I've been playing with Spell Queller for a while now. First as a sideboard card, then two main, now the full set. I do like the fact that I'm now able to play entirely at instant speed (with the exception of Serum Visions). One matchup I seem to have a lot of trouble with is Bant Eldrazi though. What kind of sideboard or mainboard choices do you guys make with respect to this matchup? Normally, I would want to leave Queller in, but it interacts quite badly with Eldrazi Displacer and any sweepers you might board in.
I've been playing with Spell Queller for a while now. First as a sideboard card, then two main, now the full set. I do like the fact that I'm now able to play entirely at instant speed (with the exception of Serum Visions). One matchup I seem to have a lot of trouble with is Bant Eldrazi though. What kind of sideboard or mainboard choices do you guys make with respect to this matchup? Normally, I would want to leave Queller in, but it interacts quite badly with Eldrazi Displacer and any sweepers you might board in.
I don't ever take out spell queller. Maybe That's wrong. But I typically side out all of my counter magic (due to cavern).
I will be playing in an RPTQ on 12/4, and I'll most likely be piloting a UWR Flash deck (something similar to what I won a PPTQ with). I feel pretty comfortable with the bulk of the list, but there are a few flex cards and sideboard options I'm unsure about. Here's the list as it's currently configured:
I feel pretty comfortable with the spell configuration though Secure the Wastes occupies a flex spot. One possibility is returning to some number of Geist of Saint Traft (-Secure, -Queller) as this card is very good against Grixis and could help against Tron (which I normally just hope to fade). I've also seen Blade Splicer as a possibility, and that would shore up against the attrition decks. Some other possibilities instead of Secure include Archangel Avacyn, Sphinx's Revelation, or a third Cryptic. Of the decks I've personally played against locally, I've found the Bant Eldrazi Matchup to be particularly difficult.
I will be playing in an RPTQ on 12/4, and I'll most likely be piloting a UWR Flash deck (something similar to what I won a PPTQ with). I feel pretty comfortable with the bulk of the list, but there are a few flex cards and sideboard options I'm unsure about. Here's the list as it's currently configured:
I feel pretty comfortable with the spell configuration though Secure the Wastes occupies a flex spot. One possibility is returning to some number of Geist of Saint Traft (-Secure, -Queller) as this card is very good against Grixis and could help against Tron (which I normally just hope to fade). I've also seen Blade Splicer as a possibility, and that would shore up against the attrition decks. Some other possibilities instead of Secure include Archangel Avacyn, Sphinx's Revelation, or a third Cryptic. Of the decks I've personally played against locally, I've found the Bant Eldrazi Matchup to be particularly difficult.
I run a very similar list with +1 Resto, +1 Clique, +2 Negate, +2 Blade Splicer, -2 Electrolyze, -Mana Leaks and Remands (basically the Boggemes List that placed 11th at the SCG Columbus Open). I've been thinking a lot about subbing a Resto for an Archangel Avacyn. I think that reduces the impact on fast matchups (where Resto is pretty bad anyways) but could seriously improve the midrange matchups. I think Avacyn could really improve the Bant Eldrazi matchup since she can ambush a TKS or team up with a small creature to block a Reality Smasher.
This week I actually lost to both Tron and Lantern after taking out my Stony Silences and Crumble to Dusts for Angers and more Rest in Peaces... I can say that Lantern is pretty rough without the Stony Silences and I think that it's a tough matchup regardless since they board in Welding Jars (deals with Shatter effects) and have discard and Abrupt Decay to deal with Stony Silence. The Lantern player told me that Geist is probably Jeskai's best chance and I tend to agree here. Geist is also good against the new flavor of Tron (GW).
I like Blade Splicer because it blocks Etched Champion and has synergy with Resto. I will probably switch it out for Geist next week since I feel like the Affinity matchup is good enough without it and because all the Tron players at my LGS switched to GW. I like having Ghost Quarter over Lighthouse and the 4th Colonnade. GQ is really nice against those Infect hands where they have a nut draw (i.e. the only hands that can beat Jeskai) and gives you a small fighting chance against Tron G1 and Bant Eldrazi. I don't like Lighthouse too much since it doesn't do anything in fast matchups and after cutting the Remands/Leaks for Negate I feel like my answers are general enough for most situations so the looting is only really great against Jeskai/Grixis where you're both sitting there with full hands for much of the game. I like having 3 Colonnades which I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with- but Colonnade is definitely the plan B for this deck and I'd rather have untapped mana.
Also speaking about mana, I like running 3 Islands since you potentially have Cryptic mana through a Blood Moon.
The Lantern player told me that Geist is probably Jeskai's best chance and I tend to agree here. Geist is also good against the new flavor of Tron (GW).
This is what has me leaning towards bringing 2 Geist back in and also finding room for a Stony Silence in the SB. I have no idea what to expect at the RPTQ, but I'd like to not get blown out by Tron if I can help it. I feel like I'm sometimes overloaded on Spell Queller at the full set of 4, but when it's good, it's REAL good.
Mana Leak functions as a catch-all, so I'm a bit reluctant to get rid of them. How effective did you find Blade Splicer? Was it able to turn games around, or was it more or less just fine?
I agree with your assessment of Ghost Quarter over Lighthouse, but I'd feel better about the 3rd island if I didn't have the 3 Lightning Helix. It's a card I could see cutting to two.
The Lantern player told me that Geist is probably Jeskai's best chance and I tend to agree here. Geist is also good against the new flavor of Tron (GW).
This is what has me leaning towards bringing 2 Geist back in and also finding room for a Stony Silence in the SB. I have no idea what to expect at the RPTQ, but I'd like to not get blown out by Tron if I can help it. I feel like I'm sometimes overloaded on Spell Queller at the full set of 4, but when it's good, it's REAL good.
Mana Leak functions as a catch-all, so I'm a bit reluctant to get rid of them. How effective did you find Blade Splicer? Was it able to turn games around, or was it more or less just fine?
I agree with your assessment of Ghost Quarter over Lighthouse, but I'd feel better about the 3rd island if I didn't have the 3 Lightning Helix. It's a card I could see cutting to two.
Honestly I never feel overloaded on Spell Queller. The card is insane in multiples, since if the first one sticks the second one stops the opponent from peeling a removal spell off the top of their library. It's been pretty bonkers against linear decks that have trouble dealing with it (Infect/Affinity) and actually kinda okay even against Jeskai Nahiri since I have so many threats.
Honestly I've had no regrets about taking out my Mana Leaks and Remands for Negate. I've found that in most matchups I care most about non-creature spells (Plating, Nahiri, Through the Breach, Lili, etc.) and in the matchups I care most about creature spells (Eldrazi/Merfolk) they have Cavern anyways. I think it's a pretty solid plan to counter the really offensive non-creature spells with Negate and Bolt/Helix/Path the creatures that the opponent plays. I actually had one match against Jund where my opponent passed for several turns trying to get enough land to pay for a leak and resolve a spell and that was pretty awesome.
