@Nekat I'm like 20+ and 1 against Death's Shadow in the past couple months, I remember the one match I lost to abysmal land flooding... I mostly agree with Jayjay and Cody except I don't take out any cryptics. I just take out all counters that aren't cryptic and bring in 4th sweeper, 2 rips and blessed alliance. In your case you also have Celestial Purge and Condemn which gives you 2 other good cards. So probably -3 mana leak, negate, 1 jace, 1 snap. +BA, Purge, Condemn, 2x RIP, ***
I think you should really add a Gideon Jura to your mainboard though, you can afford to take out the seachrome coast IMO and I would probably change prairie stream into Island #5, I've been running fine with 24 lands.
I still have the most trouble boarding against things like Vizier Company and really fast creature combo decks. Sometimes I take out mana leak and negate because they ALWAYS have a turn 1 noble and mana leak becomes dead fast, but then again you might just need to counter their turn 2-3 plays to slow them down a tiny bit. Spreading Seas is another card that could maybe be cut against them since they have mana dorks, chord and coco so they aren't too worried about colors as long as they have 1 or 2 green. These kind of matches are also the ones where I'm uncertain on how many PWs to leave in or out, GoTT isn't good against a swarm of creatures, but he can buy you some time or end up being a win con later. Eternal Witness and Finks are annoying too, but not sure if it's worth using RIP for them unless they are using Knight of the Reliquary.
@slowgod - I think RIP is pretty good against them - Witness is usually a 3 for 1 or better and we can't keep up with that. Our 3 for 1's either cost 6 Mana and we have 1 copy, or they take 2-4 turns to get online (Jace, Azcanta). I always board out my graveyard cards and bring in RIP. It's also the case that we can wrath them but they end up with a Finks and Voice token left over which is enough to be a problem, if the Finks wasn't there the token becomes manageable by any of our walkers. They also can put you in this spot with Gavony Township plus Finks that is super awkward. Yea, we have tons of ways to deal with lands, but they play multiples and as you pointed out, spreading seas usually comes out postboard against 2 colour deck with Mana dorks. The only downside is that RIP is difficult to protect against Pridemage. To that end, Spell Snare is surprisingly good against them. Hits all the combo pieces, voice, skite and out of the board hits Pridemage and selfless spirit.
the strategy that works for me is boarding in rip, cage, verdict, dispel and elspelth. i think that sometimes the elf would survive and you'll lose, but u need to reduce all their resources and try to make them play your game
Hey guys, new to uw control, I've been playing burn mostly since I've gotten into a modern relatively recently, but with the changing of the Planeswalker rulings I've been itching to test out a deck with Gideon of the trials, Ally of zendikar, and Gideon jura, there's one person testing out a BW control version of it with a few liliana's too at my lgc, and I've seen a few videos with BW tokens incorporating them, but I'm personally leading towards a modified UW control running all three and basically taking out the celestial Colonnades, here's a list of the current deck I've put together
4 Gideon of the trials
2 Gideon, ally of zendikar
2 Gideon jura
2 wall of omens
2 snapcaster mage
SIDEBOARD
1 hour of revelation
1 spreading seas
2 relic of progenitus
2 dispel
2 timely reinforcements
1 rest in peace
3 leyline of Sanctity
3 stony silence
I found that search for azcanta is crucial in the mid-to-late game matches that I've tested it out on for searching out the other Gideons to put in play and finish off the opponent, or spells needed for other specific situations, I dropped Sphinx's Revelation due to search for azcanta taking it's place for late game card advantage, and The multiple Gideons in play having little need for my life total as long as they're protected, and to that same point I dropped Mana Leak and other counterspells in place for negates and the 2 dispels in the sideboard, in more of an attempt to counteract any exile or removal options my opponent may pursue while I'm attacking with my indestructible Gideons
Have to wait till Thursday to test it out at my LGS, any suggestions or imput would definitely be appreciated!
... I dropped Mana Leak and other counterspells in place for negates and the 2 dispels in the sideboard, in more of an attempt to counteract any exile or removal options my opponent may pursue while I'm attacking with my indestructible Gideons
I think you might want some number of Mana Leak, just to be able to survive long enough to sit behind some gideons, the 2 wall of omens isn't enough early interaction to help you survive. To make space for them I'd like to see the number of Trials drop down to 3 - I understand you want the emblem pretty badly, but you'll get roughly the same results with 3 without clogging your hand with them as often. Same goes for Supreme Verdict. The 3rd leak could easily be the Spreading Seas. 1-of Seas probably isn't doing a ton for you.
Other than that, you need to increase that land count! This list needs 3 more lands or 2 more lands and 2 more cantrips (before cutting the 1-of spreading seas) at a minimum!
Cheers!
Keep in mind that the Runed Halo interaction with Gideon will be going away soon, so enjoy it while you can!
Rules of targeting Planeswalker will change soon. For example, now we have to target player first than transfer damage to Planeswalker, after the change we can target player OR Planeswalker.
