Hi. Many of you probably know me from my deep, devoted Primer on Kaalia of the Vast right here in these 1v1 forums. And while this thread probably will not become a Primer, I feel, after my recent, smashing success with the deck piloting it to a 10-1 finish, that I should post it here for others to critique and maybe even get ideas from, as a service to the community. Note this is a competitive deck made for Magic Online, and while some people have vices to playing with Mass Land Removal cards, those people would be advised to look away now, as I play a multitude of these kinds of spells. You have been warned.
The decks I played this against, and my records against them, are as follows;
Notable Exclusions: Cards I realized could be good in here after I submitted the list for League play(and thus went past the point of no-return for editing) include Kuldotha Rebirth, Thopter Assembly. This deck should also contain the currently missing manlands, Blinkmoth Nexus and its' younger cousin, Inkmoth Nexus. These are the exact kinds of cards that work so well with Jor--they provide mana, count as artifacts for metalcraft, and are also pumped by the commander's metalcraft benefit. Another case could be made for both Pithing Needle and Phyrexian Revoker as they are not only answers, but also contribute to metalcraft and(in the case of the Revoker) also get to utilize the commander's metalcraft benefit.
Anyway; there is the deck, and a few changes I would make to it in the not-so-distant future, any feedback/critiques that anyone may have, or suggestions and opinions from other experienced Jor Kadeen pilots, would be much appreciated!
Seems as if there ought to be room for a couple more cheap Metalcraft creatures in here like Ardent Recruit and Auriok Sunchaser that can keep the pressure up even if Jor Kadeen isn't around. I assume you considered and discarded Mox Opal as well?
On the flip side, Leonin Abunas doesn't seem that great to me. It's not an artifact, and it only protects against targeted removal. You should have more than three artifacts out most of the time, so I don't see why saving a single artifact is much use. Indomitable Archangel is way more aggressive, so she's probably fine.
Seems as if there ought to be room for a couple more cheap Metalcraft creatures in here like Ardent Recruit and Auriok Sunchaser that can keep the pressure up even if Jor Kadeen isn't around. I assume you considered and discarded Mox Opal as well?
On the flip side, Leonin Abunas doesn't seem that great to me. It's not an artifact, and it only protects against targeted removal. You should have more than three artifacts out most of the time, so I don't see why saving a single artifact is much use. Indomitable Archangel is way more aggressive, so she's probably fine.
I'm not sure I like those two W creatures. They're alright, but only if metalcraft is active. I think they probably fall in line with Court Homunculus(who is probably better, because he's an artifact himself). The three Moxen I also don't like, Chrome/Diamond because I don't have the spare cards to afford to pitch one to them, and Opal I just don't feel is consistent enough. It's good when it's good, but with just the one tutour(Enlightened) I can't force it. That said with the direction the League is taking(banning Crypt/Ring, Opal might be the next best option, though I still don't like it, haha).
The Abunas does not look like it has the most impressive stats, but if all it does is give my Jitte or SoFaI hexproof, I am okay with that. And with a pair of boots on it, it protects them while the boots protect itself. That said, I just realized I forgot Goblin Welder(probably because it's like $8 online, but that's no excuse, this is a competitive list). So I could see Welder in this slot.
As for what to take out, the first thing that stuck out for me was Impending Disaster. I've always found it to be either too slow or a dead draw- but you do have a tutor for it. Do you like it?
No Cavern of Souls for Jor? I imagine that once you play him, you're going to (hopefully) win soon, so why not make him uncouterable?
Cavern is a cost issue(was like ~$10 at leage start). Which granted, in a competitive list should not be an issue. If you have one, add it. No questions asked, because Jor Kadeen being tucked is horrid(as I said, I play on MODO where tuck rules are in effect).
Not sure that I like City or Crystal here(City seems better in formats like Legacy where you can play four of them), even though I am on the blow up the world plan. This may be from my lack of experiences with the cards. Ancient Tomb is more stable, so it should be here. I think it's the same situation as Cavern above. And I'm not sure if Expedition Map finds enough relevant stuff(it's slow if you're just trying to colour fix).
*facepalm* That's the card I missed. Cannonist is the disruption I lacked(would have been great versus everyone except Arcum). Not sure I like Gamble, it's the same -2 as the Moxen I touched on earlier, and this deck does not want to give up cards.
As for what to take out, the first thing that stuck out for me was Impending Disaster. I've always found it to be either too slow or a dead draw- but you do have a tutor for it. Do you like it?[/QUOTE]
I like Impending quite a bit. At two mana it is a great rattlesnake, and I actually did win a game versus the (B/R) Wort deck by burning my Enlightened for it(I had Sun Titan on board, so I could soft lock the lands with Titan's attack trigger).
I don't like Ruin or Ring in this deck because I usually have uses for my mana each turn or I just blew up the world anyway(Ruin is only situationally good, but is done better by Titan and Sanctum Gargoyle. However I don't want yet another colourless land.). Likewise I have Strip Mine because I can't afford a ~$38 Wasteland(would replace Tectonic Edge if I could get one). Ajani Vengeant I'm on the fence on, though I think he can probably be slotted in overall.