I only started running the Blade Splicer list this week but so far it's been pretty average. I only saw it against Jeskai control and Tron. Against Jeskai it ate two bolts so that was good and against Tron it was an OK clock, but he drew a path; again, Geist would have been way better here. This week's meta was kinda weird- I faced Lantern, Affinity, Tron, and Jeskai- there's usually more creature aggro and midrange so I'm thinking it probably shines there.
I have kind of a love hate relationship with Lightning Helix. It just feels like a really bad bolt most times I've casted it, but I've found that's what I've needed those times as well. I don't really see myself cutting it down to 2 since I like having that density of Burn and removal spells.
I went 4-1-1 in the swiss rounds losing to Jund in Rd 2. The draw was intentional as it allowed for a clean cut into the Top 8 for the two 13 pointers and six 12 pointers. There was only one round in the Top 8 as the last 4 remaining would all receive an invitation. I got matched up against Infect (which I was excited about), but found myself feeling pretty bad as he had it all in G1. I was able to scratch out G2 after mulling to a suspect 6 card hand (2 Steam Vents, Ghost Quarter, Negate, Runed Halo, Mana Leak). At one point I had to float blue off of Steam Vents, then Ghost Quarter to find a Plains to Path a lethal Blighted Agent with Negate backup! In G3 he was a bit light on land with Inkmoth as his only threat. He never had enough mana to activate Inkmoth and chip in for significant damage while protecting it (I had Spell Queller and Snap chipping in for damage all the while). By the end I have a horde of Quellers and a Resto swinging in to prompt the concession, granting me the invite!
Overall, I thought the deck played really well, but I barely event noticed Geist of Saint Traft. It did win a race against Affinity, but I can't honestly recall if I ever attacked with a Geist in the rest of the tournament. Spell Queller was excellent....except against Jund. The list needs some adjustments to perform better against BGx I think. My matchups in the Swiss were:
Rd. 1 - GR Through the Breach Scapeshift (W) - I was not looking forward to this matchup, and I thought I was doomed after I lost the first game in which my opponent mulled to five. However, I was able to get the beat downs going in G2 with a Runed Halo on Valakut just in case. G3 was a longer affair, but I eventually got it after chipping in with fliers and keeping Cryptic up.
Rd. 2 - Jund (L) - Not much to say here as I was simply Junded out in both games. I recall a game in which I had an opener with Spell Snare, but my lands were basically guildgates (Colonnade, 2x Sulfur Falls) and I was unable to leave it up for the inevitable 2-drop.
Rd. 3 - Affinity (W) - I get absolutely steamrolled in the first game. For some reason, Geist of Saint Traft prompts my opponent to hold back a turn when he as Ravager and Master of Etherium out. I suicide the Geist while Resto is able to contribute to the beatdown which lets me steal it. G3 he's too slow and I have too much removal.
Rd. 4 - GR Tron (W) - Seeing Tron lands prompts the T2 Snapcaster beats and bolts to face. Spell Queller nabs some of setup cards and I'm able to win before he sets up completely. I try the same strategy in G2 and get him down to 2 life, but Ulamog and World Breaker cast triggers leave me with a sole Sacred Foundry while Ugin wipes my board. I sit there waiting to draw Lightning Bolt only to draw Lightning Helix. I finally draw a second land, but it's Polluted Delta which can't grab Mountain or Plains for the helix! I cast Serum Visions instead which yields another Helix and the Scry 2 shows a Bolt! Didn't matter in the end though because the Tron player had Nature's Claim the whole time. Stony Silence peels off the top in G3 to stop his turn 1 Chromatic Sphere. Opponent then proceeds to play 2 more spheres, a Spellskite, and multiple Expedition Map. Queller on a Sylvan Scrying stalls enough for my creatures to cross the finish line.
Rd. 5 - Esper Gifts (W) - This was a really neat deck! Our G1 lasts about 30 minutes, and I'm still not sure how I was able to weasel out a win. After he re-animates a Terastodon, the board state is 2 Beasts and 3 Souls tokens to my one Beast token (he destroyed my Colonnade). After scratching along by Helixing a beast and trading the other, I'm down to 2 life to his two Souls Tokens. Any missed draw step on my part would have ended it, but a chain of Cryptic Command and Snapcaster let me claw back and win (CC was cast 4 times). I'm able to land an early Rest in Peace in G2, and he never puts up much of an offense (a sole Monastery Mentor eats a bolt). Multiple Quellers and a bolt finish it off.
Rd. 6 - ID
This deck has been a little bit on the fringe, but it might pick up once people see that Spell Queller is great when you're opponents aren't interacting. Thanks for reading!
I'm not sure about EE and Blessed Alliance in the main but I'm sure Steve was teching against something. I took my list to Monday Night Modern at my LGS. Turnout was quite good tonight and I ended up going 3-1, with the fourth match person having to leave to catch his bus unfortunately.
Unfortunately the list is a little suboptimal as some of my cards are in the mail (I was upgrading some versions of the same card) so I was missing 2 Steam Vents and had to borrow a Hallowed Fountain and Sacred Foundry. In addition, the Eiganjo castle was probably not necessary and should have been a Sulfur Falls. I was also missing a Spell Snare which I will be taking out Logic Knot for when it arrives. I probably will switch out Timely in the board once I get my hands on some Blessed Alliances.
Round 1 vs UB Faeries:
Game 1 starts with me on a mull to 6 on the draw. I keep a decent hand of Clique, UW Lands, and Helix/Bolt and he slams a Turn 2 Bitterblossom that lets him run away with the game, turning on his Spellstutter Sprites, and crushes me handily with Cryptic Command up for my burn spells that I don't even get to cast until turn 5 due to being mana screwed.
Game 2 I board in Dispel, Verdict, and Staticaster (forgot Wear//Tear because I'm dumb) and board out Cliques and Cryptics. My opponent mulls to 4 and I keep a very sketchy 7 that I should have mulled (5 lands, Snapcaster, and Helix). He leads off with Inquisition, taking my Snapcaster and lands a Bitterblossom Turn 2 as I proceed to draw lands for the rest of the game.
The matchup seems pretty even as long as you keep Bitterblossom off the board. That card is a beating and made me wish I had 2 Spell Snares in my deck.
0-1
Round 2 vs Ad Nauseam:
I was playing against a newer player in this round so he made a few sketchy keeps.
Game 1 I keep a hand full of Burn spells not knowing what he was on and I don't get any creatures except for a single Resto, which just isn't enough to get me there before he combos out with a non-Lotus Bloom hand.
