Inspiration: I'm digging around in my unsorted white cards and I stumble across {Heliod's Pilgrim}. Seems like a pretty solid card. Then latter I see
{Spectral Ward} and I think to myself "that's practically a win condition." Then low and behold I find {Boonweaver Giant}. So there's a deck idea brewing in my mind, and I can't think of anybody that has done it before. I bounced around between other colors to get into before settling on green, because {Yisan, the Wanderer Bard}, there's a {G}/{W} fetch in standard and ramp. I'm debating blue as there are a few answers to {Spectral Ward} and counters are the easiest answer to those answers. Here's a tentative and incomplete decklist.
4x {Heliod's Pilgrim}: Fetches {Spectral Ward}
4x {Boonweaver Giant}: Fetches /and/ attaches {Spectral Ward}.
3x {Yisan, the Wanderer Bard}: Fetches creatures that fetch {Spectral Ward}.
4x {Elvish Mystic}: Cause ramp.
4x {Slyvian Caryatid}: Cause ramp.
19 Creatures
4x {Spectral Ward}: Key piece, the whole reason the deck is coming together.
3x (Nissa's Expedition}: Raaaamp.
2x {Gift of Immortality}: I couldn't think of any other good fetches for the enchantment tutors. Suggestions are welcome. Debating bumping up the numbers.
4x {Devouring Light}: I think it's pretty solid removal.
3x {Banishing Light}: Tried and true removal.
Cutting room floor, things that I thought about but didn't make room for.
{Elspeth, Sun's Champion}: Her middle ability is one of the few things that could remove a {Spectral Ward} creature. That and she doesn't really fit the theme otherwise.
{Raise the Alarm}: Cause {Devouring Light} and buys time, but that's about it.
{Nyx Fleece Ram}: Doesn't directly help my strategy.
{God's Willing}: I have four creatures with hexproof, four things that give protection from all colors always, and two things that give immortality. What else do I need?
{Heliod, God of the Sun}: Only really saw the vigilance being relevant, though he's probably quite capable of becoming a creature in this deck.
{Gainsay}: Will think about more if I decide to go tri color and add blue.
{Adamant Negation}: Again, if I go blue.
{Disdainful Stroke}: I think all the answers to {Spectral Ward} that aren't countering it are four mana or more, without counting {Polymorph's Jest} (as I'm not sure if it stops the enchantment or not?)
The other ideas I had are all sideboard options. Creatures that fit the Yisan curve while fitting the deck theme would be nice. Better bodies to slap {Spectral Ward} on are fantastic too. So far the plan is,
T1
Forest
{Elvish Mystic}
T2
Plains
Tap out for {Yisan, Wanderer Bard}/{Heliod's Pilgrim}
T3
Land.
Tutor out {Elvish Mystic}/answer threat with {Banishing Light} or {Devouring Light}.
T4
Land.
Tutor out {Sylvian Caryatid}/{Spectral Ward} and try to hold it down till game.
T5
Schmur.
Tutor out {Heliod's Pilgrim} and fetch {Spectral Ward}/keep holding it down.
T6
{Spectral Ward} on something or bust.
Drop 1 devouring light for the 4th banishing light, ban is strictly bettter
Quote from: Hunteroffire9 on November 29, 2014, 12:51:36 PM
Drop 1 devouring light for the 4th banishing light, ban is strictly bettter
I was leaning towards that too. I'll make the change when the final edit comes around.
Quote from: Hunteroffire9 on November 29, 2014, 12:51:36 PM
Drop 1 devouring light for the 4th banishing light, ban is strictly bettter
I think you misunderstand the term strictly better. {Banishing Light} is not strictly better, it can be removed. Strictly better means it does the same thing better. For example {Dissolve} is strictly better than {Cancel} because it does the exact same thing but adds scry.