Thanks for the input, I'll try out out, What are you referring to when you say that the runed halo interaction with Gideon will be going away soon?
Wizards has stated that at some point in the near future, the ability to redirect damage from a player to a planeswalker will no longer exist, and all cards going forward will specify targets. I also believe that it was mentioned that all cards from the past will be errated to be in line with the new rule, though don't quote me on that last bit. If it is true, Lightning Bolt will be errated to "Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature, player or Planeswalker".
I actually thought Runed Halo was Leyline of Sanctity, but the rule affects Halo too I suppose, just less so.
@YuzhouJ Jeskai Queller is a tough match, I've beaten it a fair amount of times, but I still don't have a complete plan against it. Their snaps are more valuable than ours so I think RIP and Cage are good, it's hard to decide how many verdicts and paths to leave in. Wall of Omens, Planeswalkers and Spreading Seas are all kinda iffy even though they are a 3 color deck it's hard to really color screw them. I usually end up leaving in 2-3 verdicts and Spreading Seas, maybe 1 Wall and bring in Counters, Geist, life gain and GY hate. I'd like to figure out a more "correct" strategy against them myself.
I've been twiddling with U/W control for a few months now, I typically play esper gifts or grixis, and have ended up on a list that abandoned the spreading seas plan.
Side:
2 Dispel (Just replaced 2 RIP as it's a nonbo with snaps and search for azcanta)
1 Runed Halo
1 Geist of St Traft
1 Elspeth Suns Champ
1 Vendillion Clique
1 Celestial Purge
2 Stony Silence
2 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 I can't think of off the top of my head
I'm thinking of dropping the Ancestral Visions for either Serum Visions or Supreme Will. What do you guys think?
@shaboogamoo - using the deck tags for proper formatting will make it much easier for us to read,and therefore much more likely for you to get a response. [Deck_] list here [/deck_] without the underscores will format it for you.
@YuzhouJ Jeskai Queller is a tough match, I've beaten it a fair amount of times, but I still don't have a complete plan against it. Their snaps are more valuable than ours so I think RIP and Cage are good, it's hard to decide how many verdicts and paths to leave in. Wall of Omens, Planeswalkers and Spreading Seas are all kinda iffy even though they are a 3 color deck it's hard to really color screw them. I usually end up leaving in 2-3 verdicts and Spreading Seas, maybe 1 Wall and bring in Counters, Geist, life gain and GY hate. I'd like to figure out a more "correct" strategy against them myself.
I usually go for the mana screw plan trying to take them off red. I take out a couple of verdicts or all of them if I notice they're not running geists and I shave 1 path as well. Gideon Jura usually comes out as well.
@Kerrick I've had matches where I don't see a geist game 1 and then get killed by it game 2, it's just so hard to deal with if it resolves. I've tried taking out all the verdicts and just plan to counter it, but that has failed me a few times also when they wait until turn 4 and have a dispel. Is your recent list still about the same as before? I'm doing really well in friendly leagues with mine still, barely missed 5-0 yesterday cause of horrible draws against dredge.
Settle the Wreckage seems really intriguing and I think I'm going to give it a shot in place of 1 of the verdicts. Great for manlands, PWs and those chains of reality smashers tron players always have.
I tried settle the wreckage one league, was hoping to use it for Dredge and other creature decks...I only ended up bringing it against bogles...where it was absolutely bonkers lol. Like slowgod said, It's probably also good in the mirror. I'm always worried about cutting verdict and running into Geist, but wreckage has application against Gideon even if they don't end up bringing in Geist. Seems like an okay insurance policy.
I think you should really add a Gideon Jura to your mainboard though, you can afford to take out the seachrome coast IMO and I would probably change prairie stream into Island #5, I've been running fine with 24 lands.
I still have the most trouble boarding against things like Vizier Company and really fast creature combo decks. Sometimes I take out mana leak and negate because they ALWAYS have a turn 1 noble and mana leak becomes dead fast, but then again you might just need to counter their turn 2-3 plays to slow them down a tiny bit. Spreading Seas is another card that could maybe be cut against them since they have mana dorks, chord and coco so they aren't too worried about colors as long as they have 1 or 2 green. These kind of matches are also the ones where I'm uncertain on how many PWs to leave in or out, GoTT isn't good against a swarm of creatures, but he can buy you some time or end up being a win con later. Eternal Witness and Finks are annoying too, but not sure if it's worth using RIP for them unless they are using Knight of the Reliquary.
