B/U Guildmage Mindcrank Combo (Casual)

The whole premise of the deck is to trigger a life loss/ mill combo. Two cards are essential for the combo to trigger; the Duskmantle Guildmage Creature and the Mindcrank Artifact. There is also a third way to trigger the combo using the Bloodchief Ascension Enchantment. This however should be seen as a secondary alternative, to be used only in situations where this has either become the most viable route due to the state of the game you are in or because you no longer have a way to use the Duskmantle Guildmage.

Essentially when Mindcrank is on the battlefield the combo can either be triggered in the following ways:

Duskmantle Guildmage must be on the battlefield and use his first ability. Once this is active any damage dealt to the opponent or cards put in their graveyard until end of turn will start the combo.

A Bloodchief Ascension must be on the battlefield with three quest counters on it. Once this is active any damage dealt to the opponent or cards put in their graveyard until end of turn will start the combo.

Once the combo begins the opponent will alternate between losing 1 life and milling a card from the top of their library, until they either lose all of their life or mill all of their cards. The combo stopping Whichever event comes first. In the first scenario they lose all their life, in the second scenario when they must next draw a card they will lose the game, as there are no cards in their library left to draw.

There are various cards in the deck to assist in setting this combo up. Dimir Infiltrator and Muddle the Mixture both have transmute abilities that can be used to search for both the Duskmantle Guildmage and the Mindcrank. The Dimir Infiltrator also has utility in being able to set off the combo once on the field by being able to unblockably deal 1 damage to the opponent. Muddle the Mixture also has utility in being a useful counterspell if required.

Next we have a very useful instant card; Gifts Ungiven. This card will allow you to search for four cards that will guarantee you are able to transmute for the rest of your combo. The cards you will search for
being; Duskmantle Guildmage, Mindcrank, Dimir Infiltrator & Muddle the Mixture. No matter which two your opponent allows, you will be able to transmute the cards you require.

The Whispersilk Cloak is useful in being able to protect your Duskmantle Guildmage or allow you to deal the damage you need to set off the combo by making a creature unblockable.

This should be your preferred route to secure your combo.

However we also have the Bloodchief Ascension which can be used if required. There are various cards that can help to do the two damage a turn required to activate it. To do this we will use discard effects.

The Liliana's Caress Enchantment will make an opponent lose two life each time they discard a card which is enough a turn to add a quest counter to Bloodchief Ascension. Bottomless Pit and Liliana will be used to cause the discard. They are also helpful once either combo set up is active to start the combo by putting a card in the opponent's graveyard.

Geth's Grimoire is useful in adding draw to your opponent's discards, helping you to get to your combo quicker. Waste not also adds utility to your discard effect, including draw.

Dimir Doppelganger adds some utility as he can be another way of obtaining your Duskmantle Guildmage effect and can be used on opponents discarded creatures if required.

Some added draw / discard effects with Dimir Cutpurse. Breathstealer's Crypt also adds some potential extra discard to the draw, if not it can add a 3 life loss.

Dimir Signet and Dimir Cluestone are there to help your mana.

Boomerang, Propaganda and Guard Gomazoa are sideboarded for creature threat