Mono Blue Pike

Mr_Weebles · Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 154

I noticed so much of the current T2 is centered around 2 or 3 color decks and decided to toy around with some mono colored stuff. I know blue has been fairly strong in the past by itself so I threw this list together.

14 Island
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Ghost Quarter

4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Invisible Stalker

4 Ponder
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Think Twice
4 Mana Leak
4 Dissipate
2 Psychic Barrier
2 Dismember

3 Runechanter's Pike

SB 3 Flashfreeze (vs red/pod)
SB 3 Negate (vs control/pod)
SB 3 Sword of War and Peace (vs red)
SB 2 Spellskite (vs ?)
SB 2 Psychic Barrier (vs aggro/kessig)
SB 2 Dismember (vs aggro)

The basic idea here is to control the game and win with the Runechanter's Pike or Delver of Secrets. Being mono colored allows me to run a full set of Ghost Quarter and Inkmoth Nexus. It also makes the double blue spells easier. Both of these should help in the matchup with Kessig Ramp. Grand Architect is still up for debate as Invisible Stalker might be the better choice. Current it is running 24 instants and i don't think that can go any lower or else the win conditions weaken with it.

Any thoughts? Anyone else trying a mono build?

Darric · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 6

I'd say Stalker is pretty necessary when you're looking to win by connecting with equipment.

Dr_Moo · Joined: 26 Nov 2004 Posts: 1053

I would want more answers to permanents than just Dismember. Disperse would probably be solid.

GuilleGG · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 3

Cards worth considering, mutagenic growth, mental misstep and gutshot maindeck. All make consistent and explosive starts.

magicman85 · Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 549

I would use Spellskites. They are good for stealing the Kessig pump and plus you can always use them with your equipments. However mono color decks can be decent for casual play but it won't be top tier.

Selkie · Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Posts: 64

Whenever you play a mono-colored deck, you have to ask yourself: Is there a reason I'm limiting myself to one color? (Dungrove elder, for example, would be a reason to run only green)

In your list: no, there isn't

You have a solid idea, try expanding on it! See what other colors have to offer

xJudicatorx · Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 564

This would be a great idea if Runechanter's Pike wasn't strictly worse than Sword of feast and Famine. As is, your deck is just a really janky CawBlade.

Jacois · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 1155

Mr_Weebles · Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 154

Thanks for all the comments guys, I agree with most of them and will try out a hybrid. Im thinking Midnight Haunting may be a perfectly good reason to splash around.

Mr_Weebles · Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 154

4 Plains
6 Island
2 Moorland Haunt
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Seachrome Coast

4 Delver of Secrets
4 Invisible Stalker
3 Spellskite

4 Midnight Haunting
4 Dissipate
4 Mana Leak
4 Think Twice
4 Ponder
2 Dismember

3 Runechanter's Pike

SB 3 Celestial Purge (vs control/red)
SB 2 Flashfreeze (vs red/pod)
SB 3 Oblivion Ring (vs control/pod)
SB 2 Dismember (vs aggro)
SB 3 Timely Reinforcements (vs red)
SB 2 Negate (vs control/pod)

Here is my splashy version I have been working on. The main advantage for adding white is I now have access to Midnight Haunting in the main deck and Oblivion Ring/Timely Reinforcements/Celestial Purge in the sideboard. I also really like having Moorland Haunt as another possibly creature late game. I now have essentially 21 creatures, all but 3 of which have some evasion for the pike. I increased the land count to adjust for the higher potential for flaws in land draws. It feels like I am missing removal main board still.

Thoughts?

Jacois · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 1155

before I comment further, are even testing the list after updating it?

Mr_Weebles · Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 154

Yes though my testing is limited to just what me and my friend have available. We have a WWu, Big Red, and Bant Pod we have been running it against.

P_P4E · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 579

crazy. I brewed up a list very similar to this today.

I have no stalkers or pikes, instead sword of feast or famine (strictly better than pike IMO).

im basically -3 stalker, -2 ponder -2 probe -1 psychic barrier -3 pike

+3 sword, +1 consecrated sphinx +1 batterskull +1 twisted image +1 frost breath +1 quicksilver geyser +1 dismember +2 islands (22 lands is a bit crazy. I feel awkward running 24).

Stalker might be fine as a 2 of or something, but its so weak on its own that I generally don't like it. only 14 actual cards to kill the opponent might be too few as well.

Spyx · Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 1186

-3 pikes +2 sofaf +1 sowap

Engrishskill · Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: 1152

Well, the cat's out of the bag. Bummer.

I am weary of delver because they're squishy and give-away too much information. I'd be more inclined to run a different creature altogether. Don't get me wrong; very good card. I enjoy blowing out opponents by playing things unexpectedly too much to give my opponent info about my hand every turn for a 3/2 flier.

At one mana, I can see the value for sure, but they're the kind of card that will screw you savagely for the first time ever in a feature match because salt-of-the-earth competitive players aren't going to take advantage of that free information nearly as well as a feature match opponent.

Alchemy can already give an me an enormous amount of information about my opponent's plans...delver is insult to injury.