*Notes about the deck:
0. Geist rocks. Seriously, It's a disgusting card and I will be picking up my foil copies now lol Promo or pack foil hmm....
1. Electrolyze is still good main deck
2. Spell Snare is great maindeck, especially against abzan AND BURN
3. Colonnade beats is legit, and great.
4. Remand wasn't bad. I did get to hit a Tasigur, the golden fang with it. Thinking of just making it a maindeck negate, we will see.
5. Sideboard is meh. I'm not excited about it. I wanna switch things up.
6. Don't underestimate the power of flashing on the end of t2 for Snapcaster mage beats or Queller beats on the end of t3. Snap beats helped me win a LOT tonight.
Blue Moon
G1
He is on the play, just a couple basics and a few serum visions. I kinda figure he is Blue moon, but he is stuttering and not doing anything except he tried to cast a Search for Azcanta and I remand it. I play geist on my t3, and honestly just ride him to victory. If he would have found an anger he prolly would have got me, but i knew he didnt have an answer just by his playstyle and body language. Luck was on my side for that one
- A cryptic, 3 lightning helix, 3 path to exiles, 1 bolt
+ PnK, V clique, 2 Molten Rain, 1 negate, 1 dispel, 1 d stroke, 1 wear
G2
Didnt know he was on through the breach. I run out Snap on t2 to get early beats. He taps out for a Desolate lighthouse and i land a V clique the next turn which gets bolted durin his tunr... HOLY CRAP ITS EMRAKUL The aeons torn, get RID OF THAT!
I run a spell queller out to hit THREE remands by him while still beating, he finally draws a bolt for the snap, and the queller after the 3 remands. He blood moon's, i fight with logic knot and negate which I lose, which is fine cuz it opens up my mana to give me double red for a fatal molten rain... yes..a blood moon actually helped me win the game
Will write more notes tomorrow gang, im pretty sleepy lol
g2
He keeps a greedy hand i find out, 1 bauble, 1 land, 1 thoughtseize, 2 lingering souls, 2 grim flayer. I mull to 6 and keep geist, snap, and a serum visions and 3 lands, all celestial colonnade lolol this game was not nearly as reactive. he takes geist on his thoughtseize, and doesnt do much else. im very off tempo with these colonnades but he's not doing anything anyways lol i get to molten rain his only land, i throw out a spell queller next turn, counter a thoughtseize with a cryptic command cuz i could, and then he finally gets a tasigur to go off and dicards down to hand size to get a lingering souls in the graveyard. I path the tasigur, but the souls are blocking my celestial colonnade from getting through. So i hold back for another spell queller and a v clique. v clique reveals a whooe bunch of crap im not worried about, and soon after he dies from the air assault.
Updated 12-22.. geeze christmas time is busy when you put it alongside a wedding in 2 weeks lol
BURN
I did not take notes down guys. This match up is difficult for me in terms of time reference. I take longer than usual on my turns, just due to the fact that there are some games you dont even want to crack your fetch land lol
I remember game 1 it was super grindy, and i kept a geist in my hand which i probably shouldnt have, in order to be more reactive. But now i know to play that geist. it was super close, i was at 4 and he was at 6, and either one of us were dead on the next turn, he got me first because i was cryptic command flooded and would have killed for spell pierce in this first game lol
2nd game i mull to 6, land geist on 3 and race him. I hit 2 helix, and a snapcaster without having skullcrack so i was out of range in this game for him. Negate and spell queller both saw play here and were good.
3rd game
he mulls to 5. he draws 3 lava spike though lol I throw a snapcaster end of t2, and get my beats started early. do the same thing with my spell queller.
he is stuck on one land for too long and has all cmc 2 in his hand. Variance win is still a win lol
Affinity
g1- annilated everything, i got down to 14. won with colonnade beats
g2- i flooded out pretty bad and he just did affinity things with cranial plating.
g3- he drew too many lands and i hit electrolyze and wear / tear with snapcaster. geist on t3 here raced him pretty well
After my last tournament didn't go so well I thought a lot about how to make the deck even better.
The main problem I have is that I need 21 lands for my deck to function well but at the same time I don't want to draw too many lands. The deck works perfect when I have 4 lands in play. I want to reach that point at least at turn 5 or 6.
The math on this site shows perfectly that 21 is the right number for my deck.
I run 6 cards that replace themselves but counting the Snappys as CMC3 cards my deck's avg. CMC is slightly above 1.8.
CurdBros was just talking about a similar problem:
I have noticed in a lot of my losses it's due to simply drawing one half of the deck and not any portion of the other. By that I will draw a ton of spells and no threats or I will draw a bunch of threats and no spells.
I guess that has happened to all of us. Drawing 3 Snappys but not a single burn spell, or drawing only spells and not a single copy of my Geist playset... It's really hard to win these games, almost as hard as winning when you're mana flooded or mana scr*wed -_-
I think that there are two possible solutions to this problem: either add more filtering (which also helps fixing the "draw-the-wrong-half-of-my-deck-problem) or add more mana sinks/bombs for the late game.
Currently I have 4 SVs and 1 copy of Azcanta to filter my draws and Hazoret is the perfect Bomb because she is a mana sink as well.
I could add a second copy of either Azcanta or Hazoret but these are cards that I don't want to see twice in my hand so I don't think that would be the right way.
There are two bombs I could see as another 1-of next to Hazoret: Elspeth, Knight-Errant and Thundermaw Hellkite. Both are absolutely awesome cards, but what would you take out for either one of them? Taking out a Geist for Elspeth doesn't seem right since they have the best synergy. I don't want to cut a Snapcaster either since it's the best card in Modern. Maybe be crazy and run 3 Delvers?
The other option would be more card filtering to filter away the lands I don't need. There are quite a few cards to choose from: Halimar Depths (tapped lands don't really fit our tempo plan) Thassa, God of the Sea (seems good with Geist, maybe too expensive, will never become a creature in this deck) Jace, Vryn's Prodigy (I am interested in testing this as a 2nd Azcanta, not good early, new foil looks fantastic:))
2nd Search for Azcanta (doesn't flip Delver, helps flipping Delver, 2 might be okay since you don't have to transform) Izzet Charm (was just discussed here, very versatile, could see this instead of Emerge/Electrolyze)
Which option do you think is best?
GofyTomcat- I still prefer Stormchaser Mage in the maindeck over Seeker of the Way. My goal in game one is to be a pretty sleek and focused version of the deck. Post board we can add more specific disruption and "hate" like life gain. I think stormchaser fits the game one gameplan a bit moreso than seeker. Seeker can be a fine sideboard card however.
RutherJC- Congrats on the 4-0! Thanks for the write up The jeskai midrange deck is awesome and keeps showing it is a legit deck in the current meta. I know Shaun Mclaran calls the deck "jeskai control with tempo aspects", but I think it's easiest to call it jeskai midrange. However, I have not played the deck so I'm not sure if that is an accurate assessment.
I highly recommend getting the WMCQ Foil Geist of Saint Trafts. It's my favorite version and I think it has the best artwork. However, this is in the eye of the beholder. I added a Spell Snare to my list and have been very happy with it. It has been great. I think it's one of those cards that works great as a 1 or 2 of in a deck. To be honest, since that list is a bit more midrange than it is tempo, Remand doesn't really fit into the deck. I think you are correct that Negate maybe a better option in your deck. Remand does have versatile uses, but it doesn't fit the maindeck gameplan. I also have to agree that a turn two Ambush ViperSnapcaster Mage is a great option, even moreso in the tempo style decks that don't need the additional card advantage to win the game.
I'm glad you found a deck that you are really comfortable with and that you are winning with. I don't see that deck going anywhere for a long time unless something changes.
Stevomat- Have you ever considered running 61 cards? I know this is often considered to be wrong, however, I have always done so when I think my deck needs an additional land. It doesn't really change the math all that much but it does help with hitting land drops. Land issues can be a problem with a low land count deck. I am currently trying a copy of Faithless Looting in my deck and may replace it with Izzet Charm. The looting can be very valuable and would work well with a late hazoret if you just need to get cheap spells you can chuck at the opponent.
I have tried Thassa, God of Sea in the past with decent results. However, I think a second copy of Search for Azcanta is likely better in this case. I would recommend trying izzet charm or faithless looting first and/or simply removing a land and replacing it with some type of deck manipulation. 24 spells is the minimum I am comfortable with in a delver deck and like to keep it around 26 if possible.
Does your math account for the deck manipulation in the land base calculations? I am not a statistics or ratio expert and so I don't have a firm grasp on the actual math of a mana base, but I wanted to make sure the math accounts for this because it increases the likelihood of hitting a land drop.
@Rutherjc19: Congratulation! 4-0 feels always great! Looks like you were living the dream, drawing three Geists against Abzan
I had similar fun yesterday online when I played against UW control. I managed to resolve Geist & Elspeth and hit him in the air for 9 for two turns. That's a reason to play a fair Jeskai deck. Muahaha.
Dangerous Wager is an interesting card in a prowess deck. I wonder if they made a card that was 2R and said "discard your hand, then draw three cards" if that would see play. I have thought of Ideas Unbound before, but it's been a bit. I will definitely test it as well. I'm always tinkering Smile
The idea behind faithless looting is to sculpt my hand (get rid of additional lands, search for a removal spell, etc). It is also there to maintain a low curve and because it has the flashback ability which is great with prowess creatures. In addition, it helps with bedlam reveler and Snapcaster Mage (although this is minimum because I will rarely be pitching multiple spells). It's definitely not card advantage (it's disadvantage if you count the faithless looting card as a loss) and that hurts my heart, but I do want to give it a try and see what happens.
I have noticed in a lot of my losses it's due to simply drawing one half of the deck and not any portion of the other. By that I will draw a ton of spells and no threats or I will draw a bunch of threats and no spells. I felt like adding a bit more manipulation and keeping the curve low. It may just be best to add another Serum Visions or Opt, but I wanted to see what faithless looting did. I will also be trying Izzet Charm as well.
faithless sounds good if your holding cards you need gone, or if your ramping into reveler. Other wise it might be a dead card.
@Rutherjc19; Hey guys Smile Went to Tnm tonight. GOT THE 4-0 BABY! Grin My first time going better than a 2-1-1 with Jeskai!!!
