Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
I finally got around to sleeving up a version of this deck and trying it out. I was still missing a few cards for my final build (mostly Idyllic Tutors and a Reminisce or two), so I threw in a trio of Manabarbs to help fill the spots. The theory being that most of our mana is coming from the borderposts, and thus does not trigger Manabarbs, while our opponents are getting Armageddoned and have to rebuild either via ramp, value creatures, or other things which require tapping their newly played lands.
lo and behold, every game where I landed a barbs and got off a balance, it was a winning condition. I didn't even have to worry about sac'ing to GG, just let the barbs slowly kill them and sit on a balance-cascade or keep Tezz 2.0 spooling up my posts until he hit lethal ultimate range.
I went 3-1-1 in the Box of Saga/Legacy event on Thursday, losing to FaerieTwin and punting a game against Zoo (which then caused the match to go to time).
Round 1: 2-0 Affinity
Opponent got a game loss for spending three minutes to write out his deck list as soon as he discovered we needed lists. In that time a judge walked over, saw me waiting and gave him the game loss. Neither of us particularly liked this, but I'm not stupid enough to argue this kind of a ruling with the judge.
We weren't allowed to SB for game two, but he did get the play. He leads with double memnite and no land. I cruised to victory on a very long drawn out game, but I was in control the whole way.
Rounds 2-4 might be a little out of order, but bear with me.
Round 2: 1-2 FaerieTwin
I got game 1 (this deck always does). Too many decks think it's okay to go for the eot clique, then they get rocked by violent outburst. But unfortunately this opponent had tested the match-up and it showed. He played the textbook gameplan that my own playgroup had settled on as the only way for twin to win. He played the game like he was straight-up permission and eventually comboed out with 8+ mana. Spellstutter Sprite is the big problem card in this match-up, you can deal with anything else through ricochet traps, but the traps can't stop the trigger. I'm not sure that he had the combo mainboard, but it was his route to victory in both games 2 and 3.
Round 3: 2-0 MonoWhite Turbofog
Uh... yeah... Luminarch Ascension was kinda interesting in game 2, but his access to mana was restricted after I landed a balance (first was stopped by silence).
Round 4: 1-1-1 Zoo
Easy win game 1, this deck is literally built to get a bye vs zoo. Game 2 he lacked any relevant hate, I just was stupid. Rule #1 against big zoo is never, ever, ever, ever let them untap with 4 mana. A resolved elspeth is the one thing they run that can kill you. I knew this from testing. But I got greedy. And got my face stomped in. The worst part is that I didn't think to concede to give myself enough time to win game 3, instead, like an idiot, I spent 20 minutes doing cool tricks to barely stay alive delaying the inevitable. I'm an idiot. Game 3 went to time.
Round 5: 2-(1 or 0, I don't remember) Death Cloud
Resolved Liliana of the Veil is annoying and will easily ultimate on you 2+ times, but it doesn't do that much more. I really don't understand this match-up, but when it comes down to it, you're more redundant, you topdeck better, and gargadon swings for 9 haste to kill liliana. They also get pretty mana-hungry and that is just bad news for any opponent of balance.
End result: 3-1-1
I missed the cut to T4 because of my stupid punt in G2 against zoo.
Pick-up 8-man Tournaments:
Friday was easy to 3-0 because at that point it was a field of zoo.
I will say that I had a bad match-up vs the updated Tarmorack deck I faced in the finals of one. I got game one on the back of aggroing out with March of the Machines, but in game two he brought in more SB cards than I could believe and I gratefully accepted his offer to ID rather than play out game 3.
After Friday my luck turned. I kept getting matched up against Tomathan88 and his D&T build. While game one seemed to be biased towards me, his expertise with his deck showed and I also seemed to be situated at the crossroads of all his sideboard cards.
I saw one burn deck and got stomped in that match. each game I'd nuke his board while in low single digits then he'd topdeck a land and shard volley or bolt me. I would claim lucky topdecks, but let's be honest, sometimes sligh just wins.
I also would like to apologize to the poor kid who got paired up against me in round 1 of one of the 8-mans with his modified Ajani duel deck. Running this deck against a young player still learning the ropes just feels mean.
