Midrange Primer
History
Blue Devotion is one of the go to aggro decks in the RTR/Theros standard season. The deck showed its power at Pro Tour Theros taking the tournament.
With the printing of Master of Waves and Tidebinder Mage MUD managed to actively keep traditional aggro red decks in check. Along side Mono Black devotion the two decks managed to also push out the popular G/r Monsters deck before it could ever get it's momentum going.
With the release of BNG G/r Monsters has carved a piece of the meta game with the powerful interactions between Courser of Kruphix and Domri Rade. Mono Black was also given better tools to fight off its worst match up which was traditionally aggro.
Bile Blight and Drown in Sorrows pushed MBD over the edge allowing it to best MUD even more than before.
MUD is still a powerful deck and makes up a good portion of top 16s despite these set backs.
If MUD is still a strong deck why the white splash?
The white splash gives you access to some very powerful cards in the format. Sphinx's Revelation, Supreme Verdict, and Detention Sphere which are all UW & Esper control staples. BNG also brought into a format a brand new god that gives you a draw engine on an indestructible body as long as you keep putting creatures on board, Ephara. The access to these cards gives you powerful answers to the formats most seen cards.
The white splash does move the deck more of into a midrange game. By eliminating the one drops the deck has more space to fit in other answers or threats that trigger devotion for both Thassa and Ephara. Mono Blue devotion is forced to play Cloudfin Raptor and Judge's familiar not because they are
great for the deck but because they are the best available options the color has. Judge's Familiar is no Cursecatcher and Cloudfin Raptor has potential but if I've learned anything by playing aggressive red decks in an aggro deck your one drop needs to be reliably at 2 power and sadly those two are not.
What is the strategy?
The deck essentially has two modes and they vary on what you play against. Against control you are the beat down. You can sacrifice some of your weaker creatures that normally would help get devotion online. You bait them with these creatures and then actually play your bigger threats. Master of Waves can still threaten the board with just a Jace and D-sphere in play creating an army that control has to answer. Thassa is a threat all on her own and control decks have a hard time answering her. Ephara as well becomes a huge threat and card advantage engine that control must answer. Couple her with another army in a can card like Brimaz and you
are applying major pressure. Elspeth becomes key also in allow you to build an army immediately.
Against aggro or creature heavy decks you become the control deck. Against smaller aggro decks your first few turns are key to surviving to rip the game from their hands. Put up a wall or counter a creature on turn 2. D-sphere another threat on turn 3. Wrath their board presence on the following turn to shut them out. Then take over the game building some devotion to get Thassa or Ephara online or overwhelm them with Master of Waves. Like in the control match up Elspeth becomes another key card and functions much as she would in U/W control lists. The key difference is much of our approach to winning when we switch into control mode. UW control sphinxes to close out the game. We don't. While our first few turns can be similar our end game is different.
UPDATE:with testing the deck has shifted more into a traditional Blue devotion deck splashing white. I will use this thread to discuss my testing and deck evolution leading up to the GP.
Blue Devotion is one of the go to aggro decks in the RTR/Theros standard season. The deck showed its power at Pro Tour Theros taking the tournament.
With the printing of Master of Waves and Tidebinder Mage MUD managed to actively keep traditional aggro red decks in check. Along side Mono Black devotion the two decks managed to also push out the popular G/r Monsters deck before it could ever get it's momentum going.
With the release of BNG G/r Monsters has carved a piece of the meta game with the powerful interactions between Courser of Kruphix and Domri Rade. Mono Black was also given better tools to fight off its worst match up which was traditionally aggro.
Bile Blight and Drown in Sorrows pushed MBD over the edge allowing it to best MUD even more than before.
MUD is still a powerful deck and makes up a good portion of top 16s despite these set backs.
If MUD is still a strong deck why the white splash?
The white splash gives you access to some very powerful cards in the format. Sphinx's Revelation, Supreme Verdict, and Detention Sphere which are all UW & Esper control staples. BNG also brought into a format a brand new god that gives you a draw engine on an indestructible body as long as you keep putting creatures on board, Ephara. The access to these cards gives you powerful answers to the formats most seen cards.
The white splash does move the deck more of into a midrange game. By eliminating the one drops the deck has more space to fit in other answers or threats that trigger devotion for both Thassa and Ephara. Mono Blue devotion is forced to play Cloudfin Raptor and Judge's familiar not because they are
great for the deck but because they are the best available options the color has. Judge's Familiar is no Cursecatcher and Cloudfin Raptor has potential but if I've learned anything by playing aggressive red decks in an aggro deck your one drop needs to be reliably at 2 power and sadly those two are not.
