Blood Donor

[arctic79]

I think this deck is absolutly brilliant.  Good job! I look forward to the evolution of this deck.

[Malhavoc]

Shattering spree in particular seems very nice even under blood funnel, but still I don't think we should focus on cards good with blood funnel only, such as desire and empty the warrens. Empty the warrens in particular seems pretty weak without artifact bounce spells, rituals and even without ywill according to certain lists posted.

That said, I agree that red is the colour which offers the most, but I'm not totally sure a third colour is really needed: post side gate to phyrexia is a huge threat in a deck like this, and with just an UB mana base we can also run a very solid land setup which can easily ignore wasteland, both against artifact and fish. Additional countermagic in the form of REBs could also be nice (but we already have force, spellstutter and cabals), but then again is it really needed at the cost of a weaker mana base?

[BruiZar]

Updated the thread!

...

Ingot Chewer - Donate is a sorcery, so I don't want this card.
Shattering Spree - I would splash red, and that would mean I'd lack the   to make use of this
Rack and Ruin - Interesting, takes maximum advantage of funnel and solid on its own.
Red Elemental Blast - Great sideboard card
Pyroblast - Great sideboard card
Empty the Warrens - Interesting inclusion, needs to be tested, may be win more
Grim Lavamancer - Scrapped. Too much of a meta game answer to fish
Goblin Welder - Scrapped
---------------------------------
All in all, the only thing I want from red are blasts to strength my postboard blue control matchup. Though Rack and Ruin is nice, Hurkyl's Recall, Gate to Phyrexia and Energy Flux are nicer.


Tarmogoyf - It's competing with other 2-drops and it has 0 utility
Regrowth - Regrowth on Time Walk is the best play I can think of,  Yawgmoth's Will goes in before splashing a color for regrowth
Fastbond - Win more, but nice
Nature´s Claim - Strong card, period
Trygon Predator - Also a disruptive card, but for 3 mana I'd rather run Flux (which can also be cast for  )
Dryad Arbor with a Fetch - As long as I don't get it in my opening hand, I would love to do this. But it's really weak in your opening hand.


At this time, a single volcanic island and 2 sideboard REBs are all I'm splashing.

This deck is really neat!

I was looking for relevant one-drops to feed an early blood funnel. There isn't much out there, but: Enclave cryptologist is mana intensive, but does something your deck wants. Veteran explorer gives the opponent mana, which isn't great, but can also give you additional landfall, pay for a hardcast bloodghast or whatever. As long as it dies on your turn, you get to use the mana first.

A non-creature token producer seems like it could take you over the top if you got blood funnel out. Empty the warrens, notorious throng (could be broken with a few more rogues) or acorn harvest might be worth a single slot.

EDIT: Came to think about one thing: Blood funnel only counters the cards you play, not extra copies of spells on the stack. Something silly like mind's desire (chuck a bunch of spells into your own counterwall, then drop desire for 2UU) or bitter ordeal (as a sideboard card) could be pretty good here.

Enclave Cryptologist requires you to invest more mana. You don't want to sack him after you've leveled him up.

Veteran Explorer: I like this card, it's explosive, but only when you go off, it's worthless on its own.

Empty The Warrens / Notorious Throng: I can't really comment on Throng. I like Empty the Warrens better but the occasional prowl is awesome

leyline of anticiptation might do quite well in this deck, as you could go moxen>funnel>donate

You need a creature, so opening with Land Mox and keeping a Spellstutter Sprite at the ready is the best I think. I don't see the need for Leyline as you do.

...Something silly like mind's desire (chuck a bunch of spells into your own counterwall, then drop desire for 2UU)...

At which point Desire lets you chuck even more spells into your own counterwall. So good!

Sorry, couldn't resist. Side note: Bitter Ordeal doesn't work either, since gravestorm ramps off permanents, not spells.

I wouldn't run Bitter Ordeal, because by then you've already won, but gravestorm ramps quiet quickly with fetch and ghast clamp.

I think this deck is absolutly brilliant.  Good job! I look forward to the evolution of this deck.

Thanks

Shattering spree in particular seems very nice even under blood funnel, but still I don't think we should focus on cards good with blood funnel only, such as desire and empty the warrens. Empty the warrens in particular seems pretty weak without artifact bounce spells, rituals and even without ywill according to certain lists posted.

That said, I agree that red is the colour which offers the most, but I'm not totally sure a third colour is really needed: post side gate to phyrexia is a huge threat in a deck like this, and with just an UB mana base we can also run a very solid land setup which can easily ignore wasteland, both against artifact and fish. Additional countermagic in the form of REBs could also be nice (but we already have force, spellstutter and cabals), but then again is it really needed at the cost of a weaker mana base?

