I think you need a little more borderpost 12 with 12 lands is very risky, I prefer 16 borderpost and 10-11 lands.
And You have only 4 cascade this is too low, you will do not have consistently cascade at T3.
Also, I suggest changeRiftwing Cloudskate to Nihilith.
aaskelaad: What is your current list? Do you still play only 1 gift and 1 unburial rites? I feel 4 cmc gifts is much faster than the 5 cmc BTL. Is the BTL that good or is this a budget decision?
Hey guys, this is currently the list that I have sleeved up and have run in previous tournaments. I want to make some updates, but want to get your input on the changes.
-1 Haunted Plate Mail -2 Thopter Spy Network
These cards are soooooo sweet to play, but they cost 4 mana and do not impact the board the turn you play them. The Plate Mail is too small of a creature in today's meta and the Thopters are soooooo slow. Great in a grindy matchup, but probably should not be main board anymore. These are the three easy cards to take out.
-2 Thassa, God of the Sea
This one is tougher for me. I have always been a pretty big proponent of Thassa in the deck, as I have had good success with her, but now that I think about it more, I'm not sure if she does all I think she does. It is pretty tough to get devotion high enough (unless I have two Ardent Pleas onthe field, but in that case two balances should hopefully mean I'm winning already), and tapping out on turn three for a couple of scrys seems not that great.
So to replace those 5 spots, I am playing around with a few choices. I thought about a single Bring to Light simply as a 9th "cascade" spell. But when I thought about including it, I don't want to rely on tapping out on turn 5 at sorcery speed to balance...Plus my deck has no other good targets to Bring to Light, as I am not going with the Gifts package. I was thinking about Thieves' Fortune. Even though it offers overall less cards drawn than Thassa over the course of a long game, most games now are not long and we need the ability to just dig in our deck for what we need at that specific turn. SO I can hold up mana on turn three for a Beast Within/Violent Outburst if necessary and cast Thieve's Fortune if I didn't have to cast the other two. Whereas with Thassa, I had to tap out turn three on my own turn giving my opponent the green light. And someone here mentioned Ezuri's Brigade which I honestly didn't even know was a card. So I will include some of him in here too as a 4 mana threat that competes with the Eldrazi. It is strictly better than Plate Mail and the Spy Network. I'm not sure if I want to do 4/1 or 3/2 split on Fortune/Brigade. Or maybe a 3/1/1 split of Fortune/Brigade/Bring to Light. If I draw BTL early, then I will use it as a Balance. If I draw it late, then I will use it to get the Brigade and close out the game. I guess Bring to Light is useful in game 2 and 3, when I can get Firewalker, Dismember, Anger of the Gods with it...
I also want to try and make space for some Thopter Spy Network and maybe Ghirapur Æther Grid in the sideboard, but I don't know what to remove...I am ok with taking out 1 Ricochet Trap since control is on the decline, but I don't know about the others, they all seem necessary...
Thoughts or advice on how to make my changes: 4/1 or 3/2 or 3/1/1 split? Maybe another split?
I don't know if it's the best 75 but this is what I'm taking to a tourney this weekend. There are 2 cards I'd want in the deck that I don't have, Sigarda, Host of Herons and Iona, Shield of Emeria If you want to try a budget version, Haunted Plate Mail and Phyrexian Totem work fine as threats but most of the deck is extremely cheap. The deck is good and can beat any non-dedicated control deck and burn, but it can be vulnerable to artifact hate. You don't need Blood Moon but I like it
Round 2 RG Eldrazi
Game 3 I draw pretty badly and he gets a pretty harsh judge call taking advantage of my inexperience at competitive REL tournaments on a technicality
Round 6 Affinity
Game 3 he gets an awful hand after 2 mulls, my draw is very slow and I make a mistake that costs me the game.
I am curious as to what the judge call was about and what the mistake was...care to share? We can only learn from our mistakes if we know what they are.
I have lurked long enough on this forum, and just want to thank you guys for the innovations you have put on this archetype. With that said, I have tried some of the builds posted here. For now, my list goes like this:
I have posted 2-1 on an 8-player FNM, but using a different list (a list similar to one posted here, I'll give the poster his due once I locate the post).
Any advice I may get from you guys? I believe you guys have more experience on this than I have )
I need a little help... I found a list I wanted to build, picked up most of the cards, and then managed to successfully lose the list. Thankfully I *think* I've got everything I need, I just need to sort the mana base. Would really appreciate the help on this. I know I've definitely seen this list somewhere else, I simply can't find where it was
As I said, it does seem to be just the mana base I'm short on, I just really can't recall what it was or where I found this deck,so any help would be REALLY appreciated!
