[Budget Deck Discussion] CrookshankCarnival.dec

[Lunk]

First of all, a deck list:
Mana:   26    
13 Swamp
4 Elvish Spirit Guide
4 Dark Ritual
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
1 Mana Crypt
1 Lotus Petal
1 Lion's Eye Diamond

Combo Pieces: 10
4 Carnival of Souls
4 Skullclamp
2 Tendrils of Agony

Clampables: 16
4 Kobolds of Kher Keep
4 Crookshank Kobolds
4 Crimson Kobolds
4 Priest of Gix

Disruption, Tutors, and Random Brokenness: 8
3 Duress
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Consultation
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth's Will

So far, my results have been very good.  Toughest matchups include anything running Trinisphere and/or Chalice of the Void.  I have managed to play through and win with a Chalice set to 0, off a Will with a fist full of cards, but it's not easy.  Trinisphere is just a lost cause (for the moment, read on).

Other problems I've run into are Null Rod and fast aggro a la FCG.  Null Rod is an annoyance, certainly, but not unbeatable.  I've gone about 50/50 with FCG in testing, with most of the wins coming when they go for the "big bang" combo and fail to do enough early damage to stunt Carnival, Necro, etc much, and most of the losses coming when they just go straight beats.

Null Rod, Trinisphere, Chalice can all be dealt with via Oxidize.  However, I'm absolutely loving the mono-B manabase, and am hesitant to toy with it.  Originally I was running Badlands and Underground Seas to support a few Draw 7's, and decks like Landstill were absolutely wrecking my already small manabase.  Countless times since replacing the duals, I've found myself chuckling as I sit there staring at my opponents 1(+) Wasteland with only 1-2 lands out myself (which is often enough to combo with).  Because of this, if green does get added I'd prefer to add more lands rather than simply switch them out, and perhaps replace Duresses with Oxidizes.  This may hamper the control match-up a little bit, but I have honestly found myself having considerably less trouble with the control match than I expected, even before replacing Draw 7's with Duresses.  Anyone have any thoughts on how to make the deck less hosable without making it more hosable?

As far as FCG & other fast aggro, I'm toying with the idea of a conversional sideboard to sui-black, with Priest of Gix serving as a sort of go-between for the two decks (more on him below), though Negator isn't exactly golden in that match-up.  Contagion at least seems like a good idea.  Any other suggestions in this area welcome.

Other changes I'd like to make or hear your input on:
Priest of Gix
Pro's:
- "Free", and produces its own Clamp mana with a Carnival out.
- A mild beater.  For example, it can be used to play something like a Necropotence one turn, then the next turn attacking with it essentially drops one off the necessary storm count.  It can also kill something as a blocker.
- Mana filter.  With a heavy black component on things like Tendrils, it can help to switch artifact mana to black mana.
- Sui conversion.  I've always liked them in Sui builds for some reason, which means there's one more card already main-decked that doesn't need a sideboard slot if we do decide that a conversional SB is the way to go.

On the other hand, twice now I've had attempts to go off fizzle because of the 3-mana investment that you don't get back if it gets countered.  Anyone have any commentary on either side of the argument here?

Tendrils of Agony: I'd like to fit in a third.  Several times I've managed to win just by throwing out a couple rituals, a couple kobolds, and a pair of Tendrils or something.  I've also lost games because I haven't been able to draw into one while going off.

Duress: If they don't get dropped entirely for Oxidize (see above), I'd like to try to fit in a fourth (or a fourth slot for Oxidize if they do get dropped).

Thoughts, comments, criticisms, and questions welcomed!

[LoA]

Any deck that runs Carnival of Souls is damn cool.

Have you tested [card]Songs of the Damned[/card]?  It might be a nice acceleration piece.  This and Cabal Therapy might have nice synergy.  Priest of Gix can be nice, but if it gets Mana Drained/countered you'll probably have some issues regaining tempo.

If you can work around Null Rod, do you think Powder Keg might be enough to help vs. Chalice and Trinisphere?

[serialjester]

I'm playing this in 1.5 and though that negates playing with any of the restricted stuff, it makes it so I have to stretch and play some tech stuff to accel the deck, which may help yours out. Mine is B/G, here's the list:

4 Mire
4 Bayou
3 Forest
7 Swamp
4 ESG
4 Ritual

4 Clamp
12 Kobolds
4 Priest of Gix
4 Veteran Explorer
3 Carnival
3 Tendrils
4 Diabolic Intent

SB
4 Naturalize
4 Swarm
4 Ground Seal
3 Engineered Plague

Veteran Explorer is broken as hell with Clamp. Drawing 2 cards and getting 2 lands into play which accels you is insane. Stack the effects so you get the land first and then draw the 2 cards for maximum effect.  It's optimal to get a forest and a swamp until you've got all your basic forests out of the deck, then subsequent Explorers can just pile the swamps up.

Green also gives you ways to deal with Chalice/3Sphere in the sideboard. It also shores up your matches against control with Xantids, which obviously are that much more important in a Type 1 build. I'd consider trying the splash of green, only because it is that good.

I came to the conclusion that Priest of Gix was great too. I was using Myr Moonvessel but the Priest is superior since this deck likes black mana. I'm currently thinking of replacing a swamp or 2 with Phyrexian Tower, just to act as additional mana accel and as a sacrifice outlet for Explorer.

Yeah, there's no disruption but Mine is a 1.5 build, and so far it hasn't mattered much. I like this build because it's fast and fun, which I consider important in a format that I consider ass.

[Razvan]

Future Sight could be a budget replacement if you don't have Skullclamp. Yes, I know what I just said.

You could use some other sacrifice mechanism. Goblin Bombardment could be good, in order to reduce the number of Storm activations needed.

[Grand Inquisitor]

leave future sight to the 'egg-cademy' decks (and my GAT lists ).

[Lunk]

I tried the green splash using 2 Bayous, 4 Fetchlands, and 3 Oxidizes, and frankly I was very unhappy with it.  In other matchups, even losing a maximum of 2 lands can often be devastating, and in the artifact matchup I found that often as not the artifacts just got welded back.  Granted, it gave me a brief window of opportunity, but not much of one.

RE: Song of the Damned - I considered it, but decided that it was far from stellar when my combo wasn't working and more of a win-more card when it was.

RE: Powder Keg - I don't like the idea of taking a full 4 turns to blow up a Trinisphere, but I'll try it some more.

RE: Future Sight - Grand Inquisitor said it best.  It's a win more card that might very possibly cost so much that after playing it I wouldn't be able to cast my win condition, and regardless I don't like the 3 blue component.

RE: Goblin Bombardment - Interesting idea, but I think drawing 2 killing a kobold with a Skullclamp, in the long run, does more damage than just popping it for one.

@SerialJester - I can't believe I forgot Diabolic Intent.  I've always thought it was under (read: never) used, and could have great potential in this deck.  I'll be giving that a shot.  I also like the idea of Veteran Explorers to possibly smooth out a mana base in a green splash, I'll test a bit with that too.

[Sheik al Kaji]

No Rest for the Wicked
1B
Enchantment
Sacrifice ~this~: Return to your hand all creature cards put into your graveyard from play this turn.

Hey, you think NRftW could act as a mini-Will for your Kobolds?


Edit: I just did some goldfishing, and this proved to be pretty worthless.

One more edit: Dude, just cut a Swamp for your third Tendrils. It doesn't affect the deck at all to do that.