Alright guys I'm back just got home from my local fnm after a few weeks of going 1-3 and being discouraged with the deck I managed to tie for first tonight!
Round 1 mono green elves 2-0
Went as expected abrade a couple dorks and ezuri board wipe and drop bridge and chalice on 1 then on 2 ult chandra he had no answer for bridge.
Round 2 jund 1-2
Turn 1 blood moon locked him out long enough to find a rabble and kill him.
game 2 he has the hand hate and I got stuck on 2 lands blood braid into a second 7/8 goyf ended it quick
Game 3 kept a hand with no hate after a mull to 6 dropped a turn 2 rabble that got decayed then a turn 3 hazoret that got saxed to lili -2 found a moon but lili was already for ult he split lands and moon it was down hill from there
Round 3 mono white eldrazi and taxes 2-1
Game 1 I got stuck on 2 lands thought knot and Thalia killed me quick. Game 2 he couldn't deal with all the board wipes and stormbreath. Game 3 was super grindy turn 2 blood moon locked him on a single white mana for 5 turns and double bridge stopped the assault he managed to reset chandra but he ran out of answers and the emblem got there.
Round 4 burn 2-0
Game 1 turn 1 chalice on 1 blood moon turn 2 abrade his goblin guide and killed him with rabble. He complained about my deck being un fun and said chalice should be banned. Game 2 I kept a hand with no hate on a mull to 6 got out a turn 2 rabble and a turn 3 hazoret and just raced him he was at 14 I was at 9 and I got there he was salty but I did't use any of those stupid hate cards he didn't like. I know what its like being locked out its not fum but it keeps other people honest.
Overall the deck preformed good I'm glad I stuck with it and this was my first 1st place at fnm thanks for all the feedback and help with my list and sideboarding help I'm still working on finding the 4 eidolon for the side. I'll be sticking with this for a while
Embrace the salt, Mr. Orange. If your opponent ends up calling for something to be banned, you know Pyro Prison did it's thing! Don't worry about people defining "un-fun" as "I didn't win on turn 4". Every deck in Modern can be un-fun by that definition. Maybe they should play Pokemon!
What's up crew. I've been on vacation, busy with work, adult stuff, but let's get it. I loved the deck at the IQ I went to July 1st - yeah its been that long.
So I finished up 4-2, 16th out of 55. Everything was feeling really good, and I was a little disheartened going in because I was getting ROUGHED UP on MTGO. I knew a little about the meta going in, so I made some last minute changes and hit the tables. I'll try to keep the tourny report a little more brief b/c it was nearly two weeks ago and details escape me.
I read, I watch - I stay abreast with the Pyro Prison community. All the dragon talk is cool - the scab clans running wild. I guess I'm one of the slow adopters in the group. I bought in to the Pyro Prisno strategy for the turn 1 I ruined your mana HAHAHHA!. Over time we evolved away from the "hah I win! Gotcha with Blood Moon" sort of deck to more of a mid range version of Pyro Prison using Blood Moon as disruption > WinCon. That's cool and all. The dragons are cool, but IDK if I pilot this deck that way personally. I like early lock, early pressure... pressure... pressure - tap out. And I think that's some of what Scab brings to the team, but I haven't tested it to be honest(will today though for sure). That's why my lists always have Koth - the early 4 bang or Emblem - YES. Looking back on like page 50 at some lists, cats had Maggie as a two of. Ultimately, I think 4 Blood Moons is too low for me. I'll take a Blood Sun in one of my flex spots. One other topic I wanted to touch on while I has at it was - the feeling of broken mana. I LOVE having some sort of broken mana - I'm sure we all do - but I'm really starting to appreciate its big contribution to "the nuts". I hate playing fair magic. Turn 1 Keldon go... Turn 2 Chalice on 1 or Eidolon or Abrade your thing, Turn 3 Rabble or Moon. That's cool. But it doesn't feel really right. Cheating on mana always feels right. I'm not going up to 31 manas yet, but I think about it often.
I took Ray's advice. A while back he said something about 3 Abrades and 1 Shattering Spree being incorrect. I liked that whole post and to me it seemed to say that the deck is a 75 and you're basically splitting your position in a noncommittal sort of way because ultimately, YOU the deck tweaker/pilot are confused about your own strategy with the deck. I was running 3 Abrade main and 1 spree in the board when I read that. Then I had to get empty handed for bridge on (MTGO) but the only target for my Spree was my own bridge so TLDR on that is I was effed. The point of 2 and 2 or 4 and 0 not 3 and 1 was real for me, so I made that change. Relic is too slow IMO... I've tried and tried to make you work but we're through for now. I love Spyglass. I know most are off of it, but I love getting the hand info and being able to shut off a PW or EE. Hold up let's talk about this too. Everyone's been saying EE has been killing us in the KCI match-up. I was playing it against a friend and he was convinced that for him it goes from being a bad match-up to an awful match-up after boarding. Maybe he's a bad pilot, but things were going well for me. Abrade your thing, clear your yard for free, Spyglass your EE. I'll end my rant with a reflection on the draw trigger I announced when I played Blood Sun. I was against MarduP and we were locked up, he taps out for blowing up some of my lock pieces and had just dropped a young P so the army was hefty. I top deck... Blood Sun.. great, played it, drew, slag, cleared the board - opponent was empty handed and I was as well. It felt really good to get that gas in the game. I've never ran a tormenting voice, but its on my mind. My opponent then top decked reveler, played his hand, reveler, played his hand, reveler, played his hand... it was tough. So it started there.
Round 1 Mardu Pyromancer 0-2
He just had the answers. I felt in the zone too. I was crushing with Rabs and building an army when need be. Life was good. But he'd ruin it, then reveler it seemed every time.
Round 2 B/G Grey Merchant style 2-1
First game he got me down to 4 with the usual Geralf's, Aetherborn, Obliterator.. but couldn't find Gary the ass model. I chandra'd him down. Game 2 he Gary'd me hard and I couldn't recover. Game 3 Torpor orb Chalice on 1 and 2 locked up the defenses. Spyglassed the Lilly he played when we were locked under a bridge. Thopter Tokened him all the way down.