Game 2 I board in Dispel, 2 Stony Silence, and Wear//Tear and board out my Paths. Before the game I convince my opponent that I'm boarding in Pithing Needle and he boards in Echoing Truth. I keep a hand with 2 lands, some Burn, a Resto, and a Stony Silence. I was really digging for Geist in this matchup so if it wasn't for the Stony Silence I would have shipped it. My opponent leads off with a Leyline of Sanctity, which is kind of annoying but largely useless I feel, and no Lotus Bloom. I draw into Spell Queller and some counterspells and counter his plays while advancing my board. Eventually I top deck a Cryptic and cast it the turn before he gets enough mana to combo, bouncing the Leyline back to hand and enabling me to bolt and finish him off.
Game 3 I keep a decent hand with Geist, Queller, and Burn. My opponent once again starts off with 2 Leylines and suspends 2 Lotus Bloom Turn 1 into a Serum Visions. Wow. I lead off with a Colonnade and next turn I play an Island and cast 2 Serum Visions, finding a Dispel and a Negate. On turn 3 I draw a Clique, and on Turn 4 I misplay and cast it with Dispel backup, reasoning if I wait he will draw into Pact of Negations and he would eventually overwhelm my defenses so I wanted to tear apart his hand. I forget that he has a Leyline in play but fortunately he forgets too and after Slaughter Pacting my Clique reveals his hand, which has nothing but a Simian Spirit Guide, an Angel's Grace, and Land. I let him keep it all and start beating him down next turn with Geist and Dispel backup. From then I have 2 Negates and a Dispel in my hand and 5 mana and I just can't lose even though he finds the combo and a Pact.
The matchup is pretty rough but Geist really shines here if they don't have the god opener. I really wish I had Counterflux in my sideboard for this matchup.
1-1
Round 3 vs Jund:
Game 1 I mull to 6 on the play and keep a rough hand with 2 white sources and an island with path, Burn, Logic Knot and Cryptic. My opponent starts with a fetch and next turn into Grim Flayer while I get stuck on 2 Blue Sources and no red. He Thoughtseizes me taking my Logic Knot and next turn casts a Liliana and keeps landing threats while keeping me empty handed. I had a chance to come back in the game at one point when I drew a Snapcaster, but I didn't have the red mana to finish off Liliana.
Game 2 I board in 2 Blade Splicer, 2 Celestial Purge, and a Supreme Verdict and board out 2 Geist, Logic Knot, and 2 Helixes. Splicer was a super MVP this game. I kept a hand with Splicer, My opponent plays a Grim Flayer T2 and then I play Splicer T3. He minuses Lili and I sac the 1/1 Blade Splicer and my Token prevents his Grim Flayer from attacking. Next turn I swing in and he lets the Lilana die instead of chumping with Flayer. Next turn he tries to connect with Flayer but I path him and he tries to play a Bob, which gets bolted. The rest of the game I manage to control his threats and flash in some fliers and eventually he kills himself with the trigger from another Bob he played after I swing in with the team and Colonnade.
Game 3 I keep an insane hand with Queller, Path, Clique, and 2 Celestial Purge. My opponent again has Turn 2 Flayer. Turn 3 he resolves a Liliana (a misplay on his part as he later told me, since he had a Thoughtseize and another Flayer in hand and should have led with that). He pluses Liliana and I pitch a land, after which I Celestial Purge the Liliana. He plays a Bob the next turn which gets pathed and then he's stuck in top deck mode soon after as I remove his creatures. He ends up getting flooded and his last relevant card was a bolt that got Spell Quellered (he's really good when your opponent is top decking).
I've been pretty scared of Jund ever since I started playing Modern but I really enjoyed the matchup with this deck. I'll be getting Ancestral Visions in the mail along with the rest of my cards so I think the matchup can only get better. Blade Splicer was insane against them and with all the burn and fliers in the deck it's easy to race them.
2-1
Round 4 vs BW Tokens:
My opponent scoops to me after we agree to split for packs since he had to catch the bus. I didn't want to be a douche by making him play it out.
3-1 '
This is the first time I actually got prizes with this deck! During the previous weeks I made lots of misplays that cost me games and matches but I'm getting the hang of it now and I love it. I'm still not sold on Geist or Blade Splicer; Geist was amazing vs Ad Nauseam and Splicer was awesome vs Jund. I guess I'll just have to keep trying them out every week and see what's best. I'm leaning towards Splicer being slightly better though. I originally thought Archangel Avacyn would be a nice addition to the deck in place of Restoration Angel, but honestly Angel felt clunky at 4 mana a lot of the time even though she was great and I can't imagine how difficult it would be to cast Avacyn reliably.
I agree with you that Avacyn is probably a little too clunky at 5 mana and double white. Queller and Geist really shine against Ad Nauseam. Although Spell Queller fails to hit Ad Nauseam, it does hit all the setup cards and cantrips which slows them down considerably.
U/B Faeries is a fairly even matchup, and you're right about Bitterblossom being the key card in the matchup. If it does resolve against you, then you have to find spots where you can pick off a lone faerie blocker or Cryptic their team so you can get a hit in with Geist or Colonnade. Your best path to victory will often be chaining a few burn spells.
During the previous weeks I made lots of misplays that cost me games and matches but I'm getting the hang of it now and I love it.
Decks like these require a few reps and knowledge of your opponents decks before you start seeing consistent success. It's a fun way to play for sure though!
I agree with you that Avacyn is probably a little too clunky at 5 mana and double white. Queller and Geist really shine against Ad Nauseam. Although Spell Queller fails to hit Ad Nauseam, it does hit all the setup cards and cantrips which slows them down considerably.
U/B Faeries is a fairly even matchup, and you're right about Bitterblossom being the key card in the matchup. If it does resolve against you, then you have to find spots where you can pick off a lone faerie blocker or Cryptic their team so you can get a hit in with Geist or Colonnade. Your best path to victory will often be chaining a few burn spells.
During the previous weeks I made lots of misplays that cost me games and matches but I'm getting the hang of it now and I love it.
Decks like these require a few reps and knowledge of your opponents decks before you start seeing consistent success. It's a fun way to play for sure though!
I apologize for how poorly my post was written since it was nearly 2 am and I was dead tired. I'm thinking about switching out a Restoration Angel for something like an Aven Mindcensor or possibly the Gideon, Ally of Zendikar that Steve Wilson ran.
Went 3-2 and made the cut into top 4 (there were only 11 people).
R1 Burn - Holy ***** is this an easy matchup. lol. Win 2-0
R2 Eldrazi Death + Taxes - Very tough matchup, lost 2-1.
G3 he went T3 Though Knot, T4 Thought-Knot, T5 Reality Smasher. Ban Temple.
