Testing this deck currently on MO. I think 2 Traverse the Ulvenwald is the right number since having too many of them in open hand is not great especially without delirium. Vengevine is in the list mainly for haste, but it also a great alternative win-con. I chose combination of creatures that will give the most flexibility for Soulflayer and Vengevine. I've been contemplating on replacing Drogskol Reaver with Chromanticore to make delirium more consistent, but double strike flying lifelink is hard to give up.
I have decided to keep the number of Gods at 2 since they weren't as reliable as I thought. They might be worth a few spot in sideboard against non-blue, non-white deck since they can serve as psuedo-hexproof. It might even be a decent sideboard plan against graveyard hate.
The title of this thread has been changed to "Modern Chromantiflayer" because I want this thread to focus on synergy between Soulflayer and Traverse the Ulvenwald which will most likely include Chromanticore for delirium. "Turn 3 kill" became a too broad of a definition since every soulflayer deck consisting Samut, Voice of Dissent, which will most likely be a staple in soulflayer deck, will have a potential for turn 3 kill. This should create an opening for other user to create their own soulflayer thread. But, since the term "Chromantiflayer" is also subjective, not every deck has to contain Chromanticore or Traverse the Ulvenwald in order for you to share your own unique soulflayer deck here.
I have decided to keep the number of Gods at 2 since they weren't as reliable as I thought. They might be worth a few spot in sideboard against non-blue, non-white deck since they can serve as psuedo-hexproof. It might even be a decent sideboard plan against graveyard hate.
I'm finally content with this list and it should last for a while, at least until next expansion comes out.
Love this deck. A ton. Played Chromantiflayer when it was standard legal. Any thoughts on running something like Ancient Ziggurat to be able to hard cast the fatties in case of grave hate? What's plan B against grave hate?
Thank you! Ancient Ziggurat is interesting, my only concern is it would make it slightly challenging for me to cast Grisly Salvage early game. It comparable with Gemstone Mine and Mana Confluence except these lands are punishing in long-run. I've tried Gemstone Mine before and I wouldn't mind playing it instead of Wooded Foothills. I don't have a good plan B against graveyard hate yet. My initial plan against graveyard hate was simply discarding them with Thoughtseize or destroying them with other spells in sideboard. I wouldn't be afraid of Grafdigger's Cage since it'll do nothing against us. It possible to play though Relic of Progenitus since I have priority to cast Soulflayer after I cast Faithless Looting or Grisly Salvage on my turn. Leyline of the Void, Rest in Peace, and Scavenging Ooze are scary.
Have you considered Hazoret over Rhonas? Still grants Indestructibility, but also is probably easier to attack with if hard cast since our hands are typically empty. Is the Deathtouch favored over another source of Haste?
Now that you menstion it, Hazoret the Fervent seems a lot better then Rhonas the Indomitable. Deathtouch loses value combined with indestructible since soulflayer will survive any combat with indestructible without relying on deathtouch and first/double strike. Plus, there isn't too many creature that soulflayer can't kill in combat. Thanks for the idea, I'll most likely replace Rhonas with Hazoret.
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Replacing Nameless Inversion with artifact creature shouldn't hurt delirium at all since it has tribal and instant. There might be a circumstance where Sphinx would of been better then Nameless Inversion in graveyard, but Soulflayer can benefit from it's pump effect. Soulflayer with double strike and Nameless Inversion can deal lot of damage. Not to mention it can deal with Scavenging Ooze early game.
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Here's an update. I decided to add Ghor-Clan Rampager because it a searchable pump spell with Grisly Salvage and Traverse the Ulvenwald. There were many situation where Soulflayer only delved Samut, Voice of Dissent and Sylvan Caryatid which lacks evasion. I added Drogskol Reaver because more double strike enablers should make Ghor-Clan more valuable.
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Time to break up yuseimax's streak of posts with a small report.