EDH, on the other hand, is more like a monster truck rally. It's more about the spectacle than the race, the games go long, and it's not usually clear who's in the lead until there's only one truck left.*
Single player EDH is like two guys smacking each other with pillows... until one of them pulls out a shotgun.
Hey there! I've been lingering around this thread for a bit and finally decided to make my first modern deck a restore balance deck(yay). It did well enough in my first LGS competition (2-2 with decisive wins and very close losses), and then did not come together the next week(1-3 with the only win coming as a bye). My deck was from the older versions running plainswalker control with March of the Machines as a win condition. I saw the Bring to Light decks that have been popping up and have decided to switch to that type of deck, and want some advise for card choices from all you out there that have experience running the deck. Though I figured that if I wanted to ask for help, I have to put my (limited) advise out there also.
I need a little help... I found a list I wanted to build, picked up most of the cards, and then managed to successfully lose the list. Thankfully I *think* I've got everything I need, I just need to sort the mana base. Would really appreciate the help on this. I know I've definitely seen this list somewhere else, I simply can't find where it was
As I said, it does seem to be just the mana base I'm short on, I just really can't recall what it was or where I found this deck,so any help would be REALLY appreciated!
It definitely seems that your deck is almost complete. You might want to add some amount of the fifth borderpost in your deck also(Firewild Borderpost). You want to keep it at 16 posts though, they are pretty awful topdecks past a certain point in the game. Also, with 16 posts, you only want to play maybe 11-12 lands(perhaps 6 'fetch' lands and one of each basic). With those extra card slots, I'd recommend putting in a few win conditions that affect the board immediately, and that you can find with Bring to Light. Tezzeret the Seeker is a powerful magic card and a great win condition, but it doesn't really do anything until your second turn. Sometimes something like Thragtusk is a better option depending on the board state. The beauty of Bring to Light is the flexibility, so don't be afraid to take advantage of that. Also, as a small note, I would swap out the two oblivion rings for two more Beast Withins. They hit more targets and at instant speed, and for the most part we don't care too much about the 3/3 beats.
Now here is a decklist that I was thinking about building, and just wanted to hear a few thoughts about it:
Please feel free to give any suggestions here. The only thing that I'm not changing are my Kiora, the Crashing Waves, and that's only because I made custom Emblem and kraken tokens that I am rather fond of. I wanted to have a gifts package in here, but don't want to rely on it too much, because we're already vulnerable enough post-sideboard. Greater Gargadon was pretty underwhelming in my last deck, so I'm torn between playing 2-4 of them. Also not sure if I should play any Demonic Dreads in my main. I played 2 in my last deck but I feel like I can go off consistently enough on turn 3/4 anyway.
I'm a first time poster-long time watcher here. I've followed the evolution of Restore Balance decks in the modern format for a while now. I'm brewing my own, taking precious inspiration from the ideas on those pages, and I'm a little bit thrilled because I'm going to bring the baby to my first 'not-so-small' tourney.
So, I'm here with some concerns. Mainly for the Sideboard and how to tweak against Burn (which I'm struggling with the most)
I really like that name, and have to thank this very forum for that
Now, for the card choices: Sphinx of the Final Word is... Nice, I belive. I hadn't chance to really test it yet, but if played with Gifts/Unburial, it can pack a nice punch AND protect your subsequent plans (may it be Beast Within or Cascades) securing the % of success of longer fights. At least, this in theory. Thoughts?
Ajani Vengeant Ajani. He doesn't win games by it owns, but DAMN the utility. If cast after a Balance, it's mostly game in your pocket. Opponent will recover very slowly with him, and the Helix effect gives a nice removal option.
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas While Ajani might have a very nice place in the deck and performs well, at least to me, Tezzeret IS the beast. With the deck so artifact-heavy, his +1 will almost always get you a post, his -1 after balance can start to pack the punch needed, and his ult, that can be used right the turn after he comes down (if everything goes right) it's pretty much a game-changer if not directly a wincon. He saved my ass the most, after Restore Balance itself.