What is the strategy?
The deck essentially has two modes and they vary on what you play against. Against control you are the beat down. You can sacrifice some of your weaker creatures that normally would help get devotion online. You bait them with these creatures and then actually play your bigger threats. Master of Waves can still threaten the board with just a Jace and D-sphere in play creating an army that control has to answer. Thassa is a threat all on her own and control decks have a hard time answering her. Ephara as well becomes a huge threat and card advantage engine that control must answer. Couple her with another army in a can card like Brimaz and you
are applying major pressure. Elspeth becomes key also in allow you to build an army immediately.
Against aggro or creature heavy decks you become the control deck. Against smaller aggro decks your first few turns are key to surviving to rip the game from their hands. Put up a wall or counter a creature on turn 2. D-sphere another threat on turn 3. Wrath their board presence on the following turn to shut them out. Then take over the game building some devotion to get Thassa or Ephara online or overwhelm them with Master of Waves. Like in the control match up Elspeth becomes another key card and functions much as she would in U/W control lists. The key difference is much of our approach to winning when we switch into control mode. UW control sphinxes to close out the game. We don't. While our first few turns can be similar our end game is different.
Card Choices
Creatures
1-Drops
Cloudfin Raptor: The creature shows potential and can be an evasive threat
against removal light threats. Easily a 4-of in MUD but in Uw Devotion he is not needed. 0 in the deck.
Judge's Familiar: He is both Blue and White so you would assume he would be an auto include but his whole function is to counter earlier spells which means he goes against the goal of the devotion strategy. 0 in the deck.
Soldier of the Pantheon: In white heavy lists he is an easy 4-of. Since this list is Blue focused he does not fit. He is everything the deck would want in a 1-drop: 2 power and with some exceptional abilities that make him sort of evasive. Sadly does not in a blue focused deck. 0 in the deck.
2-drops
Tidebinder Mage: With the rise of G/r Monsters this may make it somewhere into the 75. It stops any of their threats from continuing to hit you and gives you 2 devotion and a 2/2 body. Sadly it is a dead card to the rest of the field. 0 to 2 of in the 75.
Frostborn Weird: This has been a hidden gem for awhile. Weird is a perfectly defensive creature that can
easily turn offensive taking chunks of your opponent’s life. Adds 2 devotion as well. 4 of in the main board.
Precinct Captain: Has the same issue as Soldier of Pantheon. PC is a great creature but not in this deck. 0 in deck.
Imposing Sovereign: This card requires testing. He is seeing play in the white heavy build and does force the opponent to use removal in order to get their threats in defensive position. Also shuts out hasted threats. 0 to 2 in the 75.
Spirit of the Labyrinth: A 3-power 2-drop is great. Sadly he turns off our own Sphinxs. 0 in the deck.
3-drops:
Nightveil Specter: An evasive 2/3 threat that rips cards off the top of your opponents deck for good with you potentially being able to cast them? He also adds 3 devotion. 4 of in the deck.
Brimaz, King of Oreskos: Defensive and offensive 3/4 threat that creates an army all on his own. Partner him up with Ephara and you are potentially drawing cards on your opponents turn. Sadly does not turn on Thassa. 0 to 2 of
in the deck.
Lyev Skyknight: A 3/1 evasive beater that shuts off any nonland permanent for a turn. He is seeing play in white heavy versions as well as seeing play in Mihara's Esper aggro build. 0 to 2 in the deck.
Thassa, God of the Sea: Easily the best god printed in the cycle thus far. Scrying for 1 and make creatures unblockable? If she wasn't legendary she would be a 4 of and some decks don't care that she is and jam 4 anyways. 3 to 4 in the deck.
4-drop:
Master of Waves: Dodges red removal and red creatures and creates a board presence with just a few devotion. 4 of in the deck.
Ephara, God of the Polis: Adds another indestructible threat along side Thassa and is at times a lot easier to cast. Nets you cards for just putting dudes on the field. Great synergy with Brimaz or Elspeth. 2 of in the Deck.
6-drop:
Aetherling: Fight control with a control card? I am not a fan of this card and in testing I found him sitting in my hand way too many times wishing he was
something else. I have cut him all together from my list. He is an evasive threat that can win games on his own but does not fit into this deck. 0 in the deck.