Decided to take a break from my mainstay Dredge deck and sleeve up a Soulflayer deck for Thursday Night Modern at the local shop. Did I do well? Hell no. Did I have fun? Hell yes. I finished 1-3 in matches, but a misplay and a poor draw away from finishing 3-1 (details to follow). The deck worked a lot better than I had anticipated, which was a pleasant surprise. Enough so that I might even play it again sometime. Heh. Anyway, while this isn't really a testament of success or "this is what you should do," I figured I would at least share my experience for any potential benefit others might gain from it.
*Disclaimers*: I would run 4x Samut, Voice of Dissent over the Lightning Runners, but I didn't have them and vigilance wasn't important enough to warrant purchasing them just for the night. Also, in regards to the manabase, I would ideally be running Verdant Catacombs over the Windswept Heaths, but I don't own any Catacombs at the moment. Sideboard was thrown together before the event.
Round 2: Aaron on Wizards & Taxes (0-2) Game 1
He casts Thalia, Guardian of Thraben to slow me down a turn, but I cast a Turn 4 Soulflayer with double strike, haste, hexproof, deathtouch, lifelink, and flying. I swing in and he has no blocks or Aether Vial tricks, so I cast Tainted Strike before damage and he scoops 'em up. After the game, he remembers that I needed to pay an additional mana on my Tainted Strike for Thalia's tax, so I wouldn't have been able to cast it. I had a 4th land in hand but didn't play it (like a dumbass) so I could have payed for the tax effect. Despite winning, I concede the game to him to make up for the error.
- In: 2x Abrupt Decay, 3x Thoughtseize
- Out: 4x Birds of Paradise, 1x Hazoret the Fervent Game 2
This one was a blowout. I Turn 1 Thoughtseize to take away a Meddling Mage, but he top-decks a Rest In Peace for his Turn 2 play and it's all downhill from there.
We ended up playing a Game 3 for fun and I combo killed him on Turn 4. Next time I'll remember to pay my taxes.
Round 3: Kyle on Dredge (2-0) Game 1
I'm on the play and start setting things up with a Faithless Looting. He starts with an Insolent Neonate and his dredge hits a Narcomoeba but nothing else. I cast another Looting and a Birds of Paradise on Turn 2. He dredges a bit, hits a Bloodghast and swings in with the jellyfish. I untap, cast a Soulflayer with double strike, haste, hexproof, and some other stuff, and cast a Tainted Strike. Going to Game 2!
- In: 3x Nihil Spellbomb, 1x Golgari Charm
- Out: 4x Birds of Paradise Game 2
I'm able to get a Turn 1 Nihil Spellbomb and crack it on Turn 3 in response to a Cathartic Reunion, hitting Conflagrate, Stinkweed Imp, Prized Amalgam and some other stuff. He's able to get a little dredge action going by casting a Life from the Loam and hits a Narcomoeba. I'm looking at two Soulflayers and a Tainted Strike. I cast the first 'flayer with double strike, flying, lifelink, and hexproof (no haste) and pass the turn. He dredges but is unable to get any more board presence. I follow up with the second 'flayer with double strike, haste, and hexproof. I swing with both. He can only block one and I have the infect kill.
Round 4: Joe on UW Tempo/Control (1-2) Game 1
I'm on the play. Street Wraith into Faithless Looting and I'm setting up nicely. He plays an Island and passes. I untap, play a second land, cast Soulflayer with double strike, flying, lifelink, and hexproof. He scoops 'em up. Probably the first and last time I'll ever have a Turn 2 "kill."
- In: 3x Thoughtseize, 2x Collective Brutality
- Out: 4x Birds of Paradise, 1x Hazoret the Fervent Game 2
This game was weird. I start off with Street Wraith and Faithless Looting again, but he starts Boomeranging my lands so I am never able to get more than two lands in play (and unfortunately didn't have the nut draw from Game 1). He deploys a Howling Mine, Gideon's Intervention naming Soulflayer, and throws down a Frost Titan a couple turns later so I scoop up.
