I'm feeling Laboratory Maniac is a wasted slot most of the times, I'm tempted to go back to Conflagrate (there's not infinite lifegain around and it's not prevalent much anyways).
While there isn't really an infinite lifegain deck any more, Bogles is a lot more popular and the mainstream lists are all running maindeck Leyline.
I was about to say the same. I’m also seeing other decks bring in Leylines or things like Pithing Needle making Lightning Storm. While those pieces of technology can be a piece of the puzzle in terms of stopping us, in practice it’s more common—in my limited experience—for them to be wasted slots as we just kill them through the Maniac.
Bonus points for the Lab Man kill being easier (and quicker, if the clock matters) to execute on MTGO.
Been tracking a really spectacular Ad Nauseam streak and player on MTGO (is s/he here?). DaSneakyPete is basically an exclusive Ad Nauseam pilot who plays a highly refined, and fairly stock, list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/player/dasneakypete
Here's his most recent list from the 05/04 Competitive League dump:
I like the techy Teachings/Peer builds but I think this streamlined build is overall better. It's also where I would start any serious Ad Naus testing and gameplay with very few tweaks. Their continued MTGO success (6 trophies this League cycle) is a further testament to this success.
Been tracking a really spectacular Ad Nauseam streak and player on MTGO: DaSneakyPete
Alright it's summer now and I'm getting back into it so this seems like an excellent place to start analyzing. Thanks for the list! Upon a bit of investigation they've played two different sideboard variations this year. The earlier being as follows with some switches between the Bontu's and the Verdict:
So, shifting a Hurkyl's and the Godhead into more Bontu's. I'm a big fan of the newer board against the meta as represented online (Less Grixis Death's Shadow, and the Hurkyl's not being live against Humans or Hollow One validates the switch).
There are a few interesting choices in their deckbuilding that I think are also worth looking at in the context of other current lists. They don't cut a Pact for Echoing Truth, nor do they cut a Spoils for a Mystical Teachings. I think that it's currently correct to be all-Spoils given the pace of the meta right now, the more consistent speed is very valuable. However it's interesting that they then make the choice to keep 3 Pacts in a very counter-light meta where I think Truth is an excellent card to have MD now against Thalia/Meddling Mage, and Angler/Hollow One, while also being live against Affinity and Young Pyromancer decks.
The choice to be heavy on City of Brass instead of Gemstone is also interesting in such an aggressive meta. I feel as though the life saved is very important, games are running short enough that the impermanence of Gemstone is acceptable. They're also a bit heavier on white mana than I'm used to which I suppose isn't overly consequential given their consistent success.
On my end of things I'm running a similar MD (Pact --> Truth and some land differences, along with Peer over some Sleight). My SB is quite up in the air but since my meta has a heavier control skew I'm still on 2 Boseiju.
Interesting to take a look at the consistent success this list has been showing, definitely seems like a good model. It could be useful to look at some of the recent paper tournament lists: The last three results are a DaSneakyPete-esque list, one with both Truth and Teachings MD with a heavy one-of SB, and one cutting a Pentad for Pyretic Ritual with a Gifts Ungiven SB.
My outs are usually the Pacts (Against decks with no counters), the Pentads (When you expect artifact hate/can afford to slow down), and Spoils (In slower matchups where you can take time to find combo pieces). In corner cases I'll board out an Unlife against Infect or Jund, or I'll board out Blooms against Remand heavy decks. In my list I'll usually cut a Peer Through Depths when I board in Leylines but that's a bit more specific.
My outs are usually the Pacts (Against decks with no counters), the Pentads (When you expect artifact hate/can afford to slow down), and Spoils (In slower matchups where you can take time to find combo pieces). In corner cases I'll board out an Unlife against Infect or Jund, or I'll board out Blooms against Remand heavy decks. In my list I'll usually cut a Peer Through Depths when I board in Leylines but that's a bit more specific.
Glad to see you around again buddy! Looking forward for some news about the meta in the west!
Hey guys, I'm gearing up for an SCG open and would love some thoughts on my sideboard. Near as I can figure, our worst matchups are Tron (which is always bad and I'm not stressed over) Humans, and Hollow One -- or as some might call it, more or less the current state of modern. I've gone up to a third sweeper in light of this, and in addition I've perceived a downtick in white-based hate cards out of the board (aside from UWx control which we can beat anyways) so I've removed Patrician's Scorn.