R3 UWR Control w/ TiTi + AV, friend of mine - Win 2-0
Typical UWR grindy mirror match. I've played him hundreds of times, this feels in my favor overall though
R4 Abzan Chord + Eldritch Evolution - Lose 1-0
G1 I lost the grind, g2 we went to time. 1:50 before the round goes to time I announce the time left and move straight to attacks because I had stabilized and knew i'd need that extra turn to win. At that point I knew he had only a seige rhino in hand and the blocks were obvious. he spends the whole 1:49 reading off my gy and bull*****ing about his options. then blocks immediately after the timer ends. This round should've been an overall draw.
R5 Burn again. 2-1 win.
G2 I made the mistake of tapping out at my end step to spell queller an Atarka's Command. Goblin guide > searing blaze > command + pump put me at 3 and there was no coming back.
After that I squeaked out top 4 and we split prizes.
Going forward, I'm swapping the MB EE for another resto, and debating on swapping the 3rd helix for something else. SB changes are going to be:
-1 Anger
-1 EE
-1 Celestial Purge
+1 Wear//Tear
+1 Runed Halo (when I can find one)
+1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Thoughts on a MB Nahiri (over the 3rd resto)? It's a great value PW, and searching up Snapcaster w/ her ult is pretty darn good. She's also great in that g1 she can scare your opponent into thinking you have emrakul in the deck, and perhaps SB in bad slots against us.
Look at the card. Now back to Jace. Now back to that card, now back to Jace! Sadly, it isn't Jace, but if it stopped being a junk rare and became relevant, it could act like it's Jace. Crack some Worldwake. What do you have? You have a Jace, the card you wish this card could be like. Look again. THE CARD IS NOW A $75 BILL. Anything possible when you play Magic with Jace and not junk rares. This is probably spam.
Went 3-2 and made the cut into top 4 (there were only 11 people).
R1 Burn - Holy ***** is this an easy matchup. lol. Win 2-0
R2 Eldrazi Death + Taxes - Very tough matchup, lost 2-1.
G3 he went T3 Though Knot, T4 Thought-Knot, T5 Reality Smasher. Ban Temple.
R3 UWR Control w/ TiTi + AV, friend of mine - Win 2-0
Typical UWR grindy mirror match. I've played him hundreds of times, this feels in my favor overall though
R4 Abzan Chord + Eldritch Evolution - Lose 1-0
G1 I lost the grind, g2 we went to time. 1:50 before the round goes to time I announce the time left and move straight to attacks because I had stabilized and knew i'd need that extra turn to win. At that point I knew he had only a seige rhino in hand and the blocks were obvious. he spends the whole 1:49 reading off my gy and bull*****ing about his options. then blocks immediately after the timer ends. This round should've been an overall draw.
R5 Burn again. 2-1 win.
G2 I made the mistake of tapping out at my end step to spell queller an Atarka's Command. Goblin guide > searing blaze > command + pump put me at 3 and there was no coming back.
After that I squeaked out top 4 and we split prizes.
Going forward, I'm swapping the MB EE for another resto, and debating on swapping the 3rd helix for something else. SB changes are going to be:
-1 Anger
-1 EE
-1 Celestial Purge
+1 Wear//Tear
+1 Runed Halo (when I can find one)
+1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Thoughts on a MB Nahiri (over the 3rd resto)? It's a great value PW, and searching up Snapcaster w/ her ult is pretty darn good. She's also great in that g1 she can scare your opponent into thinking you have emrakul in the deck, and perhaps SB in bad slots against us.
I've been thinking back and forth about cutting the 3rd Resto so I couldn't dream of running a Nahiri. It feels like most of my games are won off of removal, Queller, and Clique. The games where Resto gets in are usually games that I've won already or Midrange matchups. I toyed with the idea of running a Gideon, Ally of Zendikar in the main, but I feel like not only does he go against the deck's flash playstyle but he is only good against the BGx and Control matchups.
I've also been thinking a lot about Blade Splicer. I never feel good casting this gal. I know in theory she's good because she provides value with Resto but I've never had that happen. Most of the benefit is in the 3/3 Golem and that gets Bolted almost every time I play her.
I'm actually a bit envious of how low to the ground the Grixis Delver decks are. I find that what I'm missing is an early clock vs a lot of decks like Tron and Ad Nauseam. I'm so hesitant to play anything on 3 against those decks since I want to be holding up countermagic.
Something I've been thinking about is a creature suite like this:
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
2 Young Pyromancer
2 Vendillion Clique
2 Restoration Angel : maybe -1 Resto +1 Young Pyromancer?
I think both are potentially viable, however, I think that UWR Delver is on the whole worse than Grixis Delver- they have discard, Collective Brutality, and Kolaghan's Command, while we have Helix and Spell Queller. On the other hand, Young Pyromancer in place of Blade Splicer could also be really good. She applies a lot of pressure very quickly where it's needed and creates chump blockers for defense as well. She also occupies a spot on the curve that doesn't compete with Spell Queller and Clique. I've just been very unimpressed with Blade Splicer and Geist seems so bad on defense in so many matchups.
he spends the whole 1:49 reading off my gy and bull*****ing about his options.
I would definitely have called a judge here. Nearly two minutes deciding blocks is definitely slow play.
The judge was sitting right next to him the whole time. I'm not even going to start on the long list of things wrong with that judge.
@encendi - after further thought, I've decided to try out an OG Gideon instead. Only seen it once so far when testing against affinity, but it instantly stabilized the game.
I don't know that I agree with Delver though, since we're only running around 23 spells. Seems about 5 spells too low to support him. There could be a build that drops Resto and some number of snaps/clique for him though.
Edit: also pretty sure I'll be running a second blessed Alliance mb too.
Look at the card. Now back to Jace. Now back to that card, now back to Jace! Sadly, it isn't Jace, but if it stopped being a junk rare and became relevant, it could act like it's Jace. Crack some Worldwake. What do you have? You have a Jace, the card you wish this card could be like. Look again. THE CARD IS NOW A $75 BILL. Anything possible when you play Magic with Jace and not junk rares. This is probably spam.
he spends the whole 1:49 reading off my gy and bull*****ing about his options.
I would definitely have called a judge here. Nearly two minutes deciding blocks is definitely slow play.
The judge was sitting right next to him the whole time. I'm not even going to start on the long list of things wrong with that judge.
@encendi - after further thought, I've decided to try out an OG Gideon instead. Only seen it once so far when testing against affinity, but it instantly stabilized the game.
I don't know that I agree with Delver though, since we're only running around 23 spells. Seems about 5 spells too low to support him. There could be a build that drops Resto and some number of snaps/clique for him though.
Edit: also pretty sure I'll be running a second blessed Alliance mb too.
I feel like going up in mana cost is not what our deck wants to be doing. I agree that Delver is not the best card for the deck but I see some potential in running Young Pyromancer or even Thing in the Ice in place of Blade Splicer.
he spends the whole 1:49 reading off my gy and bull*****ing about his options.
I would definitely have called a judge here. Nearly two minutes deciding blocks is definitely slow play.
