You can also Burn Liliana. If Liliana +1s you can dump a Bolt + Electrolyze or Bolt + Helix etc. and blast her into oblivion. The best thing against Jund/Junk for any deck running Geist is Leyline though, not just because of stopping Thoughtseizes but because it stops Liliana from forcing you to sac the Geist.
I'm not a huge fan of Stony Silence. The biggest issue with it is that we already have a good Affinity matchup, and the card doesn't do enough against Tron. Sure, if you land it on turn two, it can slow them down, but they have the most inevitability of any deck in the format. It doesn't do anything to clock them. It's the same reasoning that I don't like Blood Moon against them, and prefer Molten Rain.
Purge comes in for their Blood Moons.
Wow, that is good to know, I didn't realize that they were running Blood Moon now-a-days, shows how little I know of Modern.
What do you advise for replacing Theads in the sideboard then?
Threads can be a lot of things really. It just depends on what you're scared of, that's the beauty of UWR
JulsSkogs, good to hear your viewpoint on the Bolts vs Helices--I thought I was the weird one for boarding out Bolts instead of Helices in the past, but I see I'm not the only one. Bolt is more mana-efficient, but the lifegain is incredibly relevant in midrange matchups. The only clean 1-for-1's UWR can get vs BGx with the 3 damage burn spells are with Bob and Scooze (if it can't pump in response), so it definitely seems correct to board out some number of these spells. I usually leave a 3 Helix/1 Bolt split post-board, though--if absolutely necessary, Bolt-Snap-Bolt is still at least a mediocre removal spell to prevent getting killed by Goyfs/Rhinos/Tasigur/Gurmag Angler (in Grixis). Always better to just Snap back Helices at the opponent if possible, though. Re: Liliana--I actually avoid throwing burn at Liliana since that damage could be thrown upstairs when switching gears into the burnout plan against BGx. I prefer to clean up Liliana with flyers whenever possible.
I just played at the "Modern Showdown" that Channel Fireball was running at GP Oakland today, ended up going a decent 6-2, 20th overall out of 220 or so. (Coincidentally, the Amulet player from SCG Cincy was playing, actually--don't think he ended up making top 8 this time, though.) Here's a summary: (See below for decklist)
Round 1: Tron. Lost in 2. I hate Tron. I have definitely won matches against Tron players when landing a turn 2 Stony Silence post-board, but yes, like JulsSkogs said, it has to be turn 2, which may not be a great plan. Still, one very good Tron player I know says he's more afraid of that turn 2 Stony Silence than Blood Moon while there is a clock on the field (Geist).
Aven Mindcensor feels anemic on turn 3 here, and I think it's better to use it only for the Bloom Titan matchup.
0-1
Round 2: Infect. Won in 2. Easy matchup. We have all the answers. (Also 2-for-1'ing Inkmoth Nexus and Wild Defiance with Wear // Tear is such disgusting value.)
1-1
Round 3: Grixis Delver. Won in 3. Both decks try to execute the same gameplan--put a fast clock on the opponent while disrupting their plan. The Grixis Delver variant ran Delver, Abbot of Keral Keep, and Gurmag Anglers. Abbot is an interesting call--adds a lot of value late and the prowess gets in for a surprising amount of damage with enough cantrips. The threats from UWR are tougher to answer, though, but even the easy-to-answer threats like Snapcaster can do a lot of work on a cleared up board.
2-1
Round 4: UR Twin. Won in 3. Usually a pretty easy matchup, but this one became a little close. Game 2 was absurd. I landed a Keranos with my opponent at 9 and me on 12. At this point, I thought the game was basically un-loseable, especially since I was basically Blood Moon-proof: I have a Plains in play and Celestial Purge + Wear // Tear in hand. My opponent Remands/Negates my answers to Blood Moon, and I can only play one answer per turn since I only have 1 white mana. I think I only got 1-2 triggers off the Keranos. Meanwhile, my opponent casts a Keranos of his own and a Jace, AoT. I go on to lose game 2 to these three sideboard haymakers, but game 3 goes much better.
