4x fact or fiction
4x exclude
2x cognivore
4x counterspell
4x syncopate
3x disrupt
4x force spike
3x brainstorm
3x prohibit
2x scrivener
3x repulse
2x fervent denial
2x washout
24x island

Here is how you play the deck:

Basically, you just counter everything! Of course, with 24 main deck counters it is not that difficult...plus the fervent denials flash back. Always make sure you have a counter in your hand at all times. When you decide to drop the fatty, make sure he is counterspell protected. I like to play an early daring apprentice so that I can drop the cognivore earlier, but that is not necessary, just a fun idea. The cognivore works a lot better in this deck than amugaba because of all of the instants you will have in your graveyard. By the time you pull him out, he should be at least a 12/12 flyer. Boom, bam, slam, snap, crack! Two turns disaster for your opponent. The syncopates work well with all of the flashback crap that is played these days like call of the herd and beast attack. Exclude and repulse are in there for creature control and hand advantage. Use washouts when only necessary, and you can always scrivener to get them back if you need them. Use prohibits whenever you can; these are pretty weak. Also, don't hold the disrupts in your hand. Even if your opponent has the mana to pay for the disrupted spell, play disrupt anyway. Three reasons: Draw a card. Put an instant in your graveyard. Possibly thwart your opponents plan for the rest of the turn when he realizes he needs another mana. I also like playing with opportunity in this deck. An end of opponent's turn opportunity is a good thing! Plus, another instant in the graveyard. Geez, is this sounding like a theme? Play the big blue! Make your opponent fear the counter! Drop the fatty! Lights out! Sound easy? Who needs to spend 60 bucks on four shadowmage infiltrators when you can practically take the cognivore of the hands of many who question its power! Ok ok, a joke. But seriously, this deck, which includes only two rares, is a strong competitor with every deck out there. Don't believe me? Play against it.

Of course, I wouldn't count on it, but I certainly wouldn't go so far as to outright state that it simply isn't playable.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Boris999:

Of course, I wouldn't count on it, but I certainly wouldn't go so far as to outright state that it simply isn't playable.

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Why is 8-10 mana such a bad thing? Infestation-Upheaval is a high profile, good deck in type 2 and nobody complains about the 8-10 turn requirement this takes.

I've been playing a simular (in concept) deck since my average States finish and not only does it seem to win a lot more often then my States deck, I also have a lot more fun playing it.

The decklist is, for anyone interested:

4 Counterspell
4 Undermine
4 Shadowmage Infiltrator
4 Nightscape Familier
4 Fact or Fiction
3 Peek
3 Duress
3 Repulse
3 Opt
3 Recoil
2 Cognivore
1 Thieving Magpie
4 Underground River
2 Salt Marsh
2 Darkwater Catacombs
7 Island
7 Swamp

SB

4 Gainsay
4 Divert
3 Washout
2 Standstill
2 Zombie Infestation

I tweek this deck according to my mood and enough to keep from getting metagamed out, but it keeps the bulk of the deck intact. For example, I'll splash red for Crosis and FTK or white for Dromar and Vindicates or I can change it to Infestation-Upheaval without splashing. Either way, the point of the deck is the same. Bounce, draw lots of cards and drop a stick with which to beat your opponent senseless. Any deck that doesn't play blue, I win, plain and simple. Other blue decks tend to be a battle, but I almost always have card advantage with my cantrips. Not to mention that I RARELY need the entire casting cost of my kill cards because of the Familiars. The Familiars also stop Call of the Herd, FTKs and Infiltrators ALL DAY LONG.

Most of the decks in existence in Type 2 rarely finish an opponent before turn 10 and I can't think of any that can do it on a consistent basis. I can almost always drop Cognivore turn 6 or 7 against any deck that doesn't play blue and it's over by turn 9 barring any chump blocks. Other then Terminate or Vindicate, most decks don't have anything that can deal with a threat a large as an 8/8 or 10/10 (or larger) whether you drop it 6th turn or 12th turn.

Anyway, I guess my point is: Any deck that is fast, consistent and says "I win" 1-2 turns after you drop your kill card can't be a bad thing and running Cognivore works very well in such a deck.

On a side note, I do want to say that I don't think Cognivore is the best choice for this deck. Splashing red for Crosis and FTKs is one of my more favorite alterations in the deck and doesn't even need Crosis to win. Right now, I'm splashing white because of the metagame where I'm at. Sabortooth Nishoba is a HUGE problem against the deck when splashed with red. Vindicates at least give me something that can deal with it. However, splashing red is still my favorite alteration and running Cognivore would have to be my second favorite. Splashing white just seems to be ready for a larger variety.

Other cards I like to run in the deck include: Exclude, Index, Fire/Ice and Prophetic Bolt. It's even surprisingly competitive in Extended (mainly because your opponent is expecting something else), running Sapphire Medallion, Force of Will, Brainstorm, AK and Intuition.

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Cognavore is playable. But like many single cards and many rares before it.. the deck it is in has to be made to sustain it. There was even an article posted by WotC R&D staff about cognavore (as to why it costs 8 mana instead of 5,6, or 7)

Most people do not see the value of a card unless it comes with a decklist (just an observation) however some monoblue opposition decks played 2 cognavores at states in my region.. so do not discount a card just because its casting cost it 8.. (look at polar kraken, and leviathan.. and they were HEAVILY played cards when they came out against decks that consistantly killed by turn 6) ..

oh well.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Trelocke:
How can you say 8 mana is too much for any card? Obliterate? Kicked Rage? Both cost at least 8 and both are/have been well played, game turning cards.

Why is 8-10 mana such a bad thing? Infestation-Upheaval is a high profile, good deck in type 2 and nobody complains about the 8-10 turn requirement this takes.

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These arguements don't quite fit for cognivore because when they resovle, they win games. It is that simple. When a cognivore hits the table, it might or might not win the game.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Magic1264:
These arguements don't quite fit for cognivore because when they resovle, they win games. It is that simple. When a cognivore hits the table, it might or might not win the game.

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I say it depends on the situation. Kicked Rage can be Diverted and that can LOSE the game just as easily as winning it. I'd like to know how Obliterate wins games. Obilterate is nothing more then a reset button and by no means game winning. As with just about any "game winning card", it still depends on the situation.

The main risks for the deck that I would recommend being watchful of:
1. Green anti-blue weenies (you must have 2 more washouts ready) Spellbane Centaur will give you trouble, too.
2. Decks with 4x Rage - you should have 4 diverts in your sideboard.
3. The ususal discard/land destruction cards - you will not get to play your cognivore if you don't have the land or get your counters dropped. I would recommend practicing against these archetypes to learn what your response will be.

Good luck, KID!!!

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quote:

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Originally posted by stu55:
This leads to this question:Are the vores good??

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The "vores" are playable. Their statis of being "good" mainly has to do with the decks they're being run it.