Maybe one kataki out for a mark? Mark had won me many games is honestly our best tool against jund. It works great as a one off too since it's best in long matchups. It's worth noting that sticking mark has single handedly won me the game vs delver as well.
I edited the post after you replied, so I'll repost the bit I added:
In the case of Scapeshift, wouldn't another Aven Mindcensor do more damage? It'd help with fetch-heavy decks like UWRControl as well.
Maybe the better change here is to take out both Kataki and add a Mark of Asylum and a third Aven Mindcensor in the sideboard in their place?
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“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
Why would anyone in the monowhite build run any less than 4 Aven Mindcensor between main and sideboard? It flys and his one of the best hatebears. And against the match ups where it really shines we need more than one almost always.
Again about Revoker, Im a big fan of the card mainboard against some mu's like affinity, twin, pod or tron. But right now Im not running it just because it is too bad against uwr wich is really popular right now, mostly because it keeps in check scapeshift and twin. Electrolyze is a card that I hate to see. I just took them out for some Spellskite, 1xBrimaz and 1xLinvala main. Brimaz and Linvala gives the deck a bit more raw power, specially brimaz of course.
The single sword is just, again, to put me in the position where every single creature is a real threat and maybe get some CA. To maximize the raw power. I dont really care if they path it. Anyway it's probably the only slot that gives me some doubts on the sideboard. Its, probably, between the sword and one Mark of Asylum. Any help please!
How are the mangaras serving you? I still am not sure how i'd feel about them in modern, but if I recall correctly you said you've had some success with them. I'd really run a mark of asylum over mangara side, since scapeshift is everywhere as well as jund and UWR all running anger of the gods which can blow us out. Pithing needle and eidolon of rhetoric are notably missing as well, but that could be a meta call. If you're gonna run sword, I'd look for room side or main for two mirran crusaders, possibly replacing two of your kitchen finks side.
Lastly, it's worth noting you might wanna replace some spellskite with sundering growth as a meta call, since twin now maindecks twisted image (God I hate that card)
Why would anyone in the monowhite build run any less than 4 Aven Mindcensor between main and sideboard? It flys and his one of the best hatebears. And against the match ups where it really shines we need more than one almost always.
Again about Revoker, Im a big fan of the card mainboard against some mu's like affinity, twin, pod or tron. But right now Im not running it just because it is too bad against uwr wich is really popular right now, mostly because it keeps in check scapeshift and twin. Electrolyze is a card that I hate to see. I just took them out for some Spellskite, 1xBrimaz and 1xLinvala main. Brimaz and Linvala gives the deck a bit more raw power, specially brimaz of course.
The single sword is just, again, to put me in the position where every single creature is a real threat and maybe get some CA. To maximize the raw power. I dont really care if they path it. Anyway it's probably the only slot that gives me some doubts on the sideboard. Its, probably, between the sword and one Mark of Asylum. Any help please!
How are the mangaras serving you? I still am not sure how i'd feel about them in modern, but if I recall correctly you said you've had some success with them. I'd really run a mark of asylum over mangara side, since scapeshift is everywhere as well as jund and UWR all running anger of the gods which can blow us out. Pithing needle and eidolon of rhetoric are notably missing as well, but that could be a meta call. If you're gonna run sword, I'd look for room side or main for two mirran crusaders, possibly replacing two of your kitchen finks side.
Lastly, it's worth noting you might wanna replace some spellskite with sundering growth as a meta call, since twin now maindecks twisted image (God I hate that card)
Managara is slow... but it just deals with pretty much everything and has sinergy. I really like it. I am not sure about mark of asylum... Burrenton + Spellskite has been enough for me. I cant take out completely from the 75 Kitchen Finks it is just sooo good vs aggro and even uwr. Maybe go down to 2.. Mirran Crusader isnt good enought in my opinion to run. Sundering Growth I will totally test it! Thanks!
