RectorTop - An attempt to create consistency in Rector

[Whatever Works]

I have always been a large fan of Academy Rector based deck. However, it doesn't take anyone very long to see several of the flaws that haunt the deck. The 2 major issues that have prevented the deck from reaching the next level have been consistency (which the deck tends to lack because it can be clunky), and the other major concern that can hamper the deck is splash-hate. Coffin Purge can create nightmares for any rector based decks.

Looking back at old rector lists several of them ran Future Sight - Which is now 1 of the key cards in Sensei Sensei a deck that has become recently popular following good results by Keith Johnson at SCG Syracuse. Noticing that it is already 1/3rd of the combo I believe that without any drastic changes it could be effectively applied to combo in a slightly faster form while maintaining a good match up vs. control.

There have always been a few advantages with rector based decks that makes the overall concept worth a serious look. Rector decks have the "just win" factor, and can get extremely powerful hands. The deck also runs effective disruption that helps the deck beat control matchups at a higher % then other combo decks.

The Problem ---> How To address it

1.) Problem #1 is the large # of dead cards that are completely inneffective on there own. Depending on the version this could include over 5 cards (illusions of Grandeur, Donate, etc.)

My attempt to improve this situation is to try to find a kill that has pieces that are not completely useless on there own. The best current "Synergy deck" that I have seen recently was Top Combo piloted extremely well by the likes of GI, Mixing Mike, and I know Outlaw has put a lot into the decks development. The best aspect of that combo as explained by GI was that the deck provides soooo many options, and literally SEES sooo many cards.

The Rector Donate version runs 5 dead combo pieces. The first change that I have made to the Rector deck concept is this:
-3 Illusions of Grandeur
-2 Donate
+3 Sensei's Divining Top
+2 Helm of Awakening

2.) The second problem that faced the original deck besides inconsistency was hate. Coffin Purge can cause the deck nightmares as well as several other gravehate cards.

-This is a hard issue to fix but the best way to solve the problem is to try to make the deck not need welder as heavily to win, and by doing this it becomes easier to make the case that the gravehate cards that are likely to be boarded in are just dead cards.

Advantages:
-Top/Helm cheaper and tend to help the deck combo out a consistent turn 2/3
-Top Is a great stand alone card that lets the deck find combo pieces, and helps win longer games (though not optimal situation for any combo deck)
-Helm of Awakening isn't as broke in this decklist as it is in several Control lists, but it still affects over 1/3rd of the deck.
-The deck can play without relieving heavily on Rector --- Winning without rector in older versions was extremely difficult, and needed to somehow resolve several major spells, or Necro/bargain (which is an auto win for any combo deck regardless)
-With Top/helm the deck is less color intensive which can allow for more versatility and options in trying to improve the mana base, and also allows for a more flexible sideboard and possibly even a conversional board to prepare for Top's biggest problem (for any version) CoTV, Null Rod, Damping Matrix, etc.
-More REB proof with the exception of Future sight... If the combo breaks down the deck is also more likely to recover and not completely crap out. In old rector trix if donate got REB'ed then the game was most likely over or would stall several turns, and if bargain was on the table the chances are even higher that it will kill u within 2 turns.

Disadvantages:
-Losing 5 blue cards from the deck for artifacts makes using FoW a much more difficult reality. This brings up the question is running FoW even worth while considering your likely to be pitching something that is either restricted, or vital to the decks success. FoW has potential replacements such as either duress or more draw/acceleration.
-Several Spots spent to the actual combo instead of to set up the combo. The version I run has the same # of spots dedicated as rector trix, but then again people have argued that the storm version which dedicated only 2 kill spots (tendrils) was stronger.

