I suppose Black Sun's Zenith could be a meta call. If you've got a lot of Affinity or Pod running around, it it useful. It also puts itself back into your deck so you can reuse it. I'll try it out and see how it works.
question regarding SB cards, i currently have 3 spellskites in my SB because my meta is full of aggro, and i kinda dunno which cards i should swap out for them, i usually take out my electrolyzes against non-affinity, but i'm considering taking out remand now.
Both solid choices to side out. Remand isn't terribly great against aggro because their spells are usually pretty cheap to replay. Electrolyze is also similarly not good unless you see a lot of x/1's. Spellskite is a good wall / burn magnet, and survives your own Anger of the Gods / Pyroclasms. I sometimes swap out a Cryptic Command or a few heavier removal spells like Hero's Downfall / Sudden Death for faster answers.
thx for the tip!
the reason for me keeping the remands is that i use remands over think twice as a part of my card draw option, the ability to flash back with tiago is great there. but like you have mentioned, remand really doesnt do much against aggros. i dont use sudden death or hero's downfall atm since i am not running a teachings package, right now i MD 2 AotGs and 1 Damnation, and i guess i will consider siding out a cryptic if my aggro MUs keep bothering me
Ever since I came back to Magic my goal was to build this deck for two main reasons, I like control and I like Grixis. It was, and still is, kind of a expensive deck so I took some road around (Merfolk, Storm) and now that I have the fetches and almost all the blue and red cards for this deck I'm close to building it. Doing a finishing order next week, I got wondering some questions. (I read a lot of this discussion, btw, not lazy here )
1 - Does it worth Running more than 4 x Scalding Tarn's ? Since the mana base is a real problem in this deck I wonder if evene with not matching color wouldn't be worth to get 2 more Misty Rainforest or Verdant Catacombs
2 - Has everyone wondered about Rakdos's Return? Look a solid card to work around when you can't cast a Cruel Ultimatum.
1. I run 3 Misty, 3 Tarn. I would run 4 Tarn and 2 Misty, but I don't have it and I feel like I am only fetching blue ever anyway.
2. I run 1 Rakdos's Return main. It clears the path for Cruel Ultimatum a lot. Playing a Rakdos's Return then next turn Cruel Ultimatum is probably my favorite part of the deck.
I really like having those as turn 1-2 plays. Augur definitely helps against aggro, which is one of the tougher match ups for me, and serum sets it up quite nicely. I definitely wanna see some other opinions on it though. Especially vs. using discard + mana leak, which follows the same mana curve.
I really like having those as turn 1-2 plays. Augur definitely helps against aggro, which is one of the tougher match ups for me, and serum sets it up quite nicely. I definitely wanna see some other opinions on it though. Especially vs. using discard + mana leak, which follows the same mana curve.
i dont really recommend choosing cards based on what you want to have for the turn 1-2 plays, since i run 3 IoKs main and for over 50 games i played with my current list, i've never had it in my opening hand, but i've seen the singleton suffer the past more than 10 times in my opening. and yes, i shuffle properly.
Other people have mentioned this being alright in the deck but in my opinion they are both dead cards. Visions is to cycle through a deck to get to a win condition. Point of it being to speed out a combo of some type fast enough that your opponent can't react. The card fits good in aggro decks. The control shell the Grixis plays doesn't make proper use of the card at all. An example being UWR control and UWR aggro. In one you run sphinx's rev the other you run delver of secrets and geist of saint traft. In the aggro version Visions works wonders to increase the speed of the aggro, and in the control version Visions is better used as a slot to better control the game so you can get to late game.
So far as augur of bolas the card was only good in standard unless someone finds a deck to break it. Against most aggro decks at best its a stall or absorbs a bolt, even then vs zoo it will rarely be able to block anything. Beyond that in most match ups I'd rather have another answer to one of they're threats instead of a stall card. By replacing the augur with another spell I don't need Augur's ability.
I also want to know why no one seems to play Liliana of The Veil, as she seems to me a good option in this deck.
