3 color donate / illusions

[chrissss]

Just to start my thread, I have been a lurker for some time now, I have been playing MGT since 1996, but I stopped during darksteel. now I started again a few months ago, but I still haven't caught up with all the new cards.

I have checked a lot of vintage decks on this forum, and on http://www.morphling.de/ to get an idea of the metagame, and of the new cards being used.

I have a lot of vintage cards, but I had some trouble making a deck, so I decided to go back to my trix deck, which was always good to me in the past.


18 land

4 badlands
4 underground sea
2 volcanic island
2 polluted delta
2 bloodstained mire
1 city of brass
1 strip mine
1 wasteland
1 tolarian academy

Blue 17

2 stifle
2 intuition
3 donate
3 illusions of grandeur
1 mystical tutor
1 timetwister
1 tinker
3 brainstorm
1 ancestral recall

Black 13

4 duress
1 necropotence
4 dark ritual
1 demonic tutor
1 vampiric tutor
1 yawgmoths will
1 mind twist

Artifacts 9

1 Lion’s Eye Diamond
1 mana crypt
1 mana vault
1 mox diamond
1 lotus petal
1 memory jar
1 sol ring
2 tangle wire

Red

1 wheel of fortune
2 fire // ice

Sideboard ( not fiinished need tips)


I noticed that artifact decks were in nowadays, so I think I need more anti artifact cards, I was even thinking of maindecking scattering spree.
I took force of will out, because it wasnt good for the combo. same with mana drain.
how can I improve this deck?

if this deck doesnt work anymore because of certain cards which came out in the past years, let me know.

any tips are welcome.

just give your opinion.

I dont own any other P9 cards, or library/mishras workshop/bazaar, so they are out. I am planning to buy a timewalk /mox sapphire in the next weeks though( I think its an investment and a good card)

cheers,

ps: why cant I post in the other vintage forum?

[Purple Hat]

Your deck doesn't seem to know what it wants to be you play some lock parts and some draw 7's and illusions/donate.  also you'd do well to add the 4th brainstorm, 4 force of will, yawgmoth's bargain and swapping the red to white for academy rector and changing the duress to cabal therapy.  You also might want to think about mind's desire and tendrils of agony

[chrissss]

thanks.


added:

1 yawgmoths bargain
1 balance
4 cabal therapy
4 academy rector

removed:

2 intuition
4 duress
1 wheel of fortune   
2 fire // ice             

I will adjust the mana as well with other dual lands.

should I add nether void / the abbys?

what should I take out for my Force of wills?

[Sean Ryan]

Welcome to TMD.

Illusions/Donate is no longer played and considered strictly inferior to Tendrils of Agony as the kill condition in combo.  If you really want to play with those cards I would follow the advice of Purple Hat: give the deck focus.  However, if you are interested in playing with a more current and competitive version of combo check out these links:

Intuition Tendrils
http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=27896.0


Traditional TPS

http://sales.starcitygames.com/deckdatabase/deckshow.php?t%5BT4%5D=vin&deck_name%5B%5D=TPS&event_type=&feedin=&start_date=2005-01-23&end_date=2006-05-28&city=&state=&country=&start=1&finish=16&exp=&p_first=&p_last=&simple_card_name%5B1%5D=&simple_card_name%5B2%5D=&simple_card_name%5B3%5D=&simple_card_name%5B4%5D=&simple_card_name%5B5%5D=&w_perc=0&g_perc=0&r_perc=0&b_perc=0&u_perc=0&a_perc=0&comparison%5B1%5D=%3E%3D&card_qty%5B1%5D=1&card_name%5B1%5D=&comparison%5B2%5D=%3E%3D&card_qty%5B2%5D=1&card_name%5B2%5D=&comparison%5B3%5D=%3E%3D&card_qty%5B3%5D=1&card_name%5B3%5D=&comparison%5B4%5D=%3E%3D&card_qty%5B4%5D=1&card_name%5B4%5D=&comparison%5B5%5D=%3E%3D&card_qty%5B5%5D=1&card_name%5B5%5D=&sb_comparison%5B1%5D=%3E%3D&sb_card_qty%5B1%5D=1&sb_card_name%5B1%5D=&sb_comparison%5B2%5D=%3E%3D&sb_card_qty%5B2%5D=1&sb_card_name%5B2%5D=&card_not%5B1%5D=&card_not%5B2%5D=&card_not%5B3%5D=&card_not%5B4%5D=&card_not%5B5%5D=&order_1=finish&order_2=&limit=25&action=Show+Decks


