I think once we have the finishers from Simic and Dimir we can potentially look at blue as an option over red. As it is, the two things that a 4-color list use to great effect are Faithless Looting and Dreadbore. Alchemy does a great job in the dig spot of Looting, although it does come later which can be problematic. If we get a replacement for Dreadbore, the maindeck is really unaffected by using Blue. I think Simic is going to have something monstrous that will be great in reanimator, so I'm looking forward to Gatecrash.
The dearth of instant speed removal means that Gatecrash has something for players, but in the meantime, you only have conditional cards such as Ultimate Price and Abrupt Decay as instant speed removal. Murder works, but it is quite slow against the aggressive decks.
I don't run the 4-color list for this very reason. You can't prepare for every eventuality in the main deck, and I prefer not to run that type of list. I will always hedge my bets rather than build a glass cannon.
4 color really isn't a glass cannon. In many ways its more resilient than straight Junk, because of the draw power Faithless Looting provides and the non-reliance on manadorks if you choose.
Back on topic: Your biggest friend here early on is Centaur Healer to stall the boardstate, then get your Thragtusks online. A large part of the matchup is just knowing what to play too.
Target creature gets +1/+3 until end of turn. Untap that creature; Target opponent sacrifices a creature; Exile target green or red permanent.
First is the white ability, second is black, third will be mirror on Gruul Charm (exile white or black permanent). Why each of these? The white and black spells are fairly common to both colors, as well as being useful (which is something RnD is striving for on the charms). The final is a twist on things such as Celestial Purge and Deathmark. Each color chosen is an enemy color of one of the two colors (whites are red/black, blacks are white/green).
I would love to see a Condemn/Swords to Plowshares/ Path to Exile effect on the charm, but I doubt we'll get it unfortunately.
I side 2 of them, and have thought about a 3rd. It's nice in the following matchups:
Mirror match - Getting rid of the opposing Angels/Thragtusks is a huge deal, as it means you have a war you don't have to fight.
Bant Control - Name Thragtusk, and they literally can't kill you. If you would rather, name Terminus and they can't efficiently keep you off the board. Probably the best matchup for it imo, because it just locks the game up when you cast it. Also the only one where the uncounterable clause is good to have.
Jund - Name Thragtusk, Rakdos's Return, or Olivia. All 3 can be problematic for you. I've named Deathrite Shaman once or twice as well, but it's more of a niche target.
I could see a case for running 3, but personally I think that that is a mistake. I've never had an issue running 4, and think it's the optimal number. As has been said, it makes it hurt a bit more if it is the target of Slaughter Games, but its power level in the deck is just too high to ignore.
Have you Philly guys been to that rad underground park/garden with all those fabulous collage murals made of found objects? I want to see it in person soooo bad!
If you mean the Magic Gardens on South Street then yes, I've been there several times. It's an incredible piece, particularly at night when the lights are on in it.
Dreadbore deals with a walker or creature completely. Conscipts doesn't. There are two times when Conscripts is better than Dreadbore, and that is when you can use a regular - ability to remove the walker from the field, or ultimate the walker for yourself. That's a dangerous proposition, and while it IS backbreaking, I don't want to take the chance that those 4-5 turns I wait my opponent sets up his board or hand to deal with Conscripts. Secondly, Conscripts does nothing against problem creatures. Oh, I stole your Olivia/Angel/Silverheart/whatever. Swing. Uhh....take it back. He can be good in many situations (which is why I have him in the board) but he is NOT removal, and it's folly to think he is.
As for Sever, it isn't just for the control version, and I'm unsure why you think it is. It fits perfectly into a reanimator shell due to its easy color requirements and flashback ability, and it's one of the few sweepers the deck can run effectively. There isn't much else the deck can run that deals with Entreat the Angels outside of Mizzium Mortars, which costs 2 more for its overload than the front half of Sever and doesn't have flashback. Different types of mass removal, yes, but I feel like Sever is a card that fits any reanimator sideboard.
