(After the tournament, I dropped the Mutavault in the side for another Pithing Needle, but I'm not sure this is the right choice. Facing down an Eslpeth is doom for this deck pretty much.)
Round 1 - B/W Midrange
This guy was running a 15-creature midrange deck utilizing D-Demon, Alms Beast, Blood Baron and Obzedat. Game one he went T1 Scryland, T2 Thoughtseize taking Fleecemane Lion, T3 Thoughtseize again taking Rootborn Defenses, T4 Desecration Demon and T5 D-Demon.
I went T1 Gate, T2 Voice, and luckily drew into a Charm to banish his Demon and keep swinging with Voice. A well-timed Elspeth took out his Demon and an Alms Beast, and Voice took it from there with a Boon Satyr bestowed for the final hit. Game 2 went similarly; he picked my hand apart, Hero's Downfall on Elspeth, Doom Blade on my Wurm token, but once again the little Voice kept pushing through, and a flashed in Knight Token took him to 0. After the match he showed me what he never drew - 3 Blood Baron, 2 Obzedat and 4 Lifebane Zombie. Oh well, he was a good guy and we both agreed that that's just how Magic goes sometimes.
Round 2 - Esper Control
This guy usually plays G/W, so it was an interesting game from that fact alone. Round 1 he goes T1 Scryland (hurry up, GW Scryland!) into T2 Thoughtseize taking Rootborn, T3 cycles Azorius Charm on my turn. T4 he cycles Charm on his turn because I cast a Voice on T2. I cast a Trostani on T4, and a Call of the Conclave on T5, going to 23. His turn he shakes his head, drops a land and casts Sphinx's Revelation. Perfect! I End Phase Populate the Centaur Token, and swing for 8 next turn, holding back the Trostani. He doesn't draw a Verdict, cycles another Charm and whiffs, and scoops for game 2.
I sided out the 3 Archangel of Thune, a Trostani and both Call of the Conclave for Mutavault, Rootborn Defense, Mistcutter Hydra and 3 Glare of Heresy. Pithing Needle probably should have come in. We hade a similar game 2, he cycles Charms and Thoughtseized me, taking Rootborn Defense again. What he didn't see was my topdecked Rootborn the next turn. He ends up getting out an Obzedat and keeps exiling it, and finally ends up with an AEtherling on the board. Still no Verdict, apparently. He swings in with AEtherling and I Rootborn, populating an Elemental Token (now a 5/5 with 2 Sylvan Caryatid, Voice and Centaur). He keeps Obzedat in play to block and next turn Verdicts the board, and he's at 4 life with two mana open. I have an Elemental Token and flash in a Knight at his EoT. I attack with both 2/2's, he Charms one, and I Bestow in response to get my Elemental to 5/5 for game.
Round 3 - R/G Monsters
This guy is one of the 'local pros' if you could call them that. Kind of a Johnny, but his decks are always very powerful. I had a very close 1-2 loss with him the previous week. The games are a little fuzzy because I was so nervous to face him again. First game he goes T1 Elvish Mystic, T2 Scryland and Sylvan Caryatid, and pretty much goes all-in with a Stormbreath Dragon. However, my Trostani populating Centaurs just goes over the top. At some point, I swing big and he blocks/Bestows a Boon Satyr, completely forgetting my Voice of Resurgence. I'll take my 6/6 Elemental now, please.
Game 2 I sided out 3 Archangel, a Trostani, an Elspeth and a Plains for 3 Banisher Priest, 2 Unflinching Courage and the Pithing Needle. I knew Xenagos was in there somewhere and didn't want to see him overtake me with his 0 ability. I really don't remember much about this game except that I was able to get a Centaur token suited up with Unflinching Courage (out of Mizzium Mortars range) and finally Boon Satyr Bestowed it into a 9/7 Trampling Lifelink behemoth to kill his 6/6 Reach/Monstrous green guy (can't recall his name). We get down to me controlling 2 Sylvan Caryatid, a Voice and an Elemental with just a Pithing Needle in hand and a Plains. He is in topdeck mode at 4 life, draws and casts Stormbreath Dragon. Damn. But wait! Pithing Needle on the Dragon ensures no Monstrous shenanigans. He topdecks again... into another Stormbreath Dragon. He attacks with one, putting me to 16 (I had gained about 30 life this game, so that's saying something). During the EoT, I cast the last card in my hand: Rootborn Defenses. He tapped 3 mana and cast his final card... Stomping Ground. He laughed and shook my hand.
