Nice job devtherev! That's how it's done. Feels good to see someone winning with this deck! Maybe the paper meta is different than online. Who knows, but I'm still gonna jam this at an IQ or two in a few weeks.
Round 1 Lantern Control 2-0
Round 2 Burn 2-1
Round 3 Jeskai Control 1-2
Round 4 Grixis Death's Shadow 2-1
Overall, not to bad. 7-1 in last 2 weeks not playing against BBE or Jace. Lantern Control has to be 80/20 in our favor. Game 3 against Burn I had Chalice on 1 and 2. Topdecked a third cast for 6, opponent topdecked a Rift Bolt and went on tilt. Jeskai Control was bad for me, D-Sphere my threat and chained Cryptic for the win. Grixis gets shut down by Chalice and Moon. I'll take notes for a better report next week.
I'm not sure about Hoarding Dragon. Right now I'm trying to figure out PnK and Torpor Orb. I find myself not using Orb often because I can't justify it over some of the other options. I know it blanks some stuff [bushwacker, thanks Ray] and TKS, but I like some of our other stuff too and would rather beef-up some other resource.
I certainly try to run the deck more aggro than anything - which has contributed to my thoughts about PnK. I look to lock and kill asap. I'm not a big fan of the turtle-up strategy because, as has been discussed, opponents draw outs and we're left pants down when they do. I think PnK jives with a turtle up and poke away at the opponent.
I'd advocate for another Ritual, Ballista or Land for the PnK spot. I ran an additional Ritual instead of PnK in one of my most recent leagues - report upcoming - and I don't know if I missed PnK. What I do know is there have been a few distinct times when I've had PnK and wished it was a Land or Ritual. Me being a newer player with a proclivity for aggro styles, I of course opted to run the extra Ritual, but I think an extra land would have been the bee's knees.
I love fanning open a ton of threats, Rabs, Chandra, Koth or lock pieces, Chalice, Moon, Bridge, but I often find myself salivating over 5 all-stars, a Ritual and a Land. That's heart-breaking. Then I mulligan and get 5 lands and a Chandra, or no lands, and going down to 5 SUCKS. I think an extra land might drive the 7-card keep consistency up. The classic is this weekend, so since I've tested the extra Ritual, I'm interested in trying to jam a league this week with an extra land instead of PnK.
I'm open to feedback. Talk me out of it if. I've seen the numbers that say adding the extra land only gets you a few extra percentage points and is likely a waste of your time - but I'm going on gut for this one. I'm at odds with PnK and I'm a little unsatisfied with the amount of 7-card turn 1/2 blood moons that I have. I'm also actively considering a change with Orb.
Another discussion that I wanted to raise revolved around this fork in the road. You're on the play. They have a fetch land out [any but Misty Rainforest] and you have a one lander. You can either turn 1 chalice on 1 via SSG, or SSG Ritual into Magus. Consider both scenarios, when you have the extra land for turn 2 and the scenario when you don't. Would have even kept a one lander with Chalice, SSG, Ritual, Magus as 4 of the other 6. Maybe you have a Ballista, or, let's stay on theme, PnK as your other 2. Whatever it may be - do you chalice and hope for a land or Magus and hope to dodge removal? If they have a Mire, they can likely bolt it, if they have Flooded Strand they'll likely fetch a plains in response and Path it, but what about a Marsh Flats? Death n Taxes sign? They certainly have Path? I have been in this scenario and had Blood Moon as one of my other 2. I sent out Mag Turn 1 to get it pathed and get the land, then I had two chances to draw a land, and in the meantime I'll drop a Chalice on 1. Weird scenario I know, but I found myself in it, or its cousin, often and I'd like to know other people's thoughts.
Reports upcoming, but overall this weekend, FNM and two Leagues, one competitive one friendly, went 10-4. I had a few matches slip away from me online, so a 11-3 was certainly do-able.