Every card should be good on its own, even the Donates have multiple functions (Illusions, Mana Crypt, More than 1 Blood Funnel). Right now, REB is really the only thing worth running that  brings to the table. There is plenty of Artifact hate in  and even in  with Ghasts and Bitterblossom faeries to sack to Gate to Phyrexia.

I agree that a solid mana base is what can make this deck resilient to aggro archetypes like MUD, Noble Fish and BUG Fish running 4 Wasteland. If we can cancel out that threat, we're well on our way against those matchups.

[Malhavoc]

I agree with everything you've written  

Regarding the list I was testing, some more information for you to think about:

- I REALLY liked how intuition becomes a powerhose in the deck, making it very consistent

- I REALLY liked how skullclamp spells "I'm winning" in capital letters

- I really liked the amount of protection and how powerful cabal therapy is in destroying their hand (you can rape hands like ichorid does), so much I would run 4

- I didn't liked to be forced to drop TfK and Frantic, and to a lesser extend tinker/bot, but the only other thing I could drop are either cabals or more probably the spellstutters, and I wouldn't want (BTW, chain can be very good to bounce multiple spellstutters and then bouncing one of your opponent's permanents as well)

- I'm a bit too vulnerable to null rod and leyline, being so focused on skullclamp (leyline blocks skullclamps for those who may not know, since the creature does not go to the grave). Anyway, fish should be handled with our creatures and a sided tinker bot.

Against creatures.. maybe it's not needed, but I was thinging about siding something like Old Man, Vedalken Shackles or helm of possession: this way we can steal their creatures, sac them to funnel, and then steal others. Much better if we had chance to clamp them before saccing them (probably some of those we steal can be killed with 1 or 2 skullclamps alone too). I just don't like shackles cause it goes under rod, and old man cause of its limits tied to the creature's power.

[waffles]

leyline of anticiptation might do quite well in this deck, as you could go moxen>funnel>donate

You need a creature, so opening with Land Mox and keeping a Spellstutter Sprite at the ready is the best I think. I don't see the need for Leyline as you do.

okay then ornthopter, i was talking about doing that during their upkeep, i happen to like the leyline cause losing the roll doesnt matter when the leyline is out. that said it actually is card advantage. also, getting the lock on as fast as possible would be my primary goal.  then i would worry about winning. counter and bounce would stop them from doing much else

more to the point whats better than being able to moxen at instant speed?

[Thegreatgonzo]

if you're looking for a good 1 drop creature, xantid swarm might be ok. It's a must counter, can be clamped, and fuels the funnel. I don't know if it's worth the splash, but it certainly deserves a try.

[Delha]

I don't think I saw a response to my question about the problems you had w/ Cursecatcher in testing. Also, I am still curious to hear your thoughts on Nether Traitor.

Sorry if I seem too persistent, this deck really has caught my interest, and I'd just like to understand it more thoroughly.

[BruiZar]

I overlooked it Dehla. Here's my thoughts.

Nether Traitor: I would only consider this if I would run more than 4 Bloodghasts. Currently, I'm running 3. The reason for this is because he doesn't do anything to disrupt the opponent.

Cursecatcher: I think this guy needs some more testing as well as Xantid Swarm. These are the 2 most viable one drop creatures right now. Xantid Swarm can attack turn 2 so you can drop your combo unmolested and make good use of the Swarm by sacking it to Funnel. The problem I have with Cursecatcher is that 1 mox makes this guy useless. On the other hand, they do have to keep that mana open all the time so it 'virtually' destroys one mox.

[meadbert]

The other problem with Cursecatcher is that it cannot counter creatures which does not further the plan of just countering your opponent's creatures.

[Delha]

Thanks for the response.  

Cursecatcher: I think this guy needs some more testing as well as Xantid Swarm. These are the 2 most viable one drop creatures right now. Xantid Swarm can attack turn 2 so you can drop your combo unmolested and make good use of the Swarm by sacking it to Funnel. The problem I have with Cursecatcher is that 1 mox makes this guy useless. On the other hand, they do have to keep that mana open all the time so it 'virtually' destroys one mox.

This was pretty much what I figured as well. If anyone is dumb enough to run into it, you get value. If they bait it, you get value (since they presumably had to burn two bombs on resolving one). If they play around it, you gain tempo.

I just wondered if perhaps people were dropping Confidants and Golems through it more often than having to dodge if with spells.

