Mono Red Uba, Discussion

[frolll]

I know that it could possibly seems like a total crazy idea but has somebody tried Devastating Dreams and Greater Gargadon in this kind of Mono-Red Stax shell? If there is one way these cards would be not totally ass, it could be there... or not ?
Also, although Slice and Dice is a hot piece of tech, doesn't Caltrops or Ensnaring Bridge just superior ? Or maybe I am missing something compltetly; but with Bazaar of Baghdad filtering the hand and achieving a mostly empty hand, it wouldn't be that bad to have an Ensnaring Bridge to prevant any creatures from attacking until you weld it in an put, say, a Sundering Titan in the face of the opponent.

just my 02 cents

[Implacable]

I know that it could possibly seems like a total crazy idea but has somebody tried Devastating Dreams and Greater Gargadon in this kind of Mono-Red Stax shell? If there is one way these cards would be not totally ass, it could be there... or not ?
Also, although Slice and Dice is a hot piece of tech, doesn't Caltrops or Ensnaring Bridge just superior ? Or maybe I am missing something compltetly; but with Bazaar of Baghdad filtering the hand and achieving a mostly empty hand, it wouldn't be that bad to have an Ensnaring Bridge to prevant any creatures from attacking until you weld it in an put, say, a Sundering Titan in the face of the opponent.

just my 02 cents

Slice and Dice cannot be countered, and, just for kicks, it cantrips.  I love me some Slice and Dice long-time, because Empty the Warrens is the only card that flips the Gifts/Stax match.

[Odd mutation]

Hi,

I just recently acquired 4 Mishra's Workshop (in great condition!) and so I started looking for a good deck to play. I'm used to playing Gifts and Ichorid, so this new archetype is a challenge to break down. 'So many insane options'... Picking your tools is the most difficult task set out for a Workshop player.

So, I started out with the decklist in the first post and tweaked it to my metagame: Slaver, Fish, Gifts, Grim Long or Intuition Tendrils, Ubastax and other Stax ('Whitewolf' is in my group and you can varify by his many interesting posts that it's always a surprise to figure out what I'm playing against...). This is the version I'm currently stuck with:

Main Deck

4 Bazaar of Baghdad (I consider playing less a mistake)
4 Mishra's Workshop (I consider playing less to be idiotic)
9 Mountains
1 Strip Mine

1 Black Lotus
5 Moxen
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring

3 Null Rod
4 Orb of Dreams
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Sphere of Resistance
1 Trinisphere
3 Uba Mask (Very potent against any form of Control and for the obvious combo)

4 Goblin Welder
3 Viashino Heretic
4 Solemn Simulacrum
2 Duplicant
2 Sundering Titan

Sideboard

3 Aeon Hub
2 Razormane Masticore
2 Lave Dart
1 Pyroblast
2 Red Elemental Blast
2 Shattering Spree
3 Slice and Dice

You'll notice the Blood Moons are missing. I play 2 Sundering Titan main to kind of fill their role. I found Blood Moon meddling with my Workshops and Bazaars too much. Titan is also a big boy who finishes games quickly. I can put the Blood Moons back in instead of the 2 Titans and an Orb of Dreams or a Sphere of Resistance. I think I'd remove an Orb of Dreams.

I'm not set on the number of: Orb of Dreams (could be 3), Duplicants (could be 3) and Solemn Simulacrums (could also be 3). A lot of testing is required to set those numbers. I'm sure to try the Blood Moons more. We were just talking about this card the other day and suddenly this post emerged...

The sideboard needs some work as well. I'd like Jester's Cap in there with some Tormod's Crypts. To make room, the Aeon Hubs and the Razormane Masticores could go. Again, more testing is definitely needed.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on my list but please consider the metagame I'm playing in. I have to admit that it's really difficult to figure out all the interactions between the cards at your disposal, let alone deciding on the best tools.

Greetings to all,

Robrecht.

[wethepeople]

Now that we have access to so many basic lands, here is a list of red cards I have made that could now become viable options in this deck that no one has really talked about yet (so cards like gamble and raze are excluded).  I have gone through all the red cards legal in T1, though I feel this are the best possible inclusions and possible hidden gems at the moment:

I doubt this, but, have you tried Flametongue Kavus in the board versus Fish?

It is got to be one of the most unexpected strategies post board, coming from Stax atleast. It handles any creature of your choice, including Jotun Grunt, as well as provides you with a 5 turn clock. It also is playable under Blood Moon, whereas Razormane Masticore for example, would be far more difficult.

