So I was thinking would it be possible to splash green for the Knightfall combo since zur can find it?
you could, some lists splashed green for doran, the siege tower and birds of paradise long time, haven't seen green splash in a long time. Knightfall and Zur together, might be crowded.
Yeah it's possible. Do people still play this deck? I would like to see a decklist
I still do. This is the only deck I'll play in modern, not because I'm a Zur snob, but because I just don't play enough to drop $1k into another deck. I will say I just personally splashed green in for Birds and Abrupt Decay, but I like some of the choices Rowdain put in his build.
This is the version I came up with for the doran knighfall Idea and honestly it plays well, I could see it doing ok in some local tournament's ( need to tweak the mana in my version though)
I like the deck for sure. I would consider a single Steel of the Godhead in the main to maximize the Zur/Doran synergy and to add a life gain element. I know the Knightfall package is in there, but it's not terrible to have a backup plan against burn decks. Oh and I would also throw some Misty Rainforest's in there too.
So I was thinking would it be possible to splash green for the Knightfall combo since zur can find it?
you could, some lists splashed green for doran, the siege tower and birds of paradise long time, haven't seen green splash in a long time. Knightfall and Zur together, might be crowded.
Yeah it's possible. Do people still play this deck? I would like to see a decklist
I still do. This is the only deck I'll play in modern, not because I'm a Zur snob, but because I just don't play enough to drop $1k into another deck. I will say I just personally splashed green in for Birds and Abrupt Decay, but I like some of the choices Rowdain put in his build.
This is the version I came up with for the doran knighfall Idea and honestly it plays well, I could see it doing ok in some local tournament's ( need to tweak the mana in my version though)
I like the deck for sure. I would consider a single Steel of the Godhead in the main to maximize the Zur/Doran synergy and to add a life gain element. I know the Knightfall package is in there, but it's not terrible to have a backup plan against burn decks. Oh and I would also throw some Misty Rainforest's in there too.
Seeing as we only play one card that goes well with steel in this deck I think if I wanted to play an enchantment aura to boost stuff in this deck it'd be Unflinching Courage, sure it doesn't give unblockable like steel but it gives a base +2/+2 on any creature in my deck so it's more flexible, and still gives my stuff a second ability trample.
As far as misty's the only reason they aren't in the list is because I don't own any irl.
This is my updated list, it's ok it burst's down decks quite often when they think I'm on control with either assault formation or the knightfall combo, I however do need to fix the mana base so that knightfall works a lot better. it has a lot of good match up's pre and post sideboard. one of the issues with the original zur deck is that you would often get wrecked by affinity but obviously this deck has quite a bit better of a match up with the stony's and qasali's. Burn most of the time is an insta win as long as they don't outburn us too quickly. Eldrazi is a tough MU depending on the build but post sideboard it get's quite a lot better and a closer match so I'm not %100 sure where it stands. aggro is still an issue but courser and nyx helps a lot.
Awesome man! Congrats! What was the deck weak against? Did you struggle against any non-eldrazi decks? And what would you change for next time? Thanks for sharing that with us, cause I would have passed right over the deck after seeing the name it has on SCG.
In other news does anyone have any SOI cards they're looking at for our deck? The new GoST enchantment looks sweet, but not sure if it's effective enough, especially competing with D-sphere. I'm splashing green for Birds and Abrupt Decay currently, so I'm looking at all 4 colors.
The new GoST Enchantment looks good, but it's something I want to draw, not grab it with Zur. That attack step already occurred and it isn't affective until next turn. The only issue I had was against infect. I couldn't draw into circle of protections or removal the first time I played against it. The 2nd time I played against infect I had the board locked down.
What do people think about the bannings? I imagine that ghostly prison can be even better with all these silly thopters running around. How many spreading seas without eldrazi?
I think Blind Obedience and Ghostly Prison just got extra copies in my deck from the Thopter Foundry and Sword of the Meek combo that might develop from the unbanning.
