I had a draft yesterday, and I was the only Dimir player at the table. Sadly, there weren’t many payoff cards to surveil, mainly just Darkblade Agents and a Dimir Spybug. No Thoughtbound Phantasms or Disinformation Campaigns in sight. Still, the deck was strong due to the insane amount of card selection. It was like having a virtual Search for Azcanta in play the whole time. Maybe Search for Azcanta is a good card in a Surveil deck, too, because it has surveil in all but it’s name (and that means it doesn’t trigger the Phantasms and Bugs.) Azcanta is ultimately a good source of card advantage though, especially since you can set up your deck with surveil.
I think it’s worth testing. The initial deck has 19 instants and sorceries, and 3 Disinformation Campaigns that can be found, so the chance of hitting something is high enough. It has potential late game, since my build is a bit controlling.
But I but I digress. In the draft I had a Thought Erasure, and that card did so much work, even without having too many good surveil triggers. Just getting all the information, disrupting my opponents hand ánd fixing my draws is so much for just . I basically want more of these. I’m also looking at what other surveil decks are doing.
Some versions are less of a control deck, and more of a combo deck. The working theory is that if you control multiples of Dimir Spybug and Thoughtbound Phantasm, Doom Whisperer becomes a Hatred effect. This is helped by Creeping Chill, for additional drain and life gain.
I don’t know about Creeping Chill. With enough surveil you can reduce the chance to actually have to cast it, and it gives a free 6 life swing. When it does go to your hand, it’s a bad card though.
~ Dimir Sinister Surveilance (version 2) ~
Creatures (16)2 Darkblade Agent 2 Doom Whisperer 4 Dimir Spybug 2 Nightveil Sprite 2 Thief of Sanity 4 Thoughtbound Phantasm Spells (19)4 Cast Down 2 Discovery // Dispersal 1 Notion Rain 2 Price of Fame 4 Sinister Sabotage 2 Syncopate 4 Thought Erasure Enchantments (3)2 Disinformation Campaign 1 Search for Azcanta | Lands (22)4 Drowned Catacomb 4 Watery Grave 7 Island 7 Swamp |
The changes:
- -2 Dimir Informant: The Informants are excellent blockers, but ultimately the weakest cards in the deck. Probably.
- -1 Discovery // Dispersal: It’s flexible, but I want to try 1 Azcanta in this slot.
- -1 Notion Rain: It digs deep and draw a lot of cards. It’s also sorcery speed, which I want to avoid. This card is also on the bubble because of Mission Briefing, which may or may not be the better “draw” and card selection spell.
- -1 Disinformation Campaign: I don’t think it’s good in multiples, so one gets cut for now.
- +2 Doom Whisperer: Doom Whisperer is actually a good finisher once you know it’s safe to cast it.
- +2 Thougt Erasure: So far I’ve been always happy when I cast this. Knowing what your opponent is holding and being able to do something about it, and planning your plays around it is very valuable.
- +1 Search for Azcanta: I hope it gives me an edge in the very long game, by giving me instant card selection and draw. It might turn back into a Notion Rain, where I get the card selection and draw now, instead of over time.