Title: Building Azorius Detain deck

Date Posted: Thu Sep/06/12 at 2:52pm

Squillis

Posts: 424
Joined: 20-Nov-08

After looking at the guild mechanics spoiled so far (Azorius-Detain, Rakdos-Unleash, Selesnya-Populate, Izzet-Overload, Golgari-Scavenge) I am most impressed with Detain. Each ability has its advantages and disadvantages and is well suited to the appropriate guild but Detain just sounds so fun to play with.

In a color combo that already has access to some extremely unfair plays you can combine this Justiciar with Cloudshift, Restoration Angel, Conjurer's Closet, and even Deadeye Navigator! You also have access to Snapcaster Mage and all of the goodness that he can make happen for you with more Cloudshifts, Rewinds, and Azorius Charms. I think Azorius control is going to be something to have to deal with in the future.

What I see as its weaknesses are most predominatly abilities of other guilds. If your opponent makes more creatures than you can handle by using Populate, Scavenges counters onto a creature that isn't tapped, or Unleashes too many hastey guys (though Cloudshift and Restoration Angel shine here too) you may find yourself in a tough situation. This fits soo well with the Azorius theme in maintaining law and order. The moment you begin to lose control, the world falls into anarchy.

This is why I'm probably going to be playing Azorius when the new set comes out. Here's some of the cards I was thinking of and why they work:

0CMC
Tormod's Crypt - a good way to keep them Golgari and zombies from getting too out of hand.

1CMC
Judge's Familiar - {W/U} - 1/1 flier with "sac: Mana Tithe an Instant or Sorcery"
Delver of Secrets - U - 1/1 with "At BoU, if top card of lib is inst/sorc tranform into 3/2 flier"
Cloudshift - W - Instant - With all the EtB triggers, this could be a really strong card to detain at opponent's EoT
Dryand Militant - {W/G} - 1/1 with "send inst's and sorc's to Exile instead of 'yard" Good sideboard against Izzet and FRites
Faerie Imposter - U - 2/1 Flying with "when ~ EtB Bounce 1 critter you control or sac" - a new effect that when blinked will let a creature survive a wipe

2CMC
Azorius Charm - WU - Instant - lifegain against agroe, draw against control, or timewalk creature-combo? Thank you!
Snapcaster Mage - Recasting Azorius Charm, Cloudshift, or Rootborn Defense seems doable

3CMC
Lyev Skyknight - 1WU - 3/1 flier with "EtB detain target nonland perm of opponents" will stop Planeswalkers, Equipment, Creatures, and any other activated non-land!
Cackling Counterpart - 1UU - Copying a Skyknight or a Restoration Angel to blink a Skyknight will get you high on someone hit-list
Rootbord Defense - 2W - Populate and makes indestructible stuff, great on your Cackling Counterpart token.
Detention Sphere - 1WU - Enchantment with "when ~ EtB exile target nonland permanent with another name and all with the same name" and "when ~ LtB return the exiled cards" a Bigger O-Ring

4CMC
Supreme Verdict - 1WWU - When things begin to go wrong, just hit the reset button on them critters.
Azorius Justiciar - 2WW - 2/2 with "EtB detain two target creatures of opponent's" Just the guy I want to 'blink'
Martial Law - 2WW - Enchantment with "At BoU, detain target creature of opponents"
Rewind - 2UU - a counterspell that you can still play a Restoration Angel behind
Restoration Angel - 3W - This guy is just Wild in this deck. Resetting Detain just seems so strong

5CMC+
Archon of the Triumvirate - 5WU - 4/5 flier with "attacks and detains two nonland perms of opponents" a bigger Skyknight, but may be too high for the curve.

Another possibility is to include a splash of green for some of the similarly designed Selesnya cards. Those possilities include:
Selesnya Charm - buff, bust, or buddy, you pick
Wayfaring Temple - big and populatable, loves Cackling Counterpart
Gatekeeper Vine - fixing the mana

My current Decklist:
Creatures:
4x Judge's Familiar
1x Dryad Militant
4x Faerie Imposter
3x Snapcaster Mage
4x Lyev Skyknight
3x Azorius Justiciar
4x Restoration Angel
23x Total

Enchantments
1x Martial Law
3x Detention Sphere
4x Total

Sorceries
2x Cackling Counterpart
1x Supreme Verdict
3x Total

Instants
3x Azorius Charm
2x Rootborn Defense
3x Cloudshift
8x Total

Land
4x Hallowed Fountain
4x Glacial Fortress
2x Azorius Guildgate
6x Plains
6x Island
22x Total
60 Card Deck

Let me know what decklist you come up with. As this guild has had a few less cards spoiled than the rest of the guilds I'm hoping they increase its power level :)

This is by no means a complete list, just the things I saw that went together. I will update it as more get spoiled and can't wait to see what will fit in Azorius as only 11 cards have been spoiled for it so far, counting the dual land. If you think of something that would work in here, post it and I'll add it to the list, gonna need lots more suggestions to finish this off!

[Edited by Squillis on 12/Sep/12 at 11:17AM]