Hi all, just wanna ask some questions to the experienced uwr midrange players here. Will you bring uwr midrange deck to play in a local tournament if you know that place have merfolk, skred red, bogle, burn, Affinity and naya zoo deck or will you choose to use another deck? Against which deck will you think that it will be a easy match or hard match? And how will you build your sideboard as well? Thx for any answers or advice in advance.
Generally, UWr Mid is versatile enough that doesn't have many outright bad/unwinnable matchups, but there are few truly *easy* matchups for it. Even on our best matchups, we can get blown out by bad play. The drawback of UWR's versatility is that it doesn't play itself; in my experience, it has fewer "autopilot" wins than most other decks. If you're concerned about hard matchups, maybe play a different deck.
In most of the matchups you mentioned, I'd run Engineered Explosives and Anger of the Gods out of the sideboard.
Against Burn, I'd keep Geist in because they can't hit him and he's an absurdly fast clock. Post-board, crack fetches for Basics in case they're running Blood Moon.
Round 1 - Rg Burn
This matchup was against a good friend and someone who is an excellent pilot of this deck. He plays a version thats almost mono red, splashing green only for Destructive Revelry SB.
G1: I'm on the play - I keep a 2 land hand, and Goblin Guide feeds me 2 more before I bolt it. I end up poorly timing a Lightning Helix into a Flames of the Bloodhand, and it almost ends right there. I Snapcaster the helix at a more opportune time targeting his vexing devil, and I stabilize at around 6 life with counter backup. Snapcaster gets there with help from a later Blade Splicer.
1-0
SB:
+ 2x Leyline
+ 1x Helix
- 1x Electrolyze
- 2x Restoration Angel
G2: On the Draw: I begin with Leyline in play, which is great until it gets revelry'd into a flurry of burn spells. On my heels the whole time, and never get to stabilize. A timely resto angel prolonged the inevitable for 3 turns, however. Saw 0 helices which didn't help. Spell Snare did a lot of work with Snap help.
1-1
G3: On play: Mulligan to 6, kept hand of 2 Fetch, Colonnade, Spell Snare, Helix, Bolt. All star hand, especially as I draw Snapcaster, Snapcaster, Land, land. Game goes as planned for a few turns, and I'm sitting at 3 life for what seams like an eternity. My solo Snapcaster takes him from 9 to 1, and I have another snap in my hand with a bolt to finish him. I just hold it and hold it so I don't die in response. I end up killing him the following turn with snapcaster, and he reveals a hand of 3 Destructive Revelry! Sideboard backfire! Match 2-1, Rounds 1-0
Round 2 - R Burn
This matchup was against a newer player, and I ended up helping him with his list after.
G1: I'm on the draw - T1 Goblin Guide feeds me a land. I take 2 before bolting on the second attack, which flipped a Helix. He plays T2 Keldon Marauders, which gets helixed. There is a soft flurry of rift bolts to my face, but another helix and snapcaster allows me to stabilize and go for the throat a few turns later.
1-0
SB:
+2 Leyline
+1 Helix
-1 Electrolyze
-2 Vendilion Clique (I really liked Resto in the previous round after siding it out and drawing my 1 of!)
G2: On the draw - I start with Leyline in play. He has no answer for it, but he is playing a creature heavy version of this deck. T1 he runs another goblin out, and this time gets in for 6 before I can deal with it. HOwever, I kept a 2x Helix opener (just some painful land configurations). Eventually, I blow up his guide, marauders, and drop a resto angel to block Spark Elemental. I kill 3x Vexing devil w/ Path/Bolt/Life, pretty good exchanges in the grand scheme. Game 2 ended with me at 18 life. Match 2-0, Rounds 2-0
Round 3 - Junk Loam
I love the guy that plays this deck. His build centers around graveyard synergy via Life from the Loam, Liliana of the Veil, Smallpox, Haakon, Stromgald Scourge(Look this up with Nameless Inversion - SIIIC Synergy!,
G1: I'm on the play - Game went back and forth exchanging counterspells for discard, I would burn his life total, he was locking down my lands via Tec edge/Loam. Eventually I get a blade Splicer and Geist out, which get in for a total of 10 before he casts Damnation. 2 Bolts and a fetch land leave him at 3 life, and I draw a Stormbreath for the win (he has path in hand! Go pro white!)