Round 3 Sultai Walkers 1-2
Cool deck... Lotta answers. Finks maindeck. Jace, Nissa Steward of Elements, Lilly. It was tough. Game 1 she stole my pieces on first two turns. Then Jace'd me FTW. Game 2 I chalice on 1 and just rocked from there. Game 3 I got beat in the usual manner. I think that in 3 she got to swing with Nissa Ultimate like twice.
Round 4 Jund [GET IN THE COFFIN!!!] 2-0
Crushed em'. Never felt better. Game 1 early Moon shut him down. Game 2 Thopter tokens for the win. I love loking at a life sheet with my notes and there's all these two damages but never a 5... Thopters in the House
Round 5 Joe Horton (great local player - Russ knows him from the SCG) Jeskai(?) 2-0
This dude is like 16 and is in the top 50 or 100 SCG point earners. GRINDER to the bone. Respectful young adult too. Sorry I blood mooned him turn 1 both games. He goes Collonade Go and I just felt so bad - but today.... the moon shall rise.
Round 6 Affinity 2-0
I love this match-up. I know a lot of folks on here have talked about it being a tough match-up, but I've never really had that vibe. What's that phrase? You gonna learn today! Well even though I bagged it up in a 2-0 fashion, I learned. Game 1 regular blow outs - he dumps his hand. I patiently wait for him to dump more, then I sweep it up. Deploy troops - secure victory. Second game I get some chalices down early. He gets a Rav down. He gets a worship down... he gets a... YUP... I learned today.... an Etched Champion down. His board is a whole lotta useless artifacts, like a plating that is spyglassed etc and worship and etched champion. I'm like wtf. Wait Chandra's emblem is colorless right? And it stacks? JUDGE! Verified. So we battle on. I realize early in the seige that I can only plus 1 Chandra for mana or I might deck myself. I have Chalices on everything 0-3. PnK get him down in life. He sacs everything to Rav and then onto Etched Chapmion - its a 16/16 - are you serious - yes. I get the double emblems, save up two spells and blow out the champion and take out his life. Awesome game.
So its been cool catching up, and staying up. New faces are cool. I love the random user that drops in, states some randomly relevant complex interaction and then vanishes. I have other decks, I play other decks but this is the only one that matters lol. Hope everyone's doing well and I hope to be more frequent.
Dev, where you at? I think Joe Horton told me in Roanoke that he's from Connecticut or somewhere in the north east. He'll probably be at scg Philly next weekend. You coming down? Let me know and we can catch up and meet in person. 4-2 is really good. That's one game away from top 8. No worries, you'll get em next time!
Great report and good juju throughout your post, DevtheRevRyan. Preach it, brother! His nickname, fondly given to him by a friend (REVerend), is an apt one. Yup, Joe, Dev, and I are all from MA/NH.
To the relief of some, I have come to my senses on the 'removal' suite in my latest deck. Originally, it had none. Zero. This thin mountain air and exuberance about a new planeswalker & avaricious dragon must have gotten to me. Alrighty, so moving beyond the 1st Draft, we're ready for 2.0.
I ran it today in the MTGO Modern Classic. 122 players. I went 5-2. Got 20th place. Good enough for this mountain man. I'm in. Dragons, baby. Dragons.
So, for the dragon connoisseurs in this thread, that must be a victory. And, yet, I gotta believe my deck name is a prickly pear. Trash Dragons. Can't help myself - it makes me chuckle every time I say it. And, it is another apt nickname - garbage tossers. As for improvements, I've tempered my whole 'Combo Pyro Prison' motif into a more sensible shell. Targeted/Sweeper removal is back, and both Sarkhan and his bestest dragon pal get my stamp of approval. Get yourself down to the local livery, and buy a few dragons. They're avaricious!
I'm not much for tourney reports, but here's the rundown.
Round 1: Ad Nauseam - win
Round 2: UWB Spirits - win
Round 3: Grixis Control - loss
Round 4: BBE Jund - win
Round 5: Elves - loss
Round 6: Hatebears - win
Round 7: Bring to Light - win
Hey guys I'm not sure if anyone has tried this card out Martyr of ashes it's a 1/1 for R and it has an ability 2 sac it reveal any # of red cards from your hand martyr of ashes deals that much damage to each creature without flying. Seems like it could be good against eldrazi tron, d&t, humans, elves, and merfolk. Being able to get around a Thalia tax and potentially dealing out 5 damage turn 2 seems like a good way to get under meddling mage and beat those decks that drop threats our sweepers can't handle or have lots of lords to buff there dudes, maybe just being able to drop it turn 1 and slow those fast decks down a turn or two could be all we need to find a bridge or whatever we are looking for in the match. Just a thought I might try 2 in the board this week and see how it does. If anyone has any thoughts I'd be interested in hearing them.
We're always looking to get Chalice of the Void out on 1 as soon as possible so that would stop us being able to cast Martyr of Ashes. If we try to play Martyr first, it'll likely eat removal before our opponent plays out into the board (our first creature normally does and a smart player won't play into a wipe they know about).
We have a lot of ramp spells (all the rituals and spirit guides) which means we go empty handed very fast, which is intentional for Ensnaring Bridge. That leaves few or no cards in hand to reveal.
We have a lot of non-flying creatures like Goblin Rabblemaster and Eidolon of the Great Revel so you'd have to run a flying only creature base so you're not hurting yourself along with hurting your opponent.
It's a decent card but a little too narrow and would take some major reworking of the deck to take proper advantage of it.
I think a better card with a similar goal is Bonfire of the Damned. Not only do you get to wipe the other players board, but it doesn't care if the creatures are flying, doesn't hit our creatures and deals damage to the player. You also don't have to change anything about our deck since it doesn't conflict with anything in it. It's really all upside with that card.
About Bonfire.. I've been watching Fluffy run it, and while I love the card in theory, it has serious limitations in our deck. As a sweeper (assuming you just really need to kill the board, not concerned with keeping your own dudes), it's obviously tough to match 3 damage for 3 mana. You're really only casting x-3 off a miracle, which means we were awfully lucky for it to show up at the right time. Most of the time I saw it get any value at all it was x-1, for 3 mana. So.. if you're contemplating it over Anger/Slag/Suns, it's really apples to oranges. If you want a 1-sided sweeper effect to the tune of 1 to each and 1 to the player (plus bonus damage to their walkers!), I would rather have the 3/3 first striking body Chainwhirler leaves behind, imo.