3-1
Round 5: Abzan/Melira Co-Co. Win in 2. Can't remember too much. At one point in game 1, my opponent had 3 Voice of Resurgences, which I could safely ignore by beating down in the air with Resto/Colonnade and then burning him out. Game 2 was a little messier. He had all sorts of goodies out (Melira, Murderous Redcap, Fiend Hunter taking my Clique, Gavony Township), which put me on a very real clock. I Tec Edged the Gavony immediately, but I had to draw into some answers to get the rest of the way there. A Colonnade had to chump once, and I went into a controlled fall of life from 10 to 9 to 6. I found some answers in Lightning Helix for Melira and Path for Murderous Redcap, which allowed me to stabilize enough to beat down with a Colonnade and burn him out.
4-1
Round 6: Affinity. Won in 2. Somewhat favorable matchup. I do actually like Stony Silence here, but JulsSkogs is right--it's not always a gamewinner vs Affinity and isn't necessary. Game 1, I won fairly easily without it. (Opponent did misplay a bit in that one. He played an Etched Champion while I could eliminate Metalcraft to Bolt it.) I then stuck a Geist and burned him out. Game 2 was closer, and I did land a turn 2 Stony Silence. Everything was ok until he landed a Master of Etherium, and unfortunately, I had not landed a Path by that point. The Master of Etherium was a 8/8 while I was at 5, so I was in bad shape. I could chump with a Colonnade or a Resto, and I had an Electrolyze in hand. I prepare to chump with Resto but fire off an Electrolyze pre-blocks at an Ornithopter just in case I draw a Path. What's the topdeck? Path to Exile! Sick. Opponent can't mount any pressure after that, and I win. (Vendilion Clique helped me get an extra draw in this one also. I started off on a hand with two Stony Silences, and had Cliqued one away earlier in the game to get a card deeper into the library.)
5-1
Round 6: Naya Zoo/Burn. Won in 3. Close match. Not much beyond the usual here. I didn't draw Kitchen Finks, so I can't comment on how that was.
6-1
Round 7: BW Eldrazi. Lost in 2. (Would have made top 8 if I won, too bad.) Atrocious matchup, perhaps worse than Tron. Not sure what to do here. Perhaps Molten Rain gets the call over Blood Moon here? Everything they cast is colorless, and the Eldrazi Scions ramp them even without their Eldrazi Temples/Eye of Ugins. Crumble to Dust? Wrath of God? Sower of Temptation? Relics plus hand disruption make it nearly impossible to Path anything, and counterspells are pretty bad against their casting triggers. This matchup has actually felt more unwinnable than Bloom Titan--the only one-for-ones were against hand disruption spells, I'm pretty sure. Lingering Souls adds insult to injury.
6-2
Anyway, the tournament was fun, though I wish that I ended up getting top 8. What are others planning against BW Eldrazi? This is a huge problem for our deck, and it's going to go up in popularity. What have people already tried that has worked or hasn't worked?
Hey guys, I'm currently getting into this archetype and after testing it a few times it really is a very interactive and fun deck to play. The high density of burn spells (to the face) and incidental life gain is something I really dig compared to other decks I play (Grixis Delver and a bit of URb Twin). I got a question about Geist though, is 3 really too few and 4 the number? In some match-ups he is obviously amazing but in some match-ups I'd rather have something else and it can get stuck in your hand when you have one on the field.
Also, what do people think about Blade Splicer? It's a pet card of mine and I think a single Splicer can be good. It's 4 power for 3 over 2 bodies, it has great synergy with Resto, resillent vs sacrifice, blocks Etched Champion and hold the fort well vs smaller creatures.
I got a question about Geist though, is 3 really too few and 4 the number? In some match-ups he is obviously amazing but in some match-ups I'd rather have something else and it can get stuck in your hand when you have one on the field.
Also, what do people think about Blade Splicer? It's a pet card of mine and I think a single Splicer can be good. It's 4 power for 3 over 2 bodies, it has great synergy with Resto, resillent vs sacrifice, blocks Etched Champion and hold the fort well vs smaller creatures.
I run 3, but have run 4 in the past, it depends what you like, having 4 makes him appear multiple times in an average game, sometimes good, sometimes bad really depends.
About 2 years ago people were randomly slotting in blade splicer, before that it was hero of bladehold or even randomly mirran crusader, now its monastery mentor, I`d say it's good to experiment, dunno how much it will come up as a 1 of but still. Geist isn't good for all games and any enter the battlefield triggers are good to be exploited by restoration angel
Is it recommended to run copies of Serum Visions or Anticipate in the deck?
