I have been running the build below for quite some time now at my local Legacy tourney. I prefer to run Fling in my list over Shrapnel Blast all day. With a Disciple of the vault and Atog in play it is pretty much game over turn 4-5. Also, I have been testing Broodstar over Ravager because of the flying and because I took out the Arcbound Worker due to other slots. I know the bouncing counters is nice but something about the flying seems to be working well in my meta (Goblins, Thresh, Landstill, Aluren, Enchantress, Angel Stompy). I will post again once this has been completed. If anyone else has tested with this please let me know.
As for hate, the only thing I really have ever had to deal with is Null Rod. I have found that boarding in Naturalize and making sure you have two mana to float at all times works well against this card. I really don't have to deal with it all that much although a few decks always run it. Naturalize seems to always be the best solution at the right time.
What do you think about the new creature in Shards of Alara, "Master of Etherium"? 2U, artifact creature whose power and toughness equals the number of artifacts you control.
I think it would be a good addition to Affinity currently and might be a good replacement for ravager and is massive with cranial plating.
Or not, because things which always cost three and require blue mana kind of suck in affinity. The most mana-intensive thing I want to cast is ravager/cranial plating or fling.
Master of Etherium's power and toughness are each equal to the number of artifacts you control.
Other artifact creatures you control get +1/+1.
*/*
I know he is an artifact creature and all, plus he gives other artifact creatures +1/+1, but wouldn't you rather run Broodstar because of the flying? The deck list I posted earler can usually cast him for UU turn 3-4 pretty easily due to Chromatic Star, Springleaf Drum, and Seat of the Synod, and is usually a 9/9 by then.. with flying.. then Fling.. If Atog is there too fling him as well, blus Disciple of the Vault.. That is a lot of damage
Or not, because things which always cost three and require blue mana kind of suck in affinity. The most mana-intensive thing I want to cast is ravager/cranial plating or fling.
There is only one blue mana in his casting cost. I see him doing better in a build with Paradise Mantle/Springleaf Drum. Playtest him (use a card as a proxie). I would consider running him over Fling/Shrapnel Blast, as he's half the initial card disadvantage, especially if they counter it.
Of course, that transaction sacrifices a little bit of speed for a lot bit of consistency.
*edit:
lshaull7, the one blue instead of two blue in the casting cost helps a lot. If your Broodstar is a 9/9 when you cast it, then he's a 10/10, who is also pumping your other guys. The fact that he is an artifact also helps keep him synergistic with counting towards other cards' affinity for artifacts, interactions with 'Ravager, Shrapnel Blast, Disciple of the Vault, and Cranial Plating.
But does it answer the problems present in affinity? Just getting more power consistently isn't exactly what affinity has been worrying about, iirc. It needs to find answers to hate that is naturally present in a lot of decks.
Master of the Etherium may indeed be a win-more card. More playtesting will help answer that.
I see practically zero Null Rods in the sideboards of decks hitting the Top 8s of most recognized tournaments these days. Frogmites and Enforcers are nearly immune to Counterbalance. Lets hope this next set gives us at least one other gem. I think it is high time for Affinity to pull a phoenix.
The phoenix is a "firebird" of sorts spawned from ancient Greek mythology, with the attribute to birth again from its ashes, and rise anew. Catch my correlation?
the problem that i'm seeing with affinity right now is that goblins and burn (or at least in my area) are packing shattering spree. Say, kill 4 targets? it kinda hurts
I agree, but what does goblins have against a Atog/Fling, Disciple of the Vault, oh say 7 artifacts in play turn 4? Especially after the board with Engineered Plague. I think Affinity can recoup artifacts faster then goblins can deal with Plague.
For my board I have the following, what do you all think? I have mostly goblins, jank control, thresh, and Null Rod in my meta:
XANTH: Thanks for the translation. I wasn't thinking earlier!! Do you really think Affinity can be reborn without artifact lands?
I did not say anything about removing the artifact lands...
I think this next set will provide some new and fascinating options, and I think the current meta populous right now is not worried nearly as much about Affinity as it is about other deck archetypes, and as a result (a result obtainable from sanctioned tournament decklists) less and less anti-artifact/anti-affinity cards are making their way into sideboards, sans Krosan Grip. I'm crossing my fingers that Shards of Alara provides just one truly decent card to include in the deck (the ruling's still out on Master of the Etherium in my opinion).
I did not say anything about removing the artifact lands...
Sorry, I thought you were talking about Standard. I agree, I really like playing Affinity so I hope the new set provides something to gain becuase more and more hate is starting to come out. For me the best thing is Naturalize, floating mana in response to Rod, although it doesn't answer the Pernicious Deed question... I still like to use, with much success, Broodstar over Ravager. I think that is a solution to Deed, you will still have Broodstar in play and with the speed of artifacts I don't see it being much of a problem, however I really haven't playtested much against Deed.
I am not sold on Master of the Etherium either. So has anyone tested Broodstar against Arcbound Ravager in the current meta?
I honestly think you guys are worrying too much about Pernicious Deed. It costs 3 mana. On average they'll pop it turn 3 or 4. If it's already turn 3 or 4, you should have won or are near winning. Deed won't answer all the threats you've laid down by then, especially your Myr Enforcers. If they're popping Deed for 4 to ice your Frogmites, well; you should have victory well secured by then. You can sideboard in some decent responses to Deed too, in cards such as Pithing Needle and Stifle. It's much more manageable than dealing with Null Rod.
