[Deck] AuriOath - Because winning now is better than later.

[leviat]

So it seems that Oath has become latest pop-star and since I don't care about hording tech much anymore these days, I thought I would share my version. I've seen lots of different variations out there, combOath, angelOath, ColossalOath... but I haven't seen my particular version so I'm going to share it with you now.

AuriOath (Leviat -- Oct 30, 2004)

Combo (7)
4x [card]Oath of Druids[/card]
1x [card]Auriok Salvagers[/card] (1)
1x [card]Pyrite Spellbomb[/card]
1x [card]Black Lotus[/card]

Control (8)
4x [card]Mana Drain[/card]
4x [card]Force of Will[/card]

Draw/Search (13)
4x [card]Brainstorm[/card]
4x [card]Accumulated Knowledge[/card]
2x [card]Intuition[/card]
1x [card]Ancestral Recall[/card]
1x [card]Mystical Tutor[/card]
1x [card]Enlightened Tutor[/card]

Utility (8)
2x [card]Fire/Ice[/card]
3x [card]AEther Spellbomb[/card] (2)
1x [card]Lions Eye Diamond[/card]
1x [card]Gaea's Blessing[/card] (3)
1x [card]Time Walk[/card]
1x [card]Cunning Wish[/card]

Mana (23)
4x [card]Forbidden Orchard[/card]
4x [card]Flooded Strand[/card]
4x [card]Tropical Island[/card]
3x [card]Tundra[/card]
3x [card]Volcanic Island[/card]
1x [card]Island[/card]
1x [card]Mox Sapphire[/card]
1x [card]Mox Emerald[/card]
1x [card]Mox Ruby[/card]
1x [card]Mox Pearl[/card]

Sideboard (15)
2x [card]Annul[/card]
3x [card]Artifact Mutation[/card]
3x [card]Swords to Plowshares[/card]
3x [card]Red Elemental Blast[/card]
1x [card]Blue Elemental Blast[/card]
2x [card]Akroma / Spirit of the Night[/card] (4)
1x [card]Stroke of Genius[/card] (5)

Updates[list=1]

• Dropped to one Salvager. [Oct 29]
• Swapped Furnace for AEther Spellbomb due to Oath's popularity. [Oct 29]
• Blessing is safer than Reclamation again control. [Oct 29]
• Meandeck's choice of Akroma/Spirit is just better than Colossus. [Oct 30]
• Stroke of Genius allows for an alternative kill condition. [Oct 30][/list:o]
  
  Notes
  The basic premise of the deck is to get Oath on the table as fast as possible and then activate it. The best scenario would then be that you manage to dump the follow two cards in your graveyard (1) Black Lotus or Lion's Eye Diamond, and (2) any Spellbomb. You then use the Auriok's ability to create infinite mana with Lotus/LED, and then draw into Pyrite Spellbomb.
  
  Which cantrip artifact is best?
  There's many Spellbombs and similar artifacts. Which artifact would be the best to have maindeck? Phyrexian Furnace could be a strong choice because it can really slowdown decks that rely on their graveyard such as Dragon, Welder, etc. Pyrite Spellbomb is a nice random removal spell (although inferior to Fire/Ice). AEther Spellbomb is an excellent choice when playing against opposing Oath decks. Basically, it all comes down to your metagame.
  
  What I do know
  I like this version over standard Colossus kill (or MeanDeck's version with Akroma/Ancient Hydra/Spirit) because it's a kill NOW rather than putzing around for a few turns giving your opponent a chance to get out. Your not always going to be able to get the Lotus/LED in the yard, but after the second activation, the chances are up around 80ish% and that's still at least one turn faster.
  
  The Achille's heel
  The deck has three problems. Ground Seal, Null Rod and Chalice. For now, that's why I have left the MeanOath stars in the sideboard, they just work better against fish and random hate. I'm open to any suggestions you guys might have.
  
  So here's the deck. Feel free to rip it to shred as my feeling aren't going to get hurt in the least. I fully admit that this is very raw and has a long way to go. I'm more than willing to use this thread as a live thread to slowly morph this deck into something very streamlined and competitive. There's some very obvious card choices missing from the maindeck such as [card]Balance[/card] and [card]Fact or Fiction[/card]. So... discuss!
  
  

[jpmeyer]

How does the deck perform with 1 Salvagers rather than 2?

