Jace and Bloodbraid being unbanned, what are we supposed to do? How bad is this for us? Is Phyrexian Revoker finally going to have to be maindecked, alongside an Eidolon of Rhetoric or Ethersworn Canonist?
Tbh I'm not that scaered of Jace himself, our deck are well positioned to beat decks playing him. I'm more concerned about what will happen to the meta, as I predict it will shift into faster decks or more tron to beat Jace.
Bloodbraid elf? No idea tbh. Jund will obviously be harder, but can't gauge how present the archetype will be because of Mr.Blue.
Jace.dec decks used to play a high number of fetch lands. We may take advantage on that. Also, we can delay or make BBE fizzles having Thalia in play. All our First Strikers are better in combat than BBE. We shall see against cascade into other threats tho
I was waiting until the ban list to decide to make this post.
I want to play Mono-White DnT (I have been using proxies to do decks to see what would be fun), but I have 0 pieces of the deck. Does someone have a list to help me to follow to see the upgrade path? I think I'm going to buy all aether vials first, then see other cards.
Hello guys, i've been reading this forum for about a year and i've learnt a lot thanks to all of you. You are awesome.
The thing is, what are we supposed to do against those busted cards wotc decided to unban "for the sake and diversity of modern" AKA sell all those *****ty M25 packs.
I spent all the afternoon on cockatrice trying to beat those cards. I think we can handle bbe despite it being a really strong card, but jace just feels too much on an empty board. I hope it's just the first day and we can really adapt to it but my first impression is that today is a sad day for modern.
So here's the deck list I went 5 - 3 with at GP Toronto and 3 - 0 the next day in a modern side event. I regrettably didn't write notes after each match so I'll be writing from memory (of which I have a horrible one). Regardless, I do remember the highlights, so here's a rough breakdown:
Round 1 (0-0):Titan shift
I felt pretty good when I saw wooded foothills fetch a stomping ground to suspend Search for Tomorrow. I landed an early Thalia, then an arbiter. He still managed to play a Titan which I had a path for and then swung in for lethal. In: Mirran Crusader, Gideon of the Trials, 2 Burrenton Forge Tender Out: 1 Aether Vial, 2 Thraben Inspector, 1 Blade Splicer
I played an early Arbiter, into flickerwisp him off a land early on, then restoration angel flickerwisp to restrict his mana again. He bolts angel then casts Anger of the Gods to wipe the board. I play a Mirran Crusader, vial in Blade Splicer the following turn, finish the game in two swings.
Round 2 (1-0):Burn
I was overconfident in this match. I've played against burn quite a bit and am very familiar with the matchup. I lost in 3 unfortunately after winning the first game easily and then losing to a top decked bolt when I had lethal on the board and was at 3 life. In: 2 Burrenton Forge Tender, Gideon of the Trials Out: 2 Thraben Inspector, 1 Mirran Crusader
I kept a hand with no thalias, arbiters, or sb cards. I believe the hand was aether vial, selfless spirit, flickerwisp and lands. My line of thinking was flying is good against burn, but I definitely had tunnel vision on that minor piece of the puzzle when it comes to defeating burn. Simply put, I made a decision to keep a weak 7 and lost.
Round 3: (1-1)Affinity
Not even sure I need to go in depth here. Lost game 1, sided in Stony Silence and Kataki and Linvala. He beat me in game 2 despite having a stony silence and Arbiter + GQ'ing him. At this point I was feeling pretty annoyed about messing up my burn matchup. I had to win 5 games in a row now to make day 2. Looking bleak. Due to the quick game I had enough time to grab lunch and clear my head. I'd suggest this quite strongly during any competitive event. Taking a moment to re-focus actually helped a lot and I think contributed a huge amount to my following games.