I'VE REACHED MY FIRST GOAL! Grin
Congrats.
GofyTomcat- I still prefer Stormchaser Mage in the maindeck over Seeker of the Way. My goal in game one is to be a pretty sleek and focused version of the deck. Post board we can add more specific disruption and "hate" like life gain. I think stormchaser fits the game one gameplan a bit moreso than seeker. Seeker can be a fine sideboard card however.
I agree. Stormchaser will be a bit harder to kill, and has haste and flying. Both are where your deck is heading. Your trying for a quick kill.
I ran this in standard and either I won or stalled out. Modern has better options to keep you from stalling and can finish your opponent off.
@CurdBros, and Stevomat; for draw and filtering have either of you tried jeskai ascendancy ? I am running 61 card deck with manamorphose(not proud but seems to work) and 19 lands.
Adding an Izzet Charm as card no. 61 is an idea. I will try that out.
Jeskai Ascendancy is an interesting suggestion. I don't think it fits that well in my deck but I'd definitely try it out in GofyTomcat1's deck with 4 Stormchasers. Attacking with them and also being able to use them as 3/5 blockers seems very strong.
Collective Defiance also looks interesting. I like cards that scale and become more powerful the longer the game goes. Unfortunately I couldn't find any good cards with Kicker or Entwine for our decks. Any other ideas for cards that become more useful with more lands in play?
Last question: Does anyone think Jace, Vryn's Prodigy is worth a try in a deck like mine?
Adding an Izzet Charm as card no. 61 is an idea. I will try that out.
Jeskai Ascendancy is an interesting suggestion. I don't think it fits that well in my deck but I'd definitely try it out in GofyTomcat1's deck with 4 Stormchasers. Attacking with them and also being able to use them as 3/5 blockers seems very strong.
Collective Defiance also looks interesting. I like cards that scale and become more powerful the longer the game goes. Unfortunately I couldn't find any good cards with Kicker or Entwine for our decks. Any other ideas for cards that become more useful with more lands in play?
Last question: Does anyone think Jace, Vryn's Prodigy is worth a try in a deck like mine?
Ascendancy is good with prowess style decks. Not so much your deck list. I did forget about the vigilance side of it. Card filtering can be great if your drawing with cantrips Stacking the triggers.
Vyrn's hits 19(20) spells when flipped. I think he is like Search for Azcanta in the deck or a weak snappy.
What would you cut for him? G2 you would have to sideboard due to GY hate. The main problem with Jace is tempo, he does not have haste, so he is dead when he ETB (unless your holding counters). At T2 he feels bad, which mean you have to ask when do I play him for optimal.
Last I checked he was $20 so somebody using him some where. If I recall right Jace saw play in Standard as a mid-range enabler, which seemed a good fit for him.
I do not feel your deck is Mid-Rangy.
so no from me. But if you try him and he is awesome please spike the price up I own 2. ;D
Adding an Izzet Charm as card no. 61 is an idea. I will try that out.
Jeskai Ascendancy is an interesting suggestion. I don't think it fits that well in my deck but I'd definitely try it out in GofyTomcat1's deck with 4 Stormchasers. Attacking with them and also being able to use them as 3/5 blockers seems very strong.
Collective Defiance also looks interesting. I like cards that scale and become more powerful the longer the game goes. Unfortunately I couldn't find any good cards with Kicker or Entwine for our decks. Any other ideas for cards that become more useful with more lands in play?
Last question: Does anyone think Jace, Vryn's Prodigy is worth a try in a deck like mine?
I've been trying to fit one or two Ascendancies for ages and haven't had any progress. I put one The Locust God in my sideboard for the grindier match-ups. Haven't drawn him yet, so I haven't any insight on that front. JVP is intresting, I'd try him in decks with pyromancers first though.
I have played Jace, Vryn's Prodigy in the past and was pleasantly suprised. The looting is very useful and having an early walker can be very good. Depending on your game one game plan, he could be a mainboard option. He definitely would be decent in the more grindy matchups out of the board.
Jeskai Ascendancy is a SUPER powerful card. The question that arises is - Is it worth a three drop that doesn't affect the game right away. It's really tough to play a three drop that doesn't affect the board. If ascendancy lands you are likely going to win that game. I have never tried to fit it into the deck so I have no way of knowing if it is good or bad in my build,but I do have a hard time adding another three drop that isn't named Geist of Saint Traft or Spell Queller. Keep us posted on how it goes because I beleive it is uncharted territory. I never say something won't work until I have tested enough to know for sure it won't. So I say give it a try and see what happens. You may break the deck.
I also haven't tried The Locust God but that card seems awesome. I have played Keranos, God of Storms in the past, but he costs to much for my build in the current meta. If/When things shift back to a bit more midrange or if your local area is full of midrange decks those cards become great options.
I have tested faithless looting for about 20 games now and I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised. Faithless Looting has ditched two lands several times and I have flashed it back multiple time already. Obviously 20 games is not a big enough sample size to make any conclusions, but so far it has performed well.
Sideboard options:
Kira or Monastery Siege as an answer to removal
Geist as a resilient threat
Some number of Dispel, Shaft, Negate, Pierce as interaction
Stony/ Wear/ Hurkyl's for Affinity, Chalice decks etc
Relic/ RiP for grave hate
Deflecting Palm / Blessed Alliance
Celestial Purge to deal with Liliana, other people's Chandras (She's mine),Siege Rhino, Shadow, and Tasigur
Other ‘loadouts’ for the flex slots: (I decide what these will be from event to event prior to registering my list, depending on my guess for the meta)
The Midrange Killer (Designed to both protect my creatures from removal and handle larger threats more easily)
2x Valorous Stance
1x Echoing Truth
Anti-Aggro: Good against Tokens, Affinity, Goblins etc)
2x Pyroclasm
1x Forked Bolt
I finally finished my updated on my tnm night. wedding + christmas is a busy time lol
hope everyone is doing well! im going to be making some major changes to my sideboard to switch things up soon.
Sideboard options:
Kira or Monastery Siege as an answer to removal
Geist as a resilient threat
Some number of Dispel, Shaft, Negate, Pierce as interaction
Stony/ Wear/ Hurkyl's for Affinity, Chalice decks etc
Relic/ RiP for grave hate
Deflecting Palm / Blessed Alliance
Celestial Purge to deal with Liliana, other people's Chandras (She's mine),Siege Rhino, Shadow, and Tasigur
Other ‘loadouts’ for the flex slots: (I decide what these will be from event to event prior to registering my list, depending on my guess for the meta)
The Midrange Killer (Designed to both protect my creatures from removal and handle larger threats more easily)
2x Valorous Stance
1x Echoing Truth
Anti-Aggro: Good against Tokens, Affinity, Goblins etc)
2x Pyroclasm
1x Forked Bolt
“BoRemandos”
3x Remand
love the electrolyze, you wont be disappointed. love the kira in the sideboard, great tech.
possible addition to the sideboard: 4 drop gideon, if you need help with the grindy match ups or even classic tron. was great for me when my curve and deck build were more delver/prowess oriented.
I finally finished my updated on my tnm night. wedding + christmas is a busy time lol
hope everyone is doing well! im going to be making some major changes to my sideboard to switch things up soon.
Happy Holidays and Congrats!
@StevomatUWR: I still prefer Search for Azcanta because it is much harder to interact with and we do not need to run more than 2 (hence freeing up deckspace for more cards). We generally do not have much issues with regards to removal so JVP's +1 ability doesn't do much for us. We also tend to run 3-4 Snapcaster Mage so its -3 ability is a bit naught. In an abstract, Saheeli Rai can somewhat fill the role of JVP and with a budget to spare. +1 to Scry (smooth draws) and a threatening -2 (Bolt Snap Bolt Main Phase -2 Snap Helix/Bolt/Spell) for tremendous value.
Adding on, JVP needs to be an early card (and then it eats removal). Its bad if you are already behind and is short on generating value past turn 4. It is the same rational I applied to Ancestral Vision when my friend asked about such cards.
@GofyTomcat1: Do you happen to have 3 CMC Gideon? I think he has some play in your deck. He can replace the Burst Lightning. Your deck would need the Electrolyzes.
I have always thought flip Jace is underrated in modern. Yes there is a lot of removal. But in certain metas or our jeskai decks built with tempo/prowess in mind i think it could find a home in the 75. They are already using removal for your other threats, so it is possible to run out. When he flips he can drastically swing the game in your favor.
I think a more midrange build like mine wouldn't benefit from it cuz I can go a lot bigger than the slimmer decks, but the tempo prowess builds have a quicker closing rate especially on a beefed up seiftspear or early flipped delver.
I do like search from Azcanta as well. I have a bab promo i just got and am trying to get a 2nd one as well. This card I've been in love with since it was first spoiled.
M1 w/g hatebears 1-2
G1; win, early clock.
G2; loss, could not develop a creature, I kept a hand heavy with 3 lands and Aven Mindcensor some counters/draw. I figured he would CoCo early with the mana dorks so I held back waiting to respond. CoCo never came and he developed board.
G3; loss, went slow in developing, but he out valued me with Kitchen Finks and scavenging ooze
M2 Jeskai Control 1-1-1
G1; win, We both drew too much mana all game. early attacks and burn until top deck win.
G2; loss, Mulligan 1, We both chipped away at each other, but his cryptic commands (3) held the game till he could answer.
G3; draw, both ended at 10 life no clear winner time in round
Out: ??? In: Sahelia Rae, Narset, Dispel, negate,
M3 Jeskai Geist 2-0
G1; win, Text book opening and game.T1 fetch hallowed fountain play Delver, T2 flip delver cast boomerang bounce their Hallowed fountain, T3 remove there dude hold counter T4 play YP hold counter/burn
G2; win, Played heavy creatures and just traded and burned them out at end. T5 we both played geist I give mine haste +2/0 he trades at a loss of 4 life. I still keep board presence with Mantis rider. Narset was great adding value all around, draw + rebounding 2 burns.
Out:VaporSnag, Sublime Angel In: Dispel,Narset
M4 Burn 0-2
G1, loss, Mulled 2, got stuck on 2 lands he had good hand.