The judge was sitting right next to him the whole time. I'm not even going to start on the long list of things wrong with that judge.
@encendi - after further thought, I've decided to try out an OG Gideon instead. Only seen it once so far when testing against affinity, but it instantly stabilized the game.
I don't know that I agree with Delver though, since we're only running around 23 spells. Seems about 5 spells too low to support him. There could be a build that drops Resto and some number of snaps/clique for him though.
Edit: also pretty sure I'll be running a second blessed Alliance mb too.
I feel like going up in mana cost is not what our deck wants to be doing. I agree that Delver is not the best card for the deck but I see some potential in running Young Pyromancer or even Thing in the Ice in place of Blade Splicer.
While that's true, I did also go up to 24 lands (4th colonnade) to help support him as a 5 drop. The thing I like about him is how versatile he is, in that he not only helps you when you're behind, but can help close out a game very quickly. There's no guarantee that i'll keep him in, but I'll definitely be testing him out for the next day or so.
I think thing in the ice is an awkward card to run in a list w/ spell queller. Blade splicer is another card I'm on the fence about, and might end up becoming a Geist of St. Traft, though splicer blocks really well, and does a great job at upgrading our 6+ bolts (block > first strike dmg > bolt before regular dmg).
Look at the card. Now back to Jace. Now back to that card, now back to Jace! Sadly, it isn't Jace, but if it stopped being a junk rare and became relevant, it could act like it's Jace. Crack some Worldwake. What do you have? You have a Jace, the card you wish this card could be like. Look again. THE CARD IS NOW A $75 BILL. Anything possible when you play Magic with Jace and not junk rares. This is probably spam.
Look at the card. Now back to Jace. Now back to that card, now back to Jace! Sadly, it isn't Jace, but if it stopped being a junk rare and became relevant, it could act like it's Jace. Crack some Worldwake. What do you have? You have a Jace, the card you wish this card could be like. Look again. THE CARD IS NOW A $75 BILL. Anything possible when you play Magic with Jace and not junk rares. This is probably spam.
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Jeskai Flash (with Spell Quller has effectively top 32ed three opens now.
It looks my secrete brew isn't so secret anymore : /
Twitter: twitter.com/axmanonline
Stream: twitch.tv/axman
Current Decks
Modern: Affinity
Standard: BW Control
Legacy: Death and Taxes :symw::symr:
Vintage: NA
I don't ever take out spell queller. Maybe That's wrong. But I typically side out all of my counter magic (due to cavern).
As far as cards that are good vs Eldrazi: Ancestral Vision, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Sphinx's Revelation, and Supreme Verdict are all excellent options vs Bant Eldrazi.
Twitter: twitter.com/axmanonline
Stream: twitch.tv/axman
Current Decks
Modern: Affinity
Standard: BW Control
Legacy: Death and Taxes :symw::symr:
Vintage: NA
4 Celestial Colonnade
4 Flooded Strand
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Arid Mesa
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Steam Vents
3 Islands
2 Plains
1 Mountain
1 Blighted Cataract
1 Mystic Gate
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
2 Restoration Angel
1 Archangel Avacyn
2 Torrential Gearhulk
Spells 22
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path to Exile
4 Serum Visions
2 Blessed Alliance
3 Lightning Helix
3 Cryptic Command
2 Sphinx's Revelation
I will be playing in an RPTQ on 12/4, and I'll most likely be piloting a UWR Flash deck (something similar to what I won a PPTQ with). I feel pretty comfortable with the bulk of the list, but there are a few flex cards and sideboard options I'm unsure about. Here's the list as it's currently configured:
3 Celestial Colonnade
4 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
3 Polluted Delta
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Steam Vents
2 Islands
1 Plains
1 Mountain
1 Ghost Quarter
Creatures 11
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
2 Restoration Angel
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path to Exile
4 Serum Visions
3 Lightning Helix
2 Cryptic Command
3 Mana Leak
2 Spell Snare
2 Electrolyze
1 Secure the Wastes
2 Runed Halo
2 Negate
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Blessed Alliance
1 Anger of the Gods
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Celestial Purge
1 Dispel
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Elsepth, Sun's Champion
1 Wear // Tear
1 Izzet Staticaster
I feel pretty comfortable with the spell configuration though Secure the Wastes occupies a flex spot. One possibility is returning to some number of Geist of Saint Traft (-Secure, -Queller) as this card is very good against Grixis and could help against Tron (which I normally just hope to fade). I've also seen Blade Splicer as a possibility, and that would shore up against the attrition decks. Some other possibilities instead of Secure include Archangel Avacyn, Sphinx's Revelation, or a third Cryptic. Of the decks I've personally played against locally, I've found the Bant Eldrazi Matchup to be particularly difficult.
Do you all think this list is leaving itself to weak to Tron and Lantern (I could throw a Stony Silence back in the SB)? I'm also wondering if I'd rather have Desolate Lighthouse instead of Ghost Quarter or the 4th Celestial Colonnade.
I run a very similar list with +1 Resto, +1 Clique, +2 Negate, +2 Blade Splicer, -2 Electrolyze, -Mana Leaks and Remands (basically the Boggemes List that placed 11th at the SCG Columbus Open). I've been thinking a lot about subbing a Resto for an Archangel Avacyn. I think that reduces the impact on fast matchups (where Resto is pretty bad anyways) but could seriously improve the midrange matchups. I think Avacyn could really improve the Bant Eldrazi matchup since she can ambush a TKS or team up with a small creature to block a Reality Smasher.
This week I actually lost to both Tron and Lantern after taking out my Stony Silences and Crumble to Dusts for Angers and more Rest in Peaces... I can say that Lantern is pretty rough without the Stony Silences and I think that it's a tough matchup regardless since they board in Welding Jars (deals with Shatter effects) and have discard and Abrupt Decay to deal with Stony Silence. The Lantern player told me that Geist is probably Jeskai's best chance and I tend to agree here. Geist is also good against the new flavor of Tron (GW).
I like Blade Splicer because it blocks Etched Champion and has synergy with Resto. I will probably switch it out for Geist next week since I feel like the Affinity matchup is good enough without it and because all the Tron players at my LGS switched to GW. I like having Ghost Quarter over Lighthouse and the 4th Colonnade. GQ is really nice against those Infect hands where they have a nut draw (i.e. the only hands that can beat Jeskai) and gives you a small fighting chance against Tron G1 and Bant Eldrazi. I don't like Lighthouse too much since it doesn't do anything in fast matchups and after cutting the Remands/Leaks for Negate I feel like my answers are general enough for most situations so the looting is only really great against Jeskai/Grixis where you're both sitting there with full hands for much of the game. I like having 3 Colonnades which I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with- but Colonnade is definitely the plan B for this deck and I'd rather have untapped mana.
Also speaking about mana, I like running 3 Islands since you potentially have Cryptic mana through a Blood Moon.