Totally fair points haha. I'm just burned on spellskite (but still keep two side) after eating twisted image a hundred times haha.
in the words of the mythical primer, too mana intensive. WW is kinda tricky turn two even for mono white, and 2W is a LOT to pay for that effect. I use almost all my mana every turn. There just isn't room for that at all. I understand the desire though, I wish mom was modern legal too haha.
Why would anyone in the monowhite build run any less than 4 Aven Mindcensor between main and sideboard? It flys and his one of the best hatebears. And against the match ups where it really shines we need more than one almost always.
In an increasing number of matchups, it's just a Flash flyer. It's definitely a powerful card, but not always a desirable topdeck. I'm not the only person to run it as a two-of in the deck. A number of people don't run it at all.
I think Mindcensor has a learning curve to it, too. I added the initial two because that's what Death & Taxes players were doing at the time. It took at least a month of playing with it to remotely like it. It took two months to really understand it, and it's only been recently that I've started to really value it. I'm perfectly comfortable with the two maindeck Mindcensors, and I wouldn't want more than that. Against some decks, however, siding in a third could help to strengthen those matchups.
“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
Common sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world, for each one thinks he is so well-endowed with it that even those who are hardest to satisfy in all other matters are not in the habit of desiring more of it than they already have. - René Descartes
Why would anyone in the monowhite build run any less than 4 Aven Mindcensor between main and sideboard? It flys and his one of the best hatebears. And against the match ups where it really shines we need more than one almost always.
In an increasing number of matchups, it's just a Flash flyer. It's definitely a powerful card, but not always a desirable topdeck. I'm not the only person to run it as a two-of in the deck. A number of people don't run it at all.
I think Mindcensor has a learning curve to it, too. I added the initial two because that's what Death & Taxes players were doing at the time. It took at least a month of playing with it to remotely like it. It took two months to really understand it, and it's only been recently that I've started to really value it. I'm perfectly comfortable with the two maindeck Mindcensors, and I wouldn't want more than that. Against some decks, however, siding in a third could help to strengthen those matchups.
Monowhites weird. It doesn't contain enough really good creatures for the plan, so it's sideboard always inevitably bleeds into it's mainboard, be it through revokers, spellskites, or extra aven mindcensors. The moral is it doesn't actually matter what you're playing more of anyway. Every mono white player essentially keeps four board cards in the main that will improve SOME match up G1. You're both guilty haha.
I had to wipe off my screen after reading this. Damn soda...
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
I play a single eight-and-a-half tails main in my MW list. My games tend to be slower and grindier.
I used to play 2 8.5 tails but I really never want more than one. The ideal play is to drop him off a vial on turn 3 with 3 lands up. The awesome thing about him is that he does not need to tap to provide protection. Eiganjo Castle protects him from bolts and anger of the gods as well
Fun story with 8.5 tails. Was playing in a MTGO daily, and was up against jund. Mulliganed a no land hand to a 4 land hand with wisp and vial, not great but kept. I drop vial turn 1 and he thoughtseizes my wisp and must think he has the game with ease. I draw a fifth land next turn. Not good. He drops a goyf. I draw 8.5 tails turn 3 and vial it in on his turn to protect my vial from a decay. I go on to win the game as 8.5 tails slows the game way down and lets me draw out of the mana flood. I end up winning that match,
He is also great vs soul sisters and tokens (two of our worst matchups), and you can change equipment to white and make it fall off, like cranial plating off an etched champion, and pro white swords.
Like I said, though, I only play a single because he does not function like a true two drop, but he definitely rewards smart, tight, and creative play.
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My Modern decks: Death and Taxes, Hatebears, Well Oiled Machine, Merfolk, Nyx Wave, Soul Sisters, Stompy, Matyr Proc, Naya Zoo, Robots (I refuse to call it affinity!), Bogles, Kiki Chord
I play a single eight-and-a-half tails main in my MW list. My games tend to be slower and grindier.