My thoughts on my list: Dismember was a last second replacement for rift bolt, and I must say it performed. It was good just everywhere. It also helps mitigate the abysmal match-up vs competent FaerieTwinners.
Krosan Grip in the SB was another last second sub (replacing wispmare). I liked it a lot, it gave me more SB fodder for D&T and it was also better vs twin. With it in my board however, I thing I can drop from the 4 ingot chewer, 4 grip. This opens some valuable flex spots in my SB that I probably want to devote to something to stop burn. What that might be however is still unknown.
I really do like the 20 Borderpost build. I just don't know how people do with less. I also found that 4 Balance is just too important to this deck to shave to 3. You need to be able to balance aggressively, and you'll run out of them with only 3.
The other big thing is that you need playing this deck is nerves of steel when mulliganing. Don't hesitate to throw back an iffy hand. Mulling to 4 on the play is fine, and even if you get a bad hand at 4, it is still best to muil lower. 10 lands is low, and you will have to mull frequently, but a winning hand is possible at obscenely low starting hand sizes and you must find a land, and ideally with two or more borderposts. And, if you open a spread of 7 with 3 or more land, throw it back. Just remember that this deck is probably the most redundant deck out there. With a 10 land, 20 borderpost, and 10 cascade spread before we even get to the 4-ofs, you will be able to topdeck what you need very reliably.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
I am thinking about getting this deck, and I have just one question. How do you deal with PWs?
If you're playing it right (as in not screwing up like I did in G2 against that one opponent) then the vast majority should never be able to hit the field.
The 2 walkers that should come down against you are baby jace and liliana of the veil. Jace is no big deal, just deal with him by swinging at him or ignoring him, it doesn't really matter because balance is built to negate any card advantage they can muster.
Liliana is the more problematic one, and not one that I have an easy answer to. In my experience, she should be able to land successfully and then drag out the game for even longer than normal as you'll each be hellbent for turns on end. She should just ultimate on you a couple times before you get a suspended gargadon to resolve, at which point the hasted 9 damage typically will both deal with her and clinch the game at the same time. I know it sounds ugly, but this deck is built to be in topdeck mode, and it does it better than almost any other deck out there. Certainly better than any deck running liliana.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
I am thinking about getting this deck, and I have just one question. How do you deal with PWs?
It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to side Beast Within or Oblivion Ring (or maybe main deck a couple.)
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Around my area, I have been having trouble with Combo gifts (Reanimator)
Any idea how to fight the graveyard?
Also, Ajani WR is the best PW.
And the bounce creature..... I am not sure if it is good enoug
And what do you think about counterspells? Against past in flames and such.
I've found the best way to fight the graveyard to be to simply ignore it. You're able to beat almost anything that reanimator and the like can throw at you, the only real threats are goryo's vengeance and bloodghasts. Vengeance is pretty rare and I haven't exactly seen many bloodghasts running around either.
If you run an aggressively balancing list like mine, you should be able to simply keep people off the requisite land and resources to function.
As for counterspells, I haven't really found much need for them past the ricochet traps in the board. Understand though that Restore Balance's strength is that it automatically beats aggro and can fudge decent scores against everything else (barring spellstutter sprite). I don't think you want to sacrifice your amazing match-ups to marginally improve a rare lagging one.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
Around my area, I have been having trouble with Combo gifts (Reanimator)
Any idea how to fight the graveyard?
Also, Ajani WR is the best PW.
And the bounce creature..... I am not sure if it is good enoug
And what do you think about counterspells? Against past in flames and such.
Graveyard hate isn't exactly needed in this deck. They cast a Vengeance, you Violent Outburst once the creature hits play. Or you Balance before they can even get rolling. Living End? Not an issue for this deck.
Ajani is good, but I also like Gideon in this deck. He makes a decent alternate win condition. The five mana cost is a little steep, I admit, but I've always been glad to have him.
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On Mythic Rares: "What's next, Wizards will print six golden Black Lotuses and randomly place them in boosters, and if someone gets one, they get to tour the Wizards facility?"
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
I run 20 borderposts. This means that I will have very consistent access to mana if I can find but one land (20 borderposts and ten land also means I run more mana sources than most any other deck out there). At the same time, I have colour requirements across all 5 colours but all my borderposts need basics to function. Terramorphic expanse is simply the best way to provide the fixing my deck needs without crippling what makes it strong (heavy borderpost redundancy and consistent early powerful balances).
