I have been playtesting Skullbriar for the past couple days in my group's meta. I have not lost a 1v1 match yet. (2-0 Hanna, 6-0 Zirilan, 2-0 Asusa) I think the biggest difference in our decks is the lack of swords in your deck. I love having different options for protection with the 3 swords, (L&S, F&I, F&F). I also never sleeve up an EDH deck without a copy of Sensei's. Also I think Vampiric Tutor deserves a spot, with the change based on meta. I have a relatively creature-light meta, so I would pull victim of the night. Another MVP has been Graveborn Muse. I am at 26 creatures including the general, and it seems pretty solid.
**edit -- I forgot to mention Mox Diamond and Chrome Mox. Playing the zomb on T1, you know how good that is.
The problem with Senseis and vampiric is that they're both banned under the ruleset used by this deck.
And now, speaking from tournament experience, you do not want swords in skullbriar. Every card you play needs to do something *now* be that provide pressure (b for a 2/2) or kill something, or something similar. If you play a swords you're wasting a turn's worth of pressure on a three drop, and the next turn you're spending half a turn's worth on equipping. If you then eat removal, you're SoL. The only reason Jitte is playable is because four mana beats five mana, and it's incredibly broken.
Graveborn Muse is ok for a midrange-esque skullbriar, but is horribly mediocre otherwise.
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Tantarus: It didn't make the gaka greifer level, so it should be fine
Yeah, you might want to refer to the 1v1 Duel Commander banned list @ www.duelcommander.com. Trust me, if I could play Sol Ring, Top, and Vampiric I would!
A 5 mana investment for this deck needs to be huge, and a sword isn't going to cut it, unfortunately. The only 5 mana investment I have is Ad Nauseam and if it sticks it will singlehandedly win me the game 9/10 times. A sword is good, but it's not backbreaking. It's also a really easy process to disrupt, meaning you've burned 1 & 1/2 turns on something that has a good chance of not having an effect, which this list can't afford :/
I tried the Graveborn, and it just wasn't aggressive enough for the effect. It was good, for sure, but it's just not enough pressure for a 4 drop. Thrun, the Last Troll, Creakwood Liege, and Master of the Wild Hunt are all gamebreaking threats, while Graveborn is not, and I don't want to burn a 4 drop spot on something that won't win me the game if it sticks for a turn or 2. Card draw is king, for sure, but it's too late in the game and too small for my taste.
Thanks for the ideas though! If you're playing in a normal banlist group that's a fair bit slower than the 1v1 Duel Commander meta then absolutely, those are fun/amazing cards to play
Ugh, such BS >.< For whatever reason, as soon as I go against a well made mono-U deck, my lands decide to just ... disappear. just went 1-2 against a Clique deck because, surprise, G2 and 3 I drew a 1 land hand, mulled all but 1 card twice, (Going to 5 both games) and still didn't draw past a second land in 7 turns. Both games. It's so frustrating! I don't think I need another land in the deck, I run 36 lands, a Mox, Dryad Arbor and Lotus Petal (38 perma-sources, 39 sources total) and this never happens unless I'm playing blue. Then it's like my deck just takes a **** on mah hand and says "I'm done"
I just don't get it O.o I rarely have this problem against other decks, just U for some reason it seems :/
The curse is nuts. I would go so far as the say it should be an include in any green or green/x deck that's playing an aggro strategy. Being able to get your dudes pumped on attacking, and having it trigger for each one is... well... dumb.
Thanks, agreed. I was skeptical at first, but after playing it I always find myself wanting to draw it. I think it's even stronger if I went a hyperaggro build with a ton of 1 cmc 2/X creatures, but as is it's been really strong. I love it
I think I'm going to cut the Nether Traitor for something with a little more punch. I don't know quite what yet, but the Traitor's always been something that I recognize is a good card but it's just not what I need at the moment. SO now I need a 1, 2, or 3 drop creature that has a really high power level to replace it with. I'm thinking either Tarmagoyf, Dreg Mangler or something I haven't though of yet. Any ideas?
Well, looks like that new black 2 drop out of Born of the Gods, Pain Seer, is going to replace that Nether Traitor's spot. That card looks absurd, glad they printed it.
I think I'm going to cut the Nether Traitor for something with a little more punch. I don't know quite what yet, but the Traitor's always been something that I recognize is a good card but it's just not what I need at the moment. SO now I need a 1, 2, or 3 drop creature that has a really high power level to replace it with. I'm thinking either Tarmagoyf, Dreg Mangler or something I haven't though of yet. Any ideas?
I'm surprised you're not playing Putrid Leech. He's one of my favorite 2 drops in this deck. I am also a big fan of Dreg Mangler, as even after he does you can setup a huge scavenge on Skullbriar (thats permanent if it works too). However, I'm also more of a fan of the aggro style Skullbriar lists.