As far as owning power is concerned you may simply proxy what you need, generally up to 12 pieces.  If you live in Europe or another non-proxy environment try out some Fish builds, there's a new one called Urbana Fish at the top of the forum.

Anyway, I hope this was helpful.

Sean

[The Witch-King]

I used to play a Rector-Trix deck some time ago, ill see if i can remember the list  , it might be usefull for reference. I didn't have any power back then so it's an unpowered list, if you have any add them obviously (not sure about Twister, but the others are no-brainers).

Mana (28):
4 Gemstone Mine
3 Scrubland
3 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Bayou
1 Tolarian Academy
4 Dark Ritual
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
1 Mana Crypt
1 Chrome Mox
1 Mox Diamond
1 Lotus Petal

Combo (12):
4 Academy Rector
3 Illusions of Grandeur
2 Donate
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
1 Rushing River

Disruption (12):
4 Force of Will
4 Duress
4 Cabal Therapy

Other stuff (8):
4 Brainstorm
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will

Sideboard (15):
1 Form of the Dragon
1 Disenchant
1 Misdirection
3 Xantid Swarm
3 Red Elemental Blast
3 Rack and Ruin
3 Tormod's Crypt

I think it was something like this, but keep in mind that the list is kinda old (round Mirrodin/Darksteel) so there might be some newer cards that are worth playing. The sideboard could also use some work, because the meta has changed quite alot since i played this. Anyway i hope this helps.

[Sean Ryan]

What is your metagame like?  This is really what will determine your choices and should guide our advice.

Sean

[chrissss]

thanks a lot for welcoming me and the tips.

I think I will do that, because if illusions donate isnt played anymore, there must be a reason indeed.

the vintage tournaments I know dont allow proxis,but I can still play with proxis just with friends, and people in my magic shop.
I just always liked donate / illusions, and I thought I hadthe cards for it.
I will try tendrills since I have most cards (excluding P9)
I gues the deck does need the moxes though, because thats clearly the way to get a lot of spells in one turn.

I will also give my black illusionary/dreadnought deck some more focus, and try a few different vintage decks.

cheers,



Warning - while you were typing 2 new replies have been posted. You may wish to review your post
(I wish every forum had this warning!!! so usefull)


hey thanks witch king, I might try that. I have most cards for that deck, and that is kinda good, since playing with proxis is ok, but I still prefer playing with cards I actually own.

my metagame, well I havent played for 2 years, but last time I was in my local magic shop, there was a lot of artifact control. also tendrills, oath, tog and mono black.

[roberts91rom]

I don't know why everyone is suggesting 3 colors.

Lands-18
4xUnderground Sea
4xPolluted Delta
4xIsland
3xFlooded Strand
3xSwamp

Fast Mana-10
4xDark Ritual
1xSol Ring
1xMana Crypt
1xLotus Petal
1xMana Vault
1xMox Diamond
1xChrome Mox

Answers-11
4xForce of Will
4xDuress
2xMisdirection
1xRushing River

Win-6
3xIllusions of Grandeur
2xDonate
1xYawgmoth's Will

Draw-11
4xBrainstorm
4xImpulse
1xAncestral Recall
1xNecropotence
1xYawgmoth's Bargain

Tutors-4
1xMystical Tutor
1xVampiric Tutor
1xDemonic Tutor
1xPersonal Tutor

60 cards and no power besides Recall. This is not a deck to take to say an SCG event, but for local tourneys and playing with your friends the deck still isn't bad. I had a guy in my area who played this deck back when Arcane Denial was considered good. His deck was fun.

