Vintage Infect

[waywreth]

Vintage Infect

So I was toying with a Vintage Infect deck - both for the surprise factor and because I wanted to play something fun at a local event.  It was 4 rounds, and while I ended at 1-3, I went to 3 games every match, and should've won a round that I lost due to a misplay on my end (walked into Mindbreak when I didn't have to).  I played Gush Tendrils, Gush Tezz, Jace/Bob Control, and MUD.

I managed a turn 3 kill, a turn 2 kill, and two turn 4 or 5 kills.  I think the deck has potential (and is pretty darn cheap), but needs some tweaking.

Here's the initial list:
4x Elvish Spirit Guide
4x Noble Hierarch

4x Plague Stinger
4x Plague Myr
4x Necropede
3x Viridian Corrupter

3x Rancor
4x Berserk
4x Invigorate
4x Vines of Vastwood

1x Demonic Tutor
1x Demonic Consultation

1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Jet
1x Black Lotus

1x Pendelhaven
4x Inkmoth Nexus
4x Bayou
3x Forest
5x Fetch lands

A few comments on the cards -
Plague Stinger over Ichorclaw Myr because of the evasion, and because it's not an artifact.  Not sure that's the right call as running over Bob a few times would've been a good thing.
Rancor was terrible all night, and needs to be replaced - even Giant Growth would've been an improvement.

Curious on thoughts of viability, and your thoughts on the second color.  I don't know if the black is needed - Replace Ichorclaw Myr for the Stingers, and either Nature's Claim or Krosan Grip for the Demonics and you can cut the black (and the Duress from the board) and even play mono G.

The other color options I thought of were:
Red for Reckless Charge in the main, and REB/Pyro, Ingot Chewer, Gorilla Shaman in the board.
White for Qasali Pridemage in the main, and Serenity, Orim's Chant/Silence in the board.

Any thoughts on improving the deck are welcome!

[madmanmike25]

I know it's not "infect" but would Virulent Sliver work?  Seems like a decent 1 drop and if you have multiples it gets even better.

That being said, maybe this is a really good suggestion:  Green Suns Zenith.

[TheBrassMan]

Virulent Sliver doesn't combo with the pump spells, specifically Invigorates and Berserk, which feel like the crux of the deck.

Infect is a little outclassed in vintage, but the deck is super cool.  It's pretty interesting as a budget option though.

If you really want to push it, a turn 3/4 clock is not enough, so you'll want to look into disruptive options (Null Rod being the default choice) - I feel like you could add a few disruptive cards without really hurting your clock.  Right now it looks like infect decks are super-fringe, but keep an eye out for the next set... it might not take much to push the deck forward.

[the_lord_shaper]

Wouldn't signal pest be just better then noble, and Sinister Strength would be a another good aura to use. Also if you added dark rits you could use any of the 3 drops, like Septic Rats, Ichor Rats, and  Phyrexian Crusader. If you wanted more disruption, duress and wasteland effects are quite good and easy to fit in the deck.

[Beralt]

Groundswell is worth consideration, I would go to add a Lotus petal as further acceleration.  The Rancor's are good but they are more of a long game card advantage engine (and in vintage blue bounce makes the pump and return from graveyard ability irrelevant).

[waffles]

could you get away with using crypt rats or/and tainted strike?  The old ping method works with this mechanic too. Viridian Longbow and other such ping granting abilities would grant poison as well. Or is this something geared more towards the causal side?

[serracollector]

tainted strike works best on precursor golem.....12 counters ftw.

This would make it more black and artifact tho.  Maybe a bringing back of hatred decks?  First turn infect guy turn 2 ritual hatred gg?
Making it mono black is the route I would go, dark rituals work just as well as ESG's, and you have howl from beyond (dont laugh), and other descent black pump spells.
This also gives you access to all the tutors/confidants without lowering your infect critter count.
You can also use the 4/5 infect guy for 4 mana which kills pretty much everything in vintage.

Only bad thing is confidant and hatred don't like each other.

Someone could figure it out tho I am sure.

[waffles]

tainted strike works best on precursor golem.....12 counters ftw.