Round 4: (1-2)Grixis DS
I honestly don't remember much about this game. I do remember in game 3 he had a lili on 3 and I had an empty board after a kozilek's return the previous turn. It wasn't looking great. I drew a thraben inspector. Quite possibly one of the best cards against lili in my opinion. He ticks up. I crack the clue, see a resto angel, draw a crusader for the turn. Cast crusader. Ticks lili down, sac the inspector. Kill lili, flash in resto on his end step, proceed to win. In: Mirran Crusader, Dusk // Dawn, Gideon of the Trials, 2 Oblivion Ring Out: 3 Aether Vial, 2 Blade Splicer
I'm still not quite sure if those are the correct cards to take out against against DS, but Blade Splicer doesn't feel that great against Kolaghan's Command for me.
Round 5: (2-2)Living End
I used to think this wasn't a good matchup. I'm not sure why. At least post-board it's very easy. Game 1 he combo'd off and I scooped. Game 2 I landed a rest in peace with creatures on the board to close out the game. Game 3 he tapped out to cast a cascade spell while I had a Thalia on board. It resolved, he goes to cast living end and I explain he can't, he says gg. In: 2 Rest in Peace, 1 Settle the Wreckage, 1 Dusk // Dawn, 1 Relic of Progenitus Out: 2 Aether Vial, 3 Blade Splicer
Round 6: (3-2)BR Hollow One
I did not get much of a chance to test against this deck. I still don't know if siding in Rest in Peace or just Relic is correct. This was basically another set of games where Mirran Crusader won. I held onto removal for his red creatures and left the crusader up as a blockade and won with resto angel for both games. In: Relic, 2 Burrenton Forge Tender, Mirran Crusader, 2 Oblivion Ring Out: 2 Thraben Inspector, 2 Aether Vial, 2 Restoration Angel
Round 7: (4-2)Humans
I definitely thought this was the end of the day. I had mostly poor results in testing against this deck and was starting to get a little tired from so many games. Fortunately I snuck a win in with game 2 after sneaking by on 1 life and putting burrenton forge tender to work by blocking a thalia's lieutenant and the sac'ing to prevent the damage from a Vithian Renegades while the rest of my time made favorable blocks since he believed he was swinging in for lethal. Game 3, he kept a poor 6 with 2 Aether Vial, Meddling Mage, Reflector Mage and lands. After he resolved the creatures I GQ'd him down to one land with wisp and thalia on defence and he couldn't cast anything else. I drew fliers and brought him to 0 before he could recover. He complimented my piloting skills which felt pretty good considering I'm still not the most confident when playing this deck due to constantly having to take hiatus' from the game due to work. In: 2 Burrenton Forge Tender, 1 Settle the Wreckage, 2 Oblivion Ring Out: 2 Thraben Inspector, 3 Leonin Arbiter
Round 8: (5-2)Merfolk
I went into this match prepared to lose. Not in a pessimistic manner, but I was very happy with how the day had panned out and the recovery I had made. Once I saw Island - Aether Vial, I kind of chuckled to myself and figured I may as well go out with a bang. I lost in game 3, possibly due to not casting a gideon early enough and getting clique'd. He was on mono blue and was still playing master of waves, which definitely made the matchup even bleaker. He was a very nice opponent and also complimented my piloting skills. Was a good way to end the day. In: Settle the Wreckage, Dusk // Dawn, Gideon of the Trials Out: 1 Aether Vial, 2 Leonin Arbiter
Final Thoughts:
I definitely think I over sideboarded a lot of matchups, and possibly incorrectly. Also throwing away the burn matchup was pretty dumb. However I obviously would have gotten different matchups and possibly faced more humans and not gotten so lucky. I was excited to take this build (with some minor tweaks) to other events, but definitely have to adjust to the whatever the unbannings turns the metagame into.
I wasn't very impressed with Selfless Spirit. I'm sure I would feel differently if I had been paired against any Jeskai or UW Control obviously. I think I could have sided it out against a lot more decks but I often kept it in out of fear of losing because I couldn't draw a flier or not having a way to protect a Mirran Crusader in certain matchups. I was very impressed with Mirran Crusader. It felt like the right choice to keep it maindeck in the flex spots for that tournament at the end of the day.
