Alright, I've decided and I'm cutting the x2 Smallpox, x1 Crucible of Worlds, and the x1 Raven's Crime from the deck.
I may take a risk here and just mainboard x2-3 Extirpates. I'm still keeping the 3 Ghost Quarters in, but I have a feeling that the Extirpates won't be a waste when you have 3 Liliana of the Veils and 4 Thoughtseize main.
Is there a deck that Extirpate isn't really good in? I understand it's not good against non-combo decks, but even against the non-combo decks, it lets you peel away threats you think you can't handle in that particular game 1. Even against Burn, for example, you can peel cards like Lava Spike and Lightning Bolt and that's just less gas they'll draw in to.
Alright, I've decided and I'm cutting the x2 Smallpox, x1 Crucible of Worlds, and the x1 Raven's Crime from the deck.
I may take a risk here and just mainboard x2-3 Extirpates. I'm still keeping the 3 Ghost Quarters in, but I have a feeling that the Extirpates won't be a waste when you have 3 Liliana of the Veils and 4 Thoughtseize main.
Is there a deck that Extirpate isn't really good in? I understand it's not good against non-combo decks, but even against the non-combo decks, it lets you peel away threats you think you can't handle in that particular game 1. Even against Burn, for example, you can peel cards like Lava Spike and Lightning Bolt and that's just less gas they'll draw in to.
Opinions?
I think Extirpate / Surgical Extraction is a huge trap if you haven't played with it much. There are only 2 situations where you want to side it in:
A card being in the graveyard represents a threat to you (Graveyard based decks)
Removing all the copies of a card in the deck will almost guarantee you a win (Combo decks with weak backup plans)
Extirpate will most of the time represent a card disadvantage, you are 1 for 0ing yourself. Removing one threat from a deck like Burn does nothing, as they are still drawing a card every turn, the percent change of them drawing a land only goes up by a minuscule amount.
Example Decks:
Tron: Tron lands are considered a "Combo", taking out one neuters one of their main strategies (fast ramp). UW Tron it hits their Gifts Ungiven targets as well
Scapeshift: Nabbing Scapeshift or Valakut kills the combo
Ad Nauseam: Same as Scapeshift
Storm: Harder to hit the combo piece, but still useful to hate on the GY
All in Twin: Builds that focus on the combo would be good targets
Tempo Twin: Almost every twin deck is Tempo now, I'm honestly not sure if I would Extirpate against them or not as their backup plan of Tempo Beatdown + Bolt is pretty good. Actually thinking about it, probably still good because of Snapcaster.
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Modern: Tezzeret
???
Legacy:
Imperial Painter aka. Strawberry Shortcake
Tezzeret, aka. Dack in Black
I decided to add the Rings because there are plenty of targets to copy abilities with, especially since it was the only thing keeping me alive against Mono U Tron when I was play testing it earlier today. He slammed 2 Wurmcoils and I had to keep generating Trading Post goat tokens copying them to keep double blocking. He gained an absurd amount of life, but it prevented me from dying.
The reason I'm adding the 1-of Inkmoth Nexus is against match ups where life gain is ridiculous ie Mono U Tron + Soul Sisters and well...a single Inkmoth that is beating down for poison counters seem like an alternate win condition.
Hey guys! Just back from a 24-ish players 3-rounds local event with tezzpox. Nothing too great happened as i finished 2-1. Match-ups: vs Goblins i lost 1-2 (died to stupid double Goblin Grenade to the face!); vs Mono-W Knights i won 2-0; vs UR Delver (budget) i won 2-1.
Notable stuff: The Rack killed my opponent in at least two games. And I mean from 18 life points down to zero. Bitterblossom also killed me at least twice (lol). I need some form of life gain and/or to cut on the self-burning goodies (fetches, thoughtseizes, bitterblossom, talismans, smallpox); and/or have more ways to remove the Blossom (Trinket mage + EE being the only one atm). Or maybe im really just not used to manage it yet. Fact: before casting it, i tend to factor in the timing of its token production & their blocking and attacking abilities more than "Yeah but when will i then bleed out?". I However feel like It's chump-blocking ability lessens the need for all the wipes I run (2x Damnation, 3x Bridge (2MB, 1SB), 1x EE), with the added benefit of being able to swarm offensively at some point.