RectorTop V1.04 By Kyle Leith

// Lands
    1  Flooded Strand
    4  Polluted Delta
    1  Scrubland
    1  Tolarian Academy
    1  Tundra
    3  Underground Sea

// Creatures
    3  Academy Rector

// Spells
    1  Ancestral Recall
    1  Balance
    1  Black Lotus
    4  Brainstorm
    4  Cabal Therapy
    1  Cunning Wish
    4  Dark Ritual
    1  Demonic Tutor
    1  Fact or Fiction
    1  Frantic Search
    2  Future Sight
    1  Gifts Ungiven
    2  Helm of Awakening
    1  Lotus Petal
    1  Mana Crypt
    1  Mana Vault
    1  Memory Jar
    1  Mox Emerald
    1  Mox Jet
    1  Mox Pearl
    1  Mox Ruby
    1  Mox Sapphire
    1  Mystical Tutor
    1  Necropotence
    3  Sensei's Divining Top
    1  Sol Ring
    1  Tendrils of Agony
    1  Timetwister
    1  Tinker
    1  Vampiric Tutor
    1  Windfall
    1  Yawgmoth's Bargain
    1  Yawgmoth's Will

Sideboard:
Still in Development but will obviously include brainfreeze.

Card Choices:

3 Rectors - I thought that 3 was a good number. I found that with 4 My hand would often become clogged up, and that could cause problems especially when the deck can win without the rector.

No FoW - This was an extremely tough cut, but then again I had no choice considering the deck didn't have enough blue sources to be able to realistically support the card.

No LED - I really wanted Lion's Eye Diamand in the deck, but I found that it was often inconsistent and narrow in a deck that was clunky to begin with.

Things In testing and to consider:
-Mind's Desire is sometimes a win more card and I am not 100% sure it deserves a place.
-Time Walk probably should have a spot in the deck, but I have not yet found a card that I want to cut for it.
-Frantic Search tends to be incredibly hit or miss.
-Gifts Ungiven usually ends the game, but so does the other 4cc spell in Rector... Is it worth running considering its affect is similar to that of its role in TPS?
-With no FoW should the # of brainstorms be changed or should they even be in the deck? The control deck doesn't run brainstorm, and that seems out of the ordinary, but can that philosophy realistically apply to combo? I am doubting that it can currently...

How is this Sensei Top Version better then the control version???

Honestly, I doubt that it is at the moment. The deck is less clunky then it was prior to the changes, and the deck is consistently comboing turn 2-3. The decks are in several ways similar just using different cards to do different things and its a matter of preference.
Here are the changes stacked up against each other though its not really fair to compare to completely different stylized decks:
Therapy's Vs. Drain/FoW
Rector Vs. Future Sight
Draw 7's + Tutors Vs. AK/DA
Speed Vs. Control

This is a very rough list that I have only been working on for a few days, but I think it could have potential. I am not claiming it to be Tier 1, but i will be happy to argue its potential in the current NE control based metagame with proper metagaming. Any suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated or possibly ideas for a sideboard are welcome.

Kyle L.

[giddygorgon]

The deck seems interesting to say the least.  How has it been testing?  It seems like it should do well due to being a controlling deck that randomly says, "Oops, I topdecked Rector, GG" I am interested in your results, please post them as soon as you have any!

As a sidenote, what do you usually Gifts Ungiven for?

[Whatever Works]

The deck seems interesting to say the least.  How has it been testing?  It seems like it should do well due to being a controlling deck that randomly says, "Oops, I topdecked Rector, GG" I am interested in your results, please post them as soon as you have any!

As a sidenote, what do you usually Gifts Ungiven for?

Testing has been better then I anticipated. The decks predicted matchup vs. control is favorable as originally expected. The deck I have found to be incredibly resilant, and am still tinkering with the build. The deck has proven to be very versatile, and its cool to be able to kill on the spot with something as simple as ritual, top, brainstorm, with a helm in play to draw into a 2nd top and any form of tutor.

Gifts Ungiven can essentially end games based on what you have in your hand. An Example of this would be if you therpy already in graveyard, and a decent ammount of mana.

Yawgmoth's Will
Necro
Academy Rector
Black lotus (or maybe something like balance or timetwister depending on matchup)

Gifts is versatile because it allows the player to find direct pieces for the Sensei top Combo... Or it will allow you to set up the rector combo... Or you get the key pieces of both and try and let the opponent figure out what you have in your hand. Alot can be based on the direction you take gifts based off what you have so far in game.

If you got rector in play you gifts ungiven for:
balance
yawgmoth's will
black lotus
Cabal therapy

If you got Future sight in play you gifts ungiven for:
Sensei's divining Top
Helm of Awakening
Demonic Tutor
Vampiric Tutor

I find the card to be so strong in the deck because of its versatility and its ability to have synergy in almost any situation with the rest of the deck.