- In: 2x Abrupt Decay
- Out: 2x Grisly Salvage Game 3
On the play, Street Wraith into Street Wraith into Faithless Looting sets me up for success. I deploy an early Lotleth Troll (for lack of Soulflayer) but he's able to Remand it, and then bounce it after it resolves on the following turn. On Turn 6, he taps out for Frost Titan and I'm down to 7 life from self-inflicted damage and a few Snapcaster Mage beats. This is my window. If I top-deck a 'flayer, I win. Well, I don't draw a Soulflayer despite having gone about 25 cards deep into my deck thanks to Howling Mine. He swings for lethal, I cast Tainted Strike on the Titan to try and buy another turn but I don't have the mana to pay for Titan's countering ability and that's that.
Overall I had a great time playing the deck. The score might not reflect it, but it felt good getting those combo kills. A couple games came down to not having a Soulflayer when I needed one, and while I think Traverse the Ulvenwald could solve this problem, it's really difficult to turn on delirium in the deck's current configuration. I'm also considering Sigarda, Host of Herons for additional hexproof and being a castable threat on her own. My sideboarding was probably awful, but decisions mostly came down to how important I considered flying, lifelink, or indestructible. I also kept in mind that if I'm boarding in Turn 1 plays, I should board out Turn 1 plays, and that sort of thing. My list is definitely more of a combo deck, aiming to get that Turn 3 or Turn 4 kill out of nowhere.
tl;dr - Deck performed well despite the record not showing it. Caught many people by surprise (several "Did you say Soulflayer?!?!" from other tables) and stole a lot of games out of nowhere with combo kills. Much fun was had.
Thank you for the report and for breaking my streak
I miss playing Tainted Strike, it used to be my favorite pump spell. I wonder if I should reconsider using it since infect is less popular. I'm motivated to experiment with Tainted Strike again.
I always wished Soulflayer can gain landwalk ability from Street Wraith. If you are playing again would you still use Street Wraith?
I'll try to post more reports with details too even if I don't do well!
I honestly think Street Wraith was one of my best cards for multiple reasons.
Opening hands are less susceptible to mulligans since you can dig for an extra land or better Turn 1 play.
You are essentially able to run a 56 card deck.
Since my list is more combo kill, I have little regard for my life total and am happy to cycle them (except against Burn, where they are sided out).
Street Wraith adds to the graveyard for Delve purposes. This actually enabled me to cast a Soulflayer on T2 and keep the Looting in my graveyard for flashback later.
While it hasn't come up yet, it's hardcastable and Swampwalk can be relevant.
As I keep saying, my list is more about the combo kill. If I wanted more resiliency with some late game play and interaction, I'd play something like a mash-up of your list in Post 216 and sf45's list in Post 194, using things like Inquisition of Kozilek and Collective Brutality as mainboard interaction and disruption, while having some more castable threats outside of Soulflayer, such as Tasigur, the Golden Fang and Ghor-Clan Rampager.
Probably want both Street Wraith and Mishra's Bauble. Both help with Delve and early Delirium. Cathartic Reunion is also maybe worth a deckslot alongside Grizzly Salvage and Traverse to find a Soulflayer while filling the yard with potential buffs.
I actually really like Street Wraith now. As Bo5dey mentioned, it has many benefit for this deck. Street Wraith will also make Grisly Salvage better since I can dig for 6 card instead of 5 if Street Wraith was in the choice. That basically the reason I'm choosing Wraith over Mishra's Bauble. I should be running both but I don't think I can find space for it. Currently experimenting with this list.
Jace and Tasigur seem rather questionale here too (especially the former), I'd consider adding Samut and Fauna Shaman instead.
Also if the deck plays 4x Commune + 4x Grisly.S the SB should mostly consist of creatures and enchantments (Detention Sphere, Stony Silence) imho.
The 5C manabase also offers the option to play highly flexible SB cards like Rakdos Charm/Jund Charm which can attack different matchups.
