Good point about Abrade, I haven't ran Matrix since I made the switch, so maybe I'll see how it goes. Question; you mentioned Chalice on 1 vs. Eldrazi Tron, do you keep them in? I side mine out in that matchup.
Watch my games. We'll start calling them "Fluffy Hands" which they are. Many occasions I get 1 landers, and mull to oblivion. =)
Hey that's my favorite game too! I thought it was just me until i saw your first stream. I'll definitely be watching the new one after work, and I'll comment if Russ missed anything.. but I doubt it haha.
Fluffywolf, where is the link for the games? My popcorn is at the ready, dude! --- Actually, I still have to finish your first streaming post up.
Our God: Hazoret the Fervent - When do we call upon our liege? Seems like there is some disagreement: Control/Combo/Aggro. My answer? Never Look, we are not a deck that can afford to have a card in our opening hand that should not be there. The Haz? Uh-Uh! Here's the skinny and the history of this lady: She is our first God, and as such, puppy love followed. But, consider the application. As a 2-point grinder of damage, that seems anemic. As a 5 powered attacker/blocker, it comes with a lot of conditions - again, the opening hand conundrum.
Like any card, there are moments of success that click with brilliance remembered long after the more frequent clunker occasions. But, let's get real. If it's a reliable roll-out of enhanced attack? Go with the suite I list below. If it's an answer to Grixis Death's Shadow then Ratchet Bomb is also effective with way more applications (notably Burn creatures).
Our esteemed lady deity has dropped from Main Deck to Sideboard to Tradebox, for this fella. Primary reason: ramp. Like Seth Mansfield remarked in his recent TCGplayer article showcasing our deck (( YES! We got the spotlight on 2 articles published on Friday. Check this one out: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=14354 )) Seth wrote: "One nice thing about this deck is it consistently can play out all its cards within the first few turns of the game." You can't 'go wide' with such a narrow tool. So, I've enhanced my aggro transition by making it lower to the ground. This speaks to FluffyWolf's chat about making the deck either more aggressive or less vulnerable to poor deck draws.
Self-Contradiction as a Narrowed Path to Victory
As I recently wrote in an earlier, grumpy post where I regrettably play bully to the G/W lifegaining players of the Magic world - winning via contradiction at the cost of attrition: (3) Eidolon of the Great Revel and (1)Phyrexian Metamorph which enhances both the attack [rabble rabble] and the defense [raise the bridge!]. Rather than explaining more of the contradictory constructions, I trust that folks can understand the concepts of punches that will whiff or hit with tiger uppercut force, ala a sideboard deck such as we are.
Speaking of - Damping Matrix! It's an extraordinarily nuanced card. Self-defeating? No. Self-limiting? Definitely. But, that's our discipline, mountainfolk. I don't think I could do a shorthand explanation of the benefits of this card - that I haven't already posited.
As for talk on Pithing Needle and Ghirapur Aether Grid, sure they do present problems. But, cheekily spoken, I don't run 'answer' cards in hopes that my opponent plays the correct corresponding 'problem' card. With Aether Grid, I don't have an easy answer beyond statistical improbability within a given tournament. With Pithing Needle, when mentioned in an Eldrazi Tron shell, remember they have to A) draw it [while I'm bearing down on them with a faster transition creature package) and B) dodge my Abrades if they ever even draw it.
Old School Tech
Finally, for Stickballruss: you mentioned some fondness for Dragon Hatchling. If it's firebreathing you're after, consider this. Back in January during a Starcitygames IQ -- I came in 2nd Place -- I ran a Pia Nalaar alongside a Walking Ballista. Although I still prefer to play The Parents, perhaps there's some interest in a lonely single mother for our man, Russ? <<for the record, I don't support her inclusion - just a thought, but for a 3CMC option, it's certainly better than Hammer of Bogarden>>
... However, I think Russ may have found the answer in his recent run on MTGO.. correct me if I'm wrong, Russ-
1. Start with good cards.
2. Draw good cards.
3. Play good cards.
4. Win all of the games.
Try this, Fluff! Keep crushin it, Russ.