This would make it more black and artifact tho.  Maybe a bringing back of hatred decks?  First turn infect guy turn 2 ritual hatred gg?
Making it mono black is the route I would go, dark rituals work just as well as ESG's, and you have howl from beyond (dont laugh), and other descent black pump spells.
This also gives you access to all the tutors/confidants without lowering your infect critter count.
You can also use the 4/5 infect guy for 4 mana which kills pretty much everything in vintage.

Only bad thing is confidant and hatred don't like each other.

Someone could figure it out tho I am sure.

i was thinking that with crypt rats/TStrike it would be possible to generate them through pestilence effect of the rats. with the tendrils shell this is possible, since it can generate a ton of mana, but how would one keep from just tying the game? healing salve?

[Meddling Mike]

I agree with Brassman that you would probably have to cram some disruption in here, some duress effects and null rods would seem ideal given your existing mana base. I was thinking that perhaps cutting some of your weaker infect creatures in favor of tainted strikes would seem better, you could take some people by surprise with your Noble Heirarch/ESG that seemed inconsequential. Are there enough times where Necropede's -1/-1 counter really makes a difference, I guess if they throw a removal spell at it and they have a dark confidant on the table that would be sweet, but I can't see that coming up often enough to justify having it in the first place. I see you've got DT and Consultation, I'm not sure that there are enough cards you would really want to use a tutor spell to get your hands on to justify their inclusion.

[bun]

Am I the only one who finds it weird that you're running NO hate?  And I totally agree about consultation and d-tutor being weird choices without any really tutor-worthy inclusions.

How important is budget, and what are your restrictions?

[waywreth]

I actually played the deck again a few weeks ago and almost went undefeated (losing the last round).  Rancor x3 and one Viridian Corrupter was replaced by Null Rod.
Ichorclaw Myr replaced Plague Stinger, and I cut the rest of the black and played Red for Reckless Charge in the main, and REB/Pyro, Ingot Chewer, and Ancient Grudge in the board.

In it's current state it's a fun deck that I can play when the mood strikes, but it's fast enough to be competitive.  Depending what comes out of the new set for Infect viable creatures, it has a decent chance of improvement.

[bun]

The hierarch seems terrible.  No duress seems weird and makes me nervous.

Have you considered signal pest?

This whole deck still seems very strange.  Obviously you've tested it, but I'm wondering against what kind of field.  It seems like a goldfish-only deck.

[Dr.KnowMaD]

I wouldn't say that the nobles are terrible.  Anything that produces extra mana and pumps my infect count seems considerable to me.  

Inkmoth Nexis and the Invigorate are my favorite things in this I think.  Invigorate is finally good if not almost broken with infect (and a forest).

The Tainted Strike is interesting, (Don't we have BlightSteel?) anyway, I would use Myr Battleshere galactica or Triskelion and shoot people.  
Phyrexian Juggernaut + Berserk?  Bayou,Shops
 
Lates, DrKnowMaD

[bun]

Wouldn't Rancor always be better than hierarch though?  Or heck, magnify?

Invigorate is super techy, though, I love it.  Have you considered bounty of the hunt?  You'd have to have enough green, of course.  But you could replace some fetches with land grant to up your green count.

[Dr.KnowMaD]

Wouldn't Rancor always be better than hierarch though?

Always is a strong word.  I am not sure if you mean in this build but, I believe that Noble Hierarch has been proven better in NobleFish than Rancor as one example.

What about blue/Green shell with Force of Will and draw.  Active Inkmoth + Invigorate + Berserk = GG.  Thats not too bad, with back up (Force, Daze, Misd. Druess if a third color is added) and mana boost I see this being doable.  Then you could add Tinker/Blightsteel and BAM! VintageInfect.

Lates,DrKnowMaD

[bun]

Yes, I meant in this deck.  Accel and fixing seems like a minor issue for the deck, so while it has worked in other decks, I would think you would want more points of power over what is basically a mana elf here.

I think blue has more to add to the deck than black, but there are already black infect creatures, so it is a toss up.  Both could be added, of course.  I'm just not sure if the deck ultimately has enough oomph to work.  It takes twenty points of damage to win vs ten poison counters.  Imagine every card in this deck doesn't have infect.  Now imagine the power on every card is doubled.  Would you still want to play the deck?  Maybe; invigorate is pretty cool.  But other than that...?

Maybe there will be more options in the next set that make it worthwhile, but I think this deck will end up being one of two things: a fish deck without any of the techy creatures, or a blue/black control deck with a bunch of weenies and giant growths instead of just a tezz or tinker target.

