Just because Nacatl is unbanned doesn't mean aggro is going to be the most dominant deck. There's already a bunch of merfolk in my area, so I have stuff like Firespout main and EE in the board. Also I don't want really want to find people with Primeval Titans, for some reason they jumped up to ~$13.
I think the bigger threat is Faeries. Tempo decks are natural predators to combo decks and/or control decks, and Faeires is an overpowered tempo deck. So I think both RG and RUG scapeshift are going to have a hard time. How can we beat this deck??
I think the bigger threat is Faeries. Tempo decks are natural predators to combo decks and/or control decks, and Faeires is an overpowered tempo deck. So I think both RG and RUG scapeshift are going to have a hard time. How can we beat this deck??
Correct me if I'm wrong (since I was on a magic hiatus when this was occurring) but from what I can tell, there was a period in extended where Faeries and Scapeshift were two of the top archetypes and the general consensus seems to be that Scapeshift was pretty good at beating Fae, especially the builds with Prismatic Omen (see this article http://www.blackborder.com/q/node/10870)
Always open for thoughts and suggestions, especially in the sideboard since it seems like it's gonna be a wide open meta.
1) You can replace the Firespouts with Anger of the Gods. I've played literally maybe more than a hundred games since Anger of the Gods has been printed with this deck and I can't remember ever struggling with coming up with the double-red. Straight up upgrade that just absolutely demolishes Pod.
2) 4 Baloth is a must in the sideboard. That card is simply bonkers in this current midrangey meta and can even be considered maindeckable.
3) There should be some number of enchantment removal in your sideboard, especially since you have cut 2 counterspells for the Peer Through Depths. Blood Moon is a card. Destructive Revelry has proven great in my games and is a straight up upgrade over Nature's Claim.
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Modern:
Bant | U Tron | GW Hatebears | Death and Taxes | Scapeshift | UW Tron | UW Midrange
1. The main reason I've got Firespout is because I don't actually own any Anger of the Gods and there's no way I'm going to be able to get them in time, although I agree that Anger is a pure beating against Pod. Scapeshift in general is really good against Pod though so I'm not too worried. I also dislike the thought of double red just because it's usually more important to set up double green and even double blue first, but I can see how it probably wouldn't be a problem with all the ramp.
2. I agree Baloth is good but when I had 4 I always had problems figuring out cards to take out to get in all of them. He's fantastic against Zoo though so maybe I'll axe the Sowing Salt for the 4th Baloth. I've seen the lists that run 2 maindeck but I'm not really a fan since it's more of a reactive card that's completely worthless in a lot of matchups. Game one I just want to go all in on my combo plan.
3. I do like Destructive Revelry as a sideboard card, not entirely sure what I'd cut to fit them in though. My gut says Relic of Progenitus but then I'm afraid of getting blownout by some graveyard schenanigans like Living End or Dredgevine or Tin Fists or whatever. What decks run Blood Moon in the sideboard besides Twin and Burn? Blood Moon from twin could be a problem but against burn you can just bring in baloths and use those + titan to beat them down.
1. The main reason I've got Firespout is because I don't actually own any Anger of the Gods and there's no way I'm going to be able to get them in time, although I agree that Anger is a pure beating against Pod. Scapeshift in general is really good against Pod though so I'm not too worried. I also dislike the thought of double red just because it's usually more important to set up double green and even double blue first, but I can see how it probably wouldn't be a problem with all the ramp.
Anger is a $2 card that's not even widely played in Standard, surely the shop that is hosting the GPT has them? You never need to set up double-green that early unless you're playing around Blood Moon. You can't cast Prime Time or Scapeshift till later anyway, and by then, you will have had to find or lay down more lands.
You aren't playing Cryptic Command, why do you need so much blue for?
2. I agree Baloth is good but when I had 4 I always had problems figuring out cards to take out to get in all of them. He's fantastic against Zoo though so maybe I'll axe the Sowing Salt for the 4th Baloth. I've seen the lists that run 2 maindeck but I'm not really a fan since it's more of a reactive card that's completely worthless in a lot of matchups. Game one I just want to go all in on my combo plan.
