I've been having trouble shoring up this deck against Blitzkrieg, another pet deck of mine. Is this a matchup any of you are familiar with? It's absolutely vicious at taking apart decks like Stompy. Is Display of Dominance worth putting into the SB for Liliana? Or is the matchup just fundamentally bad?
The match up is just bad. We need creatures to win, and so heavy removal is always good against us. Thrun doesn't even help that much in a deck with Liliana's. It's why Junk and Jund are unfavorable for us unless you can aggro them out early. Vines is the key MB, and I have 2 Ranger's Guile in the SB. The plan is that some combination of their painful manabase, a clunky hand, and quick aggro on our part can win the match up.
This deck runs super smoothly, and from my experience its best matchups are against burn, Zoo, and grixis control.
It's not as fast as burn, but its much more stable, and can be almost as explosive as Affinity with Aspect of Hydra.
What's so great about this deck is how hard it is to bring down. Removal spells are eaten by Strangleroot, and countered by Vines of Vastwood. Lightning Bolt does little to nothing, and counterspells aren't even a worry post sideboard. (VEXING SHUSHER)
Modern: G Stompy G UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR UWB Spirits UWB UWB Brain Control UWB WUB Esper Reveillark WUB EDH: WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
@wombat:I fully agree:the deck is as consistent as ever. I believe in current meta that it is even more potent than lay fine I did will with it. With control moving further away from counters and more to spot removal cats like vines of vastwood become amazing in the deck,as well as sr Geist. Every card is aggressive for the most part and many,like militant, serve secondary purposes.
Was thinking of replacing 1x rancor with a hardened scales. 14 counter creatures with scoozr along with only needing 3 mana to carry scooze and get it out of bolt range. Also another 1 drop in case no e1 or militant in hand. Also possibly making room for evolutionary leap in side versus control or grindy match ups. A bit gimmicky but could ensure gas in late game. And helps against over extending against wrath effects/ugin. Thoughts?
Edit: another possible plus for scales is it can get the 2 counters on e1 to regenerate with only one creature drop, giving you another t2 line of play scales militant swing 3 and having regen shield on e1 accessible...I will test in the morning on mtgo...and may use 3x scooze of its working.
I don't like Evolutionary Leap for this deck. In cases where the going gets long or grindy, we need to go low. If you are playing against a deck with wrath effects, just don't over commit.
I don't like Evolutionary Leap for this deck. In cases where the going gets long or grindy, we need to go low. If you are playing against a deck with wrath effects, just don't over commit.
after testing I am with you on leap, but pretty hooked on hardened scales.
That is interesting as I had a list designed around scales, but because it didn't affect the board state immediately it was looked unfavorably. Did you have any issues top decking it?
So after play testing more online i am going to be running the following list (only change is if i can't get 2nd relic i will throw a grafdigger's Cage in, it hurts geist but can really hurt other decks as well again i prefer the relic.) I know many won't agree with the inclusion of 2x hardened scales but they have been testing out pretty good.
I will leave the following spoiler up so I can update matches from my phone as i finish them tomorrow.
Round 1 (0-2) UWR control/kiki combo. Game one he got me with (prior to wrath was remand, remand, snapcaster remand on my sr geist)wrath then swung bolt snap bolt for the win. Game two I kept a really aggressive 1 land hand and didn't drop 2nd land till he had a batterskull in play.
\Round 2 (1-2) infect: won game oe with aggressio. Game 2 and three he had distortion strike so I couldnt block his creature and was enough to kill me.
Round 3 (2-0) grixis control Both games got damage through early and he was behind trying to stabilize the whole game
Round 4: (2-1)WU Gifts: Militant were amazing both games I won and i was able to keep enough board position and hand in case of wrath. The game i lost I could have won before he stabilized but I didn't want to over extend and get 3-1.
Round 5: Grixis control (2-1): Pulled out game 1. Got heavily mana flooded (4 lands in a row) both game 2 and 3 so ran out of gad pretty fast.
That is interesting as I had a list designed around scales, but because it didn't affect the board state immediately it was looked unfavorably. Did you have any issues top decking it?
I like it for two reasons, one it makes e1 regenerate sooner and two it gets scooze out of bolt range for 3cmc instead of 4. If you notice most the deck didn't change. I would be against designing a deck around it,using young wolf etc... but putting it in as a two of has been great so far. It fits in places where I would have a mana floating anyways like in the t1 e1 t2 militant with scales you can cast t2 scales then militant swing 3 then have a regen shield on e1. Even comes in when you have no other possible t1 play and makes sr Geist and scooze even more menacing. Building around it seems bad, building it into the deck seems to be working gooD so far.
Wanted to post a quick update of my results from SCG States. Overall record of 3-2 before I dropped with two rounds left (I was out of top 8 contention, and decided to pack it in and hang out with my family instead).
Round 1: Mardu Mid-Range (Loss 2-0). Kept a mediocre hand game one, had to mulligan to 5 in game 2.
Round 2: Junk (Win 2-1). Stole game 2 on the back of two Aspects for 7 each. One game 3 on the back of a Ooze with 17 counters on it.
Round 3: Jund (Win 2-1). Both games managed to win before he got set up. Ranger's Guile was great protection
Round 4: GR Tron (Loss 2-0). This matchup is unwinnable unless they really stumble. Thinking it might be bad enough to remove Deglamor effects and pick more effective hate for something else.
Round 5: Jeskai Brew (Win 2-1). Dungrove Elder won both games for me.
I make top 8 and fails at the gates of the final (half) yesterday in a tournament of 30 players.