Planeswalkers:
Jace, Architect of Thought: A control staple that made its way into MUD. While Jace's +1 did not do much in MUD it helps out much more here with having a limited early game. He also nets you cards to fuel the gas and adds to the devotion count. 3 of in the Deck.
Elspeth, Sun's Champion: Another control card but allows the deck to play the long game against control decks. Also gives the deck another source of devotion and a way to remove threats that outclass your own. Not necessarily part of your initial game plan she is a 1 or 2 of in your 75.
Spells:
Detention Sphere: A huge reason to add the white splash. MUD was weak to the pack rat game MBD could play. D-Sphere takes care of that. Opposing Planeswalkers, Underworld Connections, or Pack Rat are all dealt with. This card in multiples turns Ephara on -
giggity. 4 of in the deck.
Rapid Hybridization: One mana removal spell in blue that can take out creatures that the deck is soft to. Sadly it replaces the threat with a 3/3 frog lizard. The Card can easily turn one of your weaker threats into a bigger one. 2 to 3 in the 75.
Nullify: Blue being an aggro deck is jarring at first. Traditional aggro decks have efficient threats at low cost and removal that can be used to clear out opposing threats so you can swing. Blue does not have access to this but blue does have a counter spell that hits every relevant creature in the format as well as any aura that could be played. Why allow your opponent to play that Stormbreath, Ghost dad, or Blood Baron when you can just counter it? It also hits Underworld Connections. 2 to 3 in the 75.
Sphinx's Revelation: Card draw and life gain. Unlike control we are not going to infinitely loop Revelations into infinity. The card is used to bring more fuel to the fire when it is needed. 3 in the 75 with
at least 2 in the main board.
Supreme Verdict: WAIT WHAT? A sweeper in an aggro deck? With removing of the one drops we may take a few hits on the early turns. This prevents stops their board progression while we sand bag threats to play afterwards. At the same time Verdict does not kill all of our creatures. Thassa and Ephara are indestructible so sweeping the board with an online Ephara or Thassa due to D-Sphere and Planeswalkers is a very scary thing for the opponent. Also Verdict gets around Stormbreath and Blood Baron's pro white clause. 4 in the 75 with 2 to 3 in the main board.
1-Drops
Cloudfin Raptor: The creature shows potential and can be an evasive threat
against removal light threats. Easily a 4-of in MUD but in Uw Devotion he is not needed. 0 in the deck.
Judge's Familiar: He is both Blue and White so you would assume he would be an auto include but his whole function is to counter earlier spells which means he goes against the goal of the devotion strategy. 0 in the deck.
Soldier of the Pantheon: In white heavy lists he is an easy 4-of. Since this list is Blue focused he does not fit. He is everything the deck would want in a 1-drop: 2 power and with some exceptional abilities that make him sort of evasive. Sadly does not in a blue focused deck. 0 in the deck.
2-drops
Tidebinder Mage: With the rise of G/r Monsters this may make it somewhere into the 75. It stops any of their threats from continuing to hit you and gives you 2 devotion and a 2/2 body. Sadly it is a dead card to the rest of the field. 0 to 2 of in the 75.
Frostborn Weird: This has been a hidden gem for awhile. Weird is a perfectly defensive creature that can
easily turn offensive taking chunks of your opponent’s life. Adds 2 devotion as well. 4 of in the main board.
Precinct Captain: Has the same issue as Soldier of Pantheon. PC is a great creature but not in this deck. 0 in deck.
Imposing Sovereign: This card requires testing. He is seeing play in the white heavy build and does force the opponent to use removal in order to get their threats in defensive position. Also shuts out hasted threats. 0 to 2 in the 75.
Spirit of the Labyrinth: A 3-power 2-drop is great. Sadly he turns off our own Sphinxs. 0 in the deck.
3-drops:
Nightveil Specter: An evasive 2/3 threat that rips cards off the top of your opponents deck for good with you potentially being able to cast them? He also adds 3 devotion. 4 of in the deck.
Brimaz, King of Oreskos: Defensive and offensive 3/4 threat that creates an army all on his own. Partner him up with Ephara and you are potentially drawing cards on your opponents turn. Sadly does not turn on Thassa. 0 to 2 of
in the deck.
Lyev Skyknight: A 3/1 evasive beater that shuts off any nonland permanent for a turn. He is seeing play in white heavy versions as well as seeing play in Mihara's Esper aggro build. 0 to 2 in the deck.