Quote from: Bookmeister on November 30, 2014, 03:29:40 AM
Quote from: Hunteroffire9 on November 29, 2014, 12:51:36 PM
Drop 1 devouring light for the 4th banishing light, ban is strictly bettter
I think you misunderstand the term strictly better. {Banishing Light} is not strictly better, it can be removed. Strictly better means it does the same thing better. For example {Dissolve} is strictly better than {Cancel} because it does the exact same thing but adds scry.
Technically speaking {Utter End} is better. However {B} mana isn't an option in this deck and a CMC of four for a removal spell is a bit sketch. (Though I'm willing to pay that for a catch all more often than not).
The reason {Banishing Light} is "strictly better" than {Devouring Light} is that {Devouring Light} is situational and creature only. It won't help me if they drop an {Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver}. It won't get a {Jeskai Ascendancy} off the table for me.
{Banishing Light} is strictly better because it's a "catch all". The fact that they have a chance to get it back is worth the fact that it hits pretty much everything and doesn't have the timing restriction of {Devouring Light}. They're both kinda in there cause light theme and they both work.
Quote from: LinkCelestrial on November 30, 2014, 03:06:15 PM
Quote from: Bookmeister on November 30, 2014, 03:29:40 AM
Quote from: Hunteroffire9 on November 29, 2014, 12:51:36 PM
Drop 1 devouring light for the 4th banishing light, ban is strictly bettter
I think you misunderstand the term strictly better. {Banishing Light} is not strictly better, it can be removed. Strictly better means it does the same thing better. For example {Dissolve} is strictly better than {Cancel} because it does the exact same thing but adds scry.
Technically speaking {Utter End} is better. However {B} mana isn't an option in this deck and a CMC of four for a removal spell is a bit sketch. (Though I'm willing to pay that for a catch all more often than not).
The reason {Banishing Light} is "strictly better" than {Devouring Light} is that {Devouring Light} is situational and creature only. It won't help me if they drop an {Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver}. It won't get a {Jeskai Ascendancy} off the table for me.
{Banishing Light} is strictly better because it's a "catch all". The fact that they have a chance to get it back is worth the fact that it hits pretty much everything and doesn't have the timing restriction of {Devouring Light}. They're both kinda in there cause light theme and they both work.
The definition of "strictly better" is not up for debate. I explained what it means. {Banishing Light} may be better in your opinion and that is fine but it is not strictly better.
Also {Banishing Light} is situational as well. It won't help you when that {Siege Rhino} is attacking, {Devouring Light} will.
Quote from: Bookmeister on November 30, 2014, 11:01:40 PM
Quote from: LinkCelestrial on November 30, 2014, 03:06:15 PM
Quote from: Bookmeister on November 30, 2014, 03:29:40 AM
Quote from: Hunteroffire9 on November 29, 2014, 12:51:36 PM
Drop 1 devouring light for the 4th banishing light, ban is strictly bettter
I think you misunderstand the term strictly better. {Banishing Light} is not strictly better, it can be removed. Strictly better means it does the same thing better. For example {Dissolve} is strictly better than {Cancel} because it does the exact same thing but adds scry.
Technically speaking {Utter End} is better. However {B} mana isn't an option in this deck and a CMC of four for a removal spell is a bit sketch. (Though I'm willing to pay that for a catch all more often than not).
The reason {Banishing Light} is "strictly better" than {Devouring Light} is that {Devouring Light} is situational and creature only. It won't help me if they drop an {Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver}. It won't get a {Jeskai Ascendancy} off the table for me.
{Banishing Light} is strictly better because it's a "catch all". The fact that they have a chance to get it back is worth the fact that it hits pretty much everything and doesn't have the timing restriction of {Devouring Light}. They're both kinda in there cause light theme and they both work.
The definition of "strictly better" is not up for debate. I explained what it means. {Banishing Light} may be better in your opinion and that is fine but it is not strictly better.
Also {Banishing Light} is situational as well. It won't help you when that {Siege Rhino} is attacking, {Devouring Light} will.
I should have clarified, I was explaining his view. I do not think it is strictly better, just in some situations. And in current standard, more often than not.