This is what has me leaning towards bringing 2 Geist back in and also finding room for a Stony Silence in the SB. I have no idea what to expect at the RPTQ, but I'd like to not get blown out by Tron if I can help it. I feel like I'm sometimes overloaded on Spell Queller at the full set of 4, but when it's good, it's REAL good.
Mana Leak functions as a catch-all, so I'm a bit reluctant to get rid of them. How effective did you find Blade Splicer? Was it able to turn games around, or was it more or less just fine?
I agree with your assessment of Ghost Quarter over Lighthouse, but I'd feel better about the 3rd island if I didn't have the 3 Lightning Helix. It's a card I could see cutting to two.
Honestly I never feel overloaded on Spell Queller. The card is insane in multiples, since if the first one sticks the second one stops the opponent from peeling a removal spell off the top of their library. It's been pretty bonkers against linear decks that have trouble dealing with it (Infect/Affinity) and actually kinda okay even against Jeskai Nahiri since I have so many threats.
Honestly I've had no regrets about taking out my Mana Leaks and Remands for Negate. I've found that in most matchups I care most about non-creature spells (Plating, Nahiri, Through the Breach, Lili, etc.) and in the matchups I care most about creature spells (Eldrazi/Merfolk) they have Cavern anyways. I think it's a pretty solid plan to counter the really offensive non-creature spells with Negate and Bolt/Helix/Path the creatures that the opponent plays. I actually had one match against Jund where my opponent passed for several turns trying to get enough land to pay for a leak and resolve a spell and that was pretty awesome.
I only started running the Blade Splicer list this week but so far it's been pretty average. I only saw it against Jeskai control and Tron. Against Jeskai it ate two bolts so that was good and against Tron it was an OK clock, but he drew a path; again, Geist would have been way better here. This week's meta was kinda weird- I faced Lantern, Affinity, Tron, and Jeskai- there's usually more creature aggro and midrange so I'm thinking it probably shines there.
I have kind of a love hate relationship with Lightning Helix. It just feels like a really bad bolt most times I've casted it, but I've found that's what I've needed those times as well. I don't really see myself cutting it down to 2 since I like having that density of Burn and removal spells.
3 Celestial Colonnade
4 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
3 Polluted Delta
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Steam Vents
2 Islands
1 Plains
1 Mountain
1 Ghost Quarter
Creatures 11
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
2 Restoration Angel
2 Geist of Saint Traft
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path to Exile
4 Serum Visions
3 Lightning Helix
2 Cryptic Command
3 Mana Leak
2 Spell Snare
1 Electrolyze
2 Runed Halo
2 Negate
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Blessed Alliance
1 Anger of the Gods
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Celestial Purge
1 Stony Silence
1 Dispel
1 Rest in Peace
1 Elsepth, Sun's Champion
1 Wear // Tear
1 Izzet Staticaster
I went 4-1-1 in the swiss rounds losing to Jund in Rd 2. The draw was intentional as it allowed for a clean cut into the Top 8 for the two 13 pointers and six 12 pointers. There was only one round in the Top 8 as the last 4 remaining would all receive an invitation. I got matched up against Infect (which I was excited about), but found myself feeling pretty bad as he had it all in G1. I was able to scratch out G2 after mulling to a suspect 6 card hand (2 Steam Vents, Ghost Quarter, Negate, Runed Halo, Mana Leak). At one point I had to float blue off of Steam Vents, then Ghost Quarter to find a Plains to Path a lethal Blighted Agent with Negate backup! In G3 he was a bit light on land with Inkmoth as his only threat. He never had enough mana to activate Inkmoth and chip in for significant damage while protecting it (I had Spell Queller and Snap chipping in for damage all the while). By the end I have a horde of Quellers and a Resto swinging in to prompt the concession, granting me the invite!
Overall, I thought the deck played really well, but I barely event noticed Geist of Saint Traft. It did win a race against Affinity, but I can't honestly recall if I ever attacked with a Geist in the rest of the tournament. Spell Queller was excellent....except against Jund. The list needs some adjustments to perform better against BGx I think. My matchups in the Swiss were:
Rd. 1 - GR Through the Breach Scapeshift (W) - I was not looking forward to this matchup, and I thought I was doomed after I lost the first game in which my opponent mulled to five. However, I was able to get the beat downs going in G2 with a Runed Halo on Valakut just in case. G3 was a longer affair, but I eventually got it after chipping in with fliers and keeping Cryptic up.
Rd. 2 - Jund (L) - Not much to say here as I was simply Junded out in both games. I recall a game in which I had an opener with Spell Snare, but my lands were basically guildgates (Colonnade, 2x Sulfur Falls) and I was unable to leave it up for the inevitable 2-drop.
Rd. 3 - Affinity (W) - I get absolutely steamrolled in the first game. For some reason, Geist of Saint Traft prompts my opponent to hold back a turn when he as Ravager and Master of Etherium out. I suicide the Geist while Resto is able to contribute to the beatdown which lets me steal it. G3 he's too slow and I have too much removal.
Rd. 4 - GR Tron (W) - Seeing Tron lands prompts the T2 Snapcaster beats and bolts to face. Spell Queller nabs some of setup cards and I'm able to win before he sets up completely. I try the same strategy in G2 and get him down to 2 life, but Ulamog and World Breaker cast triggers leave me with a sole Sacred Foundry while Ugin wipes my board. I sit there waiting to draw Lightning Bolt only to draw Lightning Helix. I finally draw a second land, but it's Polluted Delta which can't grab Mountain or Plains for the helix! I cast Serum Visions instead which yields another Helix and the Scry 2 shows a Bolt! Didn't matter in the end though because the Tron player had Nature's Claim the whole time. Stony Silence peels off the top in G3 to stop his turn 1 Chromatic Sphere. Opponent then proceeds to play 2 more spheres, a Spellskite, and multiple Expedition Map. Queller on a Sylvan Scrying stalls enough for my creatures to cross the finish line.
Rd. 5 - Esper Gifts (W) - This was a really neat deck! Our G1 lasts about 30 minutes, and I'm still not sure how I was able to weasel out a win. After he re-animates a Terastodon, the board state is 2 Beasts and 3 Souls tokens to my one Beast token (he destroyed my Colonnade). After scratching along by Helixing a beast and trading the other, I'm down to 2 life to his two Souls Tokens. Any missed draw step on my part would have ended it, but a chain of Cryptic Command and Snapcaster let me claw back and win (CC was cast 4 times). I'm able to land an early Rest in Peace in G2, and he never puts up much of an offense (a sole Monastery Mentor eats a bolt). Multiple Quellers and a bolt finish it off.
Rd. 6 - ID
This deck has been a little bit on the fringe, but it might pick up once people see that Spell Queller is great when you're opponents aren't interacting. Thanks for reading!