For me personally I dislike the fact you have to discard a card. I'm unsure how well she would actually fit into the deck. Against burn she could be a 2-1 as they hit her twice with spells. Zoo she would like be a 1-1. I could see her being viable against Tron but even then you have to worry about Oblivion Stone. I think unless you can fit her in as a 3 of she is kind of weak and you'll always be pitching a card you could have used.
I've not really tested Lili in the deck however and I'm really only speculating.
Main reason I don't like her is the sorcery speed it forces you to play at on turn 3. Instead of leaving mana up to be able to cast an Electrolyze your tapping out to get a 1-1 instead of potential 2-1 and draw.
One of the main benefits of the Grixis deck is its ability to gain card advantage with spells. Why would you play something that completely counter acts that ability.
I also want to know why no one seems to play Liliana of The Veil, as she seems to me a good option in this deck.
Cruel control wants to have cards in hand. Liliana of the veil supports getting rid of cards in your hand. The two just don't fit very well. Liliana is a much better option in decks that want to be in topdeck mode, which really isn't the best place for Cruel Control.
It's a perfectly fine way to tune your deck, but you'll be tapping out more often at the start of the game which will in turn hurt your Twin matchups where tapout = danger and you want them to be forced to play around counterspells at all times. That said, Augur is much better in the aggro matchups and both him and Visions help you dig deep for answers. I personally have played both and prefer the somewhat slower but instant-speed Clique / Teachings package as it suits my playstyle better; I do encourage you to give both configurations a try.
This is partially true, but if you're playing Inquisitions, it's somewhat less risky. Also, you're tapping out on turn 1/2, which then allows you to set yourself up to defend against the critical turn 4-5 plays where they try to beat you. None of the modern combo decks win when you would ideally be tapping out for augur / visions, and independent of that, you can play them turn 4 with 2 mana held up for removal or permission.
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Another question, does anyone think of Sign in Blood in the deck for card advantage? I know the 2 life hurts , even more in this deck with no almost no life gain. But still..
If you want to side some cards just for tron, sowing salt is the winner, however 2 hero's downfall work wonders alongside the main dreadbore and the sided counterflux.
Night of Souls' Betrayal is a decent side-board card against many decks in the format, but it is a bit slow. Against pod, I side in 4 Rakdos Charm, which is really quite good in that match up. If you also run a few Shadow of Doubt and Surgical Extraction you will force the pod player to play a regular creature-based game, one which you will win most of the time.
I'm a little concerned with your mana-base (20 blue, 18 black, 12 red, 26 lands), in that you run 2 Anger of the Gods main, and also 2RR spells in the side-board. In a 26 land deck I would recommend 18 red sources for 1RR, 16 sources for 2RR, and 15 untapped red sources for a turn 1 Lightning Bolt.
For an example of setting up your mana, you may have a look at my blog-post on this site.
WU Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
RWU Numot, the Devastator
WUB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
WB Athreos, God of Passage
UBRGrixis ControlUBR | URPhoenixUR | UWMiraclesUW |GBRJundGBR | UBFaeriesUB | UBWAd NauseumUBW |GBRWBlueless ShadowGBRW |
MTGA
UBRGrixis ControlUBR | UTempoU
thx for the tip!
the reason for me keeping the remands is that i use remands over think twice as a part of my card draw option, the ability to flash back with tiago is great there. but like you have mentioned, remand really doesnt do much against aggros. i dont use sudden death or hero's downfall atm since i am not running a teachings package, right now i MD 2 AotGs and 1 Damnation, and i guess i will consider siding out a cryptic if my aggro MUs keep bothering me
UBRGrixis ControlUBR | URPhoenixUR | UWMiraclesUW |GBRJundGBR | UBFaeriesUB | UBWAd NauseumUBW |GBRWBlueless ShadowGBRW |
MTGA
UBRGrixis ControlUBR | UTempoU
1 - Does it worth Running more than 4 x Scalding Tarn's ? Since the mana base is a real problem in this deck I wonder if evene with not matching color wouldn't be worth to get 2 more Misty Rainforest or Verdant Catacombs
2 - Has everyone wondered about Rakdos's Return? Look a solid card to work around when you can't cast a Cruel Ultimatum.
