[Standard] Mono-White lifegain

[Disturbedone0777]

So this would be the list that I used to play Browncoat on Sunday. My mis-interpretation of the the way that cradle worked has caused me to want to go back and rethink how I go about constructing this deck. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Creatures
4xSoul Warden
4xSoul's Attendant
4xFelidar Sovereign
4xBaneslayer Angel
4xWall of Reverence
[24]

Sorcery
2xConqueror's Pledge
[2]

Enchantments
3xJourney to Nowhere
3xOblivion Ring
4xCradle of Vitality
[10]

Instants
4xBrave the Elements
[4]

Lands
14x Plains
2x Tectonic Edge
2x Marsh Flats
2x Arid Mesa
[20]

Having used the deck now and realizing some things I believe that I'm going to switch some stuff around.

I think that it would be a good idea to cut the cradles down to a (2) of would be a good call. I might also lower the amount of Soverigns to a (2) of and replace the four with a Knight of the white Orchid to get a little bit more land out of the deck quicker?

Thoughts on my main board?

[Ferridge]

How did you find your mana base? I've alway found if I run less the 24 I get mana stitched.

[browncoat]

20 is sort of low for standard. One of the games we played had Disturbed without too much mana. It did not matter as I kept a creature based hand with no removal and he had 5 soul wardens on turn 3. That said this deck really needs the soul wardens. Removal, not drawing them, or playing against a creature-light deck this deck does not really work. I do think that cradle of vitality is probably not necessary, even though the 18 power wall of reverence was hilarious (which made a 19/19 soul warden which swung for the win). I am also not sure of wall of reverence in the deck as it is not that great when you don't have too many early creatures with high power.

[Disturbedone0777]

Originally I was seeing if I could break the fact that you could run eight soul wardens. I really wanted to find a deck that used creatures coming into play, as it's main part of the the plan to gain life. I also noticed that if I had a cradle of vitality out with a baneslayer that the angel got more and more dangerous quickly. Adding in another win condition. It is a theoretical deck of course. The 20 land didn't actually ever really hurt me too bad and if I can reform the deck to include some fetching I don't think it will hurt that bad. Of course revisions could be made.

On the other hand I want to make this mechanic good still for the lifegain win, so what are some things you guys think could make soul wardens even sicker? I'm thinking going G/W as most lifegain decks I've seen around typically have both colors and using some type of creature generation in combo with the soul wardens for sick lifegain. Maybe use Ranger of Eos to find them. Thoughts?

[Ferridge]

What about using the Nomad's Assembly the turn after a Conqueror's Pledge, that should give you some life with a soul warden.

[browncoat]

(2010-05-17 21:17 PM)Ferridge Wrote:  What about using the Nomad's Assembly the turn after a Conqueror's Pledge, that should give you some life with a soul warden.

I think that nomad's assembly is win-more and makes the deck weak against removal (a problem it has already). It has the potential to be gamebreaking but if you resolve a conqueror's pledge you are already in a good position to win. I think the deck needs more early plays just to survive until dropping a sovereign or baneslayer.

[Disturbedone0777]

I could replace the soul warden idea entirely and move into splitting this into two potential decks. One that's based in life-gain through the Wardens ability's, and one that I want to make more competitive. I know there has got to be a lifegain deck that can win in tier 1 out there, just a matter of finding it. So that's where I think I'm going to head with this deck now.

So what I think I should keep in the deck is

Creatures
2xFelidar Sovereign
4xBaneslayer Angel
4xWall of Reverence

Enchantments
3xJourney to Nowhere


Instants
4xBrave the Elements


Lands
15x Plains
2x Tectonic Edge
3x Marsh Flats
3x Arid Mesa
[23]

I've also changed the land to reflect the usual 23 that I play. Now I got to start thinking about early game since my main hitters are 5-6 drops. Any thoughts about what to include anyone. I'm thinking wall of Omens because the draw would help and having a wall to put in front of early aggro against my life total would be good. I'm also thinking that splashing another color could make the deck stronger. Thoughts on maybe a U/W lifegain deck?

