Green was obvious here, though the quality of my commons and uncommons is actually nothing special imo. My big choice was between white or black (I put together a GW build I could switch out to, but never ended up using it. White has some excellent cards, but it's shallow my build for it had only 14 creatures including a Great Hart. The 2x Asphyxiate was a big draw for black, plus the 2 1/3's and the Drown in Sorrow to quickly stabilize the early game.
Sadly, I drew a bye the first round, so I had to wait to try out the deck. In round two, I went up against a GWr deck. My opponent made a couple of significant errors, including not paying tribute on my Demolok when he had Chained to the Rocks in play, and I beat him 2-0. In the third (and final) round, I went up against a GW deck. The first game we stalled out...him with a Nessian Asp, Hundred-Handed One, and Centaur Battlemaster...me with the Scourge, a sedge scorpion, the Servant of Tymaret, and a coueplf of 4 toughness guys. Eventually I pulled an Asphyxiate for the Hundred-Handed One, and an impatient attack from my opponent allow me to seize control by blocking with my Scourge and tapping to eat another creature (he was 12/12 by the end). In the second game he got the jump on me and I wasn't able to stabilize, and in game 3, he stumbled on mana, and Caryatid into Demolok quickly put the game out of reach. So a pretty short 3-0, but I felt good about the deck, though I think far more credit goes to the pool thatn to me.
Your build seems solid, your green is very good in your pool, and black brings in a nice removal package. The only difference I would have made would be to take a long hard look at splashing Phenax, as that card is an unmitigated bomb.
I considered splashing Phenax, as I already had a bit of a high-toughness theme going on, but he didn't help my main win con, he doesn't do anything when you're behind, and in any board state for this deck where he'd be good, I'm probably going to win anyway. I like the card, but it didn't seem worth it in this instance. I could be wrong there, though.
True, but Phenax can also turn your board of Acolyte of Karametra, Sylvan Carytid into an absolutely unwinable board for your opponent - that has to be worth something, right?
True, but Phenax can also turn your board of Acolyte of Karametra, Sylvan Carytid into an absolutely unwinable board for your opponent - that has to be worth something, right?
That's a four turn clock...I wouldn't call that unwinnable by a long shot.
any theory in going G/W here? You only have 10 playables in white, but all 5 of them are really good. Your green isn't really aggro but you have a decent amount of heroic triggers.
I looked at running GW (the top end of that white is pretty awesome), but the best build I found only had 14 creatures, which seemed a little sketchy and not consistent enough to be better than the GB build. I did settle on a final build of it so I could sideboard over to the GW deck if I wanted to (esp if I was going against a bunch of flyers), but I never ended up wanting to pull the trigger on it during my two matches.
Yeah I wanted to try to build GW, but there just isn't enough there in white. A lot of it doesn't go well with other cards in the deck and you end up playing some borderline unplayables. Phenax is definitely correct to try splashing, though. Just ditch Feral Invocation.
True, but Phenax can also turn your board of Acolyte of Karametra, Sylvan Carytid into an absolutely unwinable board for your opponent - that has to be worth something, right?
That's a four turn clock...I wouldn't call that unwinnable by a long shot.
That's a three turn clock unless you're literally dropping nothing else in the three turns. It could do it in three even without another creature - it's not like games don't go to turn 12. Plenty of board states I've seen, particularly against any non-hyper-aggressive deck, give you a win the turn after Phenax comes out. Phenax is a bomb, particularly in sealed.
I considered splashing Phenax, as I already had a bit of a high-toughness theme going on, but he didn't help my main win con, he doesn't do anything when you're behind, and in any board state for this deck where he'd be good, I'm probably going to win anyway. I like the card, but it didn't seem worth it in this instance. I could be wrong there, though.
Look on it like this - you could make the same arguments about Jace, Memory Adept but that doesn't stop it from being a stupid bomb that wins the game if you have any board position. Same deal here.
I agree with the general consensus of keeping the GB build but splashing Phenax. Specifically, I'd go:
-1 Forest, -1 Swamp, -1 Artisan's Sorrow
+1 Island, +1 Traveler's Amulet, +1 Phenax
I could also see dropping Ashiok's Adept rather than Artisan's Sorrow because you have very few ways to trigger heroic, and the adept is quite bad on its base stats. On the other hand, you already have Unravel the Aether, the Adept does have minor synergy with Gray Merchant, Phenax, and Scourge of Skola Vale, and you don't have a ton of early creatures, so my inclination would be to maindeck the Adept as your 23rd card and board in Artisan's Sorrow as needed, rather than the reverse.
That's a three turn clock unless you're literally dropping nothing else in the three turns. It could do it in three even without another creature - it's not like games don't go to turn 12. Plenty of board states I've seen, particularly against any non-hyper-aggressive deck, give you a win the turn after Phenax comes out. Phenax is a bomb, particularly in sealed.