I think the Tasigur is relevant. It's an alternative threat as a 1 mana 4/5 that can occasionally serve as a card advantage engine while milling more keywords into your graveyard.
This deck tries to find Worship through cycling, and Commune with the Gods. This alleviate the worst thing that can happen which is not drawing Worship. Although Soulflayer doesn't get too big, flying, vigilance ( and sometimes doublestrike/indestructible) is a good quality that Troll Ascetic and Thrun, the Last Troll can't offer.
4x Soulflayer
4x Drogskol Reaver
4x Vengevine
4x Stinkweed Imp
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Insolent Neonate
4x Vault Skirge
2x Rhonas the Indomitable
spell x10
2x Traverse the Ulvenwald
4x Faithless Looting
4x Grisly Salvage
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Gemstone Mine
1x Cavern of Souls
2x Overgrown Tomb
1x Blood Crypt
1x Stomping Ground
2x Swamp
1x Forest
4x Thoughtseize
1x Surgical Extraction
4x Ancient Grudge
2x Golgari Charm
1x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Leyline of the Void
Testing this deck currently on MO. I think 2 Traverse the Ulvenwald is the right number since having too many of them in open hand is not great especially without delirium. Vengevine is in the list mainly for haste, but it also a great alternative win-con. I chose combination of creatures that will give the most flexibility for Soulflayer and Vengevine. I've been contemplating on replacing Drogskol Reaver with Chromanticore to make delirium more consistent, but double strike flying lifelink is hard to give up.
edit: update
4x Soulflayer
4x Lotleth Troll
4x Rhonas the Indomitable
4x Samut, Voice of Dissent
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Chromanticore
1x Drogskol Reaver
spell x15
4x Traverse the Ulvenwald
4x Faithless Looting
4x Grisly Salvage
2x Collective Brutality
1x Darkblast
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Wooded Foothills
1x Cavern of Souls
2x Overgrown Tomb
1x Blood Crypt
1x Stomping Ground
2x Swamp
1x Forest
4x Thoughtseize
1x Surgical Extraction
4x Ancient Grudge
1x Golgari Charm
1x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Blood Moon
1x Damnation
4x Soulflayer
4x Lotleth Troll
4x Sylvan Caryatid
2x Rhonas the Indomitable
4x Samut, Voice of Dissent
4x Chromanticore
3x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1x Spellskite
Spell x14
4x Traverse the Ulvenwald
4x Faithless Looting
3x Grisly Salvage
2x Collective Brutality
1x Darkblast
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Wooded Foothills
1x Cavern of Souls
2x Overgrown Tomb
1x Blood Crypt
1x Stomping Ground
2x Swamp
1x Forest
4x Thoughtseize
1x Surgical Extraction
4x Ancient Grudge
1x Golgari Charm
1x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Blood Moon
1x Damnation
I have decided to keep the number of Gods at 2 since they weren't as reliable as I thought. They might be worth a few spot in sideboard against non-blue, non-white deck since they can serve as psuedo-hexproof. It might even be a decent sideboard plan against graveyard hate.
Playing Traverse the Ulvenwald is much more consistent with inclusion of artifact creatures. I have tried a few decklist with only Chromanticore but it was not consistent at achieving delirium. This list is missing Drogskol Reaver which was my all-time favorite ability enabler for Soulflayer but it was not a great combination with Chromanticore or Sphinx of the Steel Wind so it been replaced by Samut, Voice of Dissent.
I'm finally content with this list and it should last for a while, at least until next expansion comes out.
Love this deck. A ton. Played Chromantiflayer when it was standard legal. Any thoughts on running something like Ancient Ziggurat to be able to hard cast the fatties in case of grave hate? What's plan B against grave hate?
-2 Rhonas the Indomitable
-1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
-1 Spellskite
+2 Hazoret the Fervent
+2 Nameless Inversion
Replacing Nameless Inversion with artifact creature shouldn't hurt delirium at all since it has tribal and instant. There might be a circumstance where Sphinx would of been better then Nameless Inversion in graveyard, but Soulflayer can benefit from it's pump effect. Soulflayer with double strike and Nameless Inversion can deal lot of damage. Not to mention it can deal with Scavenging Ooze early game.