Esper zur just made top 8 of the scg classic in orlando!!!!
Awesome. I'm surprised to not see any Shizo Storehouse or really more copies of Steel of the Godhead. I feel like if you are going Esper with Geist of Saint Traft, since you do not have enough removals to clear the way like Jeskai, you want to make him unblockable as much as possible.
Yeah I find it hilarious that he's running 4 JVP's and 3 Detention Sphere's. I personally I used to like filling the 2 slot with variations of Spellskite, Snapcaster Mage. Meddling Mage or Tidehollow Sculler. But I did at one time have JVP as a 4-of in my build. I wish they would have given the deck more screen time when he played it in Texas last weekend since we didn't get to see it played in Orlando.
Right now I'm doing the Doran variation with Spellskite's and Thing in the Ice's using the Doran ability to make them 4/4 blockers until TitI flips. But I'm sure that's just a janky thing that I could probably replace with something more reliable.
@D90Dennis14, I recgonzie you are experimenting around. Probably didn't stay very long with Zur. But, I'm going to give it a go. I like fatal push and the meta is turning away from "fast" decks. Mostly tron/scapeshift type stuff... we'll see!
#Fatal Push seems like a great addition to the deck since using PtE in the early game isn't very good.
I consider adding 4x copies instead of 3x PtE and 1x IoK, I still have Detention Sphere to remove creatures that Fatal Push can't.
I'll post a list of mine in a little bit... but do you ever feel that Copter's aren't doing a whole lot? I haven't used them, but feel that they require too much (ever have a Copter just sitting there?).
I only play 2x copies so this usually doesn't come up very often, I just really like them together with Lingering Souls (both to crew and discard) and Geist (when the ground is clogged), it is also decent with Spell Queller if it holds an important spell and you don't want to risk it in combat (though it is rather rare that it can be traded with rather than removed).
It is obviuosly bad against Kolaghan's Command decks and should be sided out.
I've had good results with this deck although Jace sometimes leaves for another Wrath of God. I would prefer Damnation, but it needs to be about $40 cheaper. I have also been playing it as 4x Path to Exile and 1x Spell Snare and 0x Fatal Push up until Aether Revolt. I really think I want Mana Tithe in the main now that I am not going to be giving free lands to my opponent through Path.
Fatal Push makes this deck so much better. While Thassa drives me nuts, recently I have been happy to play her because she has been working to find me the stuff I need.
I was considering Serum Visions to get a little more decision early game but I haven't tried it yet.
Hi Dennis. Been experimenting (very low key on MTGO) with the cartouche's and trial of ambition. I like what I have so far, beats up creature decks! Transformational sideboard for combo?
Can you share a list ?
Which cartouches have you tested ?
They seemed interesting at first but I've eventually dismissed them because they weren't as good as Steel of the Godhead.
Combo isn't a big problem with 6-7x mainboard discard spells and Nevermore + Runed Halo in the SB.
The next thing I want to try is adding 2x Gideon of the Trials probably over Thassa and one other enchantment.
I still do. This is the only deck I'll play in modern, not because I'm a Zur snob, but because I just don't play enough to drop $1k into another deck. I will say I just personally splashed green in for Birds and Abrupt Decay, but I like some of the choices Rowdain put in his build.
I like the deck for sure. I would consider a single Steel of the Godhead in the main to maximize the Zur/Doran synergy and to add a life gain element. I know the Knightfall package is in there, but it's not terrible to have a backup plan against burn decks. Oh and I would also throw some Misty Rainforest's in there too.
Seeing as we only play one card that goes well with steel in this deck I think if I wanted to play an enchantment aura to boost stuff in this deck it'd be Unflinching Courage, sure it doesn't give unblockable like steel but it gives a base +2/+2 on any creature in my deck so it's more flexible, and still gives my stuff a second ability trample.
As far as misty's the only reason they aren't in the list is because I don't own any irl.