G2, loss, I totally flubbed this game all up from the word start. Hand shockland fetchland utilityland, thing in Ice, serum visions, opt, delver. T1 shock land into delver Turn 2 no flip YP drawn play fetchland(?) misplay, serum visions(?) (top Manamorphase, serum visions) can not fetch without messing up serum. T3 a play thing in Ice can not cast Manamorphase no red. T4 I fetch tapped can not afford the damage, T5 I play YP(?) I should have just gone all in on thing in the Ice
I had the cantrips to manamorphase- Bolt- boros charm flip thing and then go for 7 = 14 damage game I saw the line but did not follow instead did dumb lines of play. I guess the T2 play messed up my head.
Out: Sublime Archangel, Remand In: Thing In the Ice, Dispel
Other thoughts,
I asked myself during games if I would want a Faithless Looting now. Surprisingly the answer was yes a few times. In M1 and M2 to rid myself of extra lands and try to get relevant counter/removal.
The planeswalkers were great, would like to add more and maybe go more midrange. If I can not get creatures or burn package the deck ??? needs more draw/scry?
I asked the Jeskai Control player regarding search for Azcanta he played one and said he loved it wanted to play more. He was surprised at how well it had performed for him. Did not seem to help much in our match-ups G1 he still lost, G2 came out late, G3 he won without it.
LGS meta has changed a bit since I last played 2-3 weeks ago. 10 peps for Modern, last few weeks were short (they missed me :)). I did not expect to see so much Jeskai, I thought the burn decks were gone.
After about 30 games with faithless looting I will say it has been just short of awesome. I have flashed it back way more than I thought I would. It’s really helped smooth things out. I do think it’s best in the swoftspear decks and those with a lot of 1 and 2 ofs. I will say I prefer it over izzet charm due to its cost and because we can flash it back in the mid/late game.
On example is when I was playing against grixis death shadow and we were both had one card left in hand and I had snapcaster mage on board and he had death shadow. I was able to loot away a land and spell pierce to get a path to exile and win the game. I think it’s really beneficial in my personal build beacause in of the possible problems I can run into is drawing to many threats or not enough. Looting helps me smooth that out. I would recommend trying it WickedApp.
Burn can be a tough matchup since we don’t have a ton of life gain. Typically helix and deflecting palm along with remova and counter magic will be enough. I wouldn’t worry too much about burn bc I think your deck is well equipped to beat them. Sometimes they just draw well and things don’t go our way.
I too love having access to planes walkers in the Grundy matchups. Unfortunately, with search for a can’t I don’t have many sideboard slots left for a weaker. I have had great success with saheeli rai and chandra, pyromaster in the past. I think both are maindeckable in the correct meta.
Reporting on 2 events: A 3-1 on Thursday and a 4-0 today (which won me a Scalding Tarn + some store credit )
On Thursday's event:
1st Match against an Abzan Company/Solemnity deck, which comboes with Sac outlet + melira/solemnity + finks or geralf's messenger.
For some reason I haven't managed to win this deck the few times I've played against him, which is counter intuitive since most company decks are favored. I lost the 1st game because I drew poorly, no threat and too many lands and when I started drawing relevant things I was at 5 life. I also punted in the 2nd game and that didn't help things...
2nd Match against a budget mill deck. There's nothing really to say here, his decks was probably worth 10-15 euros max, so the power level difference of the deck was staggering.
3rd Match against
4th Match against Eldrazi Tron. I win the first game with a quick delver and Geist. I remanded his Smasher, and then was holding 6 points of burn in my hand when he was at 14 and I could push 7 damage in the air plus the Geist and a Snapcaster. He punted by not playing his balista for 1 to kill my clique and a Matter Reshaper to have blockers which allowed him to survive at 1 (If he did that I'd have played differently, but still, the game would've progressed a few more turns). I lost the 2nd game to a T1 Basilisk Collar that got equipped to a Matter Reshaper that gained him 9 life. He finished the game at 8, with a SLIGHTLY better hand I'd probably could race it, since I had a deflecting palm, but couldn't save me. I win the 3rd game with some of the bizzarest sequence of events that have happened in our match up. He plays a chalice on 1 which I didn't mind then since I had a Delver and a Pyromancer on the battlefield. T3 I play a geist, he All is dusts me on the back of natural tron -_- and we go back and forth for a couple of turns with me drawing one drops and him drawing lands. I eventually draw a blood moon and a geist, and he reveals a hand of 2 smashers, a collar and an expedition map. Suffice to say, it was one of my most satisfying wins in a long time
1st match against Infect. I win the first game on the back of pyromancer that provided me with blockers (and time) against his Glistener Elfs. Luckily he didn't drew any Rancors or Blighted Agents. I lose the 2nd game because I drew poorly and he played a Spellskite that kinda wrecked me. He didn't stand a chance in the 3rd game. T1 delver, flip, snag his skite on his turn, double bolt him and attack him down to 6, he plays an Agent on his 3rd turn and on my 4th turn I got in my hand double Deflecting Palm plus Spell Pierce.
2nd Match against Storm. I lose the first because 12 goblins on T4 and I didn't have anything relevant. I win the first because I Surgical'd-Snap-Surgical'd all his rituals when he went for a Past in Flames, I angered away his remaining goblins and cost reducers and then he was topdecking and I had a geist. 3rd game I was a tad lucky in that he Grapeshot'd my delver and I topdecked the Surgical Extraction to compliment my RiP. So I stripped away his grapeshots and when he made 6-8 goblins my pyromancer and removals took care of them. After that he got extremely flooded, but he couldn't win easily after my T2, since he could only win with a massive Empty but didn't really have a critical mass of spells.
3rd Match against Jeskai Queller (midrange in my opinion but whatever ). He taps down for 2 cantrips on his T3 and on my T3 I slam a geist. He didn't win. I win the 2nd game when he got stuck on 4 lands but had 3 snapcasters and a queller which I saw from a clique on my T4. After trading geists on T3 we just went a bit back and forth on lands, and I finally DREW IT! I bait his path with my hazoret, and then slam The Locust God. We only managed to play a few turns, since he was stuck on lands and I was close to getting burned out (boo only shocklands), but a geist following the god was good enough to swing for 15 and a topdecked Boros Charm were enough to win since he was at 17. I believe the constant stream of flying hasty 1/1 plus the loot ability is really good in grindy match ups. I'll play more games and will get back to you.
4th Match against Dredge, a good friend of mine. At this point I was the only one that had 9 points and I had to play in order for someone to get first and I was like "FFS WHY AGAINST DREDGE?!". Anyway. He's on the play and doesn't do anything, I play a serum visions, he loams. I play a Pyromancer, he lightning axe'd him and loams again. I play a Geist and the fun part begins. He's trying to present (enough) blockers each turn and he gets path'd and bolted. He's at 13 at some point trying to figure out what to do and I show him a hand with Path, Bolt, Charm 2 Helices. He remarks that he didn't expect how fast my deck can win on the back of geist and burn spells. 2nd game he thoughtseizes me and takes my Staticaster, leaving me with a geist, some removal and cantrips. He plays Cathartic Reunion into a narcomoeba and a prized amalgam. I play my land and path his amalgam on his combat phase. He hit another 'moeba and a bloodghast from his dredging. I play my geist. He thoughtseizes again and drops to 11 he takes my snapcaster and leaves me with a bolt and a visions, he flashbacks a looting netting him another 'moeba. I draw a helix and serum visions into another and leaving a path on top. I attack and chumps with both 'moebas. At that point I was at 19 life (yay fastlands) and he was at 11 with no flying blockers and I had 6 points of burn and a geist. He said to me last week that he thought that geist was bad in this meta where there are many critters and big creatures to block him and we had an argument on his effectiveness in certain decks.
After his loss today I was teasing him that he lost to a bad creature
Overall, I'm supremely satisfied with my list, the little tweaks here and there are happening, especially in my Sideboard. I was pondering a 2nd Wear // Tear, but so far so good.
Chandra and either 3CMC Gideon or Saheeli could be valuable. Chandra of course is my favorite 'Walker, but having a slightly cheaper support PW in addition to her seems viable.
Arguments for 3 CMC Gideon:
1. Neutralizes a permanent for the turn, which can ease the pain from an aggressive deck's attackers or protect our creatures from damage that a blocker would deal.
2. Has synergy with 4 CMC Gideon out of the board, as suggested by @Need_Nore_DPS.
3. A 3 mana 4/4 presents a decent clock if I am on the offensive.
Arguments against Gideon:
1. Double W mana cost could potentially be awkward, (Though the same could be said for Chandra's 2RR cost and I can cast her just fine :P)
2. I'd be tempted to run more than one of him to make use of his emblem, which would up my curve.
3. I've never used him before, so he'd take some getting used to in order to run him correctly. (That's true for any new card in a test slot though)
Arguments for Saheeli:
1. +1 is direct damage and scry, which is what my more burn heavy shell wants.
2. Copying Snapcaster with her -2 is pretty viable, and even copying a Mantis Rider seems decent if I'm attacking with an all-in alpha strike.
3. 1UR is a perfectly obtainable CMC (Same as Electrolyze)
Arguments against Saheeli:
1. I have no artifacts in my list, so she doesn't have 100 percent synergy with the deck
2. Her -2 could totally get blown out to artifact hate game 2-3
3.
*Notes about the deck:
0. Geist rocks. Seriously, It's a disgusting card and I will be picking up my foil copies now lol Promo or pack foil hmm....
1. Electrolyze is still good main deck
2. Spell Snare is great maindeck, especially against abzan AND BURN
3. Colonnade beats is legit, and great.
4. Remand wasn't bad. I did get to hit a Tasigur, the golden fang with it. Thinking of just making it a maindeck negate, we will see.
5. Sideboard is meh. I'm not excited about it. I wanna switch things up.
6. Don't underestimate the power of flashing on the end of t2 for Snapcaster mage beats or Queller beats on the end of t3. Snap beats helped me win a LOT tonight.