0-2 Merfolk
both game screwed by Spreading Seas.
1-2 Eldrazi Tron
made a fatal misplay on game 3.
2-1 Bant Eldrazi
favourable match-up that can't deal with Soulflayer once it in play.
2-0 BW token
another match-up that can't deal with Soulflayer, Lotleth Troll did decent damage too.
Nameless Inversion wasn't as useful, I'll probably replace one for another Collective Brutality or something else.
4x Soulflayer
4x Lotleth Troll
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Chromanticore
2x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
4x Samut, Voice of Dissent
2x Hazoret the Fervent
Spell x15
4x Traverse the Ulvenwald
4x Faithless Looting
4x Grisly Salvage
3x Collective Brutality
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Bloodstained Mire
1x Wooded Foothills
4x Gemstone Mine
1x Cavern of Souls
2x Overgrown Tomb
1x Blood Crypt
1x Stomping Ground
2x Swamp
1x Forest
4x Thoughtseize
1x Surgical Extraction
4x Ancient Grudge
1x Golgari Charm
1x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Pithing Needle
1x Darkblast
Currently testing this list.
4x Soulflayer
4x Lotleth Troll
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Chromanticore
4x Samut, Voice of Dissent
2x Hazoret the Fervent
1x Drogskol Reaver
1x Ghor-Clan Rampager
Spell x15
4x Traverse the Ulvenwald
4x Faithless Looting
4x Grisly Salvage
3x Collective Brutality
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Bloodstained Mire
1x Wooded Foothills
4x Gemstone Mine
1x Cavern of Souls
2x Overgrown Tomb
1x Blood Crypt
1x Stomping Ground
2x Swamp
1x Forest
4x Thoughtseize
1x Surgical Extraction
4x Ancient Grudge
1x Golgari Charm
1x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Pithing Needle
1x Darkblast
Changes
-2 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
+1 Drogskol Reaver
+1 Ghor-Clan Rampager
Here's an update. I decided to add Ghor-Clan Rampager because it a searchable pump spell with Grisly Salvage and Traverse the Ulvenwald. There were many situation where Soulflayer only delved Samut, Voice of Dissent and Sylvan Caryatid which lacks evasion. I added Drogskol Reaver because more double strike enablers should make Ghor-Clan more valuable.
Decided to take a break from my mainstay Dredge deck and sleeve up a Soulflayer deck for Thursday Night Modern at the local shop. Did I do well? Hell no. Did I have fun? Hell yes. I finished 1-3 in matches, but a misplay and a poor draw away from finishing 3-1 (details to follow). The deck worked a lot better than I had anticipated, which was a pleasant surprise. Enough so that I might even play it again sometime. Heh. Anyway, while this isn't really a testament of success or "this is what you should do," I figured I would at least share my experience for any potential benefit others might gain from it.
4x Birds of Paradise
2x Drogskol Reaver
1x Hazoret the Fervent
4x Lightning Runner
3x Lotleth Troll
4x Soulflayer
4x Street Wraith
4x Sylvan Caryatid
3x Vampire Nighthawk
Other Spells [12]
4x Faithless Looting
4x Grisly Salvage
4x Tainted Strike
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Wooded Foothills
2x Windswept Heath
2x Blooming Marsh
2x Swamp
2x Blood Crypt
2x Overgrown Tomb
1x Stomping Ground
2x Abrupt Decay
2x Ancient Grudge
2x Collective Brutality
1x Darkblast
1x Golgari Charm
1x Gnaw to the Bone
3x Nihil Spellbomb
3x Thoughtseize
*Disclaimers*: I would run 4x Samut, Voice of Dissent over the Lightning Runners, but I didn't have them and vigilance wasn't important enough to warrant purchasing them just for the night. Also, in regards to the manabase, I would ideally be running Verdant Catacombs over the Windswept Heaths, but I don't own any Catacombs at the moment. Sideboard was thrown together before the event.