1-0
SB:
+2 Leyline
+2 RIP
+1 Path to Exile
-2 Remand
-2 Geist (didnt like this with Lili/Smallpox running around
-1 Lightning Helix (hindsight, I would remove 3 of these and keep the Geists)
G2: On the Draw: This game couldn't have started better. I have a T3 RIP after he has 2 dredge cards in his yard (Loam, Stinkweed) and nothing else. This chews up most of the game, and he has to abrupt decay my snapcasters just to stay alive. Restoration angel comes down to save a snapcaster as well! However, I overcommit into a Damnation, after which he decays the RIP. Cant draw a finisher, and he comes back from being at about 4-5 life (it was higher than 3, because I lost with a bolt in hand :(). I played this one poorly after starting ahead, and there are a few things I learned from this match-up.
1-1
G3: I kept a poor hand in this game, and that is why I lost. 3x Land, 2x Helix, 1x Blade Splicer, 1x Path. Seems like an OK hand, but for this matchup I need some sort of answer for the following:
He plays T1, Land, Raven's Crime, go.
I play Colonnade.
His T2, Land, Raven's Crime x2, go.
I play Land, go.
His T3, Land, Raven's Crime, Life from the loam.
He just decimates my hand. I end up getting the blade splicer down, but my chips are nothing as he begins to draw gas and blow me out. Game 3 just wasn't pretty. Match 1-2, Round 2-1
Round 4 - Esper Mill
This matchup is unwinnable with my sideboard. Pretty neat mill-deck, surprisingly competitive. Hedron Crab, Archive Trap, Surgical Extraction, Crypt Incursion
G1: I had a good start, and was close to victory when a timely Crypt Incursion brought him from 6 to 36.
0-1
SB:
+2x Leyline
-2 remand (probably not the right call)
G2: I start with a leyline, but kept a 1 land hand to do so. This works well for 4-5 turns, but eventually he draws disenchant. I was 2 lands behind at that point. Had the splicer been a Geist, I could have pulled this one out. Still came down to the last turn, but EE on 2 with nothing but Snapcasters in hand/play spelled my doom. Match 0-2 Rounds 2-2
Round 5 - Tron
3 tough match-ups in a row. The opponent for this round was new to modern, and I ended up taking the game due to his sloppy/non/mis-plays. After each mistake, I advised what the proper play probably would have been. He was a great sport, and hopefully learned a lot. Towards the end of game 2 he was literally showing me his hand asking me which play is best!
In any case, even against a good tron player this game would have probably been mine. I had enough early pressure with counter backup that it made this final round a walk in the park. A good finish after the previous 2 rounds. Match 2-0 Rounds 3-2
This was my first tournament report, so hopefully it was readable. I'm sure I could have been more detailed as far as the plays were concerned, but that's all I could remember from last night! Thanks for reading, and appreciate any feedback/criticism.
Hey all, I just posted up some new videos for those interested. These include a deck tech for a new build I've been playing with and some MTGO play videos.
@xseizanx I don't think that's fair criticism of GreatNateMtg. He played in an 8 man, which is usually worse than a daily, but it's not bad. Some people just don't have time for de's. You should also definitely know what to expect out of bogles and 8 rack as well. They're not the most popular, but they do get played a fair amount especially online.
@xseizanx I don't think that's fair criticism of GreatNateMtg. He played in an 8 man, which is usually worse than a daily, but it's not bad. Some people just don't have time for de's. You should also definitely know what to expect out of bogles and 8 rack as well. They're not the most popular, but they do get played a fair amount especially online.
Seizan didn´t ment to be offensive. He simply pointed out that it would be ESPECIALLY nice to see some matchups vs "good" decks. Of course you have to know what to do vs those decks, but as a paper player, those decks are rather rare, and for the sake of experience we would all benefit from different matchups.
Yes, I know that you can´t chose by yourself vs which deck you are gonna be paired in your daily, but I guess we should all be honest and say in what we are interested and what not.
Rememeber: We appreciate your video work and afford, but now its time for some real matchups to higher your viewer count since you definitely deserve it!
Hey guys thank you for watching my videos and thank you the feedback! I am going to keep this reply brief as I am currently typing on my phone on the bus.
Regarding the first set of videos I linked. I entered three magic online 2-Man (1v1) queues. Sadly I have no control over who my opponents are in those events, or the larger ones.
However, I have a couple points of good news. I have a friend with nearly all of the Tier 1 modern decks online. I am going to be making some "versus" videos with him pitting UWR Geist against the Tier 1 field. Also, I played in a daily event this morning. I managed to go 3-1 with the Elspeth version of UWR Geist from my last videos despite some misplays. I played against UWR Control twice, and beat Melira Pod in a very grindy game in the last round. I should be home in an hour to post the last two matches and a wrap-up.