I do want to say that I lost to Jund in one of my matches and it felt AWFUL. HORRIBLE to be honest. So I get it when people say I'm out of this deck it sucks. I get it. After the Jund match I was certainly dejected. Dejected enough to feel like eff you Chandra and all those dumb Rituals. Then I reeled it in, reflected on the weekend and thought about how many match-ups I hosed. I believe our deck is truly a nightmare to play against. I also believe the most expensive aspect of 95% of modern decks are their mana bases. I was watching Seth play RB Goblins on Much A Brew and he said the deck sucks but sticking Blood Moon wins most games. When times get tough, don't forget what we came here to do, stick that turn 1/2 blood moon and pressure for the scoop.
Wizards has looked upon us favorably today. Masters 25 reprints of Blood Moon and Chalice of the Void confirmed, with a very probable Ensnaring Bridge incoming. Might be able to convince some of my friends to play Pyro Prison now.
Sorry to say, but I'm watching the reprints come out with a frown. I bought into Chandra at $35, Chalice at $60, Bridge at $35 and Moon at $25... so yeah... I hope bridge is not reprinted lol
Those are some titanic write-ups, DevtheRevRyan. I love the reprise of your snow-covered mountain vs. mountain pithing needle scenario. Redeemed!!! I'm such a sucker for my favorite mountain art, that I have been hard pressed to go for the snow-covered misdirection --
might be time to big-boy up, and split up my set. I'll never forgive myself, if I get hosed the way you described in a big tourney. https://www.mtggoldfish.com/price/Unglued/Mountain
PIA AND KIRAN NALAAR Pia and Kiran Nalaar. I get it. It's probably our weakest link. Not because they are necessarily bad at any given ability, just that they aren't great. You'll note that my November SCG event deck in the Primer had (2) Pia and Kiran Nalaar. And, Russ later commented that Pia and Kiran are the worst part of the Stock List when he Top-8 twice in the following months. I'm not going to disagree with him. But, in November, it was a Grixis Death's Shadow meta bonanza. It was everywhere. Piran, like Lingering souls, presents a real problem for them. Thus, the inflated count to (2).
Today? Should it be 0,1,2? IDK. Just this weekend, I was furiously trying to find a swap out for it as well. I did a careful comparison of how well it matches up against Tier decks - particularly with Liliana-Jund and Jace-Control decks all the rage. Embarrassingly, I was trying to justify a swap to another planeswalker for a game 1 blank on an opponent's typical creature removal: Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh ==> Chandra, Roaring Flame. Fluffy has run tests on this, and it can be deceptively destructive, however frail. I looked back at a Tormenting Voice for the assist on consistency. Like TheRev, I considered a 22nd land - even another mutavault to kind of serve as a 1/2 land?
For now, I'm sticking with The Parents. But, I don't have to like it!!! The second I get my license to find a better 60th, I'm out of here! You hear me, mom and dad?!
TORPOR ORB
As for Torpor Orb, that also calls for a careful analysis of what is out there, and what it stops. It's a lot. I don't necessarily bring it in against Snapcaster Mage Decks. IF the deck runs a couple Vendilion Clique, then yes. Spell Queller? Certainly. But, it's too narrow of an answer to just shut down (4) Snappies. Just think that a Chalice on 2 does all the work of a Torpor Orb. Similarly, I don't bring in a Grafdigger's Cage against a deck with (4) Snappies. I do bring in the Relic of Progenitus since it cycles. Sidenote: I also don't bring in Torpor Orb against most Eldrazi construction - if the only thing I anticipate stopping is (4) Thought-Knot Seer.
Torpor Orb becomes devastating against the "Lord" decks. By that, I mean decks that are tribal and typically feature a lord to lead the swarm attack: Merfolk, Elves, Humans. Also, it's great against Primeval Titan decks. Sure, against primetime, but moreover against their sideboard cards: Obstinate Baloth and Thragtusk and Reclamation Sage (they will summoner's pact for the Sage).
THE CONTRADICTION
Now, here's where things get interesting. I just said that I DON'T bring in T. Orb against (2) decks where there is a reasonable application (Snapcaster/Eldrazi). These decks can be problem matchups, so I should be allocating resources in the sideboard to beat them, right? O.K. and then I said that I DO bring in T. Orb against (4) decks where there is certainly a good application. However, these decks are actually already favorable for us. So, I shouldn't be allocating resources in the sideboard to beat them. Huh.
