Twin in general is a good matchup with Geist. We have answers to slow them down. I think we have a good matchup versus Grixis Control (again, especially with crackling doom to kill Tasigur and Angler. We have a faster aggro clock then them and can disrupt their combo with removal. Game one usually comes down to who is on the play.
Went 6-0 in swiss beating zoo 3x, infect, zoo, and uw titan before double drawing into top8, beating doran in the quarter finals, and losing to grixis twin in the semis.
Changes would be that tect edges should be ghost quarters(Only card in deck that isn't foil :<), Sideboard should prob be -1 Rest in peace +1 Engineered explosives. Could consider cutting out the angered to gods for a staticaster.
Is grixis twin a hard match up? I've been having meh results against it.
How was Aven Mindcensor in the matchup? Can you give examples where it shined and others (if they existed) where it was just a 2/1 flyer that died to bolt/decay? It does turn their removal on being in the mainboard, but I want to hear how it worked for you.
Jace could be good in the deck, but he is bad with counter spells. When I look at running Jace, I want to run discard spells, since to for one'ing your opponent with hand disruption is very good, and they can be used to protect him, but obviously we are not in black. He buys back everything else at sorcery speed, this isn't bad, but how much better does having more ways to buy back burn/serum visions make the deck? Against fair matchup's I think this is ok, but against unfair matchups it doesnt help us at all which is more the area that the deck struggles with.
Would the deck be better with 6-8 snapcaster mages? Maybe?
Let me ask you this, what problem does the deck have that you are trying to solve with Jace?
Went 6-0 in swiss beating zoo 3x, infect, zoo, and uw titan before double drawing into top8, beating doran in the quarter finals, and losing to grixis twin in the semis.
Changes would be that tect edges should be ghost quarters(Only card in deck that isn't foil :<), Sideboard should prob be -1 Rest in peace +1 Engineered explosives. Could consider cutting out the angered to gods for a staticaster.
Is grixis twin a hard match up? I've been having meh results against it.
How was Aven Mindcensor in the matchup? Can you give examples where it shined and others (if they existed) where it was just a 2/1 flyer that died to bolt/decay? It does turn their removal on being in the mainboard, but I want to hear how it worked for you.
Agreed I am planning my deck for SCG philly and the Aven is one of the big questions I have!! Also given the placement so high of this deck (and given that a lot of players plan for the decks that did well last week) what changes would you make to the deck. (i.e. if people are preping for last weeks list how do we change it for this week to take advantage of it)
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Thanks to Argetlam over at Hakai Studios for the Sig!
Have you ever crossed the road, and looked the wrong way? A car's nearly on you? So what do you do? Something very silly. You freeze. Your life doesn't flash before you, 'cause you're too' scared to think - you just freeze and pull a stupid face
BW Midrange | G Legacy Elves | X MUD Weilder |X Affinity | R RDW | UWB Esper Stoneblade | W Death and Taxes | W Mono White Control (Modern) | UWRGeist Midrange (Modern) | UW Heroic | UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH
Jace could be good in the deck, but he is bad with counter spells. When I look at running Jace, I want to run discard spells, since to for one'ing your opponent with hand disruption is very good, and they can be used to protect him, but obviously we are not in black. He buys back everything else at sorcery speed, this isn't bad, but how much better does having more ways to buy back burn/serum visions make the deck? Against fair matchup's I think this is ok, but against unfair matchups it doesnt help us at all which is more the area that the deck struggles with.
Would the deck be better with 6-8 snapcaster mages? Maybe?
Let me ask you this, what problem does the deck have that you are trying to solve with Jace?
I don't like Jace at all in the deck. He doesn't have enough impact to justify running him over something else.
I got into modern in August and have been playing this deck thanks to Nate's videos. I've run something a little different every time I've made it for a modern night. This is what I'm thinking of for the next time out.
The 15th is a flex slot. The default will be EE because of its flexibility.
Other options are:
Crumble to Dust - If I arrive and see people playing tron.
Valorous Stance - If I see a lot of GBx/Grixis
Anger og the Gods - If see lots of Melira Company and/or Voices
Pyroclasm - If I see lots of Elves
I got into modern in August and have been playing this deck thanks to Nate's videos. I've run something a little different every time I've made it for a modern night. This is what I'm thinking of for the next time out.
I was just going to write a write up on your list and then I saw that GreatNate already posted his list and already replied to you about Magma Jet. I agree completely with him. Magma Jet is not worth the mana. 2 Damage does not kill enough things in the field to run shock and magma jet is shock plus a one time crystal ball. If you want the scry with something else, could I recommend condescend? Serum Visions is way better than an over-costed burn spell that doesn't kill enough things in the format. (How many times is electrolyze's 2 damage not useful? Quite a bit, but that card replaces itself and has the potential of 3-for-1ing where magma jet at best is a 1-for-1)
The 15th is a flex slot. The default will be EE because of its flexibility.