Round 1: Dan on UB Mill (0-2)
Game 1
I'm able to get a Soulflayer out with double strike, haste, and hexproof by T3 but he stonewalls it with Lingering Souls tokens. An Archive Trap, Mesmeric Orb, and Mind Funeral later, and I'm out of cards.
- In: 3x Thoughtseize, 2x Collective Brutality, 2x Abrupt Decay
- Out: 4x Grisly Salvage, 3x Vampire Nighthawk
Game 2
I cast Thoughtseize immediately to see a pair of Surgical Extraction and Hedron Crab. I grab one Extraction with another Thoughtseize in hand ready to snag the other one. His Crab mills my Birds of Paradise which gets surgically extracted. I deploy a Lotleth Troll since I no longer have an Extraction to worry about and get some pressure going. He plays a Wall of Omens and mills me again with Crab, turning over one of my Soulflayers which promptly gets hit by a THIRD Surgical Extraction. It's an uphill battle at this point. I'm able to get Hazoret the Fervent in play, but he Path to Exiles my Troll and I get milled with him at 5.
Round 2: Aaron on Wizards & Taxes (0-2)
Game 1
He casts Thalia, Guardian of Thraben to slow me down a turn, but I cast a Turn 4 Soulflayer with double strike, haste, hexproof, deathtouch, lifelink, and flying. I swing in and he has no blocks or Aether Vial tricks, so I cast Tainted Strike before damage and he scoops 'em up. After the game, he remembers that I needed to pay an additional mana on my Tainted Strike for Thalia's tax, so I wouldn't have been able to cast it. I had a 4th land in hand but didn't play it (like a dumbass) so I could have payed for the tax effect. Despite winning, I concede the game to him to make up for the error.
- In: 2x Abrupt Decay, 3x Thoughtseize
- Out: 4x Birds of Paradise, 1x Hazoret the Fervent
Game 2
This one was a blowout. I Turn 1 Thoughtseize to take away a Meddling Mage, but he top-decks a Rest In Peace for his Turn 2 play and it's all downhill from there.
We ended up playing a Game 3 for fun and I combo killed him on Turn 4. Next time I'll remember to pay my taxes.
Round 3: Kyle on Dredge (2-0)
Game 1
I'm on the play and start setting things up with a Faithless Looting. He starts with an Insolent Neonate and his dredge hits a Narcomoeba but nothing else. I cast another Looting and a Birds of Paradise on Turn 2. He dredges a bit, hits a Bloodghast and swings in with the jellyfish. I untap, cast a Soulflayer with double strike, haste, hexproof, and some other stuff, and cast a Tainted Strike. Going to Game 2!
- In: 3x Nihil Spellbomb, 1x Golgari Charm
- Out: 4x Birds of Paradise
Game 2
I'm able to get a Turn 1 Nihil Spellbomb and crack it on Turn 3 in response to a Cathartic Reunion, hitting Conflagrate, Stinkweed Imp, Prized Amalgam and some other stuff. He's able to get a little dredge action going by casting a Life from the Loam and hits a Narcomoeba. I'm looking at two Soulflayers and a Tainted Strike. I cast the first 'flayer with double strike, flying, lifelink, and hexproof (no haste) and pass the turn. He dredges but is unable to get any more board presence. I follow up with the second 'flayer with double strike, haste, and hexproof. I swing with both. He can only block one and I have the infect kill.
Round 4: Joe on UW Tempo/Control (1-2)
Game 1
I'm on the play. Street Wraith into Faithless Looting and I'm setting up nicely. He plays an Island and passes. I untap, play a second land, cast Soulflayer with double strike, flying, lifelink, and hexproof. He scoops 'em up. Probably the first and last time I'll ever have a Turn 2 "kill."