One more question: Has Goblin Sharpshooter been working well for you?

[BoOBaZ]

If you don't play Blood Moon MD, I don't see why you don't have Tolarian Academy in your list : )

[Odd mutation]

If you don't play Blood Moon MD, I don't see why you don't have Tolarian Academy in your list : )

That's absolutely correct! I forgot to put it in after taking the Blood Moons out... This then falls under the category 'idiotic' I guess... Thanks for pointing that out.

Robrecht.

[WhiteWolf]

@ Robrecht (Odd Mutation): First, welcome to the Dark side ... And yes, your Workshops look very nice. Anyway, on your decklist: with cutting Blood Moon you're straying away from the core of this thread and drifting more towards traditional UbaStax. Nothing wrong with that of course. I wouldn't be afraid of Blood Moon messing with Workshops and Bazaars too much, especially with all the Solemn Simulacrums. You use Workshop to accelerate your first turns and then on turn 3 or 4 or something drop Blood Moon.

We were just talking about this card the other day and suddenly this post emerged...

I was thinking the exact same thing. I even talked about the deck the evening after that when playing with Steve.

I think the use of blood Moons, Orb of Dreams and maindeck Heretics forms a whole new "stax-type". At the moment, in my eyes, nothing better or more 'evolutionized' (?) but just something different that might be on the same tier. In focuses more on color screwing than on hardcore mana-denial I think.

The Orb of Dreams seem very strong at the moment with all the combo and fetchlands (aka Gifts) running around. Being able to eat tapped Moxen with Heretics tops it of.

The maindeck Heretics pull the Stax mirror greatly in your favor and aren't completely useless against other decks (a little like Gorilla Shaman). You can even cause serious damage to those Gifts players still wielding Colossus, wich could seal the deal combined with some other beats from Jens and such.

Pyrostatic Pillars I would most certainly cut. They seem more suited for a Workshop Aggro deck.

The sideboard Slice and Dice are pure genius! Uncounterable, non-artifact and draws a card ... congratulations to who thought of it first. It seems a lot better than Goblin Sharpshooter and Flametongue Kavu at the moment.

I know that it could possibly seems like a total crazy idea but has somebody tried Devastating Dreams and Greater Gargadon in this kind of Mono-Red Stax shell? If there is one way these cards would be not totally ass, it could be there... or not ?

Devastating Dreams is something I have considered everytime I play mono-red (or even 5 colored) stax. It's effect is ... well ... very 'devastating'.

WhiteWolf

[madmanmike25]

First I have a question about all the Pyrostatic Pillar hate.  Why is it so bad?  It comes down easy enough, it's not an artifact, and correct me if I'm wrong, but multiples trigger as well.  How is that bad against Combo?  And yes, I think everyone is quite aware that things can be bounced EOT, but again seeing as how its not affected by Hurk's/Rebuild that would give it an advantage.

Secondly, it seems that the first lists basically ask the question "Should Blood Moon be maindecked?"  That's really the main point of the deck I would say.  If not for the Blood Moon's its really nothing new at all, it just has a 'bigger' mox monkey.  If you really want to test the moons, 4 should be played to see one and have it stick.  Even then, I'm not sure the answer to the maindeck Blood Moon question is yes quite yet, I'll have to try them out.

Third point is the inclusion of Solemn Simulacrum.  Without a welder, just how awesome is he for four mana?  Nothing against him now, I would just like more input on his inclusion.  At first glance it just seems like 2 cards(Solemn+Welder) to draw one card every other turn(weld in/weld out, wax on/wax off).  I like to use my Welders to do more devastating things(Titan, Dupes, Stax, Tangle).  If it is only for the card draw, why play him over say, a card like Cloister?  The mountain fetch ability would be nice if he was in a Stax deck to help you amp up smokey if you didn't get a Crucible to resolve.  Help me to understand why he warrants maindeck inclusion.

Main Deck

4 Bazaar of Baghdad (I consider playing less a mistake)
4 Mishra's Workshop (I consider playing less to be idiotic)
9 Mountains
1 Strip Mine

1 Black Lotus
5 Moxen
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring

3 Null Rod
4 Orb of Dreams
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Sphere of Resistance
1 Trinisphere
3 Uba Mask (Very potent against any form of Control and for the obvious combo)

4 Goblin Welder
3 Viashino Heretic
4 Solemn Simulacrum
2 Duplicant
2 Sundering Titan

Help me out here, I'm so used to a minimum of 26 mana sources.  To me that's been a pretty standard number of mana sources when not playing a combo deck.  Bazaar's naturally don't count.  Uba has had the '30' sources almost set in stone, do you always get enough mana with less sources?  Maybe my way of thinking needs reevaluation, but I HATE having to mulligan due to lack of mana.