Other options are:
Crumble to Dust - If I arrive and see people playing tron.
Valorous Stance - If I see a lot of GBx/Grixis
Anger og the Gods - If see lots of Melira Company and/or Voices
Pyroclasm - If I see lots of Elves
That looks like a solid list GreatNate. I do have a question though. Typically you run a 5 mana finisher (like Thundermaw), but this list is devoid of that mainboard. Is there some reason you aren't running a classic "finisher" mainboard?
Also, if you have the time and since this forum is missing it, could you write up a sideboard guide for your list (what you bring in and take out for certain matches?)
I often find myself looking at some card and wondering why it doesn't work. I know 2 mana/2 damage is bad but the thought of scrying on their end step was tempting me
I often find myself looking at some card and wondering why it doesn't work. I know 2 mana/2 damage is bad but the thought of scrying on their end step was tempting me
Good luck GreatNate!
I know the feeling exactly : )
I've been trying mulldrifter with my kolaghan's command black splash and for one brilliant shining moment it was beautiful. Just as beautiful as magma spraying an Ezuri on their end step and scrying 2 lands to the bottom to get to a key card would be. Magic is built on those moments. Unfortunately it usually happens with lightning bolt, path to exile, and other core cards, not the lonely original splashes that just aren't strong enough to be brilliant consistently. And winning consistently requires consistently powerful cards.
(If you like it enough and aren't going to a PPTQ or anything, run one in your main )
People just don't expect the mindsensor, so it creates favorable scenarios for you so they'll just waste resources/cards so you can just follow up on your turn with a geist or resto. If it does stick it makes your other cards alot better such as path/ghost quarters. It opens your sideboard 2 slots as well. I've considering just cutting 1 electrolyze or helix to move up the vendilion clique into the main.
Good Morning All...
After extensive reading (thanks GreatNate for the write-ups) limited playtesting, and just gut instinct I am posting my almost final list for SCG Philly
Thanks to Argetlam over at Hakai Studios for the Sig!
Have you ever crossed the road, and looked the wrong way? A car's nearly on you? So what do you do? Something very silly. You freeze. Your life doesn't flash before you, 'cause you're too' scared to think - you just freeze and pull a stupid face
BW Midrange | G Legacy Elves | X MUD Weilder |X Affinity | R RDW | UWB Esper Stoneblade | W Death and Taxes | W Mono White Control (Modern) | UWRGeist Midrange (Modern) | UW Heroic | UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH
Not sure why you'd play Brimaz - Geist has hexproof and the rest of your creatures has instant value. I would also try and run a Watery Grave in there somewhere. 3 Electrolyze might be a bit steep - it's a great card but I'd run 1 KCommand in its place.
@whocansay
Thanks, I am looking to alter the mana base a little to include a watery grave and maybe Eiganjo Castle. Brimaz is a pet card of mine and will be the first to go from my SB he had good value when I ran young pyro allowing me to go around with opps with a small token army... I think lingering souls might be a better call
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Thanks to Argetlam over at Hakai Studios for the Sig!
Have you ever crossed the road, and looked the wrong way? A car's nearly on you? So what do you do? Something very silly. You freeze. Your life doesn't flash before you, 'cause you're too' scared to think - you just freeze and pull a stupid face
BW Midrange | G Legacy Elves | X MUD Weilder |X Affinity | R RDW | UWB Esper Stoneblade | W Death and Taxes | W Mono White Control (Modern) | UWRGeist Midrange (Modern) | UW Heroic | UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH
Good Morning All...
After extensive reading (thanks GreatNate for the write-ups) limited playtesting, and just gut instinct I am posting my almost final list for SCG Philly
Looks solid to me. I would recommend a sulfur falls to help get U through choke. If you are going to run any more B I would also recommend squeezing in the watery grave. But with only 2 main board B and 2 flashbacked sideboard, it's not as relevant.
For your sideboard: dispeldispel are a must. Maybe cut the mana leaks for them? Dispel helps vs coco decks, control, and burn.
A problem I've been having with the black splash is that there are sooo many more cards we can run and it cuts into the sideboard space. Lingering Souls must be in the side board since it is one of the best cards in modern against a lot of decks. Valorous stance is a card that while it performs great, competes with crackling doom. They both perform (essentially) the same function. If I recall GreatNate shied away from the black splash entirely when he started running Valorous Stance main because it's easier on the mana base and allows for cryptic command to be played. I don't think you need the stances in the side since you have 2 dooms mainboard.