But, let's stay on track. Overall, the comparison of the (2) decks / unfavorable to the (4) decks / favorable for Torpor Orb bring-ins doesn't add up. Further, the times when we are bringing in Torpor Orb is when we are keeping in the non-bo of Pia and Kiran Nalaar.
MOUNTAIN FIST RAISED IN DEFIANCE
How do we reconcile this contradiction? It's difficult. To Torpor Orb or Not to Torpor Orb? How do we find the solution? Hmmmmmm......Hey, I do know that I hate Death'n'Taxes. Benjamin Franklin, a white male, said that nothing in this world can be certain except Death and Taxes. Now, this may sound crazy, but I'm going to use Torpor Orb to end this patriarchal oppression.
For me, personally, this is my truth: I detest mono-white. I refuse to lose to it. So, if that means that I have to cram a straight-up kryptonite, golden orb of social justice into the face of Death'n'Taxes, so be it! During these politically correct times, it's not acceptable to be so filled with prejudice. I know that, mountainfolk. I do. But, as a Goblin-American, I identify with my red tribe, and I will not be oppressed by the majority white!
Match 1 - Loose to Mardu Pyromancer ... never saw a Spellskite enough said. Match 2 - Win against Grixis Control - Game one, I played a turn one Rabble Master, then finished with a Slagstorm and it was over. Game two I got a turn 1 Defense Grid. This card did some serious work! Every turn opponent tried to counter something or Snap something and I was like "ok, 3 more or 6 more mana". Opponent was very frustrated and basically locked out by this card; it was amazing! Also got to use Spellskite a bit in these games, but it only saved me a few points from Bolts. Match 3 - Loose to GWU Company - Game one I had Chalice on 1, 2, and 3, and a Bridge; he Collected Companys into two Qasali Pridemage then rushes me for like 100 points...brutal. Lost game two quickly. Match 4 - Win against Affinity due to turn one Chalice on 1 both games.
I think the biggest takeaway from these matches for me was that the Defense Grid is awesome if you can get it down right away.
Just coming here to echo what others have said. This deck is getting significantly cheaper if youre looking to build it in the next few months. I might have to rebuy the Chalices, Chandras, and Bridges. If Bridge dodges reprint I expect it to spike like ******* nuts.
You're the man Ray. Okay... I'll rework my Torpor thinking and keep it there. I don't think I realized its breadth of application, so I appreciate the shakedown. You're right. Rec Sage, we know it is coming 1/2 the time if not more. So sure. I'll bring it for those match-ups. I think Miracles might make an appearance in the tournament, that's a 4 snap + 2? Cliques, might be good there. I saw Bant company a few nights ago... okay... yup... hearing you again. One card to maybe stop a TKS, I'm at the same campfire for that one, not siding it in to stop the TKS. Ultimately, yup, I ABSOLUTELY hate losing to mono-white taxes or B/W DnT. Actualy, my first round in my first competitive league was a loss to DnT, because they flickered their flicker with the Displacer. Understanding completed.
PnK. Okay this one is a little harder. I understand and respect its position - and hey, I'm no stranger to dropping a Chalice on zero to sac it to PnK. I loved it. I loved it so much, I held up my land, got in for two with the thopters, played land, sac-ed both and got in for another 4 - why the frig not.
Well why not, I mulligan a lot - poo we all do - I'm sure. I know what I want. Two Lands, Accelerator, Threat, Locks. Two Lands makes me feel so comfortable. Overall, I'm 21-8ish with the deck. I'll keep 3 Lands, Ritual, Ballista, Rabs, Chandra or Koth - gladly. I know it has 0 lock pieces, but this type of curve is vicious. I've never fanned out a hand and fist pumped because I have PnK on turn 2 or turn 4. I've happily top-decked it a few times, but there's been 4 times as many times when I've said keep - scry 'land land land land land please please land'.
Just responding and thinking out loud. I should have some more write-ups coming in early this week and I'd love feedback prior to the weekend.
