Paradoxical Storm AER - Comments

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[Nadim]

Don't you think you can throw away some Reservoirs and Inspiring Statuary to take Whir of Invention ?

[Nadim]

Oh and (sorry for double commentating) 8 0-mana spells are enough ? Don't you consider both playing Ornithopter and Bone Saw ?
I built a deck similar to yours (check it if you have time), I think it's not as efficient but maybe it could work aswell

[kfshradio]

Thanks for the feedback! I think that 8 zero-drop spells is plenty.

4 Whir of Invention / 2 Aetherflux Reservoir / 2 Inspiring Statuary could be an interesting split. The problem with Whir is that it requires you to put your zero-drops onto the field before you go off, which means you will be getting half as many storm counts the turn you cast Paradoxical Outcome. I could see it being good against grindier matchups, where you could tap out for 7 and then combo off the following turn, but I think Improvising Baral's Expertise/Paradoxical Outcome/Glint-nest Crane to find a Reservoir mid-combo might be better and faster. There's definitely playtesting required.

You should check out my new version, which is WIP but splashing white for Sram, Senior Edificer: https://deckstats.net/decks/54826/646820-paradoxical-sram-aer-/en

[Nadim]

Your Sram version is quite interesting (do you considered adding Cloudblazer ?), but I think I'll stick to the mono-blue version (cheaper manabase wisely).
If you think that 8 zero-drops are enough, I think I'll just get rid of Bone Saw and add some Engulf the shore/Efficient Construction.

I'll run Whir of Invention and check about the results ^^ I understand that you prefer keep your 0-drops in hand for a one turn kill ASAP, but I think the deck can become more flexible if you have those (if you can't find a Reservoir it can become hard) and quite surprising, like playing Reservoir at the end of the opponent's turn and then go full combo. Moreover, I think you are quite likely to cast a Crush of Tentacles or a Engulf the shore before casting your full combo, so I guess it's not that problematic if you early cast your 0-drops (so it can allow you a U-cast Engulf the Shore, could be nice against aggro).

[Nadim]

I also just realized I wasn't running anticipate. Do you think Glint-Nest Crane is better or worse ? Or should I absolutely run both ?

[kfshradio]

Cloudblazer is an interesting idea! It lends itself nicely to Inspiring Statuary. Maybe in the sideboard.

Yeah, Whir is definitely viable. I think it is a 'safer' card to play but limits the explosiveness of the deck, like you said.
I prefer Cathar's Shield over Ornithopter, as Ornithopter eats removal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and having a critical mass of permanents is really important when casting Paradoxical Outcome.

Anticipate is nice because it ensures you stay on curve early game. That's why I run it over Reverse Engineer, which can be hard to cast turn 2, which is when you need Anticipate the most. Glint-nest Crane is infinitely better than Anticipate/Reverse Engineer while going off as you can bounce it and recast to dig 8 cards deep for a 0-drop. It also comes down for U when you have Inspiring Statuary on the field, which feels great.

[Nadim]

Yeah you're right, I'll try to replace something to run Anticipate then. Maybe I'll try something like 3 Anticipate/2 Reverse Engineer (note that Anticipate also comes down for U when you have Inspiring Statuary on the field, but meh, for a single cast it's not that great).

I guess Ornithopter is a good sideboard card against aggro, and Cathar's Shield better against control. I'm not sure how the metagame is about to change so I'll see ^^

[Nadim]

Also (hehe, I love double posting) I don't run Pilgrim's Eye. Do you feel it's an important piece ? I feel it's too costy and can't be reduced by improvising :/

[kfshradio]

I run Pilgrim's Eye because
a) it allows me to run less lands in the deck, resulting in more value off Paradoxical Outcomes
b) it's a 3-drop, which the deck is short on
c) you can use it to Improvise your bounce spells
d) it's the only shuffle effect in my deck, which is necessary if you send 2 Outcomes to the bottom off a Glint-nest or Anticipate

There very well may be a better card for that slot but I haven't discovered it yet.

[Nadim]

Ok I understand the thing.

Thank you very very much for all your pieces of advice, can't wait to play this deck

[kfshradio]

I hope you like it! Tell me how your playtesting goes ; AER brought a lot of cool toys and I'm not sure how to use them.

[Nadim]

I'm here for my playtesting feedback

First, compared to your list, I run 4 Whir of Invention, 1 Inspiring Statuary, 3 Aetherflux Reservoir, no pilgrim's eye, 4 Metallic Rebuke, no Engulf the Shore (I know, I need some) and 2 Crush of Tentacles (while waiting for Engulf the Shore), and 2 Efficicient construction.
I also run 2 prophetic prism and only 2 Glint-Nest Crane, as they are less relevant in a deck running around Whir of Invention (I'm even considering dishing them out for prophetic prisms) and it's so painful when you see some paradoxical outcome that you can't grab on with it . I don't care of draw within 4 cards, I just want to draw (moreover, it's easier to get a land, if you don't get anticipate in your hand).
I run 3 Anticipate/2 Reverse Engineer, I think it's a good balance.

So, my playtests (I still haven't got the occasion to play in tournament, just with friends, against Standard and non-standard decks) revealed :
  - It's painful against aggro. I can win, but often I'm under 10~5 hp before going all the way up to 50. I think it's due to the absence of Engulf the Shore in my deck, as I have much too many permanents to make Crush of Tentacles worth.
  - Baral's Expertise is really wonderful against most decks, and I almost cast Aetherflux Reservoir as often with it than with Whir of Invention.
  - Metallic Rebuke is fantastic against every single deck, in particullar combo decks (that we will see in Standard with AER #Saheeli).

For the white/blue version, I think that prophetic prism is pretty relevant, pilgrim's eye is worth to be added, and Authority of the Consuls could be a really good idea. I'm probably going to test this deck with the Sram version, I'll send you more feedback after this ^^

[Nadim]

For Efficient Construction, it's pretty... efficient ! (badum tss). It provides a lot of chumpblockers, and even if it doesn't work with paradoxical outcome, it works well with inspiration.
I'm considering adding some Epiphany at the Drownyard or Pieces of the Puzzle, as a recurrent problem is that I can't finish the came because I don't have a paradoxical outcome in hand, or I can't bear the opposing agression because I have no Baral's expertise or Crush of Tentacles (or Engulf the Shore).

Another thing... did you consider adding some Eldrazis (like Oblivion Sower in side against blue/white decks, or Ulamog), as it works well with inspiring statuary/Efficient construction ?

[kfshradio]

Hey! Thanks for doing some playtesting. I've been focusing on Modern and Limited lately and haven't got this deck in paper yet.
Whir seems like a sweet card for the deck. You don't have problems with running only one Inspiring Statuary, though?

I'm less hyped on Pilgrim's Eye especially in my Sram build where he can usually smooth your draws into not missing a land drop, but I do love Glint-Nest. Where they shine most is mid combo, recasting them for U to dig 4-deep for another 0 drop to increase your storm count. A critical mass of permanents is imporant and I wouldn't considering cutting them out for more draw spells. I'll mess around with Metallic Rebuke and let you know how it goes; I know I at least want them in the sideboard.

I'll add Prism if I can find space for it, and Authority of the Consuls will definitely make the SB for Copycat. Ulamog would be a great SB card as well but I don't own one