I used to play 2 8.5 tails but I really never want more than one. The ideal play is to drop him off a vial on turn 3 with 3 lands up. The awesome thing about him is that he does not need to tap to provide protection. Eiganjo Castle protects him from bolts and anger of the gods as well
Fun story with 8.5 tails. Was playing in a MTGO daily, and was up against jund. Mulliganed a no land hand to a 4 land hand with wisp and vial, not great but kept. I drop vial turn 1 and he thoughtseizes my wisp and must think he has the game with ease. I draw a fifth land next turn. Not good. He drops a goyf. I draw 8.5 tails turn 3 and vial it in on his turn to protect my vial from a decay. I go on to win the game as 8.5 tails slows the game way down and lets me draw out of the mana flood. I end up winning that match,
He is also great vs soul sisters and tokens (two of our worst matchups), and you can change equipment to white and make it fall off, like cranial plating off an etched champion, and pro white swords.
Like I said, though, I only play a single because he does not function like a true two drop, but he definitely rewards smart, tight, and creative play.
I do do a similar investment with pack rat. Except he's actually great in multiples and wins me the game while letting me pitch lands and extra vials if I get bad draws. And has an easier cost :p.
I play a single eight-and-a-half tails main in my MW list. My games tend to be slower and grindier.
I used to play 2 8.5 tails but I really never want more than one. The ideal play is to drop him off a vial on turn 3 with 3 lands up. The awesome thing about him is that he does not need to tap to provide protection. Eiganjo Castle protects him from bolts and anger of the gods as well
Fun story with 8.5 tails. Was playing in a MTGO daily, and was up against jund. Mulliganed a no land hand to a 4 land hand with wisp and vial, not great but kept. I drop vial turn 1 and he thoughtseizes my wisp and must think he has the game with ease. I draw a fifth land next turn. Not good. He drops a goyf. I draw 8.5 tails turn 3 and vial it in on his turn to protect my vial from a decay. I go on to win the game as 8.5 tails slows the game way down and lets me draw out of the mana flood. I end up winning that match,
He is also great vs soul sisters and tokens (two of our worst matchups), and you can change equipment to white and make it fall off, like cranial plating off an etched champion, and pro white swords.
Like I said, though, I only play a single because he does not function like a true two drop, but he definitely rewards smart, tight, and creative play.
I do do a similar investment with pack rat. Except he's actually great in multiples and wins me the game while letting me pitch lands and extra vials if I get bad draws. And has an easier cost :p.
My mana base doesn't fold to blood moon
Edit: oh, and I pitch my extra lands and vials to mask of memory, not that I pitch many lands cause I can play 4 man-lands due to being monowhite.
My Modern decks: Death and Taxes, Hatebears, Well Oiled Machine, Merfolk, Nyx Wave, Soul Sisters, Stompy, Matyr Proc, Naya Zoo, Robots (I refuse to call it affinity!), Bogles, Kiki Chord
I play a single eight-and-a-half tails main in my MW list. My games tend to be slower and grindier.
I used to play 2 8.5 tails but I really never want more than one. The ideal play is to drop him off a vial on turn 3 with 3 lands up. The awesome thing about him is that he does not need to tap to provide protection. Eiganjo Castle protects him from bolts and anger of the gods as well
Fun story with 8.5 tails. Was playing in a MTGO daily, and was up against jund. Mulliganed a no land hand to a 4 land hand with wisp and vial, not great but kept. I drop vial turn 1 and he thoughtseizes my wisp and must think he has the game with ease. I draw a fifth land next turn. Not good. He drops a goyf. I draw 8.5 tails turn 3 and vial it in on his turn to protect my vial from a decay. I go on to win the game as 8.5 tails slows the game way down and lets me draw out of the mana flood. I end up winning that match,
He is also great vs soul sisters and tokens (two of our worst matchups), and you can change equipment to white and make it fall off, like cranial plating off an etched champion, and pro white swords.
Like I said, though, I only play a single because he does not function like a true two drop, but he definitely rewards smart, tight, and creative play.
I do do a similar investment with pack rat. Except he's actually great in multiples and wins me the game while letting me pitch lands and extra vials if I get bad draws. And has an easier cost :p.