March of the Machines last but not least, this. This is a tricky card that can win you the game stright up the turn you play it. Once, with just 4 posts on field and the gargadon suspended, I managed to cast balance AND march the same turn, just to deal 5 damage later and 20 damage the next turn. Sounds clichè-y, but I can just swear it was a 2vs20 life desperate situation. Probably I'm biased on this, but I really like the card and I founded it pretty suiting as the 'March of the Posts' finisher.
The other cards are pretty staple, I know, the only weird one being Sundering Titan which is there juust to make sure that the opponent will never recover again, mostly. However, it's an open spot. It came to mind because I liked it at the time, and I have one in my collection.
Moving to the sideboard, I'm not really sold on it. Found some interesting cards that pushes further the 'Ungiven Balance' concept, as in Damping Matrix. Timely Reinforcements saved my life a couple of times, but I hadn't occasion to test the other cards listed, living them to mainstream preferences, plain common sense and some personal preference. I would REALLY appreciate some feedback and suggestion to this, bearing that I'm not a big fan of the 1 of (even if I will consider any good argument in their favor ^_^)
On the topic of possibilities, was Privileged Position ever considered? Green and White are pretty present in this archetype, and it's a nice protection against countermeasure, I think. Thoughts?
So, if you red through all this, I will thank you for the time spent and hope that my take on balance has interested you
The Mistveil Plains should not be included unless you have a way to search for it. I would either take out a Terramorphic expanse or two for two white fetch lands. specifically Windswept Heath and Flooded Strand so you can also find a forest or island untapped (for Outburst or Plea). If you don't have those fetch lands, then try out Bow of Nylea as a way to recycle your Balances. Actually, if you are running four balances, you most likely won't have to recycle them, since four should be enough. Most people only run three Balances so that we reduce the odds of drawing Balance, yet we can still balance 3 or four times due to the recycling effects.
The best sideboard against burn is taking out Balance and putting in Kor Firewalker. They should have removed all/most of their path to exiles and wouldn't bring in Pyrite spellbomb to deal with Firewalker. So they shouldn't have many answers to it besides Skullcrack in game two. Well...i say it is the best but I honestly havent tried Timely reinforcements. Something like Kitchen Finks might be useful too. It gains 4 life and can help Gargadon lose 2 counters. Might be something. But I just use Firewalker and haven't been disappointed.
Privileged Position doesn't protect against counters because the spells you cast are not permanents, so they can still be targeted by counters. In terms of protecting your artifacts from Ancient Grudge/Koligans Command/natures claim/wear//tear etc etc, there's no way you can get up to five mana to cast Privileged Position it if they are destroying your posts. But I'm not sure there is another card choice that lets all your permanents or artifacts gain hexproof...
Ingot Chewer is also great against affinity/artifact decks (affinity and lantern seem to have increased in the current meta).
Thanks for the reply! Very appreciated.
Hm, I think I can afford a couple of fetches, like you suggested - And I can remove a Balance to justify the mechanic. Me likes tunings! That leaves an open slot tho. Should I focus on redundance or should I introduce a new threat/utility/whatev? Any suggestion?
I don't have experience with the gifts package, so I don't want to advise on something I don't have experience with. SO I don't know how gifts and Sphinx would play out. But the extra slot should go to the fourth Beast Within. When I started running the deck, I didn't see the importance of it or the need for something like it. But after playing the deck for several months to a year, I think anything less than 4 Beast Within is not optimum.
Also a second Ajani would be good too. But I think the Beast Within would be more important.
Ok, fair advices, thanks!
I will definetly test the fourth Beast. Meanwhile, I'll just chill somewere waiting for more feedback to come your was precious!
if i'm not mistaken, wastes is a basic land that works with the border posts?
ifs fetchable off of evolving wilds?
putting a few thoughts together, I think that opens the possibility to run Thought-Knot Seer, matter reshaper or even reality smasher, all of which feel like a strong clock after a restore balance goes off!
Hey Shanaxe! Looks like you have a pretty nice deck there. I have not played the gifts/reanimate fatty type of deck yet but I was wondering if there are other creatures that you can put in the sideboard to reanimate. I'm thinking about running Stormtide Leviathan for the eldrazi matchup/similar matchups. Just a thought.
Also, wastes are basic lands, so they definitely work with evolving wilds and posts. I would just be hesitant trying to effectively run a sixth color, especially because wastes don't help our color fixing for any cascade spells and our mana base is shaky enough as it is.
Lumpygravy46: Stormtide Leviathan isn't a bad card at all, in place of Sundering Titan where there is a monocolored, non-colored opponent to face. Nice catch (I happen to have both cards, so that's even better! :D) Will definetly test out.