Do it Ray... even if they're on the round-down side of your split... do it.... snow-covered. You'll never be mad you have the insurance policy built in, and most opponents will think they're witty to needle the mountain - then you can show them the benefit of preaching proactive lines to followers who believe.
Rays in Blood. [The pun is def better in speech... Raisin' Blood... w/e... you get it].
DR
Little aside: So I'm on about page 27... there was a block of discussion revolving around rage scoops. Game 1 I crushed 5C humans, game 2 I had double SSG to turn 1 blood moon and he rage scooped left [it was the last round and I went 3-1 after the win - so it was somewhat understandable. But no goodbye's to all your little friends? Awww. I know one thing. I'm playing turn 1 Blood Moon and I'll sit by myself... that's fine.]
So it got me thinking... a section for rage scoops in the primer? hahha jk jk... but its great to hear it from you all. Its also great to read as some of you weaken your position and adopt a majority position on a card, or stand firm and force the majority to understand your position [Abrade]. The Chandra TOD comments were awesome too, but now, here we are. The faint of heart have been cleansed. The deck has been polished, and while it is an ever-adapting monster, I, along with I'm assuming the rest of you, have found confidence in our ability to harness the beast and efficiently adapt it to the meta we perceive.
Thanks for all the help crew - and Ray - you already know.
I had a guy on mtgo (I think I was streaming) tell me the deck is jank and he would never take an "fnm" deck to a large event...I'm like....dude, goooge StarCityGames and look at the Philly classic and the Virginia Open. Tell me that the deck is Jank again? It was awesome. Opponent had no idea who he was talking to.
And, yes, jund used to be a 30/70 match, now with elf, it's 0/100. I'm sure someone can beat it, but I am literally 0-15 or something like that vs new jund. If they printed pillage in Core 19, Pyro would instantly pick it up. but for now, it's just not a good match in any sense and I'll bet the first big event will have at least one jund in the top 8.
I had a guy on mtgo (I think I was streaming) tell me the deck is jank and he would never take an "fnm" deck to a large event...I'm like....dude, goooge StarCityGames and look at the Philly classic and the Virginia Open. Tell me that the deck is Jank again? It was awesome. Opponent had no idea who he was talking to.
And, yes, jund used to be a 30/70 match, now with elf, it's 0/100. I'm sure someone can beat it, but I am literally 0-15 or something like that vs new jund. If they printed pillage in Core 19, Pyro would instantly pick it up. but for now, it's just not a good match in any sense and I'll bet the first big event will have at least one jund in the top 8.
We certainly are struggling against Jund, the value they generate is really hard for us to come back from. The trick here is that BBE can hit basically our worst matchup cards, Abrupt Decay, Maelstrom Pulse, K-Command. As for the Spellskite in for this matchup, it obviously will help against the first two but K-Command it does not work against which is tough since it is a very popular card.
I've had similar experiences that Russ is stating. Quotes like
"I can't believe I'm losing to your (insert choice of word) deck."
"Play Blood Moon and such skill after, nice deck."
"Wow, you must think you're something else? It's like you are some pro or something."
"You don't deserve to win with that deck."
"Nice top deck" (Usually to a sweeper, we tend to have 4 of them, more then U/W builds usually)
The list goes on, I've had all the salt thrown at the deck. We're just in a tough spot here for a bit, and need to fine tune or allow the Meta to help self correct BBE. As much as everyone complains about Jace, I'm finding that BBE is the harder card to deal with and is literally going in every G/R deck, Jace on the other hand is not in every Blue deck. Interesting.
Not only can the elf hit our worst cards to play against, it encourages players to play those cards and that deck specifically. Since hitting a discard spell off elf could be bad, they load up on general interaction that hoses us. they can even ezcalate into a K command despite being cut off from black mana. I played mill last night and went 4-1......guess what i lost to? Wouldn't be so bad, but why did Reid Duke have to include three ancient grudge in his sideboard? Three. that's nice, because it wasn't already hard enough.
I'm on page 31... hahah the arrival of StickBall. The forum completely changes tone when you start posting man.