Personally, I've been building from a base of the deck that placed 2nd this week, and I like the manabase. I don't think we need basics. If you build without dorks, you can drop a shockland turn 1 and then basically have every other land you play come in untapped.
Overall, I feel like Conscripts should be a 1-of maindeck. I've also added a pair of Dreadbores in the board to compliment the pair mained, because USA Control is becoming fairly popular and it is necessary to take out Jace and Tamiyo early. Sever the Bloodline should also have at least 2 copies in everyones' board, since it is absurdly good in our board and great in multiple matchups right now.
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4 color really isn't a glass cannon. In many ways its more resilient than straight Junk, because of the draw power Faithless Looting provides and the non-reliance on manadorks if you choose.
Back on topic: Your biggest friend here early on is Centaur Healer to stall the boardstate, then get your Thragtusks online. A large part of the matchup is just knowing what to play too.
Check out my blog, Swing For Game!
First is the white ability, second is black, third will be mirror on Gruul Charm (exile white or black permanent). Why each of these? The white and black spells are fairly common to both colors, as well as being useful (which is something RnD is striving for on the charms). The final is a twist on things such as Celestial Purge and Deathmark. Each color chosen is an enemy color of one of the two colors (whites are red/black, blacks are white/green).
I would love to see a Condemn/Swords to Plowshares/ Path to Exile effect on the charm, but I doubt we'll get it unfortunately.
Check out my blog, Swing For Game!
Mirror match - Getting rid of the opposing Angels/Thragtusks is a huge deal, as it means you have a war you don't have to fight.
Bant Control - Name Thragtusk, and they literally can't kill you. If you would rather, name Terminus and they can't efficiently keep you off the board. Probably the best matchup for it imo, because it just locks the game up when you cast it. Also the only one where the uncounterable clause is good to have.
Jund - Name Thragtusk, Rakdos's Return, or Olivia. All 3 can be problematic for you. I've named Deathrite Shaman once or twice as well, but it's more of a niche target.
Check out my blog, Swing For Game!
Check out my blog, Swing For Game!
Check out my blog, Swing For Game!
Check out my blog, Swing For Game!
If you mean the Magic Gardens on South Street then yes, I've been there several times. It's an incredible piece, particularly at night when the lights are on in it.
Check out my blog, Swing For Game!
Lol chill. I spent the last 4 years in Glenside, in East Falls now.
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Germantown/ Chestnut Hill area.
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Between Willow Grove and Manayunk.
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Rolling Temblors.
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Know anyone from the northern side of Philly?
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Dreadbore deals with a walker or creature completely. Conscipts doesn't. There are two times when Conscripts is better than Dreadbore, and that is when you can use a regular - ability to remove the walker from the field, or ultimate the walker for yourself. That's a dangerous proposition, and while it IS backbreaking, I don't want to take the chance that those 4-5 turns I wait my opponent sets up his board or hand to deal with Conscripts. Secondly, Conscripts does nothing against problem creatures. Oh, I stole your Olivia/Angel/Silverheart/whatever. Swing. Uhh....take it back. He can be good in many situations (which is why I have him in the board) but he is NOT removal, and it's folly to think he is.
As for Sever, it isn't just for the control version, and I'm unsure why you think it is. It fits perfectly into a reanimator shell due to its easy color requirements and flashback ability, and it's one of the few sweepers the deck can run effectively. There isn't much else the deck can run that deals with Entreat the Angels outside of Mizzium Mortars, which costs 2 more for its overload than the front half of Sever and doesn't have flashback. Different types of mass removal, yes, but I feel like Sever is a card that fits any reanimator sideboard.
Check out my blog, Swing For Game!
Overall, I feel like Conscripts should be a 1-of maindeck. I've also added a pair of Dreadbores in the board to compliment the pair mained, because USA Control is becoming fairly popular and it is necessary to take out Jace and Tamiyo early. Sever the Bloodline should also have at least 2 copies in everyones' board, since it is absurdly good in our board and great in multiple matchups right now.
Check out my blog, Swing For Game!