[Hi-Val]

This is a pretty interesting deck. I have to say though that it seems to have the same weaknesses as Witness Oath in that you might get Salvagers with no LED or you might not flip a spellbomb. If the inconsistencies of this can be worked out, it might be golden. But if you have to wait to Oath again sometimes before you hit the good cards, it's at the same speed as meandeck oath.

This is by far the most interesting Salvagers deck I've seen, which may not say a lot, but it does show promise. I'd go down to 1 Salvagers like JP commented on though.

[leviat]

How does the deck perform with 1 Salvagers rather than 2?

I haven't had enough real world testing on this to give a good answer. I am worried though that with "global" metagame playing a lot of control you run the risk of decking yourself since it'll be harder to rely on resolving Krosan Reclamation when you need to activate Oath twice to get your combo pieces.

An alternative playstyle that I've been messing around with is to replace the Krosan with Blessing. Since Blessing is a triggered ability, you can still return a Lotus in response (and spellbomb if you have four mana) in response to the reshuffle. With more play experience I have found this to be a safer configuration which allows you to have only one Salvager.

... you might not flip a spellbomb.

If you end up without a spellbomb but do have a Lotus, the infinite mana is usually enough to draw/tutor into a spellbomb. With the recent popularity of MeanOath however, it probably wouldn't hurt in the least to run a configuration of 3x Aether Spellbombs, and one Pyrite.

[jpmeyer]

You could also add a Stroke of Genius to the sideboard to give you another way to win with infinite mana.

[majestyk1136]

How about adding Recoup to the deck as a way of being able to Recoup =>Burning Wish/Yawgwin or Tendrils for the win depending on the situation?  This gives you an extra out or threat if you have only the Salvagers and a Lotus/LED after Oathing.

??? The deck doesn't run Burning Wish, Yawgwill, OR Tendrils. Not to mention I would be better off just running an extra Spellbomb if I had Lotus and Salvagers since it lets me draw my entire deck. -- Leviat

[virtual]

Hey Leviat,
   I have actually been working on a similar deck.  I was thinking of the name "Oath Of Salvation"...

The build I was testing ran abeyance.  Given stack tricks, you can oath out your salvager with protection.  It's also like running cantripping timewalks against lots of decks.  It isn't the white counterspell it once was, but I think it's still an under-utilized card.  

Secondly, I played Misdirections instead of Mana drain.  Since this plays more like a combo deck, (and you need 2 mana to start going off), the pitchability seemed better to me.  I didn't do enough testing to validate either way, but maybe a few misdirections would help.  

Third:  Another Salvager trick (that albeit can jack your mana base a bit), is to run a sideboard Shallow Grave.  It could help if you upped the cunning wish count, in the situation where your salvager was killed before you went off...   Hmm, actually, given it's toughness, it probably will be removed from the game if it is killed at all... so probably nix this idea.  But I'll leave it here anyways...

Forth:  To diversify the deck a bit, a Living wish main might be a consideration.  That way if your salvagers was removed you could retreive it, or you could just try to hard cast it...


This deck also suffers from residual hate moreso than other oath decks.  Crypts, Ground-Seals, Null Rod, Chalice, Removal.   It's combo is very fragile. Nevertheless, I was working on the same idea.  

Bringer of the White Dawn/Mindslaver is another option, but that has the same lag as MDOath, AND it suffers all of the same hate as salvagers.  Still there might be some way to make that work.  That's a totally different topic though.  

I like the deck a lot... I'll build your list, and try it out.  If people don't start maindecking answers to oath (bombard,etc) , this could be a decent contender.  The sideboard is pretty much transformational, because it goes from combo to beatdown.  Maybe the Beatdown is the correct Initial configuration.  Probably a meta-game choice.

[Daniel_112]

I think you shouldn't play fire/ice, but extra cunning wishes. Cunning wish deals with the problem of null rod or chalice or trinisphere, were fire/ice only deals with trinisphere.

I don't see any reason why you should run red, it just weakens the mana base, and if you really need red mana to activate the spellbom to remove a welder, you could use the orchard.

so
-2 fire/ice
+2 cunning wish

Mana (23)
4x Forbidden Orchard
4x Flooded Strand
4x Tropical Island
3x Tundra
3x Volcanic Island
1x Island
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Ruby
1x Mox Pearl

I would change that to this:
Mana (23)
4x Forbidden Orchard
4x Flooded Strand
3x Tropical Island
2x Tundra
1x Plains
4x Island
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Ruby
1x Mox Pearl
1x Mox Jet

I think its better because of all the basics, and basics are just broken at the moment with all the wastelands flying around.

