True, but the control game is better though? I will try the BTL version myself. But how to play it? Black or White? Is snapcaster and lightning Bolt good enough?
With the current meta i have stated going away from bolt, relying more on bring to light to find wrath to reset the board or timely reinforcements for the life gain and blockers. I hate electrolyze, I feel it is too slow and basically cycles. I like 3x worldly council and more ramp.
I'm by no means a devout Scapeshift player, but I play control religiously and I have dabbled around with Shift before, including traditional RUG (pre-Bring to Light's printing), RUGw Shift (BTL Version), etc.
Anyways, I was talking to a local Shift player about the deck and pointing out that I didn't play it due to the crappy late game topdecks of ramp spells. Immediately, I began brewing and got this list (it had white for BTL and Path at first, but it became increasingly unecessary through testing):
This list crushed UR Twin, was about 50-50 against Burn, and 3-0'd Jund before I had to leave. Main differences: no ramp, 4x Think Twice, enought room for the set of Bolts+2 sweepers+extra counters, does so good vs BGx now. A resolved lili doesn't hurt as much due to Think Twice, and discard usually sees Think Twice/Anticipate in hand, making me harder to play around.
The guy I was talking to said I had "revolutionized" Scapeshift, and while I'm not sure that's true, the list is incredibly solid. I figured it'd be a waste not to share it.
I guess I should explain the theory behind the list -- Think Twice and other favorable exchanges (Cryptic, wraths) put you up a card and let you make land drops every turn while maintaining parody. Think Twice is very synergistic with the deck (Izzet Charm, draw two and discard Think Twice? Hell yes.) and also improves the BGx matchup. Cutting ramp allows the deck to always have live topdecks.
Burn still seemed like a rough match, but Spell Snare and the full complement of Bolts helps there. Against other controlling decks, you have things to cast at their end step to keep busy, Think Twice is exactly where you want be un those matchups.
TheAnnihilator0798: without ramp have you had any difficulty casting Cryptic Command? What are your thoughts on Repeal replacing some copies of Think Twice?
TheAnnihilator0798: without ramp have you had any difficulty casting Cryptic Command? What are your thoughts on Repeal replacing some copies of Think Twice?
I haven't had any issues with Cryptics other than one double cryptic hand that had no early interaction. Luckily, this deck can pull out of a mull pretty quickly -- I wouldn't recommend going to 5 cards tho. In this build Cryptic functions more like it did in UWR -- it basically locks down everything t4 and after. The mana has been fine, with Misty Rainforest and Flooded Grove making perfect mana. I'll admit that T3 Cryptic was nice, but T4 Cryptic is just fine too -- especially in concert with Spell Snare, Bolt, and Remand holding up the early turns. That being said, I sure wish there was room for a Scalding Tarn or two. Maybe the Tec Edge should be cut?
About Repeal, I'd be far more inclined to cut Dismember or Anticipate than Think Twice, because Think Twice is actual card advantage rather than just tempo advantage. I feel like real CA is much more important in this controlling of a Shift build.
As a side note, I was fenced over including Dismember, but it couldn't be Roast since Roast is a Sorcery, which makes it weak against Twin.
As a hard control deck, I think this is a really great list. You can probably stand to goto 3 Snaps and 3 CC, like traditional modern control lists. Also digging the Spreading Seas in the board.
This looks like a die hard control deck. I just bought myself the deck. It feels great! The list i play is the scapeshift list of last weekend SCG. It went 13th, so I think it is oke.
This looks like a die hard control deck. I just bought myself the deck. It feels great! The list i play is the scapeshift list of last weekend SCG. It went 13th, so I think it is oke.
This looks like a die hard control deck. I just bought myself the deck. It feels great! The list i play is the scapeshift list of last weekend SCG. It went 13th, so I think it is oke.
It may be, but what would I replace? I'm obviously not replacing any of the ramp spells currently - Search for Tomorrow, Farseek, Sakura Tribe Elder. This card is essentially a ramp spell that requires set up, with an upside of gaining life. I don't want to cut any of my card filter/draw/interaction for it at 3cmc.
Maybe a one of to replace BTL lists that run Hunting Wilds? Targeting this with BTL may not be so bad.
May be a good side board card against land destruction decks to get back Valakut.
Pulse of Murasa is a pretty good anti-Burn card. It's great with Snapcaster since you get to do tricks similar to Kolaghan's Command but with more lifegain. Bringing back a Steve or a fetch is fine too, but you definitely need to actually care about the lifegain to play the card.
My guess is it doesn't replace Baloth since Baloth is also so good against Liliana, but it is an interesting card.