In the sideboard, I never had a chance to cast Settle the wreckage, but it was great in testing. Same goes for Gideon. I did resolve him once or twice and he was great. Linvala didn't feel right and I was mostly playing it knowing how much Toronto players love Company decks.
@Jake_MG Great report. I don't think you oversiboarded, but you probably did some things that werent what id do.
First, most of the matchs when you side out vials, you side them all, you want 1 in your initial hand or none at all. Especially in grindy matchs you don't want to draw them in mid-late game.
In the affinity match the arbiters are not good enough, they are just a bear that cant even block, they have only 1 basic at most, so you can path and GQ for free anyways.
Against burn i keep the 1 drops, even if they only chump block, its something to do T1 or something to vial T2 and is important to maintain your health as high as you can and it replaces itself once you have a control of the board.
Even if GDS have command for your Blade Splicer, you are trading 1 for 1 and 3 mana for 3 mana, and that's really good for you, since most of the times their Kcommands are 2 for 1 against you or worst. And Blade Splicer is really good if they dont have Kcommand (or cant cast it).
Interested to see how the meta shakes out with the unbannings, but now I just want to play a JTMS deck (particularly UW Control). I just rebuilt D&T in Modern (and Legacy Burn) because of how relatively cheap they were not having to run fetches/duals, so that's probably not happening, but it's kinda nice to see D&T under the radar again so people won't be expecting it.
In the affinity match the arbiters are not good enough, they are just a bear that cant even block, they have only 1 basic at most, so you can path and GQ for free anyways.
Yes, I forgot to include the sideboarding I did for that mathcup. I took 3 arbiters out and put in the 2 stony and 1 kataki. I considered the O-rings for cranial plating and just as an extra removal spell in general, but I felt it might be too slow and I'd rather be mulliganing for stony silence or kataki.
Even if GDS have command for your Blade Splicer, you are trading 1 for 1 and 3 mana for 3 mana, and that's really good for you, since most of the times their Kcommands are 2 for 1 against you or worst. And Blade Splicer is really good if they dont have Kcommand (or cant cast it).
So what would you recommend in terms of the 5th card I should have taken out? Something lower impact?
Siding out all 4 vials would leave one card that needs to come out.
I think classic BWET build with 22 lands + some amount of blade splicers is the best against Humans.
Against Mardu Pyromancer, I wouldn't want Tidehollow Sculler or Wasteland Strangler, and Flickerwisp are bad. I would run build with Thraben Inspectors, some Blade Splicers and of course Reality Smashers. Probably little black for Lingering Souls.
Does the prevalence of BBE decks give enough of a reason to maindeck Mirran Crusaders again? And does the expectation of more Kommands warrant taking Copter out?
This is what I was running, followed by the possible changes:
I feel like I want to maindeck the Crusaders regardless (and add Relic-Warders to the SB), but I don't know if cutting Copters or Selfless Spirits is the better choice assuming an increase in Jace/BBE decks. Jace may mean less sweepers, relegating SS to the board, but I'm afraid of the vulnerability of Copter.
Right now, with Jace and BBE roaming free, I would go with 2 Revoker and at least 2 Mirran in the main and also be conscious that K-Command destroys us so we have to minimize the targets for it. So, Copters out.
I would put the selfless to the side and keep an eye on Mark of Asylum if the bolt presence go nuts.
I've been thinking about a green micro-splash for Shapers' Sanctuary but don't own any Canopies... Anyone have any thoughts on it in this targeted-removal-heavy meta?
This Monday is my first Monday of playing with Jace and BBE in the meta. Since we've got a group om Facebook I know that we will have more Jaces than BBEs and this is the list I plan on bringing
The added MB Brimaz, King of Oreskos feels like a brilliant way to handle BBE and attacking Jace, and the MB Aven Mindcensor is to deal with the different Jace decks' bigger need for fetch lands.
