U/W Mage-Blade

[The Grim Reaper]

I built this for online play.

Main Deck:

Geist of Saint Traft x4
Snapcaster Mage x4
Delver of Secrets x4
Invisible Stalker x3

Sword of Body and Mind x1
Sword of Feast and Famine x1
Sword of War and Peace x1
Runchanter's Pike x2

Gitaxian Probe x4
Ponder x4
Gut Shot x1
Thought Scour x2
Vapor Snag x4
Mana Leak x4

Island x9
Plains x1
Moorland Haunt x3
Glacial Fortress x4
Seachrome Coast x4

Sideboard:

Steel Sabotage x1
Surgical Extraction x2
Revoke Existence x1
Celestial Purge x3
Divine Offering x1
Negate x1
Phantasmal Image x2
Timely Reinforcements x1
Oblivion Ring x1
Dissipate x2


I am looking for any criticism or ideas that you know will work. I plan to make this a competitive deck, so no holds-barred. So far it has proven to be very effective, only thing holding me back is misplays.
My sideboard needs a bit of help, and I do not use it as effectively as possible. Any basic ideas on what to side in and out and for what would be great.

I appreciate the help.

[1243765809]

Moar scour, less probe? Less BaM, another Pike or other sword?

[The Grim Reaper]

I find that Body and Mind has been helping against mirror matches(Snags) and especially any Pod or Huntmaster deck.
The Wolf Token is always a positive blocker for the next turn.
I tried a second W&P, but I was not sure how I felt about it. I was considering a F&F, but and seeing how the B&M works out. I feel that 3 Pikes is almost too much because they are normally only good late game.

I will try it the ratios of Probe/Scour and see what I think.
Thanks for the suggestions.

[lostbluebreaker]

Batterskull?

[The Grim Reaper]

I am not sure if Batterskull would really give me any added benefit...

I ended up winning an 8 player tournament just a few minutes ago.
My matches were a a zombie deck for the first round(2-0), a mirror match(1-2) for the second, and then a control-mill deck(1-2).

[Phattmatt27]

Thought scour is bad imo unless you are going to attempt to fuel pike all the time. Think Twice maybe?

[The Grim Reaper]

Yeah, I sometimes use it fuel pike....most times it is used to mill for surgical.
I may try the Think Twice though.
Thanks.

[Yellow Balloon]

I'd max out on Thought Scour Before playing any Probes. If you do go to 4 Scours, I'd consider dropping a sword for another Pike.

[The Grim Reaper]

I was considering that as well, but I decided after a few runs one way and the other, I like knowing what my opponent has in his hand more so then fueling a pike.

[Phattmatt27]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reaper

Yeah, I sometimes use it fuel pike....most times it is used to mill for surgical.
I may try the Think Twice though.
Thanks.

I worded that wrong, i ment that i believe thought scour is.only good if you are running 3-4 pike in order for you have a way to constantly fuel pike.

[poketo]

Think Twice is such a bleh card for this style of deck. We have enough draw cards available in standard that you can do better than a cantrip.

You should probably max out your gut shots, and take out some of your draw/equipment. I just think 5 main board for equip is a bit overkill, and 10 draw isn't nessary (I'ld go 8, though I'm being hypicritical atm ).

(I hope I can get a playset of geist before rotation, I need to build this list but don't want the $17 land to hold me back; btw why haven't people started to call him gost yet?)

[The Grim Reaper]

My "Blades" are the main source of this deck. Normally when I win it is either because I Pondered my way to a flipped Delver, or I Snapcaster Maged my Vapor Snags.
Maxing out on 4 Gut Shots is a terrible idea. 2 is normal for this deck, but I run 1 for the sake of having the Body and Mind. That card has proven to place imense pressure on most decks in this format.
It combos very well with my Surgical.
The Think Twice throws off my mana curve. I do not like it very much. The flash back is nice, but I normally should have been saving that mana for counters.

Additional Comment:

I am considering taking out the 2x Runchanter's Pikes for 2x Dungeon Geists.
Any objections?
The way I see it is that Pike costs 4 all together and the payoff is not always worth it in all games, and I most of the time sideboard it out for something else.

The dungeon geists actually can help, because it flies and can temporarily Remove a threat from the game-less it gets killed/flashed to my hand.

I tried Batterskull out as someone suggested, but I prefer swords, as the cost is much smaller up front.

Any other suggestions?