No it's not...it's milling 7 a turn, that's a four turn clock (Phenax himself isn't ever going to be a creature in the deck). I certainly agree that Phenax is a bomb, and can sometimes take over games...it's just that every time I hit a stable board state, it meant I had a couple of big creatures that were already capable of winning the game for me, unlike lots of UB board states that features many lower power creatures unable to attack through for the win. I certainly think it's possible that Phenax was worthwhile, but the effect on my manabase wouldn't have been negligible in spite of the Caryatid, and specifically with the green I had, I don't think there were too many possible board states where Phenax mills them out and I don't win anyway.
I could also see dropping Ashiok's Adept rather than Artisan's Sorrow because you have very few ways to trigger heroic, and the adept is quite bad on its base stats. On the other hand, you already have Unravel the Aether, the Adept does have minor synergy with Gray Merchant, Phenax, and Scourge of Skola Vale, and you don't have a ton of early creatures, so my inclination would be to maindeck the Adept as your 23rd card and board in Artisan's Sorrow as needed, rather than the reverse.
Yeah, the Adept was basically a 1/3 for 3 in my deck, and I knew that, but given the creatures available to me, a 1/3 for 3 was very much welcome as something to help stabilize until I could get my real threats online.
That's a three turn clock unless you're literally dropping nothing else in the three turns. It could do it in three even without another creature - it's not like games don't go to turn 12. Plenty of board states I've seen, particularly against any non-hyper-aggressive deck, give you a win the turn after Phenax comes out. Phenax is a bomb, particularly in sealed.
No it's not...it's milling 7 a turn, that's a four turn clock (Phenax himself isn't ever going to be a creature in the deck). I certainly agree that Phenax is a bomb, and can sometimes take over games...it's just that every time I hit a stable board state, it meant I had a couple of big creatures that were already capable of winning the game for me, unlike lots of UB board states that features many lower power creatures unable to attack through for the win. I certainly think it's possible that Phenax was worthwhile, but the effect on my manabase wouldn't have been negligible in spite of the Caryatid, and specifically with the green I had, I don't think there were too many possible board states where Phenax mills them out and I don't win anyway.
You have to read the entire post.
Plus, look at your deck. You're going to end up with a lot of board stalls. You have no evasion and tons of low power, high toughness guys. You could literally just play a waiting game where you clog the board and win as soon as Phenax is drawn. 3/7s, 0/3s, 1/3s, 1/4s, 3/4s, Scorpion - not to mention the wait and see game goes perfectly with the Scourge.
As Dolphan said, you basically lose nothing with the splash and replace a mediocre card that does very little in your deck (I still think Feral Invocation is easily the weak link if you're splashing Phenax) with a card that will undeniably win you some games. Your deck's mana would have been completely fine.
People seem to be ignoring springleaf drum. This card is easy fixing too, if you were splashing Phenax, and in a lot of cases I've seen it work out better than a travelers amulet would. IMO you have enough fixing to warrant the splash for Phenax, and hell, maybe even sudden storm while you're at it.
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1 Fate Unraveler
1 Ashiok's Adept
1 Dark Betrayal
1 Drown in Sorrow
2 Asphyxiate
1 Blood-Toll Harpy
1 Forsaken Drifters
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 Nyxborn Eidolon
1 Servant of Tymaret
1 Viper's Kiss
1 Weight of the Underworld
1 Warchanter of Mogis
Blue
1 Siren of the Fanged Coast
2 Aqueous Form
1 Breaching Hippocamp
1 Crypsis
1 Deepwater Hypnotist
1 Omenspeaker
1 Prescient Chimera
1 Retraction Helix
2 Sphinx's Disciple
1 Sudden Storm (foil)
1 Thassa's Bounty
1 Triton Shorethief
1 Nylea, God of the Hunt (foil)
1 Reverent Hunter
1 Scourge of Skola Vale
1 Sylvan Caryatid
1 Artisan's Sorrow
1 Hunt the Hunter
1 Karametra's Acolyte
1 Nessian Demolok
1 Unravel the Aether
1 Charging Badger
1 Feral Inovocation
1 Leafcrown Dryad
1 Mortal's Resolve
1 Pheres-Band Centaurs
1 Pheres-Band Tromper
1 Savage Surge
1 Sedge Scorpion
2 Setessan Starbreaker
1 Satyr Wayfinder
1 Fade into Antiquity
Red
2 Coordinated Assault
1 Purphoro's Emmisary
1 Boulderfall
1 Deathbellow Raider
1 Dragon Mantle
1 Epiphany Storm
1 Ill-tempered Cyclops
1 Messenger's Speed
1 Giant
1 Priest of Iroas
