Somsone just did a buyout of all the the semi-played Tireless trackers at SCG, because they're at a Christmas discount. I could have sworn there are almost 20 of those two days ago, now all gone. Which forced me to buy 3 of the near mint ones today. Anyway, just 1 Trinisphere, 1 Moon and 4 Sprawls missing before my deck is ready to roll. ^___^
Tempted to tenporarily substitute something else for the sprawls while they're out of stock at SCG... but probably a bad idea even at FNM level....
The reason sprawl is out of stock and expensive is that it's not been reprinted and no card is quite like it.
You could play extra birds I guess.
Thanks for the suggestions. Anyway, I have the feeling that the deck would perform poorly if there are no sprawls... so will just wait for awhile. Next month SCG has probably restocked, and my wallet would have also recovered from all the holiday expenses. ^___^
Curving from Voice into P&K is just stupid. Stupid stupid stupid. Suddenly this deck has 4 power in the air, and 8 on the board total including the cute plant that just grew some baby teeth. It just doesn't make any sense, ponzacally speaking. Previously the best I could do with 4 mana was drop an obstinate.
And when a tracker is followed by a fetch and P&K, the clue tokens become ammunition along with their normal draw action. That's pretty sweet utility if you need to remove a bunch of small threats (affinity) more than you need the card draw.
And more than once, the thopter tokens have saved me from being killed by an Etched Champion. Its stupid how easily that 2/2 can just end us, especially if there's a plating.
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BGW Elves BGW|BW Tokens BW|WBR Sword&ShieldWBR|BUG DelverBUG|UWR Kiki UWR | UR Storm UR
Curving from Voice into P&K is just stupid. Stupid stupid stupid. Suddenly this deck has 4 power in the air, and 8 on the board total including the cute plant that just grew some baby teeth. It just doesn't make any sense, ponzacally speaking. Previously the best I could do with 4 mana was drop an obstinate.
And when a tracker is followed by a fetch and P&K, the clue tokens become ammunition along with their normal draw action. That's pretty sweet utility if you need to remove a bunch of small threats (affinity) more than you need the card draw.
And more than once, the thopter tokens have saved me from being killed by an Etched Champion. Its stupid how easily that 2/2 can just end us, especially if there's a plating.
Hey thank you for bringing something else to the table about the discussion that wasn’t previously touched on. I truly appreciate it. While I do admit the interaction between Nissa and P&K is pretty sweet, many people just aren’t running Nissa. Most people are running 2 Chandra TOD and a Garruk PH, or just Chandra. But let’s be realistic for a second, let’s say you run a Nissa and you run 2 P&K, your probably of T2 Nissa into T3 P&K is low (I didn’t punch it into the calculator to give exact numbers). I will give you this though it does make a great pro in the column for P&K just not very realistic in normal play.
The thing about this nissa into P&K is that we want to be doing disruption with blood moon or LD T2 and T3 then playing our threat. Playing it backwards with threats then LD is not going to work consistently. That is the core to this archetype is the early mana denial.
I run P&K in the sideboard. I wouldnt take them out of my 75 but i actually prefer Chameleon Colossus main-deck. I like to capitalise on as many free wins in game 1 as possible, and to me, Blood Moon into Colossus or Stormbreath Dragon simply closes so many games so fast through moderns removal that I simply cant pass the free wins up. I have swung for 16dmg with a colossus through a Gurmag Angler too many times to count.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
The thing about this nissa into P&K is that we want to be doing disruption with blood moon or LD T2 and T3 then playing our threat. Playing it backwards with threats then LD is not going to work consistently. That is the core to this archetype is the early mana denial.
I agree with this. One of the things that got me interested in this deck is the angle in which it attacks other modern decks. Land destruction or moon, then followed by a threat. When all the cards that I ordered from SCG arrive... my main strategy would be to fire one or two land destruction spells or a moon, then follow-up with a dragon or whatever strong creature I have on hand.
