Flicker and Blink decks (named after Ghostly Flicker and Momentary Blink) are a fan favorite in the Pauper format. Something about utilizing and constantly re-using enter the battlefield effects make people (including me) feel warm and fuzzy inside.

The list we will be looking at today is a bit different as it is an Orzhov deck without blue. The list is from the 5-0 dump from 2/2/2022 and although it may not have any infinite combos, it has plenty of shenanigans. Let’s not waste any more time.

Orzhov Blink

 

4 Chittering Rats 4 Dusk Legion Zealot 4 Fleshbag Marauder 4 Kor Skyfisher 2 Okiba-Gang Shinobi 4 Phyrexian Rager 4 Thraben Inspector 2 Ephemerate 2 Supernatural Stamina 4 Unearth 2 Omen of the Dead 4 Ash Barrens 1 Bojuka Bog

3 Orzhov Basilica 4 Plains 2 Feign Death 2 Priest of Ancient Lore 8 Swamp

Sideboard: 2 Crypt Rats 4 Lone Missionary 2 Cast Down 2 Prismatic Strands 1 Suffocating Fumes 4 Dust to Dust

Thraben Inspector – This is a deck with a ton of ways to re-use enter the battlefield effects. If you could play 5 of these, you just might.

Kor Skyfisher – Not only is this one of the best creatures for a deck like this, this is one of the best creatures in Pauper period in my opinion.

Priest of the Ancient Lore – This is an interesting one. The life gain is slow, but does go a long way against decks such as Burn and it does draw cards. I like this creature.

Chittering Rats – I wish you could play 5 of these. With Chittering Rats you can sometimes lock your opponent out for a couple turns and secure the win. It can be very annoying for anyone to deal with.

Dusk Legion Zealot and Phyrexian Rager – Although you do lose life from these creatures, you get to draw cards and beat down which should offset it. Just be careful.

Okiba-Gang Shinobi – In a deck like this, getting to use its Ninjustu is and clock in can be backbreaking for just about any deck in the format. I like that we only see 2 copies in the deck because it can be a little slow and 1 should be all you need.

Fleshbag Marauder – You don’t see this creature too much, but in a deck like this you can gain a lot of value and it does hit hard with it having 3 power.

Ephemerate – Wouldn’t be a blink style of deck without this in it. You could play 3 copies, but you don’t want them to be stranded in your hand without any creatures to use them with.

Unearth – This is great because if one of your creatures dies or gets sacrificed to Fleshbag Marauder, you can easily bring it back. At worst you can Cycle this card away.

Omen of the Dead – This is an awesome card to have and I kind of wish there were 3 copies. You can play it at instant speed and it can be sort of infinite with Kor Skyfisher. It can also be used to Scry later in the game. This card literally does almost everything you want.

Feign Death and Supernatural Stamina – These are very good because they can catch your opponent off guard and are very good ways to use your opponents removal to your advantage. While Feign gives a +1/+1 counter for the creature to return with, Stamina can be used as a good combat trick.

The manabase isn’t anything too special. You have 4 copies of Ash Barrens to help you fix your mana. Then you have 3 copies of Orzhov Basilica to allow you to keep more opening hands that may be land light as well as return your copy of Bojuka Bog. The rest are basic lands so that you do not slow the deck down too much. I can see playing a copy of Mortuary Mire, but without something like Ghostly Flicker to keep re-using it, it might be too slow.

The Sideboard

Cast Down – Fleshbag Marauder is your only form of removal in the main deck. I want a third copy of Cast Down in the sideboard personally.

Crypt Rats and Suffocating Fumes – Board wipes are always a good thing to have access to. While Fumes can be Cycled at the worst and at best be used at instant speed, Rats can also be a finisher. Be careful with your life total and remember both of these cards effect your board as well.

Dust to Dust – Say no to your Affinity overlord!

Lone Missionary – A fantastic card for a deck like this against Burn and other red based aggro decks. It can also be decent against other forms of aggro depending on what they are.

Prismatic Strands – One of the best cards white has in Pauper period. You don’t have a ton of creatures to use the Flashback ability, so be a bit weary of that.

Verdict and Conclusion

I do love myself a deck where you use enter the battlefield effects over and over again. It probably comes from my trying to relive my days of playing Reveillark decks in standard. Sadly, you won’t ever get that same feeling in Pauper, but we can try.

As far as this deck is concerned, I feel the idea is very good, however in my opinion this list has a few faults. Fleshbag Marauder is a good card in this deck, don’t get me wrong, but being the only form of removal will hurt in the long run if you want to beat aggro decks. Only having 2 copies of Cast Down also upsets me as you really do lack removal. However, this list doesn’t seem designed to beat an aggro meta consisting of things like Slivers or Stompy.

I am also a little weary of the lack of life gain you have to offset Phyrexian Rager and Dusk Legion Zealot. I do think being able to go aggro will help offset that life, but you can’t be the aggro deck all the time and you do need some life to play with in order to play your cards. I would like to see some Aven Riftwatchers in the deck as not only do they gain life but they are good at attacking in the air as well. While Priest of the Ancient Lore does draw cards, I still feel Aven Riftwatcher should find a place. Maybe you can shave some number of Ragers or Zealots.

Do I think you should play this deck? While I do think this deck is fun, I think it is extremely meta dependent. I think your matchups against decks like Izzet Serpentine, Tron and Midrange decks could be decent. I also think your burn matchup is favorable after sideboard. (I say favorable but still very close) Affinity is still slightly ahead, but after sideboard with Dust to Dust and some more removal, it could be a coin flip. All in all, I think this deck is fun for leagues, but for challenges the entry fee is too high for my liking. I think this list needs some maturing and tweaking before it goes anywhere, but that may just be my personal preferences.

However, with all this being said, as always, do remember my words are not gospel. I will always encourage you to try a deck that I bring you despite my personal feelings. Remember that results will vary and always remember to practice!

Would you like to compete in a free Pauper tournament with some great prizes? Head on over to Gatherling.com on Tuesday nights at 8pm EDT and play in our weekly Pauper Classic Tuesday's event! Join the chat #PCT to chat with us and feel free to find most of the competitors on Discord!

Thank you so much for reading. Best of luck to you in your next tournament and I’ll catch you all next time!