I've settled on some changes that I'm going to make prior to Worcester this weekend. I'm going to go down a spree and up a Ratchet Bomb. We have 0 answers for enchantments, and I feel like we gain 'an answer' in RB and really do not lose much equity by letting go of one Spree. Also, after reading some of the original StickBall posts, I realize I'm at odds with the card too. I think StickBall was trying to jam another Ballista [yup I love that card too], but I want another land. It happened to me today at lunch at work. If PnK was a land, I would have had the nuts, so Mom and Dad - that's it - I've had enough, and I love you, but for now I'm out. I'm sure I'll pay for it and come groveling back begging for forgiveness - like in real life, but for now, I'm out.
Russ do you remember what post # the Philly report is. I wanted to make sure I went through it before the weekend.
Lol these reprints annoy me. Fell in love with this deck like 3 months ago. Ordered basically everything on paper like 2 months ago. Had an eBay issue and just received chandras last week after a month and a half of waiting.. (just on time for local fnm) and now all these cards are gonna drop in price... Im a sad little mountain man.
I was gonna echo, this deck is gonna drop from like $900 to $500/600 in the coming weeks. Good time to be us boys, ill bet we will see a lot more of this deck at the top tables this year.
Don't know posting number, but the Philly posts starts on January 28th and the posts from the open starts in the beginning of December, probably the 4th or 5th or somewhere around there. Same list both events.
Guys, I got the flu and couldn't think about Magic for 5 days (I never go a day), I come back and Wizards makes me sick all over again with these reprints lol. Pretty brutal stuff, at least in the short term. With Chalice and Bridge at mythic, though, I'd expect prices to bounce back in a year or so. At least comparing MM17 trends from last March til now.
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Anyway, thanks for the report! Keep them coming!
Round 1 Lantern Control 2-0
Round 2 Burn 2-1
Round 3 Jeskai Control 1-2
Round 4 Grixis Death's Shadow 2-1
Overall, not to bad. 7-1 in last 2 weeks not playing against BBE or Jace. Lantern Control has to be 80/20 in our favor. Game 3 against Burn I had Chalice on 1 and 2. Topdecked a third cast for 6, opponent topdecked a Rift Bolt and went on tilt. Jeskai Control was bad for me, D-Sphere my threat and chained Cryptic for the win. Grixis gets shut down by Chalice and Moon. I'll take notes for a better report next week.
Thoughts?
I certainly try to run the deck more aggro than anything - which has contributed to my thoughts about PnK. I look to lock and kill asap. I'm not a big fan of the turtle-up strategy because, as has been discussed, opponents draw outs and we're left pants down when they do. I think PnK jives with a turtle up and poke away at the opponent.
I'd advocate for another Ritual, Ballista or Land for the PnK spot. I ran an additional Ritual instead of PnK in one of my most recent leagues - report upcoming - and I don't know if I missed PnK. What I do know is there have been a few distinct times when I've had PnK and wished it was a Land or Ritual. Me being a newer player with a proclivity for aggro styles, I of course opted to run the extra Ritual, but I think an extra land would have been the bee's knees.
I love fanning open a ton of threats, Rabs, Chandra, Koth or lock pieces, Chalice, Moon, Bridge, but I often find myself salivating over 5 all-stars, a Ritual and a Land. That's heart-breaking. Then I mulligan and get 5 lands and a Chandra, or no lands, and going down to 5 SUCKS. I think an extra land might drive the 7-card keep consistency up. The classic is this weekend, so since I've tested the extra Ritual, I'm interested in trying to jam a league this week with an extra land instead of PnK.
I'm open to feedback. Talk me out of it if. I've seen the numbers that say adding the extra land only gets you a few extra percentage points and is likely a waste of your time - but I'm going on gut for this one. I'm at odds with PnK and I'm a little unsatisfied with the amount of 7-card turn 1/2 blood moons that I have. I'm also actively considering a change with Orb.