2 Pact of Negation (The other two are in the main obviously)
2 Ethereal Haze (For Burn, Humans, Hollow One, Infect, and random Zoo lists)
1 Path to Exile (For big creature decks, think Titanshift, Tron, Eldrazi, and also comes in as the second Slaughter Pact against hatebear decks)
1 Inquisition of Kozilek (Will become a second Thoughtseize ASAP if at all possible)
1 Thoughtseize (For control and combo, shifts the mirror into a winnable matchup)
2 Echoing Truth (Solve target problem)
1 Phyrexian Unlife (For aggro matchups as well as control and lantern, where density is key--not in the main bc it gets Abrupt Decayed a little too often)
2 Bontu's Last Reckoning (For aggro and big bois. This card is the real deal, best sideboard pickup in a while.)
1 Wear // Tear (For anti-sideboarding. Came in over Patrician's Scorn because of extra versatility against Needle, Revoker, and Witchbane Orb)
1 Leyline of Sanctity (The other three are in the main, you already know what this is for.)
1 Supreme Verdict (The newest add. I'm dying to creatures too often for my taste.)
Please let me know if you have any insights! I'd like to play a Godhead of Awe but 1. idk if I have room for her and 2. She's garbage against Humans and Fish
Glad to see you around again buddy! Looking forward for some news about the meta in the west!
Yeah cheers! It's been lots of the same, people are still reluctant to pick up FotM decks and so right now it's heavy on Jund, Jace decks, Affinity, and Tron.
Okay here we go....
Basic Swamp is bad, doesn't actually cast anything, either other basic is better or you could just run Urborg.
Given the meta I don't know why you'd run City of Brass instead of Gemstone Mine, the damage is consequential in the aggressive matchups.
Also not sure why you're MD'ing Boseiju in this supposed meta either. Cut to 20 lands and MD the 4th Unlife I think.
Again on the Meta, not sure I'd be running Teachings over the 3rd Spoils if you're under pressure from Humans/Hollow (See my above post 5742 on the meta)
Your Sideboard 2 Truths and a Wear // Tear is overkill, cut a Truth +1 Slot
You could cut one of the SB pacts for the Bosei from the MD
4th Unlife should really be main as far as I'm concerned +1 Slot
Haze when you're already on 3 sweepers seems meh, Infect isn't that big right now. I'd cut them +2 Slots
So we "save" 4 slots this way and can address a few other MU's. Affinity - Hurkyl's Recall is a good card, and I think as a one-of has better overall utility than a 4th sweeper or the Haze's Aggro - Path to Exile (Fatal Push), basically the same card (Though I like Path more). Most decks are running two spot removal spells and I think that's correct in this meta. Control - MD'ing Leylines is totally fair, but you could probably be solid with a 2nd Boseiju or a Tolaria West. GDS - Hey we have room for that Godhead you wanted!
Realistically your SB is okay as is, only thing I hate is not MD'ing the 4th Unlife. I think the points on your MD are going to be more important in terms of being prepared for the meta (assessing SCG as ~= MTGO meta).
Thanks for the input! I hear you on the swamp, but I would rather have cities than Gemstone Mine just because I loathe losing to control in longer matchups. As far as the Boseiju, I try to run a more resilient build when I'm at bigger tourneys to avoid getting blown out by the wide open meta. I think putting the fourth unlife in the main is solid and I like your notes on the sideboard. Thanks for your input!
I miss playing the deck and was on Ad Nauseam hiatus for a few months now and have been playing my other pet deck Amuulet Titan. I'm finally planning to get back on a big 3v3 tournament this weekend and playing the deck again.
Anyone else who has extensively tested the Humans Matchup with Tolaria West and Slaughter Pact and 1 Mystical Teachings and 2 Spoils mainboard? Did the matchup improve somehow to what percentage %? I think 1-2 Engineered Explosives on the sideboard is also great with the Tolaria West in the main and can also destroy a Chalice or Meddling Mage aside from the Slaughter Pact / push. Anyone else tested this?