Anticipate is never worthwhile as the selection doesn't outweigh the fact you're paying 2 mana for it. If you were playing a Control deck, you might consider a cantrip like Think Twice as it can generate card advantage when you have excess mana. Anticipate doesn't generate any advantage, it just replaces itself.
Much the same with Serum Visions, it helps dig through the top of your deck but it wastes a mana you could be using on something else. It's not a bad card, it's just a better card in combo decks. If you are running a combo in the deck you might like it but otherwise I'd take something else like a counterspell or more removal.
Congratulations, Great Nate! Definitely looking forward to reading about your matchups & your list.
I've tried a couple adjustments this weekend. JulsSkogs, I also have gone back to Thundermaw Hellkite in the main to deal with the matchups where we really have to burn out the opponent quickly. BW Eldrazi also plays Lingering Souls, so TMaw is appealing there. TMaw has been a great topdeck against Tron in the past as well. Pia & Kiran are great, but they've gone back into the board since the Tron/Eldrazi matchups have gone up in popularity. I absolutely hate Aven Mindcensor in the main deck--it always feels too slow with 2 power, and doesn't do enough against anything but Amulet. Against Tron, turn 3 is usually enough time to get Tron online, and it is too slow of a clock. (At 3 power, Vendilion Clique has been an absolute beast for me.)
I know Great Nate mentioned a while back that he's been having good results with Kitchen Finks, and now that I've had the opportunity to cast it against Burn, Affinity, Merfolk, and even Boggles, it's just fantastic. It provides a body to trade, chump twice, or beat down on an open board, and Resto is a great combo with it. Its applications are a lot broader than Timely Reinforcements. Also, here is an article by Owen Turtenwald on Kitchen Finks vs other options: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/blitzing-naya/. He has a pretty strong view, but Timely Reinforcements has been good in the past for me also. Kor Firewalker seems too narrow now that Naya Zoo has become a thing--Kor Firewalker doesn't interact well with Wild Nacatl.
Re: number of Geists--I put 3 in the deck before, but I have gone back up to 4. I think you need a high threat density in this deck. You want to have the option to end the game very quickly, and Geist does that. He's even better now that Abzan has been on the downhill, where was the midrange deck against which he was at his worst. He's fine against Jund--the Jund board is easier to clear up than the Abzan board.
Is it recommended to run copies of Serum Visions or Anticipate in the deck?
Anticipate is never worthwhile as the selection doesn't outweigh the fact you're paying 2 mana for it. If you were playing a Control deck, you might consider a cantrip like Think Twice as it can generate card advantage when you have excess mana. Anticipate doesn't generate any advantage, it just replaces itself.
Much the same with Serum Visions, it helps dig through the top of your deck but it wastes a mana you could be using on something else. It's not a bad card, it's just a better card in combo decks. If you are running a combo in the deck you might like it but otherwise I'd take something else like a counterspell or more removal.
Serum Visions is not brainstorm or ponder or even preordain but it is the next best thing and it should be run to control land drops and find cards. Playing without visions is a mistake.
Congratulations, Great Nate! Definitely looking forward to reading about your matchups & your list.
I've tried a couple adjustments this weekend. JulsSkogs, I also have gone back to Thundermaw Hellkite in the main to deal with the matchups where we really have to burn out the opponent quickly. BW Eldrazi also plays Lingering Souls, so TMaw is appealing there. TMaw has been a great topdeck against Tron in the past as well. Pia & Kiran are great, but they've gone back into the board since the Tron/Eldrazi matchups have gone up in popularity. I absolutely hate Aven Mindcensor in the main deck--it always feels too slow with 2 power, and doesn't do enough against anything but Amulet. Against Tron, turn 3 is usually enough time to get Tron online, and it is too slow of a clock. (At 3 power, Vendilion Clique has been an absolute beast for me.)
I know Great Nate mentioned a while back that he's been having good results with Kitchen Finks, and now that I've had the opportunity to cast it against Burn, Affinity, Merfolk, and even Boggles, it's just fantastic. It provides a body to trade, chump twice, or beat down on an open board, and Resto is a great combo with it. Its applications are a lot broader than Timely Reinforcements. Also, here is an article by Owen Turtenwald on Kitchen Finks vs other options: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/blitzing-naya/. He has a pretty strong view, but Timely Reinforcements has been good in the past for me also. Kor Firewalker seems too narrow now that Naya Zoo has become a thing--Kor Firewalker doesn't interact well with Wild Nacatl.
