I want to revisit Delver as an alternative to the Arcanist decks that have arisen.
Dan Sollazzo T4'd the SCG event last month with a UW Delver deck, featuring Lavinia: https://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30807&iddeck=262019
Given the emergence of Narset and Karn, I'd like to explore replacing Preordains with Tutors and lowering the curve to fight the planeswalkers from the ground.
URb Delver
4 Delver of Secrets
1 Dreadhorde Arcanist
1 Narset, Parter of Veils
1 Snapcaster Mage
4 Young Pyromancer
-11
1 Daze
4 Force of Will
4 Mental Misstep
1 Pyroblast
1 Spell Pierce
1 Thoughtseize
-12
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Shattering Spree
-5
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Demonic Consultation
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Dig Through Time
1 Gitaxian Probe
1 Gush
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
1 Time Walk
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Vampiric Tutor
-12
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
2 Flooded Strand
1 Misty Rainforest
2 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Island
1 Underground Sea
4 Volcanic Island
1 Strip Mine
3 Wasteland
-20
Sideboard
3 Pithing Needle
3 Ravenous Trap
3 Yixlid Jailer
2 Pyroblast
1 Fatal Push
3 Shattering Spree
Notable exceptions:
Dack Fayden
-Removal of off-color moxen makes it more difficult to cast
-Gets Pyroblasted and Narseted
-Has always gotten Revoked
-Dredge should not be leaving/bringing in Hollow Ones to steal
Off-color Moxen
-Idea of deck is to get under, not overpower, planeswalkers
Merchant Scroll
-Not feasible without off-color moxen
Preordain
-Replacing with tutors minimizes impact of Narset and finds specific threats/answers
Notable inclusions:
Demonic Consultation
-I've always been a big fan of this card in fair decks. Getting 3&4ofs at instant speed for 1 mana is strong.
This deck is soft to Oath. Other than that, I feel comfortable against the rest of the field.
I'd appreciate any thoughts and if anyone has been testing Delver as a pivot away from the Planeswalker mirrors.
Best,
Dave