[Deck] Evil Parfait

[Raph Caron]

Here’s the list I’m using right now, followed by some card choices explanations.

Evil Parfait - January 2004

- Mana -
       
2 Plateau
2 Scrubland
1 Mountain
2 Swamp
8 Plains
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Diamond
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring

- Threats -

1 Tormod's Crypt
2 Goblin Charbelcher
1 Sacred Mesa/Haunting Echoes/Goblin Trenches
3 Duress
1 Mind Twist

- Defense -

1 Balance
4 Vindicate
2 Zuran Orb
2 Seal of Cleansing
2 Swords to Plowshares
2 Humility

- Card Drawing & Tutoring -

1 Skeletal Scrying
4 Scroll Rack
3 Land Tax
3 Tithe
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
3 Argivian Find
2 Eternal Dragon
1 Enlightened Tutor
             
SB:  2 Slice and Dice
SB:  3 Chains of Mephistopheles
SB:  3 Blood Moon
SB:  3 Tormod's Crypt
SB:  2 Orim’s Thunder
SB:  2 Swords to Plowshares

- Vindicate -
I’m a big fan of this card in a Misdirection-free meta. Allows me to cut on some more situational cards like Swords and Seals. The LD factor counts too. You can destroy your opponent’s basic lands, making Blood Moon more dangerous.

- Eternal Dragon -
Once again, a favorite. I might up the number of Dragons. You kill with these surprisingly often.

- Goblin Charbelcher -
Not the crazy fast kill I thought it would be, but still a nice Cursed Scroll that can go nuts. The only problem is that it’s affected by Null Rod/Damping Matrix. That’s why I’m thinking about running …

- Sacred Mesa -
Actually, it might not be Mesa. Goblin Trenches and Decree of Justice might take that spot. I’m currently running a Haunting Echoes in that slot.

- Skeletal Scrying -
Sometimes, I feel like scrapping the whole Tax/Rack thing and run additional copies of this one instead. That’s something I’d like to test, eventually.

- Slice and Dice -
The maindeck is not the aggro hoser it used to be, so I have to put a few cards for that matchup in the sideboard. I’ve lost too many games to humiliated 1/1’s. This one here is a nice way to get rid of them. You even get a card in the process! Could be maindecked in some environments.

- Orim’s Thunder -
Instant-speed artifact removal to combat Null Rod-sporting aggro.


That’s it. I’m interested in hearing about experiences and comments. I had some decent success with this version, but I’m sure there is still room for improvement. Thanks!

[Kowal]

This actually looks the most playable Parfait has looked since December of 2002.  I especially like the Slice and Dice.

Can we get some current matchup analysis, K-Run?

[firebird365]

Seal of Cleansing vs. Aura of Silence - how have the seals been working for you? I realize that the Auras are a turn slower, but with Moxen I don't think that the extra acceleration needed is a problem. They help a bit more against Stax and Dragon, to an extent, but I suppose the Seals work just as well against Dragon.

The first thing I noticed was the absense of Scepter (and Chant) - when I played Parfait, I found that the Scepter / Chant was the best way to take control of the game long enough for Charbelcher to get a hit or two in - I see that you run less targets for it, but I think it would be worth two or three slots.

[Guardian]

Hey Raph!
have you ever considered bringing back Moat in at least in the sideboard? With new aggro decks emerging (Stompy, Sligh, Madness) and strong control relying on manlands or soldier tokens or trenched goblins, the card appears quite strong. I know StP and Vindicate can do the job nicely against creatures and that 9 Strip effects are also strong, but the risk of encountering an untargettable or Teferi's Response is real and present in the current metagame. I believe a card that says "Get rid of me or lose" should be considered. Moreover, it has great synergy with Humility and Eternal Dragon. Against decks that pack disenchanting effects, it forces them to use them on this instead of Scroll Rack, buying you some time.
Let me know what you think about it.
Dominique

[Jacob Orlove]

Humility should be enough. That card is worse than Moat for most decks, especially with Slice and Dice.

[greedo]

Hello there, odd to see you without the name K-Run.

I like how the deck looks.  My one question is why no Vampiric Tutor?  The two life should not matter much (in most cases) as you have access to two Zuran Orbs.  You are running Enlightened Tutor which, while far from limited, cannot get you some key cards.  Additional search usually doesn't hurt.

Good luck with this.

[Hyperion]

Isn't Wrath of God just better (than Slice and Dice)? The latter is cute in conjunction with Humility but Wrath is much better on its own.

[Raph Caron]

Kowal :

I'll get to matchups when I'll have enough playtest results to write about. This version is all-new and there are some matchups I haven't play vs yet. Don't worry, I'll eventually get to it.

firebird365 :

Seal of Cleansing vs. Aura of Silence - The one mana difference is definitely too important, even with the added moxes. Best example is that game I played first turn Aura vs a Workshop deck. That slowed him a bit, but he eventually played Moxes with his Workshop and still played the big stuff too soon. Also, there's a lot of mana used in a typical Parfait turn (Belcher activation, Dragon, perms) so you want to play cheap spells as often as possible.

Isochron Scepter - I personally think Scepter is subpar, and my meta is filled with Null Rods and artifact hate. I don't want to bastardize my maindeck for a few good-but-not-necessary artifacts.

Guardian :

Moat is in my sideboard right now, until I get my hands on a pair of... Slice and Dice. I agree Aggro is on the rise and I think the return of an Enchantment-type kill card like Goblin Trenches/Sacred Mesa and the inclusion of Slice and Dice address that problem well enough. Untargettables are dealt with with Humility and Response is the Target of Duress and Moon. That being said, I'm still not trading my Moat.

greedo :

The new nick is easier to track with the search engine.

You're right about Vampiric Tutor. I'll add one to my decklist.

Hyperion :

Actually, since it's a sideboard card vs weenie aggro, it's better since (in no order) :
1) it's near-uncounterable (big advantage vs Fish/Keeper);
2) it cycles at instant-speed (kills Conclaves);
3) you still have the option of hard-casting it vs bigger threats;
4) you draw a card off it;
5) the casting cost is 3.

Humility/Trenches/Swords/Vindicate deal with the remaining creatures.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Kowal]

I've been goofing off and doing some playtesting with this most recent list against Hulk, and I've gotta say K-Run, it's been working beautifully.  I especially like the Vindicates, even though at first glance they appear pretty janky.  I'm concerned with your Landstill matchup however.  Do you think the blood moons in your sideboard will be strong enough to stop them?

[Pern]

What? Landstill?
I'm only running three Misdirection.
Why would that make you nervous playing Vindicate?

Raph -
Nice looking build.
I like the combination of Tax and Tithe.
Scrying is very strong as well.

[cYkobMxbiKer]

Only suggestion or question is to why arent you playing Claws of Gix? I found it to be good in the long run during a match. Is it you forgot or is it not suited to your meta? Well good luck with ure deck dude!

[Raph Caron]

Claws of Gix was needed before as Buyback spells (Capsize, Allay, Shattering Pulse) were truly annoying and popular, but nowadays people prefer to play other cards in their sideboards.

Also, when I decided to switch to Charbelcher for the kill, I wanted to be able Land Tax efficiently, and Zuran Orb makes that easier/faster.

Finally, putting Zuran Orb back in replaces the old tandem of Claws/Ivory Tower that helped vs aggro. Tower is nice in a burn-filled meta, but now I don't really need it anymore.