Round 4 - G/r Aggro
We decided to draw for 1st and 2nd, and played out for 1st place. Game 1 he went T1 Elvish Mystic, T2 Scryland and Kalonian Tusker, and T3 Burning-Tree Emissary into Domri Rade, fighting my Fleecemane Lion with his Tusker. I managed to get out an Archangel of Thune, which stuck. I attacked the next turn and Bestowed a Boon Satyr. He looked at his hand, looked at his field and we went to game 2. I sided into the 3 Unflinching Courage and 3 Banisher Priest, siding out a Plains, 2 Elspeth, 2 Archangel and a Rootborn Defenses. Game 2 I kept a sketchy hand of Temple Garden and Mutavault being my only lands. Didn't see another land until turn 5, and I promptly died to a Tusker and 2 Burning Tree. Game 3 I managed to get an assortment of cards onto the board and a 5-6 power Elemental. An Archangel of Thune, as well as a Voice suited with Unflinching Courage kept making my team more powerful and gaining me life. My opponent cast Kalonian Hydra and attacked with me at 24 life. I took it, went to 16 and next turn gained life to 36 with another Unflinching Courage on the Elemental. He conceded, because he would die the next turn no matter what he drew, even with a 32 powered trampler. Very fun, close games.
Pluses
+ Banisher Priest is awesome against about everything except control.
+ Sideboarding with this is an art, because you adjust the curve and have to adjust land. Made me feel pro
+ All of my opponents were polite, good guys. Seriously, my shop is awesome.
Nonpluses
- Fleecemane never went Monstrous, but if he ever lived long enough to see it I would have won on the spot.
- If Elspeth hits and sticks, I win. But sometimes I hover at 4 land and a Caryatid, and just play out everything else in my hand.
- At some point in the Esper game, I made a big play mistake. While my opponent was tapped out I tapped all my mana for a 5/5 Mistcutter Hydra, leaving no mana open for Rootborn if he had a Verdict. Luckily, at the time he didn't have one and I was able to get to my next untap step. It would have been smarter to save the Hydra for a point when he had mana open.
Changes
I would like to add Brave the Elements to the side, and probably drop Elspeth for Ajani. Feedback is appreciated!
Generally agree, although Thassa and Render Silent may have some play in the right builds. Huey Jenson played 2 Prognostic Sphinx in his U/W shell this weekend. I think they are underrated (they also avoid Elspeth's sweep), and 1-of Thassa could be good in such a build.
I'll have to try Prognostic Sphinx this weekend. I'm thinking Heliod is subpar in this type of deck where he's harder to turn on.
I haven't put any kind of list together, but with Slaughter Games out there, not to mention other U based control decks with counter magic, it seems we need more than 2 win conditions (Elspeth, Aetherling). I've been looking at lists you guys have posted and generally, these seem to be the only two. Do you really think that's enough?
That's my big fear, Slaughter Games makes the deck lose a huge wincon that is Aetherling. So it would be nice to diversify, which is why I think Heliod might play a role.
Wow, thanks for all the feedback! For some reason under my Control Panel it said this thread hadn't been updated at all... Odd, but thanks again. I will post an updated decklist later on with some changes. Dropped the Render Silent and Voyage's End, excited to try one Thassa
Hello all, I'm basically travelling over from Pojo, the MtG community is quite small over there.
Just a first-take on the new format with info from proxying against other Theros Standard decks. So far Omenspeaker is underwhelming and I cut the 4th Jace for a 3rd Elspeth. She's been incredible, a very well thought-out card. Feedback is appreciated! Have you tested anything else I've missed?
// Creatures // [5]
2 AEtherling
2 Heliod, God of the Sun
Omenspeaker
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
3 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
// Land // [26]
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Azorius Guildgate
9 Plains
8 Island
Mutavault (could be another Island)
[Sideboard]
4 Precinct Captain
2 Riot Control
2 Renounce the Guilds
2 Negate
2 Essence Scatter
2 Dispel (this is perhaps the weakest sideboard card, undecided on Swan Song)
Supreme Verdict / Curse of the Swine (want to see how effective it is, takes care of activated Gods/Voice of Resurgence/Underworld Cerberus/Blood Baron of Vizkopa etc.)