Also, is there a reasoning for no Barbarian Rings?  Or even wastelands?  It's not a stax deck I know, but still at the very least I would go 2-3 rings just for utility since u have bazaar.

Other than that, it seems like a potent deck and like it plays a tad different from Stax.

[Moxlotus]

Pillar is terrible in Stax because all of your spells will damage you.  This lets combo storm up to like 5 and play Tendrils.

[madmanmike25]

Pillar is terrible in Stax because all of your spells will damage you.  This lets combo storm up to like 5 and play Tendrils.

Hmm I can see that, but this isn't a Stax deck really.  Plus this deck would have better board positioning (read: more permanents or a critter to do dmg) and can just ride the pillars to victory.  Also, Pillar hits your opponent first.  I could see Simulacrum going the distance under 2-3 Pillars.  Maybe they could have sort of a standstill-like effect and would be good with factories.  But yeah, I will have to test them out before I can say they suck or are good.

[Odd mutation]

Help me out here, I'm so used to a minimum of 26 mana sources.  To me that's been a pretty standard number of mana sources when not playing a combo deck.  Bazaar's naturally don't count.  Uba has had the '30' sources almost set in stone, do you always get enough mana with less sources?  Maybe my way of thinking needs reevaluation, but I HATE having to mulligan due to lack of mana.

Also, is there a reasoning for no Barbarian Rings?  Or even wastelands?  It's not a stax deck I know, but still at the very least I would go 2-3 rings just for utility since u have bazaar.

Other than that, it seems like a potent deck and like it plays a tad different from Stax.

Hi madmanmike25,

Thanks for the response. Up 'til now the mana hasn't been a problem. You still get to 4 mana fast (which is a priority) and then the Solemn Simulacrums help you out a lot. If I added more mana, I'd just get mana flooded it seemed, especially when I needed better topdecks then my 10th land. The list needs more testing 'though.

There were Barbarian Rings in there before but I don't think they are needed, especially when there are no Curcibles of Worlds in the main. The pain adds up too fast and I'm not firing them at creatures nor opponents enough; I need the mana more. Basic Mountains have been better. With Blood Moon in the deck that might change of course.

I'd like Wastelands in the list but for the Simulacrums to be worth it, it's hard to fit them in. I could and will try to change the Simulacrums for Wastelands and see where that leeds to. Maybe Wasteland is too much of an important inclusion with the 4 Spheres of Resistance.

Whitewolf: I am worried about my Bazaars getting 'Mooned'. They're just that good! If I have Bazaar online with a good board, I don't need the Blood Moon. 'You could discard them to Bazaars then', could be the response. But I like my Bazaars better and I don't want to include cards so I can discard them to Bazaar... Blood Moon needs more testing 'though and they are part of this thread indeed. I apologise for clogging it with my Blood Moon less list. Maybe it belonged in an Uba thread instead... If a mod feels the same way, please feel free to move it to a more suitable location. It's just that I started out with the list on the first page and so for me it naturally belonged here...

Greetings,

Robrecht.

[yespuhyren]

Well, although I'm not sure who really cares, I did want to highlight a heavy red Anti-Gifts style list that I came up with for TMDX had I been able to attend.  This would specialize in beating the blue control decks which seem to be so prevalent there.

The Lands - 21

1  Strip Mine
1  Tolarian Academy
2  Wasteland
4  Barbarian Ring
4  Mishra's Workshop
5  Mountain
4  Bazaar of Baghdad

The Artifact Mana - 9
1  Sol Ring
1  Black Lotus
1  Mox Sapphire
1  Mana Vault
1  Mox Emerald
1  Mox Jet
1  Mox Pearl
1  Mox Ruby
1  Mana Crypt

Creatures - 6

4  Goblin Welder
2  Duplicant

Artifact Locks - 17
1  Trinisphere
4  Tangle Wire
4  Crucible of Worlds
4  Smokestack
3 Null Rod

The UBER tech - 8
4  Red Elemental Blast
4  Pyroblast

// Sideboard
SB: 4  Slice and Dice
SB: 3  Granite Shard
SB: 3 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 3  Ensnaring Bridge
SB: 2  Duplicant

[WhiteWolf]

Robrecht: Don’t worry about ‘clogging the thread’. For me personally it’s no problem, I always like to see some lists. Indeed, Bazaars getting ‘Mooned’ isn’t probably the best thing but if you really want to use the powerful effect that is Blood Moon you can use some other draw like Bottled Cloister, Mindstorm Crown, … or just use the Bazaars before dropping Blood Moon.