A rule of thumb is this: against any deck that runs Thoughtseize/Inquisition, cut all the counterspells. You will frequently be in a top-deck war, so you can put in all 4 Baloths easily.
Baloth is not really a reactive card, it's a proactive card that will draw either counterspells or removal. There are many matchups where its relevant, Pod (don't forget, they can easily beat you with just Finks, Voice and Smiters beating you turn after turn without going off, and post-board will Thoughtseize you to take away your win conditions), Jund, UWR (that 4 life gain is huge against them and blocks their Geists, Snapcasters), Zoo, Gruul Aggro, Burn (!!!)... how is this a worthless card? That's a lot of the tier 1 meta right there.
3. I do like Destructive Revelry as a sideboard card, not entirely sure what I'd cut to fit them in though. My gut says Relic of Progenitus but then I'm afraid of getting blownout by some graveyard schenanigans like Living End or Dredgevine or Tin Fists or whatever. What decks run Blood Moon in the sideboard besides Twin and Burn? Blood Moon from twin could be a problem but against burn you can just bring in baloths and use those + titan to beat them down.
Relic is a must in the board, you are totally right that this deck is weak against graveyard-based decks, you can probably cut 1 Ancient Grudge for the Revelry. Beating down against Twin using Baloths and Titan isn't a really good plan, they can combo off anytime under Blood Moon - you're the one that can't combo off any more. Affinity plays Blood Moon too, don't forget about their 5-color sideboard. I've also seen Blood Moon coming out from UR Delver, Zoo and Naya Aggro.
Just because Nacatl is unbanned doesn't mean aggro is going to be the most dominant deck. There's already a bunch of merfolk in my area, so I have stuff like Firespout main and EE in the board. Also I don't want really want to find people with Primeval Titans, for some reason they jumped up to ~$13.
Actually, I think that it does mean that. Naya Zoo is going to get a lot of hype and new players and it has a good matchup against Faeries, which also will be getting a lot of hype and new players.
How have Boseiju/Cavern been for you? It seems like the only time you can reliably get to them are when you cast Scapeshift/Primetime, and by then you should more or less be winning anyway.
Played against both Zoo and Faeries tonight. Got absolutely demolished! My meta is aggro heavy and I'm thinking it's time to hang up Cryptic Scapeshift. I've been considering trying Titanshift while I build something else. Hopefully I'll have better luck going this route. Bitterblossom is an absolute beating! Also, de we not have a seperate section/primer for Titanshift? I'm not exactly sure how it's played or what cards it plays.
I have had a lot of luck running titanshift, including day 2 at gp Detroit. I feel like the deck is still well positioned with the meta changing. I'm looking at sideboard cards to adjust the matchups, I just swapped anger of the gods over pyroclasm main, to help against zoo and pod. I'm looking at a volcanic fallout or two if fairies become popular. I'm also looking at loosing sowingsalts against tron for scavenging ooze or relic.
Haven't had to play Faeries yet. My first round at FNM last night was against small zoo and it was an absolute blowout in my favor. It didn't hurt that he mulled to 6 both games but Firespout/Anger of the Gods maindeck and Engineered Explosives and Baloth out of the SB are probably too much for them to overcome. A card like Baloth sets them back at least a turn and usually 2 if they cant PtE it on the spot, which means they're dead against combo.
Felt good to bag and tag my first Nacatl of the season!
Any idea where I could find a primer for Titanshift? I've never played it and have no clue how it's run. All I know is you typically don't Scapeshift out of nowhere for their compete life total right?
Also, is there a significant difference between Titanshift and Crypticshift's lands? Or are they basically the same deck changing just a few Titans and Snap/Cryptic Commands?