I know that we are going to see an increase in K Commands due to BBE, but I've decided to keep 3 Scooters main since I think we might have a bigger need for flying heavy hitters, and they'll be perfect to side out for the Crusaders and the Eidolon.
Sideboardwise I've chosen to add 2 Phyrexian Revokers, 2 Spirit of the Labyrinth and a single Eidolon of Rhetoric to battle Jace (can't wait to Vial in a Spirit in response to his +0). Revoker feels good in other match ups, and we've got some other control decks and As Foretold decks so I feel that the Spirit of the Labyrinth is okay as a two of.
Is traditional D&T better than Eldrazi and Taxes at the moment in the new Jace/BBE meta? Just getting back into modern and have been testing E&T on mtgo with some success. Being able to strip the hands of Jace decks with Tidehollow and TKS has been real good, and Reality Smasher has yet to disappoint. Just not a fan of the iffy mana base. I've probably lost more games from my mana then my opponent actually beating me.
There has been an increase I tarmogoyfs also, since traverse shadow made some results. Also, I don't think mardu will stand out with BBE loose. I am thinking of playing two spirits of labirynth and two mirran crusaders maindeck now (be eldrazi and taxes with Freebooter instead of tidehollows here). The increased resilience to Jace, to temur card advantage and giving another Target for removal turn two for these cantrip decks instead of thalia/arbiter seems nice. I'll maybe send the stranglers to sideboard for the humans/merfolk/afinity (aggro) matchs, as well as a couple revokers. I intend to play two wrath's also because I expect and increase of aggro to face Jace with fire, so the globals may help here. Bob's are still under evaluation...
Heya, folks. I've been away from MTG for about 7 years, but I've managed to get things enough in order to return to the game I've missed for so long. I'm an old D&T player in legacy, so it was the near-death of Legacy in my area and the explosion of modern that led me to this format exclusively.
Of course, nobody that leaves MTG really leaves, so I've put some time in keeping up with it over the years. I was quite surprised to see how my favorite archetype was not only viable, but had been given so many toys to play with in the intervening years. With that, this is what I intend to take with me to my next modern tourney this Tuesday.
A lot of stock, standard stuff, and a few solid meta calls. The biggest question is the value of the Displacer + Temple package vs simply playing more utility lands.
A top 4 finish definitely says something.
With the rest of what he’s playing, I can certainly understand cutting Copter
That said, definitely going to mull over this a bit.
Does the prevalence of BBE decks give enough of a reason to maindeck Mirran Crusaders again? And does the expectation of more Kommands warrant taking Copter out?
Right now, with Jace and BBE roaming free, I would go with 2 Revoker and at least 2 Mirran in the main and also be conscious that K-Command destroys us so we have to minimize the targets for it. So, Copters out.
I would put the selfless to the side and keep an eye on Mark of Asylum if the bolt presence go nuts.
At this point it’s all theorycrafting and I hate theorycrafting instead of testing and tuning. Past experience tells me I want the maindeck Crusaders and in my sideboard I want some or all of these:
I really don’t know beyond Champion. If new Jund plays like old Jund, or new WUx Control plays like old WUx Control; then Champion is backbreaking and it goes beautifully with a maindeck, and possibly also sideboard, Brimaz.
I really can’t say until I know what bubbles to the surface.
In the meantime, the question remains: what lessons can we carry over from today’s event and Mr Dykman’s performance to further tune this deck?
“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
For mono white decks how do you fair against humans decks? Like human coco decks. I feel like it’s an almost impossible match up even with sideboard card since their creature overpower mine before I can stabilize a board presence. I bring in 2 ghostly prisons, 1 Ratchet bomb, 1 dismember, and Rest In Peace for knight of the reliquary. What’s everyone’s take on the matchup?