Has anyone thought of Flamebreak? how often do we want to cast both sides of slagstorm? Feels like it good be good in some spots, but probably strictly worse than slagstorm due to mana restriction and having no choice on keeping your creatures alive. also, hitting only non-flying creatures is a serious drawback....alright, forget I mentioned it. It's bad.
@overlytired I'm mainly suggesting martyr of ashes a s a side in against decks that chalice on 1 isn't good against and as a sweeper very early in the game like before turn 4 when we usually still have some cards in our hand to deal with decks that can go bigger than anger suns or slagstorm can hit. it might be too narrow but without testing it's hard to tell. I was thinking it could be a good turn 1 against fish or eldrazi tron even if they don't run out there hand into a martyr it's doing it's job by slowing the game down til we can find a bridge or moon or whatever we need. Also it gets around Thalia which can be a huge problem especially since she negates our rituals. Just a thought I don't think it comes in every game but in some matchups it seem like a solid turn 1 especially if we side out chalice.
Nope, but I am playing in Philly this coming weekend! Will anyone be there? I asked a few days ago and no one responded, so I assume that there will be nobody there from this forum. I'm in the Lagacy seat playing Pyro Prison.
Nope, but I am playing in Philly this coming weekend! Will anyone be there? I asked a few days ago and no one responded, so I assume that there will be nobody there from this forum. I'm in the Lagacy seat playing Pyro Prison.
Going to be a madman and sideboard a shivan ? Haha
Russ can you share the list you taking to the event, im having pptq soon and im still thinking about my onw list
For legacy, I'm playing the list that won GP Birmingham, minus two Karn, plus two xhandra.
For modern, I'm playing a list very similar to my winning list from last year. Basically I'm taking out two magus for two chainwhirler and using three ramunap ruins over three mountains. Otherwise, it'll probably be the same list. Not sure if I want a damping sphere of more eidolona in the board. I'll try to post a list tomorrow for oyy.
Side note, got another easy 4-1 tonight in legacy. Man, this deck is oppressive in that format.
Just look up any legacy dragon stompy list on mtgtop8.com and you will get a general idea of the deck its core is.
4 city of traitors
4 ancient tombs
11 mountain
4 bloodmoon
4 chalice of the void
4 ensnaring bridge
4 rabblemaster
4 chrome mix
4 simian spirit guide
4 magus of the moon
4 Chandra TOD( some split 2 Chandra 2 karn SoU)
4 fiery confluence
1 hazoret
2 pia and kiran nalaar
2 trinisphere
Russ I'm not sure but I believe Joe is from I think one of the Connecticut towns (maybe Enfield) adjacent to Springfield, MA - which is where I hail from.
I couldn't help it. I woke up for the gym on Sunday and said nah screw it, I'm going to hit the SCG Modern Classic in Worcester instead. I was happy with the IQ results and thought whatever, I'll just go to play Magic. I left early and got there with intentions of reworking the board a little, and hopefully scoring some Scab-clans in lieu of my lack of preparation. No luck on the Scabs, but I was locked in at 8:30a finishing the deck list sheet and thinking about some last minute sideboard changes.
Folks have been apt to say the Burn match-up is better than a coin flip. I haven't really felt that way and, looking back, I really didn't have a plan. I was AFRAID to bring in Eidolon in that match-up. My logic was, "I don't want to take any more or any unnecessary damage - so no." What do I do with Bridges? Well they stop Burn's ground creatures - Oh do they now? Not really, Swifty is going to get under and still get pumped if need be, Lava sits at home, Eidolon sits at home and GG will ding me for 6 before I get low enough for Bridge to be effective, AND if I'm empty handed at that point - I'm corned. So I want some Dragon's claws... yeah that'll solve my problems. Then I was looking at my cards and shiz thinking, nah that's weak. Hope that a claw drags the game out long enough for me to get lethal damage through? IDK. That doesn't sound or feel like a winning strategy. They'll blow it up and then what's the strategy? I think some of the C-Suite posters have noted that Burn players can't do math with additional Eidolon damage, just like Shadow players. So fine - I'll bring in 3 Eidolons because I can easily make space with the whole don't-need-a-Bridge realization. I bring in Skite of course and I bring in 1 Abrade. I can comfortably cut the Blood Sun and 4 Bridges. So the plan for burn is +3 Eidolon +1 Skite +1 Abrade... -4 Bridge -1 BSun. Mull for Chalice lol. Not really, but c'mon bro, you really should take a healthy amount of looks at scoring a CotV.
I noticed that when I won, in general throughout the tournament, I mulliganed aggressively. One of the main reasons I'm going to post a 4-3 result was to open discussion on some of the boarding decisions I made. My list is reposted for ease.
Round 1 & 2 Naya Burn [4-0]. It was too easy. Match 1 Game 1 I had two chalices in the opener and rushed one out on the Draw after he suspended a Riftie. Got Chalice on 2 down on T3 at 11 life. I said I think you have 9 damage remaining in your deck that you can cast - he scooped. Game 2 same sort of story. Early Chalice on 1, then he went Eidolon - I go Abrade. He goes Eidolon - Abrade. Again! Eidolon - I have the 3rd Abrade and a fat mana pool. I play Rabble then... Eidolon? lol it was so fun. Match 2 was basically a similar break down, so I'll save time and space.
Burn Board Plan was -1 Blood Sun -4 Brides // +1 Abrade +3 Eidolon +1 Skite
Round 3 [0-2] D'Shad... I got got in the usual D'shad way. I mulled to 5 Game 1 on the play with Ritual to Moon on T2. He Thoughtseized it and signaled D'Shad early. He got Zombie Fish down, Stubby D'd my Bridge cast. GGs. Game 2 he knew now, so the K-Commands were in hand. Thoughtseized early then he had me beat with a K-Command, Shad, TBR. GGs
Round 4 [1-2] KCI... You gone learn toDAY. And I did. I had TWO Spyglasses in the board to prepare for this EE. Just like a Storm EE, I know there's going to be an EE here that undoes my world if I lose. If I win, I will have shut it off. So w/e. I knew off the rip he was on KCI when I saw a Buried Ruin [or maybe Pyro Prison - TeeHee!]. I had a Walker hand. Koth, Chandra, Rituals, Lands. I mean what do you think happen? I got up to the walkers early - almost Koth Emblemed and he went off. He explained the combo, which I studied up on before the tournament so I got it, but I made sure he knew how to stack the triggers and what a mana ability was before I bellied-up.
