It seems a little more complicated at first glance, but I'm sure it will be fine in the long run. It looks like it will be much more inviting to newer players, which I guess is a good thing.
Been testing a decent amount with this list, and it is looking pretty strong. U/W control isn't the best matchup, but I think it can be improved with the sideboard.
Alright guys, now that Mogis is spoiled how will this change the Rakdos Control archtype? My meta is composed almost entirely of either Control or aggro, with a midrange deck every once in a while. Here's my try at a list including spoiled cards thus far:
I really don't think it fits very well at all into the current deck. At 4 mana, you already have desecration demon, chandra, pyromaster, and underworld connections(+draw). I see no reason that the new god should replace any of those. That isn't to say it isn't good, but I'm just not seeing it the way the deck currently is.
Went 3-2 at FNM last night with this list. It's still a little rough, but I'm pretty happy with how it performed (my two losses were close, and one could have been a win without a misplay).
I feel like Elixir, as a one-of, makes a much smaller impact on the game without the digging tool that makes it such an issue. Elixir wouldn't be played without Sphinx's Rev, and five life against any midrange deck is usually somewhere around one swing anyway.
I understand what you are saying about rev having a larger impact, but against control why not just take the win on instead? It doesn't matter if they draw 20 cards if they are just gonna deck themselves.
Against Esper, if you're playing a deck with RB (or more specifically enough B), you need to hit Aetherling. If you haven't hit it with a Thoughtseize, you should always name Aetherling first, then maybe Elspeth, but Elspeth is easily killed via Dreadbore or Downfall, so most likely Baron is next.
My order would be:
1. Ætherling (he's too much of an issue to let past)
2. Blood Baron of Vizkopa (if you're playing black, he's a liability)
3. Elspeth (definitely a problem, but about 10% of my RBx deck could answer her with 3 Dread/3HD)
4. Sphinx's Revelation (let them dig all they want if they've got nothing to dig for)
UW I'd name Sphinx first though, because it slows down their game with Elixir.
Against U/W, why not just name elixir? They have no other way of winning.
Mono Black: Gary
Esper: Sphin'x Rev
Mono Blue: Master or Thassa
I really don't know if sphinx's revelation is the best card to name against esper. Granted, it is the most powerful card, but they usually only have some number of aetherlings and/or some number of elspeth, sun's champions to actually win the game. I think it would be better to just strip one of those two away, and then take the other at a different point, whether it be with thoughtseize or another games. Granted, if you are playing an aggro version of a deck with games, then either rev or supreme verdict would be correct depending on the game state.
That's definitely not supposed to happen. I have a sneaking suspicion Chrome's not using your computer's GPU for CSS transforms.
Can you post what you see at chrome://gpu? If Chrome's not using hardware acceleration for 3D CSS I'm pretty sure you won't see the backside of a card. I'll have to really mull over how to fix that one.
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I forgot to check this thread for a few days.
Can you explain to me how to look up that info that you are looking for? I'm pretty bad with computers.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it seems like when I click on the mirror button on the side, which I assumed would flip DFC, it just makes it backwards. This might be what it supposed to happen and I am just using the button wrong, but I'm not sure. For reference: Huntmaster of the Fells
When I click that second thing that looks like a mirror, all I see is a backwards huntmaster, not a ravager of the fells.
Like I said, I have no clue if that it was the goal was or even if that is what the button is supposed to be used for, but it is my observation.
I honestly don't agree with your assessments, either. You're right that Grixis needs a different gameplan than Esper but going Midrange is comically commiting the same fallacy but in a different direction. You just end up being a bad black midrange deck, that gets outclassed by the black devotion decks, the Obzedat decks, etc. GR devotion at least has planeswalkers for you to Dreadbore, but I would still put my money on it against a Grixis Midrange deck with no counterspells and anemic threats. Isn't you list just better off as the BWR midrange that you pulled it from? Being able to remove enchantments seems pretty good?
INS pointed out in his previous post what the most notable difference between Grixis and Esper: You're spells are 1 cheaper. I think this actually makes for a better "draw-go" deck since you reach the 2 spells/turn threshold sooner. Granted, when I say "draw-go", I'm talking about 5-7 counterspells, not that old school wall-of-counters concept.
If you look at the advantages of Grixis over Esper:
1) Efficient draw spells: Izzet draw spells filter moreso than draw. Thoughtflare digs 4 cards deep to find an answer, as opposed to a Revelation at 7 mana to have the same effect. The curve stopping so early for Grixis decks (lands after 5-7 are more or less excess) allows you to loot extra lands. People tend to forget that in a 27 land deck a revelation for 4 averages 2 spells and 2 lands.
2) Blow-out card agaisnt Aggro: Anger of the Gods and/or Frostburn Weird. Your aggro matchup is as good as you want it to be.