Hey all, I just posted up some new videos for those interested. These include a deck tech for a new build I've been playing with and some MTGO play videos.
Just watched your video, good job I especially like your thoughts on how the geist plan is effective especially as it relates to playing control as more tempo.
The one thing I found was that some of your plays in the vs video, especially against 8 rack were a bit off, I I think those games were winnable, like choosing and discarding a bolt right before a 3rd turn liliana was tough.
However you plays against the aggro deck just destroyed was really good.
Hey all, I just posted up some new videos for those interested. These include a deck tech for a new build I've been playing with and some MTGO play videos.
Just watched your video, good job I especially like your thoughts on how the geist plan is effective especially as it relates to playing control as more tempo.
The one thing I found was that some of your plays in the vs video, especially against 8 rack were a bit off, I I think those games were winnable, like choosing and discarding a bolt right before a 3rd turn liliana was tough.
However you plays against the aggro deck just destroyed was really good.
I'm looking forward to more!
Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to go back and watch the match again. Mono Black discard is one of our weaker match ups. Fortunately it isn't very prevalent, but also likely explains why my play was pretty loose, I haven't played against it a ton.
*Edit*
I just watched part of that video. I definitely should've discarded the lands and kept double bolt for a potentially incoming Liliana. This is how we learn, I won't make that mistake again.
@xseizanx I don't think that's fair criticism of GreatNateMtg. He played in an 8 man, which is usually worse than a daily, but it's not bad. Some people just don't have time for de's. You should also definitely know what to expect out of bogles and 8 rack as well. They're not the most popular, but they do get played a fair amount especially online.
Seizan didn´t ment to be offensive. He simply pointed out that it would be ESPECIALLY nice to see some matchups vs "good" decks. Of course you have to know what to do vs those decks, but as a paper player, those decks are rather rare, and for the sake of experience we would all benefit from different matchups.
Yes, I know that you can´t chose by yourself vs which deck you are gonna be paired in your daily, but I guess we should all be honest and say in what we are interested and what not.
Rememeber: We appreciate your video work and afford, but now its time for some real matchups to higher your viewer count since you definitely deserve it!
Hey guys thank you for watching my videos and thank you the feedback! I am going to keep this reply brief as I am currently typing on my phone on the bus.
Regarding the first set of videos I linked. I entered three magic online 2-Man (1v1) queues. Sadly I have no control over who my opponents are in those events, or the larger ones.
However, I have a couple points of good news. I have a friend with nearly all of the Tier 1 modern decks online. I am going to be making some "versus" videos with him pitting UWR Geist against the Tier 1 field. Also, I played in a daily event this morning. I managed to go 3-1 with the Elspeth version of UWR Geist from my last videos despite some misplays. I played against UWR Control twice, and beat Melira Pod in a very grindy game in the last round. I should be home in an hour to post the last two matches and a wrap-up.
Hey Nate if you want to do some videos IRL let me know (I'm the UWR Control guy from Da-Planet a little over a month ago when you made the Geist mistake :p). Shoot me a PM.
Hey all, I just posted up some new videos for those interested. These include a deck tech for a new build I've been playing with and some MTGO play videos.
Just watched your video, good job I especially like your thoughts on how the geist plan is effective especially as it relates to playing control as more tempo.
The one thing I found was that some of your plays in the vs video, especially against 8 rack were a bit off, I I think those games were winnable, like choosing and discarding a bolt right before a 3rd turn liliana was tough.
However you plays against the aggro deck just destroyed was really good.
I'm looking forward to more!
Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to go back and watch the match again. Mono Black discard is one of our weaker match ups. Fortunately it isn't very prevalent, but also likely explains why my play was pretty loose, I haven't played against it a ton.
*Edit*
I just watched part of that video. I definitely should've discarded the lands and kept double bolt for a potentially incoming Liliana. This is how we learn, I won't make that mistake again.
Was also thinking about it, it's much easier to see while watching a video than actually playing
Hey Nate if you want to do some videos IRL let me know (I'm the UWR Control guy from Da-Planet a little over a month ago when you made the Geist mistake :p). Shoot me a PM.
Hey man! I'll never forget that mistake haha. I blame fatigue.