Lastly, SmallPox completely locked my opponent out of mana and ressources in at least two games. And in these situations i surprisingly never seem to get mana-screwed anymore [actually: an added Dimir signet, 4x Citadel with 3x Ghost quarters; and maybe there a bit of the upside of the 3x fetchlands added with the crucible package].
Hey guys, need some help from all you guys for my list above.
Mainly, I need some help with deciding whether or not to keep 2 Pithing Needle main vs 3 Spellskites main. It's either...
2 Spellskites 2 Pithing Needle
or
3 Spellskite 1 Pithing Needle
Second, I'm having an issue regarding what to cut for...a main board Crucible of Worlds and Expedition Map. Or maybe Crucible of Worlds should be sideboard, I don't even know.
Also, my sideboard is currently 13 cards and I'm needing help on 2 more. I've considered Fulminator Mages, but I think my 2 Ghost Quarter should be fine.
Any opinions? What do you think I'm missing in the sideboard that my mainboard and other sideboard cards can't handle against?
@Anaestheticz:
For me I need 2x Pithing Needle main...they are your answers to planeswalkers and Tron (Oblivion Stone, Karn, Mindslaver, Pod).
They also shut of your opponents manlands...which Damnation would miss.
I'm still not completely sold and Crucible/Map in this deck...just too slow.
I'd rather keep have Fulminator Mage in the side and a Vendilion Clique or 2.
@radouf:
Again think you have too many things picking away at your life total.
We aren't aggressive enough to take so much damage at a time...
Aesthetics: I run 2x Skite main, 1x in the board, and 1-1 split on Pithing needles. Skite is generally super plan-disruptive for a targeting opponent, and a good early blocker. Where needle is clutch but only against specific permanents (and fetches!)... So if you expect targeting (Twin?) and/or aggro, Id favour Skite. Though 2x main is enough for me.
On the SB, someone here convinced me not to play GQ SB as they are la ds and screw your mana-base balance. So ive integrated them in the MB and would never look back, really. With 4x citadel, theyre also fetches for basics. Lastly, We all agreed, couple of months ago, that Expedition map is just way too slow for our already slow deck that cant afford to durdle that long. Crucible can go SB also.
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MODERN Blue Lantern, UBx Tezzerator. OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
Typically, Trading Post is keeping me alive when Bitterblossoms are out.
I played UWR control a few times and when they couldn't deal with Bitterblossoms, I had like 4-5 Faeries just get in the beatdown and won because of it. The 1 point of life loss is relevant because does sort of clock you, but I also realized that Rings of Brighthearth gives too much value to not have in the deck. Gaining you 8 life from trading post is amazing, making them sac 2 creatures is wonderful, making 2 5/5 beaters is awesome, and even ulting Tez for a ***** ton gives you tons of life gain. Hell, even against Tron, 2 Wurmcoil Engines couldn't get past the 2 Goat tokens I kept making (though I needed the Inkmoth Nexus to beat in to stop the life gain).
Also, is Expedition Map really that slow when you're in the mid-late game and need to dig for Academy Ruins/Inkmoth Nexus? I feel like you can do it all in 1 turn and be fine.
What's our out to Blood Moon? Just mana rocks? Because I'm thinking of running Spell Pierces over Spell Snare for that super early turn 2-3 Blood Moon so I can Spell Pierce it. Though if they draw it late, then I'm not gonna be too worried about it because by then I'll have the mana rocks out.
@Anaestheticz...I run 5 basics.
But our deck should not be effected by blood moon.
Even super early. ..we play plenty colorless spells including rocks.
Scrubbed out at the PTQ sadly, lots of close games though. Possible tournament report later.
First PTQ I've attended, but still feels bad.
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Modern: Tezzeret
???