I strongly recommend you peruse my list, I believe it to be one of the strongest lists in use and conveniently cheap to build as well.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
See Beyond isn't worth it in this deck for a very simple reason. When you're facing down two or three creatures on turn three that are threatening to swing for lethal next turn, hitting ANYTHING that isn't Restore Balance with cascade loses you the game. Cascading into Restore balance and wiping the opponent's board of land and creatures is the entire point of this deck, which unfortunately means that nothing that costs less than your cascade spells can be run. WotC didn't print any cascade cards at 2 mana (would have enabled way too many degenerate this).
Therefore, nothing costing less than three mana belongs in this deck. Ever. If you get bad luck and draw a Restore Balance, suck it up and suspend it. You still have 2-3 in your deck to cascade into using 10 spells. At the beginning of the game, you can just mulligan. It's unlikely to be a problem. There's no real way to shuffle cards back into your library at 3+ CMC in Modern unless they're in your graveyard.
ExpiredRascals: Question for you. How often do you run into people playing Extirpate/Surgical Extraction, and what does it do to your deck to lose the access to a second or third Restore Balance? Or does the first mess them up so bad it rarely matters? I'm thinking that taking the mulligan if you draw it in the opener might be good, to avoid a Duress and co. stripping it then exiling by one of the above.
See Beyond isn't worth it in this deck, for a very simple reason. When you're facing down two or three creatures on turn three that are threatening to swing for lethal next turn, hitting ANYTHING that isn't Restore Balance with cascade loses you the game. Therefore, nothing costing less than three mana belongs in this deck. Ever. Suck it up and suspend it (or mulligan), you still have 2-3 in your deck to cascade into, so it's unlikely to be a problem. Unless there's a way to shuffle cards back into your library at 3+ CMC?
Posting from my phone is a pain, will discuss more when I get to a real computer,
ExpiredRascals: Question for you. How often do you run into people playing Extirpate/Surgical Extraction, and what does it do to your deck to lose the access to a second or third Restore Balance? Or does the first mess them up so bad it rarely matters? I'm thinking that taking the mulligan if you draw it in the opener might be good, to avoid a Duress and co. stripping it then exiling by one of the above.
You hit the nail on the head about see beyond. Some people do run clique tho to shuffle away their balances; I was just never a fan of it in this deck.
As for Extirpate/Surgical Extraction, I have not found either to be an issue. They aren't really effective hate cards against anything in the format right now, so nobody runs them (outside the occasional irrelevant singleton in teachings). Should you ever see a control deck bring them in, I'd recommend just bringing in the boom//bust in game 3.
My deck is far more aggressive at balancing than most, and since I don't rely on gargadon to make my balances devastating, I typically won't mind balancing 2-4 times in a game. Hypothetically this should make me weaker to extirpate/extraction, but since they are effectively a non-issue in the current meta, I wouldn't worry.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
Quote from Stardust »
Because he's the hero MTGS deserves, and the one it needs right now. So we'll global him. Because he can take it. Because he's not just our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. An expired rascal.
Quote from LuckNorris »
ExpiredRascals you sir are a god-like hero.
Quote from Lanxal »
ER is a masterful god who cannot be beaten in any endeavour.
I will have a gpt this coming weekend depending on my success with my new version of this deck I will post some results and possible a decklist I may wait on the decklist if it does well enough. On another not if you are having problems with extirpate or extraction you can use aven mindsensor in your board to help hate these cards out. having to kill him and remove the card from your yard can become quite difficult.
