Ever since Patrick Chapin put Painful truths on the map in legacy every format has started to take it in. While I have used Truths to success in grixis control, I can't help but wonder if I should be playing read the bones over painful truths.
Pros:
-nets up to 3 cards (+2 card adv)
-only 3 drop sorcery that nets you up to 3 cards no question on the turn you pay mana for it
-have the option of paying less life for amount of cards (rare that it's less than 2)
Cons:
-Mana intensive to get full value
-can cost up to 3 life
-Doesn't dig as deep as a Read the bones can.
Most Modern lists that would consider either card would prefer the extra card to the extra dig. Raw CA is just very powerful period, especially in the kinds of Grixis, Abzan, and Jund decks that need to draw more good stuff to win, not look for a particular card. Although there are situations where even those decks are digging for something specific, particularly in games 2-3, it is more common for them to just want the raw card draw. I would stick with Truths.
While Truths nets more card advantage, Read the Bones digs harder.
In three color fair decks - like Jund, Abzan, or Grixis - you want to run truths for the greater card advantage.
In more unfair decks - like BR / Grixis Reanimator - Read the Bones is better. It digs deeper to find those combo pieces you need to win the game.
I feel like this is the main difference between the two cards, and where you should run one over the other.
Most Modern lists that would consider either card would prefer the extra card to the extra dig. Raw CA is just very powerful period, especially in the kinds of Grixis, Abzan, and Jund decks that need to draw more good stuff to win, not look for a particular card. Although there are situations where even those decks are digging for something specific, particularly in games 2-3, it is more common for them to just want the raw card draw. I would stick with Truths.
I agree that I want the raw card draw but painful mana costs of casting painful truths combined with the 3 life up front seems steep compared to being able to cast read the bones with ease. Since burn/aggro is a problematic matchup for these decks is does raise the risk of truths being a dead card most of the time in bad matchups.
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On mtgsalvation people don't want to discuss ideas, so I give people something else to discuss: my controversial opinions.
Most Modern lists that would consider either card would prefer the extra card to the extra dig. Raw CA is just very powerful period, especially in the kinds of Grixis, Abzan, and Jund decks that need to draw more good stuff to win, not look for a particular card. Although there are situations where even those decks are digging for something specific, particularly in games 2-3, it is more common for them to just want the raw card draw. I would stick with Truths.
I agree that I want the raw card draw but painful mana costs of casting painful truths combined with the 3 life up front seems steep compared to being able to cast read the bones with ease. Since burn/aggro is a problematic matchup for these decks is does raise the risk of truths being a dead card most of the time in bad matchups.
I mean, I doubt you would be running more than 1-2 in your main deck. In those numbers it shouldn't drastically affect the Burn MU.
On top of that, if you really need to you can Truths for X=2 or 1, if necessary and you have the mana for it. While it still won't dig as much as Read the Bones, the life loss comparison becomes fairly pointless.
I'm in the same boat. Playing Abzan, sometimes you just want to dig for a powerful play instead of drawing one extra card and playing painful truths for anything but 3 colors is plain bad.
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Modern
Competitive: GW Hatebears - UG Infect - BGW Liege Rhino
Casual: GR Titan Ramp - BR Aggro
WIP: BUW Control Mill
Considering that I've gotten my face blistered off every time I have dared to mention Read the Bones in here, it's refreshing to see that we can finally discuss it civilly...
That bein' said, I still prefer Read the Bones. I prefer the selection over the raw cards, because if I'm playing a draw spell at all, it's usually because I need an answer in my hand right now. The kind of decks I play any CA at all in tend to be Midrange, where I care more about a specific card than just loading up. If all I care about is raw cards, I'd be prone to Phyrexian Arena. But I'll concede that draw three all at once with Painful Truths does have its advantages.
So bottom line, it might be situational to the deck and strategy.
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The kind of decks I play any CA at all in tend to be Midrange, where I care more about a specific card than just loading up. If all I care about is raw cards, I'd be prone to Phyrexian Arena.