The problem with IT and TPS is that they both rely very heavily on moxen, so if you can't get/proxy them I wouldn't make those decks. Should you want to go competative, but you can't get moxen I would build UW Fish. It's a very powerful deck that doesn't need power as much as other traditional decks do. Just don't run crap like Isamaru and Savannah Lions. They kill the deck...

[chrissss]

ok thanks.

the reason for red was, that I could deal damage with fire/ ice.
if opponent gains even 1 life, then I need to pull the donate illusions combo 2 times.

I have a mono red deck which is ok, although its a lot more powerfull in legacy.
I am changing it to red/white though.

I think I will make the white/black/blue version of illusions/donate, because I have all the cards for it, so I can play, and then I can design some more decks.

ps: what do you recommend, a mox sapphire or a time walk?
I want to buy one.

[roberts91rom]

Sapphire.

[ashiXIII]

Isn't this deck just strictly superior as a Gifts deck, with an Illusions/Donate win?

[chrissss]

do you have a link to a gifts deck?

nevermind, I found it.

dont think its the same though.

[Purple Hat]

People are suggesting 3 colors because being able to win the game with turn 1 therapy, turn 2 ritual, academy rector is still pretty good in most metas.

I'd cut the tangle wires for sure, with the rectors you're basically playing 4x moat anyway, and you look a bit land heavy so I'd probably cut one of those and a donate.  You'll find that with the rectors and therapies your combo is game plan is going to be more like this:
find bargain---> find Illusions, gain 20 life---->draw your deck--->donate

I'd also cut tinker and jar for desire and tendrils to give you the option to combo out that way if it comes up.  People have also used futuresight in proxy environments as an alternate for bargain if you're low on life when you rector-fetch

Form of the dragon is a house vs any artifact deck....definately put it in the board if you're keeping the rector design.

[Fubar]

  If your into playing rector\trix (any other illusions\donate is inferior) I suggest using the search here at TMD and going through archived threads.  They are all pretty old, because it has been eclipsed by more modern decks.  You have to go WUB for the key cards, Ritual is one of the key cards, and can most likely drop to 2 illusions and 1 donate with the standard tutors to get them, vamp, dem, mys.  The only point of the deck is to abuse the HELL out of bargain, I think it might be the best deck to truly abuse bargain.  Remember illusions = 20 life + bargain = 20 cards.  With that sort of action you often go for a tendrills kill as much as an donate kill.  Play with it, it's a blast to pilot, but remember Bargain is the point of the deck, abuse the hell out of it and lose anything "extra" (jar, twister, balance, etc.) 
Looking at it from that angle, the deck needs to be powered to function well. 
here's a place to start
http://sales.starcitygames.com/deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=11574

[chrissss]

thanks for all the tips.

I think I will try out various of different types, and see what goes best.

the blue/black/white combo will be the best choice imo.

balance is great against weenies, and the academy rectors are also amazing.

I will see if adding the abyss or nether void will do me any good.

once I finnish the deck, I will post it, and also the sideboard.

btw, would a library of alexandria fit in?

I can buy one for 80£, is that worth it? In the 2.5 years I stopped playing, I kinda forgot how much the expensive cards were worth, so I dont know how much a loa is worth now.

its in used condition.

 

[Rock Lee]

only combo decks I've seen run library are confidant-control (which runs drains & forces) and Gifts, neither of which would classify themselves as combo somuch as control.

Library in any deck that sporaticaly has to dump its hand doesn't seem good in my mind. True you can refill with bargain/necro, but if you're doing that, whynot just win? and black/blue mana will be more important in that case over 1 card anyway

- Rock

[chrissss]

yeah, but I was more thinking of just bying the card, and framing it if Icant get it decked.

its nog going to go down in value anyways.

but whats the price for a loa?

ranging from heavily played to gem mint?