I'd almost recommend that you either add a few more reasons to run black or just cut the dooms (blasphemy from me, I know) and run the stances mainboard and keep one black shock for lingering souls out of the side. Reasons to run more black: Tasigur, KCommand, Slaughter Games. Reasons to trim black: simpler mana base, cryptic command. I'm currently on the run more B train. GreatNate is on the cryptic command train. I think both are correct and for entirely different reasons.
For your sideboard: dispeldispel are a must. Maybe cut the mana leaks for them? Dispel helps vs coco decks, control, and burn.
A problem I've been having with the black splash is that there are sooo many more cards we can run and it cuts into the sideboard space. Lingering Souls must be in the side board since it is one of the best cards in modern against a lot of decks. Valorous stance is a card that while it performs great, competes with crackling doom. They both perform (essentially) the same function. If I recall GreatNate shied away from the black splash entirely when he started running Valorous Stance main because it's easier on the mana base and allows for cryptic command to be played. I don't think you need the stances in the side since you have 2 dooms mainboard.
I'd almost recommend that you either add a few more reasons to run black or just cut the dooms (blasphemy from me, I know) and run the stances mainboard and keep one black shock for lingering souls out of the side. Reasons to run more black: Tasigur, KCommand, Slaughter Games. Reasons to trim black: simpler mana base, cryptic command. I'm currently on the run more B train. GreatNate is on the cryptic command train. I think both are correct and for entirely different reasons.
@GeistofStDoom
I think you and GreatNate are in my head I was just starting to think the same thing about the splash of black. I like the way the deck functions right now so working more black in is hard. I am using my Electrolyze to generate temp advantage, they lose a create and/or life and I get a card. That feels like the natural place to put in a Kolaghan's Command if I decided to run more black. Tasigur could easily come in the place of my finisher or even from the board for more grindy matches. The argument for the crypic is also good, simpler manabase and the command if I have it does what I want to do with the tap out option allowing me to get maximum value from Geist and the rest of the team, it gets a me card and it counters it is a good work horse but it is expensive for the CC with the 3U. I think I have a big choice to make in the next two days
Thanks everyone for all the great advice and keeping things helpfut. This is one of the most helpful forums I have ever posted to... BIG THANK YOU TO GEIST for reminding me about dispel!!!
Greatnate and GeistofStDoom what are your thoughts onEiganjo Castle.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Thanks to Argetlam over at Hakai Studios for the Sig!
Have you ever crossed the road, and looked the wrong way? A car's nearly on you? So what do you do? Something very silly. You freeze. Your life doesn't flash before you, 'cause you're too' scared to think - you just freeze and pull a stupid face
BW Midrange | G Legacy Elves | X MUD Weilder |X Affinity | R RDW | UWB Esper Stoneblade | W Death and Taxes | W Mono White Control (Modern) | UWRGeist Midrange (Modern) | UW Heroic | UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH
How was Aven Mindcensor in the matchup? Can you give examples where it shined and others (if they existed) where it was just a 2/1 flyer that died to bolt/decay? It does turn their removal on being in the mainboard, but I want to hear how it worked for you.
Would the deck be better with 6-8 snapcaster mages? Maybe?
Let me ask you this, what problem does the deck have that you are trying to solve with Jace?
Agreed I am planning my deck for SCG philly and the Aven is one of the big questions I have!! Also given the placement so high of this deck (and given that a lot of players plan for the decks that did well last week) what changes would you make to the deck. (i.e. if people are preping for last weeks list how do we change it for this week to take advantage of it)
I don't like Jace at all in the deck. He doesn't have enough impact to justify running him over something else.
UWR Control
Legacy:
W D&T
There are better minds then me on here. Why was this card rejected?
I haven't tested it but it looks to me like a decent choice instead of serum visions.
Horribly inefficient mana per damage rate.
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Geist of St Traft
2 Vendilion Clique
3 Restoration Angel
Instants 23
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path to Exile
1 Boros Charm
3 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Helix
2 Mana Leak
3 Remand
2 Electrolyze
Land 24
1 Arid Mesa
3 Celestial Colennade
1 Eiganjo Castle
4 Flooded Strand
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Hallowed Fountain
2 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Scalding Tarn
1 Shinka the Bloodsoaked Keep
2 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Dispel
1 Wear//Tear
2 Celestial Purge
1 Negate
2 Aven Mindcensor
1 Crumble to Dust
2 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Shatterstorm
1 Wrath of God
1 Keranos God of Storms
The 15th is a flex slot. The default will be EE because of its flexibility.
Other options are:
Crumble to Dust - If I arrive and see people playing tron.