Another discussion that I wanted to raise revolved around this fork in the road. You're on the play. They have a fetch land out [any but Misty Rainforest] and you have a one lander. You can either turn 1 chalice on 1 via SSG, or SSG Ritual into Magus. Consider both scenarios, when you have the extra land for turn 2 and the scenario when you don't. Would have even kept a one lander with Chalice, SSG, Ritual, Magus as 4 of the other 6. Maybe you have a Ballista, or, let's stay on theme, PnK as your other 2. Whatever it may be - do you chalice and hope for a land or Magus and hope to dodge removal? If they have a Mire, they can likely bolt it, if they have Flooded Strand they'll likely fetch a plains in response and Path it, but what about a Marsh Flats? Death n Taxes sign? They certainly have Path? I have been in this scenario and had Blood Moon as one of my other 2. I sent out Mag Turn 1 to get it pathed and get the land, then I had two chances to draw a land, and in the meantime I'll drop a Chalice on 1. Weird scenario I know, but I found myself in it, or its cousin, often and I'd like to know other people's thoughts.
Reports upcoming, but overall this weekend, FNM and two Leagues, one competitive one friendly, went 10-4. I had a few matches slip away from me online, so a 11-3 was certainly do-able.
I do want to say that I lost to Jund in one of my matches and it felt AWFUL. HORRIBLE to be honest. So I get it when people say I'm out of this deck it sucks. I get it. After the Jund match I was certainly dejected. Dejected enough to feel like eff you Chandra and all those dumb Rituals. Then I reeled it in, reflected on the weekend and thought about how many match-ups I hosed. I believe our deck is truly a nightmare to play against. I also believe the most expensive aspect of 95% of modern decks are their mana bases. I was watching Seth play RB Goblins on Much A Brew and he said the deck sucks but sticking Blood Moon wins most games. When times get tough, don't forget what we came here to do, stick that turn 1/2 blood moon and pressure for the scoop.
Believin' in the moon.
DR
Vortex has been good, I always have dirt in my hand, I do not have chandras, so I'm going to Koth
4 Gemstone Mine
16 Mountain (253)
20 terrenos
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
8 criaturas
4 Koth of the Hammer
4 Blood Moon
4 Faithless Looting
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Desperate Ritual
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Blood Sun
3 Trinisphere
1 Molten Vortex
2 Spellskite
2 criaturas
2 Ratchet Bomb
1 Boil
2 Welding Jar
2 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Pyroclasm
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Guttural Response
might be time to big-boy up, and split up my set. I'll never forgive myself, if I get hosed the way you described in a big tourney. https://www.mtggoldfish.com/price/Unglued/Mountain
PIA AND KIRAN NALAAR
Pia and Kiran Nalaar. I get it. It's probably our weakest link. Not because they are necessarily bad at any given ability, just that they aren't great. You'll note that my November SCG event deck in the Primer had (2) Pia and Kiran Nalaar. And, Russ later commented that Pia and Kiran are the worst part of the Stock List when he Top-8 twice in the following months. I'm not going to disagree with him. But, in November, it was a Grixis Death's Shadow meta bonanza. It was everywhere. Piran, like Lingering souls, presents a real problem for them. Thus, the inflated count to (2).
Today? Should it be 0,1,2? IDK. Just this weekend, I was furiously trying to find a swap out for it as well. I did a careful comparison of how well it matches up against Tier decks - particularly with Liliana-Jund and Jace-Control decks all the rage. Embarrassingly, I was trying to justify a swap to another planeswalker for a game 1 blank on an opponent's typical creature removal: Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh ==> Chandra, Roaring Flame. Fluffy has run tests on this, and it can be deceptively destructive, however frail. I looked back at a Tormenting Voice for the assist on consistency. Like TheRev, I considered a 22nd land - even another mutavault to kind of serve as a 1/2 land?
For now, I'm sticking with The Parents. But, I don't have to like it!!! The second I get my license to find a better 60th, I'm out of here! You hear me, mom and dad?!
TORPOR ORB
As for Torpor Orb, that also calls for a careful analysis of what is out there, and what it stops. It's a lot. I don't necessarily bring it in against Snapcaster Mage Decks. IF the deck runs a couple Vendilion Clique, then yes. Spell Queller? Certainly. But, it's too narrow of an answer to just shut down (4) Snappies. Just think that a Chalice on 2 does all the work of a Torpor Orb. Similarly, I don't bring in a Grafdigger's Cage against a deck with (4) Snappies. I do bring in the Relic of Progenitus since it cycles. Sidenote: I also don't bring in Torpor Orb against most Eldrazi construction - if the only thing I anticipate stopping is (4) Thought-Knot Seer.