2. I run 1 Rakdos's Return main. It clears the path for Cruel Ultimatum a lot. Playing a Rakdos's Return then next turn Cruel Ultimatum is probably my favorite part of the deck.
I really like having those as turn 1-2 plays. Augur definitely helps against aggro, which is one of the tougher match ups for me, and serum sets it up quite nicely. I definitely wanna see some other opinions on it though. Especially vs. using discard + mana leak, which follows the same mana curve.
i dont really recommend choosing cards based on what you want to have for the turn 1-2 plays, since i run 3 IoKs main and for over 50 games i played with my current list, i've never had it in my opening hand, but i've seen the singleton suffer the past more than 10 times in my opening. and yes, i shuffle properly.
UBRGrixis ControlUBR | URPhoenixUR | UWMiraclesUW |GBRJundGBR | UBFaeriesUB | UBWAd NauseumUBW |GBRWBlueless ShadowGBRW |
MTGA
UBRGrixis ControlUBR | UTempoU
Other people have mentioned this being alright in the deck but in my opinion they are both dead cards. Visions is to cycle through a deck to get to a win condition. Point of it being to speed out a combo of some type fast enough that your opponent can't react. The card fits good in aggro decks. The control shell the Grixis plays doesn't make proper use of the card at all. An example being UWR control and UWR aggro. In one you run sphinx's rev the other you run delver of secrets and geist of saint traft. In the aggro version Visions works wonders to increase the speed of the aggro, and in the control version Visions is better used as a slot to better control the game so you can get to late game.
So far as augur of bolas the card was only good in standard unless someone finds a deck to break it. Against most aggro decks at best its a stall or absorbs a bolt, even then vs zoo it will rarely be able to block anything. Beyond that in most match ups I'd rather have another answer to one of they're threats instead of a stall card. By replacing the augur with another spell I don't need Augur's ability.
For me personally I dislike the fact you have to discard a card. I'm unsure how well she would actually fit into the deck. Against burn she could be a 2-1 as they hit her twice with spells. Zoo she would like be a 1-1. I could see her being viable against Tron but even then you have to worry about Oblivion Stone. I think unless you can fit her in as a 3 of she is kind of weak and you'll always be pitching a card you could have used.
I've not really tested Lili in the deck however and I'm really only speculating.
Main reason I don't like her is the sorcery speed it forces you to play at on turn 3. Instead of leaving mana up to be able to cast an Electrolyze your tapping out to get a 1-1 instead of potential 2-1 and draw.
One of the main benefits of the Grixis deck is its ability to gain card advantage with spells. Why would you play something that completely counter acts that ability.
Cruel control wants to have cards in hand. Liliana of the veil supports getting rid of cards in your hand. The two just don't fit very well. Liliana is a much better option in decks that want to be in topdeck mode, which really isn't the best place for Cruel Control.
This is partially true, but if you're playing Inquisitions, it's somewhat less risky. Also, you're tapping out on turn 1/2, which then allows you to set yourself up to defend against the critical turn 4-5 plays where they try to beat you. None of the modern combo decks win when you would ideally be tapping out for augur / visions, and independent of that, you can play them turn 4 with 2 mana held up for removal or permission.
UB Faeries (15-6-0)
UWR Control (10-5-1)/Kiki Control/Midrange/Harbinger
UBR Cruel Control (6-4-0)/Grixis Control/Delver/Blue Jund
UWB Control/Mentor
UW Miracles/Control (currently active, 14-2-0)
BW Eldrazi & Taxes
RW Burn (9-1-0)
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I'm a little concerned with your mana-base (20 blue, 18 black, 12 red, 26 lands), in that you run 2 Anger of the Gods main, and also 2RR spells in the side-board. In a 26 land deck I would recommend 18 red sources for 1RR, 16 sources for 2RR, and 15 untapped red sources for a turn 1 Lightning Bolt.
For an example of setting up your mana, you may have a look at my blog-post on this site.