Won modern tonight, 4 rounds. 2-1 Boggles, 2-0 Eldrazi tron, 2-1 Storm (I am now 2-0 against storm in the matchup bow to me peasants!!!) and 2-1 against U/W control.
I had a new twist on the deck tonight, 3 trackers AND 3 coursers. And 2 Hazoret the fervent. Hazdog was the real deal.
My list was the standard 21 lands, 4 elf, 4 sprawl, 2 birds, 4 moon, 4 stone rain 2 beast within.
2 huntmaster
2 pia and kiran
2 haz dog
3 tracker
3 courser
1 wurmcoil
3 stormbae
1 scooze
2 chandra
I cut 2 inferno titan, a primal command and 2 baloths.
My list was the standard 21 lands, 4 elf, 4 sprawl, 2 birds, 4 moon, 4 stone rain 2 beast within.
2 huntmaster
2 pia and kiran
2 haz dog
3 tracker
3 courser
1 wurmcoil
3 stormbae
1 scooze
2 chandra
I cut 2 inferno titan, a primal command and 2 baloths.
Hazoret the Fervent? I must've missed the memo saying she was a part of the standard Ponza list...
Sigh. My list was the standard mix of lands and non creature spells (minus acid moss) that I use and then I listed the creatures I used in the list.
"I had a new twist on the deck tonight" should give away that what I was trying was unusual. But it all worked well and I hit ny drops like never before, and Hazdog was a legend. In one game I mulled agains storm I got em with turn 3 Hazzy, Turn 4 Stormbae gg.
@Moonbreaker: I see that Hazoret is resurfacing! YOu cut the chandras entirely? I've won way too many games with that card to ever consider taking her out.
I played a 1k this weekend and i ended up playing my latest list of ponza since i couldn't put the missing pieces of another deck together.
My main changes was to put the trackers in, cut 1 stone rain to fit them.
Deck list looks a bit like this:
2 Abrade
3 Trackers
2 Stormbreath
2 Inferno (and i'm coming around to the idea of cutting them as well)
4 Elves
4 Sprawls
4 Moons
4 Mwunvolis
3 Chandras
1 Bonfire
1 Wurmcoil
2 Primal commands
I played: Affinity x 2, Boggles, Burn (in an epic 3 games match where i won at 1 life), Esper Goryo (we drew to top 8 in the 6th round) and 1 more deck i can't remember.
I won all the other matches except: Affinity. I got crushed 2-0 in the swiss and 2-0 in the top 8.
My biggest regret going forward is not playing Ancient Grudges in the sideboard. It would have single handedly flip what i consider a practically unwinnable matchup into a favorable one. Top decked Cranial platings are brutal....
All in all, i'm constantly having success with the deck on paper magic but had a 2-3 drop online RPTQ...i just can't win with the deck online for some reason.
All in all, i'm constantly having success with the deck on paper magic but had a 2-3 drop online RPTQ...i just can't win with the deck online for some reason.
Modo bug. You will always topdeck more arbor elves.
2 Abrade
3 Trackers
2 Stormbreath
2 Inferno (and i'm coming around to the idea of cutting them as well)
4 Elves
4 Sprawls
4 Moons
4 Mwunvolis
3 Chandras
1 Bonfire
1 Wurmcoil
2 Primal commands
My biggest regret going forward is not playing Ancient Grudges in the sideboard. It would have single handedly flip what i consider a practically unwinnable matchup into a favorable one. Top decked Cranial platings are brutal....
All in all, i'm constantly having success with the deck on paper magic but had a 2-3 drop online RPTQ...i just can't win with the deck online for some reason.
I'm moving the other way. I'm removing Stormbreaths for 3 Titans as it is better against Storm/Humans which are running rampant in my meta. I prefer 4x trackers and 2x Chandra. Having 2 trackers on the field and getting clues is usually game over.
Titan is too expensive to be impactful against storm IMO.