Watch my games. We'll start calling them "Fluffy Hands" which they are. Many occasions I get 1 landers, and mull to oblivion. =)
My God, your opening hands were BRUTAL in that last league, yet despite that,.I honestly think you could have gone 4-1 instead if 2-3. Fluffy Hands....that's totally sticking. If I ever figure out how to stream, I'm gonna use that (hopefully not as often as you, lol).
Finally finished my league. Went 4-1. Jumped back in and immediately got crushed by skred red. Well, not crushed, but game one was a disaster. Kept a blood moon hand. Game two, spyglass on KOTH, chalice in one was good enough. Game three, no chalice, and I play three....yes three rabblemasters on curve...turn two, three, and four. They get bolt, skred, bolt. Don't even get a token...brutal, then he plays a rabblemaster of his own. I abrwde it then he plays another and that one was enough. 5 rabblemasters cast in 8 turns in game three, I love magicc.
Last match was BG tron. Usually recipe of blood moon plus threat gets the job done.
Record over last 5 competitive leagues: 23-2. Losses to shred red and got mana screwed vs Merfolk.
I agree that Chalice of the Void comes out against Eldrazi Tron. Note on Damping Matrix and conflicting cards in general: it's o.k. to run cards that may be dead in round 2/3 IF either of those when being cast first will create a big enough splash. A prime example is bringing in Grafdigger's Cage alongside a set of Chalice of the Void.
So, yeah, against Affinity, - like Russ said - keep in the Walking Ballista alongside the Damping Matrix. Keep in Pia and Kiran Nalaar too. Dead cards do not undo a deck. Just consider that Jund doesn't fall apart against a creatureless deck because they're holding a fatal push in hand without a target to be seen. Not all decks ramp out as majestically with clock-like precision as Soul Sisters.
Update: I keep petitioning MTGsalvation to elevate us out of 'deck creation', but no word back yet.
That's alright. The less people playing this deck, the better it is for us. It's not like you didn't tell the world where we are on 4 different websites.
That's alright. The less people playing this deck, the better it is for us. It's not like you didn't tell the world where we are on 4 different websites.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Agreed! Not looking forward to the mirror! Merry Christmas Mountainfolk!!!
@Stickballruss - Congrats man! Should be great to see what they write about.
Also... I'm exporting my stream to youtube as I believe that is slightly more user friendly for watching. Should be up 'soon' whenever the export from Twitch to Youtube completes. Didn't fair so well, but I think that is the beginning of the path to success.... That being said I have it finally on stream what MY Mulligans look like... Stickballruss, you tell me if yours are like it when you get the chance to watch. Will edit with link when it finishes.
Just realized this is literally the only place my username is not the same. It is "FluffyWolf2" across just about everything. https://www.twitch.tv/fluffywolf2 < that is where the twitch VODs are, and then youtube I think is the same.
R/W
Weakness:
worse mana. A lot worse. You want to have RR on turn 3 for anger and WW on turn 4 for wrath. You also have to play 10 basic plains to play around your own blood moon.
Slower on locks. Without the rituals, sometimes your blood moon is too slow to even matter.
No bridge means certain match-up like deathshadow, humans, boggles and breach decks are worse.
Strength:
Stronger sideboard. From RIP to Stony to Leyline, r/w Has some of the best sideboard cards and a lot more free wins post board.
A lot less do nothing hands. When you have 9 rituals for fast mana in pyroprison sometimes you get flooded and lose.
I been playing this deck recently on competitive mtgo 5 man leagues. Basically running the scg list -1 Pia and +1 koth.
Does rabblemaster main deck feel a bit out of place? It seems like a aggro card in a fairly control/lock shell.
There are a few games where I wasn't sure if I'm supposed to turn 1 out a rabblemaster against a unknown opp. I lost a game 1 against death and taxes where I got out turn 1 blind rabblemaster and they went inspector into thalia which basically stopped my rabble master and killed me.
Is there a reason not to put the rabblemasters in the board and focus on board control/chalice/blood moon/bridge lock game 1. Then the matchups where bridge and sweepers isnt very good we bring in the rabble+eidolon aggro package.
