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BMoor's Magic The Gathering Deck Garage
Kort's Renewal Deck
August 6, 2008

HI BMOOR,
 
I AM HAVING A TOUGH TIME THINNING OUT THIS DECK.  THIS DECK IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE AND MOST HATED DECK OF ALL TIME.  YOU SEE I ENJOY TRYING NEW CARDS AND ATTEMPTS TO CAUSE HAVOC WITH THE REST OF MY FELLOW PLAYERS.  WE NORMALLY PLAY MULTI/CASUAL.  IT JUST SEEMS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY CARDS IN THIS DECK.  THE HEART OF THE DECK IS ENDURING RENEWAL.  I JUST DON'T LIKE LEAVING MYSELF  ONLY ONE OPTION TO WIN SO I HAVE ENCORPORATED MANY OTHERS TO THE POINT WHERE I AM JUST NOT DRAWING THE CARDS I NEED. 
 
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE LIST AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN MAKE OF IT.  ANY SUGGESTIONS OR CHANGES WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
 
HERE IT GOES:
 
6 ENCHANTMENTS:
 
4 ENDURING RENEWAL
2 OBLIVION RINGS
 
12 SORCERYS:
 
2 PILLAGE
3 WRATH OF GOD
3 BROWBEAT
4 GRAPESHOT
 
9 INSTANTS:
 
4 SWORDS TO PLOWSHEARS
4 LIGHTNING HELIS
1 ENLIGHTENED TUTOR
 
16 CREATURES:
 
4 WILD CANTOR
4 LIGHTNING SERPENT
4 ACADEMY RECTOR
4 ORNITHOPTER
 
7 ARTIFACTS:
 
4 GRINDING STATION
3 ASHNOD'S ALTER
 
20 LANDS:
 
4 PLATEAU
4 SACRED FOUNDRY
4 REFLECTING POOL
4 MOUNTAINS
4 PLAINS
 
IN TOTAL I HAVE 70 CARDS (AND HAVE EVEN TAKEN OUT SOME SUCH AS PANDEMONIUM & FIREBALL)...I DON'T MIND BEING OVER A BIT BUT IT JUST SEEMS HARD TO DRAW THE KILL FACTOR.  I AM LOOKING TO HAVE THIS DECK WIN ON TURN 3 OR 4 ON A REGULAR BASIS.  I THOUGHT WITH ALL THE COMBO'S LIKE; 1)ENDURING RENEWAL + CANTOR + GRAPESHOT, 2)ENDURING RENEWAL + ORNITHOPTOR + GRINDING STATION OR EVEN ASHNODS'S ALTER + LIGHTNING SERPENT (TO NAME A FEW) WOULD BE ENOUGH TO TURN THE TIDES OF WAR IN MY FAVOR.  I SEEM TO HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN.
 
CAN YOU ASSIST MY IN MY VICTORY OVER THE OTHER COMBATANTS?
 
THANKS, KORT

Glad to be of assistance, Kort.  Getting your deck thinned out can be crucial when it comes to combo decks.  Trouble is, red and white are the two worst colors at it.  In Red, you've already got Browbeat, and that's about it.  In White, your best shot is your ability to search your library for enchantments.  And since all the combos in this deck revolve around Enduring Renewal, you need as much enchantment tutoring as you can get.

But first, what can come out of this deck?  Well, Pillage for starters.  It destroys an artifact or land, which is cool, but it just doesn't do enough.  Swords to Plowshares can probably come out too, in favor of two more Oblivion Rings.  Yes, tecnically the Swords are cheaper removal, but the O-Rings can also remove artifacts and enchantments, and they themselves are enchantments that you can tutor up if you already have a Renewal.  Besides, you already have Lightning Helix and Wrath to stop creature hordes.

Next, I think Grinding Station is too much to ask for.  The only thing it really works with is Ornithopter, and only if Enduring Renewal is out.  That's just not likely enough to happen.  Ashnod's Altar can probably come out too.  Again, it only works with Ornithopter, only if the Renewal is out, and only if you have a Lightning Serpent to play.  And besides that, Lightning Serpent is already a combo with Enduring Renewal-- it makes you sacrifice it at end of turn, and then the Renewal brings it back for you to play next turn.  And the turn after that.

I'm also not sure about your land count.  You've currently got 20 out of 70 lands, while 24 out of 60 is usually a better ratio.  Aim for between 33% and 40% of your current deck size.

That's about all I can do here, Kort.  I know it can be tough to make the final cuts, but sometimes a second opinion is all you need.

Good luck!