Thassa, God of the Sea: Easily the best god printed in the cycle thus far. Scrying for 1 and make creatures unblockable? If she wasn't legendary she would be a 4 of and some decks don't care that she is and jam 4 anyways. 3 to 4 in the deck.
4-drop:
Master of Waves: Dodges red removal and red creatures and creates a board presence with just a few devotion. 4 of in the deck.
Ephara, God of the Polis: Adds another indestructible threat along side Thassa and is at times a lot easier to cast. Nets you cards for just putting dudes on the field. Great synergy with Brimaz or Elspeth. 2 of in the Deck.
6-drop:
Aetherling: Fight control with a control card? I am not a fan of this card and in testing I found him sitting in my hand way too many times wishing he was
something else. I have cut him all together from my list. He is an evasive threat that can win games on his own but does not fit into this deck. 0 in the deck.
Planeswalkers:
Jace, Architect of Thought: A control staple that made its way into MUD. While Jace's +1 did not do much in MUD it helps out much more here with having a limited early game. He also nets you cards to fuel the gas and adds to the devotion count. 3 of in the Deck.
Elspeth, Sun's Champion: Another control card but allows the deck to play the long game against control decks. Also gives the deck another source of devotion and a way to remove threats that outclass your own. Not necessarily part of your initial game plan she is a 1 or 2 of in your 75.
Spells:
Detention Sphere: A huge reason to add the white splash. MUD was weak to the pack rat game MBD could play. D-Sphere takes care of that. Opposing Planeswalkers, Underworld Connections, or Pack Rat are all dealt with. This card in multiples turns Ephara on -
giggity. 4 of in the deck.
Rapid Hybridization: One mana removal spell in blue that can take out creatures that the deck is soft to. Sadly it replaces the threat with a 3/3 frog lizard. The Card can easily turn one of your weaker threats into a bigger one. 2 to 3 in the 75.
Nullify: Blue being an aggro deck is jarring at first. Traditional aggro decks have efficient threats at low cost and removal that can be used to clear out opposing threats so you can swing. Blue does not have access to this but blue does have a counter spell that hits every relevant creature in the format as well as any aura that could be played. Why allow your opponent to play that Stormbreath, Ghost dad, or Blood Baron when you can just counter it? It also hits Underworld Connections. 2 to 3 in the 75.
Sphinx's Revelation: Card draw and life gain. Unlike control we are not going to infinitely loop Revelations into infinity. The card is used to bring more fuel to the fire when it is needed. 3 in the 75 with
at least 2 in the main board.
Supreme Verdict: WAIT WHAT? A sweeper in an aggro deck? With removing of the one drops we may take a few hits on the early turns. This prevents stops their board progression while we sand bag threats to play afterwards. At the same time Verdict does not kill all of our creatures. Thassa and Ephara are indestructible so sweeping the board with an online Ephara or Thassa due to D-Sphere and Planeswalkers is a very scary thing for the opponent. Also Verdict gets around Stormbreath and Blood Baron's pro white clause. 4 in the 75 with 2 to 3 in the main board.
Decklists
Sideboard/Match up guides coming soon.[deck=Chase Cagle 24th Place at StarCityGames.com Standard Open on 2/8/2014]Creatures (17)
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Master of Waves
4 Nightveil Specter
2 Ephara, God of the Polis
3 Thassa, God of the Sea
Planeswalkers (4)
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
Lands (25)
11 Island
1 Plains
2 Azorius Guildgate
n4 Hallowed Fountain
2 Mutavault
4 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Spells (15)
4 Detention Sphere
3 Nullify
3 Rapid Hybridization
2 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Supreme Verdict
Sideboard
2 Pithing Needle
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Fiendslayer Paladin
3 Gainsay
2 Negate
1 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Revoke Existence
1 Supreme Verdict[/deck]
[deck=NBW's friend's initial list]Creatures (19)
1 AEtherling
2 Ephara, God of the Polis
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Master of Waves
3 Nightveil Specter
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
3 Thassa, God of the Sea
Planeswalkers (4)
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Spells (13)
2 Supreme Verdict
2 Azorius Charm
2 Cyclonic Rift
4 Detention Sphere
3 Sphinx's Revelation
Lands (24)
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Hallowed Fountain
9 Island
2 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
2 Mutavault
1 Plains
2 Azorius Guildgate
Sideboard [15]