Also, our clock is MUCH faster than RW prison. The biggest difference is that we can transform into a full blown aggro deck whereas RW prison is just that....prison. there's no aggro plan. Either you lock them out or you don't. We're playing rabblemaster, eidolin, and hazoret as threats that can close the game quick vs decks that you just can't control. Also, we play rituals, so turn one shannigans happen more often. RW prison usually just plays spirit guide, so their blood moons come down on turn two where we can jam one turn one.
RW prison does have the best sideboard in the game, hands down, however that's not enough. All of the top tier decks know what their kryptonite is and they all have a plan to win when it shows up.
Also, RW prison is the only deck I've taken to an fnm and went 0-4. Been playing a LONG time and that's only happened once and I was playing RW prison, so there's that.
I been playing this deck recently on competitive mtgo 5 man leagues. Basically running the scg list -1 Pia and +1 koth.
Does rabblemaster main deck feel a bit out of place? It seems like a aggro card in a fairly control/lock shell.
There are a few games where I wasn't sure if I'm supposed to turn 1 out a rabblemaster against a unknown opp. I lost a game 1 against death and taxes where I got out turn 1 blind rabblemaster and they went inspector into thalia which basically stopped my rabble master and killed me.
Is there a reason not to put the rabblemasters in the board and focus on board control/chalice/blood moon/bridge lock game 1. Then the matchups where bridge and sweepers isnt very good we bring in the rabble+eidolon aggro package.
I believe you have points here, and when asked on my stream lately about the deck, I call Pyro Prison the best Pivot Lock Deck. I believe Lantern Control and other lock decks perform their locks well, but the essence of our deck is it can Pivot, but in the right pilot hands you can also adjust your opponents thinking based on what you are able to reveal game one.
The deck is what I like to also call "All In" and the gameplan is certainly all in when you're dumping your hand for turn 1 options, especially if it is the Aggro option blindly.
What I would recommend is watching the MTGO Metagame, and consider the options when building the deck. If anything give it a shot at taking Rabblemaster out and providing a different game plan, perhaps Hazoret comes back in, and maybe we play in Spyglass main and move Rabble to the sideboard. I'd like to know how your leagues go and how they are fairing with the pivot nature of the deck.
For the others following along with my adventures into failing at piloting this deck, I got one more out there for you guys before my Holiday week goes crazy. I'll link all three here for those who have not been following then likely will just reference the Twitch or Youtube channel in the future if I want to call out certain games:
VODs remain on Twitch for I believe 30 days. That is why I'm uploading to Youtube. Also if anyone has a suggestion on some cards I'd be willing to look at them and consider running them.
I been playing this deck recently on competitive mtgo 5 man leagues. Basically running the scg list -1 Pia and +1 koth.
Does rabblemaster main deck feel a bit out of place? It seems like a aggro card in a fairly control/lock shell.
There are a few games where I wasn't sure if I'm supposed to turn 1 out a rabblemaster against a unknown opp. I lost a game 1 against death and taxes where I got out turn 1 blind rabblemaster and they went inspector into thalia which basically stopped my rabble master and killed me.
Is there a reason not to put the rabblemasters in the board and focus on board control/chalice/blood moon/bridge lock game 1. Then the matchups where bridge and sweepers isnt very good we bring in the rabble+eidolon aggro package.
When you have to choose vs an unknown opponent to play a turn one rabblemaster. What usually happens is that rabblemaster will completely alter your opponents first few turns, enabling you to play out your other cards uncontested. Unfortunate that you played vs death And taxes. What if that was a UW Control or ad nausem opponent and your bridges Are useless? a Or grixis shadow or jund? Instead if thoughtseize first turn, they now have to fatal push. If they let rabblemaster stay around past their first turn and use a discard spell, they'll just lose to the rabblemaster. If they don't have a removal spell, they usually fetch a basic and not a dual, limiting them on mana. Either way, it's good.
I been playing this deck recently on competitive mtgo 5 man leagues. Basically running the scg list -1 Pia and +1 koth.
Does rabblemaster main deck feel a bit out of place? It seems like a aggro card in a fairly control/lock shell.
There are a few games where I wasn't sure if I'm supposed to turn 1 out a rabblemaster against a unknown opp. I lost a game 1 against death and taxes where I got out turn 1 blind rabblemaster and they went inspector into thalia which basically stopped my rabble master and killed me.
