I’m now up to my third deck posted here at MTGCommander, but this deck was the very first EDH deck that I constructed. This isn’t the first iteration of the deck, but it’s the only one I’ve got a deck list for (because it’s currently sleeved up and in use). I’ll consider this a starting point and will see if I can add stuff to it to make it better. I'm going to use this thread to keep a log of the changes that I make to this deck, including when I get the chance to buy cards for it (if I don’t deconstruct it first).

The first time I saw Braids, Conjurer Adept I think I felt feelings that no person should ever feel for an inanimate piece of cardboard. I saw the opportunity to play a game where I could avoid getting targeted by everyone at the table simply by helping everyone out, and then hopefully snatch the game away once I’d built up enough of a presence. Sadly, that never really happened in any of the actual games this deck played in; most people loved having the free stuff (except for the Ruric Thar player who hated that I was helping everyone ELSE ramp as quickly as he did) but my stuff was either not powerful enough to make an impression or got taken out as soon as it hit the table. I still enjoy the deck, but I feel that it could do with a little more finesse (and perhaps a larger card pool to choose from).

After playing the deck a few times, it became apparent that the best way to use Braids’ ability was to drop massive creatures onto the table in my Upkeep, then give them Haste and let them attack right away, so that no-one got the chance to deal with them on their turn.

Here’s the deck list, sorted by function.

Braids, Conjurer Adept – the commander















So, that’s the deck. As it stands, I’m not unhappy with it, but I’d like to take it in a different direction. If I don’t tear it apart, that is. If I retune it, then I’d honestly like to try and turn it into a Bear Hug deck rather than Group Hug, but the key thing is that I’d like to have a number of combos in the deck. Specifically, combos that don’t look like combos until you’ve assembled them. I want to turn this deck into the most innocuous looking thing you’ve ever seen up until it turns around and bites your head off. But, I lack the knowledge to do so.

I guess I could start by removing the Haste enablers and all of the big creatures. That removes a lot of the visible “teeth” that the deck has (not to mention disassembling the soft lock combo I mentioned before). But I need recommendations for combos that look innocent but have the ability to win the game or at least turn the game in my favour. The obvious one, though expensive (in terms of money), is to use Pact of Negation with a Hive Mind out, ending the game for all non-Blue players on their next Upkeep. But, I’m willing to hear any other suggestions.

Reserved for changes and for overflow, if necessary.

Changelog

16/11/13: Deck posted

I see two problems here.

The first is that you are trying to run a mono-blue group-hug deck in a format where the general consensus is "Mono-blue must die!"

The second is that the things you are dropping with Braids just really aren't that great compared to the things that your opponents will probably drop. I know it's monocolor and your options are limited, but if you don't put up a big scary wall, the one opponent who wises up to your tricks out of the five at the table is going to stomp you as soon as you try to get started.

Suggestions by category:
GROUP HUG:
Actually, I like this suite. I would suggest Blue Sun's Zenith for reusable politics and Prosperity in addition to what you have. If you wanted to be really mean, you could add Pact of Negation for Hive Mind, but that's up to you.

DRAW:
Your spells are solid, but some of your permanents in this category could be better. Azure Mage is playable, but there are better options. Oculus, Runewing, and Jayemdae Tome however are pretty suboptimal. Some good suggestions for swaps would be Arcanis the Omnipotent, Mulldrifter, Jace Beleren, or Sphinx of Magosi. Also the two cards mentioned in the Hug section, and maybe Stroke of Genius too for good measure. It's blue, you can never draw too many cards.

COPY/STEAL
I like this suite also. How is Sphinx Ambassador working out for you? At first glance it seems weak, but since you know your opponents' decks it might be working really well for you. Not sure on that one, up to you. I would say that Spirit Away, Soul Seizer, and Domestication could go out and that Blatant Thievery and Phantasmal Image could go in.

HASTE
Strider Harness and Ring of Valkas? You are trying too hard. Yeah, haste is rough in monoblue, but even high-performing red decks don't typically run more than 3 or 4 mass haste enablers. Solid replacements though would be Lightning Greaves (of course, though a bit pricey) and Sword of Vengeance (less pricey).

RAMP
Not much to see here, though if you're desperate you could add Coldsteel Heart and Paradise Plume. You seem okay here though.

OTHER STUFF
Dragon Mask I assume is mostly just bouncing your creatures. It could be Erratic Portal instead.
Robe of Mirrors can take the cut. If you need protection for your general that badly, you could run Whispersilk Cloak instead, but I think you should be okay.
Darksteel Sentinel, Manor Gargoyle, Sphinx of Jwar Isle, and Creepy Doll are just not really great creatures in general, but are especially poor at the strategy that you are trying to push. What I think the deck needs are more creatures like Inkwell Leviathan: big, scary, and destructive. For replacements, you could consider the Eldrazi. Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre and Kozilek, Butcher of Truth would be ideal, but they 'spensive tho. It That Betrays and Artisan of Kozilek are both decent stand-ins. Darksteel Colossus, Blightsteel Colossus, and Colossus of Akros are big, stompy, and hard to get rid of. In-color, you could capitalize on the hand-returning aspect of the deck and run cards like Denizen of the Deep, Kederekt Leviathan, and Tidespout Tyrant. Finally, you should probably invest in a Jin-Gitaxias. He keeps your hand full and makes sure that your opponents can't drop a thing off of Braids for when you are ready to move in for the kill.

LAND
36 lands that all produce mana (some in multiples). Very nice!

Don't break it down yet! You can still make the deck awesome!

You should run Terrain Generator to help you ramp and maybe Druidic Satchel as well.

If you want to gain additional value from her trigger, I would suggest Strionic Resonator as well as Vanishing. If she's phased out on opponent turns, they don't get the benefits. You can even be political about when you phase her out or whose upkeep trigger you choose to copy to make it more kingmaker. If you make someone else the frontrunner, you'll have a little more time to develop your own schemes. Possibly Teferi's Veil to go along with the phasing idea. It is actually pretty good to go along with EOT theft abilities. Something like Reins of Power swinging into the veil, you'd permanently keep their entire board and still get yours back EOT.

The new Illusionist's Gambit is an auto include in such a deck. You're giving everyone free bombs, might as well ensure that you're not going to be the target of their scorn, even if they want you to be.

I think trying to "hide" a combo is pointless. If you are playing with the same group for any extended amount of time they will know what combos are available to your deck and it will only really work the first time. Either way, you'll be known as the typical combo blue deck and just get killed first every time.