Blue Moon
G1
He is on the play, just a couple basics and a few serum visions. I kinda figure he is Blue moon, but he is stuttering and not doing anything except he tried to cast a Search for Azcanta and I remand it. I play geist on my t3, and honestly just ride him to victory. If he would have found an anger he prolly would have got me, but i knew he didnt have an answer just by his playstyle and body language. Luck was on my side for that one
- A cryptic, 3 lightning helix, 3 path to exiles, 1 bolt
+ PnK, V clique, 2 Molten Rain, 1 negate, 1 dispel, 1 d stroke, 1 wear
G2
Didnt know he was on through the breach. I run out Snap on t2 to get early beats. He taps out for a Desolate lighthouse and i land a V clique the next turn which gets bolted durin his tunr... HOLY CRAP ITS EMRAKUL The aeons torn, get RID OF THAT!
I run a spell queller out to hit THREE remands by him while still beating, he finally draws a bolt for the snap, and the queller after the 3 remands. He blood moon's, i fight with logic knot and negate which I lose, which is fine cuz it opens up my mana to give me double red for a fatal molten rain... yes..a blood moon actually helped me win the game
Will write more notes tomorrow gang, im pretty sleepy lol
g2
He keeps a greedy hand i find out, 1 bauble, 1 land, 1 thoughtseize, 2 lingering souls, 2 grim flayer. I mull to 6 and keep geist, snap, and a serum visions and 3 lands, all celestial colonnade lolol this game was not nearly as reactive. he takes geist on his thoughtseize, and doesnt do much else. im very off tempo with these colonnades but he's not doing anything anyways lol i get to molten rain his only land, i throw out a spell queller next turn, counter a thoughtseize with a cryptic command cuz i could, and then he finally gets a tasigur to go off and dicards down to hand size to get a lingering souls in the graveyard. I path the tasigur, but the souls are blocking my celestial colonnade from getting through. So i hold back for another spell queller and a v clique. v clique reveals a whooe bunch of crap im not worried about, and soon after he dies from the air assault.
Updated 12-22.. geeze christmas time is busy when you put it alongside a wedding in 2 weeks lol
BURN
I did not take notes down guys. This match up is difficult for me in terms of time reference. I take longer than usual on my turns, just due to the fact that there are some games you dont even want to crack your fetch land lol
I remember game 1 it was super grindy, and i kept a geist in my hand which i probably shouldnt have, in order to be more reactive. But now i know to play that geist. it was super close, i was at 4 and he was at 6, and either one of us were dead on the next turn, he got me first because i was cryptic command flooded and would have killed for spell pierce in this first game lol
2nd game i mull to 6, land geist on 3 and race him. I hit 2 helix, and a snapcaster without having skullcrack so i was out of range in this game for him. Negate and spell queller both saw play here and were good.
3rd game
he mulls to 5. he draws 3 lava spike though lol I throw a snapcaster end of t2, and get my beats started early. do the same thing with my spell queller.
he is stuck on one land for too long and has all cmc 2 in his hand. Variance win is still a win lol
Affinity
g1- annilated everything, i got down to 14. won with colonnade beats
g2- i flooded out pretty bad and he just did affinity things with cranial plating.
g3- he drew too many lands and i hit electrolyze and wear / tear with snapcaster. geist on t3 here raced him pretty well
Umm. DD Foil art is nice as well, but go for WMCQ Promo Foil for the PIMP! HAHA
Question! What does PnK good against? Looking at the stat, it's just like 4 mana creature which can shock (up to) twice? Is it worth it? If you played resto I can understand, but as a singleton? hmm
You played JESUS?!?! I heard none of his guys stay in the graveyard, and once you think you have him beat he ALWAYS comes back to win within three turns. I like...WORSHIP him.
*Notes about the deck:
0. Geist rocks. Seriously, It's a disgusting card and I will be picking up my foil copies now lol Promo or pack foil hmm....
1. Electrolyze is still good main deck
2. Spell Snare is great maindeck, especially against abzan AND BURN
3. Colonnade beats is legit, and great.
4. Remand wasn't bad. I did get to hit a Tasigur, the golden fang with it. Thinking of just making it a maindeck negate, we will see.
5. Sideboard is meh. I'm not excited about it. I wanna switch things up.
6. Don't underestimate the power of flashing on the end of t2 for Snapcaster mage beats or Queller beats on the end of t3. Snap beats helped me win a LOT tonight.
Blue Moon
G1
He is on the play, just a couple basics and a few serum visions. I kinda figure he is Blue moon, but he is stuttering and not doing anything except he tried to cast a Search for Azcanta and I remand it. I play geist on my t3, and honestly just ride him to victory. If he would have found an anger he prolly would have got me, but i knew he didnt have an answer just by his playstyle and body language. Luck was on my side for that one
- A cryptic, 3 lightning helix, 3 path to exiles, 1 bolt
+ PnK, V clique, 2 Molten Rain, 1 negate, 1 dispel, 1 d stroke, 1 wear
G2
Didnt know he was on through the breach. I run out Snap on t2 to get early beats. He taps out for a Desolate lighthouse and i land a V clique the next turn which gets bolted durin his tunr... HOLY CRAP ITS EMRAKUL The aeons torn, get RID OF THAT!
I run a spell queller out to hit THREE remands by him while still beating, he finally draws a bolt for the snap, and the queller after the 3 remands. He blood moon's, i fight with logic knot and negate which I lose, which is fine cuz it opens up my mana to give me double red for a fatal molten rain... yes..a blood moon actually helped me win the game
Will write more notes tomorrow gang, im pretty sleepy lol
g2
He keeps a greedy hand i find out, 1 bauble, 1 land, 1 thoughtseize, 2 lingering souls, 2 grim flayer. I mull to 6 and keep geist, snap, and a serum visions and 3 lands, all celestial colonnade lolol this game was not nearly as reactive. he takes geist on his thoughtseize, and doesnt do much else. im very off tempo with these colonnades but he's not doing anything anyways lol i get to molten rain his only land, i throw out a spell queller next turn, counter a thoughtseize with a cryptic command cuz i could, and then he finally gets a tasigur to go off and dicards down to hand size to get a lingering souls in the graveyard. I path the tasigur, but the souls are blocking my celestial colonnade from getting through. So i hold back for another spell queller and a v clique. v clique reveals a whooe bunch of crap im not worried about, and soon after he dies from the air assault.
Updated 12-22.. geeze christmas time is busy when you put it alongside a wedding in 2 weeks lol
BURN
I did not take notes down guys. This match up is difficult for me in terms of time reference. I take longer than usual on my turns, just due to the fact that there are some games you dont even want to crack your fetch land lol
I remember game 1 it was super grindy, and i kept a geist in my hand which i probably shouldnt have, in order to be more reactive. But now i know to play that geist. it was super close, i was at 4 and he was at 6, and either one of us were dead on the next turn, he got me first because i was cryptic command flooded and would have killed for spell pierce in this first game lol
2nd game i mull to 6, land geist on 3 and race him. I hit 2 helix, and a snapcaster without having skullcrack so i was out of range in this game for him. Negate and spell queller both saw play here and were good.
3rd game
he mulls to 5. he draws 3 lava spike though lol I throw a snapcaster end of t2, and get my beats started early. do the same thing with my spell queller.
he is stuck on one land for too long and has all cmc 2 in his hand. Variance win is still a win lol
Affinity
g1- annilated everything, i got down to 14. won with colonnade beats
g2- i flooded out pretty bad and he just did affinity things with cranial plating.
g3- he drew too many lands and i hit electrolyze and wear / tear with snapcaster. geist on t3 here raced him pretty well
Umm. DD Foil art is nice as well, but go for WMCQ Promo Foil for the PIMP! HAHA
Question! What does PnK good against? Looking at the stat, it's just like 4 mana creature which can shock (up to) twice? Is it worth it? If you played resto I can understand, but as a singleton? hmm
I was very skeptical of Pia and Kiran Nalaar, it looks underwhelming on face value. TRUST me. This card is GOOD. I brought it in against a LOT of different decks. Just from my recent weeks, Blue moon both times, Abzan, Affinity both times (as the colorless thopters can block an etched champion and take out an attacker with a cranial plating equipped to it for example which i have done), Tron, Bogels, Infect, Jund, Jeskai, some weird Emeria combo deck using Squadron Hawk, i know there is more but i cant remember anymore lol 2 flying attackers/blockers, 3 creatures for the opp to deal with, and the ability to ping any troublesome low toughness creature, it seriously is a FANTASTIC card.
It's going back up to 2 actually in my sideboard, I've even been considering it as a 1 of maindeck actually. I mean hell if i bring in a card in almost every match up...i feel like thats a sign lol
I dont like restoration angel right now, even if they fatal push the pia and k, i still have 2 thopters to play with and that they have to deal with. Resto comes down.. and they kill it... and there is no lingering value. i mean even if you blink a snapcaster which can be good of course, it just seems meh unless you are trying to go a jeskai flash list, resto is going to be lackluster. at least in my opinion
P&K is an ultra value card that has a tendency to over-perform in many scenerios. I played it in my Kiki-Chord deck and it does many neat things in the battlefield. In our Jeskai Shell, it can be simply that, an ultra value creature that is able to perform a variety of roles once it hits the board. You might not have Restoration Angel to take advantage of the tokens, but you can always copy with Saheeli Rai or Vapor Snag P&K
*Notes about the deck:
0. Geist rocks. Seriously, It's a disgusting card and I will be picking up my foil copies now lol Promo or pack foil hmm....
1. Electrolyze is still good main deck
2. Spell Snare is great maindeck, especially against abzan AND BURN
3. Colonnade beats is legit, and great.
4. Remand wasn't bad. I did get to hit a Tasigur, the golden fang with it. Thinking of just making it a maindeck negate, we will see.
5. Sideboard is meh. I'm not excited about it. I wanna switch things up.
6. Don't underestimate the power of flashing on the end of t2 for Snapcaster mage beats or Queller beats on the end of t3. Snap beats helped me win a LOT tonight.
Blue Moon
G1
He is on the play, just a couple basics and a few serum visions. I kinda figure he is Blue moon, but he is stuttering and not doing anything except he tried to cast a Search for Azcanta and I remand it. I play geist on my t3, and honestly just ride him to victory. If he would have found an anger he prolly would have got me, but i knew he didnt have an answer just by his playstyle and body language. Luck was on my side for that one
- A cryptic, 3 lightning helix, 3 path to exiles, 1 bolt
+ PnK, V clique, 2 Molten Rain, 1 negate, 1 dispel, 1 d stroke, 1 wear
G2
Didnt know he was on through the breach. I run out Snap on t2 to get early beats. He taps out for a Desolate lighthouse and i land a V clique the next turn which gets bolted durin his tunr... HOLY CRAP ITS EMRAKUL The aeons torn, get RID OF THAT!
