1. Hidden Strings can do this:

    T1 Forest, Arbor Elf
    (opponent: island, preordain)
    T2 Forest, Utopia Sprawl on forest, tap forest, untap with elf, tap again, cast Hidden Strings, ciphering on Elf, untapping forest and elf, tap forest, Blastoderm. Attack with Elf, untap elf and forest, Blastoderm number two.

    Or something like that. How to turn that into a deck, I’m not sure.

  2. What about Mutagenic Growth for the Izzet list? Free spells seem pretty important to the strategy. If I were building a list like that, 4 Mutagenic Growth and 4 Gitaxian Probe would almost be auto-includes. For such a streamlined strategy, should situational cards like Dispel and Electrickery start in the board?

  3. I second mathisje, since Mutagenic Growth can pump Cyclops and Dragonauts to a toughness >4, which is the magic mark.

  4. I cannot wait to play the new Wee Fiend. I think I am going to add Shadow Rift in there. Evasion and a draw, I think i like that more, but it hard to make cuts in such a tight list. I think adding another mob was just what this deck needed.

  5. Hey Jason, congrats on a fresh article so well written! Besides the mutagenic growth and shadow rift already suggested, which I also play on my old weefiend deck, I have never been disapointed playing 1x lava dart because its almost free flashback cost.

    Loved the other 2 decks you made, primarily the boros one!

  6. I thought it seemed fairly obvious hiddenstrings had a perfect home in the familiar storm deck, gives another cloud of fairies type of effect, plus goes nicely on said cloud or mulldrifter.

    Uncovered clues seems pretty sweet in a teachings deck.

    No mention of the +5/+5 card for infect? for colorless and green its bigger than titanic growth, only draw of it being sorcery its still a huge swing when unchecked.

  7. I’m exciting about playing Fiends with the Cyclops. I’ll echo everyone else here saying that Mutagenic Growth and Gitaxian Probe should be auto-4-of in this deck. Other less common cards which may be playable in the archetype include Flame Jab as a one-of (good for getting value from excess lands) and Distortion Strike (giving evasion and pump on two consecutive turns).

    Phytoburst also seems playable and may give a boost to Infect. I’ve been playing with Wild Might in my Simic Infect, and Phytoburst seems like a straight upgrade (aside from the loss of instant-speed, which is a small drawback).

  9. Hey Jason,
    I had actually been fooling around with a dimir tortured existence deck a while ago. Brainstorm has amazing synergy with dredge and seems like a card you should consider for it. Because you actually draw the 3 cards you can set up multiple dredges with it, and if you already have something with dredge in your graveyard it lets you put dead cards from your hand on top of your library to dredge away next time you would draw. Oh yeah, and you can do all of this at instant speed!

  10. Also, I think it is worth mentioning that Hidden strings untaps cloudposts. I guess you could cast a mulldrifter first main, attack with your sea gate oracle, then untap and izland and a post to leave up condescend mana. Seems good, but maybe not good enough to spot in the deck.

  11. Tom the Scud – Ah yes, there we go. Not sure either.

    mathisje – They might be better in the board. I’m worried that playing Blessing, Growth and Probe will put us too low on life (maybe it won’t). If so, I’d 100% play Blessing over Growth.

    manicfold – Very true.

    Cyrulean – Yeah, the list gets narrower with 4x more guys.

    Vermiis – Great suggestions, and I appreciate the support!

    Warboss – We’ll see if you’re right about Strings and Clues (I’m not convinced). The pump spell loses a lot of utility being sorcery speed.

    JS Bangs – Glad you could add some input!

    BobBoberson – I don’t think so. It doesn’t do enough to impact a game.

    MiFraDeLa88 – That sounds pretty neat! As for Stings in Post, not sure that would cut it.

  13. On pilfered plans in a TE deck, I just don’t see a reason to use it over Forbidden Alchemy – yeah plus one card, but you lose the ability to choose, and trade instant for sorcery. And I often find Alchemy nearly uncastable in my own Dimir TE build due to the mana cost, even so.

  14. Well done Jason, and greetings for your well-written article. I do agree that DGM won’t be enough shaking for the Classic metagame, except maybe for a couple of cards like nivix cyclop (which may get izzet fiend tier 1?) and maybe drawn in filth or wake the reflections. there are also good cards for classic pauper, but i doubt they will be so good to reach high competitive lvl.

    Even tho’ I don’t think your dimir tortured may be the best way to deal with pilfered plans, I do apreciate a lot your efforts in finding a good home for a new boros aggro deck. Even in your previous article, i found rly good ideas about a boros aggro build, and I’m sure we may found a competitive build.

    Thanks once more for your articles, and keep up the good job!

    Cheers
    Giulio Taddei (iKragg on MTGO)

  15. Tom the Scud – I don’t think Alchemy is better in this deck. Never going to flash it back, and being an instant barely helps this strategy at all. I could be wrong though!

    Kragg – I really appreciate your support, and your observations!

  16. Love the Wee Fiend deck, and I can’t help but think after our lengthly discussion that it was posted ‘just for Me’. lol Can’t wait for this set to drop online so I can take My version of that puppy and start kicking some tail!

    Side note: Built My own WW deck last night, very fun to play!