They way I play the matchup is the same way the control decks do. Windmill slam a threat on turn 2 (tracker is ideal here) Then disrupt them (stone rains, moons and beast withins are obviously our only tools for this, rather than counterspells). Then PRAY. Sideboard bring in bolts for the terrible twins, and relics.
They're both powerful, yet deeply flawed, suboptimal magic cards.
Bonfire is amazing when you draw it when you need it or when it's at least a 2 for 1 you are a magic god and the mere mortal you are paying against doesn't deserve to bask in your reflected glory. But we aren't a reliably 'big mana' deck so XX is hard to make impactful at times. Its mediocre in your opening 7 and it's also a bad top deck if drawn too (relevant) or when not needed.
Mortars is a bang average 2 mana removal spell that would be better as a bolt, abrade or even a roast, that can act as a sweeper, except it costs 1 more than you would want and does 1 less damage than you would want. We are in a format dominated by Tasigur, Angler, Deaths shadows, Primevil Titans, Reality Smashers and combo. 4 damage is a weak return for 6 mana.
I have learned to run neither, I play 1 swealtering suns and 2 anger of the gods in sideboard. They are big enough and importantly cheep enough to make an earlyimpact against the decks we need them against (death and taxes, Fish, Affinity, Naya Zoo and humans) But if I were to play either bonfire or mortars it would be mortars.
Titan is too expensive to be impactful against storm IMO.
They way I play the matchup is the same way the control decks do. Windmill slam a threat on turn 2 (tracker is ideal here) Then disrupt them (stone rains, moons and beast withins are obviously our only tools for this, rather than counterspells). Then PRAY. Sideboard bring in bolts for the terrible twins, and relics.
I wish red had a force spike tho.
Just hoping that titan 3dmg will clear their bears every turn when you get lucky and get it out on T3. I find LD and moon to be useless against Storm even for G1. They always seem to have a manamorphose for colour fixing. But yea we need to have a lot of hope for this match up.
Thanks for the suggestions. Anyway, I have the feeling that the deck would perform poorly if there are no sprawls... so will just wait for awhile. Next month SCG has probably restocked, and my wallet would have also recovered from all the holiday expenses. ^___^
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Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
I just want to say that P&K can be wanting on their own, but they "glue" a lot of other staples together. I have this "Trinity" that looks like this:
Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
Tireless Tracker
Curving from Voice into P&K is just stupid. Stupid stupid stupid. Suddenly this deck has 4 power in the air, and 8 on the board total including the cute plant that just grew some baby teeth. It just doesn't make any sense, ponzacally speaking. Previously the best I could do with 4 mana was drop an obstinate.
And when a tracker is followed by a fetch and P&K, the clue tokens become ammunition along with their normal draw action. That's pretty sweet utility if you need to remove a bunch of small threats (affinity) more than you need the card draw.
And more than once, the thopter tokens have saved me from being killed by an Etched Champion. Its stupid how easily that 2/2 can just end us, especially if there's a plating.
BGW Elves BGW|BW Tokens BW|WBR Sword&ShieldWBR|BUG DelverBUG|UWR Kiki UWR | UR Storm UR
Hey thank you for bringing something else to the table about the discussion that wasn’t previously touched on. I truly appreciate it. While I do admit the interaction between Nissa and P&K is pretty sweet, many people just aren’t running Nissa. Most people are running 2 Chandra TOD and a Garruk PH, or just Chandra. But let’s be realistic for a second, let’s say you run a Nissa and you run 2 P&K, your probably of T2 Nissa into T3 P&K is low (I didn’t punch it into the calculator to give exact numbers). I will give you this though it does make a great pro in the column for P&K just not very realistic in normal play.
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
I agree with this. One of the things that got me interested in this deck is the angle in which it attacks other modern decks. Land destruction or moon, then followed by a threat. When all the cards that I ordered from SCG arrive... my main strategy would be to fire one or two land destruction spells or a moon, then follow-up with a dragon or whatever strong creature I have on hand.