Torpor Orb becomes devastating against the "Lord" decks. By that, I mean decks that are tribal and typically feature a lord to lead the swarm attack: Merfolk, Elves, Humans. Also, it's great against Primeval Titan decks. Sure, against primetime, but moreover against their sideboard cards: Obstinate Baloth and Thragtusk and Reclamation Sage (they will summoner's pact for the Sage).
THE CONTRADICTION
Now, here's where things get interesting. I just said that I DON'T bring in T. Orb against (2) decks where there is a reasonable application (Snapcaster/Eldrazi). These decks can be problem matchups, so I should be allocating resources in the sideboard to beat them, right? O.K. and then I said that I DO bring in T. Orb against (4) decks where there is certainly a good application. However, these decks are actually already favorable for us. So, I shouldn't be allocating resources in the sideboard to beat them. Huh.
Well, there are other notable slap downs like Restoration Angel, Spell Queller, Flickerwisp, Thing in the Ice, Kiki-Jiki Mirrorbreaker Combo & wrecks D'n'T decks.
But, let's stay on track. Overall, the comparison of the (2) decks / unfavorable to the (4) decks / favorable for Torpor Orb bring-ins doesn't add up. Further, the times when we are bringing in Torpor Orb is when we are keeping in the non-bo of Pia and Kiran Nalaar.
MOUNTAIN FIST RAISED IN DEFIANCE
How do we reconcile this contradiction? It's difficult. To Torpor Orb or Not to Torpor Orb? How do we find the solution? Hmmmmmm......Hey, I do know that I hate Death'n'Taxes. Benjamin Franklin, a white male, said that nothing in this world can be certain except Death and Taxes. Now, this may sound crazy, but I'm going to use Torpor Orb to end this patriarchal oppression.
For me, personally, this is my truth: I detest mono-white. I refuse to lose to it. So, if that means that I have to cram a straight-up kryptonite, golden orb of social justice into the face of Death'n'Taxes, so be it! During these politically correct times, it's not acceptable to be so filled with prejudice. I know that, mountainfolk. I do. But, as a Goblin-American, I identify with my red tribe, and I will not be oppressed by the majority white!
#RedLivesMatter.
I ended up 2-2 for the night which I attribute to two really bad matchups.
Match 1 - Loose to Mardu Pyromancer ... never saw a Spellskite enough said.
Match 2 - Win against Grixis Control - Game one, I played a turn one Rabble Master, then finished with a Slagstorm and it was over. Game two I got a turn 1 Defense Grid. This card did some serious work! Every turn opponent tried to counter something or Snap something and I was like "ok, 3 more or 6 more mana". Opponent was very frustrated and basically locked out by this card; it was amazing! Also got to use Spellskite a bit in these games, but it only saved me a few points from Bolts.
Match 3 - Loose to GWU Company - Game one I had Chalice on 1, 2, and 3, and a Bridge; he Collected Companys into two Qasali Pridemage then rushes me for like 100 points...brutal. Lost game two quickly.
Match 4 - Win against Affinity due to turn one Chalice on 1 both games.
I think the biggest takeaway from these matches for me was that the Defense Grid is awesome if you can get it down right away.
RG BBE Ponza
UX Eldrazi Tron
UR Jace Breach
PnK. Okay this one is a little harder. I understand and respect its position - and hey, I'm no stranger to dropping a Chalice on zero to sac it to PnK. I loved it. I loved it so much, I held up my land, got in for two with the thopters, played land, sac-ed both and got in for another 4 - why the frig not.
Well why not, I mulligan a lot - poo we all do - I'm sure. I know what I want. Two Lands, Accelerator, Threat, Locks. Two Lands makes me feel so comfortable. Overall, I'm 21-8ish with the deck. I'll keep 3 Lands, Ritual, Ballista, Rabs, Chandra or Koth - gladly. I know it has 0 lock pieces, but this type of curve is vicious. I've never fanned out a hand and fist pumped because I have PnK on turn 2 or turn 4. I've happily top-decked it a few times, but there's been 4 times as many times when I've said keep - scry 'land land land land land please please land'.