Actually, I'm going to revise my suggestion to just Fling. First of all, it wins you the game a turn earlier. How is that not worth it? Secondly, it allows you to turn a Dreadnought into a 3-mana-12-damage-burn-spell if you don't have a Stifle or Vision Charm available (cast Phyrexian Dreadnought, trigger on stack, cast Fling, etc.)
And Fling isn't hard to fit in.
-4 Vault of Whispers
-4 Island
-1 Master of Etherium (3 mana peaks your curve)
The only thing about Engineered Explosives or Pernicious Deed is by the time they cast it and can use it for anything worth while is about turn 4-6. If you haven't won or are pretty close to winning by then you are in trouble. I have found that the Pernicious Deed isn't really that big of a deal.. I just am concerned about thinning my SB too much.
What all decks, that are played, have graveyard ability? I am thinking of -1 Tormod's Crypt for +1 more Naturalize
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
As for hate, the only thing I really have ever had to deal with is Null Rod. I have found that boarding in Naturalize and making sure you have two mana to float at all times works well against this card. I really don't have to deal with it all that much although a few decks always run it. Naturalize seems to always be the best solution at the right time.
Here is my list:
4x Ornithoper
3x Atog
4x Disciple of the vault
4x Frogmite
4x Myr Enforcer
4x Springleaf Drum
4x Chromatic Star
4x Cranial Plating
4x Thoughtcast
3x Fling
4x Vault of Whispers
4x Great Furnace
2x Tree of Tales
4x Darksteel Citadel
4x Sphere of Resistance
4x Tormod's Crypt
4x Engineered Plague
3x Naturalize
I think it would be a good addition to Affinity currently and might be a good replacement for ravager and is massive with cranial plating.
Just a thought for the future.
Noisome
:2mana::symu:Artifact Creature - Vedalken Wizard
Master of Etherium's power and toughness are each equal to the number of artifacts you control.
Other artifact creatures you control get +1/+1.
*/*
I know he is an artifact creature and all, plus he gives other artifact creatures +1/+1, but wouldn't you rather run Broodstar because of the flying? The deck list I posted earler can usually cast him for UU turn 3-4 pretty easily due to Chromatic Star, Springleaf Drum, and Seat of the Synod, and is usually a 9/9 by then.. with flying.. then Fling.. If Atog is there too fling him as well, blus Disciple of the Vault.. That is a lot of damage
There is only one blue mana in his casting cost. I see him doing better in a build with Paradise Mantle/Springleaf Drum. Playtest him (use a card as a proxie). I would consider running him over Fling/Shrapnel Blast, as he's half the initial card disadvantage, especially if they counter it.
Of course, that transaction sacrifices a little bit of speed for a lot bit of consistency.
*edit:
lshaull7, the one blue instead of two blue in the casting cost helps a lot. If your Broodstar is a 9/9 when you cast it, then he's a 10/10, who is also pumping your other guys. The fact that he is an artifact also helps keep him synergistic with counting towards other cards' affinity for artifacts, interactions with 'Ravager, Shrapnel Blast, Disciple of the Vault, and Cranial Plating.
I see practically zero Null Rods in the sideboards of decks hitting the Top 8s of most recognized tournaments these days. Frogmites and Enforcers are nearly immune to Counterbalance. Lets hope this next set gives us at least one other gem. I think it is high time for Affinity to pull a phoenix.
??
The phoenix is a "firebird" of sorts spawned from ancient Greek mythology, with the attribute to birth again from its ashes, and rise anew. Catch my correlation?
the problem that i'm seeing with affinity right now is that goblins and burn (or at least in my area) are packing shattering spree. Say, kill 4 targets? it kinda hurts
Have any questions or concerns? Come take a dip in my pool.
For my board I have the following, what do you all think? I have mostly goblins, jank control, thresh, and Null Rod in my meta:
4x Sphere of Resistance
4x Tormod's Crypt
3x Naturalize
XANTH: Thanks for the translation. I wasn't thinking earlier!! Do you really think Affinity can be reborn without artifact lands?
I did not say anything about removing the artifact lands...
I think this next set will provide some new and fascinating options, and I think the current meta populous right now is not worried nearly as much about Affinity as it is about other deck archetypes, and as a result (a result obtainable from sanctioned tournament decklists) less and less anti-artifact/anti-affinity cards are making their way into sideboards, sans Krosan Grip. I'm crossing my fingers that Shards of Alara provides just one truly decent card to include in the deck (the ruling's still out on Master of the Etherium in my opinion).
Sorry, I thought you were talking about Standard. I agree, I really like playing Affinity so I hope the new set provides something to gain becuase more and more hate is starting to come out. For me the best thing is Naturalize, floating mana in response to Rod, although it doesn't answer the Pernicious Deed question... I still like to use, with much success, Broodstar over Ravager. I think that is a solution to Deed, you will still have Broodstar in play and with the speed of artifacts I don't see it being much of a problem, however I really haven't playtested much against Deed.
I am not sold on Master of the Etherium either. So has anyone tested Broodstar against Arcbound Ravager in the current meta?
And Fling isn't hard to fit in.
-4 Vault of Whispers
-4 Island
-1 Master of Etherium (3 mana peaks your curve)
+4 Great Furnace
+3 Glimmervoid
+2 Fling
My meta is pretty typical, does anyone have any ideas?? What are the biggest threats you are seeing out there in Legacy?
What all decks, that are played, have graveyard ability? I am thinking of -1 Tormod's Crypt for +1 more Naturalize