I run a spell queller out to hit THREE remands by him while still beating, he finally draws a bolt for the snap, and the queller after the 3 remands. He blood moon's, i fight with logic knot and negate which I lose, which is fine cuz it opens up my mana to give me double red for a fatal molten rain... yes..a blood moon actually helped me win the game
Will write more notes tomorrow gang, im pretty sleepy lol
g2
He keeps a greedy hand i find out, 1 bauble, 1 land, 1 thoughtseize, 2 lingering souls, 2 grim flayer. I mull to 6 and keep geist, snap, and a serum visions and 3 lands, all celestial colonnade lolol this game was not nearly as reactive. he takes geist on his thoughtseize, and doesnt do much else. im very off tempo with these colonnades but he's not doing anything anyways lol i get to molten rain his only land, i throw out a spell queller next turn, counter a thoughtseize with a cryptic command cuz i could, and then he finally gets a tasigur to go off and dicards down to hand size to get a lingering souls in the graveyard. I path the tasigur, but the souls are blocking my celestial colonnade from getting through. So i hold back for another spell queller and a v clique. v clique reveals a whooe bunch of crap im not worried about, and soon after he dies from the air assault.
Updated 12-22.. geeze christmas time is busy when you put it alongside a wedding in 2 weeks lol
BURN
I did not take notes down guys. This match up is difficult for me in terms of time reference. I take longer than usual on my turns, just due to the fact that there are some games you dont even want to crack your fetch land lol
I remember game 1 it was super grindy, and i kept a geist in my hand which i probably shouldnt have, in order to be more reactive. But now i know to play that geist. it was super close, i was at 4 and he was at 6, and either one of us were dead on the next turn, he got me first because i was cryptic command flooded and would have killed for spell pierce in this first game lol
2nd game i mull to 6, land geist on 3 and race him. I hit 2 helix, and a snapcaster without having skullcrack so i was out of range in this game for him. Negate and spell queller both saw play here and were good.
3rd game
he mulls to 5. he draws 3 lava spike though lol I throw a snapcaster end of t2, and get my beats started early. do the same thing with my spell queller.
he is stuck on one land for too long and has all cmc 2 in his hand. Variance win is still a win lol
Affinity
g1- annilated everything, i got down to 14. won with colonnade beats
g2- i flooded out pretty bad and he just did affinity things with cranial plating.
g3- he drew too many lands and i hit electrolyze and wear / tear with snapcaster. geist on t3 here raced him pretty well
Umm. DD Foil art is nice as well, but go for WMCQ Promo Foil for the PIMP! HAHA
Question! What does PnK good against? Looking at the stat, it's just like 4 mana creature which can shock (up to) twice? Is it worth it? If you played resto I can understand, but as a singleton? hmm
I was very skeptical of Pia and Kiran Nalaar, it looks underwhelming on face value. TRUST me. This card is GOOD. I brought it in against a LOT of different decks. Just from my recent weeks, Blue moon both times, Abzan, Affinity both times (as the colorless thopters can block an etched champion and take out an attacker with a cranial plating equipped to it for example which i have done), Tron, Bogels, Infect, Jund, Jeskai, some weird Emeria combo deck using Squadron Hawk, i know there is more but i cant remember anymore lol 2 flying attackers/blockers, 3 creatures for the opp to deal with, and the ability to ping any troublesome low toughness creature, it seriously is a FANTASTIC card.
It's going back up to 2 actually in my sideboard, I've even been considering it as a 1 of maindeck actually. I mean hell if i bring in a card in almost every match up...i feel like thats a sign lol
I dont like restoration angel right now, even if they fatal push the pia and k, i still have 2 thopters to play with and that they have to deal with. Resto comes down.. and they kill it... and there is no lingering value. i mean even if you blink a snapcaster which can be good of course, it just seems meh unless you are trying to go a jeskai flash list, resto is going to be lackluster. at least in my opinion
P&K is an ultra value card that has a tendency to over-perform in many scenerios. I played it in my Kiki-Chord deck and it does many neat things in the battlefield. In our Jeskai Shell, it can be simply that, an ultra value creature that is able to perform a variety of roles once it hits the board. You might not have Restoration Angel to take advantage of the tokens, but you can always copy with Saheeli Rai or Vapor Snag P&K
With that much endorsement, PnK should be maindecked right?? Just curious about what u mean by "overperforms"..
You played JESUS?!?! I heard none of his guys stay in the graveyard, and once you think you have him beat he ALWAYS comes back to win within three turns. I like...WORSHIP him.
The only "new" inclusion is Faithless Looting which has been performing very well so I am going to continue to run it. I am also giving one Negate a try in the maindeck along with 2 Remand instead of 3 remand. No recent results to talk about due to the holidays, but I have been testing the deck and so far I really like faithless looting more than I thought I would. I'm not sure about the Negate yet. I will keep you all posted.
The only "new" inclusion is Faithless Looting which has been performing very well so I am going to continue to run it. I am also giving one Negate a try in the maindeck along with 2 Remand instead of 3 remand. No recent results to talk about due to the holidays, but I have been testing the deck and so far I really like faithless looting more than I thought I would. I'm not sure about the Negate yet. I will keep you all posted.
whats your sideboard captain? lol is reveler still working well for ya as a 1 of?
The only "new" inclusion is Faithless Looting which has been performing very well so I am going to continue to run it. I am also giving one Negate a try in the maindeck along with 2 Remand instead of 3 remand. No recent results to talk about due to the holidays, but I have been testing the deck and so far I really like faithless looting more than I thought I would. I'm not sure about the Negate yet. I will keep you all posted.
whats your sideboard captain? lol is reveler still working well for ya as a 1 of?
:). I'm still playing mostly the same sideboard cards. I did make one slight change. Here is my current board
I have been trying Flashfreeze to deal with a greater number of Ponza and Scapeshift decks. In addition, Blood Moon decks have been on the rise. It also hits Collected Company decks and burn. It has been pretty good so far. I have seen a lot of people giving Disdainful Stroke in this spot so I may give that a try too. I cut the Hallowed Moonlight because I already had options for collected company and goryo's vengeance and thought an additional Dispel would likely be better. Abrade is for all of the Aether Vial decks. I would also like to find room for a second copy of Engineered Explosives if possible.
As for Bedlam Reveler, I'm still a believer. I just love the card. Reveler is very tough to play well and can be clunky sometimes, however, the power level is off the chart to get a 3/4 prowess creatures and pseudo- Ancestral Recall. I play a second copy in my sideboard for the more grindy matchups where reveler really shines. I do think there are many options that can fill a similar role like Hazoret, the Fervant, Kia and Piran Nalar, planeswalkers, etc, however, reveler just fits with my gameplan the best.
I'VE REACHED MY FIRST GOAL!
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
3 Geist of Saint Traft
Spells (25)
3 Cryptic Command
2 Electrolyze
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
2 Logic Knot
1 Remand
4 Path to Exile
2 Spell Snare
4 Serum Visions
3 Island
1 Plains
1 Mountain
4 Celestial Colonnade
4 Flooded Strand
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
2 Sulfur Falls
2 Molten Rain
2 Relic of Progenitus
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Celestial Purge
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Dispel
1 Negate
1 Wear
1 Elsepth, Sun's Champion
1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Supreme Verdict
2-0 Blue Moon Breach
2-0 Abzan Delirium *Spicy
2-1 Burn
2-1 Affinity
*Notes about the deck:
0. Geist rocks. Seriously, It's a disgusting card and I will be picking up my foil copies now lol Promo or pack foil hmm....
1. Electrolyze is still good main deck
2. Spell Snare is great maindeck, especially against abzan AND BURN
3. Colonnade beats is legit, and great.
4. Remand wasn't bad. I did get to hit a Tasigur, the golden fang with it. Thinking of just making it a maindeck negate, we will see.
5. Sideboard is meh. I'm not excited about it. I wanna switch things up.
6. Don't underestimate the power of flashing on the end of t2 for Snapcaster mage beats or Queller beats on the end of t3. Snap beats helped me win a LOT tonight.
Blue Moon
G1
He is on the play, just a couple basics and a few serum visions. I kinda figure he is Blue moon, but he is stuttering and not doing anything except he tried to cast a Search for Azcanta and I remand it. I play geist on my t3, and honestly just ride him to victory. If he would have found an anger he prolly would have got me, but i knew he didnt have an answer just by his playstyle and body language. Luck was on my side for that one
- A cryptic, 3 lightning helix, 3 path to exiles, 1 bolt
+ PnK, V clique, 2 Molten Rain, 1 negate, 1 dispel, 1 d stroke, 1 wear
G2
Didnt know he was on through the breach. I run out Snap on t2 to get early beats. He taps out for a Desolate lighthouse and i land a V clique the next turn which gets bolted durin his tunr... HOLY CRAP ITS EMRAKUL The aeons torn, get RID OF THAT!
I run a spell queller out to hit THREE remands by him while still beating, he finally draws a bolt for the snap, and the queller after the 3 remands. He blood moon's, i fight with logic knot and negate which I lose, which is fine cuz it opens up my mana to give me double red for a fatal molten rain... yes..a blood moon actually helped me win the game
Will write more notes tomorrow gang, im pretty sleepy lol
Abzan Delirium
g1
Starts off with Mishra's Bauble, im thinking a death shadow variant. Marsh flats, so no shadow lol especially after he plays Traverse the ulvenwald[/card, i know what he's playing. I play t3 geist, he answers it with t4 liliana of the veil. i answer it next turn with electrolyze. He plays Siege Rhino, I path to exile it on the end step. i play my 2nd geist, he plays engineered explosives on 3 and busts it lol hold on spell queller, a path and remand, he plays tasigur i remand it, but he plays it again, then i path it. then on the end step bring in spell queller, he fatal pushes it. then i draw my 3rd geist and slam it. ride em and another spell queller to victory while he floods out.