- In: 3x Thoughtseize, 2x Collective Brutality
- Out: 4x Birds of Paradise, 1x Hazoret the Fervent
Game 2
This game was weird. I start off with Street Wraith and Faithless Looting again, but he starts Boomeranging my lands so I am never able to get more than two lands in play (and unfortunately didn't have the nut draw from Game 1). He deploys a Howling Mine, Gideon's Intervention naming Soulflayer, and throws down a Frost Titan a couple turns later so I scoop up.
- In: 2x Abrupt Decay
- Out: 2x Grisly Salvage
Game 3
On the play, Street Wraith into Street Wraith into Faithless Looting sets me up for success. I deploy an early Lotleth Troll (for lack of Soulflayer) but he's able to Remand it, and then bounce it after it resolves on the following turn. On Turn 6, he taps out for Frost Titan and I'm down to 7 life from self-inflicted damage and a few Snapcaster Mage beats. This is my window. If I top-deck a 'flayer, I win. Well, I don't draw a Soulflayer despite having gone about 25 cards deep into my deck thanks to Howling Mine. He swings for lethal, I cast Tainted Strike on the Titan to try and buy another turn but I don't have the mana to pay for Titan's countering ability and that's that.
Overall I had a great time playing the deck. The score might not reflect it, but it felt good getting those combo kills. A couple games came down to not having a Soulflayer when I needed one, and while I think Traverse the Ulvenwald could solve this problem, it's really difficult to turn on delirium in the deck's current configuration. I'm also considering Sigarda, Host of Herons for additional hexproof and being a castable threat on her own. My sideboarding was probably awful, but decisions mostly came down to how important I considered flying, lifelink, or indestructible. I also kept in mind that if I'm boarding in Turn 1 plays, I should board out Turn 1 plays, and that sort of thing. My list is definitely more of a combo deck, aiming to get that Turn 3 or Turn 4 kill out of nowhere.
tl;dr - Deck performed well despite the record not showing it. Caught many people by surprise (several "Did you say Soulflayer?!?!" from other tables) and stole a lot of games out of nowhere with combo kills. Much fun was had.
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
I miss playing Tainted Strike, it used to be my favorite pump spell. I wonder if I should reconsider using it since infect is less popular. I'm motivated to experiment with Tainted Strike again.
I always wished Soulflayer can gain landwalk ability from Street Wraith. If you are playing again would you still use Street Wraith?
I'll try to post more reports with details too even if I don't do well!
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
4x Soulflayer
4x Lotleth Troll
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Street Wraith
4x Samut, Voice of Dissent
4x Chromanticore
1x Drogskol Reaver
3x Ghor-Clan Rampager
Spell x12
4x Traverse the Ulvenwald
4x Faithless Looting
4x Grisly Salvage
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Gemstone Mine
1x Cavern of Souls
2x Overgrown Tomb
1x Blood Crypt
1x Stomping Ground
2x Swamp
1x Forest
2x Thoughtseize
1x Surgical Extraction
2x Collective Brutality
4x Ancient Grudge
1x Golgari Charm
1x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Pithing Needle
1x Darkblast
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
4x Soulflayer
4x Lotleth Troll
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Samut, Voice of Dissent
4x Chromanticore
1x Drogskol Reaver
3x Ghor-Clan Rampager
Spell x15
4x Traverse the Ulvenwald
4x Faithless Looting
4x Grisly Salvage
3x Collective Brutality
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Bloodstained Mire
1x Wooded Foothills
4x Gemstone Mine
1x Cavern of Souls
2x Overgrown Tomb
1x Blood Crypt
1x Stomping Ground
2x Swamp
1x Forest
2x Thoughtseize
1x Surgical Extraction
1x Collective Brutality
4x Ancient Grudge
1x Golgari Charm
1x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Pithing Needle
1x Darkblast
1x Hazoret the Fervent
Affinity 0-2
Bant Eldrazi 1-2
hmm maybe 3 collective brutality is too many.