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Anyways, I was talking to a local Shift player about the deck and pointing out that I didn't play it due to the crappy late game topdecks of ramp spells. Immediately, I began brewing and got this list (it had white for BTL and Path at first, but it became increasingly unecessary through testing):
2x Breeding Pool
4x Steam Vents
4x Stomping Ground
1x Mountain
1x Cinder Glade
2x Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
3x Island
2x Forest
4x Misty Raibforest
1x Tectonic Edge
1x Flooded Grove
Removal (10)
4x Ligtning Bolt
2x Electrolyze
1x Firespout
1x Anger of the Gods
2x Dismember
4x Remand
4x Cryptic Command
2x Logic Knot
2x Spell Snare
Utility (10)
2x Snapcaster Mage
2x Izzet Charm
2x Anticipate
4x Think Twice
Wincon (4)
4x Scapeshift
3x Obstinate Baloth
1x Crumble to Dust
1x Thrun, the Last Troll
1x Spreading Seas
1x Relic of Progenitus
1x Negate
2x Dispel
2x Ancient Grudge
1x Counterflux
1x Destructive Revelry
1x Combust
This list crushed UR Twin, was about 50-50 against Burn, and 3-0'd Jund before I had to leave. Main differences: no ramp, 4x Think Twice, enought room for the set of Bolts+2 sweepers+extra counters, does so good vs BGx now. A resolved lili doesn't hurt as much due to Think Twice, and discard usually sees Think Twice/Anticipate in hand, making me harder to play around.
The guy I was talking to said I had "revolutionized" Scapeshift, and while I'm not sure that's true, the list is incredibly solid. I figured it'd be a waste not to share it.
UWB Esper Draw-Go Control (clicky)
UW Azorius Control (clicky)
Currently pursuing a degree in Biochemistry.
EDH: I've decided I don't like multiplayer formats.
Burn still seemed like a rough match, but Spell Snare and the full complement of Bolts helps there. Against other controlling decks, you have things to cast at their end step to keep busy, Think Twice is exactly where you want be un those matchups.
UWB Esper Draw-Go Control (clicky)
UW Azorius Control (clicky)
Currently pursuing a degree in Biochemistry.
EDH: I've decided I don't like multiplayer formats.
I haven't had any issues with Cryptics other than one double cryptic hand that had no early interaction. Luckily, this deck can pull out of a mull pretty quickly -- I wouldn't recommend going to 5 cards tho. In this build Cryptic functions more like it did in UWR -- it basically locks down everything t4 and after. The mana has been fine, with Misty Rainforest and Flooded Grove making perfect mana. I'll admit that T3 Cryptic was nice, but T4 Cryptic is just fine too -- especially in concert with Spell Snare, Bolt, and Remand holding up the early turns. That being said, I sure wish there was room for a Scalding Tarn or two. Maybe the Tec Edge should be cut?
About Repeal, I'd be far more inclined to cut Dismember or Anticipate than Think Twice, because Think Twice is actual card advantage rather than just tempo advantage. I feel like real CA is much more important in this controlling of a Shift build.
As a side note, I was fenced over including Dismember, but it couldn't be Roast since Roast is a Sorcery, which makes it weak against Twin.
UWB Esper Draw-Go Control (clicky)
UW Azorius Control (clicky)
Currently pursuing a degree in Biochemistry.
EDH: I've decided I don't like multiplayer formats.
As a hard control deck, I think this is a really great list. You can probably stand to goto 3 Snaps and 3 CC, like traditional modern control lists. Also digging the Spreading Seas in the board.
Fetch-Shock-Blog
Moderator of /r/Scapeshift
Welcome to the brotherhood.
Fetch-Shock-Blog
Moderator of /r/Scapeshift
Thanks man!
I think it would be good if we played more than 4 fetchlands. Otherwise we're not always going to have that many lands or creatures in the GY.
GU Infect | x Affinity | RWG Naya Burn | W Death and Taxes | U Merfolk | BURG BTL Scapeshift | WUUW Titan | R Goblins | BURGW Suicide Zoo
Maybe a one of to replace BTL lists that run Hunting Wilds? Targeting this with BTL may not be so bad.
May be a good side board card against land destruction decks to get back Valakut.
GU Infect | x Affinity | RWG Naya Burn | W Death and Taxes | U Merfolk | BURG BTL Scapeshift | WUUW Titan | R Goblins | BURGW Suicide Zoo
My guess is it doesn't replace Baloth since Baloth is also so good against Liliana, but it is an interesting card.
I think BTL is worth it but it really doesn't make a huge difference in how the deck functions.