Re: number of Geists--I put 3 in the deck before, but I have gone back up to 4. I think you need a high threat density in this deck. You want to have the option to end the game very quickly, and Geist does that. He's even better now that Abzan has been on the downhill, where was the midrange deck against which he was at his worst. He's fine against Jund--the Jund board is easier to clear up than the Abzan board.
Sadly that is not correct - Abzan has overtaken Jund and is now considered by many to be the best GBx deck - which is a huge blow for us. We need answers to souls and need to think about changing sideboard answers..
I meant that people have begun to return to playing Jund a bit after all they all switched to running Abzan when Siege Rhino got printed. Abzan is still more played, of course, but Jund has returned a little once Kolaghan's Command got printed. 2% difference between the two: http://www.mtggoldfish.com/metagame/modern#paper
I'm not sure what the numbers were before, but I think Abzan was significantly above the 7% meta share it has today.
Hey guys, I'm currently getting into this archetype and after testing it a few times it really is a very interactive and fun deck to play. The high density of burn spells (to the face) and incidental life gain is something I really dig compared to other decks I play (Grixis Delver and a bit of URb Twin). I got a question about Geist though, is 3 really too few and 4 the number? In some match-ups he is obviously amazing but in some match-ups I'd rather have something else and it can get stuck in your hand when you have one on the field.
Also, what do people think about Blade Splicer? It's a pet card of mine and I think a single Splicer can be good. It's 4 power for 3 over 2 bodies, it has great synergy with Resto, resillent vs sacrifice, blocks Etched Champion and hold the fort well vs smaller creatures.
I think 4 is best because it's usually how you're winning games, but I'm also playing to 2 Elspeth's in the main, so I want to see both of those as much as possible.
Is it recommended to run copies of Serum Visions or Anticipate in the deck?
Anticipate is never worthwhile as the selection doesn't outweigh the fact you're paying 2 mana for it. If you were playing a Control deck, you might consider a cantrip like Think Twice as it can generate card advantage when you have excess mana. Anticipate doesn't generate any advantage, it just replaces itself.
Much the same with Serum Visions, it helps dig through the top of your deck but it wastes a mana you could be using on something else. It's not a bad card, it's just a better card in combo decks. If you are running a combo in the deck you might like it but otherwise I'd take something else like a counterspell or more removal.
Serum Visions is not brainstorm or ponder or even preordain but it is the next best thing and it should be run to control land drops and find cards. Playing without visions is a mistake.
I disagree. Serum Visions isn't strong enough to play, especially since it is sorcery speed. We have the advantage of being able to play almost entirely on our opponent's turn, and playing Visions takes away from that.
Hey guys, I'm currently getting into this archetype and after testing it a few times it really is a very interactive and fun deck to play. The high density of burn spells (to the face) and incidental life gain is something I really dig compared to other decks I play (Grixis Delver and a bit of URb Twin). I got a question about Geist though, is 3 really too few and 4 the number? In some match-ups he is obviously amazing but in some match-ups I'd rather have something else and it can get stuck in your hand when you have one on the field.
Also, what do people think about Blade Splicer? It's a pet card of mine and I think a single Splicer can be good. It's 4 power for 3 over 2 bodies, it has great synergy with Resto, resillent vs sacrifice, blocks Etched Champion and hold the fort well vs smaller creatures.
I think 4 is best because it's usually how you're winning games, but I'm also playing to 2 Elspeth's in the main, so I want to see both of those as much as possible.
Is it recommended to run copies of Serum Visions or Anticipate in the deck?
Anticipate is never worthwhile as the selection doesn't outweigh the fact you're paying 2 mana for it. If you were playing a Control deck, you might consider a cantrip like Think Twice as it can generate card advantage when you have excess mana. Anticipate doesn't generate any advantage, it just replaces itself.
Much the same with Serum Visions, it helps dig through the top of your deck but it wastes a mana you could be using on something else. It's not a bad card, it's just a better card in combo decks. If you are running a combo in the deck you might like it but otherwise I'd take something else like a counterspell or more removal.
Serum Visions is not brainstorm or ponder or even preordain but it is the next best thing and it should be run to control land drops and find cards. Playing without visions is a mistake.
I disagree. Serum Visions isn't strong enough to play, especially since it is sorcery speed. We have the advantage of being able to play almost entirely on our opponent's turn, and playing Visions takes away from that.
