Just another Aether deck but with surprising stats! [Unupped][AI4 focused]

[Keishaa]

I'll start with statistics here

Whilst I only tested this deck for a short period I can't imagine stats over say 150 games would vary too much
(I'm farming HB's currently so I'll update these stats if there is any drastic deviation)

W: 56   L: 7   W%: 80%    EM: 0/63   EM%: 0%   

For an unupgraded deck that doesn't stray too far from basic mono aether's it's hard to criticise

Here it is:

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61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61o 61s 61s 61s 61s 61s 61s 61t 61t 61t 61t 61t 61t 61u 61v 61v 61v 61v 61v 61v 62m 62m 8pu

As with all mono aether decks, your creatures being immortal means you're immune to CC, Dimensional shields allow you to rack out damage whilst not worrying about your own health

Shields being the most important card here, you don't have the capability to play out your damage fast enough to forget about these

Lobotomizer helps with basic CC (Not that you should really need it, except in the case of butterfly effect which can occasionally hamper this deck), it's more there for it's damage and quanta

I've only included 2 Shards of Wisdom in this deck because I only have 2! However I can't see having more than 3-4 being of much use, although these cards are really what sets this deck apart, the maneuverability over shields it offers is great

I'm sure it's possible for EM to be achieved as long as you get a shield up and can maintain it

The deck isn't original, but if you're lacking some electrum, and can just grind out AI4 I'd recommend this for definite

[antiaverage]

Seems quanta starved. Are you running into games where you are feeling short on quanta?

[Keishaa]

Surprisingly not, even with a start of 1 aether pillar.

With this deck I wouldn't expect to get your creatures out in the first 3 turns, because you want to use the quanta to start your shield string, this allows for your quanta to accumulate and for you to start your offence.

As soon as your shield is up probability suggests you'll be drawing a pillar once every 2-3 turns, your dragons are usually played later on in your offence, towards the end of the game (Usually a TTW of 15)

You'll have enough quanta to play your immortals safely, whilst gathering enough quanta to play your next shield, and then it's just rinse and repeat until you have an excess of quanta and can stack your SoW to navigate shields

[omegareaper7]

So no dragon until turn 6 or 7? That is horribly slow. It needs more quanta. Dropping one or two immortals and/or dragons for pillars would greatly help the deck. And it would also ease the pain of quanta denial.

[Keishaa]

So no dragon until turn 6 or 7? That is horribly slow. It needs more quanta. Dropping one or two immortals and/or dragons for pillars would greatly help the deck. And it would also ease the pain of quanta denial.

Sometimes even later! I've tried dropping 2 of each immortal and 2 dragons, but in those situations where you're waiting on that finishing creature or even another shield I found that a pillar tended to pop up, you may get more quanta but what use is it when you've only got a pillar to drop into play?

[omegareaper7]

More quanta allows you to play cards as you get them. Which is much better then waiting 2+ turns to play any creature you draw.

Think about it this way: You draw a dragon, but only have 3 pillars. You have to wait 4 turns. But if you have 6 pillars or so, then you would be able to play 1 in two turns. You would have 20 more damage done to them then you would have otherwise.
The faster you can win, the less chance you have to lose if the deck isn't hard countered.

[Higurashi]

Generally Monaether can throw out a Dragon or two Immortals before it needs to start the Dim chain. The offensive pressure of a Dragon rush is half the reason it's so powerful. With SoW's, Immortals are a slightly better option for pure electrum/h, but can cause more losses to healing. Personally I would never pack less than 13 pillars unupped and 12 upped. 14/13 is much preferable if you want to be able to afford all your offense before you deck out/run out of Dims. On that topic, more than 30 cards is a terrible idea in Monoaether. The risk to break a Dim chain is big enough at 30 cards.

PS: nothing surprising after 50 games. Nice to see enthusiasm though.

[Herden5]

More quanta allows you to play cards as you get them. Which is much better then waiting 2+ turns to play any creature you draw.

Think about it this way: You draw a dragon, but only have 3 pillars. You have to wait 4 turns. But if you have 6 pillars or so, then you would be able to play 1 in two turns. You would have 20 more damage done to them then you would have otherwise.
The faster you can win, the less chance you have to lose if the deck isn't hard countered.

Yes, the first thing in Aether you counter is loss of quanta. Ususally this kinda decks use up to 12-14 pillars (when less then + pends). In this case all those dragons could be just not used when the opponent is Darkness or Fire (If you defend with Dim shields, Steals, and in Fire Defrags and phoenix rushes). I suggest taking out 1-2 dragons and 1 immortal, putting in 2 psions + quintessences, what will be enough to make sure you cant use up your quanta all at once...  Or just waiting for Dragons, but then you need Lightnings