3 Zur the Enchanter
4 Knight of the Reliquary
2 Retreat to Coralhelm
4 Path to Exile
2 Remand
2 Spell Snare
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Windswept Heath
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
1 Assault Formation
2 Temple Garden
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Forest
2 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Island
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Watery Grave
4 Nyx-Fleece Ram
4 Birds of Paradise
2 Courser of Kruphix
1 Unflinching Courage
1 Breeding Pool
1 Shambling Vent
2 Thoughtseize
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Unflinching Courage
2 Qasali Pridemage
2 Drown in Sorrow
3 Spreading Seas
2 Rest in Peace
2 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Canopy Cover
This is my updated list, it's ok it burst's down decks quite often when they think I'm on control with either assault formation or the knightfall combo, I however do need to fix the mana base so that knightfall works a lot better. it has a lot of good match up's pre and post sideboard. one of the issues with the original zur deck is that you would often get wrecked by affinity but obviously this deck has quite a bit better of a match up with the stony's and qasali's. Burn most of the time is an insta win as long as they don't outburn us too quickly. Eldrazi is a tough MU depending on the build but post sideboard it get's quite a lot better and a closer match so I'm not %100 sure where it stands. aggro is still an issue but courser and nyx helps a lot.
tell me what you guys think.
Sorry for the delayed post.
In other news does anyone have any SOI cards they're looking at for our deck? The new GoST enchantment looks sweet, but not sure if it's effective enough, especially competing with D-sphere. I'm splashing green for Birds and Abrupt Decay currently, so I'm looking at all 4 colors.
Ghostly Prison is an all star in this format.
Esper zur just made top 8 of the scg classic in orlando!!!!
Awesome. I'm surprised to not see any Shizo Storehouse or really more copies of Steel of the Godhead. I feel like if you are going Esper with Geist of Saint Traft, since you do not have enough removals to clear the way like Jeskai, you want to make him unblockable as much as possible.
Right now I'm doing the Doran variation with Spellskite's and Thing in the Ice's using the Doran ability to make them 4/4 blockers until TitI flips. But I'm sure that's just a janky thing that I could probably replace with something more reliable.
I consider trying it out with the additions of some new cards which seem to fit the deck rather nicely:
#Spell Queller - good with Steel of the Godhead and a good disruptive flash threat, some past versions ran Meddling Mage and I consider this a straight upgrade.
#Smuggler's Copter - helps looting and works well with Lingering Souls' tokens, I like it over Jace, Vryn's Prodigy here.
My idea is to take the "Orlando list" with the following changes:
1. -4x Jace, Vryn's Prodigy, -2x Negate --> +4x Spell Queller, +2x Smuggler's Copter.
2. Some lands tweaks mainly: -3x Creeping Tar Pit, +3x Shambling Vent - the deck isn't exactly aggro and needs the lifegain more than unblockability imho.
3. I've also gone down to 23 lands and added 1x Thassa, God of the Sea.
4. I added 1x Worship to the SB over Night of Souls' Betrayal and took out 1x Stony Silence for the 3rd Engineered Explosives.
I've also moved the 2nd Steel of the Godhead and also 1x Runed Halo, 1x Threads of Disloyalty to the mainboard and Ghostly Prison and 2x Spreading Seas to the SB (over the Leylines).
Timely Reinforcements was replaced by the more versatile Blessed Alliance.
Here it is:
4x Geist of Saint Traft
4x Spell Queller
1x Thassa, God of the Sea
4x Zur the Enchanter
Enchantment (7)
3x Detention Sphere
2x Steel of the Godhead
1x Runed Halo
1x Threads of Disloyalty
Sorcery (11)
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
4x Lingering Souls
3x Thoughtseize
Instant (4)
4x Path to Exile
2x Smuggler's Copter
Land (23)
4x Flooded Strand
4x Polluted Delta
2x Godless Shrine
2x Hallowed Fountain
2x Watery Grave
2x Island
1x Plains
1x Swamp
3x Shambling Vent
1x Eiganjo Castle
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3x Engineered Explosives
3x Blessed Alliance
2x Rest in Peace
2x Stony Silence
2x Spreading Seas
1x Nevermore
1x Ghostly Prison
1x Worship
What do you think ?