[Ferridge]

Definately wall of omens, its a cycling card and a 0/4 blocker you can't ask for more from 1W.

Have you thought about using O-rings instead of the Journey to Nowhere, so you can deal with the annoying planeswalkers.

You could use ajani hes good for gaining life, and when your on a sick life level you can kick of his ultimate and have a massive guy to beat down with.

[browncoat]

(2010-05-18 13:41 PM)Ferridge Wrote:  Definately wall of omens, its a cantriping 0/4 blocker you can't ask for more from 1W.

Corrected, cycling involves discarding to draw as opposed to playing to draw(examples: eternal dragon or forgotten cave).

(2010-05-18 13:41 PM)Ferridge Wrote:  Have you thought about using O-rings instead of the Journey to Nowhere, so you can deal with the annoying planeswalkers.

I think both could have a place, I am not sure which is more relevant in this particular deck.

(2010-05-18 13:41 PM)Ferridge Wrote:  You could use ajani hes good for gaining life, and when your on a sick life level you can kick of his ultimate and have a massive guy to beat down with.

I second Ajani's inclusion, making serra avatar tokens is always awesome (having a life gain effect while acting as extra life is also a awesome).

Other life gain cards that could be amusing would be sunspring expedition and rest for the weary as they are pretty crappy but gain you life which is the point of the deck (plus you get to see your opponents confusion at you playing such horrible cards). I also think you can remove the wall of reverences as they don't have as big an impact in the early game and may not gain you much life.

[Disturbedone0777]

I could see Oblivion Ring as a good card to include in the sideboard for it's versatility as a removal spell, but for planeswalkers I would much rather have Pithing Needle sided. I was trying to come up with a solution in this deck to solve a problem of the main tier 1 decks I've seen. Including Kor Firewalkers somewhere seems like it might be a good idea. Most likely also as a side-boarded card. As for main board I would say that putting in Knight of the white Orchid wouldn't be a bad idea. It's a little land ramp that this deck might like if it stays mono white. Trying to get that turn 4 Baneslayer. I like the idea of normally unplayable lifegain but I am going for strength. I'm not sure that those would work out in my favor.

My idea for going the U/W would include counter spells to watch for removal. I was thinking dispel since most removal that i see playing against me is going to be instant speed. Also using the blue I can play things like See beyond or Ponder and even planeswalkers like Jace, the Mind Sculptor to try to get to the key cards in my deck. Since the win condition very heavily relies on the sovereign, I think it wouldn't be a bad call. This also lets me use Wall of denial which is one of my favorite walls of all time for it's effectiveness.

[zeldalink53]

For the deck you want to make competitive I would add Ajani's Pridemate to that, its Ability basically screams life gain help

(2010-05-18 13:18 PM)Disturbedone0777 Wrote:  I could replace the soul warden idea entirely and move into splitting this into two potential decks. One that's based in life-gain through the Wardens ability's, and one that I want to make more competitive. I know there has got to be a lifegain deck that can win in tier 1 out there, just a matter of finding it. So that's where I think I'm going to head with this deck now.

So what I think I should keep in the deck is

Creatures
2xFelidar Sovereign
4xBaneslayer Angel
4xWall of Reverence

Enchantments
3xJourney to Nowhere


Instants
4xBrave the Elements


Lands
15x Plains
2x Tectonic Edge
3x Marsh Flats
3x Arid Mesa
[23]

I've also changed the land to reflect the usual 23 that I play. Now I got to start thinking about early game since my main hitters are 5-6 drops. Any thoughts about what to include anyone. I'm thinking wall of Omens because the draw would help and having a wall to put in front of early aggro against my life total would be good. I'm also thinking that splashing another color could make the deck stronger. Thoughts on maybe a U/W lifegain deck?

[Deckbuilder]

Perimeter captain is a good choice if you are playing walls and life gain. Another good life gain choice is ajani's pridemate