Sure - everyone is allowed to have an opinion - but the 'we are in instant speed deck (Geist, cough, cough)' doesn't invalidate the use of Visions - most ppl run it that play Geist - you are in the minority with that view point.
I made a few tweaks based on the local meta for that day. The word was there was no Affinity in the room, but plenty of Infect, Burn, Twin, along with some GBx and Tron. I cut a Cryptic Command in favor of a main deck dispel, and changed a sideboard Shatterstorm to Spellskite.
I am not sure how many players there were, but it wasn't a large tournament. I was able to ID into top 8 after 5 rounds, one of which ended in a draw.
Round 1: BW Tokens (Win 2-1)
Don't remember much except that every game was a challenging, grindy affair. I won both with burn to the face through a Timely Reinforcements.
Round 2: Abzan (Draw)
Game one was incredibly close. I was at one life, and was smashing in with an Angel and Calique, generating tempo by tapping his team with Cryptic Command, but he top decked a Kitchen Finks to make the math not work in my favor. I won game two in Turns with a Keranos and Elspeth on the battlefield.
Round 3: Burn (Win 2-0)
Burn is a great match up. Geist got there game one. Game two I resolved a Kor Firewalker.
Round 4: RG Tron (Win 2-1)
Game one, we both mulled to 5, opponent took it. Game two, lost two Geists to Pyroclasms, but got there with burn and Clique/Angel. Game three Opponent made a crucial misplay that helped me seal the deal.
Round 5: Intentional Draw
I heard he was playing Ad Nauseum, so I was glad to not have to face him.
Top 8 R1: Abzan (Win 2-0)
Same opponent as before. Played Geist on three as I had another in hand. He Lilli'd it away, untapped, jammed Geist, bolted Lili. He played a Seige Rhino, I untapped path'd it, attacked. I don't remember the rest, but I know I won with Geist. Game two was grindy, I think I won with Geist and an Angel.
Top 8 R2: Jeskai Twin (Win 2-0)
It was a blue mirror.
Top 8 R3: RG Tron (Win 2-0)
He was slow to assemble tron in G1 and Geist did what Geist do. Game two I kept a hand of Angel, Bolt, Leak, lands. Slow, but I felt like it was good if he had the T3 Karn. Angel beats, and burn ended the game with the Classic Bolt snap Bolt.
Ended the day 6-0-2.
Some notes:
Serum Visions was awesome. I've played lists with and without it, and the lists with it run smoother, find the needed cards more often, and see sideboard cards more often without question. I will never go back to playing a Jeskai Midrange list without this card. In control, if you're running a think twice or two, 4 copies of electrolyze, and multiple cryptics, I can see not running it since you have a lot of two for ones, and ways to cantrip.
I am going to go on record and say that in the case of UWR Midrange, it is 100% a deck building mistake not to include the best form of deck manipulation that modern offers.
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Threads can be a lot of things really. It just depends on what you're scared of, that's the beauty of UWR
UW Control
UWR Geist
UWR Control
I just played at the "Modern Showdown" that Channel Fireball was running at GP Oakland today, ended up going a decent 6-2, 20th overall out of 220 or so. (Coincidentally, the Amulet player from SCG Cincy was playing, actually--don't think he ended up making top 8 this time, though.) Here's a summary: (See below for decklist)
Round 1: Tron. Lost in 2. I hate Tron. I have definitely won matches against Tron players when landing a turn 2 Stony Silence post-board, but yes, like JulsSkogs said, it has to be turn 2, which may not be a great plan. Still, one very good Tron player I know says he's more afraid of that turn 2 Stony Silence than Blood Moon while there is a clock on the field (Geist).
Aven Mindcensor feels anemic on turn 3 here, and I think it's better to use it only for the Bloom Titan matchup.
0-1
Round 2: Infect. Won in 2. Easy matchup. We have all the answers. (Also 2-for-1'ing Inkmoth Nexus and Wild Defiance with Wear // Tear is such disgusting value.)
1-1
Round 3: Grixis Delver. Won in 3. Both decks try to execute the same gameplan--put a fast clock on the opponent while disrupting their plan. The Grixis Delver variant ran Delver, Abbot of Keral Keep, and Gurmag Anglers. Abbot is an interesting call--adds a lot of value late and the prowess gets in for a surprising amount of damage with enough cantrips. The threats from UWR are tougher to answer, though, but even the easy-to-answer threats like Snapcaster can do a lot of work on a cleared up board.