I'm rather unsure of the Sphinx. DOn't really know if is a good card to have against a long, grindy game versus control (So I can save the combo balance) or it's a futile plan because probably opponent will counter Gifts and/or Unbrial aynway.
Also, wastes are basic lands, so they definitely work with evolving wilds and posts. I would just be hesitant trying to effectively run a sixth color, especially because wastes don't help our color fixing for any cascade spells and our mana base is shaky enough as it is.
ya the mana base is an issue. Getting Thought-Knot Seer into the list is really strong over all i'm finding, it is better than vendilion clique
maybe could be viable cutting black from the deck, which is the least useful color among all. Replacing black with wastes (at the price of two situational balance enablers) *could* be not so bad of a trade, for such a powerful card. I'm pretty attracted from that OP Reality Smasher dude. I mean, Haste/Trample AND guaranteed 2for1 trade if removed? All in a 5/5 body with 5 cmc? (so basically the value of ALL the card abilities is weighted 0 mana) My reality got just smashed by this monster. Damn.
Both Seer and Smasher are frightening, to me.
maybe could be viable cutting black from the deck, which is the least useful color among all. Replacing black with wastes (at the price of two situational balance enablers)
I have had a lot of mental arguments recently about what the optimum build for the deck is color wise. Obviously we MUST play G and R for violent outburst, Beast within, blood moon. We should play W to suspend Balance in the worst case scenario, allow us to play mistveil plains and Ajani, wispmare from the side. Then picking the fourth color is up to you.
Blue: Gives you Thassa, Kiora, Thopter Spy Network, Thieve's Fortune, and Ardent Plea. Ardent Plea is inherently better than demonic dread since it doesn't need a target to cast. The problem with blue is...it is too slow in this meta game. Want to tap out turn three for Thassa after you played two border posts for turns 1 and 2 (aka did nothing to advance your board or protect yourself)? Doesn't seem smart in such an aggressive format. Kiora is nice since no one is playing bolts to kill her instantly.
Black: any color can (and should) be playing dismember, but black makes it not so painful. The meta is so creature dense that demonic dread right now will surely have targets. With black, Lingering souls in now an option and that card is baller: early game chump blockers, late game threats, sac to the gargadon, can be cast if you discard it to balance. And your mana will be better since it easier to cast RG or RB (outburst + dread) for balance than it is for RG or WU (outburst + plea)
Blue + black: you get ardent plea + dismember + a demonic dread (if you want a 9th cascader). and you even get Tezz, agent of Bolas as a finisher. But now your mana is going to be worse. You can have the perfect mana to play Plea, but you only have outburst in your hand and vice versa. In such a fast meta, you cannot afford to stumble with your mana. This happens less in the black version since outburst and dread play better from similar mana from the posts. You must be playing a 16+ borderpost version to play 5 colors which makes you dead to stony silence/early ancient grudges/etc. You can be ok later on, but they always have it on turn two.
Colorless: I'm not sure this is a good idea. I mean, 5 mana for a 5/5 Haste Trample? I would much rather just play Ezuri's Brigade: less mana and bigger, survives dismember. Thought Knot Seer is interesting. Might be worth it...but I'm not willing to try colorless as my fourth or fifth option just to try him out. You can cast any threat from just having borderposts, but you can't cast either of these two guys without wastes. Imagine if you could only cast a finisher like Thassa if you had an island (as opposed to just a blue borderpost). It looks a lot less attractive now since it might be a dead draw in a lot of games.
In the previous metagame (December-January) I was very happy to be playing the slightly slower blue version and did pretty well. But now with the format so fast and aggressive, I have switched to the black version and have been happy even though I think my winning percentage dropped. That could be because I'm still getting used to my slightly different build, other decks are just faster, or this is just not a good deck right now. All three local Modern events at my LGS I have went 2-2 while previous times I have been 3-1 and close to 4-0. I will say all my matches with my black build (instead of blue) have been very close and could have been 50% either way. So I feel that switching to black and not blue has made my match ups closer, I just haven't mastered the new build to put me on the consistently winning side.
Just some ideas I've been thinking about for a while. Let me know if you agree or disagree. All debates are good as they help us zero in on the optimum build.
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I think you need a little more borderpost 12 with 12 lands is very risky, I prefer 16 borderpost and 10-11 lands.
And You have only 4 cascade this is too low, you will do not have consistently cascade at T3.