[Fubar]

Libraries ain't cheap, and definitely don't fit in a 3colour trix deck, but would be a great investment if you want to get into serious vintage.  The price of a LOA will only increase over time.

As for rectortrix, tier one or not, you have to respect a deck that packs a full compliment of Force of Will, Duress, AND Cabal Therapy.  I advise forgetting about the abyss/ nether void.  If you wan't a teck enchantment to rector out try Form of the Dragon.  And nether void is a horrible place in this deck, it relies heviheavilypower and will.  This is not a control deck, it is a combo deck packing maximum disruption.  Control cards like abyss mes with your strategy.  You want to barrage them with discard/disruption, then simply win via bargain.

the blue/black/white combo will be the best choice imo.

Definately, all your key spells are in these colours, and the manabase is already horrendous.  I can't run a single basic.
For reference I run 4seas, 4scrubs, 1 tundra, 3-4 gemstones, & several fetches. 

[chrissss]

thanks.

dual lands arent a problem, I just buy them from ebay, plus I have a lot allready, so thats cool.

dual + fetch is such a great mana base.

I will leave out the void/abyss.

I will see for the rest what I will do with it, once I tested it.

thanks a lot for all the help everyone.

[Fubar]

By the way, the fetches 4uw, 4ub, allow you to grab every single dual the deck is sporting.  But don't forget the gemstones.  You'll find the drawback negligable in this deck, and painlands like brass are counterintuative in a deck trying to abuse bargain(or necro).  If you have the proper accelerants don't forget your academy at home.  It can become one of your best demonic tutor targets at the right time.

[chrissss]

 

I am bidding for some on ebay as we speak.

the rest I have.

I also have the gemstones, I usedthem before in my other trix, and as you say, the drawback is almost non existant.

[Fubar]

This deck also easily accepts the tinker\coll plan.  Like almost any deck nowadays can.

[chrissss]

what is tinker / coll ? 

[Tin_Mox5831]

Tinker for Darksteel Colossus.

[chrissss]

well, true, but the colossus sint really protected from anything, plus I dont really see how it could make the deck better. I might test it though, just because I want to use my colossus in a deck once

[Purple Hat]

the colossus sint really protected from anything

it's an 11/11 trample indestructable....how much protection does it really need?  the only thing that can touch it is bounce or RFG (swords).

I wouldn't play gemstone mine in this deck.  with 5 or 6 fetches and 9ish duals (4 sea, 4 scrub, 1 tundra) and academy you're looking at a 15-16 land mana base which is a lot for a combo deck.

[chrissss]

the colossus sint really protected from anything

it's an 11/11 trample indestructable....how much protection does it really need?  the only thing that can touch it is bounce or RFG (swords).

inmy metagame, people use a lot of diabolic edicts, and chainers edicts. ( T1 players for fun, and since I dont have many creatures in play, I think all the creature removal will go to the poor colossus.

although a first turn mana crypt, island, tinker, colossus isnt bad

[sa17dk]

I advise against running more than 1 or 2 Scrublands. City of Brass/Gemstone Mine is usually better, since after you cast Rector youre not ever gonna use the white again. I used to use a land base like this:

2 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
3 Underground Sea
1 Scrubland
2 City of Brass
3 Gemstone Mine
1 Tolarian Academy

Or at least close to that. I cant remember if I ran more or less lands.

[chrissss]

I will test with the mana very carefully once I have it.

I will make the deck after exams and once I can play magic again.

[chrissss]

I was thinking of maybe maindecking and or sideboarding a pernicious deed.

what that be good? It would destroy all annoying things, mana wouldnt really be a problem, and Ican fetch it with the academy rector.

I bought 4 yesterday, so now I can make the deck.