The winning plan was in full effect. Eidolon, Rabble, Eidolon. He fought hard but I love how Russ has framed the Eidolon impact. I started counting how many spells he could cast and quickly saw the path to closing the game a lot easier and clearer. Of note I punted HARD in this game, and despite that still got there. I had Rabble working and he had EE on 0 to answer the Chalice I had dropped at the beginning of game 2. Which I'd love to get feedback on. Game 2, one chalice in opening 7 and a keepable hand, do you drop it on 0 if you're on the play? I did. It worked well. Sorry back to the PUNT. He had his EE and I was working with Rabs. He was setting up bust the EE to hit the Chalices AND grab some tokens. I had lethal easily. I think he was at like 7, so attacking Rabs, Eidolon and tokens was more than enough. OVER EXTENDED activated a freakin' mountain and kept Eidolon back - he bust the EE and hit my Mountain along with the chalices and goblins. I had him at 5 after the attack so he had to answer Eidolon and couldn't, but I could have lost because of that. Game 3 I kept Abrade, Scavenger Grounds and some lands and maybe a ritual or two. Awful keep. I didn't wanna mull into no lands though, then go down to 5. I drew Eidolon... YES... drew next turn.. EIDLON YES!!!. He goes bolt, nautre's claim, stirrings. Next turn KCI - I abrade it, buried ruins brings it back, he goes off.
Scab-clans were needed here. I would have gone down more Chandra's and Rituals if I had Scab Clans. I was going to go down a Spyglass and the Defense Grid to fit two Scabs.
Round 5 [2-1] Jeskai Control. Sitting at 2-2 meh. We were doing 9 rounds with about 240 people I think. Round 1 Blood Moon, Chalice on 1 early. I was reminded of the games details because I ended at 17 life, 3 from the bolt in response to Chalice on 1. And he was at 17 too lol. Game 2 he got me. T-Pain and J-Money got to working and I was screwed. He actually T-pain'ed into a T-Pain at one point in the game. THREE total I saw that game. One cool thing that happened. He tucked Chandra with T-Pain then I followed up with Chainwhirler! Got him! It felt real good. He ulted Jace and I was empty handed. Game 3 was Rabbles on Rabbles. He had to fetch and shock to take damage and I kept pressure on with Rabs for 3 turns, that netted me 3 tokens that continued to annoy him. I had a defense grid down this game that kept him from tapping down my crew.
Jeskai plan -4 Bridge, -1 Walking Ball, -1 Suns, -1 Slag, -1 Abrade // +4 Eidolon, +1 Haz, +1 Defense Grid, +1 Spyglass, +1 Skite - I think I kept an Abrade in because I thought he might EE and I wanted to be able to hit Snap potentially. Looking back I probably should have dumped the Abrades and kept in WalkingB.
Round 6 [2-0] Mono Blue (well not really but it was in principle) 2-0. I Blood Mooned him for the victory Round 1. I swear! He had some Flooded Strands, and some Hallowed Fountain? u/w shock. Then he had the Tolaria West. He didn't get double blue until I had already began crushing with Koth. Bang x5 looking at my life pad notes, I took him down with the Hammer, and the Hammer alone. Then game 2 I had the pressure suite of Eidolon, Koth, Rabs doing work. Another D-Grid shutting off Cryptic this time around.
Turn Plan -4 Bridge, -3 Chalice, -1 WalkingB, -1 Suns, -1 Slag // +4 Eidolon, +1 Defense Grid, +1 Haz, +1 Skite, +1 Tormod's Crypt, +1 Cage, +1 Spyglass (showed Jace Game 1). I know... go down the BLOOD MOONS. For what though? Angers? Torpor Orb? Abrade? They won me game 1. So let's see. They did nothing game 2, but I was good.
Round 7 [1-2] Affinity. I LOVEEE this match-up. I was gassed at this point. Thinking about laundry and completing my weekly expense spreadsheet (STILL not done). If I had known I was going to get Affinity to stay alive for the top 32. I would have gotten a coffee and a snack and some sunshine to charge up. But instead I hung out with the Turns guy and chit chatted about wanting to peace out and damn I paid for it. We get started and I keep a walker hand. He has an early jump with etched champions and plating, I'm hit. Game 2 early Chalice, I had a sweeper in hand for a while. Wiped he board and Koth'd him. Game 3. Man I wanted this so bad. I was in position doing well. Chandra out, Chalice on 1 out. He gets down Rav and Spell skite. I have Chandra, Chandra, Chandra, PnK in hand with mana. I use a Chandra to kill Rav, he puts the counters on Skite making it 2/6 then he plays Aether Grid next turn, finishes Chandra. I play another chandra and tick up looking for action, nothing. Next turn I drop PnK. The plan is to minus chandra on spellskite and kill it with a thrown thopter token.
IDK HOW he saw this line. Earlier in the match he cast Wear//Tear using only the WEAR side targeting my Chalice on 2. I was like Tf?!! I announce the Chalice trigger [I've learned guys see!!!] and say put that ***** in the yard. He says its CMC is 3. I say in hand or the GY sure, but not on the stack. Judge! Ruling goes to me.
I'm like okay I'm winning this *****. On his turn he drops artifact 4 and grids down both my Thopters instead of hitting Chandra or PnK. Then he attacks Chandra. So do I chump with PnK or Let Chandra die and keep PnK around? I Chumped so I could get another card draw, I had 7 lands and was at 4 life. I guess retrospectively I was screwed. I needed him to punt on his turn for me to get the turn back with PnK, a Thopter and Chandra > 3. To kill the 2/6 Spellsktie.
That's how it died fellas. I had a BLAST. Enjoyed myself, the deck and the event. The deck felt great. I wish I had more reps as usual, but it did feel good. Scabs would have been nice and I'm on the fence about Bloon Sun > Magus. I want the 5th moon I know that, but I don't now which of these two is better. I did have a point where playing Blood Sun was my only option and it caused me to come undone behind a bridge at 2 cards in hand - so its said. The dragons look cool. I got a Sarkhan in one of my winning packs from pre-release. I'm eyeing a Modern PPTQ/IQ on Saturday/Sunday at TableTop Games in Newington, CT for my next big compete. Its August 11th and 12th for those in the area.