Also, I suggest changeRiftwing Cloudskate to Nihilith.
1 Plains
2 Island
2 Mountain
1 Forest
4 Evolving Wilds
1 Flooded Strand
1 Windswept Heath
1 Mistveil Plains
Borderposts (13)
4 Wildfield Borderpost
4 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Firewild Borderpost
1 Mistvein Borderpost
4 Ardent Plea
4 Violent Outburst
3 Restore Balance
Utility (8)
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Beast Within
Other Stuff (15)
4 Greater Gargadon
2 Blood Moon
2 Thassa, god of the Sea
2 Thopter Spy Network
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2 Ajani Vengeant
1 Haunted Plate Mail
3 Kor Firewalker
3 Dismember
4 Ricochet Trap
3 Ingot Chewer
2 Anger of the Gods
Hey guys, this is currently the list that I have sleeved up and have run in previous tournaments. I want to make some updates, but want to get your input on the changes.
-1 Haunted Plate Mail -2 Thopter Spy Network
These cards are soooooo sweet to play, but they cost 4 mana and do not impact the board the turn you play them. The Plate Mail is too small of a creature in today's meta and the Thopters are soooooo slow. Great in a grindy matchup, but probably should not be main board anymore. These are the three easy cards to take out.
-2 Thassa, God of the Sea
This one is tougher for me. I have always been a pretty big proponent of Thassa in the deck, as I have had good success with her, but now that I think about it more, I'm not sure if she does all I think she does. It is pretty tough to get devotion high enough (unless I have two Ardent Pleas onthe field, but in that case two balances should hopefully mean I'm winning already), and tapping out on turn three for a couple of scrys seems not that great.
So to replace those 5 spots, I am playing around with a few choices. I thought about a single Bring to Light simply as a 9th "cascade" spell. But when I thought about including it, I don't want to rely on tapping out on turn 5 at sorcery speed to balance...Plus my deck has no other good targets to Bring to Light, as I am not going with the Gifts package. I was thinking about Thieves' Fortune. Even though it offers overall less cards drawn than Thassa over the course of a long game, most games now are not long and we need the ability to just dig in our deck for what we need at that specific turn. SO I can hold up mana on turn three for a Beast Within/Violent Outburst if necessary and cast Thieve's Fortune if I didn't have to cast the other two. Whereas with Thassa, I had to tap out turn three on my own turn giving my opponent the green light. And someone here mentioned Ezuri's Brigade which I honestly didn't even know was a card. So I will include some of him in here too as a 4 mana threat that competes with the Eldrazi. It is strictly better than Plate Mail and the Spy Network. I'm not sure if I want to do 4/1 or 3/2 split on Fortune/Brigade. Or maybe a 3/1/1 split of Fortune/Brigade/Bring to Light. If I draw BTL early, then I will use it as a Balance. If I draw it late, then I will use it to get the Brigade and close out the game. I guess Bring to Light is useful in game 2 and 3, when I can get Firewalker, Dismember, Anger of the Gods with it...
I also want to try and make space for some Thopter Spy Network and maybe Ghirapur Æther Grid in the sideboard, but I don't know what to remove...I am ok with taking out 1 Ricochet Trap since control is on the decline, but I don't know about the others, they all seem necessary...
Thoughts or advice on how to make my changes: 4/1 or 3/2 or 3/1/1 split? Maybe another split?
I already have Sigarda and Iona, I don't have blood moon though. What do you suggest I cut from your list to run both?
I am curious as to what the judge call was about and what the mistake was...care to share? We can only learn from our mistakes if we know what they are.
I have lurked long enough on this forum, and just want to thank you guys for the innovations you have put on this archetype. With that said, I have tried some of the builds posted here. For now, my list goes like this:
4 Evolving Wilds
2 Forest
2 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Swamp
2 Terramorphic Expanse
Creature(12):
4 Simian Spirit Guide
2 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Siege Rhino
1 Thragtusk
4 Greater Gargadon
2 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Firewild Borderpost
2 Mistvein Borderpost
4 Wildfield Borderpost
Enchantment(4):
4 Ardent Plea
Planeswalker(2):
1 Ajani Vengeant
1 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
Sorcery(11):
4 Restore Balance
3 Lingering Souls
3 Bring to Light
1 Primal Command
Instant(6)
2 Beast Within
4 Violent Outburst
2 Kor Firewalker
1 Faerie Macabre
4 Wispmare
1 Crumble to Dust
3 Ricochet Trap
1 Slaughter Games
1 Bribery
1 Bring to Light
1 Ingot Chewer
So basically, I have a Bring to Light Restore Balance deck. I currently don't have Goblin Dark-Dwellers, if ever I have, I'll replace 1 Huntmaster of the Fells and 1 Restore Balance for two of those.