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Here's the list I played:
// 22 Creatures //
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Fleecemane Lion
4 Boon Satyr
3 Archangel of Thune
3 Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
// 14 Spells //
4 Selesnya Charm
3 Advent of the Wurm
3 Rootborn Defenses
2 Call of the Conclave
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
// 24 Land //
4 Temple Garden
4 Selesnya Guildgate
10 Forest
5 Plains
Mutavault
[Sideboard]
Mistcutter Hydra
3 Banisher Priest
3 Unflinching Courage
3 Glare of Heresy
2 Fade Into Antiquity
Rootborn Defenses
Pithing Needle
Mutavault
(After the tournament, I dropped the Mutavault in the side for another Pithing Needle, but I'm not sure this is the right choice. Facing down an Eslpeth is doom for this deck pretty much.)
Round 1 - B/W Midrange
This guy was running a 15-creature midrange deck utilizing D-Demon, Alms Beast, Blood Baron and Obzedat. Game one he went T1 Scryland, T2 Thoughtseize taking Fleecemane Lion, T3 Thoughtseize again taking Rootborn Defenses, T4 Desecration Demon and T5 D-Demon.
I went T1 Gate, T2 Voice, and luckily drew into a Charm to banish his Demon and keep swinging with Voice. A well-timed Elspeth took out his Demon and an Alms Beast, and Voice took it from there with a Boon Satyr bestowed for the final hit. Game 2 went similarly; he picked my hand apart, Hero's Downfall on Elspeth, Doom Blade on my Wurm token, but once again the little Voice kept pushing through, and a flashed in Knight Token took him to 0. After the match he showed me what he never drew - 3 Blood Baron, 2 Obzedat and 4 Lifebane Zombie. Oh well, he was a good guy and we both agreed that that's just how Magic goes sometimes.
Round 2 - Esper Control
This guy usually plays G/W, so it was an interesting game from that fact alone. Round 1 he goes T1 Scryland (hurry up, GW Scryland!) into T2 Thoughtseize taking Rootborn, T3 cycles Azorius Charm on my turn. T4 he cycles Charm on his turn because I cast a Voice on T2. I cast a Trostani on T4, and a Call of the Conclave on T5, going to 23. His turn he shakes his head, drops a land and casts Sphinx's Revelation. Perfect! I End Phase Populate the Centaur Token, and swing for 8 next turn, holding back the Trostani. He doesn't draw a Verdict, cycles another Charm and whiffs, and scoops for game 2.
I sided out the 3 Archangel of Thune, a Trostani and both Call of the Conclave for Mutavault, Rootborn Defense, Mistcutter Hydra and 3 Glare of Heresy. Pithing Needle probably should have come in. We hade a similar game 2, he cycles Charms and Thoughtseized me, taking Rootborn Defense again. What he didn't see was my topdecked Rootborn the next turn. He ends up getting out an Obzedat and keeps exiling it, and finally ends up with an AEtherling on the board. Still no Verdict, apparently. He swings in with AEtherling and I Rootborn, populating an Elemental Token (now a 5/5 with 2 Sylvan Caryatid, Voice and Centaur). He keeps Obzedat in play to block and next turn Verdicts the board, and he's at 4 life with two mana open. I have an Elemental Token and flash in a Knight at his EoT. I attack with both 2/2's, he Charms one, and I Bestow in response to get my Elemental to 5/5 for game.
Round 3 - R/G Monsters
This guy is one of the 'local pros' if you could call them that. Kind of a Johnny, but his decks are always very powerful. I had a very close 1-2 loss with him the previous week. The games are a little fuzzy because I was so nervous to face him again. First game he goes T1 Elvish Mystic, T2 Scryland and Sylvan Caryatid, and pretty much goes all-in with a Stormbreath Dragon. However, my Trostani populating Centaurs just goes over the top. At some point, I swing big and he blocks/Bestows a Boon Satyr, completely forgetting my Voice of Resurgence. I'll take my 6/6 Elemental now, please.