[Dr.KnowMaD]

I don't have anything written on this but I wanted to post the general idea of the direction I was thinking.

MaD Infect

1x Lotus Petal
1x Black Lotus
5x Mox
2x Island
2x Underground Sea
3x Tropical Island                    
2x Polluted Delta
3x Misty Rainforest
4x Inkmoth Nexus

4x Invigorate
2x Cunning Wish                                  
                                                      
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Fastbond

1x Blightsteel Colossus

4x Gush
1x Tinker
1x Time Walk
1x Timetwister
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Brainstorm
1x Ponder                                    
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Merchant Scroll
1x Intuition
1x Gifts Ungiven
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Yawgmoth's Will

4x Force of Will
2x Daze                                

3x Thoughtseize  
2x Duress

Sb
1x Berserk
x Hurkyl's Recall
x Natures Claim
x Mindbreak Trap
x Ravenous Trap
2x Relic of Progenitus
1x Forest? Rushing River?

-4 gush -1 fastbond +1 cow +1 berserk +1 regrowth +2 misdirection is also a pos.

Also I wouldn't mind making room for Elvish Spirit Guide.  Maybe leave the two Berserk and - Lotus Petal.  Is Cunning Wish too much?

What about a more LandStill and/orTurbo style?

Again, I have been busy and will get back to this with more detail in time.  Just wanted to get this rolling.

Lates, DrKnowMaD

[bun]

That just seems like tezz or oath with a weaker win condition.  You could probably fine-tune it to work well, but I wouldn't call that an infect deck.  Of course I'm not so convinced an infect deck is viable right now, so that probably isn't a bad thing.

[Dr.KnowMaD]

That just seems like tezz or oath with a weaker win condition.  You could probably fine-tune it to work well, but I wouldn't call that an infect deck.  Of course I'm not so convinced an infect deck is viable right now, so that probably isn't a bad thing.

 
Wasn't going to, but I'll bite.

I had hinted before to you to use your words more and articulate your thoughts.  I think you will get better responses and more positive results, plus actually benefiting the community instead of simply saying the sky is purple.  That doesn't mean much.  If you had said the sky is purple because of light reflecting off gasses in the ozone, then I would have something to think about.  Regardless if it is true or not, I would have something to work with.    

So, with out a shell of an idea to work on, NO deck can be viable at the time it is relevant if it does not exist.

I personally am a huge fan of Phishish decks and have played, perpetuated, innovated, and been a proponent since I began playing largely due to budget and the fun of its play style.  Unless they print an amazing phish style infect creature or two, (other than Inkmoth) FishFect just sux in my opinion.  Might as well play crappy double strikers.

I chose a basic draw/tutor and disruption shell.  Notice its actual closer to Grow with the gushbond engine (anyway just pick'n).  I have been using this frame WAY before Tezz, and Oath was bad until Forbidden Orchard.  Is the win worse?  One Inkmoth + two Invigorate is a two turn clock.  Go broken with back up on the second turn (inkmoth has sickness, could be first with haste) and fetch one Berserk that's GoodGame, one turn clock.  Is this better than Draining on two, tezz on three backed up and awaiting infinite turns.  Probably not.  But its unexpected, and fresh.  I don't even play vault/key right now because its boring me lately. If you want to add it in the list with some Jaces or whatever that's cool too.  

I do want to poison people and infect finally allows a better chance.  Inkmoth is uncounterable and with something like Crucible of Worlds, Life from the Loam, or Petrified Field, Wasteland, artifact hate, and most creature removal is not so much of a deal.  Then you just need the Invigorates to stick which is what the Duress, Force of Will, Daze are for.  

But Wait!  There is another win condition and it's Tinker, which is proven to be one of the best.  Blightsteel is infect and a really good target for tink.  Free +4+4 helps with chump blockers.

To me this IS what vintage infect should resemble.  That's me and why there is a message board to discus such things.

Lates, DrKnowMaD  

Wow, i was just thinking wotc is printing red infect next set.  What about something like   1/1 infect with haste.  A Ragging Infect Goblin thingy.  With S.spirit Guides?
Or Rocket Powered Turbo Slug/Pacts with infect.