OK so tourny report 15 people for a gpt I know not great but here it is. I finished the night off 2-2-1 in matches
round 1 fea 1-1-1
I made a crutial mistake in game one I sacked my only white source before using a balance to gargadon this costed me the game and in the end the match. If I would have had it I could have played my unburial rites to bring back Iona and lock down the game. game 2 I pull it out with an iona in play and go to crush town. well game three I had an amazing hand. We go to time in the round my opponent had 1 land I had a gargy and iona in play this was locked up.
round 2 white matryn 0-2
Game 1 he gains a lot of life I never see a cascade card for some reason and it costs me the game in the end. Game 2 I get iona out and while this seams like a lock he is able to forcast back matryn and delay the game for a long time. I make a stupid mistake in not noticing that Iona only shuts down my opponents white sources and could have used a best within turns ago on one of his lands and then could have cascaded so he couldn't use the foresee ability on some rites card to bring back matryn everyturn to say the least I should have had the upper hand here and blew it big time. Again starting the night off to punting two matches in a row.
round 3 mono black control 2-0
game 1 gifts ungiveninto iona equals good game. game 2 he is in a pretty upset state. I get out three boarderpost play balance and use gifts iona again. not much to be said.
round 4 storm pyromancer combo 2-0
game 1 I am worried this guy went 4-0 a week prior until the top 8. He starts to look like he has it but I am able to use a gift and get iona shutting down his red he never finds an answer. Game 2 We both get mana screwed. He gets stuck on one land I don't see my third source till about turn five. luckly I had a beast within and take out his one land before he can go off then I use gifts into iona and win.
top 8
I am paired against malira combo. game 1 I try and hold out for him to combo which turns into a mistake for me. He has Chord of Calling in hand and is able to finish me I would have had this game but played it way to safe. Game 2 double canonist and well that was enough to end my night.
Despite my bad plays the deck ran quite well and with some testing I felt as if I would have been able to take this tournament unfortunitly my lack of time with the deck showed and I lost to play mistakes and pushing moves I didn't need to I will post my list later.
I do like the Gifts package, but after testing on MTGO a lot, I have not been able to find a consistent version of the deck. The deck is not mull-friendly and it requires specific cards in hand or you're just dead in the water. I've also been playing Empyrial Archangel with Iona in my sideboard.
I feel like this deck is close, but it's missing one or two pieces. Hopefully we can figure this out.
(Maybe I play the deck wrong or just run into bad luck, I don't know.)
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I was having a hard time deciding which way I wanted to go in a few games did I want to balance and stall the game out or was i better for me to use gifts and go for a win I had a hard time with this but either way I never felt that one of the other decks I played against had the upper hand. It is full of decisions and making the right ones is what it comes down to.
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I'm working to practice for a modern event and I'm 5-for-5 on rage quits for test games today.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
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Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
lo and behold, every game where I landed a barbs and got off a balance, it was a winning condition. I didn't even have to worry about sac'ing to GG, just let the barbs slowly kill them and sit on a balance-cascade or keep Tezz 2.0 spooling up my posts until he hit lethal ultimate range.
Anyone else tried out Manabarbs?
4 Restore Balance
Cascades: 10
4 Violent Outburst
4 Ardent Plea
2 Demonic Dread
Dedicated Win-Cons: 6
4 Greater Gargadon
2 March of the Machines
Utility: 8
4 Riftwing Cloudskate
4 Dismember
Planeswalkers: 2
2 Ajani Vengeant
Borderposts: 20
4 Firewild Borderpost
4 Wildfield Borderpost
4 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Mistvein Borderpost
4 Veinfire Borderpost
4 Terramorphic Expanse
2 Mountain
1 Forest
1 Plains
1 Island
1 Swamp
4 Ingot Chewer
4 Krosan Grip
4 Ricochet Trap
3 Boom//Bust
I went 3-1-1 in the Box of Saga/Legacy event on Thursday, losing to FaerieTwin and punting a game against Zoo (which then caused the match to go to time).
Round 1: 2-0 Affinity
Opponent got a game loss for spending three minutes to write out his deck list as soon as he discovered we needed lists. In that time a judge walked over, saw me waiting and gave him the game loss. Neither of us particularly liked this, but I'm not stupid enough to argue this kind of a ruling with the judge.
We weren't allowed to SB for game two, but he did get the play. He leads with double memnite and no land. I cruised to victory on a very long drawn out game, but I was in control the whole way.
Rounds 2-4 might be a little out of order, but bear with me.