2-1
Round 4: UR Twin. Won in 3. Usually a pretty easy matchup, but this one became a little close. Game 2 was absurd. I landed a Keranos with my opponent at 9 and me on 12. At this point, I thought the game was basically un-loseable, especially since I was basically Blood Moon-proof: I have a Plains in play and Celestial Purge + Wear // Tear in hand. My opponent Remands/Negates my answers to Blood Moon, and I can only play one answer per turn since I only have 1 white mana. I think I only got 1-2 triggers off the Keranos. Meanwhile, my opponent casts a Keranos of his own and a Jace, AoT. I go on to lose game 2 to these three sideboard haymakers, but game 3 goes much better.
3-1
Round 5: Abzan/Melira Co-Co. Win in 2. Can't remember too much. At one point in game 1, my opponent had 3 Voice of Resurgences, which I could safely ignore by beating down in the air with Resto/Colonnade and then burning him out. Game 2 was a little messier. He had all sorts of goodies out (Melira, Murderous Redcap, Fiend Hunter taking my Clique, Gavony Township), which put me on a very real clock. I Tec Edged the Gavony immediately, but I had to draw into some answers to get the rest of the way there. A Colonnade had to chump once, and I went into a controlled fall of life from 10 to 9 to 6. I found some answers in Lightning Helix for Melira and Path for Murderous Redcap, which allowed me to stabilize enough to beat down with a Colonnade and burn him out.
4-1
Round 6: Affinity. Won in 2. Somewhat favorable matchup. I do actually like Stony Silence here, but JulsSkogs is right--it's not always a gamewinner vs Affinity and isn't necessary. Game 1, I won fairly easily without it. (Opponent did misplay a bit in that one. He played an Etched Champion while I could eliminate Metalcraft to Bolt it.) I then stuck a Geist and burned him out. Game 2 was closer, and I did land a turn 2 Stony Silence. Everything was ok until he landed a Master of Etherium, and unfortunately, I had not landed a Path by that point. The Master of Etherium was a 8/8 while I was at 5, so I was in bad shape. I could chump with a Colonnade or a Resto, and I had an Electrolyze in hand. I prepare to chump with Resto but fire off an Electrolyze pre-blocks at an Ornithopter just in case I draw a Path. What's the topdeck? Path to Exile! Sick. Opponent can't mount any pressure after that, and I win. (Vendilion Clique helped me get an extra draw in this one also. I started off on a hand with two Stony Silences, and had Cliqued one away earlier in the game to get a card deeper into the library.)
5-1
Round 6: Naya Zoo/Burn. Won in 3. Close match. Not much beyond the usual here. I didn't draw Kitchen Finks, so I can't comment on how that was.
6-1
Round 7: BW Eldrazi. Lost in 2. (Would have made top 8 if I won, too bad.) Atrocious matchup, perhaps worse than Tron. Not sure what to do here. Perhaps Molten Rain gets the call over Blood Moon here? Everything they cast is colorless, and the Eldrazi Scions ramp them even without their Eldrazi Temples/Eye of Ugins. Crumble to Dust? Wrath of God? Sower of Temptation? Relics plus hand disruption make it nearly impossible to Path anything, and counterspells are pretty bad against their casting triggers. This matchup has actually felt more unwinnable than Bloom Titan--the only one-for-ones were against hand disruption spells, I'm pretty sure. Lingering Souls adds insult to injury.
6-2
Anyway, the tournament was fun, though I wish that I ended up getting top 8. What are others planning against BW Eldrazi? This is a huge problem for our deck, and it's going to go up in popularity. What have people already tried that has worked or hasn't worked?