Just responding and thinking out loud. I should have some more write-ups coming in early this week and I'd love feedback prior to the weekend.
Do it Ray... even if they're on the round-down side of your split... do it.... snow-covered. You'll never be mad you have the insurance policy built in, and most opponents will think they're witty to needle the mountain - then you can show them the benefit of preaching proactive lines to followers who believe.
Rays in Blood. [The pun is def better in speech... Raisin' Blood... w/e... you get it].
DR
Little aside: So I'm on about page 27... there was a block of discussion revolving around rage scoops. Game 1 I crushed 5C humans, game 2 I had double SSG to turn 1 blood moon and he rage scooped left [it was the last round and I went 3-1 after the win - so it was somewhat understandable. But no goodbye's to all your little friends? Awww. I know one thing. I'm playing turn 1 Blood Moon and I'll sit by myself... that's fine.]
So it got me thinking... a section for rage scoops in the primer? hahha jk jk... but its great to hear it from you all. Its also great to read as some of you weaken your position and adopt a majority position on a card, or stand firm and force the majority to understand your position [Abrade]. The Chandra TOD comments were awesome too, but now, here we are. The faint of heart have been cleansed. The deck has been polished, and while it is an ever-adapting monster, I, along with I'm assuming the rest of you, have found confidence in our ability to harness the beast and efficiently adapt it to the meta we perceive.
Thanks for all the help crew - and Ray - you already know.
I had a guy on mtgo (I think I was streaming) tell me the deck is jank and he would never take an "fnm" deck to a large event...I'm like....dude, goooge StarCityGames and look at the Philly classic and the Virginia Open. Tell me that the deck is Jank again? It was awesome. Opponent had no idea who he was talking to.
And, yes, jund used to be a 30/70 match, now with elf, it's 0/100. I'm sure someone can beat it, but I am literally 0-15 or something like that vs new jund. If they printed pillage in Core 19, Pyro would instantly pick it up. but for now, it's just not a good match in any sense and I'll bet the first big event will have at least one jund in the top 8.
We certainly are struggling against Jund, the value they generate is really hard for us to come back from. The trick here is that BBE can hit basically our worst matchup cards, Abrupt Decay, Maelstrom Pulse, K-Command. As for the Spellskite in for this matchup, it obviously will help against the first two but K-Command it does not work against which is tough since it is a very popular card.
I've had similar experiences that Russ is stating. Quotes like
"I can't believe I'm losing to your (insert choice of word) deck."
"Play Blood Moon and such skill after, nice deck."
"Wow, you must think you're something else? It's like you are some pro or something."
"You don't deserve to win with that deck."
"Nice top deck" (Usually to a sweeper, we tend to have 4 of them, more then U/W builds usually)
The list goes on, I've had all the salt thrown at the deck. We're just in a tough spot here for a bit, and need to fine tune or allow the Meta to help self correct BBE. As much as everyone complains about Jace, I'm finding that BBE is the harder card to deal with and is literally going in every G/R deck, Jace on the other hand is not in every Blue deck. Interesting.
I've settled on some changes that I'm going to make prior to Worcester this weekend. I'm going to go down a spree and up a Ratchet Bomb. We have 0 answers for enchantments, and I feel like we gain 'an answer' in RB and really do not lose much equity by letting go of one Spree. Also, after reading some of the original StickBall posts, I realize I'm at odds with the card too. I think StickBall was trying to jam another Ballista [yup I love that card too], but I want another land. It happened to me today at lunch at work. If PnK was a land, I would have had the nuts, so Mom and Dad - that's it - I've had enough, and I love you, but for now I'm out. I'm sure I'll pay for it and come groveling back begging for forgiveness - like in real life, but for now, I'm out.
Russ do you remember what post # the Philly report is. I wanted to make sure I went through it before the weekend.
Krispy
DR
RG BBE Ponza
UX Eldrazi Tron
UR Jace Breach