[TopSecret]

So the advantage of infect is that it's a 3 card combo that can be assembled consistently?
Why not throw in some Pact of Negation and Mindbreak Trap and see what happens?
Fast mana would be nice, cause otherwise you're not fast enough.

If you are playing a deck that is dead until you resolve three cards in a row
you have to be faster than the opponent and have enough disruption to stop counters or be able to force things through.
Otherwise the deck might as well be RG beats or something if it's going for turn 4 or 5.
Maybe more printings later will make it easier to assemble or at least possible.
(I still haven't seen proof that viability is impossible from my viewpoint.
Although since flash was not dominant and had a better win condition
the consistency of this deck would have to be absolutely amazing.)

[Dr.KnowMaD]

If you are playing a deck that is dead until you resolve three cards in a row

I wouldn't say dead.  You have force, daze , thoughtseize, duress + other options not to mention Tinker/B.steel.  The lands are bonus.  blight + land can do the deed.  Whatever. 


DrKnowMaD 

[Dr.KnowMaD]

If you are playing a deck that is dead until you resolve three cards in a row

I wouldn't say dead.  You have force, daze , thoughtseize, duress + other options not to mention Tinker/B.steel.  The lands are bonus.  blight + land can do the deed.  Whatever. 

This is Aggro not Combo 

DrKnowMaD 

[bun]

The deck has potential.  I just think you're getting caught in the trap of fixating on an idea (that may or may not be viable) because you like it.  It is a cool idea.  But look at some of the cards objectively.  Remember that the goal of the deck is not to win with infect, but to win.  Inkmoth is a totally viable win condition, but its advantage is that it is uncounterable.  When you use invigorate and berserk, as cheap/free as they are, you are killing that advantage.  You are also forcing yourself to play green, which might be ok, but I don't think you need it, even if you decide to run the fastbond gush engine.  I think that little combo has anti synergy with running manlands, though.

Right now, the deck wants these things out to win:

inkmoth
a forest
2x invigorate or invigorate + berserk

That right there is pretty weak against wasteland (which fish and mud run) or any counters (which pretty much anything else runs.)  The only deck that doesn't hate this out is dredge, which has a faster, more consistent clock.

Furthermore, you're looking at casting gush regularly, which needs two islands, of which your win condition has none, and that is really tough without fastbond out.

[TopSecret]

If you are playing a deck that is dead until you resolve three cards in a row

I wouldn't say dead.  You have force, daze , thoughtseize, duress + other options not to mention Tinker/B.steel.  The lands are bonus.  blight + land can do the deed.  Whatever.  


DrKnowMaD  

Sorry, I wasn't specific. I was directing my thoughts towards the deck in the opening post
and towards the idea of building a deck with poison critters as the base.
Inkmoth is certainly the most interesting card though and if I had to bet on a way to use any infect cards,
I think something that used Inkmoth as an alternate or complimentary win would be the most promising.
Interesting take on the concept.

[Dr.KnowMaD]

Remember that the goal of the deck is not to win with infect, but to win. 

I thought the goal IS to win with Infect hence the Infect forum.

Right now, the deck wants these things out to win:

inkmoth
a forest
2x invigorate or invigorate + berserk

No, It wants Tinker/Blightsteel.   The Inkmoth Nexus + Invigorate was what jumped out of the OP's list.  So I keeped that as something Infecty to do also.  I am really liking the idea and am willing to give it a shot.  When your sitting there drawing, tutoring, Willing, gushbonding ex... having free spells to slam down on (Grow) an Inkmoth is kind of cool, not saying it is optimal, just that it is cool and this is the creative forum.

That right there is pretty weak against wasteland (which fish and mud run) or any counters (which pretty much anything else runs.)  The only deck that doesn't hate this out is dredge, which has a faster, more consistent clock. Furthermore, you're looking at casting gush regularly, which needs two islands, of which your win condition has none, and that is really tough without fastbond out.

First, only the Inkmoths should be in danger and a concern.  That is why I suggest -

Inkmoth is uncounterable and with something like Crucible of Worlds, Life from the Loam, or Petrified Field, Wasteland, artifact hate, and most creature removal is not so much of a deal.  Then you just need the Invigorates to stick which is what the Duress, Force of Will, Daze is for. 

The rest should be protected with Gush.  How much have you played with the card?(Gush)

Lates, DrKnowMaD

[bun]

I meant the general goal in magic is just to win.

