Archmage Ascension and Enchantress....viable combo?

[serracollector]

I was looking through the Zendikar set on mtgonline.com just trying to keep up on new stuff, haven't played in a while honestly, but my eye came upon this:


Card Name:
Archmage Ascension
Mana Cost:
2Blue
Converted Mana Cost:
3

Types:
Enchantment
Card Text:
At the beginning of each end step, if you drew two or more cards this turn, you may put a quest counter on Archmage Ascension.
As long as Archmage Ascension has six or more quest counters on it, if you would draw a card, you may instead search your library for a card, put that card into your hand, then shuffle your library.

Now, I know it takes a minimum of 6 turns for this thing to really work, but could a slow protected version of Enchantress do the trick?  I mean all you need is an Enchantress (which I beleive there are now at least 2 green ones and 1 white one), and 1 enchantment each turn and you have your 2 cards drawn each turn.  After that its just a free tutor system.  Mind you I haven't made a decklist, for 2 reasons:

1.) I am behind on the times and wouldn't want to use sub-par card choices that WERE amazing last time I played seriously.
2.) I am not completely up to date on B/R lists, and thus were back to number 1.

But some ideas for interaction with the card:

-Sylvan Library - greens necro, works great with Ascension, as (unless I am wrong), you can tutor for 3 cards every turn after its done, with no life loss.  It used to work this way with Pursuit of Knowledge, not sure if it still does.
-Pursuit of Knowledge- whats better than searching for 3 cards?  how about a new hand? OF YOUR CHOICE.  Some good.
-Abundance - an alternate tutor affect.
-Other idea's?


Sorry for the breifness of this, I just have been out for a while, but haven't seen any threads or idea's posted around this card.  There has to be some way to use and abuse it.  Help?

[Yare]

Since it takes at least 6 turns to get online, I have a really difficult time seeing this going anywhere. If you're genuinely drawing the cards then you've likely already won. If you're trick drawing the cards (e.g., Sylvan Library), it still takes a while to get going, so I'm not sure how you're going to hold out this long. Moreover, even if you get going, the card still won't necessarily win the game by itself. Running a tutor in the slot for Archmage Ascension just seems better.

[serracollector]

Has magic degraded to the point where you can't even protect yourself for 6 measly turns?

[Joblin Velder]

This is easily the greatest thread on this forum.

[conboy31]

Has magic degraded to the point where you can't even protect yourself for 6 measly turns?

No.

Has it degraded to the point where you can't get a four of in your deck to your hand, have the mana to cast it at 2U, resolve it, protect it, and meanwhile draw two or more cards per turn for six turns? Yes.

[CorwinB]

I've thought a lot about Archmage Ascension, and I really can't see it a home for it in Vintage, except in fun decks. Which is a shame, because Vintage is where all the good drawers are.

Good news first, Archmage Ascension (AA) triggers on any turn where you draw 2 cards, both yours and your opponent(s). Which means Ancestral, Thirst, Frantic Search... all work on your opponent's turn.

Bad news are more numerous. First, you need to draw the cards. So Fact or Fiction, Gifts Ungiven, Demonic Tutor, Dark Confidant... won't work. Which means that if you want to use those cards (and you probably should), then you have to dedicate more slots in addition to your Ascensions and your other draw. Another problem is that AA is extremly vulnerable to bounce/disenchant, considering the time involved to build it and the fact that fulfilling the quest doesn't mean an instant win. And of course, the biggest problem is that this card is a "Win More" if I've ever seen one.

If I were to build a deck around it, I would probably try it with the hatching paint/abjure draw engine, since this one can fire on your opponen'ts turn, and you get to counter a spell in the process. Sensei's Divining Top and Sylvan Library are other obvious choices. Standstill and Mystic Remora also have potential applications in such a deck. Basically, you would want both a way to reliably draw one extra card on your turn (Sylvan or Top), and as many instant draws as possible to maximise the number of opponent's turn where you advance the AA.

After that, the rest of the deck could be built in a toolbox/silver bullet fashion.

[Beralt]

I guess it just seems extraordinarily slow in a vintage environment, where Belcher/Dragon/Ad Nauseum can go off turn 1 and Tez/Vault, Ichorid and TPS can go off turn 2.  Even a slower more focused deck like GW Beats (alternatively GWb Beats) has maindeck removal that can deal with the card if it gets online.

It does cost 3 mana to play and gives no immediate card advantage - so assuming some mana accelleration it can be cast on turn 2 and then if you draw 2 cards a turn for the next 3 turns (your opponents and yours) you could get the engine online turn 5 - but if you are drawing 2 cards a turn for 6 turns you should probably already have won. Standstill/Counterbalance and Mystic Remora all seem superior in that they cost less mana and give either disruption or card advantage. 

As for Enchantress, it hasn't seen play in awhile and probably won't until green gains more ability to disrupt/interact with it's opponent on turns 0 & 1.  Legacy maybe but vintage has yet to latch onto the idea, maybe I am wrong, I would love to see something competitive - feel free to post away and work something up.