I have posted 2-1 on an 8-player FNM, but using a different list (a list similar to one posted here, I'll give the poster his due once I locate the post).
Any advice I may get from you guys? I believe you guys have more experience on this than I have )
Edit: Found the list! Thanks to ShivanDragon1701. I think what I replaced is Geist of Saint Traft with Siege Rhino, and Oblivion Ring with Detention Sphere
RGForest BelcherRG
WUBRGBring to BalanceWUBRG
Commander Decks:
WUBSharuum the HegemonWUB
WUBRGScion of the Ur-DragonWUBRG
UBDralnu, Lich LordUB
UBRNekusar, the MindrazerUBR
4 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Mistvein Borderpost
4 Veinfire Borderpost
4 Wildfield Borderpost
Cascade: 14
4 Violent Outburst
3 Demonic Dread
3 Ardent Plea
4 Restore Balance
4 Greater Gargadon
2 Thassa, God of the Sea
Planeswalkers: 2
2 Tezzeret the Seeker
Enchantments: 3
2 Oblivion Ring
1 Bow of Nylea
Instants/Sorceries: 5
1 Beast within
4 Bring to Light
Land: 14?
1 Mistveil Plains
4 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Mulldrifter
2 Paraselene
2 Ingot Chewer
2 Faerie Macabre
2 Wispmare
2 Firespout
2 Dismember
2 Choke
As I said, it does seem to be just the mana base I'm short on, I just really can't recall what it was or where I found this deck,so any help would be REALLY appreciated!
On building a Celestial Kirin Stax EDH:
It definitely seems that your deck is almost complete. You might want to add some amount of the fifth borderpost in your deck also(Firewild Borderpost). You want to keep it at 16 posts though, they are pretty awful topdecks past a certain point in the game. Also, with 16 posts, you only want to play maybe 11-12 lands(perhaps 6 'fetch' lands and one of each basic). With those extra card slots, I'd recommend putting in a few win conditions that affect the board immediately, and that you can find with Bring to Light. Tezzeret the Seeker is a powerful magic card and a great win condition, but it doesn't really do anything until your second turn. Sometimes something like Thragtusk is a better option depending on the board state. The beauty of Bring to Light is the flexibility, so don't be afraid to take advantage of that. Also, as a small note, I would swap out the two oblivion rings for two more Beast Withins. They hit more targets and at instant speed, and for the most part we don't care too much about the 3/3 beats.
Now here is a decklist that I was thinking about building, and just wanted to hear a few thoughts about it:
3 Evolving Wilds
2 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Island
2 Mountain
2 Forest
1 Plains
1 Swamp
Creatures: 7
4 Simian Spirit Guide
2 Greater Gargadon
1 Terastodon
4 Other things?
Borderposts: 14
3 Firewild Borderpost
3 Fieldmist Borderpost
2 Wildfield Borderpost
3 Mistvein Borderpost
3 Veinfire Borderpost
4 Violent Outburst
4 Ardent Plea
3 Restore Balance
Instants: 5
4 Beast Within
1 Gifts Ungiven
Sorceries: 5
4 Bring to Light
1 Unburial Rites
Plainswalkers: 2
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2 Ricochet Trap
2 Firespout
2 Ingot Chewer
1 Slaughter Games
1 Demonic Dread
1 Crumble to Dust
2 Wispmare
2 Faerie Macabre
1 Stormtide Leviathan
1 Melira, Sylvok Outcast
Please feel free to give any suggestions here. The only thing that I'm not changing are my Kiora, the Crashing Waves, and that's only because I made custom Emblem and kraken tokens that I am rather fond of. I wanted to have a gifts package in here, but don't want to rely on it too much, because we're already vulnerable enough post-sideboard. Greater Gargadon was pretty underwhelming in my last deck, so I'm torn between playing 2-4 of them. Also not sure if I should play any Demonic Dreads in my main. I played 2 in my last deck but I feel like I can go off consistently enough on turn 3/4 anyway.