Is there a reason not to put the rabblemasters in the board and focus on board control/chalice/blood moon/bridge lock game 1. Then the matchups where bridge and sweepers isnt very good we bring in the rabble+eidolon aggro package.
When you have to choose vs an unknown opponent to play a turn one rabblemaster. What usually happens is that rabblemaster will completely alter your opponents first few turns, enabling you to play out your other cards uncontested. Unfortunate that you played vs death And taxes. What if that was a UW Control or ad nausem opponent and your bridges Are useless? a Or grixis shadow or jund? Instead if thoughtseize first turn, they now have to fatal push. If they let rabblemaster stay around past their first turn and use a discard spell, they'll just lose to the rabblemaster. If they don't have a removal spell, they usually fetch a basic and not a dual, limiting them on mana. Either way, it's good.
Do you blind turn 1 rabble if you have no blood moon or chalices? Im wondering if it always correct.
Im going to enter another competitive league to try out my plan. Basically -4 rabble, +1 anger, +1 spellskite, +2 magus of the moon.
The plan is to basically win off planeswalkers game 1 with more chance of getting a early blood moon effects.
Yes, absolutely blind turn one rabblemaster. I do that as often as I can and it usually works out well. Let me know how it goes ditching rabblemaster completely in the maindexk. I'm curious to see how it works out.
It's not new territory for Rabble to start on the bench, Ray top 8'd a 1K with only 1 maindeck Rabble, and esteemed 'folk Michael Villa split the top spot at an SCG IQ with all 4 coming out of the sideboard, so we know it works.. the question is:
Is it the better plan?
Well, I believe if you ask Ray and Mike, they'll tell you he belongs in the main, because in many matchups, he IS our lock piece. As Russ mentioned, your opponent can't play Magic until they address the goblin warden threatening severe corporal punishment. UW Control is a perfect example, where we need to be aggressive early before they can counter everything, along with plenty of other decks that make the all-in Blood Moon plan basically useless.. and you've traded what would've been your best card for a three mana 2/2.
If you're comfortable jamming a blind t1 Magus, not worried about it getting Bolted, why not a blind Rabble? If they can't kill Magus, at worst, it buys you time. At best, it locks your opponent out indefinitely, but we still have to end the game before they find a way out. If they can't kill Rabble, the game is over, and quick.
Watch my games. We'll start calling them "Fluffy Hands" which they are. Many occasions I get 1 landers, and mull to oblivion. =)
Hey that's my favorite game too! I thought it was just me until i saw your first stream. I'll definitely be watching the new one after work, and I'll comment if Russ missed anything.. but I doubt it haha.
Our God:
Hazoret the Fervent - When do we call upon our liege? Seems like there is some disagreement: Control/Combo/Aggro. My answer? Never Look, we are not a deck that can afford to have a card in our opening hand that should not be there. The Haz? Uh-Uh! Here's the skinny and the history of this lady: She is our first God, and as such, puppy love followed. But, consider the application. As a 2-point grinder of damage, that seems anemic. As a 5 powered attacker/blocker, it comes with a lot of conditions - again, the opening hand conundrum.
Like any card, there are moments of success that click with brilliance remembered long after the more frequent clunker occasions. But, let's get real. If it's a reliable roll-out of enhanced attack? Go with the suite I list below. If it's an answer to Grixis Death's Shadow then Ratchet Bomb is also effective with way more applications (notably Burn creatures).
Our esteemed lady deity has dropped from Main Deck to Sideboard to Tradebox, for this fella. Primary reason: ramp. Like Seth Mansfield remarked in his recent TCGplayer article showcasing our deck (( YES! We got the spotlight on 2 articles published on Friday. Check this one out: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=14354 )) Seth wrote: "One nice thing about this deck is it consistently can play out all its cards within the first few turns of the game." You can't 'go wide' with such a narrow tool. So, I've enhanced my aggro transition by making it lower to the ground. This speaks to FluffyWolf's chat about making the deck either more aggressive or less vulnerable to poor deck draws.