-3 lightning helix, -2 bolt, -1 spell queller, -1 logic knot
+1 izzet staticaster, +1 elspeth sun's champion, +1 pnk,+1 Engineered Explosives +2 molten rain, +1 vendilion clique
g2
He keeps a greedy hand i find out, 1 bauble, 1 land, 1 thoughtseize, 2 lingering souls, 2 grim flayer. I mull to 6 and keep geist, snap, and a serum visions and 3 lands, all celestial colonnade lolol this game was not nearly as reactive. he takes geist on his thoughtseize, and doesnt do much else. im very off tempo with these colonnades but he's not doing anything anyways lol i get to molten rain his only land, i throw out a spell queller next turn, counter a thoughtseize with a cryptic command cuz i could, and then he finally gets a tasigur to go off and dicards down to hand size to get a lingering souls in the graveyard. I path the tasigur, but the souls are blocking my celestial colonnade from getting through. So i hold back for another spell queller and a v clique. v clique reveals a whooe bunch of crap im not worried about, and soon after he dies from the air assault.
Updated 12-22.. geeze christmas time is busy when you put it alongside a wedding in 2 weeks lol
BURN
I did not take notes down guys. This match up is difficult for me in terms of time reference. I take longer than usual on my turns, just due to the fact that there are some games you dont even want to crack your fetch land lol
I remember game 1 it was super grindy, and i kept a geist in my hand which i probably shouldnt have, in order to be more reactive. But now i know to play that geist. it was super close, i was at 4 and he was at 6, and either one of us were dead on the next turn, he got me first because i was cryptic command flooded and would have killed for spell pierce in this first game lol
-1 cryptic command, -2 lightning bolt, -1 logic knot, -1 remand, -1 path, -1 queller
+2 molten rain, +1 negate, +1 dispel, +1 purge, +1 v clique, +1 ee
2nd game i mull to 6, land geist on 3 and race him. I hit 2 helix, and a snapcaster without having skullcrack so i was out of range in this game for him. Negate and spell queller both saw play here and were good.
3rd game
he mulls to 5. he draws 3 lava spike though lol I throw a snapcaster end of t2, and get my beats started early. do the same thing with my spell queller.
he is stuck on one land for too long and has all cmc 2 in his hand. Variance win is still a win lol
Affinity
g1- annilated everything, i got down to 14. won with colonnade beats
g2- i flooded out pretty bad and he just did affinity things with cranial plating.
g3- he drew too many lands and i hit electrolyze and wear / tear with snapcaster. geist on t3 here raced him pretty well
Thanks you very much DarkNightCavalier for the Sig.
After my last tournament didn't go so well I thought a lot about how to make the deck even better.
The main problem I have is that I need 21 lands for my deck to function well but at the same time I don't want to draw too many lands. The deck works perfect when I have 4 lands in play. I want to reach that point at least at turn 5 or 6.
The math on this site shows perfectly that 21 is the right number for my deck.
I run 6 cards that replace themselves but counting the Snappys as CMC3 cards my deck's avg. CMC is slightly above 1.8.
CurdBros was just talking about a similar problem:
I guess that has happened to all of us. Drawing 3 Snappys but not a single burn spell, or drawing only spells and not a single copy of my Geist playset... It's really hard to win these games, almost as hard as winning when you're mana flooded or mana scr*wed -_-
2 Arid Mesa
3 Flooded Strand
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Steam Vents
1 Mountain
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Slayers' Stronghold
1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
1 Spirebluff Canal
1 Inspiring Vantage
1 Seachrome Coast
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Glacial Fortress
4 Path to Exile
4 Serum Visions
2 Spell Pierce
1 Mana Leak
2 Remand
1 Vapor Snag
1 Emerge Unscathed
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
1 Boros Charm
1 Jeskai Charm
Enchantment (1)
1 Search for Azcanta
Creatures (14)
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Geist of Saint Traft
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Hazoret the Fervent
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Grim Lavamancer
1 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Dispel
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Shadow of Doubt
1 Celestial Purge
2 Stony Silence
2 Deflecting Palm
1 Wear/Tear
1 Worship
1 Supreme Verdict
I think that there are two possible solutions to this problem: either add more filtering (which also helps fixing the "draw-the-wrong-half-of-my-deck-problem) or add more mana sinks/bombs for the late game.
Currently I have 4 SVs and 1 copy of Azcanta to filter my draws and Hazoret is the perfect Bomb because she is a mana sink as well.
I could add a second copy of either Azcanta or Hazoret but these are cards that I don't want to see twice in my hand so I don't think that would be the right way.
There are two bombs I could see as another 1-of next to Hazoret: Elspeth, Knight-Errant and Thundermaw Hellkite. Both are absolutely awesome cards, but what would you take out for either one of them? Taking out a Geist for Elspeth doesn't seem right since they have the best synergy. I don't want to cut a Snapcaster either since it's the best card in Modern. Maybe be crazy and run 3 Delvers?
The other option would be more card filtering to filter away the lands I don't need. There are quite a few cards to choose from:
Halimar Depths (tapped lands don't really fit our tempo plan)
Thassa, God of the Sea (seems good with Geist, maybe too expensive, will never become a creature in this deck)
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy (I am interested in testing this as a 2nd Azcanta, not good early, new foil looks fantastic:))
2nd Search for Azcanta (doesn't flip Delver, helps flipping Delver, 2 might be okay since you don't have to transform)
Izzet Charm (was just discussed here, very versatile, could see this instead of Emerge/Electrolyze)
Which option do you think is best?
RutherJC- Congrats on the 4-0! Thanks for the write up The jeskai midrange deck is awesome and keeps showing it is a legit deck in the current meta. I know Shaun Mclaran calls the deck "jeskai control with tempo aspects", but I think it's easiest to call it jeskai midrange. However, I have not played the deck so I'm not sure if that is an accurate assessment.
I highly recommend getting the WMCQ Foil Geist of Saint Trafts. It's my favorite version and I think it has the best artwork. However, this is in the eye of the beholder. I added a Spell Snare to my list and have been very happy with it. It has been great. I think it's one of those cards that works great as a 1 or 2 of in a deck. To be honest, since that list is a bit more midrange than it is tempo, Remand doesn't really fit into the deck. I think you are correct that Negate maybe a better option in your deck. Remand does have versatile uses, but it doesn't fit the maindeck gameplan. I also have to agree that a turn two Ambush Viper Snapcaster Mage is a great option, even moreso in the tempo style decks that don't need the additional card advantage to win the game.
I'm glad you found a deck that you are really comfortable with and that you are winning with. I don't see that deck going anywhere for a long time unless something changes.
Stevomat- Have you ever considered running 61 cards? I know this is often considered to be wrong, however, I have always done so when I think my deck needs an additional land. It doesn't really change the math all that much but it does help with hitting land drops. Land issues can be a problem with a low land count deck. I am currently trying a copy of Faithless Looting in my deck and may replace it with Izzet Charm. The looting can be very valuable and would work well with a late hazoret if you just need to get cheap spells you can chuck at the opponent.
I have tried Thassa, God of Sea in the past with decent results. However, I think a second copy of Search for Azcanta is likely better in this case. I would recommend trying izzet charm or faithless looting first and/or simply removing a land and replacing it with some type of deck manipulation. 24 spells is the minimum I am comfortable with in a delver deck and like to keep it around 26 if possible.
Does your math account for the deck manipulation in the land base calculations? I am not a statistics or ratio expert and so I don't have a firm grasp on the actual math of a mana base, but I wanted to make sure the math accounts for this because it increases the likelihood of hitting a land drop.
I had similar fun yesterday online when I played against UW control. I managed to resolve Geist & Elspeth and hit him in the air for 9 for two turns. That's a reason to play a fair Jeskai deck. Muahaha.
collective defiance close to what you asked, and no it does not see much play.
faithless sounds good if your holding cards you need gone, or if your ramping into reveler. Other wise it might be a dead card.
myth realized triggers Prowess and a creates a body.
@Rutherjc19; Hey guys Smile Went to Tnm tonight. GOT THE 4-0 BABY! Grin My first time going better than a 2-1-1 with Jeskai!!!
I'VE REACHED MY FIRST GOAL! Grin
Congrats.
GofyTomcat- I still prefer Stormchaser Mage in the maindeck over Seeker of the Way. My goal in game one is to be a pretty sleek and focused version of the deck. Post board we can add more specific disruption and "hate" like life gain. I think stormchaser fits the game one gameplan a bit moreso than seeker. Seeker can be a fine sideboard card however.
I agree. Stormchaser will be a bit harder to kill, and has haste and flying. Both are where your deck is heading. Your trying for a quick kill.
I ran this in standard and either I won or stalled out. Modern has better options to keep you from stalling and can finish your opponent off.
@CurdBros, and Stevomat; for draw and filtering have either of you tried jeskai ascendancy ? I am running 61 card deck with manamorphose(not proud but seems to work) and 19 lands.
Jeskai Ascendancy is an interesting suggestion. I don't think it fits that well in my deck but I'd definitely try it out in GofyTomcat1's deck with 4 Stormchasers. Attacking with them and also being able to use them as 3/5 blockers seems very strong.
Collective Defiance also looks interesting. I like cards that scale and become more powerful the longer the game goes. Unfortunately I couldn't find any good cards with Kicker or Entwine for our decks. Any other ideas for cards that become more useful with more lands in play?
Last question: Does anyone think Jace, Vryn's Prodigy is worth a try in a deck like mine?
Ascendancy is good with prowess style decks. Not so much your deck list. I did forget about the vigilance side of it. Card filtering can be great if your drawing with cantrips Stacking the triggers.
Vyrn's hits 19(20) spells when flipped. I think he is like Search for Azcanta in the deck or a weak snappy.
What would you cut for him? G2 you would have to sideboard due to GY hate. The main problem with Jace is tempo, he does not have haste, so he is dead when he ETB (unless your holding counters). At T2 he feels bad, which mean you have to ask when do I play him for optimal.
Last I checked he was $20 so somebody using him some where. If I recall right Jace saw play in Standard as a mid-range enabler, which seemed a good fit for him.
I do not feel your deck is Mid-Rangy.
so no from me. But if you try him and he is awesome please spike the price up I own 2. ;D
I've been trying to fit one or two Ascendancies for ages and haven't had any progress. I put one The Locust God in my sideboard for the grindier match-ups. Haven't drawn him yet, so I haven't any insight on that front. JVP is intresting, I'd try him in decks with pyromancers first though.