Some other enchantment options I consider for the flex slots
(now occupied by: Steel of the Godhead, Thassa, God of the Sea, Runed Halo, Threads of Disloyalty
and in the SB Spreading Seas, Ghostly Prison, Nevermore and Worship):
Phyrexian Arena, Bitterblossom, Monastery Siege, Phyrexian Unlife, Authority of the Consuls, Athreos, God of Passage, Promise of Bunrei.
I consider adding 4x copies instead of 3x PtE and 1x IoK, I still have Detention Sphere to remove creatures that Fatal Push can't.
#Since Tron is coming back I think that Spreading Seas should be back in the maindeck over Runed Halo and Threads of Disloyalty.
#I can probably trimm down Blessed Alliance to 2x and cut Worship to add 2x PtE to the SB.
4x Geist of Saint Traft
4x Spell Queller
1x Thassa, God of the Sea
4x Zur the Enchanter
Enchantment (7)
3x Detention Sphere
2x Steel of the Godhead
2x Spreading Seas
Sorcery (10)
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
3x Thoughtseize
4x Lingering Souls
Instant (5)
3x Fatal Push
2x Path to Exile
2x Smuggler's Copter
Land (23)
4x Flooded Strand
4x Polluted Delta
2x Godless Shrine
2x Hallowed Fountain
2x Watery Grave
2x Island
1x Plains
1x Swamp
3x Shambling Vent
1x Eiganjo Castle
1x Shizo, Death's Storehouse
3x Engineered Explosives
2x Blessed Alliance
2x Path to Exile
2x Rest in Peace
2x Stony Silence
1x Runed Halo
1x Nevermore
1x Ghostly Prison
1x Threads of Disloyalty
It is obviuosly bad against Kolaghan's Command decks and should be sided out.
4x Geist of Saint Traft
1x Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
1x Thassa, God of the Sea
4x Zur the Enchanter
Enchantment (9)
3x Detention Sphere
2x Ghostly Prison
1x Steel of the Godhead
3x Spreading Seas
Sorcery (10)
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
1x Thoughtseize
4x Lingering Souls
1x Wrath of God
Instant (7)
4x Fatal Push
2x Mana Leak
1x Path to Exile
3x Flooded Strand
4x Polluted Delta
2x Godless Shrine
2x Hallowed Fountain
2x Watery Grave
2x Island
1x Plains
1x Swamp
3x Shambling Vent
1x Eiganjo Castle
1x Creeping Tar Pit
1x Darkslick Shores
1x Drowned Catacomb
2x Dismember
2x Spellskite
2x Path to Exile
1x Rest in Peace
1x Stony Silence
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Ghost Quarter
1x Ghostly Prison
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Circle of Protection: Red
1x Circle of Protection: Green
1x Timely Reinforcements
No Spell Queller and Smuggler's Copter (and Thassa) here unfortunately.
Also only 1x copy of Detention Sphere is rather surprising.
I was considering Serum Visions to get a little more decision early game but I haven't tried it yet.
#Gideon of the Trials - as an additional resilient threat with added utility.
#New enchantments for Zur like: Trial of Ambition, As Foretold, Drake Haven (combo's with Jace/S.Copter), and maybe also Cartouche of Knowledge/Cartouche of Ambition though they seem weaker than Steel of the Godhead in this deck.
Which cartouches have you tested ?
They seemed interesting at first but I've eventually dismissed them because they weren't as good as Steel of the Godhead.
Combo isn't a big problem with 6-7x mainboard discard spells and Nevermore + Runed Halo in the SB.
The next thing I want to try is adding 2x Gideon of the Trials probably over Thassa and one other enchantment.