If you are playing a deck that is dead until you resolve three cards in a row

I wouldn't say dead.  You have force, daze , thoughtseize, duress + other options not to mention Tinker/B.steel.  The lands are bonus.  blight + land can do the deed.  Whatever.  


DrKnowMaD  

Sorry, I wasn't specific. I was directing my thoughts towards the deck in the opening post
and towards the idea of building a deck with poison critters as the base.
Inkmoth is certainly the most interesting card though and if I had to bet on a way to use any infect cards,
I think something that used Inkmoth as an alternate or complimentary win would be the most promising.
Interesting take on the concept.

I read your blog, it was hilarious, but I think that inkmoth is literally the only infect critter worth it (and colossus, obviously.)

This is how I would build the deck, using standstill and ninja as draw engines:

Artifact Creatures
1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind

Artifacts
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Opal
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key

Basic Lands
2 Island
1 Snow-Covered Island

Creatures
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours

Enchantments
4 Standstill

Instants
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
1 Gifts Ungiven
3 Mana Drain
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Mystical Tutor
3 Spell Pierce
1 Vampiric Tutor

Planeswalkers
1 Tezzeret the Seeker

Sorceries
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Tinker
1 Time Walk
1 Yawgmoth's Will

Lands

3 Blinkmoth Nexus
4 Flooded Strand
4 Inkmoth Nexus
1 Tolarian Academy
4 Underground Sea

[Dr.KnowMaD]

I am not going to say everything I want but I will state a few things that caught me off.

First, I hope the second Merchant Scroll was a bounce spell.  At least one, you won't be able to counter everything.  I don't know many people that blindly walk their tinker into a counter. (late in the game and no choice, sure then).

Second, I already quoted you saying this-
 

That just seems like tezz or oath with a weaker win condition.  You could probably fine-tune it to work well, but I wouldn't call that an infect deck.  Of course I'm not so convinced an infect deck is viable right now, so that probably isn't a bad thing.

Now, I am confused.  You said this about my list (which was Gushish) and had a clear Infect theme.  Then you posted your list,  and it is Tezz, and it has almost no Infect to it. 

Lastly, and a third time is the last, after this I am washing my hands.  WHY did you choose the cards you did.  WHAT are the ideas behind those choices.  Do you have a sideboard plan ex....ex..

I want to understand, I am just not seeing it.

Later, DrKnowMaD   

[bun]

Lmao oops, yes, Merchant Scroll #2 was not supposed to be there.  Chain of vapor or hurkyl's recall would be fine.  Maybe make room for both, but I would go with chain of vapor if I only had room for one.

While I did say that you deck was just a worse tezz or oath, I think that tezz is a great card, and worth including.  If you look at my list though, it is built around infect, even if it doesn't seem like it.  It has seven manlands, and while three don't have infect, they pump the inkmoths, which do.  I think this is a superior strategy to invigorate.  Ninja also combos effectively with the manlands.  They are likely to be unblocked against most decks.  Then the opponent has to choose between blocking your win condition and blocking your draw engine.  He also dodges standstill, as do your manlands.

The deck works.  You might splash black as well for its tutors and duress effects.  The point of this deck is that infect is a viable win condition, it has three other outs (vault, robot, ninjas,) and it wastes no cards on subpar strategies.  I would probably cut mana drain in favor of perhaps mana leak, spell pierce, spell snare, or duress effects to avoid the double blue mana, but that's it.

I would make the sideboard some combination of these cards:

1-2 bojuka bog/other graveyard hate
2-4 mistblade shinobi (against fish/oath/mud/tinker and maybe even one maindeck, depending on your meta)
3-4 null rod (doesn't really hurt the deck, might be a deck card though)
4 steel sabotage (again, maybe some or all maindeck depending on what you plan to face)
1-5 other hatey spells, depending on your meta

Also, this is not a completely polished deck, but I wanted to show it to you so I didn't just sound like I was talking out of my butt, and show what I think is the only viable take on infect atm.  Pump spells are terrible.  The infect creatures are inefficient.  I really believe that inkmoth is the only infect card that is worth anything, and so if you make an infect deck, it needs to be built around that.  I think this deck does that.  I don't know exactly which ten cards need to be changed, but I think this deck is about ten cards off from the optimal list, tops.