Jeskai Ascendancy is a SUPER powerful card. The question that arises is - Is it worth a three drop that doesn't affect the game right away. It's really tough to play a three drop that doesn't affect the board. If ascendancy lands you are likely going to win that game. I have never tried to fit it into the deck so I have no way of knowing if it is good or bad in my build,but I do have a hard time adding another three drop that isn't named Geist of Saint Traft or Spell Queller. Keep us posted on how it goes because I beleive it is uncharted territory. I never say something won't work until I have tested enough to know for sure it won't. So I say give it a try and see what happens. You may break the deck.
I also haven't tried The Locust God but that card seems awesome. I have played Keranos, God of Storms in the past, but he costs to much for my build in the current meta. If/When things shift back to a bit more midrange or if your local area is full of midrange decks those cards become great options.
I have tested faithless looting for about 20 games now and I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised. Faithless Looting has ditched two lands several times and I have flashed it back multiple time already. Obviously 20 games is not a big enough sample size to make any conclusions, but so far it has performed well.
4x Monastery Swiftspear
4x Stormchaser Mage
4x Snapcaster Mage
4x Mantis Rider
Planeswalkers
2x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
Burn
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
3x Boros Charm
2x Electrolyze (Flex)
1x Burst Lightning (Flex)
Tempo/ Removal
4x Path to Exile
4x Serum Visions
3x Arid Mesa
2x Flooded Strand
1x Hallowed Fountain
2x Inspiring Vantage
2x Island
1x Mountain
1x Plains
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Seachrome Coast
2x Scalding Tarn
2x Steam Vents
2x Spirebluff Canal
2x Spell Pierce
2x Geist of Saint Traft
2x Wear
1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1x Celestial Purge
2x Deflecting Palm
2x Stony Silence
2x Relic of Progenitus
1x Izzet Staticaster
Sideboard options:
Kira or Monastery Siege as an answer to removal
Geist as a resilient threat
Some number of Dispel, Shaft, Negate, Pierce as interaction
Stony/ Wear/ Hurkyl's for Affinity, Chalice decks etc
Relic/ RiP for grave hate
Deflecting Palm / Blessed Alliance
Celestial Purge to deal with Liliana, other people's Chandras (She's mine),Siege Rhino, Shadow, and Tasigur
Other ‘loadouts’ for the flex slots: (I decide what these will be from event to event prior to registering my list, depending on my guess for the meta)
The Midrange Killer (Designed to both protect my creatures from removal and handle larger threats more easily)
2x Valorous Stance
1x Echoing Truth
Anti-Aggro: Good against Tokens, Affinity, Goblins etc)
2x Pyroclasm
1x Forked Bolt
“BoRemandos”
3x Remand
hope everyone is doing well! im going to be making some major changes to my sideboard to switch things up soon.
love the electrolyze, you wont be disappointed. love the kira in the sideboard, great tech.
possible addition to the sideboard: 4 drop gideon, if you need help with the grindy match ups or even classic tron. was great for me when my curve and deck build were more delver/prowess oriented.
Thanks you very much DarkNightCavalier for the Sig.
Happy Holidays and Congrats!
@StevomatUWR: I still prefer Search for Azcanta because it is much harder to interact with and we do not need to run more than 2 (hence freeing up deckspace for more cards). We generally do not have much issues with regards to removal so JVP's +1 ability doesn't do much for us. We also tend to run 3-4 Snapcaster Mage so its -3 ability is a bit naught. In an abstract, Saheeli Rai can somewhat fill the role of JVP and with a budget to spare. +1 to Scry (smooth draws) and a threatening -2 (Bolt Snap Bolt Main Phase -2 Snap Helix/Bolt/Spell) for tremendous value.
Adding on, JVP needs to be an early card (and then it eats removal). Its bad if you are already behind and is short on generating value past turn 4. It is the same rational I applied to Ancestral Vision when my friend asked about such cards.
@GofyTomcat1: Do you happen to have 3 CMC Gideon? I think he has some play in your deck. He can replace the Burst Lightning. Your deck would need the Electrolyzes.
Active thread contributor of Jeskai Prowess Tempo
I think a more midrange build like mine wouldn't benefit from it cuz I can go a lot bigger than the slimmer decks, but the tempo prowess builds have a quicker closing rate especially on a beefed up seiftspear or early flipped delver.
I do like search from Azcanta as well. I have a bab promo i just got and am trying to get a 2nd one as well. This card I've been in love with since it was first spoiled.
Thanks you very much DarkNightCavalier for the Sig.
1-2-1
I must be rusty, I did not play optimally.
M1 w/g hatebears 1-2
G1; win, early clock.
G2; loss, could not develop a creature, I kept a hand heavy with 3 lands and Aven Mindcensor some counters/draw. I figured he would CoCo early with the mana dorks so I held back waiting to respond. CoCo never came and he developed board.
G3; loss, went slow in developing, but he out valued me with Kitchen Finks and scavenging ooze
Out: Path,Monastery Mentor, Boomerang In: Detention Sphere, Aven Mindcensor, dispel
M2 Jeskai Control 1-1-1
G1; win, We both drew too much mana all game. early attacks and burn until top deck win.
G2; loss, Mulligan 1, We both chipped away at each other, but his cryptic commands (3) held the game till he could answer.
G3; draw, both ended at 10 life no clear winner time in round
Out: ??? In: Sahelia Rae, Narset, Dispel, negate,
M3 Jeskai Geist 2-0
G1; win, Text book opening and game.T1 fetch hallowed fountain play Delver, T2 flip delver cast boomerang bounce their Hallowed fountain, T3 remove there dude hold counter T4 play YP hold counter/burn
G2; win, Played heavy creatures and just traded and burned them out at end. T5 we both played geist I give mine haste +2/0 he trades at a loss of 4 life. I still keep board presence with Mantis rider. Narset was great adding value all around, draw + rebounding 2 burns.
Out:VaporSnag, Sublime Angel In: Dispel,Narset
M4 Burn 0-2
G1, loss, Mulled 2, got stuck on 2 lands he had good hand.
G2, loss, I totally flubbed this game all up from the word start. Hand shockland fetchland utilityland, thing in Ice, serum visions, opt, delver. T1 shock land into delver Turn 2 no flip YP drawn play fetchland(?) misplay, serum visions(?) (top Manamorphase, serum visions) can not fetch without messing up serum. T3 a play thing in Ice can not cast Manamorphase no red. T4 I fetch tapped can not afford the damage, T5 I play YP(?) I should have just gone all in on thing in the Ice
I had the cantrips to manamorphase- Bolt- boros charm flip thing and then go for 7 = 14 damage game I saw the line but did not follow instead did dumb lines of play. I guess the T2 play messed up my head.
Out: Sublime Archangel, Remand In: Thing In the Ice, Dispel
1 grim lavamancer
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Young Pyromancer
1 Monastery Mentor
2 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Mantis Rider
1 Sublime Archangel
Sorcery 5
1 Chart a Course
4 Serum Visions
Instants 21
2 Opt
1 Manamorphose
3 Remand
1 Mana Leak
1 Spell Pierce
1 Emerge Unscathed
1 Vapor Snag
1 Boomerang
2 Boros Charm
2 Lightning Helix
3 Lightning Bolt
3 Path to Exile
1 Shinka, The Bloodsoaked Keep
1 Slayers' Stronghold
1 Sacred Foundery
1 Glacial Fortress
1 CliffTop Retreat
1 Seachrome Coast
1 Inspiring Vantage
1 Spirebluff Canal
1 Mountain
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Steam Vents
2 Hallowed Fountain
4 FloodedStrand
1 Poluted Delta
1 Negate
1 Dispel
1 Path to Exile
1 Deflecting Palm
1 Wear/Tear
1 Echoing Truth
1 Thing in the Ice
1 Saheeli Rai
1 Narset Transcendent
1 Detention Sphere
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Crumble to Dust
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Aven Mindcensor
Other thoughts,
I asked myself during games if I would want a Faithless Looting now. Surprisingly the answer was yes a few times. In M1 and M2 to rid myself of extra lands and try to get relevant counter/removal.
The planeswalkers were great, would like to add more and maybe go more midrange. If I can not get creatures or burn package the deck ??? needs more draw/scry?
I asked the Jeskai Control player regarding search for Azcanta he played one and said he loved it wanted to play more. He was surprised at how well it had performed for him. Did not seem to help much in our match-ups G1 he still lost, G2 came out late, G3 he won without it.
LGS meta has changed a bit since I last played 2-3 weeks ago. 10 peps for Modern, last few weeks were short (they missed me :)). I did not expect to see so much Jeskai, I thought the burn decks were gone.
On example is when I was playing against grixis death shadow and we were both had one card left in hand and I had snapcaster mage on board and he had death shadow. I was able to loot away a land and spell pierce to get a path to exile and win the game. I think it’s really beneficial in my personal build beacause in of the possible problems I can run into is drawing to many threats or not enough. Looting helps me smooth that out. I would recommend trying it WickedApp.
Burn can be a tough matchup since we don’t have a ton of life gain. Typically helix and deflecting palm along with remova and counter magic will be enough. I wouldn’t worry too much about burn bc I think your deck is well equipped to beat them. Sometimes they just draw well and things don’t go our way.
I too love having access to planes walkers in the Grundy matchups. Unfortunately, with search for a can’t I don’t have many sideboard slots left for a weaker. I have had great success with saheeli rai and chandra, pyromaster in the past. I think both are maindeckable in the correct meta.
On Thursday's event:
For some reason I haven't managed to win this deck the few times I've played against him, which is counter intuitive since most company decks are favored. I lost the 1st game because I drew poorly, no threat and too many lands and when I started drawing relevant things I was at 5 life. I also punted in the 2nd game and that didn't help things...
2nd Match against a budget mill deck. There's nothing really to say here, his decks was probably worth 10-15 euros max, so the power level difference of the deck was staggering.