I wish I could turn that 4-3 into a 5-2 for you, Dev. Oh, I can!
Recall Round 4, game 2. KCI
You wrote:
He was setting up bust the EE to hit the Chalices AND grab some tokens. I had lethal easily. I think he was at like 7, so attacking Rabs, Eidolon and tokens was more than enough. OVER EXTENDED activated a freakin' mountain and kept Eidolon back - he bust the EE and hit my Mountain along with the chalices and goblins
Engineered Explosives can not kill land. Your mountain lived. So did you. Thusly, 5-2. Well done.
Round 1 mono green elves 2-0
Went as expected abrade a couple dorks and ezuri board wipe and drop bridge and chalice on 1 then on 2 ult chandra he had no answer for bridge.
Round 2 jund 1-2
Turn 1 blood moon locked him out long enough to find a rabble and kill him.
game 2 he has the hand hate and I got stuck on 2 lands blood braid into a second 7/8 goyf ended it quick
Game 3 kept a hand with no hate after a mull to 6 dropped a turn 2 rabble that got decayed then a turn 3 hazoret that got saxed to lili -2 found a moon but lili was already for ult he split lands and moon it was down hill from there
Round 3 mono white eldrazi and taxes 2-1
Game 1 I got stuck on 2 lands thought knot and Thalia killed me quick. Game 2 he couldn't deal with all the board wipes and stormbreath. Game 3 was super grindy turn 2 blood moon locked him on a single white mana for 5 turns and double bridge stopped the assault he managed to reset chandra but he ran out of answers and the emblem got there.
Round 4 burn 2-0
Game 1 turn 1 chalice on 1 blood moon turn 2 abrade his goblin guide and killed him with rabble. He complained about my deck being un fun and said chalice should be banned. Game 2 I kept a hand with no hate on a mull to 6 got out a turn 2 rabble and a turn 3 hazoret and just raced him he was at 14 I was at 9 and I got there he was salty but I did't use any of those stupid hate cards he didn't like. I know what its like being locked out its not fum but it keeps other people honest.
Overall the deck preformed good I'm glad I stuck with it and this was my first 1st place at fnm thanks for all the feedback and help with my list and sideboarding help I'm still working on finding the 4 eidolon for the side. I'll be sticking with this for a while
So I finished up 4-2, 16th out of 55. Everything was feeling really good, and I was a little disheartened going in because I was getting ROUGHED UP on MTGO. I knew a little about the meta going in, so I made some last minute changes and hit the tables. I'll try to keep the tourny report a little more brief b/c it was nearly two weeks ago and details escape me.
I read, I watch - I stay abreast with the Pyro Prison community. All the dragon talk is cool - the scab clans running wild. I guess I'm one of the slow adopters in the group. I bought in to the Pyro Prisno strategy for the turn 1 I ruined your mana HAHAHHA!. Over time we evolved away from the "hah I win! Gotcha with Blood Moon" sort of deck to more of a mid range version of Pyro Prison using Blood Moon as disruption > WinCon. That's cool and all. The dragons are cool, but IDK if I pilot this deck that way personally. I like early lock, early pressure... pressure... pressure - tap out. And I think that's some of what Scab brings to the team, but I haven't tested it to be honest(will today though for sure). That's why my lists always have Koth - the early 4 bang or Emblem - YES. Looking back on like page 50 at some lists, cats had Maggie as a two of. Ultimately, I think 4 Blood Moons is too low for me. I'll take a Blood Sun in one of my flex spots. One other topic I wanted to touch on while I has at it was - the feeling of broken mana. I LOVE having some sort of broken mana - I'm sure we all do - but I'm really starting to appreciate its big contribution to "the nuts". I hate playing fair magic. Turn 1 Keldon go... Turn 2 Chalice on 1 or Eidolon or Abrade your thing, Turn 3 Rabble or Moon. That's cool. But it doesn't feel really right. Cheating on mana always feels right. I'm not going up to 31 manas yet, but I think about it often.
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Blood Moon
Added Spice (1)
1 Blood Sun
Mana (21)
3 Gemstone Caverns
3 Ramunap Ruins
1 Scavenger Grounds
7 Mountain
7 Snow-covered Mountain
Acceleration (9)
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Desperate Ritual
1 Pyretic Ritual
4 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Koth of the Hammer
Beaters (7)
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
1 Goblin Chainwhirler
1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Walking Ballista
Removal (5)
1 Sweltering Suns
1 Slagstorm
3 Abrade
1 Abrade
2 Anger of the Gods
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
1 Hazoret the Fervent
1 Defense Grid
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Spellskite
1 Torpor Orb
1 Tormod's Crypt
I took Ray's advice. A while back he said something about 3 Abrades and 1 Shattering Spree being incorrect. I liked that whole post and to me it seemed to say that the deck is a 75 and you're basically splitting your position in a noncommittal sort of way because ultimately, YOU the deck tweaker/pilot are confused about your own strategy with the deck. I was running 3 Abrade main and 1 spree in the board when I read that. Then I had to get empty handed for bridge on (MTGO) but the only target for my Spree was my own bridge so TLDR on that is I was effed. The point of 2 and 2 or 4 and 0 not 3 and 1 was real for me, so I made that change. Relic is too slow IMO... I've tried and tried to make you work but we're through for now. I love Spyglass. I know most are off of it, but I love getting the hand info and being able to shut off a PW or EE. Hold up let's talk about this too. Everyone's been saying EE has been killing us in the KCI match-up. I was playing it against a friend and he was convinced that for him it goes from being a bad match-up to an awful match-up after boarding. Maybe he's a bad pilot, but things were going well for me. Abrade your thing, clear your yard for free, Spyglass your EE. I'll end my rant with a reflection on the draw trigger I announced when I played Blood Sun. I was against MarduP and we were locked up, he taps out for blowing up some of my lock pieces and had just dropped a young P so the army was hefty. I top deck... Blood Sun.. great, played it, drew, slag, cleared the board - opponent was empty handed and I was as well. It felt really good to get that gas in the game. I've never ran a tormenting voice, but its on my mind. My opponent then top decked reveler, played his hand, reveler, played his hand, reveler, played his hand... it was tough. So it started there.