The big things I have been struggling with are what to play as my alternate win conditions that I can search for with Bring to Light on both 4 and 5 CMC. I've been thinking of these cards but don't know which fit best into the deck:
Thragtusk
Siege Rhino
Pia and Kiran Nalaar
Stormbreath Dragon
Lodestone Golem
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated!
I'm a first time poster-long time watcher here. I've followed the evolution of Restore Balance decks in the modern format for a while now. I'm brewing my own, taking precious inspiration from the ideas on those pages, and I'm a little bit thrilled because I'm going to bring the baby to my first 'not-so-small' tourney.
So, I'm here with some concerns. Mainly for the Sideboard and how to tweak against Burn (which I'm struggling with the most)
Here's the list
1 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Plains
2 Island
3 Evolving Wilds
3 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Swamp
1 Mistveil Plains
Posts
4 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Firewild Borderpost
2 Mistvein Borderpost
3 Wildfield Borderpost
2 Veinfire Borderpost
4 Violent Outburst
4 Restore Balance
4 Ardent Plea
Wincon
1 March of the Machines
1 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
4 Greater Gargadon
1 Sphinx of the Final Word
1 Sundering Titan
Utility&Gift
4 Simian Spirit Guide
3 Gifts Ungiven
1 Unburial Rites
1 Ajani Vengeant
3 Beast Within
4 Ricochet Trap
2 Damping Matrix
3 Timely Reinforcements
2 Anger of the Gods
4 Wispmare
I really like that name, and have to thank this very forum for that
Now, for the card choices:
Sphinx of the Final Word is... Nice, I belive. I hadn't chance to really test it yet, but if played with Gifts/Unburial, it can pack a nice punch AND protect your subsequent plans (may it be Beast Within or Cascades) securing the % of success of longer fights. At least, this in theory. Thoughts?
Ajani Vengeant Ajani. He doesn't win games by it owns, but DAMN the utility. If cast after a Balance, it's mostly game in your pocket. Opponent will recover very slowly with him, and the Helix effect gives a nice removal option.
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas While Ajani might have a very nice place in the deck and performs well, at least to me, Tezzeret IS the beast. With the deck so artifact-heavy, his +1 will almost always get you a post, his -1 after balance can start to pack the punch needed, and his ult, that can be used right the turn after he comes down (if everything goes right) it's pretty much a game-changer if not directly a wincon. He saved my ass the most, after Restore Balance itself.
March of the Machines last but not least, this. This is a tricky card that can win you the game stright up the turn you play it. Once, with just 4 posts on field and the gargadon suspended, I managed to cast balance AND march the same turn, just to deal 5 damage later and 20 damage the next turn. Sounds clichè-y, but I can just swear it was a 2vs20 life desperate situation. Probably I'm biased on this, but I really like the card and I founded it pretty suiting as the 'March of the Posts' finisher.
The other cards are pretty staple, I know, the only weird one being Sundering Titan which is there juust to make sure that the opponent will never recover again, mostly. However, it's an open spot. It came to mind because I liked it at the time, and I have one in my collection.
Moving to the sideboard, I'm not really sold on it. Found some interesting cards that pushes further the 'Ungiven Balance' concept, as in Damping Matrix. Timely Reinforcements saved my life a couple of times, but I hadn't occasion to test the other cards listed, living them to mainstream preferences, plain common sense and some personal preference. I would REALLY appreciate some feedback and suggestion to this, bearing that I'm not a big fan of the 1 of (even if I will consider any good argument in their favor ^_^)
On the topic of possibilities, was Privileged Position ever considered? Green and White are pretty present in this archetype, and it's a nice protection against countermeasure, I think. Thoughts?
So, if you red through all this, I will thank you for the time spent and hope that my take on balance has interested you
The best sideboard against burn is taking out Balance and putting in Kor Firewalker. They should have removed all/most of their path to exiles and wouldn't bring in Pyrite spellbomb to deal with Firewalker. So they shouldn't have many answers to it besides Skullcrack in game two. Well...i say it is the best but I honestly havent tried Timely reinforcements. Something like Kitchen Finks might be useful too. It gains 4 life and can help Gargadon lose 2 counters. Might be something. But I just use Firewalker and haven't been disappointed.
Privileged Position doesn't protect against counters because the spells you cast are not permanents, so they can still be targeted by counters. In terms of protecting your artifacts from Ancient Grudge/Koligans Command/natures claim/wear//tear etc etc, there's no way you can get up to five mana to cast Privileged Position it if they are destroying your posts. But I'm not sure there is another card choice that lets all your permanents or artifacts gain hexproof...