But Modern's midrange decks - notably Jund - revolve around raw CA. Their whole game plan is having better mid to late game top decks than their opponent and being very grindy. On top of that, while they don't run Arena they do run Bob.
Selection can be fine in some combo decks, but when most of your grindy deck is filled with efficient threats and answers, I think you'd rather grab a fistful of them than dig for more specific ones slightly deeper.
It depends on your deck. If you're trying to assemble specific pieces then read lets you see more cards to get there. If you're a good stuff deck and just want quantity then truths wins.
In Grixis, I'm not sure why you would consider either when ancestral vision exists.
In Jund/Junk, truths is where you wanna be because they're good stuff decks and raw CA is king--and they typically have ways to counteract the life loss.
Painful Truths
Pros:
-nets up to 3 cards (+2 card adv)
-only 3 drop sorcery that nets you up to 3 cards no question on the turn you pay mana for it
-have the option of paying less life for amount of cards (rare that it's less than 2)
Cons:
-Mana intensive to get full value
-can cost up to 3 life
-Doesn't dig as deep as a Read the bones can.
Read the Bones
Pros:
-Potentially can dig 4 cards deep
-easier on mana since it's only one colored mana to pay.
Cons:
-Doesn't draw 3 like painful truths does
-always cost 2 life and not as versatile on how much life you can pay for value.
While I'm playing with Painful Truths for now, I'm considering testing Read the bones because of these pros/cons. Thoughts?
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
In three color fair decks - like Jund, Abzan, or Grixis - you want to run truths for the greater card advantage.
In more unfair decks - like BR / Grixis Reanimator - Read the Bones is better. It digs deeper to find those combo pieces you need to win the game.
I feel like this is the main difference between the two cards, and where you should run one over the other.
I agree that I want the raw card draw but painful mana costs of casting painful truths combined with the 3 life up front seems steep compared to being able to cast read the bones with ease. Since burn/aggro is a problematic matchup for these decks is does raise the risk of truths being a dead card most of the time in bad matchups.
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
I mean, I doubt you would be running more than 1-2 in your main deck. In those numbers it shouldn't drastically affect the Burn MU.
On top of that, if you really need to you can Truths for X=2 or 1, if necessary and you have the mana for it. While it still won't dig as much as Read the Bones, the life loss comparison becomes fairly pointless.
Competitive: GW Hatebears - UG Infect - BGW Liege Rhino
Casual: GR Titan Ramp - BR Aggro
WIP: BUW Control Mill
That bein' said, I still prefer Read the Bones. I prefer the selection over the raw cards, because if I'm playing a draw spell at all, it's usually because I need an answer in my hand right now. The kind of decks I play any CA at all in tend to be Midrange, where I care more about a specific card than just loading up. If all I care about is raw cards, I'd be prone to Phyrexian Arena. But I'll concede that draw three all at once with Painful Truths does have its advantages.
So bottom line, it might be situational to the deck and strategy.
But Modern's midrange decks - notably Jund - revolve around raw CA. Their whole game plan is having better mid to late game top decks than their opponent and being very grindy. On top of that, while they don't run Arena they do run Bob.
Selection can be fine in some combo decks, but when most of your grindy deck is filled with efficient threats and answers, I think you'd rather grab a fistful of them than dig for more specific ones slightly deeper.
Standard: lol no
Modern: BG/x, UR/x, Burn, Merfolk, Zoo, Storm
Legacy: Shardless BUG, Delver (BUG, RUG, Grixis), Landstill, Depths Combo, Merfolk
Vintage: Dark Times, BUG Fish, Merfolk
EDH: Teysa, Orzhov Scion / Krenko, Mob Boss / Stonebrow, Krosan Hero
In Jund/Junk, truths is where you wanna be because they're good stuff decks and raw CA is king--and they typically have ways to counteract the life loss.
UW Ephara Hatebears [Primer], GB Gitrog Lands, BRU Inalla Combo-Control, URG Maelstrom Wanderer Landfall