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Modern WUB Ad Nauseam WUR Control BRG Top Control Commander U Barrin WUB Sen Triplets
Most Titan-Shift decks I've seen typically run ~12 ramp spells. Everyone is on board with the Tribe Elder, and Farseek/Search for Tomorrow are a bit more of personal preference. Lots of people generally play the full playset of Search for Tomorrow, its our deck's only turn 1 play. Farseek usually competes with Explore for slots depending on that person's preference. I personally like Farseek more, it guarantees you a land when you cast it, and you have a lot more control over what land it gets.
Primetime/Scapeshift are your main win cons. Scapeshift is self-explanatory. I haven't played the UGr version myself, but I have heard that it has problems keeping the necessary amount of mountains in its library so it can combo off with Scapeshift. In the Titan-Shift version that isn't a problem. I have won a lot of games where I've built up mountains early, happen to topdeck a Scapeshift, and was able to combo off anyway. Generally when I cast Primetime I'm not winning the game on the spot, but I'm setting the deck up to win on the next turn. When I tutor up lands with him, its generally some sort of a mountain and Valakut to get the engine active. Because of all the mountains in my list, when I cast Primetime and tutor up those lands it turns all of the ramp and most of the lands I topdeck into bolts or better depending on the number of valakuts I have in play. Also, never expect Primtetime to live to your next combat step; he will be killed.
That gives us 12 MD slots to play with depending on what our meta is. Before the recent bans/unbans, this is the 12 that I had:
I had Anger and Negate mained because of my local meta. Worldly Counsel is a card I've been testing in place of Peer Through Depths; I've had too many games where I needed a Primetime/Omen, saw one with with PtD but couldn't pick it. Before the recent bans/unbans I would have considered Izzet Charm a core piece of the deck. Its a flexible game 1 card, and all three modes were relevant. With a bunch of kitties running around it loses some of its power, but at least initially I'll be keeping it maindeck.
As far as gameplay, its really similar to the UGr version. It plays a ramp/tempo game, it just does it a little more aggressively.
Post-BNG, I plan to switch 2-4 pyroclasms for Anger of the Gods. With Anger's exile clause, I'll probably switch the SB Pillar of Flames for the full 4 Obstinate Baloth set.
Chalice of the Void is always cast for 1, and it wipes out Soul Sisters and really hurts UR Delver -- these decks aren't huge but they're annoying. I might try to get another Spellskite in there if Twin keeps showing up.
As for the Sakura-Tribe Elder question earlier, I generally keep it around until I need the land. You never know when you might need an emergency ground blocker.
In response to the other question of not Scapeshifting for the full winning amount, I always try to combo for the win unless I am forced to combo early to prevent myself from dying.
I don't know if I agree about Izzet Charm losing value now. There are plenty of 2 and 1 toughness creatures that are great to destroy (Bob, BoP, Hierarch, Kiki-Jiki/Pestermite, etc.).
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Fblthp had always hated crowds.
Decks
Modern
Affinity [MTGO]
Recovering from the Pod ban in paper
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3x Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
5x Mountain
3x Forest
1x Island
2x Misty Rainforest
2x Scalding Tarn
4x Stomping Ground
4x Steam Vents
1x Breeding Pool
Creatures: 8
4x Sakura-Tribe Elder
4x Primeval Titan
3x Prismatic Omen
3x Farseek
4x Search for Tomorrow
4x Scapeshift
3x Firespout
3x Remand
3x Peer Through Depths
4x Izzet Charm
3x Obstinate Baloth
2x Spellskite
1x Sowing Salt
2x Engineered Explosives
2x Ancient Grudge
2x Combust
2x Relic of Progenitus
Always open for thoughts and suggestions, especially in the sideboard since it seems like it's gonna be a wide open meta.
Correct me if I'm wrong (since I was on a magic hiatus when this was occurring) but from what I can tell, there was a period in extended where Faeries and Scapeshift were two of the top archetypes and the general consensus seems to be that Scapeshift was pretty good at beating Fae, especially the builds with Prismatic Omen (see this article http://www.blackborder.com/q/node/10870)
1) You can replace the Firespouts with Anger of the Gods. I've played literally maybe more than a hundred games since Anger of the Gods has been printed with this deck and I can't remember ever struggling with coming up with the double-red. Straight up upgrade that just absolutely demolishes Pod.