[BruiZar]

The other problem with Cursecatcher is that it cannot counter creatures which does not further the plan of just countering your opponent's creatures.

Exactly, I need cards that can deny creatures while also fulfilling other roles at the same time.

[RecklessEmbermage]

The other problem with Cursecatcher is that it cannot counter creatures which does not further the plan of just countering your opponent's creatures.

Exactly, I need cards that can deny creatures while also fulfilling other roles at the same time.

Like goblin arsonist?  

Erh. Xantid swarm looks very appealing!

EDIT: Tukatongue thallid probably has too low a power level to be worth playing. However, if casting bloodghast is hard on your mana or upsets your curve, thallid just might give you the needed little push in the right direction.

About empty the warrens: Of course it is win more, but maybe some situations could call for overkill? If the game drags on and you are unable to resolve a donate or what have you. Only as a one-of of course.

[Malhavoc]

Xantid seems appealing.. and even later on multiple ones or those drawn when unecessary could be clamped to draw two. However, what this would take the place of? Spellstutters? Cabals/Thoughtseize? This would help casting our funnel donate combo indeed, but would not help crippling our opponent with discards in the early game or protect our advantage with a couple of counters later on. Xantid is a card that works well in a shell that just kills the opponent that turn, more or less, and I'm not totally sure we are. Xantid is also slow a turn and weakens our mana base; but despite this could be very interesting and it's worth testing, but it would steer the deck in a slightly different direction.

[serracollector]

I been testing this a lot lately, and personally I have found the CA with Confidants to be way better than the counter ability of Spellstutters.  Maybe its just me, but I NEVER seemed to have the "right" number of faires in play to counter the spells I wanted to with them.

Also, I found that this deck just straight up LOST to any form of aggro, such as goblins or aggro mud.  You donate a Funnel and they just go "ok" and drop Karn, Trisk and Lodestone and smash your face in while your hoping on getting that illusions.

The deck seems to me to need some kind of maindeck creature kill, such as an Edict or 2 or an echoing truth of 2.


But I agree with the 4 donate and 4 funnel its very tight after adding in tutors and restricted mana/draw.

Don't know how to do it from there, but the deck needs some maindeck disruption/blockers other than fairies/toke/confidants.  Bloodghast is no good at the blocking thing 

[BruiZar]

I agree Serra Collector. That was the reason why I included Grim Lavamancer frst. Karn is not really a problem because you chump him all day long. Lodestone Golems are a problem and trike pretty much cleans your board. Perhaps Firespout would help this deck out? It doesn't really affect your faeries and bloodghasts simply come back.

Right now, tinker for Sphinx is the best aggro answer.

[RecklessEmbermage]

Also, I found that this deck just straight up LOST to any form of aggro, such as goblins or aggro mud.  You donate a Funnel and they just go "ok" and drop Karn, Trisk and Lodestone and smash your face in while your hoping on getting that illusions.

The deck seems to me to need some kind of maindeck creature kill, such as an Edict or 2 or an echoing truth of 2.

In the aggro match-ups, I think the trick would have to be siding out donate and make blood funnel good. Jitte for 0 is ok, damnation for BB too. Tinker, the abyss and so on.

This is clearly a deck for creature-light metas.

[BruiZar]

yes RecklessEmbermage, this deck is designed to punish decks for running little or no creatures. Even against decks wiith creatures, a blood funnel could be 5 time walks if they aren't drawing into creatures. The only matchup I'm afraid of is MUD, and that's where Energy Flux/Hurkyll's Recall/Gate to Phyrexia come in. Those are very important hate cards for that matchup. I played MUD the last tournament I attended, and I was completely hopeless to my opponent's Energy Flux. Once that resolves, the game is over.

That leaves BUG Fish, Noble Fish and fringe decks like Goblins. I don't really see a way to win those matchups, since goyf, island walkers and exalted creatures all beat your creatures. The only options are: Bounce goyfs/etc with Jace, Tinker for Sphinx, Donate Illusions (probably a bit too dangerous since they are packiing heaps of permission as well)

[Malhavoc]

Too bad that Grave Pact has such a terrible casting cost.. the effect would have been awesome in the deck.

Actually, I think the best way to win against aggro still remains the same old way: tinker (for sphinx). Still, a donated funnel remains very strong into limiting his possible outs.

