Messing arround with affinity (SOM spoilers)

[browncoat]

Following up on Alex's concept for hybrid affinity in show 80, I wanted to start a discussion of affinity with some of the new spoilers. Alex suggested using metalcraft creatures like carapace sculptor and ezuri's brigade to ramp up affinity's speed. Does anyone have any ideas for a new affinity list?

My new list is looking something like this:

creatures:
4 memnite
4 ornithopter
4 disciple of the vault
4 arcbound ravager
3 master of etherium
4 frogmite
4 myr enforcer
2 etched champion

noncreatures:
2 mox opal
3 springleaf drum
4 cranial plating
4 thoughtcast

lands:
4 seat of the synod
4 vault of whispers
4 darksteel citadel
4 tree of tales
2 ancient den

[Alex]

I'm currently looking at something along these lines:

4 Seat of the Synod
4 Tree of Tales
4 Ancient Den
4 Vault of Whispers
2 Glimmervoid
1 Island

4 Ornithopter
4 Ezuri's Brigade
4 Master of Etherium
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Frogmite
4 Arcbound Ravager
3 Grand Architect

2 Mox Opal
4 Springleaf Drum
4 Thoughtcast
4 Cranial Plating

I'm actually not so sure how good Disciple and Ravager would be in the deck, but if nothing else they allow the "combo finish". They'd be good sideboard targets for Leonin Arbiter, which itself is a great sideboard card because Affinity players rarely have to search their libraries.

Grand Architect is my favourite card so far from Scars, and in this deck can pump any creature just by paying U (you could even do damage with Thopter without needing Plating!). He can also help to pay for something, although ramp only goes so far!

The single Island is in as always in case something gets hit with Path, so it doesn't becomes a better Swords. Also, Glimmervoid is in because Brigade is 2GG, and I'd hate to be stuck with only 1 green source.

Of course this is only a rough build at the moment. I'm aiming for a "Merfolk-like" deck, where every card has an impact when it's played.

[browncoat]

The other thing I have noticed around the internet is that some builds are going down to 16 lands as mox opal and springleaf drum+ornithopter/memnite let you have more content cards. I should probably think about this for my build as I don't have the need for as many expensive cards.

Alex would aether vial be good in your deck as you really want to hit your 3 and 4 drops. Disciple, Ravager, and even frogmite seem less useful as your deck is less explosive in dumping its hand but better at having stable creatures. The thopter combo would seem to fit as the thopters are blue so they combo well with the architect. I am not really a fan of the basic land in affinity as you never want to draw it though you do and wish it was an artifact. If you are following the model of merfolk or goblins would galvanic blast be solid as removal/finisher? You are only running white for the sideboard and running red in its place would not change anything.