Belcher runs land grant, 8 spirit guides, seething song, dark ritual and expensive builds add lion’s eye diamond. Comparing apples and oranges.

I can believe in it!
you got a total of 13 sources able to produce white mana, supported by 3 extra mana from ssg.
Merfolk uses 12 islands and consistently gets to play lord of the atlantis or brother at turn 2.

Those disbelieving the deck may forget that part of your equipment may generate mana as well.
(paradise mantle) if some of your equipment is actually also a potential 1/1 germ token for 1 mana.

Some people also forget that other decktypes run on far less mana generation than this
(charbelcher)

Keep on working with it, win and prove them wrong 😀

Wear/Tear is very strong and I’d be cool with anyone who wanted to do -1 Truth and +1 W/T. I really love W/T against decks running hate critters like Eidolon of Rhetoric alongside Spellskite; an opponent can’t redirect a Tear to Spellskite because it isn’t a legal target.

Wear//tear has been excellent for me. It’s just a little bit more consistent in that sense. Not sure if you’ve tried it

Re: positioning
I’m definitely on the hype train from results. It just feels amazing on MTGO, both in interactive and non-interactive games, and the numbers reflect the qualitative experience. I absolutely vouch for it, although you do need some experience with it to see the outs and play lines AFTER T3 when things get more complicated.

Re: DSZ
You’re totally right. I’m going to edit that now. Interestingly, it doesn’t affect my data because I’ve only played a handful of DSZ matchups in my dataset and I’m still 60% against the deck.

Re: Saws vs. Shields
Paladin and Sram reach is critical, both on the offensive and on the defensive (particularly in double block scenarios). With 12 artifacts that pump toughness, you are very likely to be outside of double Bolt range as-is. The Shields increase those odds and help in a few games, but not as many games as where the Saws are going to help you deter attackers or apply the beats.

GOGO CHEERI0S! Glad to hear you enjoyed the piece and I can promise at least a few more to come. Agree that mini-eggs was deeply offensive!

Here’s to lots of Paladins and Srams at Vancouver!

That list seems super inconsistent to me. 28 equipment is way too many. Honestly, 24 is too many; 20-21 is better. This gives you room for Serum Visions or even Serum Powder if you really want to go the all-in route. For lands, you need at least 14-15 and I strongly encourage you to run Rugged Prairie if you’re using SSG. That way you can at least cast your Paladins off SSG and a single land, which you can’t do with SSG otherwise.

I also have a question on your choice of Bone Saw over Kite Shield. Most folks are on the “maximum toughness pump” equipment plan to maximize the odds of having creatures that are power 2/toughness a bunch (especially in multiples). Thoughts on that?

Love from serenechaos

PS Tell the financial guy he hurt my feelings with the “mini-eggs” thing T_T lol

I don’t see how you could, with 9 lands, get turn one wins. Sram needs double white, meaning a turn one win requires a land plus an active opal, which would require playing two other artifacts that turn or a paladin and SSG instead of opal. I don’t see that happening “a lot.”