3) Cheesy anti-control rakdos cards meant for aggro decks: Dreadbore is no longer the only planeswalker killer, but it's still cheaper than Downfall. You also get Rakdos's Return, which is just ridiculous against any deck that likes to hold cards in it's hand. Counterflux isn't Rakdos, but we're basically the only deck that gets to run it.
The only real problem comes against midrange decks that present resilient, or card advantage generating permanents that can go over the top of Grixis. Grixis doesn't have anything exciting in the endgame, except for Ætherling,, which means it needs to be streamlined and lower it's fundamental turn to below that of these other decks. If you fall behind, nothing is going to catch you up. There is no Elspeth, no revelation, and Anger of the Gods is far from Supreme Verdict.
I see people trying to create an endgame in this archetype, whether it be through mediocre card draw like Inspiration and Opportunity, or through expensive 2nd rate permanents like Prognostic Sphinx. I really think that the goal should be to leverage mana efficiency and look to stabilize the game at 4 or 5 mana. This can mean having a 3CMC spell and a 2, or a 2-2, or perhaps a and empty board for a Jace on 4.
I haven't been playing Grixis for the last 3 weeks, so I'm not sure how my current list will do in the mono black era, but this is what I'm going to be start testing after the holiday:
I'm looking at 30-50% of local top 8's being mono black decks, so I'm seriously considering a version that replaces Anger with Hero's Downfall and sideboards Frostburn Weird or Nightveil Specters. I see aggro decks in SCG Top 8, but they're almost non-existent in my area.
The card I'm most worried about is Ashiok. I never thought it was particularly good in the first place, but I've been trying to work Thoughtseize and Dissolve into a setup where they can protect him on account of his low mana cost. I'm trying Pack Rats in the sideboard, and I may make them maindeck if it looks they they really can be a turn 5 lock with Dissolve/Spot removal.
Really liking the list. My only question is what are your views on 0 devour flesh. It seems like such a great card against aggro and many blood baron decks. Maybe mizzium mortars is better in this potential slot?
It also means the staticaster has to attack, thus tapping and leaving it unable to ping.
4 Gladecover Scout
4 Hero of Iroas
4 Lotleth Troll
4 Witchstalker
3 Boon Satyr
4 Eidolon of Countless Battles
Enchantment
4 Ethereal Armor
3 Nylea's Presence
4 Unflinching Courage
3 Golgari Charm
Land
4 Temple Garden
4 Overgrown Tomb
4 Godless Shrine
4 Temple of Deceit
4 Temple of Plenty
2 Forest
1 Plains
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Gift of Orzhova
3 Putrefy
3 Duress
1 Golgari Charm
Seems to run better than any of the 2 color versions I tried. Any input would be great.
EDIT: lost 2-0. GGs Tahuti and good luck in the next round
I really don't think it fits very well at all into the current deck. At 4 mana, you already have desecration demon, chandra, pyromaster, and underworld connections(+draw). I see no reason that the new god should replace any of those. That isn't to say it isn't good, but I'm just not seeing it the way the deck currently is.
4 Pack Rat
4 Desecration Demon
4 Stormbreath Dragon
Sorcery
4 Thoughtseize
4 Dreadbore
3 Mizzium Mortars
Instant
3 Hero's Downfall
Artifact
3 Rakdos Keyrune
3 Underworld Connection
2 Whip of Erebos
Planeswalker
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
Land
7 Swamp
5 Mountain
4 Blood Crypt
4 Rakdos Guildgate
4 Mutavault
4 Pharika's Cure
4 Anger of the Gods
3 Duress
2 Slaughter Games
2 Rakdos's Return
EDIT: forgot lands in list. added now
ddarooman/ddarooman31/p39sgvm1
The PM with the list will be sent momentarily.
EDIT: Is it supposed to be sent to Koopa or the IQ team? The first post says IQ team, but that account hasn't been active since mid november.
I understand what you are saying about rev having a larger impact, but against control why not just take the win on instead? It doesn't matter if they draw 20 cards if they are just gonna deck themselves.
Against U/W, why not just name elixir? They have no other way of winning.
I really don't know if sphinx's revelation is the best card to name against esper. Granted, it is the most powerful card, but they usually only have some number of aetherlings and/or some number of elspeth, sun's champions to actually win the game. I think it would be better to just strip one of those two away, and then take the other at a different point, whether it be with thoughtseize or another games. Granted, if you are playing an aggro version of a deck with games, then either rev or supreme verdict would be correct depending on the game state.
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I forgot to check this thread for a few days.
Can you explain to me how to look up that info that you are looking for? I'm pretty bad with computers.
Huntmaster of the Fells
When I click that second thing that looks like a mirror, all I see is a backwards huntmaster, not a ravager of the fells.
Like I said, I have no clue if that it was the goal was or even if that is what the button is supposed to be used for, but it is my observation.
Really liking the list. My only question is what are your views on 0 devour flesh. It seems like such a great card against aggro and many blood baron decks. Maybe mizzium mortars is better in this potential slot?