4 Gideon of the trials
2 Gideon, ally of zendikar
2 Gideon jura
2 wall of omens
2 snapcaster mage
2 spell snare
4 serum visions
4 path to exile
1 blessed alliance
1 spreading seas
2 negate
2 search for azcanta
2 runed halo
2 detention sphere
2 cryptic command
4 supreme verdict
2 ghost quarters
2 tectonic edge
3 glacial fortress
3 hallowed fountain
4 flooded strand
4 islands
4 plains
SIDEBOARD
1 hour of revelation
1 spreading seas
2 relic of progenitus
2 dispel
2 timely reinforcements
1 rest in peace
3 leyline of Sanctity
3 stony silence
I found that search for azcanta is crucial in the mid-to-late game matches that I've tested it out on for searching out the other Gideons to put in play and finish off the opponent, or spells needed for other specific situations, I dropped Sphinx's Revelation due to search for azcanta taking it's place for late game card advantage, and The multiple Gideons in play having little need for my life total as long as they're protected, and to that same point I dropped Mana Leak and other counterspells in place for negates and the 2 dispels in the sideboard, in more of an attempt to counteract any exile or removal options my opponent may pursue while I'm attacking with my indestructible Gideons
Have to wait till Thursday to test it out at my LGS, any suggestions or imput would definitely be appreciated!
Here's a common one:
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
3 Geist of Saint Traft
Lands (24)
3 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
4 Celestial Colonnade
4 Flooded Strand
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
2 Sulfur Falls
3 Cryptic Command
2 Electrolyze
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Logic Knot
4 Path to Exile
2 Spell Snare
4 Serum Visions
I think you might want some number of Mana Leak, just to be able to survive long enough to sit behind some gideons, the 2 wall of omens isn't enough early interaction to help you survive. To make space for them I'd like to see the number of Trials drop down to 3 - I understand you want the emblem pretty badly, but you'll get roughly the same results with 3 without clogging your hand with them as often. Same goes for Supreme Verdict. The 3rd leak could easily be the Spreading Seas. 1-of Seas probably isn't doing a ton for you.
Other than that, you need to increase that land count! This list needs 3 more lands or 2 more lands and 2 more cantrips (before cutting the 1-of spreading seas) at a minimum!
Cheers!
Keep in mind that the Runed Halo interaction with Gideon will be going away soon, so enjoy it while you can!
...Could you clarify what you mean here, jayjayhooks?
Wizards has stated that at some point in the near future, the ability to redirect damage from a player to a planeswalker will no longer exist, and all cards going forward will specify targets. I also believe that it was mentioned that all cards from the past will be errated to be in line with the new rule, though don't quote me on that last bit. If it is true, Lightning Bolt will be errated to "Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature, player or Planeswalker".
I actually thought Runed Halo was Leyline of Sanctity, but the rule affects Halo too I suppose, just less so.
2 spell snare
4 opt
2 mana leak
2 search for azcanta
2 giden of the trials
1 gideon ally of zendikar
1 gideon jura
3 cryptic command
4 path to exile
2 blessed alliance
1 torrential gearhulk
1 Jace architect
3 supreme verdict
2 negate
2 ancestral visions
3 Glacial Fortress
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Prairie Stream
4 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta
3 Celestial Collonade
3 Ghost Quarter
1 Tec Edge
4 Island
2 Plains
Side:
2 Dispel (Just replaced 2 RIP as it's a nonbo with snaps and search for azcanta)
1 Runed Halo
1 Geist of St Traft
1 Elspeth Suns Champ
1 Vendillion Clique
1 Celestial Purge
2 Stony Silence
2 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 I can't think of off the top of my head
I'm thinking of dropping the Ancestral Visions for either Serum Visions or Supreme Will. What do you guys think?
I usually go for the mana screw plan trying to take them off red. I take out a couple of verdicts or all of them if I notice they're not running geists and I shave 1 path as well. Gideon Jura usually comes out as well.
First match 1-0 vs bant knightfall
I had a mull to 5 and still manage to win
Second match 1-1 draw against eldrazi and taxe
Third match 2-0 against jeskai aggro
Also field of ruin was an all star. I was not sure about that card, but it is awesome
Here is my deck
4x Celestial Colonnade
4x Field of Ruin
4x Flooded Strand
2x Glacial Fortress
2x Hallowed Fountain
5x Island
3x Plains
Enchantment (8)
2x Detention Sphere
2x Search for Azcanta
4x Spreading Seas
Sorcery (6)
4x Serum Visions
2x Supreme Verdict
3x Cryptic Command
3x Mana Leak
1x Negate
4x Path to Exile
1x Settle the Wreckage
1x Sphinx's Revelation
Planeswalker (5)
1x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1x Gideon Jura
2x Gideon of the Trials
1x Jace, Architect of Thought
Creature (4)
2x Snapcaster Mage
2x Wall of Omens
1x Celestial Purge
2x Dispel
1x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1x Geist of Saint Traft
1x Grafdigger's Cage
2x Leyline of Sanctity
1x Negate
2x Rest in Peace
2x Stony Silence
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Timely Reinforcements
I do want to change the leyline in the sideboard, but im not sure for what i should change them.
Settle the Wreckage seems really intriguing and I think I'm going to give it a shot in place of 1 of the verdicts. Great for manlands, PWs and those chains of reality smashers tron players always have.