[BruiZar]

I am going to test 1 Dryad Arbor and 1 Dakmor Salvage today to increase the effectiveness of my fetch and intuitions. Dryad Arbor is land fall and a funnel/clamp outlet.

initial testing looks promising. I removed the spell snares and upped the cabal therapy count to 3. These babies are the shit. I still run 2 thoughtseize so I can gather info as well. Dryad Arbor is very nice because it allows turn 1 thoughtseize, turn 2 cabal therapy, fetch dryad arbor, flashback therapy. Also, when I got early combo in my hand, misty rainforest allowed me to get arbor so I could donate it quickly. I also changed donates back to 4 and blood funnel to 3. There is alot of stuff I want to donate, and donate pitches to FoW while blood funnel doesn't. If I run 3 Donates and intuition for 3 donates, I can't donate a mana crypt, extra blood funnel or illusions. It's a bit weird to say, but Jace isn't really needed in this deck, skullclamp daws you into force of wills and cabal therapy/thoughtseize/spellstuttersprites faster than jace could ever brainstorm.

[Malhavoc]

Another card similar to grave pact I've found is Attrition. But still I think it's quite trash.

Instead, I think, as suggested, that a red splash would actually let us run a some sideboarded Firespout: cast with red mana, they will wipe most of the opponent's battlefield killing just our ghasts. I think we could even end up winning by simple faerie and ghasts beatdown with some of these (not tested yet). A few Sower of temptation (good nice with spellstutter sprite btw) could take care of the bigger creatures, like tarmogoyfs.

[waffles]

yes RecklessEmbermage, this deck is designed to punish decks for running little or no creatures. Even against decks wiith creatures, a blood funnel could be 5 time walks if they aren't drawing into creatures. The only matchup I'm afraid of is MUD, and that's where Energy Flux/Hurkyll's Recall/Gate to Phyrexia come in. Those are very important hate cards for that matchup. I played MUD the last tournament I attended, and I was completely hopeless to my opponent's Energy Flux. Once that resolves, the game is over.

That leaves BUG Fish, Noble Fish and fringe decks like Goblins. I don't really see a way to win those matchups, since goyf, island walkers and exalted creatures all beat your creatures. The only options are: Bounce goyfs/etc with Jace, Tinker for Sphinx, Donate Illusions (probably a bit too dangerous since they are packiing heaps of permission as well)

what of pulverize, or is that too narrow? I would think it would be a good choice stuff is enchantment based

[Dnine]

Anyone test entomb?  Seems like a great way to get the bloodghast engine going.  I'd rather spend turn two casting entomb than playing a land rather then spending 2 mana to hardcast him.  What's the most common method of getting him in the graveyard?

[Delha]

What's the most common method of getting him in the graveyard?

Intuition.

[waffles]

Anyone test entomb?  Seems like a great way to get the bloodghast engine going.  I'd rather spend turn two casting entomb than playing a land rather then spending 2 mana to hardcast him.  What's the most common method of getting him in the graveyard?

wouldnt buried alive work as well?

silly casual note, guile is funny with blood funnel. 

[Delha]

wouldnt buried alive work as well?

Yes, but it doesn't double as a tutor. Probably too narrow to include, even as Intuition 5-8, since there aren't enough other targets to make good use of it.

[Dnine]

Buried alive costs 3.  I wouldn't think of running buried alive over intuition.  However entomb costs 1 and can also get C. therapy or deep analysis.  costing 2 less could really speed up the deck as well as allow you to only run 1-2 bloodghasts main reducing the chances of drawing them. 

Could also open up some reanimate sideboard options instead of tinker agianst other creature decks.

[BruiZar]

Entomb increases the reliability on the graveyard too much, which would cause this deck to suffer from the same hate as Ichorid. You don't want to get trapped in collateral damage. In fact, I would even consider boarding out Bloodghasts for more Bitterblossoms in the hopes that your opponent will board his Tormods Crypts and Leylines in against you.

[theLastGnu]

Anyone test entomb?  Seems like a great way to get the bloodghast engine going.  I'd rather spend turn two casting entomb than playing a land rather then spending 2 mana to hardcast him.  What's the most common method of getting him in the graveyard?

wouldnt buried alive work as well?

silly casual note, guile is funny with blood funnel. 

BAM, just solved the graveyard dependency of this deck, board in 4 guile and a few brainfreezes.

[metalhead]

This deck looks like so much fun.. Has anyone thought about testing Waterfront bouncer? 2 mana may be too much.. but he's clampable, pitches to force, and is another way to keep annoying critters off your apponents side of the board.

P.S. Why couldn't Bazaar Trader say enchantments 

[waffles]

P.S. Why couldn't Bazaar Trader say enchantments  

more of a casual way but Mycosynth lattice, donate enchantments all day