[Distortion]

I recognize that at this point I am speaking from ignorance, as I have yet to test the deck, but my preliminary thoughts would lead me to question why I would run this over a more established version of combo.  Feel free to inform me of my naivete, but I begin by questioning whether or not this deck is more resilient to hate than Dragon, given that Dragon can run both duress(generally better than therapy unless you have a rector) and force of will.  Does this deck do something incredibly broken that I have yet to understand?

I would also question how much more resilient and efficient this deck is over a more ingratiated combo, like TPS.  I would assume that a similar threat density, with TPS's ability to counter the threats that need to be countered, and a better discard outlet would inevitably make TPS a superior deck.  I would be interested to see testing against other combo's with this deck, as it may yield some interesting results.

My final problem is the natural issue with Academy Rector, namely the fact that it IS a 4cc card that requires another card in the graveyard to win on the spot.  This issue may be shored up by your multiple outlets for ensuring that a Cabal Therapy IS in the yard, and by the fact that you might be able to remove mana Drains/Force of Wills from the picture to force the rector to resolve.  Hopefully testing reveals which scenario is the case.

Criticism's aside, there is some promise to this idea.  An attempt to change a semi-established combo like sensei into a (Possibly) more resilient combo should indeed be lauded.  Again, I would be quite interested to see what testing brings out of this deck, however my first assumption is that the rector seems to be a naturally inferior card.  Feel free to post your findings, I look forward to them.

[Whatever Works]

To answer the comparrisons between the this deck and how it compares to dragon and TPS:

This deck doesnt run as much dissruptions as dragon, but I believe that Therapy is generally more effective then duress (in this deck), and that unlike dragon the hate that this deck runs into doesnt automatically end the game. Dragon loses to sooo many cards while I believe then in several situations the ComboTop deck doesnt need Rector (another reason why I am not running 4). In early testing I find that Rector is only responcible for around 50% of the wins (if that).

The purpose of top is creating a combo engine within the deck that will combo out with rector, but is also capable of comboing out without rector. While in a deck like dragon you have to reanimate dragon, and thats your only availible option which is not nearly as flexible (though it is a good option).

The comparison to TPS is a bit easier to justify because the 2 decks are similar. TPS has a bit more disruption but not as much now because my new version has upped the cunning wish count to 2. However, the major difference between TPS and ComboTop is the speed. TPS definetly has a better matchup vs. Workshop atm (I cant argue that at all), but thats why I am trying to improve ComboTop. The advantages of ComboTop that make it viable is that it has an incredibly high threat density... The deck is extemely strong late game for a combo deck... and can win turn 1 more then most T1 Decks with a strong hand, and consistent turn 2 (through mulligans and duress).

The issue with the 4cc of rector has rarely been any issue for me. I can almost always cast it turn 2 via Mox's or dark ritual, and it sometimes can cost just 3 if u manage to resolve a turn 1 helm of awakening. Often the rector gets counter to only be followed by something stronger such as a draw 7 or the innocent top that is a brainstorm everyturn which for combo can be extremely deadly.

Currently I am extremely happy with the results and the consistent performances vs. other combo and Control Slaver... Its key matchup concern is the same as controlling versions of Top and that is workshop, but that can be fixed with an aggressive board, and some alterations. CoTV is probably the most ennoying card, but that is what prompted me to up the # of cunning wish.

I have missed FoW just a little, but the key word is little. Usually FoW was such a tempo killer that it didnt help deck to much, and I have found that if the deck is played well then playing without FoW is only a minor drawback. Hope this helps!

Kyle

[Skynyrd]

The deck seems pretty interesting. I do have one question though. Why two future sights? Forgive me if it's a stupid question, but I've yet to play with/against a deck like this.

[Whatever Works]

It runs 2 future sights in case 1 of them gets stuck in your hand when u cast rector, or in the event that 1 gets destroyed. Future sight is also fairly easy to cast in the deck as well so running 2 can cause a faster combo if it gets cast from the hand. Overall, its runs 2 to improve consistency even though rectoring up bargain is often the optimal play.

[Bakes]

I think a transformational sideboard could also work in this deck, like a Rector Trix.