Doesn't KIKI-POD too much dependent combo deck? I play melira pod from 1 yr, trying sometimes KIKI-POD and my sensations are that Aggro plan is weak and, if you can't combo out, you can't win! Do you think it?
I don't agree... I may say 60% of games won are combo games 40% "aggro" (according to my experience), of course is not an aggro RDW style but still quite fast and effective. Beatdown plan is even better if supported by POD... and we cannot combo due to some opponent's removal.
Reclamation mage vs harmonic sliver in the board: what do you guys think? I can't come up with any advantages of the sliver in our deck... But if any if you see why sliver is better shout out. Otherwise I think I'll switch post M15 release
Only thing that might be nice that comes to mind is copying Harmonic Sliver with Phantasmal Image and getting an extra trigger against Affinity or something like that. I think I'll definitely be throwing in the Reclamation Mage over the Sliver though as the Phantasmal Image copying Harmonic Sliver won't come up too often, and could possibly even hurt us (if they only have one target for the trigger and we're forced to kill our own pod with the second trigger).
the game day participation promo is the full art reclamation sage which is awesome so i'll be replacing harmonic sliver when i get that. also now with hushwing gryff may have to look in to playing staticaster, depends if it picks up i guess
i dont know if many people on the thread have seen this article by brian liu who took out gp richmond. check out the comments down the bottom too, found this helpful when i first started playing pod. http://manadeprived.com/kiki-pod-grand-prix-richmond-1st/
I thought about it right away but I feel like it's a bit too fragile. If I tap Pod to get a 4-drop, I don't want it to get bolted. It's a shame, because I'd totally run it if it was, say, 3/4, because i THINK it wins by itself: activate Pod - ability triggers - sac Ogre - both abilities go on stack - find Kiki and conscripts and win.
For real though...If wizards is actually designing for Modern like they say they are, they need to make less boltable creatures... /rant
For the combo he just makes it so it's one activation instead of two, so it changes the cost from to , which is probably pretty negligible.
He is better for the beatdown plan though. If your board is light in a grindy match, a Bird could become a Wall of Roots and a Voice, the Wall of Roots can become two Finks instead of one, and then one of those Finks could become two Restos, for example. Or replace a Finks in that chain with an Exarch and basically a Bird becomes a Voice, a Finks, and two Restos in two activations.
Granted, he probably eats removal if they have it, but drawing that removal means you might be able to go for the combo.
I don't really believe in Kurkesh for this deck, mainly because the deck is way too strapped for slots. He lets you do cute things if you untap with him, but that's it. In reality, all you really want are creatures that actually impact the board once they hit it. This means ETB effect, static effect, or non-summoning sick activated ability.
I thought about it right away but I feel like it's a bit too fragile. If I tap Pod to get a 4-drop, I don't want it to get bolted. It's a shame, because I'd totally run it if it was, say, 3/4, because i THINK it wins by itself: activate Pod - ability triggers - sac Ogre - both abilities go on stack - find Kiki and conscripts and win.
For real though...If wizards is actually designing for Modern like they say they are, they need to make less boltable creatures... /rant
Going to shoot this down because it doesn't work.
In order for him to trigger, he needs to be on the battlefield when the ability is considered activated. That only happens after costs are paid. So if you sac'd him to the pod, he won't be around at the appropriate time to trigger.
Ok guys, I'm ditching 4C Gifts (this world is too unfair!!) and I'm torn between Melira/Angel Pod (they get Thoughtseize, which is awesome in this format, and Abrupt Decay, which kills Twin dead) and Kiki Pod.
After playing UWR Control and 4C Gifts, I realized that I don't like to grind/attrition games out. I like to pull ahead, build a mana/card advantage and eventually win. That's why I've been playing Mono U Tron since it first appeared (late 2012). It does just that.
So, I never piloted a Pod deck, but I've watched them being played and played against them a lot (mostly Melira). In my mind, Melira seems to be more attrition-based while Kiki fits more the description of "pulling ahead" by building advantages (e.g. Podding Finks into Angel blinking Finks, and that's a reasonably "meh" thing among all the stuff this deck can do, I believe). Is this accurate? If anyone feels like doing so, can you convince me to chose this deck over Melira/Angel Pod?
I think this is going to be my list come M15. I was testing Domri some more but still left unimpressed. I think I may want an Izzet Staticaster somewhere in my 75 if Hushwing sees play.
Tips on beating UWR, which is a very challenging matchup:
-Don't try to combo off from the beginning of the game. They'll be able to shred you with removal and you'll lose to attrition.
-Turn 2 Pod is very, very hard for UWR to manage - their strategy becomes "kill every creature ASAP."
-Remember the play of Podding Birds into Voice of Resurgence, then podding Voice into Eternal Witness to get your Voice back. That way, you end up with a few more guys.