Round 1 Mardu Pyromancer 0-2
He just had the answers. I felt in the zone too. I was crushing with Rabs and building an army when need be. Life was good. But he'd ruin it, then reveler it seemed every time.
Round 2 B/G Grey Merchant style 2-1
First game he got me down to 4 with the usual Geralf's, Aetherborn, Obliterator.. but couldn't find Gary the ass model. I chandra'd him down. Game 2 he Gary'd me hard and I couldn't recover. Game 3 Torpor orb Chalice on 1 and 2 locked up the defenses. Spyglassed the Lilly he played when we were locked under a bridge. Thopter Tokened him all the way down.
Round 3 Sultai Walkers 1-2
Cool deck... Lotta answers. Finks maindeck. Jace, Nissa Steward of Elements, Lilly. It was tough. Game 1 she stole my pieces on first two turns. Then Jace'd me FTW. Game 2 I chalice on 1 and just rocked from there. Game 3 I got beat in the usual manner. I think that in 3 she got to swing with Nissa Ultimate like twice.
Round 4 Jund [GET IN THE COFFIN!!!] 2-0
Crushed em'. Never felt better. Game 1 early Moon shut him down. Game 2 Thopter tokens for the win. I love loking at a life sheet with my notes and there's all these two damages but never a 5... Thopters in the House
Round 5 Joe Horton (great local player - Russ knows him from the SCG) Jeskai(?) 2-0
This dude is like 16 and is in the top 50 or 100 SCG point earners. GRINDER to the bone. Respectful young adult too. Sorry I blood mooned him turn 1 both games. He goes Collonade Go and I just felt so bad - but today.... the moon shall rise.
Round 6 Affinity 2-0
I love this match-up. I know a lot of folks on here have talked about it being a tough match-up, but I've never really had that vibe. What's that phrase? You gonna learn today! Well even though I bagged it up in a 2-0 fashion, I learned. Game 1 regular blow outs - he dumps his hand. I patiently wait for him to dump more, then I sweep it up. Deploy troops - secure victory. Second game I get some chalices down early. He gets a Rav down. He gets a worship down... he gets a... YUP... I learned today.... an Etched Champion down. His board is a whole lotta useless artifacts, like a plating that is spyglassed etc and worship and etched champion. I'm like wtf. Wait Chandra's emblem is colorless right? And it stacks? JUDGE! Verified. So we battle on. I realize early in the seige that I can only plus 1 Chandra for mana or I might deck myself. I have Chalices on everything 0-3. PnK get him down in life. He sacs everything to Rav and then onto Etched Chapmion - its a 16/16 - are you serious - yes. I get the double emblems, save up two spells and blow out the champion and take out his life. Awesome game.
So its been cool catching up, and staying up. New faces are cool. I love the random user that drops in, states some randomly relevant complex interaction and then vanishes. I have other decks, I play other decks but this is the only one that matters lol. Hope everyone's doing well and I hope to be more frequent.
To the relief of some, I have come to my senses on the 'removal' suite in my latest deck. Originally, it had none. Zero. This thin mountain air and exuberance about a new planeswalker & avaricious dragon must have gotten to me. Alrighty, so moving beyond the 1st Draft, we're ready for 2.0.
I ran it today in the MTGO Modern Classic. 122 players. I went 5-2. Got 20th place. Good enough for this mountain man. I'm in. Dragons, baby. Dragons.
So, for the dragon connoisseurs in this thread, that must be a victory. And, yet, I gotta believe my deck name is a prickly pear. Trash Dragons. Can't help myself - it makes me chuckle every time I say it. And, it is another apt nickname - garbage tossers. As for improvements, I've tempered my whole 'Combo Pyro Prison' motif into a more sensible shell. Targeted/Sweeper removal is back, and both Sarkhan and his bestest dragon pal get my stamp of approval. Get yourself down to the local livery, and buy a few dragons. They're avaricious!
I'm not much for tourney reports, but here's the rundown.
Round 1: Ad Nauseam - win
Round 2: UWB Spirits - win
Round 3: Grixis Control - loss
Round 4: BBE Jund - win
Round 5: Elves - loss
Round 6: Hatebears - win
Round 7: Bring to Light - win
And, here's the decklist:
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Blood Moon
Creatures (6)
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
2 Avaricious Dragon
Planeswalkers (6)
3 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Sarkhan, Fireblood
1 Koth of the Hammer
Mana Accelerators (10)
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Desperate Ritual
2 Pyretic Ritual
1 Faithless Looting
1 Collective Defiance
Removal (3)
2 Sweltering Suns
1 Abrade
Lands (21)
16 Mountains
3 Gemstone Caverns
2 Ramunap Ruins
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
3 Scab-Clan Berserker
2 Anger of the Gods
1 Kozilek's Return
1 Damping Matrix
1 Damping Sphere
1 Torpor Orb
1 Shattering Spree
1 Dire Fleet Daredevil
We're always looking to get Chalice of the Void out on 1 as soon as possible so that would stop us being able to cast Martyr of Ashes. If we try to play Martyr first, it'll likely eat removal before our opponent plays out into the board (our first creature normally does and a smart player won't play into a wipe they know about).
We have a lot of ramp spells (all the rituals and spirit guides) which means we go empty handed very fast, which is intentional for Ensnaring Bridge. That leaves few or no cards in hand to reveal.
We have a lot of non-flying creatures like Goblin Rabblemaster and Eidolon of the Great Revel so you'd have to run a flying only creature base so you're not hurting yourself along with hurting your opponent.
It's a decent card but a little too narrow and would take some major reworking of the deck to take proper advantage of it.
I think a better card with a similar goal is Bonfire of the Damned. Not only do you get to wipe the other players board, but it doesn't care if the creatures are flying, doesn't hit our creatures and deals damage to the player. You also don't have to change anything about our deck since it doesn't conflict with anything in it. It's really all upside with that card.
I was really just mentioning it as a better spicey alternative to Martyr of Ashes
Spirits
Nope, but I am playing in Philly this coming weekend! Will anyone be there? I asked a few days ago and no one responded, so I assume that there will be nobody there from this forum. I'm in the Lagacy seat playing Pyro Prison.