Round 2: 1-2 FaerieTwin
I got game 1 (this deck always does). Too many decks think it's okay to go for the eot clique, then they get rocked by violent outburst. But unfortunately this opponent had tested the match-up and it showed. He played the textbook gameplan that my own playgroup had settled on as the only way for twin to win. He played the game like he was straight-up permission and eventually comboed out with 8+ mana. Spellstutter Sprite is the big problem card in this match-up, you can deal with anything else through ricochet traps, but the traps can't stop the trigger. I'm not sure that he had the combo mainboard, but it was his route to victory in both games 2 and 3.
Round 3: 2-0 MonoWhite Turbofog
Uh... yeah...
Luminarch Ascension was kinda interesting in game 2, but his access to mana was restricted after I landed a balance (first was stopped by silence).
Round 4: 1-1-1 Zoo
Easy win game 1, this deck is literally built to get a bye vs zoo. Game 2 he lacked any relevant hate, I just was stupid. Rule #1 against big zoo is never, ever, ever, ever let them untap with 4 mana. A resolved elspeth is the one thing they run that can kill you. I knew this from testing. But I got greedy. And got my face stomped in. The worst part is that I didn't think to concede to give myself enough time to win game 3, instead, like an idiot, I spent 20 minutes doing cool tricks to barely stay alive delaying the inevitable. I'm an idiot. Game 3 went to time.
Round 5: 2-(1 or 0, I don't remember) Death Cloud
Resolved Liliana of the Veil is annoying and will easily ultimate on you 2+ times, but it doesn't do that much more. I really don't understand this match-up, but when it comes down to it, you're more redundant, you topdeck better, and gargadon swings for 9 haste to kill liliana. They also get pretty mana-hungry and that is just bad news for any opponent of balance.
End result: 3-1-1
I missed the cut to T4 because of my stupid punt in G2 against zoo.
Pick-up 8-man Tournaments:
Friday was easy to 3-0 because at that point it was a field of zoo.
I will say that I had a bad match-up vs the updated Tarmorack deck I faced in the finals of one. I got game one on the back of aggroing out with March of the Machines, but in game two he brought in more SB cards than I could believe and I gratefully accepted his offer to ID rather than play out game 3.
After Friday my luck turned. I kept getting matched up against Tomathan88 and his D&T build. While game one seemed to be biased towards me, his expertise with his deck showed and I also seemed to be situated at the crossroads of all his sideboard cards.
I saw one burn deck and got stomped in that match. each game I'd nuke his board while in low single digits then he'd topdeck a land and shard volley or bolt me. I would claim lucky topdecks, but let's be honest, sometimes sligh just wins.
I also would like to apologize to the poor kid who got paired up against me in round 1 of one of the 8-mans with his modified Ajani duel deck. Running this deck against a young player still learning the ropes just feels mean.
My thoughts on my list:
Dismember was a last second replacement for rift bolt, and I must say it performed. It was good just everywhere. It also helps mitigate the abysmal match-up vs competent FaerieTwinners.
Krosan Grip in the SB was another last second sub (replacing wispmare). I liked it a lot, it gave me more SB fodder for D&T and it was also better vs twin. With it in my board however, I thing I can drop from the 4 ingot chewer, 4 grip. This opens some valuable flex spots in my SB that I probably want to devote to something to stop burn. What that might be however is still unknown.
I really do like the 20 Borderpost build. I just don't know how people do with less. I also found that 4 Balance is just too important to this deck to shave to 3. You need to be able to balance aggressively, and you'll run out of them with only 3.
The other big thing is that you need playing this deck is nerves of steel when mulliganing. Don't hesitate to throw back an iffy hand. Mulling to 4 on the play is fine, and even if you get a bad hand at 4, it is still best to muil lower. 10 lands is low, and you will have to mull frequently, but a winning hand is possible at obscenely low starting hand sizes and you must find a land, and ideally with two or more borderposts. And, if you open a spread of 7 with 3 or more land, throw it back. Just remember that this deck is probably the most redundant deck out there. With a 10 land, 20 borderpost, and 10 cascade spread before we even get to the 4-ofs, you will be able to topdeck what you need very reliably.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
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Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
My errata'd commons cube
If you're playing it right (as in not screwing up like I did in G2 against that one opponent) then the vast majority should never be able to hit the field.