Without Blood Moons I would certainly play some (or all 4) Wastelands. Some of the other lists dropped Wasteland, probably because of the inclusion of Blood Moon.

You also probably want some Crucibles in there. I agree that Heretic is very powerful in the mirror but I’ve learned that Crucible makes or breaks the mirror, often more than Welder. On top of that, they play very well with Bazaar.

WhiteWolf

[Harlequin]

Here was my myriad list:

Back to the Jaws!
9 Mountains
4 Mishrah's Workshop

5 Moxens
1 Blacklotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring

4 Simian Spirit Guide
--25--

Static Disruption:
4 Orb of Dreams
4 Blood Moon
4 Pyrostatic Pillar
3 Null Rod
1 Trinisphere

4 Goblin Welder
3 Solemn Simulacrum
3 Viashino Heratic

2 Razormane Masticore
2 Greater Gargidon
1 Clockwork Hydra

1 Memory Jar
1 Wheel of Fortune
2 Mind's Eye
---------
SB:
6 REB/Pyro
3 Slice and Dice
3 Lava Dart
2 Shattering Spree
1 Null Rod (#4)

=================

Quick Tourney Run down:

Round 1 - Dragon (lost in 3)
Game 1: I Orb + Mooned him good.
Game 2: He Dragon Comboed me good (like turn 2)
Game 3: we both mull to 5. I drop a turn 2 Moon.  He drops like a turn 5 hardcast Dragon for the win.

Round 2 - Dragon AGAIN (won in 2)
both games I Orb him, and in game 2 he makes a bit of a play mistake when he Necromancies that new 5 damage dragon durring my attack step (and doesn't realize that he looses it EOT, if he does it that way).  Had he done it durring his 2nd main of the previous turn...I probably would have lost that game.  However we would have gone to game 3 with me on the play. 

Round 3 - U/B Fish (won in 3)
In one game he fishes the crap out of me.  And in the other two... Razormane proves to be amazing.  Game 3 ends interestingly, look for the tourney report for more details.
*as an interesting note.  The number of turn 1 lotuses this game was absolutly crazy.  I had it in 2 out of 3 hands, and so did he!

Round 4 - Rit/ETW combo. (won in 3)
Game 1: I moon him out of the game.
Game 2: he ETW for like 14 and I have no S&D.
Game 3: I have x2 Slice and dice in my opening hand along with enough mana to get it off on turn 3.  He ETW on turn 3, and I Slice and Dice it.  I have a pyrostatic down and he conceeds at 6 life.

Round 5 - Ray with Staxless-Shop (lost in 3)
Game 1: I have a turn 2 (or so) Viashino along with an early Rod.  Eventually he welds out my rod and Tinker for Triskellion to kill Viashino and I loose
Game 2: I drop a turn 1 Razormane with 1 card in hand left.  We go about 2 turns and Ray concedes.
Game 3: Ray leads with Welder pass.... and as I procede to drop Lotus, and a grip full of moxen and the rest of my hand... Ray excuses himself from the store, because he forgot to play his Chalice @0 even though he ment to.  He recovers the game after I am mana screwed for many turns while he gains momentum to crush me with titan.  Our game goes to time and he wins on Turn 5.

Round 6 - Bomberman (lost in 2)
Game 1: I have a hand full of threats, however he has a hand of 5+ counterspells (including Daze on my Shop, Lotus).  I don't resolve a single spell for the rest of the game.
Game 2: I keep a very very risky 6 hand; my only play is Lotus -> Welder Null Rod.   I have no other mana.  I loose.

(for kicks I draw a 5 hand to see what I would have mulled to, and it was 2 mountains, 2 welder and 1 simian... so not that bad).

===============================================================

Final thoughts.

I am loving the deck.  I think Gargadon is amazing.  He lets you swing advantage out of Orb of dreams both ways.  He makes good use of all those extra perminants that tend to build up (esp with Solemn running around).  The trick that I learned in testing is to NEVER OVERCOMMIT on Gargadon.  Its often just best to let him coast into play. 