Legacy:
Imperial Painter aka. Strawberry Shortcake
Tezzeret, aka. Dack in Black
This might sound like an odd suggestion, but has anyone tested Pack Rat? He's a discard outlet like Liliana to turn on Ensnaring. You can turn irrelevant trinkets or discard into something useful. I can't see more than a 1 or 2 of.
There are better ways to turn on Ensnaring Bridge in my opinion. Pack rat was thought of before, but we wouldn't be able to attack with them and if that's the case, other discard outlets are better like Thirst For Knowledge, Trading Post, etc.
Yo. Going again to the local event that I shredded last monday. This time, on the Pox build, I'll try to minimize life-loss while upping the ability to life-gain a little. Notable changes:
- Crucible of Worlds goes to sideboard; comes in a Trading post.
- Two out of three fetches are taken out, because the Crucible plan is no longer main. Swapped for a basic Swamp and a River of tears.
- Took the third bridge out of the sideboard because Bitterblossom kind of does protects you in a similar fashion.
- Second Bitterblossom is going to the side-board. Drawing two of them is the worst feeling in the universe.
- 1 of my 3 Thoughtseizes is morphed into a second Inquisition of Kozilek.
Finally, some friends have suggested a couple of new cards: Perilous research as a Faerie or Bitterblossom (when it's killing you) or useless trinket sac outlet [not too sure about this one, I think I'd rather have an Into the roil maindecked, anyways;] and Infernal tutor. Infernal tutor. That kind of makes sense. When we pick a line of agression, we tend to hit hard on it. And the harder we hit, the less likely our opponent is likely to recover. Guys from the 8-Rack thread have been chit-chatting about this one. Hmmmmm... Let me know what you think!!
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MODERN Blue Lantern, UBx Tezzerator. OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
New report on our local monday FNM: I placed 11th on 30 players after four rounds of TezzPox-ing. I'll be quick:
1. Boggle. Won 2-0, poor guy. Spellskite + Chalice on one. 'Nuf said.
2. Grixis Delver. Won 2-0. Hard games. The guy's top curver was Falkenrath Aristocrat. That deck had game. But... I smallpoxed his flipped delver both games turn 2 or 3, which also put him off balance in his mana fixing. Trading post kept me alive in the last game. Tezz and citadels beatdown were my win-cons both games.
3. 4-Color Zombie-Bloodartist-Lingering Souls brew, lost 1-2.
3.1 Nihil Spellbomb T1 after his faithless looting lingering Souls and Bloodghast. GG
3.2 I saw Bloodghasts and Blood artists as clutch-cards, so i set my EE on 2. Then he drew his 4 lingering souls (what?). I feel stupid. This mistake cost me the top-4.
3.3 Grind, my bitterblossom + his 3 gravecrawler and 2 blood artist = im dead. 1-2.
4. Affinity. Lost 1-2. For this match-up I was paired-up. This guy ended up 3rd best of the event. And Gee, he's fast. And my sideboard absolutely was not ready for that. First game is a tight win. Second game, Smallpox turn 2 means he loses a creature, sacs his Inkmoth nexus, and discards the Cranial Plating that was still in his hand. MVP. But he managed to recover. On the third game my deck really screwed me up: no colored source in opener, black hand. Im on the play. Mull into still no colored source and only one land this time. Mulligan'ed down to five and I didnt even get a colored source!!! Still managed to last 'til turn 10-12 on both the games I loss, though. I guess thats a thing.
Bottom line: Gotta adjust sideboard for Hyper-aggro. Trading post is good even in the pox build. Bitterblossom has killed me again, once. It's too slow to replace the third bridge in super aggro match-ups. Smallpox is totally, really really good. River of tears color-screwed me (off black) a couple of times.
Scrubbed out at the PTQ sadly, lots of close games though. Possible tournament report later.
First PTQ I've attended, but still feels bad.
Just finished the PTQ on Sunday and went pretty bad. I went 1-2-1 drop. List I used was the one above I posted.