My list right now looks like this:
4 Ad Nauseam
4 Angel's Grace
3 Phyrexian Unlife
2 Spoils of the Vault
1 Mystical Teachings
4 Lotus Bloom
3 Pentad Prism
1 Desperate Ritual
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Serum Visions
2 Sleight of Hand
2 Opt
3 Pact of Negation
1 Slaughter Pact - Echoing Truth is more flexible but too mana intensive. Hopefully can catch a Meddling Mage by surprise G1
1 Lightning Storm
1 Laboratory Maniac - would have loved to put this on the sideboard since Conflagrate is so much better but Bogles is hyped right now
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Darkslick Shores
3 Seachrome Coast
3 Temple of Deceit
2 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Tolaria West
1 Nephalia Academy - Seems like a must if you're not playing Leyline mainboard and is nuts on T1 against a T1 discard on the play
2 Plains
SB
4 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Wear / Tear
1 Echoing Truth
1 Thoughtseize - only way to react against Counterflux / Nimble Obstructionist
2 Bontu's Last Reckoning
1 Pact of Negation
2 Fatal Push - or might split with Path to Exile for TKS and Reality Smashers and Primeval Titans
Wanted to put Boseiju but everone else is playing Field of Ruin which sucks because of the forced shuffle effect so might reconsider Gigadrowse instead if I can find space and Sudden Spoiling which is also good for creature decks with no +1/+1 counters and especially (Meddling Mage) - i so hate that card!!
Anyone else who has extensively tested the Humans Matchup with [my list]? I think 1-2 Engineered Explosives on the sideboard is also great with the Tolaria West in the main and can also destroy a Chalice or Meddling Mage aside from the Slaughter Pact / push.
1 Nephalia Academy - Seems like a must if you're not playing Leyline mainboard and is nuts on T1 against a T1 discard on the play
Wanted to put Boseiju but everyone else is playing Field of Ruin which sucks because of the forced shuffle effect so might reconsider Gigadrowse instead if I can find space and Sudden Spoiling which is also good for creature decks with no +1/+1 counters and especially (Meddling Mage)
I don't think EE will be strong in the matchup for two reasons: It has collateral damage against the artifact mana, and it is slow. Best case you're blowing up 3 two drops on turn three (Their T2/3 plays plus Vial), maybe stalling a bit to make them play cards postcombat on T3/4? But at that point you aren't hitting their Parish/Noble and the play gets worse if they don't play a two drop on T3. It also gives them a chance to alter their gameplan in response to the EE being played (play Selfless Spirit on T2 instead of opening themselves to it). It also opens your board clear up to being hit by artifact hate (Kataki might not matter but Rec Sage/Hostage Taker would). With the overall minor upside of being able to hit the occasional SB Damping Sphere? I really don't think it's anywhere close to as good in the matchup as additional board clear or spot removal. Go up to a 3rd Bontu's and a 2nd Hurkyl's/Thoughtseize I think.
Nephalia Academy is by no means a must-play, it's not straight benefit, it's bad on the draw, and it doesn't make coloured mana. I don't think the mediocre upside is worth playing a colourless land.
Forced shuffle doesn't invalidate Boseiju, it's not like 100% of the cards you put on the bottom will be bad (ex. Sleight into AN+Grace). The card is an absolute house against control and Jeskai doesn't even run Field of Ruin all the time (most recent 5 lists on MTGGoldfish run 1/1/1/0/1). That being said, Gigadrowse is still a good card.
Sudden Spoiling on the other hand.... Is cute but very corner-case (When would you want it vs. Bontu's/Spot Removal for example).
things i like about the list so far -
Haven't taken out any fast mana, so it enables turn 3/4 wins at the same rate. obviously leyline dilutes the pool a little bit on usable cards while scrying etc but it hasn't bothered me too much.
Things I don't like -
No peer through depths/mystical teachings. If I don't hit cantrips or scry lands I have to rely on spoils of the vault more which is basically hearthstone.
Please give advice on what I have so far!
I haven’t been able to play much lately, but the couple times I’ve run my list locally (where Burn and hand disruption abound), I’ve run a very similar list with three Leylines main. Leaving aside the landbase, the only difference in the 60 is that I play the fourth Sleight over your Slaughter Pact.
Your conclusions corroborate my experience. Three Leylines main represent a very high power ceiling for a low opportunity cost, given all of our filtering. That said, I still firmly believe their inclusion in the main deck is a meta call and not a given, and when I play on MTGO they’re all in the sideboard.