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Death & Taxes
Fish
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Teysa, Orzhov Scion
Roon of the Hidden Realm
Xenagos, God of Revels
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Tbh I'm not that scaered of Jace himself, our deck are well positioned to beat decks playing him. I'm more concerned about what will happen to the meta, as I predict it will shift into faster decks or more tron to beat Jace.
Bloodbraid elf? No idea tbh. Jund will obviously be harder, but can't gauge how present the archetype will be because of Mr.Blue.
Legacy: Death'n'Taxes
I want to play Mono-White DnT (I have been using proxies to do decks to see what would be fun), but I have 0 pieces of the deck. Does someone have a list to help me to follow to see the upgrade path? I think I'm going to buy all aether vials first, then see other cards.
Thanks.
The thing is, what are we supposed to do against those busted cards wotc decided to unban "for the sake and diversity of modern" AKA sell all those *****ty M25 packs.
I spent all the afternoon on cockatrice trying to beat those cards. I think we can handle bbe despite it being a really strong card, but jace just feels too much on an empty board. I hope it's just the first day and we can really adapt to it but my first impression is that today is a sad day for modern.
I would have a look at this link of the V2 primer. Look at the core cards. That is really where you should start
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/modern-archives/modern-archives-established/562814-wx-death-and-taxes
But basically at a bare min I would start here:
Aether Vial - Probably ok to get now due to the recent iconic masters printing.
Flickerwisp - cheap and a must
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - I would wait to see if reprinted in M25, and if not, immediately grab a play set because it will just continue rising in price otherwise.
Path to Exile just grab a play set now
Ghost Quarter, Leonin Arbiter, and Aven Mindcensor are fairly cheap now.
Hope this helps!
Cheers!
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Thraben Inspector
4 Leonin Arbiter
4 Blade Splicer
4 Flickerwisp
4 Restoration Angel
1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
2 Selfless Spirit
2 Mirran Crusader
4 Path to Exile
4 Tectonic Edge
4 Ghost Quarter
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Shefet Dunes
1 Mutavault
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Mirran Crusader
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1 Kataki, War's Wage
2 Stony Silence
2 Rest in Peace
2 Oblivion Ring
1 Settle the Wreckage
1 Gideon of the Trials
1 Dusk // Dawn
So here's the deck list I went 5 - 3 with at GP Toronto and 3 - 0 the next day in a modern side event. I regrettably didn't write notes after each match so I'll be writing from memory (of which I have a horrible one). Regardless, I do remember the highlights, so here's a rough breakdown:
Round 1 (0-0): Titan shift
I felt pretty good when I saw wooded foothills fetch a stomping ground to suspend Search for Tomorrow. I landed an early Thalia, then an arbiter. He still managed to play a Titan which I had a path for and then swung in for lethal.
In: Mirran Crusader, Gideon of the Trials, 2 Burrenton Forge Tender
Out: 1 Aether Vial, 2 Thraben Inspector, 1 Blade Splicer
I played an early Arbiter, into flickerwisp him off a land early on, then restoration angel flickerwisp to restrict his mana again. He bolts angel then casts Anger of the Gods to wipe the board. I play a Mirran Crusader, vial in Blade Splicer the following turn, finish the game in two swings.
Round 2 (1-0): Burn
I was overconfident in this match. I've played against burn quite a bit and am very familiar with the matchup. I lost in 3 unfortunately after winning the first game easily and then losing to a top decked bolt when I had lethal on the board and was at 3 life.
In: 2 Burrenton Forge Tender, Gideon of the Trials
Out: 2 Thraben Inspector, 1 Mirran Crusader
I kept a hand with no thalias, arbiters, or sb cards. I believe the hand was aether vial, selfless spirit, flickerwisp and lands. My line of thinking was flying is good against burn, but I definitely had tunnel vision on that minor piece of the puzzle when it comes to defeating burn. Simply put, I made a decision to keep a weak 7 and lost.