My mana base doesn't fold to blood moon
That's why I always keep basic lands up my sleeves hahaha
Welcome to Snarky Tuesday on the Death & Taxes Primer.
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“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
Please continue the D&T discussion here. Huge thanks to To, DrWorm, and all of you awesome users for keeping up this primer and discussion for so long; it's either the longest running, or one of the longest running, threads on the forum. Keep up the great work everyone!
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Over-Extended/Modern Since 2010
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- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
How are the mangaras serving you? I still am not sure how i'd feel about them in modern, but if I recall correctly you said you've had some success with them. I'd really run a mark of asylum over mangara side, since scapeshift is everywhere as well as jund and UWR all running anger of the gods which can blow us out. Pithing needle and eidolon of rhetoric are notably missing as well, but that could be a meta call. If you're gonna run sword, I'd look for room side or main for two mirran crusaders, possibly replacing two of your kitchen finks side.
Lastly, it's worth noting you might wanna replace some spellskite with sundering growth as a meta call, since twin now maindecks twisted image (God I hate that card)
b-b-but Linvala can't block Etched Champion.
Totally fair points haha. I'm just burned on spellskite (but still keep two side) after eating twisted image a hundred times haha.
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I think Mindcensor has a learning curve to it, too. I added the initial two because that's what Death & Taxes players were doing at the time. It took at least a month of playing with it to remotely like it. It took two months to really understand it, and it's only been recently that I've started to really value it. I'm perfectly comfortable with the two maindeck Mindcensors, and I wouldn't want more than that. Against some decks, however, siding in a third could help to strengthen those matchups.
Poor Mirran Crusader...cut again...
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
Damn bolt...
Monowhites weird. It doesn't contain enough really good creatures for the plan, so it's sideboard always inevitably bleeds into it's mainboard, be it through revokers, spellskites, or extra aven mindcensors. The moral is it doesn't actually matter what you're playing more of anyway. Every mono white player essentially keeps four board cards in the main that will improve SOME match up G1. You're both guilty haha.
I had to wipe off my screen after reading this. Damn soda...
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
I used to play 2 8.5 tails but I really never want more than one. The ideal play is to drop him off a vial on turn 3 with 3 lands up. The awesome thing about him is that he does not need to tap to provide protection. Eiganjo Castle protects him from bolts and anger of the gods as well
Fun story with 8.5 tails. Was playing in a MTGO daily, and was up against jund. Mulliganed a no land hand to a 4 land hand with wisp and vial, not great but kept. I drop vial turn 1 and he thoughtseizes my wisp and must think he has the game with ease. I draw a fifth land next turn. Not good. He drops a goyf. I draw 8.5 tails turn 3 and vial it in on his turn to protect my vial from a decay. I go on to win the game as 8.5 tails slows the game way down and lets me draw out of the mana flood. I end up winning that match,
He is also great vs soul sisters and tokens (two of our worst matchups), and you can change equipment to white and make it fall off, like cranial plating off an etched champion, and pro white swords.
Like I said, though, I only play a single because he does not function like a true two drop, but he definitely rewards smart, tight, and creative play.
I do do a similar investment with pack rat. Except he's actually great in multiples and wins me the game while letting me pitch lands and extra vials if I get bad draws. And has an easier cost :p.
My mana base doesn't fold to blood moon
Edit: oh, and I pitch my extra lands and vials to mask of memory, not that I pitch many lands cause I can play 4 man-lands due to being monowhite.
That's why I always keep basic lands up my sleeves hahaha
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
Haha well soon it will all be washed away in the glory of the new thread, and we can all turn over a new leaf
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
FREE DIG THOROUGH TIME!
PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
It's done hahahaha I just need to hear back from the mod! I told you what I added :p. Should be pretttttty sweet.
Please continue the D&T discussion here. Huge thanks to To, DrWorm, and all of you awesome users for keeping up this primer and discussion for so long; it's either the longest running, or one of the longest running, threads on the forum. Keep up the great work everyone!