One thing I would add to the list of negatives is that Leylines make casting an Ad Nauseam for value more painful; just something to keep in mind when deciding whether to fire one off the fair way.
I think your list is pretty much exactly where you want to be if maindeck Leylines are strong in your meta.
New to the Ad Nau deck and I have a question. How do you guys use Spoils of the Vault? General search for a "card-x" or dig for missing combo pieces?
I understand the combo and all but Spoils a bit of a blind spot still for me
New to the Ad Nau deck and I have a question. How do you guys use Spoils of the Vault? General search for a "card-x" or dig for missing combo pieces?
I understand the combo and all but Spoils a bit of a blind spot still for me
Thx in advance!
Spoils is very versatile and you can use it for anything. I have used it to find a 4th/5th land for a combo turn, to find a combo piece, to find a Pact of Negation, etc. It all depends on the game state. In general, you want to evaluate the odds of dying to Spoils against the odds of dying to your opponent if you don't Spoils for the intended card. For instance, if I'm deterministically dead to an attack next turn, I will probably Spoils for my win condition and go for broke. Similarly, if I'm dead to a Death's Shadow next turn and get my Ad Naus hit by Stubborn Denial, I might Spoil for Pact and hope for the best. But you also need to weigh the chances of exiling your own win conditions. Remember that win conditions don't just include Lab Man and Storm. They can also include SSGs if you need extra mana to win on a particular turn. This is where it's important to pay attention to previous scrys/Sleights to the bottom, and be wary of opponent shuffle effects; Field of Ruin can really **** up your probability calculus.
Other "hidden modes" of Spoils include:
1. Spoiling for a card you scried to the top with a Temple or SV. In effect, you use Spoils as a second cantrip to get the card a turn earlier.
2. Plan C win with Lab Man. Have Lab Man in play and cast Grace. Or have Lab Man in play with Unlife. Spoils for a card not in your deck. Win on draw step.
3. As above but done in your main phase with Serum Visions in hand to draw the card.
4. Spoils to break a JTMS/Lantern lock.
5. Spoils for mana (Prism/a land/SSG). This is surprisingly useful if you are getting denied mana or just not drawing mana you need.
6. With Pact trigger on the stack, Spoils for Grace. Useful if your opponent cast a game-ending spell and you had no choice but to counter it even though you didn't have Grace in hand.
I'm sure I'm missing some of its uses. The card is super versatile and I would never play a maindeck without 2. Normally I'd be happy with 3, but Modern has a lot of aggressive decks now (Humans, H1, Affinity, Burn, etc.), and even the controlling decks can quickly turn the damage corner (Jund with BBE, Jeskai with Bolt/Snap/Burn, etc.). This makes Spoils a little riskier.
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I was about to say the same. I’m also seeing other decks bring in Leylines or things like Pithing Needle making Lightning Storm. While those pieces of technology can be a piece of the puzzle in terms of stopping us, in practice it’s more common—in my limited experience—for them to be wasted slots as we just kill them through the Maniac.
Bonus points for the Lab Man kill being easier (and quicker, if the clock matters) to execute on MTGO.
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/player/dasneakypete
Here's his most recent list from the 05/04 Competitive League dump:
1 Laboratory Maniac
4 Simian Spirit Guide
Sorcery:
4 Serum Visions
4 Sleight of Hand
Instant:
4 Ad Nauseam
4 Angel's Grace
1 Lightning Storm
3 Pact of Negation
3 Spoils of the Vault
Artifact:
4 Lotus Bloom
4 Pentad Prism
4 Phyrexian Unlife
Land:
3 City of Brass
3 Darkslick Shores
1 Dreadship Reef
2 Gemstone Mine
1 Island
1 Plains
3 Seachrome Coast
3 Temple of Deceit
3 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Pact of Negation
3 Bontu's Last Reckoning
1 Echoing Truth
2 Fatal Push
1 Hurkyl's Recall
4 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Slaughter Pact
2 Thoughtseize
I like the techy Teachings/Peer builds but I think this streamlined build is overall better. It's also where I would start any serious Ad Naus testing and gameplay with very few tweaks. Their continued MTGO success (6 trophies this League cycle) is a further testament to this success.