4x Lightning Bolt
2x Spell Snare
2x Mana Leak
2x Remand
4x Lightning Helix
2x Electrolyze
4x Snapcaster Mage
4x Geist of Saint Traft
1x Aven Mindcensor
2x Vendilion Clique
3x Restoration Angel
1x Pia and Kiran Nalaar
3x Scalding Tarn
1x Arid Mesa
2x Steam Vents
1x Hallowed Fountain
1x Sacred Foundry
2x Sulfur Falls
4x Celestial Colonnade
1x Eiganjo Castle
2x Island
1x Plains
1x Mountain
2x Tectonic Edge
2x Dispel
1x Negate
1x Wear // Tear
1x Celestial Purge
2x Kitchen Finks
2x Engineered Explosives
2x Stony Silence
2x Blood Moon
1x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2x Keranos, God of Storms
4x Scalding Tarn
4x Flooded Strand
2x Steam Vents
2x Hallowed Fountain
1x Sacred Foundry
2x Celestial Colonnade
2x Sulfur Falls
1x Eiganjo Castle
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Desolate Lighthouse
2x Island
1x Mountain
1x Plains
4x Snapcaster Mage
2x Vendilion Clique
4x Geist of Saint Traft
3x Restoration Angel
1x Thundermaw Hellkite
Planeswalkers:
2x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Instants and Sorceries:
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Path to Exile
2x Spell Pierce
4x Remand
4x Lightning Helix
2x Electrolyze
1x Keranos, God of Storms
1x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1x Izzet Staticaster
1x Kor Firewalker
1x Timely Reinforcements
2x Molten Rain
2x Negate
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Anger of the Gods
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Valorous Stance
1x Celestial Purge
1x Wear/Tear
UW Control
UWR Geist
UWR Control
Cool - list? Matchups?
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
Sweet..
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
Also, what do people think about Blade Splicer? It's a pet card of mine and I think a single Splicer can be good. It's 4 power for 3 over 2 bodies, it has great synergy with Resto, resillent vs sacrifice, blocks Etched Champion and hold the fort well vs smaller creatures.
I run 3, but have run 4 in the past, it depends what you like, having 4 makes him appear multiple times in an average game, sometimes good, sometimes bad really depends.
About 2 years ago people were randomly slotting in blade splicer, before that it was hero of bladehold or even randomly mirran crusader, now its monastery mentor, I`d say it's good to experiment, dunno how much it will come up as a 1 of but still. Geist isn't good for all games and any enter the battlefield triggers are good to be exploited by restoration angel
GWBoglesGW///URDelverUR WVial-knightsW
Anticipate is never worthwhile as the selection doesn't outweigh the fact you're paying 2 mana for it. If you were playing a Control deck, you might consider a cantrip like Think Twice as it can generate card advantage when you have excess mana. Anticipate doesn't generate any advantage, it just replaces itself.
Much the same with Serum Visions, it helps dig through the top of your deck but it wastes a mana you could be using on something else. It's not a bad card, it's just a better card in combo decks. If you are running a combo in the deck you might like it but otherwise I'd take something else like a counterspell or more removal.
I've tried a couple adjustments this weekend. JulsSkogs, I also have gone back to Thundermaw Hellkite in the main to deal with the matchups where we really have to burn out the opponent quickly. BW Eldrazi also plays Lingering Souls, so TMaw is appealing there. TMaw has been a great topdeck against Tron in the past as well. Pia & Kiran are great, but they've gone back into the board since the Tron/Eldrazi matchups have gone up in popularity. I absolutely hate Aven Mindcensor in the main deck--it always feels too slow with 2 power, and doesn't do enough against anything but Amulet. Against Tron, turn 3 is usually enough time to get Tron online, and it is too slow of a clock. (At 3 power, Vendilion Clique has been an absolute beast for me.)
I know Great Nate mentioned a while back that he's been having good results with Kitchen Finks, and now that I've had the opportunity to cast it against Burn, Affinity, Merfolk, and even Boggles, it's just fantastic. It provides a body to trade, chump twice, or beat down on an open board, and Resto is a great combo with it. Its applications are a lot broader than Timely Reinforcements. Also, here is an article by Owen Turtenwald on Kitchen Finks vs other options: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/blitzing-naya/. He has a pretty strong view, but Timely Reinforcements has been good in the past for me also. Kor Firewalker seems too narrow now that Naya Zoo has become a thing--Kor Firewalker doesn't interact well with Wild Nacatl.
Re: number of Geists--I put 3 in the deck before, but I have gone back up to 4. I think you need a high threat density in this deck. You want to have the option to end the game very quickly, and Geist does that. He's even better now that Abzan has been on the downhill, where was the midrange deck against which he was at his worst. He's fine against Jund--the Jund board is easier to clear up than the Abzan board.
Serum Visions is not brainstorm or ponder or even preordain but it is the next best thing and it should be run to control land drops and find cards. Playing without visions is a mistake.