The 2 walkers that should come down against you are baby jace and liliana of the veil. Jace is no big deal, just deal with him by swinging at him or ignoring him, it doesn't really matter because balance is built to negate any card advantage they can muster.
Liliana is the more problematic one, and not one that I have an easy answer to. In my experience, she should be able to land successfully and then drag out the game for even longer than normal as you'll each be hellbent for turns on end. She should just ultimate on you a couple times before you get a suspended gargadon to resolve, at which point the hasted 9 damage typically will both deal with her and clinch the game at the same time. I know it sounds ugly, but this deck is built to be in topdeck mode, and it does it better than almost any other deck out there. Certainly better than any deck running liliana.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
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Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to side Beast Within or Oblivion Ring (or maybe main deck a couple.)
On Mythic Rares: "What's next, Wizards will print six golden Black Lotuses and randomly place them in boosters, and if someone gets one, they get to tour the Wizards facility?"
Wydwen|Edric|Sakashima|Marrow-Gnawer|Hazezon
8.5 Tails|Seton|Rasputin|Doran|Gisela|Karona|Márton
Any idea how to fight the graveyard?
Also, Ajani WR is the best PW.
And the bounce creature..... I am not sure if it is good enoug
And what do you think about counterspells? Against past in flames and such.
My errata'd commons cube
If you run an aggressively balancing list like mine, you should be able to simply keep people off the requisite land and resources to function.
As for counterspells, I haven't really found much need for them past the ricochet traps in the board. Understand though that Restore Balance's strength is that it automatically beats aggro and can fudge decent scores against everything else (barring spellstutter sprite). I don't think you want to sacrifice your amazing match-ups to marginally improve a rare lagging one.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
إن سرقت إسرق جمل
Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
I run Mindbreak Trap and Leyline of Sanctity in my sideboard for Storm decks. I typically bring both in, since some decks like to run both Grapeshot and Empty the Warrens.
Graveyard hate isn't exactly needed in this deck. They cast a Vengeance, you Violent Outburst once the creature hits play. Or you Balance before they can even get rolling. Living End? Not an issue for this deck.
Ajani is good, but I also like Gideon in this deck. He makes a decent alternate win condition. The five mana cost is a little steep, I admit, but I've always been glad to have him.
On Mythic Rares: "What's next, Wizards will print six golden Black Lotuses and randomly place them in boosters, and if someone gets one, they get to tour the Wizards facility?"
Wydwen|Edric|Sakashima|Marrow-Gnawer|Hazezon
8.5 Tails|Seton|Rasputin|Doran|Gisela|Karona|Márton
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
إن سرقت إسرق جمل
Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
I use
8 mountain
6 plains
My errata'd commons cube
4 terramorphic expanse
2 Mountain
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Forest
1 Swamp
I compensate with a full contingent of 20 borderporsts though.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
إن سرقت إسرق جمل
Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
What is the purpose for expanse?
My errata'd commons cube
Look at my list here
I run 20 borderposts. This means that I will have very consistent access to mana if I can find but one land (20 borderposts and ten land also means I run more mana sources than most any other deck out there). At the same time, I have colour requirements across all 5 colours but all my borderposts need basics to function. Terramorphic expanse is simply the best way to provide the fixing my deck needs without crippling what makes it strong (heavy borderpost redundancy and consistent early powerful balances).
I strongly recommend you peruse my list, I believe it to be one of the strongest lists in use and conveniently cheap to build as well.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
إن سرقت إسرق جمل
Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
Therefore, nothing costing less than three mana belongs in this deck. Ever. If you get bad luck and draw a Restore Balance, suck it up and suspend it. You still have 2-3 in your deck to cascade into using 10 spells. At the beginning of the game, you can just mulligan. It's unlikely to be a problem. There's no real way to shuffle cards back into your library at 3+ CMC in Modern unless they're in your graveyard.
ExpiredRascals: Question for you. How often do you run into people playing Extirpate/Surgical Extraction, and what does it do to your deck to lose the access to a second or third Restore Balance? Or does the first mess them up so bad it rarely matters? I'm thinking that taking the mulligan if you draw it in the opener might be good, to avoid a Duress and co. stripping it then exiling by one of the above.
Edit: Fleshed out, card tags added, question added.