1. 2/2 split was OK. There were times that I had Geist and wished it was Splicer, and vice versa. I wish we had a tarmogoyf-esque beater in these colors, because often 3CMC at sorcery speed is too slow to turn on the clock. I'm thinking about replacing them with Spellstutter Sprites and going with an all flash version of this deck (if you can think of a better flash beater i'd love to hear it!) I considered Pestermite, but that put me on the path of just slotting in Splinter Twin and going that route.
2. Very little aggro in my meta. Usually our Modern event draws 20ish people. It's usually about the following:
2-3 Affinity
3-4 Twin variants
2-3 pods
3-4 URW variants
2-3 GBx variants
2-3 Storm
2-3 "Other"
2-3 Burn
1. 2/2 split was OK. There were times that I had Geist and wished it was Splicer, and vice versa. I wish we had a tarmogoyf-esque beater in these colors, because often 3CMC at sorcery speed is too slow to turn on the clock. I'm thinking about replacing them with Spellstutter Sprites and going with an all flash version of this deck (if you can think of a better flash beater i'd love to hear it!) I considered Pestermite, but that put me on the path of just slotting in Splinter Twin and going that route.
2. Very little aggro in my meta. Usually our Modern event draws 20ish people. It's usually about the following:
2-3 Affinity
3-4 Twin variants
2-3 pods
3-4 URW variants
2-3 GBx variants
2-3 Storm
2-3 "Other"
2-3 Burn
Thats a meta where geist and splicer aren't great. I tried the flash version and concluded that it was better in such a meta. I actually switched over and haven't looked back. The fact that you play more cliques and angels means you can apply pressure at instant speed while still reacting to the opponent is extremely important.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Currently Playing:
Modern: RUGScapeshift[RUG...Occasionally with goyfs RUGTarmotwinRUG(RIP)
Legacy: UWxuwr miracles and stonebladeUWx
Commander: UWRShu Yun/Ruhan SmashUWR
Question on the faerie - is it good countering just 1CMC spells? I'll be able to get it to 2CMC most games at least once, but most of the time when it matters she'll only be on one.
I played in another daily event with the UWR Geist feat. Elspeth deck that I posted before, I went 2-2.
Sadly I think the deck could've been piloted to a 4-0 or at least 3-1 but I made some mistakes that I feel cost me both losses. I'll be posting the videos likely sometime tomorrow.
Round 1: Kiki Pod
1-0
I didn't event fully realize what deck I was playing against until it was over. Feel like I played well. I think Melira Pod is a harder matchup because of Gavony.
Round 2: Resto/Kiki Control
1-1
I used up my clock and died to time in the third game. Poop.
Round 3: Melira Pod
2-1
I always feel drained after playing Melira Pod. It's a tough matchup but I think I played this one well.
Round 4: UR Delver
2-2
Really feel like I had a shot to win this one, but I mis-sequenced my land drops and accidentally skipped through a phase that I could've played Elspeth to +3/+3 Geist for a swing of 9. I might've even skipped two phases. Gross.
I saw your videos, and all I can say is, "we all make mistakes." I can't say I'm a pro by any standards, as I make plenty of mistakes as well; we all do, that's how we learn. I think the pressure of the clock is bogus! Wizards should re-evaluate the amount of time a match should last. I otherwise like your deck design, and card choices. The reason I think people prefer Restoration Angel over any other card choice, is due to "Flash." Also, it's handy against aggro decks, where you can play a resto as a blocker in response to an attack, then swing the following turn. it blinks snappy and Clique, and allows you to blink your Giest to prevent a fatal blow from combat damage.
With regards to your approach using Elspeth, what are your thoughts on Iroas, God of Victory? Although it doesn't provide the same advantages as Elspeth, it might open up a new strategy.
I saw your videos, and all I can say is, "we all make mistakes." I can't say I'm a pro by any standards, as I make plenty of mistakes as well; we all do, that's how we learn. I think the pressure of the clock is bogus! Wizards should re-evaluate the amount of time a match should last. I otherwise like your deck design, and card choices. The reason I think people prefer Restoration Angel over any other card choice, is due to "Flash." Also, it's handy against aggro decks, where you can play a resto as a blocker in response to an attack, then swing the following turn. it blinks snappy and Clique, and allows you to blink your Giest to prevent a fatal blow from combat damage.
With regards to your approach using Elspeth, what are your thoughts on Iroas, God of Victory? Although it doesn't provide the same advantages as Elspeth, it might open up a new strategy.
Thanks for watching man, I hope you weren't bored to tears.