Game 2 I sided out 3 Archangel, a Trostani, an Elspeth and a Plains for 3 Banisher Priest, 2 Unflinching Courage and the Pithing Needle. I knew Xenagos was in there somewhere and didn't want to see him overtake me with his 0 ability. I really don't remember much about this game except that I was able to get a Centaur token suited up with Unflinching Courage (out of Mizzium Mortars range) and finally Boon Satyr Bestowed it into a 9/7 Trampling Lifelink behemoth to kill his 6/6 Reach/Monstrous green guy (can't recall his name). We get down to me controlling 2 Sylvan Caryatid, a Voice and an Elemental with just a Pithing Needle in hand and a Plains. He is in topdeck mode at 4 life, draws and casts Stormbreath Dragon. Damn. But wait! Pithing Needle on the Dragon ensures no Monstrous shenanigans. He topdecks again... into another Stormbreath Dragon. He attacks with one, putting me to 16 (I had gained about 30 life this game, so that's saying something). During the EoT, I cast the last card in my hand: Rootborn Defenses. He tapped 3 mana and cast his final card... Stomping Ground. He laughed and shook my hand.
Round 4 - G/r Aggro
We decided to draw for 1st and 2nd, and played out for 1st place. Game 1 he went T1 Elvish Mystic, T2 Scryland and Kalonian Tusker, and T3 Burning-Tree Emissary into Domri Rade, fighting my Fleecemane Lion with his Tusker. I managed to get out an Archangel of Thune, which stuck. I attacked the next turn and Bestowed a Boon Satyr. He looked at his hand, looked at his field and we went to game 2. I sided into the 3 Unflinching Courage and 3 Banisher Priest, siding out a Plains, 2 Elspeth, 2 Archangel and a Rootborn Defenses. Game 2 I kept a sketchy hand of Temple Garden and Mutavault being my only lands. Didn't see another land until turn 5, and I promptly died to a Tusker and 2 Burning Tree. Game 3 I managed to get an assortment of cards onto the board and a 5-6 power Elemental. An Archangel of Thune, as well as a Voice suited with Unflinching Courage kept making my team more powerful and gaining me life. My opponent cast Kalonian Hydra and attacked with me at 24 life. I took it, went to 16 and next turn gained life to 36 with another Unflinching Courage on the Elemental. He conceded, because he would die the next turn no matter what he drew, even with a 32 powered trampler. Very fun, close games.
+ Banisher Priest is awesome against about everything except control.
+ Sideboarding with this is an art, because you adjust the curve and have to adjust land. Made me feel pro
+ All of my opponents were polite, good guys. Seriously, my shop is awesome.
- Fleecemane never went Monstrous, but if he ever lived long enough to see it I would have won on the spot.
- If Elspeth hits and sticks, I win. But sometimes I hover at 4 land and a Caryatid, and just play out everything else in my hand.
- At some point in the Esper game, I made a big play mistake. While my opponent was tapped out I tapped all my mana for a 5/5 Mistcutter Hydra, leaving no mana open for Rootborn if he had a Verdict. Luckily, at the time he didn't have one and I was able to get to my next untap step. It would have been smarter to save the Hydra for a point when he had mana open.
I would like to add Brave the Elements to the side, and probably drop Elspeth for Ajani. Feedback is appreciated!
I'll have to try Prognostic Sphinx this weekend. I'm thinking Heliod is subpar in this type of deck where he's harder to turn on.
That's my big fear, Slaughter Games makes the deck lose a huge wincon that is Aetherling. So it would be nice to diversify, which is why I think Heliod might play a role.
Just a first-take on the new format with info from proxying against other Theros Standard decks. So far Omenspeaker is underwhelming and I cut the 4th Jace for a 3rd Elspeth. She's been incredible, a very well thought-out card. Feedback is appreciated! Have you tested anything else I've missed?
// Creatures // [5]
2 AEtherling
2 Heliod, God of the Sun
Omenspeaker
// Spells // [29]
4 Azorius Charm
4 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Supreme Verdict
3 Syncopate
2 Dissolve
Render Silent
2 Celestial Flare
Voyage's End
2 Detention Sphere
Spear of Heliod
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
3 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
// Land // [26]
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Azorius Guildgate
9 Plains
8 Island
Mutavault (could be another Island)
[Sideboard]
4 Precinct Captain
2 Riot Control
2 Renounce the Guilds
2 Negate
2 Essence Scatter
2 Dispel (this is perhaps the weakest sideboard card, undecided on Swan Song)
Supreme Verdict / Curse of the Swine (want to see how effective it is, takes care of activated Gods/Voice of Resurgence/Underworld Cerberus/Blood Baron of Vizkopa etc.)