Round 1: Burn
Got a turn 2 Spellskite off since he turn one Goblin Guide me. He later just burned me too quickly in the face without being able to re-direct damage to Spellskite...Lava Spikes + x2 Searing Blaze killed Spellskite though I got him to 2 life with Darksteel Citadel beatdown before he got me with a top deck Lava Spike. Game 2, boarded in Chalice of the Voids, Witchbane Orb, and a Spellskite. Got mana screwed (drew 2 Creeping Tar Pits and got set back...killed me before I could even drop Witchbane Orb). I shouldn't have lost this match, but I got really unfortunate which then set the mood for the rest of the event. 0-2
Round 2: B/W Tokens
Just swarmed me with tokens before I could get a Damnation or Ensnaring Bridge off. Game 2, I got to 3 life and he had a ton of creatures. All his tokens are 2/2s due to an Intangible Virtue and I had Ensnaring Bridge out. Couldn't drop my hand down to 1 card....or so I thought. I punted this game because although I was at 3 life, I thoughtseized him (1 life now) and targeted him and forgot that I could target myself...I would've stabilized because he has no out to Ensnaring Bridge at that time and could've life gained with Tezzeret later. 0-2
Round 3: Jund
Basically, he killed me with Goyf beats and all that good stuff. Game 2, I beat him with a Tezzeret -1 RIngs of Brighthearth copy with 2 Darksteel Citadel beatdown. Game 3, went to time because I had Ensnaring Bridge out and he couldn't draw the Maelstrom Pulse/Creeping Corrosion even with 2 Dark Confidant (which almost made him lose the game, but he gained enough life with Obstinate Baloth and Scavenging Ooze). 1-1-1.
Round 4: UR Storm
Couldn't combo off in game 1 and I just Darksteel Citadel beatdown on him. Game 2, landed a Chalice of the Void on x=1 and he just couldn't do anything. 2-0
Kind of sad, but a few things I've noticed.
1) Crucible of Worlds with 3 Ghost Quarters didn't do it for me. I didn't play against Tron, but even then, it's not something I think the mainboard should have with my variant.
2) Bitterblossom did ok for me, but I think running 1 should be fine.
3) There were tons of times I wish I could Trinket Mage for an Expedition Map so I can fetch for an Academy Ruins or even a Creeping Tar Pit or Inkmoth Nexus. I know you guys say it's slow, but drawing a Trinket Mage late game, it's not bad when you can do everything in 1 turn and utilize it immediately.
4) I love Rings of Brighthearth and I loved having the opponent's reaction to Tezz -1 copied to make 2 Darksteel Citadel beaters, but Rings of Brighthearth sometimes didn't do anything immediately or anything game changing. It just adds on to your potential win more, it seems.
So basically...
-1 Rings of Brighthearth
-2 Ghost Quarter
-1 Crucible of Worlds
-1 Bitterblossom
So now I have to fill in those slots. The Ghost Quarters will most likely be a 4th Darksteel Citadel and an Academy Ruins.
Not sure about the Crucible, Bitterblossom, and Rings. I may just mainboard 3 Chalice of the Void simply because in this meta, a x=1 Chalice seems to be fine against most decks. I can still keep the Thoughtseizes main (which may sound counter intuitive, but can still work). Or maybe add a third Spellskite main. Who knows. Need to keep testing.
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I may take a risk here and just mainboard x2-3 Extirpates. I'm still keeping the 3 Ghost Quarters in, but I have a feeling that the Extirpates won't be a waste when you have 3 Liliana of the Veils and 4 Thoughtseize main.
Is there a deck that Extirpate isn't really good in? I understand it's not good against non-combo decks, but even against the non-combo decks, it lets you peel away threats you think you can't handle in that particular game 1. Even against Burn, for example, you can peel cards like Lava Spike and Lightning Bolt and that's just less gas they'll draw in to.
Opinions?
I think Extirpate / Surgical Extraction is a huge trap if you haven't played with it much. There are only 2 situations where you want to side it in:
Extirpate will most of the time represent a card disadvantage, you are 1 for 0ing yourself. Removing one threat from a deck like Burn does nothing, as they are still drawing a card every turn, the percent change of them drawing a land only goes up by a minuscule amount.