Apparently the deck made top 8 at the SCG Open Modern Classic Atlanta so I think the deck definitely has legs.
Jeskai Flash by Steve Wilson
I'm not sure about EE and Blessed Alliance in the main but I'm sure Steve was teching against something. I took my list to Monday Night Modern at my LGS. Turnout was quite good tonight and I ended up going 3-1, with the fourth match person having to leave to catch his bus unfortunately.
3 Celestial Colonnade
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
3 Flooded Strand
1 Arid Mesa
2 Glacial Fortress
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Eiganjo Castle
3 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plain
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Spell Queller
3 Restoration Angel
Spells 21
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path to Exile
4 Serum Visions
3 Lightning Helix
1 Spell Snare
1 Logic Knot
2 Negate
2 Cryptic Command
1 Supreme Verdict
2 Celestial Purge
1 Anger of the Gods
2 Rest in Peace
1 Dispel
1 Wear // Tear
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Stony Silence
2 Blade Splicer
2 Izzet Staticaster
Unfortunately the list is a little suboptimal as some of my cards are in the mail (I was upgrading some versions of the same card) so I was missing 2 Steam Vents and had to borrow a Hallowed Fountain and Sacred Foundry. In addition, the Eiganjo castle was probably not necessary and should have been a Sulfur Falls. I was also missing a Spell Snare which I will be taking out Logic Knot for when it arrives. I probably will switch out Timely in the board once I get my hands on some Blessed Alliances.
Round 1 vs UB Faeries:
Game 1 starts with me on a mull to 6 on the draw. I keep a decent hand of Clique, UW Lands, and Helix/Bolt and he slams a Turn 2 Bitterblossom that lets him run away with the game, turning on his Spellstutter Sprites, and crushes me handily with Cryptic Command up for my burn spells that I don't even get to cast until turn 5 due to being mana screwed.
Game 2 I board in Dispel, Verdict, and Staticaster (forgot Wear//Tear because I'm dumb) and board out Cliques and Cryptics. My opponent mulls to 4 and I keep a very sketchy 7 that I should have mulled (5 lands, Snapcaster, and Helix). He leads off with Inquisition, taking my Snapcaster and lands a Bitterblossom Turn 2 as I proceed to draw lands for the rest of the game.
The matchup seems pretty even as long as you keep Bitterblossom off the board. That card is a beating and made me wish I had 2 Spell Snares in my deck.
0-1
Round 2 vs Ad Nauseam:
I was playing against a newer player in this round so he made a few sketchy keeps.
Game 1 I keep a hand full of Burn spells not knowing what he was on and I don't get any creatures except for a single Resto, which just isn't enough to get me there before he combos out with a non-Lotus Bloom hand.
Game 2 I board in Dispel, 2 Stony Silence, and Wear//Tear and board out my Paths. Before the game I convince my opponent that I'm boarding in Pithing Needle and he boards in Echoing Truth. I keep a hand with 2 lands, some Burn, a Resto, and a Stony Silence. I was really digging for Geist in this matchup so if it wasn't for the Stony Silence I would have shipped it. My opponent leads off with a Leyline of Sanctity, which is kind of annoying but largely useless I feel, and no Lotus Bloom. I draw into Spell Queller and some counterspells and counter his plays while advancing my board. Eventually I top deck a Cryptic and cast it the turn before he gets enough mana to combo, bouncing the Leyline back to hand and enabling me to bolt and finish him off.
Game 3 I keep a decent hand with Geist, Queller, and Burn. My opponent once again starts off with 2 Leylines and suspends 2 Lotus Bloom Turn 1 into a Serum Visions. Wow. I lead off with a Colonnade and next turn I play an Island and cast 2 Serum Visions, finding a Dispel and a Negate. On turn 3 I draw a Clique, and on Turn 4 I misplay and cast it with Dispel backup, reasoning if I wait he will draw into Pact of Negations and he would eventually overwhelm my defenses so I wanted to tear apart his hand. I forget that he has a Leyline in play but fortunately he forgets too and after Slaughter Pacting my Clique reveals his hand, which has nothing but a Simian Spirit Guide, an Angel's Grace, and Land. I let him keep it all and start beating him down next turn with Geist and Dispel backup. From then I have 2 Negates and a Dispel in my hand and 5 mana and I just can't lose even though he finds the combo and a Pact.
The matchup is pretty rough but Geist really shines here if they don't have the god opener. I really wish I had Counterflux in my sideboard for this matchup.
1-1
Round 3 vs Jund:
Game 1 I mull to 6 on the play and keep a rough hand with 2 white sources and an island with path, Burn, Logic Knot and Cryptic. My opponent starts with a fetch and next turn into Grim Flayer while I get stuck on 2 Blue Sources and no red. He Thoughtseizes me taking my Logic Knot and next turn casts a Liliana and keeps landing threats while keeping me empty handed. I had a chance to come back in the game at one point when I drew a Snapcaster, but I didn't have the red mana to finish off Liliana.
Game 2 I board in 2 Blade Splicer, 2 Celestial Purge, and a Supreme Verdict and board out 2 Geist, Logic Knot, and 2 Helixes. Splicer was a super MVP this game. I kept a hand with Splicer, My opponent plays a Grim Flayer T2 and then I play Splicer T3. He minuses Lili and I sac the 1/1 Blade Splicer and my Token prevents his Grim Flayer from attacking. Next turn I swing in and he lets the Lilana die instead of chumping with Flayer. Next turn he tries to connect with Flayer but I path him and he tries to play a Bob, which gets bolted. The rest of the game I manage to control his threats and flash in some fliers and eventually he kills himself with the trigger from another Bob he played after I swing in with the team and Colonnade.
Game 3 I keep an insane hand with Queller, Path, Clique, and 2 Celestial Purge. My opponent again has Turn 2 Flayer. Turn 3 he resolves a Liliana (a misplay on his part as he later told me, since he had a Thoughtseize and another Flayer in hand and should have led with that). He pluses Liliana and I pitch a land, after which I Celestial Purge the Liliana. He plays a Bob the next turn which gets pathed and then he's stuck in top deck mode soon after as I remove his creatures. He ends up getting flooded and his last relevant card was a bolt that got Spell Quellered (he's really good when your opponent is top decking).
I've been pretty scared of Jund ever since I started playing Modern but I really enjoyed the matchup with this deck. I'll be getting Ancestral Visions in the mail along with the rest of my cards so I think the matchup can only get better. Blade Splicer was insane against them and with all the burn and fliers in the deck it's easy to race them.
2-1
Round 4 vs BW Tokens:
My opponent scoops to me after we agree to split for packs since he had to catch the bus. I didn't want to be a douche by making him play it out.