I'm surprised you're not playing Putrid Leech. He's one of my favorite 2 drops in this deck. I am also a big fan of Dreg Mangler, as even after he does you can setup a huge scavenge on Skullbriar (thats permanent if it works too). However, I'm also more of a fan of the aggro style Skullbriar lists.
Yeah. They're both amazing cards, and in a more aggro version I would definitely be playing them. As is, I might try the leech, it's a pretty powerful card, but the mangler just wasn't fast enough for me, as odd as that sounds. I almost never got the 5 mana to tap and scavenge (I always had something else I wanted to do with the mana) and a 3/3 with haste for 3 just isn't good enough in my book. I think I need to do some testing on the leech though.
i'm not so convinced on pain seer. dark confidant makes sense, you can choose not to attack and still get value out of him. however, to get full value you need to attack with pain seer (there aren't many other ways to tap in this deck) and have him survive combat.
i think my build is a bit more aggressive, so my perspective wants a bit more punch, putrid leech and goyf seem like more consistent outlets for a new two drop.
i have considered pain seer, but ended up not going with him because most opponents will not let you untap with him and then untap him.
after reading through this primer, i may have to try the curse. i was hesitant to its power, but you seem convinced. I think i have to alter my deck now too since natural order got the ban, no more NO into prime-time!
I really can't describe how powerful the curse is. Especially if you're playing a more creature heavy list than mine, it's really, really strong. I think you're probably right about goyf over pain seer though. Leech is also a solid choice.
@ Coona: I don't think either of those are going to make the cut. The Herald is nice bit it's basically 3 for a 3/3 flier. If I went that route I'd prefer a Hypnotic Specter, it's got a much stronger effect. The Scourge is kind of anti-synergistic with the deck, it's saccing creatures and not attacking which is really bad for the tempo.
All ideas are totally welcome, don't apologize! And that Pack Rat is actually a really cool idea, I've never thought of that. It's a really good slot too as a 2 drop. Imma test that for sure. Plukranos is jsut too much mana for what it does, I don't play that many lands in the lsit so xx is really hard to pull off. The Reaper is nice, but not gamebreaking if it sticks which is what I want my 4 drops to be. The bow is jsut too much of a mana investment for too little to do :/
Good call on the rats though. I'm definitely going to test that out ^.^
Like in Doran yor first jobe in all games is put your commander as soon is possible OK you play for that Chrome Mox and Lotus Petal but why you miss Mox Diamond and what you think about Elvish Spirit Guide as next card to do this ?
I found that the mox was never quite right for the deck. I'd love to play it but I don't run a high enough land count to support it (only 36) so it ended up getting cut. If I went with 38-39 lands then it would definitely be in And the guide was just too much card disadvantage. I'm playing a little more of a midrange list as opposed to a hyper-aggro list so card advantage is a huge deal for my deck.
I'd have to be cutting bodies for the swords, and to be honest they're just too slow for the list. I did test both of those out in the deck and I just never found myself wanting to draw them. If I played white and had access to the tutors they'd be an auto-include but as is they're just not quite fast enough for me. 5 mana is a huge investment for this list >.<
If we talk about improves for your creatures i recomend to tes Herald of Torment one from top cards in Born of Goods in our colors
Next card i wish to recomend you to test is Ophiomancer almost like Bitterblossom ofc weaker but.. can improve your matchups vs aggro decks And its cool to feed Skullclamp
Herald is an idea. I just feel like if I want a 3 cmc flier it would be Hypnotic Specter or even up the mana count for an Abyssal Persecutor, but I might test it out. Giving Skully flying would be pretty sick lol. Ophiomancer isn't nearly fast enough for 3 mana. If it produced one every turn regardless then maybe, but as is it's not enough of an impact for just some synergy if I happen to get the 'Clamp. Braids is just too slow for a 4 drop. I'm not really palying any other stax elements and I want my 4 drops to be finishers. It's a cool card, just not quite right for my deck I don't think.
This is an interesting idea. I just don't really want to be tapping my creatures/lands, but this might go in. I think this is more of a Doran card, but I'll test it and see how it goes.
The Predation is in there because it triggers off each creature, so it scales with my aggro. Graves is cool and if it was a 2 drop it'd go in, but as is it's 3 mana for just 1 creature. I dunno. I might test it, I like the card, we'll see.
I don't really like conditional stuff, and I don't know what I'd cut for these, If I was playing an enchantress list then they'd be tested, but I don't have any bonuses off running enchantments and I wouldn't want to cut bodies for it.
Usually revoker is naming Marath in that instance so the Marath player doesn't get a chance to activate it. Needle is a really strong card though. I'll test it out and see how it goes.