Going to be a madman and sideboard a shivan ? Haha
For legacy, I'm playing the list that won GP Birmingham, minus two Karn, plus two xhandra.
For modern, I'm playing a list very similar to my winning list from last year. Basically I'm taking out two magus for two chainwhirler and using three ramunap ruins over three mountains. Otherwise, it'll probably be the same list. Not sure if I want a damping sphere of more eidolona in the board. I'll try to post a list tomorrow for oyy.
Side note, got another easy 4-1 tonight in legacy. Man, this deck is oppressive in that format.
4 city of traitors
4 ancient tombs
11 mountain
4 bloodmoon
4 chalice of the void
4 ensnaring bridge
4 rabblemaster
4 chrome mix
4 simian spirit guide
4 magus of the moon
4 Chandra TOD( some split 2 Chandra 2 karn SoU)
4 fiery confluence
1 hazoret
2 pia and kiran nalaar
2 trinisphere
I couldn't help it. I woke up for the gym on Sunday and said nah screw it, I'm going to hit the SCG Modern Classic in Worcester instead. I was happy with the IQ results and thought whatever, I'll just go to play Magic. I left early and got there with intentions of reworking the board a little, and hopefully scoring some Scab-clans in lieu of my lack of preparation. No luck on the Scabs, but I was locked in at 8:30a finishing the deck list sheet and thinking about some last minute sideboard changes.
Folks have been apt to say the Burn match-up is better than a coin flip. I haven't really felt that way and, looking back, I really didn't have a plan. I was AFRAID to bring in Eidolon in that match-up. My logic was, "I don't want to take any more or any unnecessary damage - so no." What do I do with Bridges? Well they stop Burn's ground creatures - Oh do they now? Not really, Swifty is going to get under and still get pumped if need be, Lava sits at home, Eidolon sits at home and GG will ding me for 6 before I get low enough for Bridge to be effective, AND if I'm empty handed at that point - I'm corned. So I want some Dragon's claws... yeah that'll solve my problems. Then I was looking at my cards and shiz thinking, nah that's weak. Hope that a claw drags the game out long enough for me to get lethal damage through? IDK. That doesn't sound or feel like a winning strategy. They'll blow it up and then what's the strategy? I think some of the C-Suite posters have noted that Burn players can't do math with additional Eidolon damage, just like Shadow players. So fine - I'll bring in 3 Eidolons because I can easily make space with the whole don't-need-a-Bridge realization. I bring in Skite of course and I bring in 1 Abrade. I can comfortably cut the Blood Sun and 4 Bridges. So the plan for burn is +3 Eidolon +1 Skite +1 Abrade... -4 Bridge -1 BSun. Mull for Chalice lol. Not really, but c'mon bro, you really should take a healthy amount of looks at scoring a CotV.
I noticed that when I won, in general throughout the tournament, I mulliganed aggressively. One of the main reasons I'm going to post a 4-3 result was to open discussion on some of the boarding decisions I made. My list is reposted for ease.
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Blood Moon
Added Spice (1)
1 Blood Sun
Mana (21)
3 Gemstone Caverns
3 Ramunap Ruins
1 Scavenger Grounds
7 Mountain
7 Snow-covered Mountain
Acceleration (9)
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Desperate Ritual
1 Pyretic Ritual
4 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Koth of the Hammer
Beaters (7)
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
1 Goblin Chainwhirler
1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Walking Ballista
Removal (5)
1 Sweltering Suns
1 Slagstorm
3 Abrade
1 Abrade
2 Anger of the Gods
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
1 Hazoret the Fervent
1 Defense Grid
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Spellskite
1 Torpor Orb
1 Tormod's Crypt
Round 1 & 2 Naya Burn [4-0]. It was too easy. Match 1 Game 1 I had two chalices in the opener and rushed one out on the Draw after he suspended a Riftie. Got Chalice on 2 down on T3 at 11 life. I said I think you have 9 damage remaining in your deck that you can cast - he scooped. Game 2 same sort of story. Early Chalice on 1, then he went Eidolon - I go Abrade. He goes Eidolon - Abrade. Again! Eidolon - I have the 3rd Abrade and a fat mana pool. I play Rabble then... Eidolon? lol it was so fun. Match 2 was basically a similar break down, so I'll save time and space.
Burn Board Plan was -1 Blood Sun -4 Brides // +1 Abrade +3 Eidolon +1 Skite
Round 3 [0-2] D'Shad... I got got in the usual D'shad way. I mulled to 5 Game 1 on the play with Ritual to Moon on T2. He Thoughtseized it and signaled D'Shad early. He got Zombie Fish down, Stubby D'd my Bridge cast. GGs. Game 2 he knew now, so the K-Commands were in hand. Thoughtseized early then he had me beat with a K-Command, Shad, TBR. GGs
D'Shad Plan was -1 Slag, -1 Suns, -3 Abrade, -2 Ritual, -1 WalkingB // +4 Eidolon, +1 Skite, +1 Tormod's Crypt, +1 Haz, +1 D-grid
Round 4 [1-2] KCI... You gone learn toDAY. And I did. I had TWO Spyglasses in the board to prepare for this EE. Just like a Storm EE, I know there's going to be an EE here that undoes my world if I lose. If I win, I will have shut it off. So w/e. I knew off the rip he was on KCI when I saw a Buried Ruin [or maybe Pyro Prison - TeeHee!]. I had a Walker hand. Koth, Chandra, Rituals, Lands. I mean what do you think happen? I got up to the walkers early - almost Koth Emblemed and he went off. He explained the combo, which I studied up on before the tournament so I got it, but I made sure he knew how to stack the triggers and what a mana ability was before I bellied-up.
KCI Plan -4 Bridges, -1 PnK, -1 WalkingB, -2 Chandra, -1 Sweltering Suns, -1 Ritual // +4 Eidolon, +1 Skite, +1 Tormod's Crypt, +2 Spyglass, +1 Haz, +1 Abrade.