Exchanging mana drain to misdirection would be a good adjustment, because this is more a combo deck than a control deck.

I think mystical isnt good enough to play, it cant find orchard, oath, or anything. So I would like to see another intuition, it can find anything.

I would rather play chromatic sphere instead of the furnace, it helps you if you miss a green to cast your oath or a white to use salvagers.

[goober]

Definitly lose the Blessing, if you did add it.  It makes your Salvagers suck unless you have Intuition in hand.  I would also like too see 4x Intution, because it is just so good at fetching Oath/Spellbomb+Lotus.  I would only run 1 spellbomb, because if you have infinte mana then Intuition for Pyrite is easy.  I would also add Balance over a Fire/Ice.

I think my changes to the origonal deck are
-1 F/I
-1 Salvagers
-1 Furnace
+2 Intuition
+1 Balance

It might be better to adopt the MonoU frame, because of the nonbasic hate. The Orchard can provide that first W you need to go off, and it needs to be in play to Oath anyways.

[giddygorgon]

I've been tinkering with something quite similar to this and Fabricate has been really good.  I dropped to 1 salvager, and I am unable to use the lotus because I don't have one.  The results have been good, however I'm questioning whether this deck will even work when I only have one of the LED/Lotus.  It has been working fine, but I feel a little bit at risk running only one combo card.

[leviat]

There's a lot of stuff I want to respond to but I don't quite have the time so I'll keep this brief...

Forth: To diversify the deck a bit, a Living wish main might be a consideration. That way if your salvagers was removed you could retreive it, or you could just try to hard cast it...

I was considering this as well. Not so much to bring back the Salvager, but more for the ability to wish for a Strip or a sideboarded Orchard. If I get some time maybe I'll drop red and try a living wish or two.

This deck also suffers from residual hate moreso than other oath decks. Crypts, Ground-Seals, Null Rod, Chalice, Removal.

Crypts - They only slow you down a little bit until you can develop some mana. Since you can use the Salvager to return the Lotus in response Crypts are not game losers.
Ground Seals - If I stick to just using Spellbombs, Ground Seals don't do anything to this. A good reason to use them over Furnace (Edit: Nope, I'm wrong, Ground Seal says NO to baby Jesus)
Removal - Not so much removal as Plow. Have a 1/4 that costs 4cc survives most playable removal these days. (Plus, you can just Oath again next turn.)

I think you shouldn't play fire/ice, but extra cunning wishes. Cunning wish deals with the problem of null rod or chalice or trinisphere, were fire/ice only deals with trinisphere.

But F/I is good in the mirror, and I would lose access to REBs and Mutation . If I did cut Red, then I would try to match MeanOath a little more and add some stronger control elements.

Definitly lose the Blessing, if you did add it. It makes your Salvagers suck unless you have Intuition in hand.

Not really. Keep in mind that I can return stuff to my hand in response to the Blessing trigger (before my graveyard gets shuffled back in).

I've been tinkering with something quite similar to this and Fabricate has been really good.

For the same cost, extra Intuitions are MUCH better.

[Jacob Orlove]

Ground Seals - If I stick to just using Spellbombs, Ground Seals don't do anything to this. A good reason to use them over Furnace

Auriok Salvagers
3W
Creature - Human Soldier
2/4
1W: Return target artifact card with converted mana cost 1 or less from your graveyard to your hand.

Your combo dies if Ground Seal is in play.

[Cavius The Great]

I have to admit the idea behind this deck is not original. I first concieved an Oath Salvager deck about three weeks ago but abandoned the idea when I realized that Flaming Gambit could be redirected to a creature. Pyrite Spellbomb never crossed my mind and I'm just glad that someone figured out how to make the deck work.

[Cyrrix_chipset]

Hey I am looking at bringing this deck to a local Mox tourney.  I searched all over the site finding deck lists and compareing them to others.  This is what I came up with for the most flexible decklist with lots of answers.