Round 3: (1-1) Affinity
Not even sure I need to go in depth here. Lost game 1, sided in Stony Silence and Kataki and Linvala. He beat me in game 2 despite having a stony silence and Arbiter + GQ'ing him. At this point I was feeling pretty annoyed about messing up my burn matchup. I had to win 5 games in a row now to make day 2. Looking bleak. Due to the quick game I had enough time to grab lunch and clear my head. I'd suggest this quite strongly during any competitive event. Taking a moment to re-focus actually helped a lot and I think contributed a huge amount to my following games.
Round 4: (1-2) Grixis DS
I honestly don't remember much about this game. I do remember in game 3 he had a lili on 3 and I had an empty board after a kozilek's return the previous turn. It wasn't looking great. I drew a thraben inspector. Quite possibly one of the best cards against lili in my opinion. He ticks up. I crack the clue, see a resto angel, draw a crusader for the turn. Cast crusader. Ticks lili down, sac the inspector. Kill lili, flash in resto on his end step, proceed to win.
In: Mirran Crusader, Dusk // Dawn, Gideon of the Trials, 2 Oblivion Ring
Out: 3 Aether Vial, 2 Blade Splicer
I'm still not quite sure if those are the correct cards to take out against against DS, but Blade Splicer doesn't feel that great against Kolaghan's Command for me.
Round 5: (2-2) Living End
I used to think this wasn't a good matchup. I'm not sure why. At least post-board it's very easy. Game 1 he combo'd off and I scooped. Game 2 I landed a rest in peace with creatures on the board to close out the game. Game 3 he tapped out to cast a cascade spell while I had a Thalia on board. It resolved, he goes to cast living end and I explain he can't, he says gg.
In: 2 Rest in Peace, 1 Settle the Wreckage, 1 Dusk // Dawn, 1 Relic of Progenitus
Out: 2 Aether Vial, 3 Blade Splicer
Round 6: (3-2) BR Hollow One
I did not get much of a chance to test against this deck. I still don't know if siding in Rest in Peace or just Relic is correct. This was basically another set of games where Mirran Crusader won. I held onto removal for his red creatures and left the crusader up as a blockade and won with resto angel for both games.
In: Relic, 2 Burrenton Forge Tender, Mirran Crusader, 2 Oblivion Ring
Out: 2 Thraben Inspector, 2 Aether Vial, 2 Restoration Angel
Round 7: (4-2) Humans
I definitely thought this was the end of the day. I had mostly poor results in testing against this deck and was starting to get a little tired from so many games. Fortunately I snuck a win in with game 2 after sneaking by on 1 life and putting burrenton forge tender to work by blocking a thalia's lieutenant and the sac'ing to prevent the damage from a Vithian Renegades while the rest of my time made favorable blocks since he believed he was swinging in for lethal. Game 3, he kept a poor 6 with 2 Aether Vial, Meddling Mage, Reflector Mage and lands. After he resolved the creatures I GQ'd him down to one land with wisp and thalia on defence and he couldn't cast anything else. I drew fliers and brought him to 0 before he could recover. He complimented my piloting skills which felt pretty good considering I'm still not the most confident when playing this deck due to constantly having to take hiatus' from the game due to work.
In: 2 Burrenton Forge Tender, 1 Settle the Wreckage, 2 Oblivion Ring
Out: 2 Thraben Inspector, 3 Leonin Arbiter
Round 8: (5-2) Merfolk
I went into this match prepared to lose. Not in a pessimistic manner, but I was very happy with how the day had panned out and the recovery I had made. Once I saw Island - Aether Vial, I kind of chuckled to myself and figured I may as well go out with a bang. I lost in game 3, possibly due to not casting a gideon early enough and getting clique'd. He was on mono blue and was still playing master of waves, which definitely made the matchup even bleaker. He was a very nice opponent and also complimented my piloting skills. Was a good way to end the day.