Nexus MTG News // Nexus - Magic Art Gallery // MTG Dual Land Color Ratios Analyzer // MTG Card Drawing Odds Calculator
Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
I had a new twist on the deck tonight, 3 trackers AND 3 coursers. And 2 Hazoret the fervent. Hazdog was the real deal.
2 huntmaster
2 pia and kiran
2 haz dog
3 tracker
3 courser
1 wurmcoil
3 stormbae
1 scooze
2 chandra
I cut 2 inferno titan, a primal command and 2 baloths.
Hazoret the Fervent? I must've missed the memo saying she was a part of the standard Ponza list...
Link to Discord server where anybody from MTGS can keep up with thread topics while everything is being sorted out with the new site.
"I had a new twist on the deck tonight" should give away that what I was trying was unusual. But it all worked well and I hit ny drops like never before, and Hazdog was a legend. In one game I mulled agains storm I got em with turn 3 Hazzy, Turn 4 Stormbae gg.
I played a 1k this weekend and i ended up playing my latest list of ponza since i couldn't put the missing pieces of another deck together.
My main changes was to put the trackers in, cut 1 stone rain to fit them.
Deck list looks a bit like this:
2 Abrade
3 Trackers
2 Stormbreath
2 Inferno (and i'm coming around to the idea of cutting them as well)
4 Elves
4 Sprawls
4 Moons
4 Mwunvolis
3 Chandras
1 Bonfire
1 Wurmcoil
2 Primal commands
I played: Affinity x 2, Boggles, Burn (in an epic 3 games match where i won at 1 life), Esper Goryo (we drew to top 8 in the 6th round) and 1 more deck i can't remember.
I won all the other matches except: Affinity. I got crushed 2-0 in the swiss and 2-0 in the top 8.
My biggest regret going forward is not playing Ancient Grudges in the sideboard. It would have single handedly flip what i consider a practically unwinnable matchup into a favorable one. Top decked Cranial platings are brutal....
All in all, i'm constantly having success with the deck on paper magic but had a 2-3 drop online RPTQ...i just can't win with the deck online for some reason.
Modo bug. You will always topdeck more arbor elves.
I'm moving the other way. I'm removing Stormbreaths for 3 Titans as it is better against Storm/Humans which are running rampant in my meta. I prefer 4x trackers and 2x Chandra. Having 2 trackers on the field and getting clues is usually game over.
They way I play the matchup is the same way the control decks do. Windmill slam a threat on turn 2 (tracker is ideal here) Then disrupt them (stone rains, moons and beast withins are obviously our only tools for this, rather than counterspells). Then PRAY. Sideboard bring in bolts for the terrible twins, and relics.
I wish red had a force spike tho.
Bonfire is amazing when you draw it when you need it or when it's at least a 2 for 1 you are a magic god and the mere mortal you are paying against doesn't deserve to bask in your reflected glory. But we aren't a reliably 'big mana' deck so XX is hard to make impactful at times. Its mediocre in your opening 7 and it's also a bad top deck if drawn too (relevant) or when not needed.
Mortars is a bang average 2 mana removal spell that would be better as a bolt, abrade or even a roast, that can act as a sweeper, except it costs 1 more than you would want and does 1 less damage than you would want. We are in a format dominated by Tasigur, Angler, Deaths shadows, Primevil Titans, Reality Smashers and combo. 4 damage is a weak return for 6 mana.
I have learned to run neither, I play 1 swealtering suns and 2 anger of the gods in sideboard. They are big enough and importantly cheep enough to make an earlyimpact against the decks we need them against (death and taxes, Fish, Affinity, Naya Zoo and humans) But if I were to play either bonfire or mortars it would be mortars.
Just hoping that titan 3dmg will clear their bears every turn when you get lucky and get it out on T3. I find LD and moon to be useless against Storm even for G1. They always seem to have a manamorphose for colour fixing. But yea we need to have a lot of hope for this match up.