I don't want to come across as saying the Elspeth version is strictly better.
In short, I think running Elspeth over Restoration Angel gives up some "reactive & control" lines of play, but gains some more proactive options. I talk a bit about my choice to test with Elspeth in this video, and address some of the points you mentioned. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edP_f4xAcDQ&feature=share&list=PLaUnM24uNg0DYNThTfn-2jywcsFBJXXuK
On one note. I personally don't like saving Geist with Restoration Angel. If we're attacking with Geist it must mean it's time to get aggressive with the deck. It ends up costing 4 mana on your turn to get 4 damage in and you save Geist. If I am going to spend 4 mana on my turn, I'd rather drop a Planeswalker that gives Geist evasion, pumps him to hit for 9, and acts as a virtual card advantage engine in the form of 1/1 dudes.
With regards to Iroas, God of Victory. I think in the shell of UWR Geist, he isn't very good. If you happen to play a Geist on turn 3, and Ioras on turn 4 it does give Geist evasion, but it also does 3 less damage than playing an Elspeth, Knight-Errant on turn 4, and doesn't really give any value outside of evasion. It ends up being a red and white Levitation. Additionally, he sucks on his own. If we top deck him later in the game, he isn't a creature, and we don't play many creatures to take advantage of his ability, so he won't do anything. Lastly, I don't think this deck ever runs enough white/red permanents to ever make him a creature. If he has a place in Modern, it is in a totally different deck.
as to elspeth, I personally like restoration angel more. Having flash is huge, and when it can blink snapcaster and clique, it has some really good value on a decent body. Angel is probably better in a more combo heavy meta where that flash is extremely relavent and elspeth would just be a beater type card.
Elspeth is more powerful though so a meta that could support her might make her very good in this deck. Continue testing, I'd love to see how she works out.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Currently Playing:
Modern: RUGScapeshift[RUG...Occasionally with goyfs RUGTarmotwinRUG(RIP)
Legacy: UWxuwr miracles and stonebladeUWx
Commander: UWRShu Yun/Ruhan SmashUWR
Free Splinter Twin and Stoneforge Mystic
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Generally, UWr Mid is versatile enough that doesn't have many outright bad/unwinnable matchups, but there are few truly *easy* matchups for it. Even on our best matchups, we can get blown out by bad play. The drawback of UWR's versatility is that it doesn't play itself; in my experience, it has fewer "autopilot" wins than most other decks. If you're concerned about hard matchups, maybe play a different deck.
In most of the matchups you mentioned, I'd run Engineered Explosives and Anger of the Gods out of the sideboard.
Against Burn, I'd keep Geist in because they can't hit him and he's an absurdly fast clock. Post-board, crack fetches for Basics in case they're running Blood Moon.
My list:
4x Snapcaster Mage
2x Blade Splicer
2x Geist of Saint Traft
2x Vendilion Clique
3x Restoration Angel
1x Stormbreath Dragon
Spells
4x Lightning Bolt
3x Path to Exile
2x Spell Snare
3x Lightning Helix
3x Mana Leak
2x Remand
1x Electrolyze
3x Cryptic Command
4x Celestial Colonnade
4x Scalding Tarn
4x Arid Mesa
1x Sacred Foundry
2x Hallowed Fountain
3x Steam Vents
3x Island
1x Plains
1x Mountain
2x Tectonic Edge
2x Leyline of Sanctity
2x Stony Silence
2x Counterflux
1x Lightning Helix
1x Path to Exile
1x Engineered Explosives
2x Shatterstorm
2x Rest in Peace
2x Combust
Round 1 - Rg Burn
This matchup was against a good friend and someone who is an excellent pilot of this deck. He plays a version thats almost mono red, splashing green only for Destructive Revelry SB.
G1: I'm on the play - I keep a 2 land hand, and Goblin Guide feeds me 2 more before I bolt it. I end up poorly timing a Lightning Helix into a Flames of the Bloodhand, and it almost ends right there. I Snapcaster the helix at a more opportune time targeting his vexing devil, and I stabilize at around 6 life with counter backup. Snapcaster gets there with help from a later Blade Splicer.
1-0
SB:
+ 2x Leyline
+ 1x Helix
- 1x Electrolyze
- 2x Restoration Angel
G2: On the Draw: I begin with Leyline in play, which is great until it gets revelry'd into a flurry of burn spells. On my heels the whole time, and never get to stabilize. A timely resto angel prolonged the inevitable for 3 turns, however. Saw 0 helices which didn't help. Spell Snare did a lot of work with Snap help.