Example Decks:
Modern:
Tezzeret
???
Legacy:
Imperial Painter aka. Strawberry Shortcake
Tezzeret, aka. Dack in Black
3 Trinket Mage
2 Spellskite
Planeswalkers (8)
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
3 Liliana of the Veil
1 Tezzeret the Seeker
Enchantments (2)
2 Bitterblossoms
Sorceries (6)
4 Thoughtseize
2 Damnation
Artifacts (15)
4 Talisman of Dominance
3 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Pithing Needle
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Batterskull
1 Trading Post
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Executioner's Capsule
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Rings of Brighthearth
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Watery Grave
3 Darksteel Citadel
3 Ghost Quarter
2 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Academy Ruins
1 Inkmoth Nexus
3 Swamp
1 Island
2 Extirpate
2 Defense Grid
3 Chalice of the Void
3 Torpor Orb
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Witchbane Orb
1 Spellskite
I decided to add the Rings because there are plenty of targets to copy abilities with, especially since it was the only thing keeping me alive against Mono U Tron when I was play testing it earlier today. He slammed 2 Wurmcoils and I had to keep generating Trading Post goat tokens copying them to keep double blocking. He gained an absurd amount of life, but it prevented me from dying.
The reason I'm adding the 1-of Inkmoth Nexus is against match ups where life gain is ridiculous ie Mono U Tron + Soul Sisters and well...a single Inkmoth that is beating down for poison counters seem like an alternate win condition.
Notable stuff: The Rack killed my opponent in at least two games. And I mean from 18 life points down to zero. Bitterblossom also killed me at least twice (lol). I need some form of life gain and/or to cut on the self-burning goodies (fetches, thoughtseizes, bitterblossom, talismans, smallpox); and/or have more ways to remove the Blossom (Trinket mage + EE being the only one atm). Or maybe im really just not used to manage it yet. Fact: before casting it, i tend to factor in the timing of its token production & their blocking and attacking abilities more than "Yeah but when will i then bleed out?". I However feel like It's chump-blocking ability lessens the need for all the wipes I run (2x Damnation, 3x Bridge (2MB, 1SB), 1x EE), with the added benefit of being able to swarm offensively at some point.
Lastly, SmallPox completely locked my opponent out of mana and ressources in at least two games. And in these situations i surprisingly never seem to get mana-screwed anymore [actually: an added Dimir signet, 4x Citadel with 3x Ghost quarters; and maybe there a bit of the upside of the 3x fetchlands added with the crucible package].
OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
Mainly, I need some help with deciding whether or not to keep 2 Pithing Needle main vs 3 Spellskites main. It's either...
2 Spellskites 2 Pithing Needle
or
3 Spellskite 1 Pithing Needle
Second, I'm having an issue regarding what to cut for...a main board Crucible of Worlds and Expedition Map. Or maybe Crucible of Worlds should be sideboard, I don't even know.
Also, my sideboard is currently 13 cards and I'm needing help on 2 more. I've considered Fulminator Mages, but I think my 2 Ghost Quarter should be fine.
Any opinions? What do you think I'm missing in the sideboard that my mainboard and other sideboard cards can't handle against?
For me I need 2x Pithing Needle main...they are your answers to planeswalkers and Tron (Oblivion Stone, Karn, Mindslaver, Pod).
They also shut of your opponents manlands...which Damnation would miss.
I'm still not completely sold and Crucible/Map in this deck...just too slow.
I'd rather keep have Fulminator Mage in the side and a Vendilion Clique or 2.
@radouf:
Again think you have too many things picking away at your life total.
We aren't aggressive enough to take so much damage at a time...
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
On the SB, someone here convinced me not to play GQ SB as they are la ds and screw your mana-base balance. So ive integrated them in the MB and would never look back, really. With 4x citadel, theyre also fetches for basics. Lastly, We all agreed, couple of months ago, that Expedition map is just way too slow for our already slow deck that cant afford to durdle that long. Crucible can go SB also.
OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
I played UWR control a few times and when they couldn't deal with Bitterblossoms, I had like 4-5 Faeries just get in the beatdown and won because of it. The 1 point of life loss is relevant because does sort of clock you, but I also realized that Rings of Brighthearth gives too much value to not have in the deck. Gaining you 8 life from trading post is amazing, making them sac 2 creatures is wonderful, making 2 5/5 beaters is awesome, and even ulting Tez for a ***** ton gives you tons of life gain. Hell, even against Tron, 2 Wurmcoil Engines couldn't get past the 2 Goat tokens I kept making (though I needed the Inkmoth Nexus to beat in to stop the life gain).
Also, is Expedition Map really that slow when you're in the mid-late game and need to dig for Academy Ruins/Inkmoth Nexus? I feel like you can do it all in 1 turn and be fine.
But our deck should not be effected by blood moon.
Even super early. ..we play plenty colorless spells including rocks.
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
First PTQ I've attended, but still feels bad.
Modern:
Tezzeret
???
Legacy:
Imperial Painter aka. Strawberry Shortcake
Tezzeret, aka. Dack in Black
What list did you go with? The one that's on the first page with your updates list?
PTQ for me is tomorrow. I'll let you know what happens. Super excited to run Rings of Brightheart and seeing how it performs in a tournament setting.
http://www.twitch.tv/spawnofvirtue
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
Basically played the Gifts List in the primer.
On MTGO you face ALOT of Burn decks, so his rationale was to include white for things like Leyline of Sanctity and Gifting into Iona.
Either way it really felt more like a Gifts deck splash Tezz.
If I splash white it would mainly be for Path To Exile, Leyline of Sanctity and Disenchant.
He's streams on Tuesdays and Thursdays, good to check out.
Twitch: gamerchamp
Modern: UGrand Architect, UBTezzeret Control, UBWRG Bridge From Below (Dredge)
Legacy: UWGTrue-Name Bant
- Crucible of Worlds goes to sideboard; comes in a Trading post.
- Two out of three fetches are taken out, because the Crucible plan is no longer main. Swapped for a basic Swamp and a River of tears.
- Took the third bridge out of the sideboard because Bitterblossom kind of does protects you in a similar fashion.
- Second Bitterblossom is going to the side-board. Drawing two of them is the worst feeling in the universe.
- 1 of my 3 Thoughtseizes is morphed into a second Inquisition of Kozilek.
Finally, some friends have suggested a couple of new cards: Perilous research as a Faerie or Bitterblossom (when it's killing you) or useless trinket sac outlet [not too sure about this one, I think I'd rather have an Into the roil maindecked, anyways;] and Infernal tutor. Infernal tutor. That kind of makes sense. When we pick a line of agression, we tend to hit hard on it. And the harder we hit, the less likely our opponent is likely to recover. Guys from the 8-Rack thread have been chit-chatting about this one. Hmmmmm... Let me know what you think!!
OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
1. Boggle. Won 2-0, poor guy. Spellskite + Chalice on one. 'Nuf said.
2. Grixis Delver. Won 2-0. Hard games. The guy's top curver was Falkenrath Aristocrat. That deck had game. But... I smallpoxed his flipped delver both games turn 2 or 3, which also put him off balance in his mana fixing. Trading post kept me alive in the last game. Tezz and citadels beatdown were my win-cons both games.
3. 4-Color Zombie-Bloodartist-Lingering Souls brew, lost 1-2.
3.1 Nihil Spellbomb T1 after his faithless looting lingering Souls and Bloodghast. GG
3.2 I saw Bloodghasts and Blood artists as clutch-cards, so i set my EE on 2. Then he drew his 4 lingering souls (what?). I feel stupid. This mistake cost me the top-4.
3.3 Grind, my bitterblossom + his 3 gravecrawler and 2 blood artist = im dead. 1-2.
4. Affinity. Lost 1-2. For this match-up I was paired-up. This guy ended up 3rd best of the event. And Gee, he's fast. And my sideboard absolutely was not ready for that. First game is a tight win. Second game, Smallpox turn 2 means he loses a creature, sacs his Inkmoth nexus, and discards the Cranial Plating that was still in his hand. MVP. But he managed to recover. On the third game my deck really screwed me up: no colored source in opener, black hand. Im on the play. Mull into still no colored source and only one land this time. Mulligan'ed down to five and I didnt even get a colored source!!! Still managed to last 'til turn 10-12 on both the games I loss, though. I guess thats a thing.