2) 4 Baloth is a must in the sideboard. That card is simply bonkers in this current midrangey meta and can even be considered maindeckable.
3) There should be some number of enchantment removal in your sideboard, especially since you have cut 2 counterspells for the Peer Through Depths. Blood Moon is a card. Destructive Revelry has proven great in my games and is a straight up upgrade over Nature's Claim.
Bant | U Tron | GW Hatebears | Death and Taxes | Scapeshift | UW Tron | UW Midrange
1. The main reason I've got Firespout is because I don't actually own any Anger of the Gods and there's no way I'm going to be able to get them in time, although I agree that Anger is a pure beating against Pod. Scapeshift in general is really good against Pod though so I'm not too worried. I also dislike the thought of double red just because it's usually more important to set up double green and even double blue first, but I can see how it probably wouldn't be a problem with all the ramp.
2. I agree Baloth is good but when I had 4 I always had problems figuring out cards to take out to get in all of them. He's fantastic against Zoo though so maybe I'll axe the Sowing Salt for the 4th Baloth. I've seen the lists that run 2 maindeck but I'm not really a fan since it's more of a reactive card that's completely worthless in a lot of matchups. Game one I just want to go all in on my combo plan.
3. I do like Destructive Revelry as a sideboard card, not entirely sure what I'd cut to fit them in though. My gut says Relic of Progenitus but then I'm afraid of getting blownout by some graveyard schenanigans like Living End or Dredgevine or Tin Fists or whatever. What decks run Blood Moon in the sideboard besides Twin and Burn? Blood Moon from twin could be a problem but against burn you can just bring in baloths and use those + titan to beat them down.
Anger is a $2 card that's not even widely played in Standard, surely the shop that is hosting the GPT has them? You never need to set up double-green that early unless you're playing around Blood Moon. You can't cast Prime Time or Scapeshift till later anyway, and by then, you will have had to find or lay down more lands.
You aren't playing Cryptic Command, why do you need so much blue for?
A rule of thumb is this: against any deck that runs Thoughtseize/Inquisition, cut all the counterspells. You will frequently be in a top-deck war, so you can put in all 4 Baloths easily.
Baloth is not really a reactive card, it's a proactive card that will draw either counterspells or removal. There are many matchups where its relevant, Pod (don't forget, they can easily beat you with just Finks, Voice and Smiters beating you turn after turn without going off, and post-board will Thoughtseize you to take away your win conditions), Jund, UWR (that 4 life gain is huge against them and blocks their Geists, Snapcasters), Zoo, Gruul Aggro, Burn (!!!)... how is this a worthless card? That's a lot of the tier 1 meta right there.
Relic is a must in the board, you are totally right that this deck is weak against graveyard-based decks, you can probably cut 1 Ancient Grudge for the Revelry. Beating down against Twin using Baloths and Titan isn't a really good plan, they can combo off anytime under Blood Moon - you're the one that can't combo off any more. Affinity plays Blood Moon too, don't forget about their 5-color sideboard. I've also seen Blood Moon coming out from UR Delver, Zoo and Naya Aggro.
Bant | U Tron | GW Hatebears | Death and Taxes | Scapeshift | UW Tron | UW Midrange
Actually, I think that it does mean that. Naya Zoo is going to get a lot of hype and new players and it has a good matchup against Faeries, which also will be getting a lot of hype and new players.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Currently Playing:
Modern:
Tron
Titan-Shift
Felt good to bag and tag my first Nacatl of the season!
WUB Ad Nauseam
WUR Control
BRG Top Control
Commander
U Barrin
WUB Sen Triplets
4 Stomping Ground
4 Steam Vents
1 Breeding Pool
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Raging Ravine
6 Mountain
2 Forest
1 Island
Besides the Raging Ravine, its a pretty stock list.