-They often try things in your endstep, tapping out for Snapcaster Mage flashing something. You can use this time to sneak Restoration Angel through.
-Beware that they can use Cryptic Command to counter your creature and bounce your Birthing Pod in the same instant, and that really hurts.
-Glen Elendra Archmage is a beating against them. Sticking Archmage is a much better plan than attempting a combo kill.
-Prioritize hands that have actual lands in them over mana dudes. Your Noble Hierarchs will be Electrolyzed, so don't rely on them.
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I had been in the Brian Liu school of thought and dropped the second Exarch and Image in favour of more beats but I'm less certain now. Down to two resto's feels wrong but 4-drops are crowded and 2 *should* be enough. What are your thoughts on these as core cards?
I really like Courser. I currently run one and would love to squeeze some more in. It makes 4c mana less painful, fewer dead draws to lands, and with all our shuffle effects, seeing the top of the deck is very useful information. I need to track down some more but definitely want to be running at least two.
Vendilion Clique I also really like. Ethersworn Canonist and Avalanche Rider have been unremarkable in the side. Being able to clear up a SB slot for a more generic answer seems good.
Tracker's Instinct is very interesting. Personally, I would really want to see Scooze and EWit alongside. Lotus cobra looks like a lot of fun though.
This doesn't feel like a Courser deck. We only play 23 land and we really aren't looking for the little advantages here and there. We are looking to get them dead and Courser really doesn't put on the pressure on either front (combo or aggro). H
As for the article, it was an excellent article but all it really does is arrive on the same theory that was thought up right after Kiki-Pod first exploded on to the seen, which was testing Commune with Nature. The Commune lists were fine but never really broke onto the scene aside from a few MODO Dailies. The problem is we aren't looking for a draw engine, we already have Pod to provide advantage. If we are playing any non-creature non-Pod spells it has to be a spell to get our opponent dead or put them in a situation where we put a significant damper on their game plan.
This is why we play Chord.
We already lend ourselves to a varied roster of creatures due to our namesake card and Chord supplements that plan by giving us extra copies of our bullets.
As for Cobra, I love Cobra so much but I can't let my accelerators be situational and be super bad against Electrolyze.
Scapeshift is a nightmare. Is it worth it to cut the fourth Restoration Angel for a second copy of Glen Elendra Archmage in the maindeck, in anticipation of this matchup? How else can I tweak the decklist (I use a stock decklist with 2 Chords, 2 Walls, 1 Image and 2 Exarchs) to have a more favorable matchup against Scapeshift (and UWR Control), without hurting the other matchups too much? I feel like Aven Mindcensor is too easy for them to deal with.
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Modern: GWUB 4C Gifts Control
Commander: GWU Derevi BGW Ghave BUG Muldrotha
Tiny Leaders: BGW Doran BGU Leovold
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I don't agree... I may say 60% of games won are combo games 40% "aggro" (according to my experience), of course is not an aggro RDW style but still quite fast and effective. Beatdown plan is even better if supported by POD... and we cannot combo due to some opponent's removal.
http://manadeprived.com/kiki-pod-grand-prix-richmond-1st/
For real though...If wizards is actually designing for Modern like they say they are, they need to make less boltable creatures... /rant
Regarding running a 4-color deck without fetchlands:
MostlyLost on Cockatrice.
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
He is better for the beatdown plan though. If your board is light in a grindy match, a Bird could become a Wall of Roots and a Voice, the Wall of Roots can become two Finks instead of one, and then one of those Finks could become two Restos, for example. Or replace a Finks in that chain with an Exarch and basically a Bird becomes a Voice, a Finks, and two Restos in two activations.
Granted, he probably eats removal if they have it, but drawing that removal means you might be able to go for the combo.
Going to shoot this down because it doesn't work.
In order for him to trigger, he needs to be on the battlefield when the ability is considered activated. That only happens after costs are paid. So if you sac'd him to the pod, he won't be around at the appropriate time to trigger.
After playing UWR Control and 4C Gifts, I realized that I don't like to grind/attrition games out. I like to pull ahead, build a mana/card advantage and eventually win. That's why I've been playing Mono U Tron since it first appeared (late 2012). It does just that.
So, I never piloted a Pod deck, but I've watched them being played and played against them a lot (mostly Melira). In my mind, Melira seems to be more attrition-based while Kiki fits more the description of "pulling ahead" by building advantages (e.g. Podding Finks into Angel blinking Finks, and that's a reasonably "meh" thing among all the stuff this deck can do, I believe). Is this accurate? If anyone feels like doing so, can you convince me to chose this deck over Melira/Angel Pod?
Thanks in advance!