In: Settle the Wreckage, Dusk // Dawn, Gideon of the Trials
Out: 1 Aether Vial, 2 Leonin Arbiter
Final Thoughts:
I definitely think I over sideboarded a lot of matchups, and possibly incorrectly. Also throwing away the burn matchup was pretty dumb. However I obviously would have gotten different matchups and possibly faced more humans and not gotten so lucky. I was excited to take this build (with some minor tweaks) to other events, but definitely have to adjust to the whatever the unbannings turns the metagame into.
I wasn't very impressed with Selfless Spirit. I'm sure I would feel differently if I had been paired against any Jeskai or UW Control obviously. I think I could have sided it out against a lot more decks but I often kept it in out of fear of losing because I couldn't draw a flier or not having a way to protect a Mirran Crusader in certain matchups. I was very impressed with Mirran Crusader. It felt like the right choice to keep it maindeck in the flex spots for that tournament at the end of the day.
In the sideboard, I never had a chance to cast Settle the wreckage, but it was great in testing. Same goes for Gideon. I did resolve him once or twice and he was great. Linvala didn't feel right and I was mostly playing it knowing how much Toronto players love Company decks.
GW Death and Taxes WG
I'll be looking to that!
First, most of the matchs when you side out vials, you side them all, you want 1 in your initial hand or none at all. Especially in grindy matchs you don't want to draw them in mid-late game.
In the affinity match the arbiters are not good enough, they are just a bear that cant even block, they have only 1 basic at most, so you can path and GQ for free anyways.
Against burn i keep the 1 drops, even if they only chump block, its something to do T1 or something to vial T2 and is important to maintain your health as high as you can and it replaces itself once you have a control of the board.
Even if GDS have command for your Blade Splicer, you are trading 1 for 1 and 3 mana for 3 mana, and that's really good for you, since most of the times their Kcommands are 2 for 1 against you or worst. And Blade Splicer is really good if they dont have Kcommand (or cant cast it).
BG The Rock
Yes, I forgot to include the sideboarding I did for that mathcup. I took 3 arbiters out and put in the 2 stony and 1 kataki. I considered the O-rings for cranial plating and just as an extra removal spell in general, but I felt it might be too slow and I'd rather be mulliganing for stony silence or kataki.
So what would you recommend in terms of the 5th card I should have taken out? Something lower impact?
Siding out all 4 vials would leave one card that needs to come out.
GW Death and Taxes WG
Against Mardu Pyromancer, I wouldn't want Tidehollow Sculler or Wasteland Strangler, and Flickerwisp are bad. I would run build with Thraben Inspectors, some Blade Splicers and of course Reality Smashers. Probably little black for Lingering Souls.
This is what I was running, followed by the possible changes:
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Leonin Arbiter
2 Selfless Spirit
4 Flickerwisp
3 Blade Splicer
2 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
2 Eldrazi Displacer
2 Restoration Angel
4 Path to Exile
3 Smuggler's Copter
4 Aether Vial
4 Ghost Quarter
4 Tectonic Edge
2 Field of Ruin
2 Shefet Dunes
1 Eiganjo Castle
1 Flagstones of Trokair
8 Plains
2 Eidolon of Rhetoric
2 Fiend Hunter
2 Mirran Crusader
2 Sunlance
2 Journey to Nowhere
2 Rest in Peace
1 Oblivion Ring
I feel like I want to maindeck the Crusaders regardless (and add Relic-Warders to the SB), but I don't know if cutting Copters or Selfless Spirits is the better choice assuming an increase in Jace/BBE decks. Jace may mean less sweepers, relegating SS to the board, but I'm afraid of the vulnerability of Copter.
+2 Mirran Crusader
+1 Blade Splicer/Restoration Angel
-3 Smuggler's Copter
or
+2 Mirran Crusader
-2 Selfless Spirit
BG The Rock
I would put the selfless to the side and keep an eye on Mark of Asylum if the bolt presence go nuts.