Currently Playing:
Modern:
Tron
Titan-Shift
Much appreciated =)
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Was wondering the same thing.
This is what I consider the core of Titan-Shift:
4 Search for Tomorrow
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
4 Primeval Titan
4 Scapeshift
2 Prismatic Omen
Most Titan-Shift decks I've seen typically run ~12 ramp spells. Everyone is on board with the Tribe Elder, and Farseek/Search for Tomorrow are a bit more of personal preference. Lots of people generally play the full playset of Search for Tomorrow, its our deck's only turn 1 play. Farseek usually competes with Explore for slots depending on that person's preference. I personally like Farseek more, it guarantees you a land when you cast it, and you have a lot more control over what land it gets.
Primetime/Scapeshift are your main win cons. Scapeshift is self-explanatory. I haven't played the UGr version myself, but I have heard that it has problems keeping the necessary amount of mountains in its library so it can combo off with Scapeshift. In the Titan-Shift version that isn't a problem. I have won a lot of games where I've built up mountains early, happen to topdeck a Scapeshift, and was able to combo off anyway. Generally when I cast Primetime I'm not winning the game on the spot, but I'm setting the deck up to win on the next turn. When I tutor up lands with him, its generally some sort of a mountain and Valakut to get the engine active. Because of all the mountains in my list, when I cast Primetime and tutor up those lands it turns all of the ramp and most of the lands I topdeck into bolts or better depending on the number of valakuts I have in play. Also, never expect Primtetime to live to your next combat step; he will be killed.
That gives us 12 MD slots to play with depending on what our meta is. Before the recent bans/unbans, this is the 12 that I had:
4 Izzet Charm
4 Worldly Counsel
1 Negate
I had Anger and Negate mained because of my local meta. Worldly Counsel is a card I've been testing in place of Peer Through Depths; I've had too many games where I needed a Primetime/Omen, saw one with with PtD but couldn't pick it. Before the recent bans/unbans I would have considered Izzet Charm a core piece of the deck. Its a flexible game 1 card, and all three modes were relevant. With a bunch of kitties running around it loses some of its power, but at least initially I'll be keeping it maindeck.
As far as gameplay, its really similar to the UGr version. It plays a ramp/tempo game, it just does it a little more aggressively.
Currently Playing:
Modern:
Tron
Titan-Shift
6 Mountain
1 Island
3 Forest
1 Breeding Pool
4 Stomping Ground
2 Steam Vents
3 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
3 Misty Rainforest
3 Scalding Tarn
4 Primeval Titan
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
2 Obstinate Baloth
SPELLS
4 Search for Tomorrow
3 Farseek
2 Prismatic Omen
4 Remand
3 Izzet Charm
4 Scapeshift
4 Pyroclasm
1 Chalice of the Void
1 Spellskite
2 Telling Time
1 Izzet Staticaster
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Pillar of Flame
2 Spell Pierce
2 Dismember
2 Dispel
Post-BNG, I plan to switch 2-4 pyroclasms for Anger of the Gods. With Anger's exile clause, I'll probably switch the SB Pillar of Flames for the full 4 Obstinate Baloth set.
Chalice of the Void is always cast for 1, and it wipes out Soul Sisters and really hurts UR Delver -- these decks aren't huge but they're annoying. I might try to get another Spellskite in there if Twin keeps showing up.
As for the Sakura-Tribe Elder question earlier, I generally keep it around until I need the land. You never know when you might need an emergency ground blocker.
In response to the other question of not Scapeshifting for the full winning amount, I always try to combo for the win unless I am forced to combo early to prevent myself from dying.
I don't know if I agree about Izzet Charm losing value now. There are plenty of 2 and 1 toughness creatures that are great to destroy (Bob, BoP, Hierarch, Kiki-Jiki/Pestermite, etc.).
Decks
Affinity [MTGO]
Recovering from the Pod ban in paper