- 1 Pact of Negation
- 1 Slaughter Pact
- 2 Fatal Push
- 2 Thoughtseize
- 1 Echoing Truth
- 2 Hurkyl's Recall
- 1 Bontu's Last Reckoning
- 4 Leyline of Sanctity
- 1 Godhead of Awe
So, shifting a Hurkyl's and the Godhead into more Bontu's. I'm a big fan of the newer board against the meta as represented online (Less Grixis Death's Shadow, and the Hurkyl's not being live against Humans or Hollow One validates the switch).There are a few interesting choices in their deckbuilding that I think are also worth looking at in the context of other current lists. They don't cut a Pact for Echoing Truth, nor do they cut a Spoils for a Mystical Teachings. I think that it's currently correct to be all-Spoils given the pace of the meta right now, the more consistent speed is very valuable. However it's interesting that they then make the choice to keep 3 Pacts in a very counter-light meta where I think Truth is an excellent card to have MD now against Thalia/Meddling Mage, and Angler/Hollow One, while also being live against Affinity and Young Pyromancer decks.
The choice to be heavy on City of Brass instead of Gemstone is also interesting in such an aggressive meta. I feel as though the life saved is very important, games are running short enough that the impermanence of Gemstone is acceptable. They're also a bit heavier on white mana than I'm used to which I suppose isn't overly consequential given their consistent success.
On my end of things I'm running a similar MD (Pact --> Truth and some land differences, along with Peer over some Sleight). My SB is quite up in the air but since my meta has a heavier control skew I'm still on 2 Boseiju.
Interesting to take a look at the consistent success this list has been showing, definitely seems like a good model. It could be useful to look at some of the recent paper tournament lists: The last three results are a DaSneakyPete-esque list, one with both Truth and Teachings MD with a heavy one-of SB, and one cutting a Pentad for Pyretic Ritual with a Gifts Ungiven SB.
Glad to see you around again buddy! Looking forward for some news about the meta in the west!
Aggro: Naya Burn RWG
Combo: Scapeshift RG
Control: Jeskai Control UWR
Legacy
Control: Miracles UW
Aggro: Burn R
Glad you're back too : I hope you're still on my list
Aggro: Naya Burn RWG
Combo: Scapeshift RG
Control: Jeskai Control UWR
Legacy
Control: Miracles UW
Aggro: Burn R
2 Pact of Negation (The other two are in the main obviously)
2 Ethereal Haze (For Burn, Humans, Hollow One, Infect, and random Zoo lists)
1 Path to Exile (For big creature decks, think Titanshift, Tron, Eldrazi, and also comes in as the second Slaughter Pact against hatebear decks)
1 Inquisition of Kozilek (Will become a second Thoughtseize ASAP if at all possible)
1 Thoughtseize (For control and combo, shifts the mirror into a winnable matchup)
2 Echoing Truth (Solve target problem)
1 Phyrexian Unlife (For aggro matchups as well as control and lantern, where density is key--not in the main bc it gets Abrupt Decayed a little too often)
2 Bontu's Last Reckoning (For aggro and big bois. This card is the real deal, best sideboard pickup in a while.)
1 Wear // Tear (For anti-sideboarding. Came in over Patrician's Scorn because of extra versatility against Needle, Revoker, and Witchbane Orb)
1 Leyline of Sanctity (The other three are in the main, you already know what this is for.)
1 Supreme Verdict (The newest add. I'm dying to creatures too often for my taste.)
Please let me know if you have any insights! I'd like to play a Godhead of Awe but 1. idk if I have room for her and 2. She's garbage against Humans and Fish
Yeah cheers! It's been lots of the same, people are still reluctant to pick up FotM decks and so right now it's heavy on Jund, Jace decks, Affinity, and Tron.
Basic Swamp is bad, doesn't actually cast anything, either other basic is better or you could just run Urborg.
Given the meta I don't know why you'd run City of Brass instead of Gemstone Mine, the damage is consequential in the aggressive matchups.
Also not sure why you're MD'ing Boseiju in this supposed meta either. Cut to 20 lands and MD the 4th Unlife I think.
Again on the Meta, not sure I'd be running Teachings over the 3rd Spoils if you're under pressure from Humans/Hollow (See my above post 5742 on the meta)
Your Sideboard
2 Truths and a Wear // Tear is overkill, cut a Truth +1 Slot
You could cut one of the SB pacts for the Bosei from the MD
4th Unlife should really be main as far as I'm concerned +1 Slot
Haze when you're already on 3 sweepers seems meh, Infect isn't that big right now. I'd cut them +2 Slots
So we "save" 4 slots this way and can address a few other MU's.
