playing in vintage. It's called "Recruiter's Toolbox," it's kind of a refers to the way the wishes are used to obtain a card from the sideboard. Anyway, the deck tries to utilize imperial recruiter and tutor up a creature that either helps or wins in certain matches.

3 Imperial Recruiter
3 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Yixlid Jailer
1 Sower of Temptation
2 Ninja of the Deep Hours
1 Magus of the Moon
1 Meloku, the clouded Mirror
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Echoing Truth
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
3 Mana Leak
3 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Time Walk
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Sensei's Divining Top
3 Chalice of the Void
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Sol Ring
3 Polluted Delta
3 Flooded Strands
5 Island
3 Volcanic Island
1 Underground Sea
1 Tundra


SB
1 Magus of the Moon
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Echoing Truth
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Shattering Spree
1 Tinker
1 Platinum Angel
1 Yixlid Jailer
2 Ethersworn Canonist
2 Relic of Progenitus
3 Greater Gargdon

As you can tell the ninjas are there as a draw engine and serve as a way to reuse recruiter. By far though, the most helpful creature has been Glend Alendra Archmage.  In almost all matches that she has hit the table, I have won. Especially so, if two mange to hit.  Meloku is for aggro, as is sower. Heretic is of course great at blowing up artifacts big and small.  I know the random Jailer is odd, but dredge is a bad match up, even with that being said I know this card will probably be cut for something much more relevant. And last is Magus, he is powerful about 80 % of the time. Even against decks that run basics. Mainly because I don't use many magus in the main deck, so most players don't try and play around him in the first game.
Lately, I have tried cutting black and white. This makes my deck more constant but less powerful overall. Also I'v been toying around with have one to two swords of fire and ice in the main. These addition are not yet tested so I can't give any results either way.
Well thank you for reading my post, about a kind of funky deck, and I hope you reply..thanks again!

[Troy_Costisick]

3 Imperial Recruiter

This is the question I ask any time I see 3 of something in a deck.  Why only 3?  Why not 4?  If it's important to your deck winning, don't you want it as soon as possible?

[the_lord_shaper]

Having four of them just seems to be too much. I would have four if there was some kind of combo, but there is not. This deck is mainly a control deck, so drawing too many would get problematic. Also I can reuse the recruiters because of ninja of deep hours. But thanks for your question.

[timp]

another cool card you might want to look into is spell stutter sprite as a recruiter target
(also pitchable to force if need be)
and if you want situational cards you might want to move a single ethersworn cannonist to the main against storm since it is a prevalent deck

also another deck route to consider (red blue) would be recruiter and master of etherium and focus on artifacts and put in the likes of trisk colossus titan main

[the_lord_shaper]

This is the new blue/red version of "Recruiter's Toolbox". So far I like cutting black and white, it made the deck overall more stable. Also Magus became such a less of a head ache. The two swords seem promising as well.

3 Imperial Recruiter
3 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Sower of Temptation
2 Ninja of the Deep Hours
1 Magus of the Moon
1 Meloku, the clouded Mirror
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Echoing Truth
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
3 Mana Leak
3 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Time Walk
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Sensei's Divining Top
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Sol Ring
3 Polluted Delta
3 Flooded Strands
5 Island
4 Volcanic Island
1 Library of Alexandria


SB
1 Magus of the Moon
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Ingot Chewer
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Rack and Ruin
1 Tinker
1 Platinum Angel
2 Engineered Explosives
3 Relic of Progenitus
3 Greater Gargdon

Thanks again for reading my thread!!!!

[vassago]

what about trinket mage? he is so amazing with recruiter. i have played a t1 list of painter with trinket mages and it is phenominal. however the recruiter is a two of in that list. there is just way too much stuff the mage can do, like fetch e-e or tormods crypt. or even mana excell if the need need be

[the_lord_shaper]

I don't know about the Mage. I have thought of him. The real problem is this, can tutoring for a tutor be called a good play. I honestly have to question this course of action. It seems slow and redundant.  This mainly because I do not have a combo in the deck. Unlike your's, where founding you servant and grindstone are paramount.