The decks I played this against, and my records against them, are as follows;
2-1 vs Sygg, River Cutthroat(Ninjuitsu)
2-1 vs Uril, the Miststalker
2-0 vs Wort, Boggart Auntie
2-0 vs The Mimeoplasm
2-0 vs Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
2-0 vs Tolsimir Wolfblood
2-0 vs Arcum Dagsson
2-0 vs Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2-1 vs Jeska, Warrior Adept
0-2 vs Edric, Spymaster of Trest
1 Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer
Lands(36)
9 Snow-Covered Plains
8 Snow-Covered Mountain
1 Ancient Den
1 Arid Mesa
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Flagstones of Trokair
1 Ghitu Encampment
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Great Furnace
1 Kher Keep
1 Marsh Flats
1 Mishra's Factory
1 Plateau
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Strip Mine
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Windswept Heath
1 Wooded Foothills
Creatures(26)
1 Gold Myr
1 Iron Myr
1 Manakin
1 Plague Myr
1 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Alloy Myr
1 Etched Champion
1 Imperial Recruiter
1 Palladium Myr
1 Pilgrim's Eye
1 Scuttlemutt
1 Shimmer Myr
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Leonin Abunas
1 Sanctum Gargoyle
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1 Kuldotha Phoenix
1 Precursor Golem
1 Charmbreaker Devils
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Sun Titan
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Knollspine Dragon
1 Myr Battlesphere
Enchantments(2)
1 Impending Disaster
1 Aura of Silence
Sorceries(5)
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Armageddon
1 Ravages of War
1 Reforge the Soul
1 Boom/Bust
Instants(11)
1 Dispatch
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Galvanic Blast
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Shrapnel Blast
1 Dispense Justice
1 Return to Dust
1 Orim's Thunder
Artifacts(19)
1 Mana Crypt
1 Dispeller's Capsule
1 Origin Spellbomb
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
1 Boros Signet
1 Coldsteel Heart
1 Fire Diamond
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Marble Diamond
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Loxodon Warhammer
1 Sculpting Steel
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Mind's Eye
Notable Exclusions: Cards I realized could be good in here after I submitted the list for League play(and thus went past the point of no-return for editing) include Kuldotha Rebirth, Thopter Assembly. This deck should also contain the currently missing manlands, Blinkmoth Nexus and its' younger cousin, Inkmoth Nexus. These are the exact kinds of cards that work so well with Jor--they provide mana, count as artifacts for metalcraft, and are also pumped by the commander's metalcraft benefit. Another case could be made for both Pithing Needle and Phyrexian Revoker as they are not only answers, but also contribute to metalcraft and(in the case of the Revoker) also get to utilize the commander's metalcraft benefit.
Anyway; there is the deck, and a few changes I would make to it in the not-so-distant future, any feedback/critiques that anyone may have, or suggestions and opinions from other experienced Jor Kadeen pilots, would be much appreciated!
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
On the flip side, Leonin Abunas doesn't seem that great to me. It's not an artifact, and it only protects against targeted removal. You should have more than three artifacts out most of the time, so I don't see why saving a single artifact is much use. Indomitable Archangel is way more aggressive, so she's probably fine.
I'm not sure I like those two W creatures. They're alright, but only if metalcraft is active. I think they probably fall in line with Court Homunculus(who is probably better, because he's an artifact himself). The three Moxen I also don't like, Chrome/Diamond because I don't have the spare cards to afford to pitch one to them, and Opal I just don't feel is consistent enough. It's good when it's good, but with just the one tutour(Enlightened) I can't force it. That said with the direction the League is taking(banning Crypt/Ring, Opal might be the next best option, though I still don't like it, haha).
The Abunas does not look like it has the most impressive stats, but if all it does is give my Jitte or SoFaI hexproof, I am okay with that. And with a pair of boots on it, it protects them while the boots protect itself. That said, I just realized I forgot Goblin Welder(probably because it's like $8 online, but that's no excuse, this is a competitive list). So I could see Welder in this slot.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
I'd probably also try out Ancient Tomb, City of Traitors, Crystal Vein, and Expedition Map.
I imagine Ethersworn Cannonist would also be a nice add. Gamble too.
As for what to take out, the first thing that stuck out for me was Impending Disaster. I've always found it to be either too slow or a dead draw- but you do have a tutor for it. Do you like it?
Cavern is a cost issue(was like ~$10 at leage start). Which granted, in a competitive list should not be an issue. If you have one, add it. No questions asked, because Jor Kadeen being tucked is horrid(as I said, I play on MODO where tuck rules are in effect).
Not sure that I like City or Crystal here(City seems better in formats like Legacy where you can play four of them), even though I am on the blow up the world plan. This may be from my lack of experiences with the cards. Ancient Tomb is more stable, so it should be here. I think it's the same situation as Cavern above. And I'm not sure if Expedition Map finds enough relevant stuff(it's slow if you're just trying to colour fix).
*facepalm* That's the card I missed. Cannonist is the disruption I lacked(would have been great versus everyone except Arcum). Not sure I like Gamble, it's the same -2 as the Moxen I touched on earlier, and this deck does not want to give up cards.
As for what to take out, the first thing that stuck out for me was Impending Disaster. I've always found it to be either too slow or a dead draw- but you do have a tutor for it. Do you like it?[/QUOTE]
I like Impending quite a bit. At two mana it is a great rattlesnake, and I actually did win a game versus the (B/R) Wort deck by burning my Enlightened for it(I had Sun Titan on board, so I could soft lock the lands with Titan's attack trigger).
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Legacy Deck:
Punishing Jund
Thank you for your suggestions.
I don't like Ruin or Ring in this deck because I usually have uses for my mana each turn or I just blew up the world anyway(Ruin is only situationally good, but is done better by Titan and Sanctum Gargoyle. However I don't want yet another colourless land.). Likewise I have Strip Mine because I can't afford a ~$38 Wasteland(would replace Tectonic Edge if I could get one). Ajani Vengeant I'm on the fence on, though I think he can probably be slotted in overall.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.