Affinity - Hurkyl's Recall is a good card, and I think as a one-of has better overall utility than a 4th sweeper or the Haze's
Aggro - Path to Exile (Fatal Push), basically the same card (Though I like Path more). Most decks are running two spot removal spells and I think that's correct in this meta.
Control - MD'ing Leylines is totally fair, but you could probably be solid with a 2nd Boseiju or a Tolaria West.
GDS - Hey we have room for that Godhead you wanted!
Realistically your SB is okay as is, only thing I hate is not MD'ing the 4th Unlife. I think the points on your MD are going to be more important in terms of being prepared for the meta (assessing SCG as ~= MTGO meta).
Love the deck name
Anyone else who has extensively tested the Humans Matchup with Tolaria West and Slaughter Pact and 1 Mystical Teachings and 2 Spoils mainboard? Did the matchup improve somehow to what percentage %? I think 1-2 Engineered Explosives on the sideboard is also great with the Tolaria West in the main and can also destroy a Chalice or Meddling Mage aside from the Slaughter Pact / push. Anyone else tested this?
My list right now looks like this:
4 Ad Nauseam
4 Angel's Grace
3 Phyrexian Unlife
2 Spoils of the Vault
1 Mystical Teachings
4 Lotus Bloom
3 Pentad Prism
1 Desperate Ritual
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Serum Visions
2 Sleight of Hand
2 Opt
3 Pact of Negation
1 Slaughter Pact - Echoing Truth is more flexible but too mana intensive. Hopefully can catch a Meddling Mage by surprise G1
1 Lightning Storm
1 Laboratory Maniac - would have loved to put this on the sideboard since Conflagrate is so much better but Bogles is hyped right now
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Darkslick Shores
3 Seachrome Coast
3 Temple of Deceit
2 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Tolaria West
1 Nephalia Academy - Seems like a must if you're not playing Leyline mainboard and is nuts on T1 against a T1 discard on the play
2 Plains
SB
4 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Wear / Tear
1 Echoing Truth
1 Thoughtseize - only way to react against Counterflux / Nimble Obstructionist
2 Bontu's Last Reckoning
1 Pact of Negation
2 Fatal Push - or might split with Path to Exile for TKS and Reality Smashers and Primeval Titans
Wanted to put Boseiju but everone else is playing Field of Ruin which sucks because of the forced shuffle effect so might reconsider Gigadrowse instead if I can find space and Sudden Spoiling which is also good for creature decks with no +1/+1 counters and especially (Meddling Mage) - i so hate that card!!
Cheers!
"He traded sand for skins, skins for gold, gold for life. In the end, he traded life for sand."
—Afari, Tales
No problem! Though I don't think I've ever lost a control matchup because of Gemstone, you usually just draw more lands.
I don't think EE will be strong in the matchup for two reasons: It has collateral damage against the artifact mana, and it is slow. Best case you're blowing up 3 two drops on turn three (Their T2/3 plays plus Vial), maybe stalling a bit to make them play cards postcombat on T3/4? But at that point you aren't hitting their Parish/Noble and the play gets worse if they don't play a two drop on T3. It also gives them a chance to alter their gameplan in response to the EE being played (play Selfless Spirit on T2 instead of opening themselves to it). It also opens your board clear up to being hit by artifact hate (Kataki might not matter but Rec Sage/Hostage Taker would). With the overall minor upside of being able to hit the occasional SB Damping Sphere? I really don't think it's anywhere close to as good in the matchup as additional board clear or spot removal. Go up to a 3rd Bontu's and a 2nd Hurkyl's/Thoughtseize I think.
Nephalia Academy is by no means a must-play, it's not straight benefit, it's bad on the draw, and it doesn't make coloured mana. I don't think the mediocre upside is worth playing a colourless land.
Forced shuffle doesn't invalidate Boseiju, it's not like 100% of the cards you put on the bottom will be bad (ex. Sleight into AN+Grace). The card is an absolute house against control and Jeskai doesn't even run Field of Ruin all the time (most recent 5 lists on MTGGoldfish run 1/1/1/0/1). That being said, Gigadrowse is still a good card.
