Standard Deck Examination: U/W Spirit Delver

So Pro Tour: Dark Ascension is over and well we know that this particular deck is superb, piloted by the hands of guys like Jon Finkel and the like, it's time to take a look at the deck which basically made it's way to the top 8 of the latest pro tour without much difficulty.

Jon Finkel's U/W Delver Spirits - 3rd Place - PT Dark Ascension


Creatures
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Drogskol Captain
2 Dungeon Geists
3 Phantasmal Image
4 Snapcaster Mage

Spells
1 Divine Offering
4 Gitaxian Probe
1 Gut Shot
4 Lingering Souls
2 Mana Leak
4 Ponder
1 Revoke Existence
4 Vapor Snag

Lands
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Evolving Wilds
3 Glacial Fortress
5 Island
2 Moorland Haunt
1 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
1 Swamp

Sideboard
1 Celestial Purge
1 Dismember
1 Demystify
1 Dissipate
1 Divine Offering
2 Dungeon Geists
2 Gut Shot
1 Mana Leak
1 Negate
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Revoke Existence
2 Surgical Extraction

Now this is what i feel is going to define this archetype after the recent end to Pro Tour: Dark Ascension which was spectacular if i might add, with this deck there are 3 creatures that stand out besides Delver of Secrets here, Phantasmal Image, Drogskol Captain and Dungeon Geists which all have their purposes for spirits in this deck, but that's not the only pro tour list i wish to look at, let's look at Jelger Wiegersma's version of this deck which featured a completely different spell base and sideboard.

Jelger Wiegersma's U/W Delver Spirits - 8th Place - PT Dark Ascension


Creatures

4 Delver of Secrets
4 Drogskol Captain
2 Dungeon Geists
3 Phantasmal Image
4 Snapcaster Mage

Spells


1 Divine Offering
4 Gitaxian Probe
1 Mutagenic Growth
4 Lingering Souls
2 Mana Leak
4 Ponder
1 Revoke Existence
4 Vapor Snag

Lands

4 Darkslick Shores
2 Evolving Wilds
3 Glacial Fortress
5 Island
2 Moorland Haunt
1 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
1 Swamp

Sideboard

1 Celestial Purge
1 Dismember
1 Dissipate
1 Divine Offering
1 Dungeon Geists
2 Gut Shot
2 Mana Leak
1 Negate
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Ratchet Bomb
1 Revoke Existence
1 Surgical Extraction

Now his sideboard is a bit different since he has Ratchet Bomb, Timely Reinforcements and only a singleton Surgical Extraction in there to deal with things, but you'll notice the spell list it has a singleton copy of Mutagenic Growth which means his list was a bit different but didn't seem to do as well, thanks to his 8th place finish in the event though, both lists did quite well at the pro tour at that, now in comparison with the two lists in question it's not really difficult to tell the core cards of this deck just based off these two particular lists.

Creatures


Delver of Secrets - Pretty much required since the deck is named after this somewhat, plus the fact it's a 1 drop even makes it a lot better honestly.

Phantasmal Image - Sure copying a Delver is fun and all but how about when you copy a Drogskol Captain with this and your entire team is now hexproof

Drogskol Captain - Another very required card in this deck, prevents targeted removal on your entire team and when a second one or a imaged captain is out, well targeted removal doesn't do very much here.

Snapcaster Mage - Since when is snappy never required to do the job, flashback on your non flashback spells, is a decent attacker and when there is a chance it usually means something happens that is good for you and bad for your opponent when he drops.

Dungeon Geists - The entire reason spirits are good now, 3/3 that permanently locks down a opponent's creature as long as it exists on the battlefield, flies and is the biggest creature in the deck.

Spells


Ponder - This sets up your delver activation and pretty much sets you up for the next 2 turns officially, perhaps the single best way to flip delver of secrets on 3rd turn easily.

Vapor Snag - Another 1 drop spell that is very effective in the long run, sure swing with your entire team and play this as a response to attacking, negating a blocker and getting those few extra points of damage through, or good to deal with a big threat like a titan, send it back to their hand and make a opponent lose 1 life.

Lingering Souls - 1 of your 2 token generators of the deck, which for it's mana cost is pretty damn decent, puts 2 1/1 spirits onto the field with flying and with a captain or two that can turn into a lethal team.

Mana Leak/Gitaxian Probe - This combination of cards is required since we are going blue, card draw and the ability to tell what is in your opponent's hand with the probe, then to follow that up with a counter spell in leak, basically the 1, 2 punch for the deck.

Lands


Seachrome Coast/Darkslick Shores - Required if your going to be needing mana fixers, since there are only 7 basic lands in the deck usually, 4 of each is required

Moorland Haunt - The second token generator of 2 this deck has, need a extra blocker for a quick chump block, sure, or perhaps you want a attacker next turn, activate this on your opponent's end step, untap and swing, this is a 2 of easily in this deck since it's not as required as Lingering Souls

Glacial Fortress - The only core set dual required for this deck since the black fixers are in Darkslick Shores and the basic swamp, since white/blue is more required this is a necessity as a 3 of in this particular deck of choice.

So without further ado let's throw together this particular deck in our way with additions not included here.

Example List


Creatures
4 Drogskol Captain
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Delver of Secrets
3 Phantasmal Image
2 Dungeon Geists

Spells
4 Lingering Souls
3 Midnight Haunting
2 Mana Leak
4 Ponder
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Vapor Snag

Lands
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Evolving Wilds
3 Glacial Fortress
5 Island
2 Moorland Haunt
1 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
1 Swamp

Believe it or not there isn't much we can do if we want to change it to a more aggressive token style build, just add 3 midnight haunting to the deck, that's it, that is all we can do if we want it to be more aggressive honestly, anyways i'm afraid that's it for this particular examination, so i'm vergil and hope you enjoyed this little "Delve" into the U/W Spirit Delver i'll see you next time