[Troy_Costisick]

I don't know about the Mage. I have thought of him. The real problem is this, can tutoring for a tutor be called a good play. I honestly have to question this course of action. It seems slow and redundant.  This mainly because I do not have a combo in the deck. Unlike your's, where founding you servant and grindstone are paramount.

I think that's a good assessment as far as Trinket Mage goes for your deck.  I agree with you completely.  Overall, I like your toolbox of critters.  I have a feeling that this deck Archetype is on the brink of something really cool... something along the lines of Bomberman only with creatures. 

As for your most current list, I can confirm that SoFi is an excellent addition.  Any time it hits the table, a win is not very far away.  I still think you should drop a Mana Leak and add another Recruiter, but hey, that's totally up to you of course.  Another card I'll throw out as an idea for you is a singleton Atog.  He wouldn't be a bad win condition since you could sac your Chalice (if it's set for 0) and then play all the Moxen you've probably been holding and sac them too.  Also, I want to ask if you've tried to make room for Tinker -> DSC in your deck?  It is SUCH a powerful play in Vintage, I'm wondering if you couldn't sacrifice your Top and Brainstorm for it.  Or maybe another card. 

Anyway, it's a fun and skill intensive deck.  I think you'll have good luck with it as you explore the possibilities.

Peace,

-Troy

[the_lord_shaper]

Thanks Troy, I do agree about Tinker. The only difference was that I was thinking of Platinum Angel over DSC. Mainly due to the fact that it helps game 1 vs. both dredge and tendrils. I do think that it could find a place in the deck but I'm not sure what to cut. Thanks again, for your advice.

[Troy_Costisick]

Thanks Troy, I do agree about Tinker. The only difference was that I was thinking of Platinum Angel over DSC. Mainly due to the fact that it helps game 1 vs. both dredge and tendrils. I do think that it could find a place in the deck but I'm not sure what to cut. Thanks again, for your advice.

Perhaps you could cut the Top and the 3rd Mana Leak.  You have plenty of counter magic in your deck, so the loss of the third Leak shouldn't make a big difference.  Do you feel your deck lacks protection?  Anyway, I like Angel too.  It also protects you from random decks that use Painter-Grindstone or Helm of Obedience to try to win.  I've always felt Angel is a legit target for Tinker.

[IndykidVago]

Thanks Troy, I do agree about Tinker. The only difference was that I was thinking of Platinum Angel over DSC. Mainly due to the fact that it helps game 1 vs. both dredge and tendrils. I do think that it could find a place in the deck but I'm not sure what to cut. Thanks again, for your advice.

Perhaps you could cut the Top and the 3rd Mana Leak.  You have plenty of counter magic in your deck, so the loss of the third Leak shouldn't make a big difference.  Do you feel your deck lacks protection?  Anyway, I like Angel too.  It also protects you from random decks that use Painter-Grindstone or Helm of Obedience to try to win.  I've always felt Angel is a legit target for Tinker.

I agree with cutting the 3rd Mana Leak, as the list runs 10 counters and 1 bounce spell anyway.

@Troy, What scenarios would you rather have a DSC to Tinker for instead of Platinum Angel?

[Troy_Costisick]

@Troy, What scenarios would you rather have a DSC to Tinker for instead of Platinum Angel?

Are you serious?

[IndykidVago]

@Troy, What scenarios would you rather have a DSC to Tinker for instead of Platinum Angel?

Are you serious?

I've never liked Tinkering for Angel instead of DSC. I'm just trying to figure out why you'd remove DSC when Ichorid runs Oxidize. Also, can't the Tendrils player just target Angel twice with 2 storm copies and you with the rest?

If not then I've totally dropped games I shouldn't have.

EDIT* I just reread Troys origional post on DSC vs Plat. My apologies, I thought he was advocating Angel over DCS.

[the_lord_shaper]

Actually Tendrils can only target players...if they don't bounce it in time they will lose, same goes for dredge.

[UnholyAlliance]

That's right, Tendrils of Agony reads: Target player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. Storm.
There are two things here really.
First there is no damage only loss of life.
Secondly, as Lord said, storm copies can only target a player, not a creature.
You can't target a Platinum Angel to have it lose 2 life.
That does not work, I'm sorry for your loss.