4x Force of Will
4x Brainstorm
3x Mana Drain
3x Intuition
3x Oath of Druids
3x Cunning Wish  
2x impulse
2x Auriok Salvagers
2x Pyrite Spellbomb
1x AEther Spellbomb
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Balance
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Time Walk
1x Fact or fiction
1x Tinker
1x Darksteel Colossus

4x Forbidden Orchard
4x Flooded Strand
3x City of Brass
3x Island
2x Plains
1x Libary of Alexandria
1x tropical Island
1x Mana Crypt
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Ruby
1x Mox Pearl
1x Black Lotus
1x Lions Eye Diamond


Sideboard is still being worked and I generaly don't make one untill the day of tourney though I have lots of stuff in mind.  I do a little scouting and find the meta game a bit.  Will be Some std Cunning wish targets. Rack/ruin, Fire/Ice, REB, BEB., stifle  Not exactly sure.  Also will have some other Oath targets such as woodripper, Hydra, Plat angel, pristine angel.  Just some thoughts depending on whats their in big numbers.  Lots of stuff I want in wihtout lots of room.  I also like the side plan of tinker for DS Colos, or your missing lotus/spellbomb.  I do like having an alternate win path too.  Please RIP deck apart if you think it is bad, but Also let me know if there is anything you like about it.  I will link the tourney report where I got this shell of a deck from to see my changes and compare it to your build, which looks more like a controlish version where mine is trying to be less controling but has a little to stop there brokeness.  

old deck list link http://www.themanadrain.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=21679&highlight=salvager

No thread Necromancy please -Toad

[IShHmokeDaNKs]

This deck has been published twice, by me and a player whos name has excaped me. He has a report in the Tournament Report forum, conveniently there for your use. I ran into some problems, including: Ancestral Recall, Swords to Plowshares, Coffin Purge (upkeep they target lotus, you return in response they target again, and I lost sometimes due to having only two-three mana, and no LED) and any random cards like Skullclamp, Blasting Station found in slaver sideboard etc.

I love Balance in the deck, as you rarely have permanents and Oath is a one-card combo (well two counting Orchard) so discard down to 1-3 doesn't cripple you as it does others.

I wouldn't have posted that it has been published twice, but you emphasized on it's 'divine origins'.
-ISD

[Fall-Titan]

I had this deck built ready to go for a local mox tourney next week.... you couldnt just wait 1 week to release this damn you lol. Anyway heres the super secret tech against ground seal and the like.

Engineered Explosives

I ran one main board and 2 in the sideboard because its hot in this deck. It combos up with auriok salvangers and is hard castable as well. I can recall at least 3-4 times that it saved me in play testing. There were a few other cards that i could not fit in my deck but are also hot

Conjourers Bauble- the super regrowth of the deck basically lets you tutor for anything in your graveyard
 
Krosan Reclemation over Blessing- I know blessing isnt counterable but rec is so much better when your trying to combo out.

Scrabbling Claws- I ran one in the board against dragon, slaver and the like. Most of the time you will win before thismatters but i liked having it as additional security in those mathups.

Oh well good luck with the testing im going to go work on a new super secret tech and get ready for next week.... Blast you

[Cyrrix_chipset]

I had this deck built ready to go for a local mox tourney next week.... you couldnt just wait 1 week to release this damn you lol. Anyway heres the super secret tech against ground seal and the like.

Engineered Explosives

I ran one main board and 2 in the sideboard because its hot in this deck. It combos up with auriok salvangers and is hard castable as well. I can recall at least 3-4 times that it saved me in play testing. There were a few other cards that i could not fit in my deck but are also hot

Conjourers Bauble- the super regrowth of the deck basically lets you tutor for anything in your graveyard
 
Krosan Reclemation over Blessing- I know blessing is counterable but rec is so much better when your trying to combo out.

Scrabbling Claws- I ran one in the board against dragon, slaver and the like. Most of the time you will win before thismatters but i liked having it as additional security in those mathups.

Oh well good luck with the testing im going to go work on a new super secret tech and get ready for next week.... Blast you

Wow EE is hot.  that sounds like a good idea.  I would also love to know your decklist and where it varies from mine.  Are you testing for any tourney?  I am.  what is your current meta game? Mine seems to be stax builds.

[Fall-Titan]

I was just going to play this at a local mox tourney. Right now combo is huge in my area so i play with disrpting shoals main as FoW 5-8 basically. Im at work right now ill send you my list either through pm or on this forum when i get home.

[Sanity_XIV]

I've been testing this deck for an upcoming tournament, and I've been testing Seal of Cleansing in the MD, and it's been working out well (even though I did take the idea from a post here on TMD).

One other thing I've been testing is boarding in Akroma/Spirit/Blessing to help against Trinispheres and Ground Seals and potential graveyard hate. It also lets me board in chalices against combo, since with the Salvagers chalice for one is bad.

Then again, my metagame is bad aggro decks, random control, and a few stax decks.