I think Simian Spirit Guide has proven itself to be absolutly amazing!  He shaves a full turn off my 3 mana drops.  He also gives me REB of Will (which I did infact use twice).  Lastly its not ucommon for him to come in as a beater.

Dan Yarrington's advice is starting to wear on me.  He is adiment about me cutting Pyrostatic Pillars from the deck... and I just don't know.  I may put in 4 maindeck REBs.  THe other option is some configuration of Darts and Dead/Gone.  Dead/Gone was tested and I found that it rarely was very good at doing anything relevant.  There were a few times durring the day when I could have used it.  More to come on this.

Lastly, Chrome Mox might aslo be makeing an appeariance... I can't decide if that card makes my opening hands better or worse on the average.

[Myriad Games]

Thanks for the update, Jeff. Good observations all around. Maindeck Pyroblasts seem very good in a general metagame that's usually 40% Gifts / Control and 10% Combo / Control with 5% Fish and 5-8% Salvagers. Pillars are good against control, but they're no longer good enough due to both Repeal and Warrens. Also, my last name has too 'r's in it - Yarr! like a p-irate. 

[madmanmike25]

I'm starting to notice that a lot of people(not all) are cutting Uba Mask out.  I myself have been somewhat underwhelmed by the card and lately have been trying to find out where it belongs.

Vs. Gifts it seems awesome if it comes down early enough, taking all the power away from their instants and countermagic.  How important is Uba if you don't get the 'Uba Lock' going?

Vs. Ichorid it makes their bazaars suck since its highly doubtfull they will be hardcasting Ichy/Ashen.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is 'Does UbaMask deserve a maindeck slot?'  This is regarding Shop decks in general of course and must take into consideration the card that would take its place(Caps, Stax, etc)

Does anyone think that Uba is better than Smokestack?

It almost feels like if Uba is included and Smokey is not, the decklists lean a little towards Shop Aggro over Lockdown.

It would be nice if Vroman could discuss the current status of Uba in todays metagame.(hint, hint)

[Cross]

Vs. Ichorid it makes their bazaars suck since its highly doubtfull they will be hardcasting Ichy/Ashen.
 

Dredging still works under uba mask, so it doesn’t really do anything against ichorid.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is 'Does UbaMask deserve a maindeck slot?'  This is regarding Shop decks in general of course and must take into consideration the card that would take its place(Caps, Stax, etc)

In my experience, as a non-stax player, Uba Mask is terrible. It’s dependant on bazaar and doesn’t actually stop your opponent from winning unless they hit like all brainstorms after it comes down.

[Harlequin]

Yeah, I feel exactly the the same way.  It seems like theres no actual "Draw" effects anymore.  Dredge, and "put into hand" effects have taken over the format.  Confidant, Gifts, Merchant Scroll have all but made cards like thirst for knowledge obsolete.

[ElyasMachera]

Harlequin: I noticed your list only has 20 permanent mana sources, but you are running lots of mana intensive spells aka Minds eye and Masticore.  Have you had trouble with other people playing chalice and waste?  Having played a lot of stax myself I feel like you control the mirror if you get a heratic online but that seems hard to do going through all the mana denial and your low count. 

On the same note, Eye has always been awful for me.  5 mana for a card that wont do anything untill your next turn is pretty bad.  Me and Ray(your round 5) have talked about Smoke Stack many times and thats only 4 mana.  This is 5 and offers no disruption.  Im not saying add stack, just look to other things.

[madmanmike25]

Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of Minds Eye either unless Im running metalworkers.  It usually only translates into one extra card per turn, which is the same thing that Bottled Cloister does for a one-time commitment of 4 mana.  Eye takes 6+ mana to be effective when you drop it.

Also, I'm intrigued by adding the Simian Spirit Guides.  I love the thought of 'REB of will' after SB'ing.  But in all honesty, I think permanent mana sources are better.

About Greater Gargadon:  Suspend 10??? Ouch.  What else can I say?  Make him trample and untargettable and I will reconsider.



Ok, for all who are interested I came up with my version of Mono-Red Workshop.  I decided to utilize the card Gamble as a tutor.  Here is my version of "The Gambler", which I believe belongs in this mono-red workshop thread for discussion.