1-1
G3: On play: Mulligan to 6, kept hand of 2 Fetch, Colonnade, Spell Snare, Helix, Bolt. All star hand, especially as I draw Snapcaster, Snapcaster, Land, land. Game goes as planned for a few turns, and I'm sitting at 3 life for what seams like an eternity. My solo Snapcaster takes him from 9 to 1, and I have another snap in my hand with a bolt to finish him. I just hold it and hold it so I don't die in response. I end up killing him the following turn with snapcaster, and he reveals a hand of 3 Destructive Revelry! Sideboard backfire!
Match 2-1, Rounds 1-0
Round 2 - R Burn
This matchup was against a newer player, and I ended up helping him with his list after.
G1: I'm on the draw - T1 Goblin Guide feeds me a land. I take 2 before bolting on the second attack, which flipped a Helix. He plays T2 Keldon Marauders, which gets helixed. There is a soft flurry of rift bolts to my face, but another helix and snapcaster allows me to stabilize and go for the throat a few turns later.
1-0
SB:
+2 Leyline
+1 Helix
-1 Electrolyze
-2 Vendilion Clique (I really liked Resto in the previous round after siding it out and drawing my 1 of!)
G2: On the draw - I start with Leyline in play. He has no answer for it, but he is playing a creature heavy version of this deck. T1 he runs another goblin out, and this time gets in for 6 before I can deal with it. HOwever, I kept a 2x Helix opener (just some painful land configurations). Eventually, I blow up his guide, marauders, and drop a resto angel to block Spark Elemental. I kill 3x Vexing devil w/ Path/Bolt/Life, pretty good exchanges in the grand scheme. Game 2 ended with me at 18 life.
Match 2-0, Rounds 2-0
Round 3 - Junk Loam
I love the guy that plays this deck. His build centers around graveyard synergy via Life from the Loam, Liliana of the Veil, Smallpox, Haakon, Stromgald Scourge(Look this up with Nameless Inversion - SIIIC Synergy!,
G1: I'm on the play - Game went back and forth exchanging counterspells for discard, I would burn his life total, he was locking down my lands via Tec edge/Loam. Eventually I get a blade Splicer and Geist out, which get in for a total of 10 before he casts Damnation. 2 Bolts and a fetch land leave him at 3 life, and I draw a Stormbreath for the win (he has path in hand! Go pro white!)
1-0
SB:
+2 Leyline
+2 RIP
+1 Path to Exile
-2 Remand
-2 Geist (didnt like this with Lili/Smallpox running around
-1 Lightning Helix (hindsight, I would remove 3 of these and keep the Geists)
G2: On the Draw: This game couldn't have started better. I have a T3 RIP after he has 2 dredge cards in his yard (Loam, Stinkweed) and nothing else. This chews up most of the game, and he has to abrupt decay my snapcasters just to stay alive. Restoration angel comes down to save a snapcaster as well! However, I overcommit into a Damnation, after which he decays the RIP. Cant draw a finisher, and he comes back from being at about 4-5 life (it was higher than 3, because I lost with a bolt in hand :(). I played this one poorly after starting ahead, and there are a few things I learned from this match-up.
1-1
G3: I kept a poor hand in this game, and that is why I lost. 3x Land, 2x Helix, 1x Blade Splicer, 1x Path. Seems like an OK hand, but for this matchup I need some sort of answer for the following:
He plays T1, Land, Raven's Crime, go.
I play Colonnade.
His T2, Land, Raven's Crime x2, go.
I play Land, go.
His T3, Land, Raven's Crime, Life from the loam.
He just decimates my hand. I end up getting the blade splicer down, but my chips are nothing as he begins to draw gas and blow me out. Game 3 just wasn't pretty.
Match 1-2, Round 2-1
Round 4 - Esper Mill
This matchup is unwinnable with my sideboard. Pretty neat mill-deck, surprisingly competitive. Hedron Crab, Archive Trap, Surgical Extraction, Crypt Incursion
G1: I had a good start, and was close to victory when a timely Crypt Incursion brought him from 6 to 36.
0-1
SB:
+2x Leyline
-2 remand (probably not the right call)
G2: I start with a leyline, but kept a 1 land hand to do so. This works well for 4-5 turns, but eventually he draws disenchant. I was 2 lands behind at that point. Had the splicer been a Geist, I could have pulled this one out. Still came down to the last turn, but EE on 2 with nothing but Snapcasters in hand/play spelled my doom.