Self-Contradiction as a Narrowed Path to Victory
As I recently wrote in an earlier, grumpy post where I regrettably play bully to the G/W lifegaining players of the Magic world - winning via contradiction at the cost of attrition: (3) Eidolon of the Great Revel and (1)Phyrexian Metamorph which enhances both the attack [rabble rabble] and the defense [raise the bridge!]. Rather than explaining more of the contradictory constructions, I trust that folks can understand the concepts of punches that will whiff or hit with tiger uppercut force, ala a sideboard deck such as we are.
Speaking of - Damping Matrix! It's an extraordinarily nuanced card. Self-defeating? No. Self-limiting? Definitely. But, that's our discipline, mountainfolk. I don't think I could do a shorthand explanation of the benefits of this card - that I haven't already posited.
As for talk on Pithing Needle and Ghirapur Aether Grid, sure they do present problems. But, cheekily spoken, I don't run 'answer' cards in hopes that my opponent plays the correct corresponding 'problem' card. With Aether Grid, I don't have an easy answer beyond statistical improbability within a given tournament. With Pithing Needle, when mentioned in an Eldrazi Tron shell, remember they have to A) draw it [while I'm bearing down on them with a faster transition creature package) and B) dodge my Abrades if they ever even draw it.
Old School Tech
Finally, for Stickballruss: you mentioned some fondness for Dragon Hatchling. If it's firebreathing you're after, consider this. Back in January during a Starcitygames IQ -- I came in 2nd Place -- I ran a Pia Nalaar alongside a Walking Ballista. Although I still prefer to play The Parents, perhaps there's some interest in a lonely single mother for our man, Russ? <<for the record, I don't support her inclusion - just a thought, but for a 3CMC option, it's certainly better than Hammer of Bogarden>>
Creatures (8)
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
2 Magus of the Moon
1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Walking Ballista
Accelerators (11)
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Desperate Ritual
1 Pyretic Ritual
1 Tezzeret's Gambit
1 Tormenting Voice
4 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Koth of the Hammer
Power Locks (12)
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Blood Moon
Disruption (3)
2 Slagstorm
1 Abrade
Lands (21)
17 Mountains
3 Gemstone Caverns
1 Mutavault
3 Eidolon of the Great Revel
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Damping Matrix
1 Torpor Orb
1 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Spellskite
1 Abrade
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
My God, your opening hands were BRUTAL in that last league, yet despite that,.I honestly think you could have gone 4-1 instead if 2-3. Fluffy Hands....that's totally sticking. If I ever figure out how to stream, I'm gonna use that (hopefully not as often as you, lol).
Last match was BG tron. Usually recipe of blood moon plus threat gets the job done.
Record over last 5 competitive leagues: 23-2. Losses to shred red and got mana screwed vs Merfolk.
So, yeah, against Affinity, - like Russ said - keep in the Walking Ballista alongside the Damping Matrix. Keep in Pia and Kiran Nalaar too. Dead cards do not undo a deck. Just consider that Jund doesn't fall apart against a creatureless deck because they're holding a fatal push in hand without a target to be seen. Not all decks ramp out as majestically with clock-like precision as Soul Sisters.
Update: I keep petitioning MTGsalvation to elevate us out of 'deck creation', but no word back yet.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Agreed! Not looking forward to the mirror! Merry Christmas Mountainfolk!!!
Tooth & Nail........Grishoalbrand....Living Dominance....Tezzerator.........Vannifar Pod
My Decks that have been BANNED
DRS Jund | Kiki-Pod | Bloom Titan | Splinter Twin | KCI
Just realized this is literally the only place my username is not the same. It is "FluffyWolf2" across just about everything.
https://www.twitch.tv/fluffywolf2 < that is where the twitch VODs are, and then youtube I think is the same.
Apparently this is the fun URL for my youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQpSoc8sv-Q10Y0aaDyYxHg - I only re-upload what is on twitch since Twitch maintains 30 days of VODs I believe. Youtube is longer.
R/W
Weakness:
worse mana. A lot worse. You want to have RR on turn 3 for anger and WW on turn 4 for wrath. You also have to play 10 basic plains to play around your own blood moon.
Slower on locks. Without the rituals, sometimes your blood moon is too slow to even matter.
