Not 3 copies, just twice the same champion and yes in hand. But to manage twice the same champion in hand well you need at least two of the same in your deck at start. And not that optimistic if you consider a champion tutor card exist already and that without extra draw on turn 10 a deck with 2 triple champions set you have roughly 42% chance to have twice of one or another.
Also if you toss actively with maokai , you make yourself more likely to draw champion card. and if you toss fast it probably mean you are actually tossing your removal out of your deck too . (since playing creature = toss and spells don't).
All that just to say that even if dream toss maokai exist you still can see it coming and prepare eventually to still play the long run game without constructing around.
In conclusion popping a 2-1 challenger each turn and thinning the deck to draw champions could be more powerful than the level up effect in itself and in that regard that would make maokai a not a control deck but a mid range combo one.
Technically any deck having at least twice the same champion can outlast the four turns after the deck obliteration effect by playing the champion and the spell associated to it to shuffle one champion back in the deck indefinitly if not contested.
You can even attack with Sejuani on the far left (first to attack) and if her attack conclude and deal dmg trought with overwhelm every other defending enemies will get frostbite, for this attack phase.
Not 3 copies, just twice the same champion and yes in hand. But to manage twice the same champion in hand well you need at least two of the same in your deck at start. And not that optimistic if you consider a champion tutor card exist already and that without extra draw on turn 10 a deck with 2 triple champions set you have roughly 42% chance to have twice of one or another.
Also if you toss actively with maokai , you make yourself more likely to draw champion card. and if you toss fast it probably mean you are actually tossing your removal out of your deck too . (since playing creature = toss and spells don't).
All that just to say that even if dream toss maokai exist you still can see it coming and prepare eventually to still play the long run game without constructing around.
In conclusion popping a 2-1 challenger each turn and thinning the deck to draw champions could be more powerful than the level up effect in itself and in that regard that would make maokai a not a control deck but a mid range combo one.
Technically any deck having at least twice the same champion can outlast the four turns after the deck obliteration effect by playing the champion and the spell associated to it to shuffle one champion back in the deck indefinitly if not contested.
You can even attack with Sejuani on the far left (first to attack) and if her attack conclude and deal dmg trought with overwhelm every other defending enemies will get frostbite, for this attack phase.
Counters already exist in different shape or form outside of Deny sometimes with lower cost and usage outside of spell play.
It doesn't counter burst.
It does have a niche to counter unit skills and untargeted + unconditional spells which usually are greed, and counters to greed are healthy.
But sure if you fill your deck with burst and only 1 greedy slow/fast spell guess which one will get denied (whichever the cost of Deny)
Deny is fine as it is.