Match 0-2 Rounds 2-2
Round 5 - Tron
3 tough match-ups in a row. The opponent for this round was new to modern, and I ended up taking the game due to his sloppy/non/mis-plays. After each mistake, I advised what the proper play probably would have been. He was a great sport, and hopefully learned a lot. Towards the end of game 2 he was literally showing me his hand asking me which play is best!
In any case, even against a good tron player this game would have probably been mine. I had enough early pressure with counter backup that it made this final round a walk in the park. A good finish after the previous 2 rounds.
Match 2-0 Rounds 3-2
This was my first tournament report, so hopefully it was readable. I'm sure I could have been more detailed as far as the plays were concerned, but that's all I could remember from last night! Thanks for reading, and appreciate any feedback/criticism.
http://bit.ly/1eBvnv3
GWBoglesGW///URDelverUR WVial-knightsW
Hey guys thank you for watching my videos and thank you the feedback! I am going to keep this reply brief as I am currently typing on my phone on the bus.
Regarding the first set of videos I linked. I entered three magic online 2-Man (1v1) queues. Sadly I have no control over who my opponents are in those events, or the larger ones.
However, I have a couple points of good news. I have a friend with nearly all of the Tier 1 modern decks online. I am going to be making some "versus" videos with him pitting UWR Geist against the Tier 1 field. Also, I played in a daily event this morning. I managed to go 3-1 with the Elspeth version of UWR Geist from my last videos despite some misplays. I played against UWR Control twice, and beat Melira Pod in a very grindy game in the last round. I should be home in an hour to post the last two matches and a wrap-up.
3-1 in a Modern Daily event with UWR Geist:
http://bit.ly/1iuG0zv
Just watched your video, good job I especially like your thoughts on how the geist plan is effective especially as it relates to playing control as more tempo.
The one thing I found was that some of your plays in the vs video, especially against 8 rack were a bit off, I I think those games were winnable, like choosing and discarding a bolt right before a 3rd turn liliana was tough.
However you plays against the aggro deck just destroyed was really good.
I'm looking forward to more!
GWBoglesGW///URDelverUR WVial-knightsW
Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to go back and watch the match again. Mono Black discard is one of our weaker match ups. Fortunately it isn't very prevalent, but also likely explains why my play was pretty loose, I haven't played against it a ton.
*Edit*
I just watched part of that video. I definitely should've discarded the lands and kept double bolt for a potentially incoming Liliana. This is how we learn, I won't make that mistake again.
Hey Nate if you want to do some videos IRL let me know (I'm the UWR Control guy from Da-Planet a little over a month ago when you made the Geist mistake :p). Shoot me a PM.
Was also thinking about it, it's much easier to see while watching a video than actually playing
GWBoglesGW///URDelverUR WVial-knightsW
Hey man! I'll never forget that mistake haha. I blame fatigue.
I'm still not sure about Hellkite and 21 lands but that aside, I've considered something similar. Glad to see you having some success with it.
How did hellkite perform?
1. 2/2 split was OK. There were times that I had Geist and wished it was Splicer, and vice versa. I wish we had a tarmogoyf-esque beater in these colors, because often 3CMC at sorcery speed is too slow to turn on the clock. I'm thinking about replacing them with Spellstutter Sprites and going with an all flash version of this deck (if you can think of a better flash beater i'd love to hear it!) I considered Pestermite, but that put me on the path of just slotting in Splinter Twin and going that route.
2. Very little aggro in my meta. Usually our Modern event draws 20ish people. It's usually about the following:
2-3 Affinity
3-4 Twin variants
2-3 pods
3-4 URW variants
2-3 GBx variants
2-3 Storm
2-3 "Other"
2-3 Burn
Thats a meta where geist and splicer aren't great. I tried the flash version and concluded that it was better in such a meta. I actually switched over and haven't looked back. The fact that you play more cliques and angels means you can apply pressure at instant speed while still reacting to the opponent is extremely important.
Modern:
RUGScapeshift[RUG...Occasionally with goyfs
RUGTarmotwinRUG(RIP)
Legacy:
UWxuwr miracles and stonebladeUWx
Commander:
UWRShu Yun/Ruhan SmashUWR
Care to share your list with the class?
Question on the faerie - is it good countering just 1CMC spells? I'll be able to get it to 2CMC most games at least once, but most of the time when it matters she'll only be on one.
