[Trick]

Sam puts forward a deck for Shadowmoor Standard, what do you think of the combo? Can the deck work? Do you like how he writes it up? Should he write more? Write less? Any other comments?

-- Trick

[SammyTime]

I can already tell you that the deck will roll over and die to a well-placed Extirpate or Tormod's Crypt. Dakmor Salvage is kinda necessary for the combo, and you can't just rely on drawing lands, even with 27 in the deck. It's a fun concept, indeed, and my list is just one of many being thrown out there.

[theory]

I can already tell you that the deck will roll over and die to a well-placed Extirpate or Tormod's Crypt. Dakmor Salvage is kinda necessary for the combo, and you can't just rely on drawing lands, even with 27 in the deck. It's a fun concept, indeed, and my list is just one of many being thrown out there.

The thing is that you can pretty much say that about any of the decks built around Reveillark but that doesn't mean the archetype is dead. 

You also don't need Dakmor Salvage to make this work.  If you toss a land at the Swans w/ Assault and end up drawing into two lands, you doubled your damage and can continue to draw until you can hold enough lands to kill your opponent.  One of the PTQ winners back in January had a deck built around Seismic Assault and Life From the Loam so this isn't an idea that just came from outer space.  Definitely doable with a few tweaks and back up plans (ie 'goyf - lol).

From the looks of it, Shadowmoor has quite a few cards that cater to the Johnnies out there and I'm really hoping that this will give rise to more combo decks to balance out all of the aggro.

[gp]

i think this deck will need a lot of testing when shadowmoor comes out but i can already see Sun-and-Moon Wheel* hoosing this deck

[cRUMMYdUMMY]

If anything, you guys should be more afraid of the definite impact this will have on Extended.  Swams + Chain of Plasma draws your entire deck.  You only need to get your 1 copy of Lightning Storm or Conflagrate for the kill.  Lightning Storm is also not vulnerable to Extirpate.  Once you go off, your opponent can't do anything to stop the combo.  The best way to stop it is my countering or removing Swans.

Regarding the impact it will have on standard, it will probably be minimal unless there is a better way to draw into your deck without using a 3 card combo where one of the cards has a casting cost of RRR.

[theory]

Just played against this deck online.  As long as you have some way to handle the Swans the deck loses a LOT of its kick.  Spot removal is probably the best answer for this guy...Sudden Spoiling in response to your opp casting a Skred or even using the Seismic Assault on the Swans basically shuts it down.  Nameless Inversion, Sudden Death...hell even Terror etc are all too good against the Swans.  If this deck type becomes popular, Pithing Needle may (I said may) be MD-worthy...pending the type gets popular (i.e. someone figures out how to protect the Swans or builds a deck with alternate win cons).  Very interesting card but I can definitely see this one becoming just another Johnny card.

*edit - Just re-read what I wrote... Swans has a triggered ability and not an activated ability, correct?  Needle would just be used to shut down Seismic Assault if anything.  Rock on.

[imachampion]

Sorry guys I am a late comer to the thread. The initial thing that comes to mind is Nameless Inversion. I understand that you can respond to it with another activation effectively never allowing the removal spell to resolve. The combo just seems fragile in its current form. I can see this working out with slightly more protection for the combo. Thats the biggest problem with the deck.

I read Patrick Chapin's article on the deck and even he seemed skeptical towards the end of it. I will be interested to see how this works out in the end. After all...this seems to be about all we are getting in the form of combo.

My last problem with the deck is that WOTC has pushed burn so heavily...you are going to be giving your opponent a huge advantage. Possibly even enough advantage as to match you. Don't forget that even though you can activate Swan in response to a removal spell...you have to have more lands in hand...or those removal spells must be allowed to resolve before you will draw cards. Again I will be interested to see which direction this deck takes.