Ingot Chewer is also great against affinity/artifact decks (affinity and lantern seem to have increased in the current meta).
Hm, I think I can afford a couple of fetches, like you suggested - And I can remove a Balance to justify the mechanic. Me likes tunings! That leaves an open slot tho. Should I focus on redundance or should I introduce a new threat/utility/whatev? Any suggestion?
And what do you think about the use of the Sphinx of the Final Word?
Also a second Ajani would be good too. But I think the Beast Within would be more important.
I will definetly test the fourth Beast. Meanwhile, I'll just chill somewere waiting for more feedback to come your was precious!
ifs fetchable off of evolving wilds?
putting a few thoughts together, I think that opens the possibility to run Thought-Knot Seer, matter reshaper or even reality smasher, all of which feel like a strong clock after a restore balance goes off!
Also, wastes are basic lands, so they definitely work with evolving wilds and posts. I would just be hesitant trying to effectively run a sixth color, especially because wastes don't help our color fixing for any cascade spells and our mana base is shaky enough as it is.
I'm rather unsure of the Sphinx. DOn't really know if is a good card to have against a long, grindy game versus control (So I can save the combo balance) or it's a futile plan because probably opponent will counter Gifts and/or Unbrial aynway.
ya the mana base is an issue. Getting Thought-Knot Seer into the list is really strong over all i'm finding, it is better than vendilion clique
Both Seer and Smasher are frightening, to me.
I have had a lot of mental arguments recently about what the optimum build for the deck is color wise. Obviously we MUST play G and R for violent outburst, Beast within, blood moon. We should play W to suspend Balance in the worst case scenario, allow us to play mistveil plains and Ajani, wispmare from the side. Then picking the fourth color is up to you.
Blue: Gives you Thassa, Kiora, Thopter Spy Network, Thieve's Fortune, and Ardent Plea. Ardent Plea is inherently better than demonic dread since it doesn't need a target to cast. The problem with blue is...it is too slow in this meta game. Want to tap out turn three for Thassa after you played two border posts for turns 1 and 2 (aka did nothing to advance your board or protect yourself)? Doesn't seem smart in such an aggressive format. Kiora is nice since no one is playing bolts to kill her instantly.
Black: any color can (and should) be playing dismember, but black makes it not so painful. The meta is so creature dense that demonic dread right now will surely have targets. With black, Lingering souls in now an option and that card is baller: early game chump blockers, late game threats, sac to the gargadon, can be cast if you discard it to balance. And your mana will be better since it easier to cast RG or RB (outburst + dread) for balance than it is for RG or WU (outburst + plea)
Blue + black: you get ardent plea + dismember + a demonic dread (if you want a 9th cascader). and you even get Tezz, agent of Bolas as a finisher. But now your mana is going to be worse. You can have the perfect mana to play Plea, but you only have outburst in your hand and vice versa. In such a fast meta, you cannot afford to stumble with your mana. This happens less in the black version since outburst and dread play better from similar mana from the posts. You must be playing a 16+ borderpost version to play 5 colors which makes you dead to stony silence/early ancient grudges/etc. You can be ok later on, but they always have it on turn two.
Colorless: I'm not sure this is a good idea. I mean, 5 mana for a 5/5 Haste Trample? I would much rather just play Ezuri's Brigade: less mana and bigger, survives dismember. Thought Knot Seer is interesting. Might be worth it...but I'm not willing to try colorless as my fourth or fifth option just to try him out. You can cast any threat from just having borderposts, but you can't cast either of these two guys without wastes. Imagine if you could only cast a finisher like Thassa if you had an island (as opposed to just a blue borderpost). It looks a lot less attractive now since it might be a dead draw in a lot of games.
In the previous metagame (December-January) I was very happy to be playing the slightly slower blue version and did pretty well. But now with the format so fast and aggressive, I have switched to the black version and have been happy even though I think my winning percentage dropped. That could be because I'm still getting used to my slightly different build, other decks are just faster, or this is just not a good deck right now. All three local Modern events at my LGS I have went 2-2 while previous times I have been 3-1 and close to 4-0. I will say all my matches with my black build (instead of blue) have been very close and could have been 50% either way. So I feel that switching to black and not blue has made my match ups closer, I just haven't mastered the new build to put me on the consistently winning side.
Just some ideas I've been thinking about for a while. Let me know if you agree or disagree. All debates are good as they help us zero in on the optimum build.