Sudden Spoiling on the other hand.... Is cute but very corner-case (When would you want it vs. Bontu's/Spot Removal for example).
working out on crafting an ad nauseam deck with 3 leylines mainboard because of all the hand hate lately.
Here is my list
1x City of Brass
3x Darkslick Shores
3x Gemstone Mine
1x Island
1x Plains
4x Seachrome Coast
4x Temple of Deceit
2x Temple of Enlightenment
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Artifacts
4x Lotus Bloom
4x Pentad Prism
4x Ad Nauseam
4x Angel's Grace
1x Lightning Storm
2x Pact of Negation
1x Slaughter Pact
2x Spoils of the Vault
4x Serum Visions
3x Sleight of Hand
Enchantments
3x Leyline of Sanctity
3x Phyrexian Unlife
Creatures
1x Laboratory Maniac
4x Simian Spirit Guide
2x Bontu's Last Reckoning
1x Echoing Truth
2x Fatal Push
1x Hurkyl's Recall
1x Leyline of Sanctity
2x Pact of Negation
1x Phyrexian Unlife
1x Slaughter Pact
1x Supreme Verdict
2x Thoughtseize
1x Wear/Tear
things i like about the list so far -
Haven't taken out any fast mana, so it enables turn 3/4 wins at the same rate. obviously leyline dilutes the pool a little bit on usable cards while scrying etc but it hasn't bothered me too much.
Things I don't like -
No peer through depths/mystical teachings. If I don't hit cantrips or scry lands I have to rely on spoils of the vault more which is basically hearthstone.
Please give advice on what I have so far!
Your conclusions corroborate my experience. Three Leylines main represent a very high power ceiling for a low opportunity cost, given all of our filtering. That said, I still firmly believe their inclusion in the main deck is a meta call and not a given, and when I play on MTGO they’re all in the sideboard.
One thing I would add to the list of negatives is that Leylines make casting an Ad Nauseam for value more painful; just something to keep in mind when deciding whether to fire one off the fair way.
I think your list is pretty much exactly where you want to be if maindeck Leylines are strong in your meta.
New to the Ad Nau deck and I have a question. How do you guys use Spoils of the Vault? General search for a "card-x" or dig for missing combo pieces?
I understand the combo and all but Spoils a bit of a blind spot still for me
Thx in advance!
Spoils is very versatile and you can use it for anything. I have used it to find a 4th/5th land for a combo turn, to find a combo piece, to find a Pact of Negation, etc. It all depends on the game state. In general, you want to evaluate the odds of dying to Spoils against the odds of dying to your opponent if you don't Spoils for the intended card. For instance, if I'm deterministically dead to an attack next turn, I will probably Spoils for my win condition and go for broke. Similarly, if I'm dead to a Death's Shadow next turn and get my Ad Naus hit by Stubborn Denial, I might Spoil for Pact and hope for the best. But you also need to weigh the chances of exiling your own win conditions. Remember that win conditions don't just include Lab Man and Storm. They can also include SSGs if you need extra mana to win on a particular turn. This is where it's important to pay attention to previous scrys/Sleights to the bottom, and be wary of opponent shuffle effects; Field of Ruin can really **** up your probability calculus.
Other "hidden modes" of Spoils include:
1. Spoiling for a card you scried to the top with a Temple or SV. In effect, you use Spoils as a second cantrip to get the card a turn earlier.
2. Plan C win with Lab Man. Have Lab Man in play and cast Grace. Or have Lab Man in play with Unlife. Spoils for a card not in your deck. Win on draw step.
3. As above but done in your main phase with Serum Visions in hand to draw the card.
4. Spoils to break a JTMS/Lantern lock.
5. Spoils for mana (Prism/a land/SSG). This is surprisingly useful if you are getting denied mana or just not drawing mana you need.
6. With Pact trigger on the stack, Spoils for Grace. Useful if your opponent cast a game-ending spell and you had no choice but to counter it even though you didn't have Grace in hand.
I'm sure I'm missing some of its uses. The card is super versatile and I would never play a maindeck without 2. Normally I'd be happy with 3, but Modern has a lot of aggressive decks now (Humans, H1, Affinity, Burn, etc.), and even the controlling decks can quickly turn the damage corner (Jund with BBE, Jeskai with Bolt/Snap/Burn, etc.). This makes Spoils a little riskier.