3-1 '
This is the first time I actually got prizes with this deck! During the previous weeks I made lots of misplays that cost me games and matches but I'm getting the hang of it now and I love it. I'm still not sold on Geist or Blade Splicer; Geist was amazing vs Ad Nauseam and Splicer was awesome vs Jund. I guess I'll just have to keep trying them out every week and see what's best. I'm leaning towards Splicer being slightly better though. I originally thought Archangel Avacyn would be a nice addition to the deck in place of Restoration Angel, but honestly Angel felt clunky at 4 mana a lot of the time even though she was great and I can't imagine how difficult it would be to cast Avacyn reliably.
I agree with you that Avacyn is probably a little too clunky at 5 mana and double white. Queller and Geist really shine against Ad Nauseam. Although Spell Queller fails to hit Ad Nauseam, it does hit all the setup cards and cantrips which slows them down considerably.
U/B Faeries is a fairly even matchup, and you're right about Bitterblossom being the key card in the matchup. If it does resolve against you, then you have to find spots where you can pick off a lone faerie blocker or Cryptic their team so you can get a hit in with Geist or Colonnade. Your best path to victory will often be chaining a few burn spells.
Decks like these require a few reps and knowledge of your opponents decks before you start seeing consistent success. It's a fun way to play for sure though!
I apologize for how poorly my post was written since it was nearly 2 am and I was dead tired. I'm thinking about switching out a Restoration Angel for something like an Aven Mindcensor or possibly the Gideon, Ally of Zendikar that Steve Wilson ran.
4 Spell Queller
2 Blade Splicer
2 Vendillion Clique
2 Restoration Angel
4 Serum Visions
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path to Exile
3 Lightning Helix
1 Blessed Alliance
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Spell Snare
2 Negate
2 Cryptic Command
1 Runed Halo
1 Rest in Peace
1 Surgical Extraction
1 Anger of the Gods
1 Wrath of God
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Engineered Explosives
3 Ancestral Vision
2 Dispel
1 Wear//Tear
Went 3-2 and made the cut into top 4 (there were only 11 people).
R1 Burn - Holy ***** is this an easy matchup. lol. Win 2-0
R2 Eldrazi Death + Taxes - Very tough matchup, lost 2-1.
G3 he went T3 Though Knot, T4 Thought-Knot, T5 Reality Smasher. Ban Temple.
R3 UWR Control w/ TiTi + AV, friend of mine - Win 2-0
Typical UWR grindy mirror match. I've played him hundreds of times, this feels in my favor overall though
R4 Abzan Chord + Eldritch Evolution - Lose 1-0
G1 I lost the grind, g2 we went to time. 1:50 before the round goes to time I announce the time left and move straight to attacks because I had stabilized and knew i'd need that extra turn to win. At that point I knew he had only a seige rhino in hand and the blocks were obvious. he spends the whole 1:49 reading off my gy and bull*****ing about his options. then blocks immediately after the timer ends. This round should've been an overall draw.
R5 Burn again. 2-1 win.
G2 I made the mistake of tapping out at my end step to spell queller an Atarka's Command. Goblin guide > searing blaze > command + pump put me at 3 and there was no coming back.
After that I squeaked out top 4 and we split prizes.
Going forward, I'm swapping the MB EE for another resto, and debating on swapping the 3rd helix for something else. SB changes are going to be:
-1 Anger
-1 EE
-1 Celestial Purge
+1 Wear//Tear
+1 Runed Halo (when I can find one)
+1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Thoughts on a MB Nahiri (over the 3rd resto)? It's a great value PW, and searching up Snapcaster w/ her ult is pretty darn good. She's also great in that g1 she can scare your opponent into thinking you have emrakul in the deck, and perhaps SB in bad slots against us.
URURxUR
UWUWxUW
I would definitely have called a judge here. Nearly two minutes deciding blocks is definitely slow play.
URW Control
WBG Abzan
GRW Burn
EDH
GR Rosheen Meanderer
I've been thinking back and forth about cutting the 3rd Resto so I couldn't dream of running a Nahiri. It feels like most of my games are won off of removal, Queller, and Clique. The games where Resto gets in are usually games that I've won already or Midrange matchups. I toyed with the idea of running a Gideon, Ally of Zendikar in the main, but I feel like not only does he go against the deck's flash playstyle but he is only good against the BGx and Control matchups.
I've also been thinking a lot about Blade Splicer. I never feel good casting this gal. I know in theory she's good because she provides value with Resto but I've never had that happen. Most of the benefit is in the 3/3 Golem and that gets Bolted almost every time I play her.
I'm actually a bit envious of how low to the ground the Grixis Delver decks are. I find that what I'm missing is an early clock vs a lot of decks like Tron and Ad Nauseam. I'm so hesitant to play anything on 3 against those decks since I want to be holding up countermagic.
Something I've been thinking about is a creature suite like this:
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
2 Vendillion Clique
1 Restoration Angel
Or a creature suite like this:
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
2 Young Pyromancer
2 Vendillion Clique
2 Restoration Angel : maybe -1 Resto +1 Young Pyromancer?
I think both are potentially viable, however, I think that UWR Delver is on the whole worse than Grixis Delver- they have discard, Collective Brutality, and Kolaghan's Command, while we have Helix and Spell Queller. On the other hand, Young Pyromancer in place of Blade Splicer could also be really good. She applies a lot of pressure very quickly where it's needed and creates chump blockers for defense as well. She also occupies a spot on the curve that doesn't compete with Spell Queller and Clique. I've just been very unimpressed with Blade Splicer and Geist seems so bad on defense in so many matchups.
The judge was sitting right next to him the whole time. I'm not even going to start on the long list of things wrong with that judge.
@encendi - after further thought, I've decided to try out an OG Gideon instead. Only seen it once so far when testing against affinity, but it instantly stabilized the game.
I don't know that I agree with Delver though, since we're only running around 23 spells. Seems about 5 spells too low to support him. There could be a build that drops Resto and some number of snaps/clique for him though.
Edit: also pretty sure I'll be running a second blessed Alliance mb too.
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I feel like going up in mana cost is not what our deck wants to be doing. I agree that Delver is not the best card for the deck but I see some potential in running Young Pyromancer or even Thing in the Ice in place of Blade Splicer.
While that's true, I did also go up to 24 lands (4th colonnade) to help support him as a 5 drop. The thing I like about him is how versatile he is, in that he not only helps you when you're behind, but can help close out a game very quickly. There's no guarantee that i'll keep him in, but I'll definitely be testing him out for the next day or so.
I think thing in the ice is an awkward card to run in a list w/ spell queller. Blade splicer is another card I'm on the fence about, and might end up becoming a Geist of St. Traft, though splicer blocks really well, and does a great job at upgrading our 6+ bolts (block > first strike dmg > bolt before regular dmg).
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1. Did you really upload a pdf?
2. That list is all over the place, formatting is the worst.
3. Is that the list from Australia?
Edit: holy ***** just saw the top 8 list and they posted all the decklists as pdfs w/ the lists sorted by color.
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