Bottom line: Gotta adjust sideboard for Hyper-aggro. Trading post is good even in the pox build. Bitterblossom has killed me again, once. It's too slow to replace the third bridge in super aggro match-ups. Smallpox is totally, really really good. River of tears color-screwed me (off black) a couple of times.
OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
Just finished the PTQ on Sunday and went pretty bad. I went 1-2-1 drop. List I used was the one above I posted.
Round 1: Burn
Got a turn 2 Spellskite off since he turn one Goblin Guide me. He later just burned me too quickly in the face without being able to re-direct damage to Spellskite...Lava Spikes + x2 Searing Blaze killed Spellskite though I got him to 2 life with Darksteel Citadel beatdown before he got me with a top deck Lava Spike. Game 2, boarded in Chalice of the Voids, Witchbane Orb, and a Spellskite. Got mana screwed (drew 2 Creeping Tar Pits and got set back...killed me before I could even drop Witchbane Orb). I shouldn't have lost this match, but I got really unfortunate which then set the mood for the rest of the event. 0-2
Round 2: B/W Tokens
Just swarmed me with tokens before I could get a Damnation or Ensnaring Bridge off. Game 2, I got to 3 life and he had a ton of creatures. All his tokens are 2/2s due to an Intangible Virtue and I had Ensnaring Bridge out. Couldn't drop my hand down to 1 card....or so I thought. I punted this game because although I was at 3 life, I thoughtseized him (1 life now) and targeted him and forgot that I could target myself...I would've stabilized because he has no out to Ensnaring Bridge at that time and could've life gained with Tezzeret later. 0-2
Round 3: Jund
Basically, he killed me with Goyf beats and all that good stuff. Game 2, I beat him with a Tezzeret -1 RIngs of Brighthearth copy with 2 Darksteel Citadel beatdown. Game 3, went to time because I had Ensnaring Bridge out and he couldn't draw the Maelstrom Pulse/Creeping Corrosion even with 2 Dark Confidant (which almost made him lose the game, but he gained enough life with Obstinate Baloth and Scavenging Ooze). 1-1-1.
Round 4: UR Storm
Couldn't combo off in game 1 and I just Darksteel Citadel beatdown on him. Game 2, landed a Chalice of the Void on x=1 and he just couldn't do anything. 2-0
Kind of sad, but a few things I've noticed.
1) Crucible of Worlds with 3 Ghost Quarters didn't do it for me. I didn't play against Tron, but even then, it's not something I think the mainboard should have with my variant.
2) Bitterblossom did ok for me, but I think running 1 should be fine.
3) There were tons of times I wish I could Trinket Mage for an Expedition Map so I can fetch for an Academy Ruins or even a Creeping Tar Pit or Inkmoth Nexus. I know you guys say it's slow, but drawing a Trinket Mage late game, it's not bad when you can do everything in 1 turn and utilize it immediately.
4) I love Rings of Brighthearth and I loved having the opponent's reaction to Tezz -1 copied to make 2 Darksteel Citadel beaters, but Rings of Brighthearth sometimes didn't do anything immediately or anything game changing. It just adds on to your potential win more, it seems.
So basically...
-1 Rings of Brighthearth
-2 Ghost Quarter
-1 Crucible of Worlds
-1 Bitterblossom
So now I have to fill in those slots. The Ghost Quarters will most likely be a 4th Darksteel Citadel and an Academy Ruins.
Not sure about the Crucible, Bitterblossom, and Rings. I may just mainboard 3 Chalice of the Void simply because in this meta, a x=1 Chalice seems to be fine against most decks. I can still keep the Thoughtseizes main (which may sound counter intuitive, but can still work). Or maybe add a third Spellskite main. Who knows. Need to keep testing.