Valorous Stance - If I see a lot of GBx/Grixis
Anger og the Gods - If see lots of Melira Company and/or Voices
Pyroclasm - If I see lots of Elves
I was just going to write a write up on your list and then I saw that GreatNate already posted his list and already replied to you about Magma Jet. I agree completely with him. Magma Jet is not worth the mana. 2 Damage does not kill enough things in the field to run shock and magma jet is shock plus a one time crystal ball. If you want the scry with something else, could I recommend condescend? Serum Visions is way better than an over-costed burn spell that doesn't kill enough things in the format. (How many times is electrolyze's 2 damage not useful? Quite a bit, but that card replaces itself and has the potential of 3-for-1ing where magma jet at best is a 1-for-1)
That looks like a solid list GreatNate. I do have a question though. Typically you run a 5 mana finisher (like Thundermaw), but this list is devoid of that mainboard. Is there some reason you aren't running a classic "finisher" mainboard?
Also, if you have the time and since this forum is missing it, could you write up a sideboard guide for your list (what you bring in and take out for certain matches?)
I often find myself looking at some card and wondering why it doesn't work. I know 2 mana/2 damage is bad but the thought of scrying on their end step was tempting me
Good luck GreatNate!
I know the feeling exactly : )
I've been trying mulldrifter with my kolaghan's command black splash and for one brilliant shining moment it was beautiful. Just as beautiful as magma spraying an Ezuri on their end step and scrying 2 lands to the bottom to get to a key card would be. Magic is built on those moments. Unfortunately it usually happens with lightning bolt, path to exile, and other core cards, not the lonely original splashes that just aren't strong enough to be brilliant consistently. And winning consistently requires consistently powerful cards.
(If you like it enough and aren't going to a PPTQ or anything, run one in your main )
UWR Control
Legacy:
W D&T
After extensive reading (thanks GreatNate for the write-ups) limited playtesting, and just gut instinct I am posting my almost final list for SCG Philly
4 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Aven Mindcensor
3 Restoration Angel
1 Thundermaw Helkite
Spells 21
3 Electrolyze
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
4 Remand
2 Crackling Doom
4 Celestial Colonnade
4 Flooded Strand
3 Arid Mesa
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Sacred foundry
2 Steam Vents
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Island
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
1 Mountain
1 Plains
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2 Wear//Tear
2 Kor Firewalker
1 Supreme Verdict
2 Deflecting Palm
2 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Keranos God of Storms
2 Sowing Salt
After reading some of the comments above I am thiking of revamping my SB to be
Good luck!
Abzan Traverse / Traverse Shadow / UR Kiki
Thanks, I am looking to alter the mana base a little to include a watery grave and maybe Eiganjo Castle. Brimaz is a pet card of mine and will be the first to go from my SB he had good value when I ran young pyro allowing me to go around with opps with a small token army... I think lingering souls might be a better call
Looks solid to me. I would recommend a sulfur falls to help get U through choke. If you are going to run any more B I would also recommend squeezing in the watery grave. But with only 2 main board B and 2 flashbacked sideboard, it's not as relevant.
For your sideboard: dispel dispel are a must. Maybe cut the mana leaks for them? Dispel helps vs coco decks, control, and burn.
A problem I've been having with the black splash is that there are sooo many more cards we can run and it cuts into the sideboard space. Lingering Souls must be in the side board since it is one of the best cards in modern against a lot of decks. Valorous stance is a card that while it performs great, competes with crackling doom. They both perform (essentially) the same function. If I recall GreatNate shied away from the black splash entirely when he started running Valorous Stance main because it's easier on the mana base and allows for cryptic command to be played. I don't think you need the stances in the side since you have 2 dooms mainboard.
I'd almost recommend that you either add a few more reasons to run black or just cut the dooms (blasphemy from me, I know) and run the stances mainboard and keep one black shock for lingering souls out of the side. Reasons to run more black: Tasigur, KCommand, Slaughter Games. Reasons to trim black: simpler mana base, cryptic command. I'm currently on the run more B train. GreatNate is on the cryptic command train. I think both are correct and for entirely different reasons.
@GeistofStDoom
I think you and GreatNate are in my head I was just starting to think the same thing about the splash of black. I like the way the deck functions right now so working more black in is hard. I am using my Electrolyze to generate temp advantage, they lose a create and/or life and I get a card. That feels like the natural place to put in a Kolaghan's Command if I decided to run more black. Tasigur could easily come in the place of my finisher or even from the board for more grindy matches. The argument for the crypic is also good, simpler manabase and the command if I have it does what I want to do with the tap out option allowing me to get maximum value from Geist and the rest of the team, it gets a me card and it counters it is a good work horse but it is expensive for the CC with the 3U. I think I have a big choice to make in the next two days
Thanks everyone for all the great advice and keeping things helpfut. This is one of the most helpful forums I have ever posted to... BIG THANK YOU TO GEIST for reminding me about dispel!!!
Greatnate and GeistofStDoom what are your thoughts onEiganjo Castle.