I play my lists IRL as well as online and I'm relaly shying away from Goyf, but I'll probably need to start running it. It does deserve a spot, ab****ely.
Why you cut Dreg Mangler ? low cmc, haste, not bad body Even Scavenge looks cool with your commander
These are some of those cards that everyone keeps telling me I should play. I probably should have them in there, I've just never liked them. I'll test it again and see what happens. They're both amazing cards, especially for this deck, no question. We'll see.
I haven't needed it, with the amount of blue hate that I already run.
And last think Polukranos, World Eater i think underrate him like me But after little test i was suprise He give ryly nice pressure and this spot removal option scare many aggro decks
This I'll definitely test, it's a super efficient card with an amazing ability. Good call ^.^
Hello, this build is very interesting to me. However, I am little bit worry if there is anyone else who still plays this deck. I would like to have someone to discuss about results achieved with this configuration.
Skullbriar T1 is amazing, and pretty vital at the latest T2, Opal Palace makes it T2 at the best, but most often T3 which doesn't work.
I completely agree that Opal Palace is pretty slow compared to other colored lands and normally I wouldn't play it just for it's cute +1/+1 counter thingy. But I thought of something recently that I cannot get out of my head since then: It is the ONLY way of getting Skully back into play if he has -1/-1 counters on him.
Skullbriar T1 is amazing, and pretty vital at the latest T2, Opal Palace makes it T2 at the best, but most often T3 which doesn't work.
I completely agree that Opal Palace is pretty slow compared to other colored lands and normally I wouldn't play it just for it's cute +1/+1 counter thingy. But I thought of something recently that I cannot get out of my head since then: It is the ONLY way of getting Skully back into play if he has -1/-1 counters on him.
There are very few actual ways for Skullbriar to get a -1/-1 counter on him over the course of a competitive game. Those methods, if played around correctly, shouldn't change too much in scheme of the overall game. Skullbriar isn't your win condition. It's a useful 2 drop beatstick that happens to be able to end the game by himself. If your opponent is playing those few -1/-1 cards, then beat them to death with things that aren't dear Skully until all the blood has been removed from their alcohol system.
Palace isn't nearly good enough for Skullbriar. The fact that it produces colorless first is a huge loss for a deck that relies so heavily on proper colors.
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Tantarus: It didn't make the gaka greifer level, so it should be fine
The problem with Senseis and vampiric is that they're both banned under the ruleset used by this deck.
And now, speaking from tournament experience, you do not want swords in skullbriar. Every card you play needs to do something *now* be that provide pressure (b for a 2/2) or kill something, or something similar. If you play a swords you're wasting a turn's worth of pressure on a three drop, and the next turn you're spending half a turn's worth on equipping. If you then eat removal, you're SoL. The only reason Jitte is playable is because four mana beats five mana, and it's incredibly broken.
Graveborn Muse is ok for a midrange-esque skullbriar, but is horribly mediocre otherwise.
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A 5 mana investment for this deck needs to be huge, and a sword isn't going to cut it, unfortunately. The only 5 mana investment I have is Ad Nauseam and if it sticks it will singlehandedly win me the game 9/10 times. A sword is good, but it's not backbreaking. It's also a really easy process to disrupt, meaning you've burned 1 & 1/2 turns on something that has a good chance of not having an effect, which this list can't afford :/
I tried the Graveborn, and it just wasn't aggressive enough for the effect. It was good, for sure, but it's just not enough pressure for a 4 drop. Thrun, the Last Troll, Creakwood Liege, and Master of the Wild Hunt are all gamebreaking threats, while Graveborn is not, and I don't want to burn a 4 drop spot on something that won't win me the game if it sticks for a turn or 2. Card draw is king, for sure, but it's too late in the game and too small for my taste.
Thanks for the ideas though! If you're playing in a normal banlist group that's a fair bit slower than the 1v1 Duel Commander meta then absolutely, those are fun/amazing cards to play
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I just don't get it O.o I rarely have this problem against other decks, just U for some reason it seems :/
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The curse is nuts. I would go so far as the say it should be an include in any green or green/x deck that's playing an aggro strategy. Being able to get your dudes pumped on attacking, and having it trigger for each one is... well... dumb.
Very happy with that change.
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I'm surprised you're not playing Putrid Leech. He's one of my favorite 2 drops in this deck. I am also a big fan of Dreg Mangler, as even after he does you can setup a huge scavenge on Skullbriar (thats permanent if it works too). However, I'm also more of a fan of the aggro style Skullbriar lists.
Yeah. They're both amazing cards, and in a more aggro version I would definitely be playing them. As is, I might try the leech, it's a pretty powerful card, but the mangler just wasn't fast enough for me, as odd as that sounds. I almost never got the 5 mana to tap and scavenge (I always had something else I wanted to do with the mana) and a 3/3 with haste for 3 just isn't good enough in my book. I think I need to do some testing on the leech though.
