When Modern Horizons was released, I wrote an article with some brews focusing cards from the new set, two decks stood out Boros Tokens which my wife Rachel took under her wing and Dimir Ninja which I decided to play more.

My original musings can be found in the article below.

Dimir Ninja Faeries

However, if you wish to skip the article my original list is below

• 4 Dismal Backwater
• 4 Ash Barrens
• 5 Snow-Covered Island
• 5 Snow-Covered Plains
• 4 Dimir Aqueduct

• 2 Okina-Gang Shinobi
• 2 Azra Smokeshaper
• 2 Moonblade Shinobi
• 2 Mistblade Shinobi
• 4 Faerie Seer
• 4 Faerie Miscreant
• 4 Changeling Outcast
• 4 Spellstutter Sprite

• 3 Smoke Shroud
• 4 Accumulated Knowledge
• 2 Chainer’s Edict
• 3 Counterspell
• 2 Soul Manipulation

Sideboard

• 2 Crypt Rats
• 3 Skullcatcher
• 1 Nausea
• 3 Shadow Rift
• 2 Pestermite
• 2 Diabolic Edict
• 2 Relic of Progenitus

The deck started as a fun experiment and was hampered by card availability as a lot of my best cards were in other decks, thankfully Pauper is an inexpensive format and to improve my fortunes I splashed out on a few cards over the next couple of months.

Now, a couple of years on I found the deck hidden away in my draw and practically discarded. I do like Dimir Decks and appreciate the power of Dimir Delver or Dimir Faeries but I do like to play the Ninja’s still. So, I am going to see how I can improve the deck without selling my soul.

The Mana Base

After looking at the mana base the first change, I want to make is to add Ice Tunnel, this will enable the use of Snuff Out which is one of the best removal spells available. Hopefully the missing life gain from the Dismal Backwater and life loss from Snuff Out isn’t an issue.

I also realised I never included Bojuka Bog and this was more an issue that my copies were in use. With Time Spiral Remastered, Mystery Boosters and the List I discovered I had actually picked up a few extra copies.

Mortuary Mire deserves a copy, yes, it is another tapped land but returning a creature is worth the benefit. Witches Cottage is a potential alternative with the addition of Ice Tunnel though I could still not have enough swamps.

I considered the cycling lands Barren Moor and Lonely Sandbar but we have enough card draw.

Creatures

So, what we learnt was this deck can struggle to close a game out, even with Smoke Shroud as a recurring buff the race can soon be lost.

My thoughts are Gurmag Angler to close out the game though Striped Riverwinder could be an alternative blue finisher. I am not using my Sultai Scavengers currently and it is a personal favourite that used to see regular play.

The question now is do we toolbox some of the less impactful Ninja to just use in critical situations?

Finally, we have two Ravnica favourites in Dimir Infiltrator and Dimir House Guard, both can be used to transmute into two useful mana cost cards i.e., 2 and 4. Dimir Infiltrator also is unblockable so if played on early turns can be used to cheat out a Ninja and then search out the best counters or removal for later.

Pestermite is in consideration as a useful faerie but has been underwhelming in testing.

We are now in a Pauper world where the Monarch is played in every colour, so we need an answer. Bearing in mind the aggressive nature of the deck Azure Fleet Admiral is more synergistic than Thorn of the Black Rose.

Spells

The removal suite is a little bit light and we’ve had many new spells enter the format. I really feel Cast Down should be added and now that Ice Tunnel has been utilised, Snuff Out can be added.

Whilst there are many different Counterspells that can be used, Counterspell is by far the best. Even with the double blue mana cost Counterspell is worth the risk.

Soul Manipulation is much neglected in the format but one I truly enjoy playing. Countering creatures and returning creatures is fun.

Accumulated Knowledge is good but could Frantic Inventory be better, with the mix of creature types Of One Mind looks like a possible choice and Behold the Multiverse looks spicy.

I love Recoil as a card and I am tempted to experiment, Mistblade Shinobi can be used to bounce creatures which is more on theme with the deck.

Along the tutor line I was considering Perplex as an extra counter spell but a three mana value transmute could also be useful for Crypt Rats and Soul Manipulation.

Final List

My final list is below with notes on key decisions is as follows.

• 4             Ice Tunnel
• 2             Ash Barrens
• 7             Snow-Covered Island
• 6             Snow-Covered Swamp
• 1             Dimir Aqueduct
• 1             Bojuka Big
• 1             Mortuary Mire

• 4             Faerie Seer
• 4             Spellstutter Sprite
• 2             Dimir Infiltrator
• 1             Dimir House Guard
• 4             Ninja of the Deep Hours
• 1             Azra Smokeshaper
• 2             Azure Fleet Admiral
• 2             Okina-Gang Shinobi
• 2             Gurmag Angler

We have eight faeries but this should be fine.

To allow for tutoring we have plenty of four drops though I am not convinced I do not need another Dimir House Guard.

I finally decided that Gurmag Angler is the premium finisher, I decided to use the Ninja’s to get us to the position to successfully resolve this guy.

• 2             Soul Manipulation
• 4             Frantic Inventory
• 2             Chainer’s Edict
• 4             Counterspell
• 2             Cast Down
• 2             Snuff Out

We have now got Frantic Inventory, Counterspell, Cast Down and Chainers Edict all with a mana value of two for Dimir Infiltrator.

Sideboard

• 2             Crypt Rats
• 3             Skullcatcher
• 1             Suffocating Fumes
• 1             Moonblade Shinobi
• 1             Mistblade Shinobi
• 2             Unexpected Fangs
• 2             Hydroblast
• 1             Echoing Decay
• 1             Evincar’s Justice
• 1             Smoke Shroud

The sideboard is very much a tool box of my favourite cards mixed in with subtle flavour cards.

I am still looking at replacing Mistblade Shinobi with Echoing Truth to synergise with the two-mana value.

Conclusion

I am looking at playing this deck at my LGS and might even have some spell table opportunities.