The winning plan was in full effect. Eidolon, Rabble, Eidolon. He fought hard but I love how Russ has framed the Eidolon impact. I started counting how many spells he could cast and quickly saw the path to closing the game a lot easier and clearer. Of note I punted HARD in this game, and despite that still got there. I had Rabble working and he had EE on 0 to answer the Chalice I had dropped at the beginning of game 2. Which I'd love to get feedback on. Game 2, one chalice in opening 7 and a keepable hand, do you drop it on 0 if you're on the play? I did. It worked well. Sorry back to the PUNT. He had his EE and I was working with Rabs. He was setting up bust the EE to hit the Chalices AND grab some tokens. I had lethal easily. I think he was at like 7, so attacking Rabs, Eidolon and tokens was more than enough. OVER EXTENDED activated a freakin' mountain and kept Eidolon back - he bust the EE and hit my Mountain along with the chalices and goblins. I had him at 5 after the attack so he had to answer Eidolon and couldn't, but I could have lost because of that. Game 3 I kept Abrade, Scavenger Grounds and some lands and maybe a ritual or two. Awful keep. I didn't wanna mull into no lands though, then go down to 5. I drew Eidolon... YES... drew next turn.. EIDLON YES!!!. He goes bolt, nautre's claim, stirrings. Next turn KCI - I abrade it, buried ruins brings it back, he goes off.
Scab-clans were needed here. I would have gone down more Chandra's and Rituals if I had Scab Clans. I was going to go down a Spyglass and the Defense Grid to fit two Scabs.
Round 5 [2-1] Jeskai Control. Sitting at 2-2 meh. We were doing 9 rounds with about 240 people I think. Round 1 Blood Moon, Chalice on 1 early. I was reminded of the games details because I ended at 17 life, 3 from the bolt in response to Chalice on 1. And he was at 17 too lol. Game 2 he got me. T-Pain and J-Money got to working and I was screwed. He actually T-pain'ed into a T-Pain at one point in the game. THREE total I saw that game. One cool thing that happened. He tucked Chandra with T-Pain then I followed up with Chainwhirler! Got him! It felt real good. He ulted Jace and I was empty handed. Game 3 was Rabbles on Rabbles. He had to fetch and shock to take damage and I kept pressure on with Rabs for 3 turns, that netted me 3 tokens that continued to annoy him. I had a defense grid down this game that kept him from tapping down my crew.
Jeskai plan -4 Bridge, -1 Walking Ball, -1 Suns, -1 Slag, -1 Abrade // +4 Eidolon, +1 Haz, +1 Defense Grid, +1 Spyglass, +1 Skite - I think I kept an Abrade in because I thought he might EE and I wanted to be able to hit Snap potentially. Looking back I probably should have dumped the Abrades and kept in WalkingB.
Round 6 [2-0] Mono Blue (well not really but it was in principle) 2-0. I Blood Mooned him for the victory Round 1. I swear! He had some Flooded Strands, and some Hallowed Fountain? u/w shock. Then he had the Tolaria West. He didn't get double blue until I had already began crushing with Koth. Bang x5 looking at my life pad notes, I took him down with the Hammer, and the Hammer alone. Then game 2 I had the pressure suite of Eidolon, Koth, Rabs doing work. Another D-Grid shutting off Cryptic this time around.
Turn Plan -4 Bridge, -3 Chalice, -1 WalkingB, -1 Suns, -1 Slag // +4 Eidolon, +1 Defense Grid, +1 Haz, +1 Skite, +1 Tormod's Crypt, +1 Cage, +1 Spyglass (showed Jace Game 1). I know... go down the BLOOD MOONS. For what though? Angers? Torpor Orb? Abrade? They won me game 1. So let's see. They did nothing game 2, but I was good.
Round 7 [1-2] Affinity. I LOVEEE this match-up. I was gassed at this point. Thinking about laundry and completing my weekly expense spreadsheet (STILL not done). If I had known I was going to get Affinity to stay alive for the top 32. I would have gotten a coffee and a snack and some sunshine to charge up. But instead I hung out with the Turns guy and chit chatted about wanting to peace out and damn I paid for it. We get started and I keep a walker hand. He has an early jump with etched champions and plating, I'm hit. Game 2 early Chalice, I had a sweeper in hand for a while. Wiped he board and Koth'd him. Game 3. Man I wanted this so bad. I was in position doing well. Chandra out, Chalice on 1 out. He gets down Rav and Spell skite. I have Chandra, Chandra, Chandra, PnK in hand with mana. I use a Chandra to kill Rav, he puts the counters on Skite making it 2/6 then he plays Aether Grid next turn, finishes Chandra. I play another chandra and tick up looking for action, nothing. Next turn I drop PnK. The plan is to minus chandra on spellskite and kill it with a thrown thopter token.
IDK HOW he saw this line. Earlier in the match he cast Wear//Tear using only the WEAR side targeting my Chalice on 2. I was like Tf?!! I announce the Chalice trigger [I've learned guys see!!!] and say put that ***** in the yard. He says its CMC is 3. I say in hand or the GY sure, but not on the stack. Judge! Ruling goes to me.
I'm like okay I'm winning this *****. On his turn he drops artifact 4 and grids down both my Thopters instead of hitting Chandra or PnK. Then he attacks Chandra. So do I chump with PnK or Let Chandra die and keep PnK around? I Chumped so I could get another card draw, I had 7 lands and was at 4 life. I guess retrospectively I was screwed. I needed him to punt on his turn for me to get the turn back with PnK, a Thopter and Chandra > 3. To kill the 2/6 Spellsktie.
Affinity Plan -4 Rabs, -2 Ritual ?? +2 Anger, +2 SpyGlass, +1 Abrade, +1 Skite
That's how it died fellas. I had a BLAST. Enjoyed myself, the deck and the event. The deck felt great. I wish I had more reps as usual, but it did feel good. Scabs would have been nice and I'm on the fence about Bloon Sun > Magus. I want the 5th moon I know that, but I don't now which of these two is better. I did have a point where playing Blood Sun was my only option and it caused me to come undone behind a bridge at 2 cards in hand - so its said. The dragons look cool. I got a Sarkhan in one of my winning packs from pre-release. I'm eyeing a Modern PPTQ/IQ on Saturday/Sunday at TableTop Games in Newington, CT for my next big compete. Its August 11th and 12th for those in the area.
Thanks for reading.
Recall Round 4, game 2. KCI
You wrote:
Engineered Explosives can not kill land. Your mountain lived. So did you. Thusly, 5-2. Well done.