3rd Match against
4th Match against Eldrazi Tron. I win the first game with a quick delver and Geist. I remanded his Smasher, and then was holding 6 points of burn in my hand when he was at 14 and I could push 7 damage in the air plus the Geist and a Snapcaster. He punted by not playing his balista for 1 to kill my clique and a Matter Reshaper to have blockers which allowed him to survive at 1 (If he did that I'd have played differently, but still, the game would've progressed a few more turns). I lost the 2nd game to a T1 Basilisk Collar that got equipped to a Matter Reshaper that gained him 9 life. He finished the game at 8, with a SLIGHTLY better hand I'd probably could race it, since I had a deflecting palm, but couldn't save me. I win the 3rd game with some of the bizzarest sequence of events that have happened in our match up. He plays a chalice on 1 which I didn't mind then since I had a Delver and a Pyromancer on the battlefield. T3 I play a geist, he All is dusts me on the back of natural tron -_- and we go back and forth for a couple of turns with me drawing one drops and him drawing lands. I eventually draw a blood moon and a geist, and he reveals a hand of 2 smashers, a collar and an expedition map. Suffice to say, it was one of my most satisfying wins in a long time
Still no The Locust God presence...
On today's event:
2nd Match against Storm. I lose the first because 12 goblins on T4 and I didn't have anything relevant. I win the first because I Surgical'd-Snap-Surgical'd all his rituals when he went for a Past in Flames, I angered away his remaining goblins and cost reducers and then he was topdecking and I had a geist. 3rd game I was a tad lucky in that he Grapeshot'd my delver and I topdecked the Surgical Extraction to compliment my RiP. So I stripped away his grapeshots and when he made 6-8 goblins my pyromancer and removals took care of them. After that he got extremely flooded, but he couldn't win easily after my T2, since he could only win with a massive Empty but didn't really have a critical mass of spells.
3rd Match against Jeskai Queller (midrange in my opinion but whatever ). He taps down for 2 cantrips on his T3 and on my T3 I slam a geist. He didn't win. I win the 2nd game when he got stuck on 4 lands but had 3 snapcasters and a queller which I saw from a clique on my T4. After trading geists on T3 we just went a bit back and forth on lands, and I finally DREW IT! I bait his path with my hazoret, and then slam The Locust God. We only managed to play a few turns, since he was stuck on lands and I was close to getting burned out (boo only shocklands), but a geist following the god was good enough to swing for 15 and a topdecked Boros Charm were enough to win since he was at 17. I believe the constant stream of flying hasty 1/1 plus the loot ability is really good in grindy match ups. I'll play more games and will get back to you.
4th Match against Dredge, a good friend of mine. At this point I was the only one that had 9 points and I had to play in order for someone to get first and I was like "FFS WHY AGAINST DREDGE?!". Anyway. He's on the play and doesn't do anything, I play a serum visions, he loams. I play a Pyromancer, he lightning axe'd him and loams again. I play a Geist and the fun part begins. He's trying to present (enough) blockers each turn and he gets path'd and bolted. He's at 13 at some point trying to figure out what to do and I show him a hand with Path, Bolt, Charm 2 Helices. He remarks that he didn't expect how fast my deck can win on the back of geist and burn spells. 2nd game he thoughtseizes me and takes my Staticaster, leaving me with a geist, some removal and cantrips. He plays Cathartic Reunion into a narcomoeba and a prized amalgam. I play my land and path his amalgam on his combat phase. He hit another 'moeba and a bloodghast from his dredging. I play my geist. He thoughtseizes again and drops to 11 he takes my snapcaster and leaves me with a bolt and a visions, he flashbacks a looting netting him another 'moeba. I draw a helix and serum visions into another and leaving a path on top. I attack and chumps with both 'moebas. At that point I was at 19 life (yay fastlands) and he was at 11 with no flying blockers and I had 6 points of burn and a geist. He said to me last week that he thought that geist was bad in this meta where there are many critters and big creatures to block him and we had an argument on his effectiveness in certain decks.
After his loss today I was teasing him that he lost to a bad creature
A refresher on my list for reference:
2x Boros Charm
1x Electrolyze
4x Lightning Bolt
3x Lightning Helix
3x Opt
3x Path to Exile
3x Remand
2x Spell Pierce
1x Vapor Snag
Creature (16)
4x Delver of Secrets
3x Geist of Saint Traft
2x Hazoret the Fervent
3x Snapcaster Mage
1x Vendilion Clique
3x Young Pyromancer
4x Flooded Strand
1x Hallowed Fountain
2x Island
1x Plains
1x Sacred Foundry
3x Scalding Tarn
1x Seachrome Coast
3x Spirebluff Canal
2x Steam Vents
Sorcery (5)
2x Chart a Course
3x Serum Visions
1x Anger of the Gods
3x Blood Moon
2x Deflecting Palm
1x Dispel
1x Izzet Staticaster
1x Mindbreak Trap
1x Rest in Peace
1x Supreme Verdict
2x Surgical Extraction
1x The Locust God
1x Wear // Tear
Overall, I'm supremely satisfied with my list, the little tweaks here and there are happening, especially in my Sideboard. I was pondering a 2nd Wear // Tear, but so far so good.
Hit me up with questions if you need something!
Arguments for 3 CMC Gideon:
1. Neutralizes a permanent for the turn, which can ease the pain from an aggressive deck's attackers or protect our creatures from damage that a blocker would deal.
2. Has synergy with 4 CMC Gideon out of the board, as suggested by @Need_Nore_DPS.
3. A 3 mana 4/4 presents a decent clock if I am on the offensive.
Arguments against Gideon:
1. Double W mana cost could potentially be awkward, (Though the same could be said for Chandra's 2RR cost and I can cast her just fine :P)
2. I'd be tempted to run more than one of him to make use of his emblem, which would up my curve.
3. I've never used him before, so he'd take some getting used to in order to run him correctly. (That's true for any new card in a test slot though)
Arguments for Saheeli:
1. +1 is direct damage and scry, which is what my more burn heavy shell wants.
2. Copying Snapcaster with her -2 is pretty viable, and even copying a Mantis Rider seems decent if I'm attacking with an all-in alpha strike.
3. 1UR is a perfectly obtainable CMC (Same as Electrolyze)
Arguments against Saheeli:
1. I have no artifacts in my list, so she doesn't have 100 percent synergy with the deck
2. Her -2 could totally get blown out to artifact hate game 2-3
3.
Umm. DD Foil art is nice as well, but go for WMCQ Promo Foil for the PIMP! HAHA
Question! What does PnK good against? Looking at the stat, it's just like 4 mana creature which can shock (up to) twice? Is it worth it? If you played resto I can understand, but as a singleton? hmm
My 180 Modern Bordered Only Cube
I was very skeptical of Pia and Kiran Nalaar, it looks underwhelming on face value. TRUST me. This card is GOOD. I brought it in against a LOT of different decks. Just from my recent weeks, Blue moon both times, Abzan, Affinity both times (as the colorless thopters can block an etched champion and take out an attacker with a cranial plating equipped to it for example which i have done), Tron, Bogels, Infect, Jund, Jeskai, some weird Emeria combo deck using Squadron Hawk, i know there is more but i cant remember anymore lol 2 flying attackers/blockers, 3 creatures for the opp to deal with, and the ability to ping any troublesome low toughness creature, it seriously is a FANTASTIC card.
It's going back up to 2 actually in my sideboard, I've even been considering it as a 1 of maindeck actually. I mean hell if i bring in a card in almost every match up...i feel like thats a sign lol
I dont like restoration angel right now, even if they fatal push the pia and k, i still have 2 thopters to play with and that they have to deal with. Resto comes down.. and they kill it... and there is no lingering value. i mean even if you blink a snapcaster which can be good of course, it just seems meh unless you are trying to go a jeskai flash list, resto is going to be lackluster. at least in my opinion
Thanks you very much DarkNightCavalier for the Sig.
Active thread contributor of Jeskai Prowess Tempo
With that much endorsement, PnK should be maindecked right?? Just curious about what u mean by "overperforms"..
My 180 Modern Bordered Only Cube
only if you like the card and able to build/play the best out of it.
Active thread contributor of Jeskai Prowess Tempo
My deck has been performing rather well lately so I thought I would write a quick update on the list.
4 Monastery Swiftspear
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Geist of Saint Traft
1 Bedlam Reveler
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
1 Boros Charm
3 Path to Exile
2 Vapor Snag
1 Echoing Truth
1 Distortion Strike
2 Remand
1 Negate
1 Spell Pierce
1 Spell Snare
4 Opt
2 Serum Visions
1 Faithless Looting
3 Flooded Strand
1 Arid Mesa
3 Spirebluff Canal
1 Seachrome Coast
1 Inspiring Vantage
1 Steam Vents
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Mountain
2 Island
1 Plains
The only "new" inclusion is Faithless Looting which has been performing very well so I am going to continue to run it. I am also giving one Negate a try in the maindeck along with 2 Remand instead of 3 remand. No recent results to talk about due to the holidays, but I have been testing the deck and so far I really like faithless looting more than I thought I would. I'm not sure about the Negate yet. I will keep you all posted.
whats your sideboard captain? lol is reveler still working well for ya as a 1 of?
Thanks you very much DarkNightCavalier for the Sig.
:). I'm still playing mostly the same sideboard cards. I did make one slight change. Here is my current board
2 Deflecting Palm
1 Blessed Alliance
2 Dispel
1 Flashfreeze
1 Wear // Tear
1 Celestial Purge
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Abrade
1 Search for Azcanta
1 Bedlam Reveler
I have been trying Flashfreeze to deal with a greater number of Ponza and Scapeshift decks. In addition, Blood Moon decks have been on the rise. It also hits Collected Company decks and burn. It has been pretty good so far. I have seen a lot of people giving Disdainful Stroke in this spot so I may give that a try too. I cut the Hallowed Moonlight because I already had options for collected company and goryo's vengeance and thought an additional Dispel would likely be better. Abrade is for all of the Aether Vial decks. I would also like to find room for a second copy of Engineered Explosives if possible.
As for Bedlam Reveler, I'm still a believer. I just love the card. Reveler is very tough to play well and can be clunky sometimes, however, the power level is off the chart to get a 3/4 prowess creatures and pseudo- Ancestral Recall. I play a second copy in my sideboard for the more grindy matchups where reveler really shines. I do think there are many options that can fill a similar role like Hazoret, the Fervant, Kia and Piran Nalar, planeswalkers, etc, however, reveler just fits with my gameplan the best.