Daze
U/W/R Delver
Eddie Solis
1st Place at StarCityGames Legacy Open on 4/13/2014
Where old meets new we find this highly efficient instrument of destruction. Delver strategies have been around in Legacy for quite some time in varied combinations and designs. And now with True-Name combined with equipment there is additional facets to the deck. The crux of the deck though is about efficiency in its creatures, disruption, removal and draw creating a true force to be reckoned with.

We start with the namesake creature Delver of Secrets which is one of the best one drop creatures, when build properly into its deck. With a 28 of the cards in the deck able to Transform him from the triggered ability you’re basically a 50/50 shot to be smashing in with a ‘flying lightning bolt’ every turn. He is paired up with the very tricky True-Name Nemesis which while not unbeatable demands an answer or will make short work of your opponent. They are both supported by Legacy staple Stoneforge Mystic which has options to tutor up either a Batterskull or an Umezawa’s Jitte to speed to victory. A heavy disruption package finds full sets of Force of Will, Daze and Spell Pierce to suppress any plans the enemy may try to push forward. There is also a set of Wasteland in the manabase to try and limit their access to crucial mana. For removal we have both Swords to Plowshares to exile any creature threats and Lightning Bolt which can go either to a creature or straight to the dome to finish opponents fast. Finally there is both Brainstorm and Ponder to ensure that there is no taking the foot of the pedal once we get up to speed by streaming constant gas directly to the hand, and fetchlands in the manabase help to reset the top of the library when necessary.

To me this epitomizes the efficiency of Legacy with an ultra-low curve but still encapsulating all the basic tenets of threats, answers and draw. This is a marquee Tempo deck and if you like to hold control of the board while constantly advancing your own plan then this is a great deck for you. It is doubtful that it will be outclassed in terms of efficiency and even in elegance.
Eric J Seltzer
@ejseltzer on Twitter