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Noble Hierarch
3x Kitchen Finks
3x Restoration Angel
3x Voice of Resurgence
2x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
2x Scavenging Ooze
2x Wall of Roots
1x Eternal Witness
1x Deceiver Exarch
1x Glen Elendra Archmage
1x Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1x Murderous Redcap
1x Reclamation Sage
1x Spellskite
1x Zealous Conscripts
4x Birthing Pod
2x Chord of Calling
Lands(23)
4x Grove of the Burnwillows
4x Misty Rainforest
3x Arid Mesa
2x Gavony Township
1x Breeding Pool
1x Fire-Lit Thicket
1x Forest
1x Hallowed Fountain
1x Plains
1x Razorverge Thicket
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Steam Vents
1x Stomping Ground
1x Temple Gardern
3x Path to Exile
2x Negate
1x Avalanche Riders
1x Aven Mindcensor
1x Combust
1x Eidolon of Rhetoric
1x Fiery Justice
1x Kataki, War's Wage
1x Qasali Pridemage
1x Obstinate Baloth
1x Sowing Salt
1x Thrun, the Last Troll
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
-Don't try to combo off from the beginning of the game. They'll be able to shred you with removal and you'll lose to attrition.
-Turn 2 Pod is very, very hard for UWR to manage - their strategy becomes "kill every creature ASAP."
-Remember the play of Podding Birds into Voice of Resurgence, then podding Voice into Eternal Witness to get your Voice back. That way, you end up with a few more guys.
-They often try things in your endstep, tapping out for Snapcaster Mage flashing something. You can use this time to sneak Restoration Angel through.
-Beware that they can use Cryptic Command to counter your creature and bounce your Birthing Pod in the same instant, and that really hurts.
-Glen Elendra Archmage is a beating against them. Sticking Archmage is a much better plan than attempting a combo kill.
-Prioritize hands that have actual lands in them over mana dudes. Your Noble Hierarchs will be Electrolyzed, so don't rely on them.
I had been in the Brian Liu school of thought and dropped the second Exarch and Image in favour of more beats but I'm less certain now. Down to two resto's feels wrong but 4-drops are crowded and 2 *should* be enough. What are your thoughts on these as core cards?
I really like Courser. I currently run one and would love to squeeze some more in. It makes 4c mana less painful, fewer dead draws to lands, and with all our shuffle effects, seeing the top of the deck is very useful information. I need to track down some more but definitely want to be running at least two.
Vendilion Clique I also really like. Ethersworn Canonist and Avalanche Rider have been unremarkable in the side. Being able to clear up a SB slot for a more generic answer seems good.
Tracker's Instinct is very interesting. Personally, I would really want to see Scooze and EWit alongside. Lotus cobra looks like a lot of fun though.
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
4 Arid Mesa
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Fire-Lit Thicket
2 Gavony Township
1 Breeding Pool
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
1 Plains
1 Forest
Non-creatures (6):
4 Birthing Pod
2 Chord of Calling
Creatures (31):
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Wall of Roots
2 Scavenging Ooze
1 Spellskite
1 Qasali Pridemage
3 Kitchen Finks
1 Courser of Kruphix
1 Deceiver Exarch
1 Eternal Witness
3 Restoration Angel
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Murderous Redcap
2 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1 Zealous Conscripts
3 Path to Exile
2 Combust
2 Negate
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Fiery Justice
1 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Loxodon Hierarch
1 Fiend Hunter
1 Avalanche Riders
1 Ethersworn Canonist
With the following packages to be tested:
-1 Finks, +1 Courser (as soon as I can track down another)
-1 Restoration Angel, +1 Deceiver Exarch (-1 Pridemage/Scooze, +1 Phantasmal Image)
-2 Wall of Roots, +2 Lotus Cobra, -2 Chord of Calling, +2 Domri/Lead the Stampede/Tracker's Instinct, (-1 Kataki, +1 Ancient Grudge if Tracker's)
-1 Avalanche Rider, -1 Ethersworn Canonist, +1 Vendilion Clique, +1 Pridemage/??
As for the article, it was an excellent article but all it really does is arrive on the same theory that was thought up right after Kiki-Pod first exploded on to the seen, which was testing Commune with Nature. The Commune lists were fine but never really broke onto the scene aside from a few MODO Dailies. The problem is we aren't looking for a draw engine, we already have Pod to provide advantage. If we are playing any non-creature non-Pod spells it has to be a spell to get our opponent dead or put them in a situation where we put a significant damper on their game plan.
This is why we play Chord.
We already lend ourselves to a varied roster of creatures due to our namesake card and Chord supplements that plan by giving us extra copies of our bullets.
As for Cobra, I love Cobra so much but I can't let my accelerators be situational and be super bad against Electrolyze.
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
GWUB 4C Gifts Control
Commander:
GWU Derevi
BGW Ghave
BUG Muldrotha
Tiny Leaders:
BGW Doran
BGU Leovold