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
Sadly that is not correct - Abzan has overtaken Jund and is now considered by many to be the best GBx deck - which is a huge blow for us. We need answers to souls and need to think about changing sideboard answers..
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
I'm not sure what the numbers were before, but I think Abzan was significantly above the 7% meta share it has today.
It isn't strong enough in other matchups to warrant it's inclusion, in my opinion.
I think 4 is best because it's usually how you're winning games, but I'm also playing to 2 Elspeth's in the main, so I want to see both of those as much as possible.
I disagree. Serum Visions isn't strong enough to play, especially since it is sorcery speed. We have the advantage of being able to play almost entirely on our opponent's turn, and playing Visions takes away from that.
UW Control
UWR Geist
UWR Control
Sure - everyone is allowed to have an opinion - but the 'we are in instant speed deck (Geist, cough, cough)' doesn't invalidate the use of Visions - most ppl run it that play Geist - you are in the minority with that view point.
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
Recently played in a GPT just for fun and to see friends. I ended up taking it down, and beat some of our tougher match ups.
Unfortunately, I'm not much of a writer, and I generally don't remember every detail of my games, so this will be a bit of a quick summary.
Here is the list I chose to run:
1 Arid Mesa
4 Celestial Colonnade
1 Eiganjo Castle
4 Flooded Strand
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Hallowed Fountain
2 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Cryptic Command
1 Dispel
2 Electrolyze
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
2 Mana Leak
4 Path to Exile
2 Remand
3 Serum Visions
Creatures
4 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Restoration Angel
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Dispel
1 Crumble to Dust
1 Celestial Purge
1 Spellskite
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Wear // Tear
1 Keranos, God of Storms
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Aven Mindcensor
2 Kor Firewalker
I made a few tweaks based on the local meta for that day. The word was there was no Affinity in the room, but plenty of Infect, Burn, Twin, along with some GBx and Tron. I cut a Cryptic Command in favor of a main deck dispel, and changed a sideboard Shatterstorm to Spellskite.
I am not sure how many players there were, but it wasn't a large tournament. I was able to ID into top 8 after 5 rounds, one of which ended in a draw.
Round 1: BW Tokens (Win 2-1)
Don't remember much except that every game was a challenging, grindy affair. I won both with burn to the face through a Timely Reinforcements.
Round 2: Abzan (Draw)
Game one was incredibly close. I was at one life, and was smashing in with an Angel and Calique, generating tempo by tapping his team with Cryptic Command, but he top decked a Kitchen Finks to make the math not work in my favor. I won game two in Turns with a Keranos and Elspeth on the battlefield.
Round 3: Burn (Win 2-0)
Burn is a great match up. Geist got there game one. Game two I resolved a Kor Firewalker.
Round 4: RG Tron (Win 2-1)
Game one, we both mulled to 5, opponent took it. Game two, lost two Geists to Pyroclasms, but got there with burn and Clique/Angel. Game three Opponent made a crucial misplay that helped me seal the deal.
Round 5: Intentional Draw
I heard he was playing Ad Nauseum, so I was glad to not have to face him.
Top 8 R1: Abzan (Win 2-0)
Same opponent as before. Played Geist on three as I had another in hand. He Lilli'd it away, untapped, jammed Geist, bolted Lili. He played a Seige Rhino, I untapped path'd it, attacked. I don't remember the rest, but I know I won with Geist. Game two was grindy, I think I won with Geist and an Angel.
Top 8 R2: Jeskai Twin (Win 2-0)
It was a blue mirror.
Top 8 R3: RG Tron (Win 2-0)
He was slow to assemble tron in G1 and Geist did what Geist do. Game two I kept a hand of Angel, Bolt, Leak, lands. Slow, but I felt like it was good if he had the T3 Karn. Angel beats, and burn ended the game with the Classic Bolt snap Bolt.
Ended the day 6-0-2.
Some notes:
Serum Visions was awesome. I've played lists with and without it, and the lists with it run smoother, find the needed cards more often, and see sideboard cards more often without question. I will never go back to playing a Jeskai Midrange list without this card. In control, if you're running a think twice or two, 4 copies of electrolyze, and multiple cryptics, I can see not running it since you have a lot of two for ones, and ways to cantrip.
I am going to go on record and say that in the case of UWR Midrange, it is 100% a deck building mistake not to include the best form of deck manipulation that modern offers.