^
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Evidently I didn't find it necessary to actually cut the boseiju from the list, even though I cut it from the deck about 3 months ago O.o
thanks for that, much appreciated!
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i think my build is a bit more aggressive, so my perspective wants a bit more punch, putrid leech and goyf seem like more consistent outlets for a new two drop.
i have considered pain seer, but ended up not going with him because most opponents will not let you untap with him and then untap him.
after reading through this primer, i may have to try the curse. i was hesitant to its power, but you seem convinced. I think i have to alter my deck now too since natural order got the ban, no more NO into prime-time!
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@ Coona: I don't think either of those are going to make the cut. The Herald is nice bit it's basically 3 for a 3/3 flier. If I went that route I'd prefer a Hypnotic Specter, it's got a much stronger effect. The Scourge is kind of anti-synergistic with the deck, it's saccing creatures and not attacking which is really bad for the tempo.
Thanks for the replies!
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Good call on the rats though. I'm definitely going to test that out ^.^
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Hey thanks! Love that you liked it ^.^ Doran's amazing too, if I had another 1v1 deck it'd definitely be Doran. So good lol.
I found that the mox was never quite right for the deck. I'd love to play it but I don't run a high enough land count to support it (only 36) so it ended up getting cut. If I went with 38-39 lands then it would definitely be in And the guide was just too much card disadvantage. I'm playing a little more of a midrange list as opposed to a hyper-aggro list so card advantage is a huge deal for my deck.
I'd have to be cutting bodies for the swords, and to be honest they're just too slow for the list. I did test both of those out in the deck and I just never found myself wanting to draw them. If I played white and had access to the tutors they'd be an auto-include but as is they're just not quite fast enough for me. 5 mana is a huge investment for this list >.<
Herald is an idea. I just feel like if I want a 3 cmc flier it would be Hypnotic Specter or even up the mana count for an Abyssal Persecutor, but I might test it out. Giving Skully flying would be pretty sick lol. Ophiomancer isn't nearly fast enough for 3 mana. If it produced one every turn regardless then maybe, but as is it's not enough of an impact for just some synergy if I happen to get the 'Clamp. Braids is just too slow for a 4 drop. I'm not really palying any other stax elements and I want my 4 drops to be finishers. It's a cool card, just not quite right for my deck I don't think.
This is an interesting idea. I just don't really want to be tapping my creatures/lands, but this might go in. I think this is more of a Doran card, but I'll test it and see how it goes.
The Predation is in there because it triggers off each creature, so it scales with my aggro. Graves is cool and if it was a 2 drop it'd go in, but as is it's 3 mana for just 1 creature. I dunno. I might test it, I like the card, we'll see.
I don't really like conditional stuff, and I don't know what I'd cut for these, If I was playing an enchantress list then they'd be tested, but I don't have any bonuses off running enchantments and I wouldn't want to cut bodies for it.
IMO Nature's Claim and Seal of Primordium looks better than Filigree Fracture
You're right on the Claim. I was running Filigree because of Zur, now that he's out of the Meta I'll probably switch back to the claim. Thanks!
Usually revoker is naming Marath in that instance so the Marath player doesn't get a chance to activate it. Needle is a really strong card though. I'll test it out and see how it goes.
I play my lists IRL as well as online and I'm relaly shying away from Goyf, but I'll probably need to start running it. It does deserve a spot, ab****ely.
These are some of those cards that everyone keeps telling me I should play. I probably should have them in there, I've just never liked them. I'll test it again and see what happens. They're both amazing cards, especially for this deck, no question. We'll see.
I haven't needed it, with the amount of blue hate that I already run.
This I'll definitely test, it's a super efficient card with an amazing ability. Good call ^.^
Absolutely, thanks a ton for the ideas!
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I completely agree that Opal Palace is pretty slow compared to other colored lands and normally I wouldn't play it just for it's cute +1/+1 counter thingy. But I thought of something recently that I cannot get out of my head since then: It is the ONLY way of getting Skully back into play if he has -1/-1 counters on him.
There are very few actual ways for Skullbriar to get a -1/-1 counter on him over the course of a competitive game. Those methods, if played around correctly, shouldn't change too much in scheme of the overall game. Skullbriar isn't your win condition. It's a useful 2 drop beatstick that happens to be able to end the game by himself. If your opponent is playing those few -1/-1 cards, then beat them to death with things that aren't dear Skully until all the blood has been removed from their alcohol system.
Palace isn't nearly good enough for Skullbriar. The fact that it produces colorless first is a huge loss for a deck that relies so heavily on proper colors.
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