3 Reckless Reveler
2 Spearpoint Oread
1 Acolyte's Reward
1 Glimpse the Sun God
1 Heliod's Emissary
1 Oredeal of Heliod
2 Akroan Skyguard
1 Chosen By Heliod
1 Ephara's Radiance
1 Gods Willing
1 Great Hart
1 Hold At Bay
1 Lagonna-Band Elder
1 Revoke Existence
Gold
1 Phenax, God of Deception
1 Ashen Rider
Artifact
1 Gorgon's Head
1 Springleaf Drum
1 Traveler's Amulet
Land
1 Unknown Shores
1 Nylea, God of the Hunt (foil)
1 Fate Unraveler
1 Reverent Hunter
1 Scourge of Skola Vale
1 Sylvan Caryatid
1 Ashiok's Adept
1 Karametra's Acolyte
1 Nessian Demolok
1 Blood-Toll Harpy
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 Leafcrown Dryad
1 Nyxborn Eidolon
1 Pheres-Band Centaurs
1 Pheres-Band Tromper
1 Sedge Scorpion
1 Servant of Tymaret
1 Artisan's Sorrow
1 Drown in Sorrow
1 Unravel the Aether
2 Asphyxiate
1 Feral Invocation
1 Mortal's Resolve
Land
9 Forest
8 Swamp
Green was obvious here, though the quality of my commons and uncommons is actually nothing special imo. My big choice was between white or black (I put together a GW build I could switch out to, but never ended up using it. White has some excellent cards, but it's shallow my build for it had only 14 creatures including a Great Hart. The 2x Asphyxiate was a big draw for black, plus the 2 1/3's and the Drown in Sorrow to quickly stabilize the early game.
Thoughts and criticism are highly appreciated!
That's a four turn clock...I wouldn't call that unwinnable by a long shot.
I believe my GW build was this:
1 Nylea, God of the Hunt (foil)
1 Reverent Hunter
1 Scourge of Skola Vale
1 Sylvan Caryatid
1 Heliod's Emissary
1 Karametra's Acolyte
1 Nessian Demolok
2 Akroan Skyguard
1 Great Hart
1 Lagonna-Band Elder
1 Leafcrown Dryad
1 Pheres-Band Centaurs
1 Pheres-Band Tromper
1 Sedge Scorpion
1 Glimpse the Sun God
1 Ordeal of Heliod
1 Unravel the Aether
1 Chosen By Heliod
1 Feral Invocation
1 Gods Willing
1 Hold At Bay
1 Mortal's Resolve
9 Forest
8 Plains
That's a three turn clock unless you're literally dropping nothing else in the three turns. It could do it in three even without another creature - it's not like games don't go to turn 12. Plenty of board states I've seen, particularly against any non-hyper-aggressive deck, give you a win the turn after Phenax comes out. Phenax is a bomb, particularly in sealed.
Look on it like this - you could make the same arguments about Jace, Memory Adept but that doesn't stop it from being a stupid bomb that wins the game if you have any board position. Same deal here.
-1 Forest, -1 Swamp, -1 Artisan's Sorrow
+1 Island, +1 Traveler's Amulet, +1 Phenax
I could also see dropping Ashiok's Adept rather than Artisan's Sorrow because you have very few ways to trigger heroic, and the adept is quite bad on its base stats. On the other hand, you already have Unravel the Aether, the Adept does have minor synergy with Gray Merchant, Phenax, and Scourge of Skola Vale, and you don't have a ton of early creatures, so my inclination would be to maindeck the Adept as your 23rd card and board in Artisan's Sorrow as needed, rather than the reverse.
No it's not...it's milling 7 a turn, that's a four turn clock (Phenax himself isn't ever going to be a creature in the deck). I certainly agree that Phenax is a bomb, and can sometimes take over games...it's just that every time I hit a stable board state, it meant I had a couple of big creatures that were already capable of winning the game for me, unlike lots of UB board states that features many lower power creatures unable to attack through for the win. I certainly think it's possible that Phenax was worthwhile, but the effect on my manabase wouldn't have been negligible in spite of the Caryatid, and specifically with the green I had, I don't think there were too many possible board states where Phenax mills them out and I don't win anyway.
Yeah, the Adept was basically a 1/3 for 3 in my deck, and I knew that, but given the creatures available to me, a 1/3 for 3 was very much welcome as something to help stabilize until I could get my real threats online.
You have to read the entire post.
Plus, look at your deck. You're going to end up with a lot of board stalls. You have no evasion and tons of low power, high toughness guys. You could literally just play a waiting game where you clog the board and win as soon as Phenax is drawn. 3/7s, 0/3s, 1/3s, 1/4s, 3/4s, Scorpion - not to mention the wait and see game goes perfectly with the Scourge.
As Dolphan said, you basically lose nothing with the splash and replace a mediocre card that does very little in your deck (I still think Feral Invocation is easily the weak link if you're splashing Phenax) with a card that will undeniably win you some games. Your deck's mana would have been completely fine.