4x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4x Leonin Arbiter
1x Aven Mindcensor
1x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4x Flickerwhisp
3x Eldrazi Displacer
3x Blade Splicer
3x Restoration Angel
3x Smuggler's Copter
4x Path to Exile
10x Plains
1x Eiganjo Castle
1x Shefet Dunes
4x Tectonic Edge
4x Ghost Quarter
2x Field of Ruin
1x Slaughter the Strong
2x Stony Silence
1x Kataki, War's Wage
2x Rest in Peace
2x Mirran Crusader
1x Eidolon of Rhetoric
1x Oblivion Ring
1x Blessed Alliance
2x Spirit of the Labyrinth
2x Phyrexian Revoker
The added MB Brimaz, King of Oreskos feels like a brilliant way to handle BBE and attacking Jace, and the MB Aven Mindcensor is to deal with the different Jace decks' bigger need for fetch lands.
I know that we are going to see an increase in K Commands due to BBE, but I've decided to keep 3 Scooters main since I think we might have a bigger need for flying heavy hitters, and they'll be perfect to side out for the Crusaders and the Eidolon.
Sideboardwise I've chosen to add 2 Phyrexian Revokers, 2 Spirit of the Labyrinth and a single Eidolon of Rhetoric to battle Jace (can't wait to Vial in a Spirit in response to his +0). Revoker feels good in other match ups, and we've got some other control decks and As Foretold decks so I feel that the Spirit of the Labyrinth is okay as a two of.
Of course, nobody that leaves MTG really leaves, so I've put some time in keeping up with it over the years. I was quite surprised to see how my favorite archetype was not only viable, but had been given so many toys to play with in the intervening years. With that, this is what I intend to take with me to my next modern tourney this Tuesday.
W/b Eldrazi and Taxes: 75 Cards
4 x Leonin Arbiter
4 x Flickerwisp
4 x Tidehollow Sculler
4 x Eldrazi Displacer
4 x Thought-Knot Seer
3 x Wasteland Strangler
3 x Dark Confidant
3 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 x Thalia, Heretic Cathar
4 x Path to Exile
4 x Aether Vial
Lands: 22
4 x Ghost Quarter
4 x Eldrazi Temple
4 x Caves of Koilos
4 x Concealed Courtyard
3 x Shambling Vent
2 x Plains
1 x Swamp
2 x Fragmentize
2 x Sunlance
2 x Eidolon of Rhetoric
2 x Rest in Peace
2 x Stony Silence
2 x Ghostly Prison
2 x Thoughtseize
1 x Inquisition of Kozilek
Thanks for having me, it's great to be back!
WW Death & Taxes
GG Control
RR Skred Red
1 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Blade Splicer
4 Eldrazi Displacer
4 Flickerwisp
4 Leonin Arbiter
4 Restoration Angel
4 Thraben Inspector
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
10 Plains
4 Eldrazi Temple
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Horizon Canopy
1 Shefet Dunes
1 Tectonic Edge
Spells (8)
4 Aether Vial
4 Path to Exile
4 Relic of Progenitus
2 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 Stony Silence
2 Blessed Alliance
2 Dismember
A top 4 finish definitely says something.
With the rest of what he’s playing, I can certainly understand cutting Copter
That said, definitely going to mull over this a bit.
Mirran Crusader in, yes, but I honestly don’t know about Smuggler’s Copter or any of the suggestions made in the later quote.
At this point it’s all theorycrafting and I hate theorycrafting instead of testing and tuning. Past experience tells me I want the maindeck Crusaders and in my sideboard I want some or all of these:
I really can’t say until I know what bubbles to the surface.
In the meantime, the question remains: what lessons can we carry over from today’s event and Mr Dykman’s performance to further tune this deck?
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
Death & Taxes
Fish
Teysa, Orzhov Scion
Roon of the Hidden Realm
Xenagos, God of Revels