It is about using the simple natural synergy apparent in the cards:

Ninja and standstill are an effective draw engine on their own.
They are the perfect complement to inkmoth
Blinkmoth complements inkmoth, ninja, and standstill.

I think these 16 cards are the smartest way to begin an infect deck.  The rest of it is negotiable, but I don't believe there are any wasted slots.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to be getting frustrated and/or irritated, especially at me.  Say everything you want, please.  Don't wash your hands after this.  I don't think this is going to be the next "The Deck" or anything, but this is a pretty interesting discussion.

[Dr.KnowMaD]

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to be getting frustrated and/or irritated, especially at me.

Not at all.  I like your assertive opinions.  I think you have good ideas and that is why I was suggesting to express those thoughts more. I would like you to get the most out of this sight and I personally have found that typically the more depth the better.  Simply, I and many others here are not going to continue any discussion if there is nothing to discus.  

The deck works.  You might splash black as well for its tutors and duress effects.  The point of this deck is that infect is a viable win condition, it has three other outs (vault, robot, ninjas,) and it wastes no cards on subpar strategies.  I would probably cut mana drain in favor of perhaps mana leak, spell pierce, spell snare, or duress effects to avoid the double blue mana, but that's it.

I think my problem is I am not sure how to play this out.  I don't care for the idea of playing an Inkmoth, Standstill, waiting a turn to swing with the land, then bring it to my hand after paying two mana for a bear that draws me a card if I deal combat damage to the opponent.  Then I'm all taped out on my opponents turn.  THEN my opponent cares nothing for my Standstill, cracks it and wins.  Hopefully I drew all my Force of Wills and have ways to pitch them (mana drain, standstill, or ninja most likely) because that's basically my only hope.

Or I sit on drain, hope it doesn't get ripped from my hand, win a war with Force (pitching Sphinx, Standstill, or Ninja) and drain, get to play my bomb with all that drainage, Tezzeret or Gifts Ungiven and begin my vault/key assembly an whatnot.  That doesn't sound bad so why not go with that and ditch all the ninja still stuff.   I can still see a use for the Ink and Blink lands for a secondary maneuver and like there interaction.  I might find a way to add that to my list somehow.

I am having a real hard time understanding how 4xStandstill and 4xNinja are better than  4xGush 1x Fastbond other than natures claim being used a lot hitting fastbond.  Still there is ywill and regrowth.   Besides 4xGush without Fastbond is Gold.  Fastbond is the platinum plated gem studded bling bling over the top.  I am not saying to run it in this.  I think there could be better options in this.  I am just saying there is no way you can convince me that standstill/ninja is superior to Gushbond.
  
I would like to play around with 4x Frantic Search to pump up the volume on the Ink engine.  And then you still have at least four slots to fill.  A pair of Jace and something or some 3xDuress/1x more bounce maybe.  Jace helps with the f.searching.  Add something else to help neutralize the drawback of frantic.  Turn it into a win.  

Confidant seems good in your build.  Is NinjaStand better?

Both Wasteland and Pithing Needle ruin your day I would imagine. (notice I have not tested this decklist and it's all speculation, sorry:)  At least mix up the fetchlands.  Polluted delta allows for a basic swamp if needed.

Yeah, pump spells are typically garbage.  Even on Selkie  g.grow is a recall like card and not worth playing competitively.  Nobles are and might still be good with the Inks direction.  I have a Berserk still in the board and remember an absurdly good deck that usually ran one board maybe one main also.  What was that deck again?  Something about being a gangster.  

I don't think this is going to be the next "The Deck" or anything, but this is a pretty interesting discussion.

Nice, the deck, another Favorite of mine.

Keeper it cool, DrKnowMaD

[bun]

I'll agree that gush is better than this draw engine almost always, even without fastbond.  I just think that playing gush when one of your wincons is manlands is not a great idea.  Maybe I'm going about it the wrong way.  The advantage of my deck is that you don't really need to protect your spells: all of the counters are there to deal with the opponent.  But maybe I should take another look at the engine, and I'm just being suckered into playing around standstill because I'm using lands.

I still don't think that gush is effective in any version of this deck, though, because I think any version of this deck needs to run inkmoth.  But I'll think about what else might work here.

I am also totally open to the possibility that there will be juicy infect creatures that make a completely different version of an infect deck viable, but this is how it looks to me so far.