4x Celestial Colonnade
2x Hallowed Fountain
3x Island
1x Mountain
1x Plains
1x Sacred Foundry
4x Scalding Tarn
2x Steam Vents
2x Sulfur Falls
2x Tectonic Edge
2x Electrolyze
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
2x Mana Leak
3x Path to Exile
3x Remand
3x Spell Snare
1x Sphinx's Revelation
3x Restoration Angel
4x Snapcaster Mage
3x Vendilion Clique
1x Batterskull
1x Celestial Purge
2x Counterflux
1x Dispel
1x Engineered Explosives
2x Relic of Progenitus
2x Stony Silence
2x Supreme Verdict
1x Wear / Tear
Its borderline control with that revelation but this is the best emalgamation of uwr control/midrange i found.
Modern:
RUGScapeshift[RUG...Occasionally with goyfs
RUGTarmotwinRUG(RIP)
Legacy:
UWxuwr miracles and stonebladeUWx
Commander:
UWRShu Yun/Ruhan SmashUWR
I played in another daily event with the UWR Geist feat. Elspeth deck that I posted before, I went 2-2.
Sadly I think the deck could've been piloted to a 4-0 or at least 3-1 but I made some mistakes that I feel cost me both losses. I'll be posting the videos likely sometime tomorrow.
Round 1: Kiki Pod
1-0
I didn't event fully realize what deck I was playing against until it was over. Feel like I played well. I think Melira Pod is a harder matchup because of Gavony.
Round 2: Resto/Kiki Control
1-1
I used up my clock and died to time in the third game. Poop.
Round 3: Melira Pod
2-1
I always feel drained after playing Melira Pod. It's a tough matchup but I think I played this one well.
Round 4: UR Delver
2-2
Really feel like I had a shot to win this one, but I mis-sequenced my land drops and accidentally skipped through a phase that I could've played Elspeth to +3/+3 Geist for a swing of 9. I might've even skipped two phases. Gross.
I saw your videos, and all I can say is, "we all make mistakes." I can't say I'm a pro by any standards, as I make plenty of mistakes as well; we all do, that's how we learn. I think the pressure of the clock is bogus! Wizards should re-evaluate the amount of time a match should last. I otherwise like your deck design, and card choices. The reason I think people prefer Restoration Angel over any other card choice, is due to "Flash." Also, it's handy against aggro decks, where you can play a resto as a blocker in response to an attack, then swing the following turn. it blinks snappy and Clique, and allows you to blink your Giest to prevent a fatal blow from combat damage.
With regards to your approach using Elspeth, what are your thoughts on Iroas, God of Victory? Although it doesn't provide the same advantages as Elspeth, it might open up a new strategy.
Thanks for watching man, I hope you weren't bored to tears.
I don't want to come across as saying the Elspeth version is strictly better.
In short, I think running Elspeth over Restoration Angel gives up some "reactive & control" lines of play, but gains some more proactive options. I talk a bit about my choice to test with Elspeth in this video, and address some of the points you mentioned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edP_f4xAcDQ&feature=share&list=PLaUnM24uNg0DYNThTfn-2jywcsFBJXXuK
On one note. I personally don't like saving Geist with Restoration Angel. If we're attacking with Geist it must mean it's time to get aggressive with the deck. It ends up costing 4 mana on your turn to get 4 damage in and you save Geist. If I am going to spend 4 mana on my turn, I'd rather drop a Planeswalker that gives Geist evasion, pumps him to hit for 9, and acts as a virtual card advantage engine in the form of 1/1 dudes.
With regards to Iroas, God of Victory. I think in the shell of UWR Geist, he isn't very good. If you happen to play a Geist on turn 3, and Ioras on turn 4 it does give Geist evasion, but it also does 3 less damage than playing an Elspeth, Knight-Errant on turn 4, and doesn't really give any value outside of evasion. It ends up being a red and white Levitation. Additionally, he sucks on his own. If we top deck him later in the game, he isn't a creature, and we don't play many creatures to take advantage of his ability, so he won't do anything. Lastly, I don't think this deck ever runs enough white/red permanents to ever make him a creature. If he has a place in Modern, it is in a totally different deck.
Elspeth is more powerful though so a meta that could support her might make her very good in this deck. Continue testing, I'd love to see how she works out.
Modern:
RUGScapeshift[RUG...Occasionally with goyfs
RUGTarmotwinRUG(RIP)
Legacy:
UWxuwr miracles and stonebladeUWx
Commander:
UWRShu Yun/Ruhan SmashUWR