2-1 against Infect (2 spellskite main deck, deal with it )
2-0 against Burn
2-1 against RG Tron
2-0 against a UB brew with Bitterblossom
+ draw
I finished first
Top 8:
1/4: 2-0 against RG Tron (the same)
1/2: 0-2 against Grixis control (future winner)
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GOBOTS
2-1 against lantern control; unravel the Æthersaved my life from his ensnaring bridge....
2-0 against a home brew rakdos zombie deck; all he did was inquisition of kozilek me to death
1-2 against boros burn it seems; didn't have anything to side against it and wasn't expecting it so...booooo
2-1 against dredgevine; Scavenging ooze with rancor unstoppable and Dryad militant just made him nerd rage hard....it was kinda surprising...
Really fun deck to play, and the best part: it's CHEEAAAAPPP~
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
That's awesome man, good luck. Mind sharing your list? Also curious to see your SB
If the PT goes poorly u can find me @ Wisconsin States
4 Dryad Militant
3 Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Avatar of the Resolute
3 Kalonian Tusker
4 Leatherback Baloth
4 Rancor
4 Aspect of Hydra
1 Dismember
21 Forest
3 Gut Shot
3 Unravel the Aether
2 Ranger's Guile
2 Feed the Clan
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Scavenging Ooze
1 Dismember
4 Experiment one
4 dryad militant
4 avatar of the resolute
3 kalonian tusker
4 strangleroot geist
2 spellskite
4 leatherback Baloth
4 Rancor
4 Vines of Vastwood
4 aspect of hydra
2 dismember
Lands 21
1 treetop Village
20 forest
2 Gut shot
2 feed the clan
2 choke
2 oxidize
1 deglamer
1 unravel the aether
1 Thrun, the last troll
2 relic of progenitus
2 scavenging ooze
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
It's not as fast as burn, but its much more stable, and can be almost as explosive as Affinity with Aspect of Hydra.
What's so great about this deck is how hard it is to bring down. Removal spells are eaten by Strangleroot, and countered by Vines of Vastwood. Lightning Bolt does little to nothing, and counterspells aren't even a worry post sideboard. (VEXING SHUSHER)
G Stompy G
UR Izzet Prowess/Delver UR
UWB Spirits UWB
UWB Brain Control UWBWUB Esper Reveillark WUB
EDH:
WUBRG Horde of Notions WUBRG
W Nine-and-a-Half TailsW
WGUR Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis WGUR
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
Edit: another possible plus for scales is it can get the 2 counters on e1 to regenerate with only one creature drop, giving you another t2 line of play scales militant swing 3 and having regen shield on e1 accessible...I will test in the morning on mtgo...and may use 3x scooze of its working.
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GOBOTS
4 Experiment One
4 Dryad Militant
4 avatar of the resolute
2 Kalonian Tusker
3 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Dismember
2 Hardened Scales
3 Aspect of hydra
3 Rancor
4 Vines of Vastwood
Lands 21
2 Treetop Village
19 Forests
2 spellskite
2 Feed the Clan
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
1 Unravel the Æther
1 Deglamer
1 Thrun, the last troll
I will leave the following spoiler up so I can update matches from my phone as i finish them tomorrow.
\Round 2 (1-2) infect: won game oe with aggressio. Game 2 and three he had distortion strike so I couldnt block his creature and was enough to kill me.
Round 3 (2-0) grixis control Both games got damage through early and he was behind trying to stabilize the whole game
Round 4: (2-1)WU Gifts: Militant were amazing both games I won and i was able to keep enough board position and hand in case of wrath. The game i lost I could have won before he stabilized but I didn't want to over extend and get 3-1.
Round 5: Grixis control (2-1): Pulled out game 1. Got heavily mana flooded (4 lands in a row) both game 2 and 3 so ran out of gad pretty fast.
Not so good, dropped at 2-3.
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
Wanted to post a quick update of my results from SCG States. Overall record of 3-2 before I dropped with two rounds left (I was out of top 8 contention, and decided to pack it in and hang out with my family instead).
Round 1: Mardu Mid-Range (Loss 2-0). Kept a mediocre hand game one, had to mulligan to 5 in game 2.
Round 2: Junk (Win 2-1). Stole game 2 on the back of two Aspects for 7 each. One game 3 on the back of a Ooze with 17 counters on it.
Round 3: Jund (Win 2-1). Both games managed to win before he got set up. Ranger's Guile was great protection
Round 4: GR Tron (Loss 2-0). This matchup is unwinnable unless they really stumble. Thinking it might be bad enough to remove Deglamor effects and pick more effective hate for something else.
Round 5: Jeskai Brew (Win 2-1). Dungrove Elder won both games for me.
Hope this is helpful.
2-1 against Infect (2 spellskite main deck, deal with it )
2-0 against Burn
2-1 against RG Tron
2-0 against a UB brew with Bitterblossom
+ draw
I finished first
Top 8:
1/4: 2-0 against RG Tron (the same)
1/2: 0-2 against Grixis control (future winner)
Here is my list:
19 Forest
2 Treetop Village
Spells
3 Aspect of Hydra
3 Dismember
4 Rancor
4 Vines of Vastwood
Creatures
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
3 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Spellskite
4 Strangleroot Geist
2 Creeping Corrosion
2 Feed the Clan
2 Gut Shot
1 Oxidize
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
2 Unravel the Æther
1 Pithing Needle
1 Bow of Nylea
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Choke
Top 8 meta:
1: Grixis control
2: Grixis Twin
3: Stompy
4: Grixis control
5: Uw Control
6: Grixis control
7: RG Tron
8: Affinity
I was very lucky to beat RG Tron twice ! Especially as it was an experienced player, was the boss of the shop, Pithing Needle on Map save me twice !
RG Titan Scapeshift GR
UBWAd Nauseam WBU
CEldrazi TronC