1 AEtherling
3 Gainsay
2 Negate
1
Nullify
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Supreme Verdict
2 Revoke Existence
2 Fiendslayer Paladin
2 Pithing Needle[/deck]
[deck=Josh Silvestri's List]Creatures 25
4xTidebinder Mage
4xFrostburn Weird
4xThassa, God of the Sea
4xNightveil Specter
3xBrimaz, King of Oreskos
4xMaster of Waves
2xEphara, God of the Polis
Spells 10
4xDetention Sphere
1xDomestication
2xNullify
1xRapid Hybridization
2xJace, Architect of Thought
Land 25
4xHallowed Fountain
4xTemple of Enlightenment
4xAzorius Guildgate
2xGodless Shrine
1xTemple of Silence
8xIsland
2xMutavault
Sideboard
1xRapid Hybridization
1xJace, Architect of Thought
2xBident of Thassa
2xDomestication
2xRevoke Existence
2xGlare of Heresy
2xElspeth, Sun's Champion
3xNegate[/deck]
[deck=NBW's Current List]Creatures 18
2 Ephara, God of the Polis
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Master of Waves
3 Nightveil Specter
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
3 Thassa, God of the Sea
Planeswalkers (4)
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Elspeth,
Sun's Champion
Spells (14)
4 Detention Sphere
3 Nullify
2 Rapid Hybridization
2 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Supreme Verdict
Lands (24)
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Hallowed Fountain
9 Island
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
3 Mutavault
1 Plains
2 Azorius Guildgate
Sideboard
2 Pithing Needle
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Fiendslayer Paladin
3 Gainsay
2 Negate
1 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Revoke Existence
1 Supreme Verdict[/deck]
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Master of Waves
4 Nightveil Specter
2 Ephara, God of the Polis
3 Thassa, God of the Sea
Planeswalkers (4)
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
Lands (25)
11 Island
1 Plains
2 Azorius Guildgate
n4 Hallowed Fountain
2 Mutavault
4 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Spells (15)
4 Detention Sphere
3 Nullify
3 Rapid Hybridization
2 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Supreme Verdict
Sideboard
2 Pithing Needle
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Fiendslayer Paladin
3 Gainsay
2 Negate
1 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Revoke Existence
1 Supreme Verdict[/deck]
[deck=NBW's friend's initial list]Creatures (19)
1 AEtherling
2 Ephara, God of the Polis
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Master of Waves
3 Nightveil Specter
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
3 Thassa, God of the Sea
Planeswalkers (4)
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Spells (13)
2 Supreme Verdict
2 Azorius Charm
2 Cyclonic Rift
4 Detention Sphere
3 Sphinx's Revelation
Lands (24)
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Hallowed Fountain
9 Island
2 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
2 Mutavault
1 Plains
2 Azorius Guildgate
Sideboard [15]
1 AEtherling
3 Gainsay
2 Negate
1
Nullify
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Supreme Verdict
2 Revoke Existence
2 Fiendslayer Paladin
2 Pithing Needle[/deck]
[deck=Josh Silvestri's List]Creatures 25
4xTidebinder Mage
4xFrostburn Weird
4xThassa, God of the Sea
4xNightveil Specter
3xBrimaz, King of Oreskos
4xMaster of Waves
2xEphara, God of the Polis
Spells 10
4xDetention Sphere
1xDomestication
2xNullify
1xRapid Hybridization
2xJace, Architect of Thought
Land 25
4xHallowed Fountain
4xTemple of Enlightenment
4xAzorius Guildgate
2xGodless Shrine
1xTemple of Silence
8xIsland
2xMutavault
Sideboard
1xRapid Hybridization
1xJace, Architect of Thought
2xBident of Thassa
2xDomestication
2xRevoke Existence
2xGlare of Heresy
2xElspeth, Sun's Champion
3xNegate[/deck]
[deck=NBW's Current List]Creatures 18
2 Ephara, God of the Polis
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Master of Waves
3 Nightveil Specter
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
3 Thassa, God of the Sea
Planeswalkers (4)
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Elspeth,
Sun's Champion
Spells (14)
4 Detention Sphere
3 Nullify
2 Rapid Hybridization
2 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Supreme Verdict
Lands (24)
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Hallowed Fountain
9 Island
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
3 Mutavault
1 Plains
2 Azorius Guildgate
Sideboard
2 Pithing Needle
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Fiendslayer Paladin
3 Gainsay
2 Negate
1 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Revoke Existence
1 Supreme Verdict[/deck]
UPDATE:with testing the deck has shifted more into a traditional Blue devotion deck splashing white. I will use this thread to discuss my testing and deck evolution leading up to the GP.