See Beyond isn't worth it in this deck, for a very simple reason. When you're facing down two or three creatures on turn three that are threatening to swing for lethal next turn, hitting ANYTHING that isn't Restore Balance with cascade loses you the game. Therefore, nothing costing less than three mana belongs in this deck. Ever. Suck it up and suspend it (or mulligan), you still have 2-3 in your deck to cascade into, so it's unlikely to be a problem. Unless there's a way to shuffle cards back into your library at 3+ CMC?
Posting from my phone is a pain, will discuss more when I get to a real computer,
You hit the nail on the head about see beyond. Some people do run clique tho to shuffle away their balances; I was just never a fan of it in this deck.
As for Extirpate/Surgical Extraction, I have not found either to be an issue. They aren't really effective hate cards against anything in the format right now, so nobody runs them (outside the occasional irrelevant singleton in teachings). Should you ever see a control deck bring them in, I'd recommend just bringing in the boom//bust in game 3.
My deck is far more aggressive at balancing than most, and since I don't rely on gargadon to make my balances devastating, I typically won't mind balancing 2-4 times in a game. Hypothetically this should make me weaker to extirpate/extraction, but since they are effectively a non-issue in the current meta, I wouldn't worry.
Body Count: GRRRUUUUUUUUUUU
إن سرقت إسرق جمل
Level 1 Judge
My Cube for use with 6th ed. Rules
2x unbariual rites
3x restore balance
4x ardent plea
3x Thieves' fortune
1x thirst for knowledge
4x violent outburst
3x beast within
1x terastadon
4x greater gargadon
3x vendilion clique
1x stomping grounds
1x hollowed fountain
1x R/U shock
1x mountain
2x island
1x plains
4x arid mesa
4x scalding tarn
1x terramorphic expanse
4x firewild borderpost
4x fieldmist borderpost
round 1 fea 1-1-1
I made a crutial mistake in game one I sacked my only white source before using a balance to gargadon this costed me the game and in the end the match. If I would have had it I could have played my unburial rites to bring back Iona and lock down the game. game 2 I pull it out with an iona in play and go to crush town. well game three I had an amazing hand. We go to time in the round my opponent had 1 land I had a gargy and iona in play this was locked up.
round 2 white matryn 0-2
Game 1 he gains a lot of life I never see a cascade card for some reason and it costs me the game in the end. Game 2 I get iona out and while this seams like a lock he is able to forcast back matryn and delay the game for a long time. I make a stupid mistake in not noticing that Iona only shuts down my opponents white sources and could have used a best within turns ago on one of his lands and then could have cascaded so he couldn't use the foresee ability on some rites card to bring back matryn everyturn to say the least I should have had the upper hand here and blew it big time. Again starting the night off to punting two matches in a row.
round 3 mono black control 2-0
game 1 gifts ungiveninto iona equals good game. game 2 he is in a pretty upset state. I get out three boarderpost play balance and use gifts iona again. not much to be said.
round 4 storm pyromancer combo 2-0
game 1 I am worried this guy went 4-0 a week prior until the top 8. He starts to look like he has it but I am able to use a gift and get iona shutting down his red he never finds an answer. Game 2 We both get mana screwed. He gets stuck on one land I don't see my third source till about turn five. luckly I had a beast within and take out his one land before he can go off then I use gifts into iona and win.
top 8
I am paired against malira combo. game 1 I try and hold out for him to combo which turns into a mistake for me. He has Chord of Calling in hand and is able to finish me I would have had this game but played it way to safe. Game 2 double canonist and well that was enough to end my night.
Despite my bad plays the deck ran quite well and with some testing I felt as if I would have been able to take this tournament unfortunitly my lack of time with the deck showed and I lost to play mistakes and pushing moves I didn't need to I will post my list later.
I feel like this deck is close, but it's missing one or two pieces. Hopefully we can figure this out.
(Maybe I play the deck wrong or just run into bad luck, I don't know.)
On Mythic Rares: "What's next, Wizards will print six golden Black Lotuses and randomly place them in boosters, and if someone gets one, they get to tour the Wizards facility?"
Wydwen|Edric|Sakashima|Marrow-Gnawer|Hazezon
8.5 Tails|Seton|Rasputin|Doran|Gisela|Karona|Márton