No bridge means certain match-up like deathshadow, humans, boggles and breach decks are worse.
Strength:
Stronger sideboard. From RIP to Stony to Leyline, r/w Has some of the best sideboard cards and a lot more free wins post board.
A lot less do nothing hands. When you have 9 rituals for fast mana in pyroprison sometimes you get flooded and lose.
I been playing this deck recently on competitive mtgo 5 man leagues. Basically running the scg list -1 Pia and +1 koth.
Does rabblemaster main deck feel a bit out of place? It seems like a aggro card in a fairly control/lock shell.
There are a few games where I wasn't sure if I'm supposed to turn 1 out a rabblemaster against a unknown opp. I lost a game 1 against death and taxes where I got out turn 1 blind rabblemaster and they went inspector into thalia which basically stopped my rabble master and killed me.
Is there a reason not to put the rabblemasters in the board and focus on board control/chalice/blood moon/bridge lock game 1. Then the matchups where bridge and sweepers isnt very good we bring in the rabble+eidolon aggro package.
RW prison does have the best sideboard in the game, hands down, however that's not enough. All of the top tier decks know what their kryptonite is and they all have a plan to win when it shows up.
Also, RW prison is the only deck I've taken to an fnm and went 0-4. Been playing a LONG time and that's only happened once and I was playing RW prison, so there's that.
I believe you have points here, and when asked on my stream lately about the deck, I call Pyro Prison the best Pivot Lock Deck. I believe Lantern Control and other lock decks perform their locks well, but the essence of our deck is it can Pivot, but in the right pilot hands you can also adjust your opponents thinking based on what you are able to reveal game one.
The deck is what I like to also call "All In" and the gameplan is certainly all in when you're dumping your hand for turn 1 options, especially if it is the Aggro option blindly.
What I would recommend is watching the MTGO Metagame, and consider the options when building the deck. If anything give it a shot at taking Rabblemaster out and providing a different game plan, perhaps Hazoret comes back in, and maybe we play in Spyglass main and move Rabble to the sideboard. I'd like to know how your leagues go and how they are fairing with the pivot nature of the deck.
For the others following along with my adventures into failing at piloting this deck, I got one more out there for you guys before my Holiday week goes crazy. I'll link all three here for those who have not been following then likely will just reference the Twitch or Youtube channel in the future if I want to call out certain games:
VODs remain on Twitch for I believe 30 days. That is why I'm uploading to Youtube. Also if anyone has a suggestion on some cards I'd be willing to look at them and consider running them.
Most recent decks we faced:
When you have to choose vs an unknown opponent to play a turn one rabblemaster. What usually happens is that rabblemaster will completely alter your opponents first few turns, enabling you to play out your other cards uncontested. Unfortunate that you played vs death And taxes. What if that was a UW Control or ad nausem opponent and your bridges Are useless? a Or grixis shadow or jund? Instead if thoughtseize first turn, they now have to fatal push. If they let rabblemaster stay around past their first turn and use a discard spell, they'll just lose to the rabblemaster. If they don't have a removal spell, they usually fetch a basic and not a dual, limiting them on mana. Either way, it's good.
Do you blind turn 1 rabble if you have no blood moon or chalices? Im wondering if it always correct.
Im going to enter another competitive league to try out my plan. Basically -4 rabble, +1 anger, +1 spellskite, +2 magus of the moon.
The plan is to basically win off planeswalkers game 1 with more chance of getting a early blood moon effects.
Is it the better plan?
Well, I believe if you ask Ray and Mike, they'll tell you he belongs in the main, because in many matchups, he IS our lock piece. As Russ mentioned, your opponent can't play Magic until they address the goblin warden threatening severe corporal punishment. UW Control is a perfect example, where we need to be aggressive early before they can counter everything, along with plenty of other decks that make the all-in Blood Moon plan basically useless.. and you've traded what would've been your best card for a three mana 2/2.
If you're comfortable jamming a blind t1 Magus, not worried about it getting Bolted, why not a blind Rabble? If they can't kill Magus, at worst, it buys you time. At best, it locks your opponent out indefinitely, but we still have to end the game before they find a way out. If they can't kill Rabble, the game is over, and quick.