Chunks of Metal: 17
4 Chalice
4 Sphere of Resistance
1 Trinisphere
4 Smokestack
4 Crucible of Worlds

Creatures: 9
4 Goblin Welder
1 Sundering Titan
1 Platinum Angel
1 Duplicant
1 Karn, Silver Golem
1 Squee, Goblin Nabob

Spells: 4
4 Gamble

Acceleration: 8
5 Moxen
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring


Lands:22
4 Mishras Workshop
4 Bazaar of Baghdad
4 Wasteland
4 Mountain
4 Barbarian Ring
1 Stripmine
1 Tolarian Academy

Ok, now a little explanation.  Let's examine the utility of Gamble using several scenarios.

1.  Crucible is in play-  Easy.  You GET stripmine, awesomeness ensues.
2.  Bazaar of Baghdad is in play-  You get Squee and have a great draw engine.
3.  Goblin Welder is in play- Get Titan/Crucible/Dupe/whatever and go to town.
4.  Nothing is in play- You take a Gamble, most likely for Welder.

#'s 1-3 are quite common and nothing to scoff at.  I realize that #3 requires no cards or Bazaar.  You can Gamble for Bazaar if you have Titan/whoever in your hand with the Welder in play.  Gambling for Crucible is great in a Stax mirror also.

I realize Chalice @ 1 exists.  It is not a valid reason to exclude Gamble.  I would play Chalice @ 1 anyday in this deck as it usually hurts the opponent much more than myself.  Your opponent isn't going to take out brainstorms or Ancestral because you 'might' drop Chalice @ 1, so don't take out Gamble or Goblin Welder for that matter.  Bazaar them away, or Karn the Chalice if you have to.

You aren't going to cast Gamble before any disruption by the way.  Spheres rock the more I play with them. 

Most card choices should be obvious in mono-red, but let me explain why I chose Sylvia Plats.  IT IS NOT FOR THE COMBO MATCHUP.  I'm not naive and think that she is unaffected by Rebuild/Hurks.  It is for the Aggro/Ichorid matchup.  She buys time to amp Smokey.  She buys time to find ANY answer.  She is a singleton that can be tutored for.  If you  absolutely hate her, sub in Triskelion.  Easy enough.

What do the Mono-Red folks out there think?

[Harlequin]

@ Mind's Eye - yeah for this list, the Eyes were the experimental card.  The deck needs some sort of draw.  Being mono-red really limits the options.  Wheel of Fate, Ubaazar, Mind's eye... none of the really fit right in the deck.  Simulacrum/welder doesn't get online that often and when it does ... your basically winning.

@ Gargidon - I really think this is pivitol to the deck.  Not only does it give you a good finisher, but it lets you draw extra advantage from Orb and Null Rod.  Orb is great because on the turn you play it, it effects your opponent first.  Eating an Orb, and a null rod with gargidon durring your turn and "going off" actaully has proven to be really great in testing.  It adds inevitability to the deck.  Because, let's face it, you can't soft lock someone for ever.

@ Mana and simians - I think your spot on about the lack of perminant mana.  I found that most of the day, I lost to mulligans more than anything.  I'm not sure where to cut from the deck to add in some mana... again more testing is to come.  Simmians are certainly in the deck for good.  I really have never been upset having them in hand.  They increase the speed and consistance of the deck.

[yespuhyren]

If you aren't running Null Rods I think it is completely insane not to run at LEAST one Jester's Cap.  Cut Platinum Angel.  That card really is bad.  Its a 7 mana 4/4 that has no useful abilities.  IF you play a deck that can't remove a Platinum Angel you will win just as easily without it.

[madmanmike25]

If you aren't running Null Rods I think it is completely insane not to run at LEAST one Jester's Cap.  Cut Platinum Angel.  That card really is bad.  Its a 7 mana 4/4 that has no useful abilities.  IF you play a deck that can't remove a Platinum Angel you will win just as easily without it.

Ok, I had a crazy thought.  Instead of Platty, I will run Mindslaver as a one-of since I run 4 gambles.  I think that could really wreck Combo/Ichy/Gifts with one activation.  It kind of depends on whats in the graveyard/in play.  Jesters Cap won't do much when 3+ Ichorids are in the yard, while Mindslaver lets you remove them.  Thoughts on the single slot???  BTW that lone Squee combined with Bazaar is priceless when you Gamble for it.  Bazaar every turn is not a bad draw engine at all.

[yespuhyren]

OK....WHEN your opponent has 3 ichorids in the yard yes, Cap sucks.  Mindslaver ALSO sucks.  Cap is easier to activate, cast, and just outright wins games against a lot of archetypes where Slaver will not just win it.  Cap is amazing.  Period.  If your opponent has 3 Ichorids in grave Gamble up a T-Crypt