I wish it worked that way, but Soulflayer can only inherit a specific set of keywords and Swampwalk is not one of them.
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
It's an interesting list that seems to focus more on making a hard-to-kill threat with Worship backup.
4 Birds of Paradise
1 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
4 Satyr Wayfinder
4 Sylvan Caryatid
1 Rhonas the Indomitable
2 Troll Ascetic
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
4 Chromanticore
4 Soulflayer
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Spells (7)
1 Path to Exile
4 Grisly Salvage
2 Lingering Souls
Enchantments (4)
4 Worship
Lands (23)
1 Blood Crypt
1 Breeding Pool
1 Flooded Strand
1 Forest
1 Godless Shrine
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Marsh Flats
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Plains
2 Polluted Delta
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
1 Swamp
1 Temple Garden
1 Watery Grave
3 Windswept Heath
3 Wooded Foothills
1 Fatal Push
1 Relic of Progenitus
2 Surgical Extraction
3 Thoughtseize
1 Blessed Alliance
1 Negate
2 Stony Silence
2 Fulminator Mage
1 Damnation
1 Leyline of Sanctity
Here is a link to the full article.
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
Nifty tactic for sure. It very inspiring. Only change I might consider is replacing Satyr Wayfinder or Grisly Salvage with Commune with the Gods.
I agree, especially with Worship, Commune seems much better than Satyr Wayfinder.
Grisly Salvage is probably too good to replace.
Lingering Souls and Path to Exile can probably be replaced with 3x Abrupt Decay for some (almost) catch-all removal which can deal with GY-hate.
Jace and Tasigur seem rather questionale here too (especially the former), I'd consider adding Samut and Fauna Shaman instead.
Also if the deck plays 4x Commune + 4x Grisly.S the SB should mostly consist of creatures and enchantments (Detention Sphere, Stony Silence) imho.
The 5C manabase also offers the option to play highly flexible SB cards like Rakdos Charm/Jund Charm which can attack different matchups.
Here is how I'd tweak the deck:
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Sylvan Caryatid
1 Fauna Shaman
1 Eternal Witness
1 Rhonas the Indomitable
2 Troll Ascetic
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
4 Chromanticore
1 Samut, Voice of Dissent
4 Soulflayer
Spells (11)
4 Commune with the Gods
4 Grisly Salvage
3 Abrupt Decay
Enchantments (3)
3 Worship
Lands (23)
1 Blood Crypt
1 Breeding Pool
1 Flooded Strand
1 Forest
1 Godless Shrine
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Marsh Flats
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Plains
2 Polluted Delta
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
1 Swamp
1 Temple Garden
1 Watery Grave
3 Windswept Heath
3 Wooded Foothills
3 Negate
2 Detention Sphere
2 Rakdos Charm
2 Blessed Alliance
1 Path to Exile
2 Stony Silence
2 Fulminator Mage
1 Jund Charm
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
4x Soulflayer
4x Geist of Saint Traft
4x Striped Riverwinder
4x Winged Shepherd
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Noble Hierarch
1x Oketra the True
Spell x14
4x Path to exile
4x Commune with the Gods
2x Lingering Souls
4x Worship
4x Misty Rainforest
4x Marsh Flats
4x Flooded Strand
1x Watery Grave
1x Godless Shrine
1x Hallowed Fountain
1x Breeding Pool
1x Temple Garden
1x Overgrown Tomb
1x Island
1x Plains
1x Forest
2x Scavenging Ooze
2x Thoughtseize
1x Negate
1x Celestial Purge
2x Mirran Crusader
2x Stony Silence
4x Fulminator Mage
1x Gisela, the Broken Blade
This deck tries to find Worship through cycling, and Commune with the Gods. This alleviate the worst thing that can happen which is not drawing Worship. Although Soulflayer doesn't get too big, flying, vigilance ( and sometimes doublestrike/indestructible) is a good quality that Troll Ascetic and Thrun, the Last Troll can't offer.
update 7/8/2017: deck edited