Greetings all! I decided to play Dredge for FNM last night and boy it went well with the changes to my deck I made.
Round 1: (Opponent's deck: W/B Home Brew control & aggro) Whenever I face a deck that has black and white, I know that it would be a hard match; however, things went a lot better than expected.
Game 1: My dredges were really on point and I managed to hit things I wanted. My opponent runs mainboard Surgical Extraction which scared me a lot but they didn't hit something I couldn't win without, that being they hit Conflagrate. Sideboard Tech:
Game 2: Game one went so long, we were the only players left. That being said, my dredging went very well and I manages to win with value of my favorite card in my deck, Haunted Dead.
Round 2: (Opponent's deck: W/U Control) My meta has quite a few control players and overall run white in decks, I was dubious with deck because they have access to a lot of graveyard hate.
Game 1: My dredging was insane. Turn 1 I played Insolent Neonate, used it's ability, and I hit Narcomoeba and 2 Prized Amalgams. This game ended very quickly from me bashing my opponent early on in the game. Sideboard Tech:
Game 2: Opening hand I had some sideboard cards; needless to say, I kept it. My dredging was insane yet again, by turn 3 I had 3 Prized Amalgams on the field. On turn 4 for my opponent they dropped Detention Sphere on my Prized Amalgams. My next turn I dropped Nature's Claim to end that and from that point forward, Dredge was with me. I had lethal on board but my opponent played Cryptic Command to tap down my team but I managed to then cast Conflagrate from my graveyard without worry of it being countered for the win.
Round 3: (Opponent's deck: Naya Burn) I really don't like burn and I knew that this match would be hard to keep up with my opponent.
Game 1: Very close game this one, I was done to 1 my and opponent just kept drawing lands for a couple of turns for me to get in for lethal damage. Sideboard Tech:
Game 2: Burn just managed to get there too fast and I didn't have answers for that even if my dredging was good.
Game 3: I didn't expect my opponent to drop Rest in Peace and I messed up for my boarding in my Nature's Claim to deal with that. That being said, They managed to burn my out even though the game was close.
Round 4: (Opponent's deck: Jund) My most hated deck in Modern but generally now with Dredge, I have a lot better matchup against them. Needless to say, it was a very good match
Game 1: My dredging was just very good this tournament and i managed to hit all of what I need to be successful. My opponent played some discard spells but I pretty much like having most cards in the graveyard Sideboard Tech:
Game 2: My opponent dropped Scavenging Ooze which does wreck Dredge a lot but luckily they didn't have any mana from that to eat key cards from my graveyard and next turn I cast Conflagrate from my graveyard to get rid of it. Conflagrate won me the game from continuing to dredge Life from the Loam to get value for maximum damage.
The tournament went very well. At the end, their were five 9-pointers and I managed to get 1st place because my opponent's win percentages were better than everyone else. My card shop doesn't play out top cut and they do payout for standings; needless to say, things went well!
For those that are interested, here is my deck as of right now. I made some changes since the last time I played.
Mainbaord, I Took out Scourge Devil. I never really used it much, though when I did, it was good. In it's place I added Darkblast as another value card for dredging and also picking off 1 toughness creatures I might see.
Sidebaord, I added a third Collective Brutality. Such a good value card for us in being able to fuel card in the graveyard and able to get rid of some spells, siphon life, and get rid of creatures potentially. I took out my only Inquisition of Kozilek for the room.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, 3x Stinkweed Imp? I can't see the justification for 3x Stinkweed Imp and 3x Golgari Thug. If you need space, then go down to 2 Golgari Thugh so you can have a 4th Stinkweed Imp, right? Am I crazy? That's our best dredger!
Xaricore you have a TON of access to black mana without even any Thoughtseize in the sideboard. Why?
I have Thoughtseizes available, just haven't tried them yet. I understand why using them would be 'very' good in getting rid of sideboard hate for Dredge. I just don't know what to change in the sideboard for them because I do like my sideboard right now any suggestions?
What do you guys think on how to beat Auriok Champion? That card has been completely backbreaking whenever it's been played against me and we don't have any sideboard options to deal with it. Is it a small enough part of the meta that we can hope to not get matched up against decks playing it?
Private Mod Note
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Modern
Dredge (117-70 W/L in games) (Pre-GGT ban: 103-70 W/L in games)
@Ivg, What do you play against RIP? Just bring in TS and hope to strip it from them?
I agree about Abrupt Decay. The times I need it the mana is too hard to get at the right time. I'm back to 2 Nature's Claim in their spots. But no big finishes to report for me.
@Chill_Axe, if you have a bunch of them in your local maybe running a Prepare // Fight would be good? Seems a little cute and a little slow, but you could always make them fight your Narcomoeba. I wouldn't worry about it for a large event though. It is a fairly small part of the meta and the matchup lottery is just a part of modern.
I'm not sure how I feel about Brutality over Neonate. One one hand, having the extra T1 play does speed up the deck considerably. Not only can you effectively Tomb Scour, but if you do hit another dredger in that first 5, it lets you dredge again on T2 draw step. That's a lot. Saving for Brutality T2 (assuming no T1 Looting) means you don't really start dredging until T3 draw step, which feels incredibly slow. On the other hand, the Game 1 interaction offered by mainboard Brutalities and the sideboard slots it opens up certain has its merits. It could come down to a meta call, since Death's Shadow isn't blisteringly fast and the interaction is needed to have a chance against Vizier Company or Gifts Storm.
I do really like the idea behind Pulses. They hit everything that Abrupt Decay does, plus Leylines, Eldrazi, Tasigur, and Titans. Sometimes in multiples. There is some sacrifice in being sorcery speed and 3 mana instead of 2, but again, could come down to a meta call and the problem cards you anticipate needing to get rid of.
I still like the decays and wouldnt ever consider dropping my 1 drop for 2 drop. The deck needs speed, not game 1 stability... Our game one win ratio is still like a dumb 90%. I need speed, thats what countless matchups have taught me.
as far as pulse... sure, maybe, as a 1 of. it hits more targets than decay, forsure. but its also worse against the hate used against us. (but it hits laylines!) At 3 mana. again, you are sacrificing speed.
Dredge isnt a stable grind you out deck. If it is doing that, it is on its plan b. We are still a combo aggro race deck who is good midgame-lategame. We arent a midrange deck who plans to grind out.
So I've been testing a different deck in events but running dredge now with 3 (id run 2 in an actual event but want to see them for testing) gemstone caverns has seemed just fine in casual playing. allowing myself to go down 1 card isn't a big deal with a deck that already tends to mull decent. Casting reunion or brutality t1 is nice as well as casting darkblast on a dork before i even get a turn.
How goes it for all you dredge players? Still doing good with it? I decided to treat myself and just got the the rest of the missing cards to play Dredge minus the ones I already had (ghast, loam, conflag, fetches, some lands, all of the SB). I was about to buy into this deck right before the GGT ban and was glad I did not pull the trigger. I look forward to dredging nonstop and watching my opponents roll their eyes
Commander GUR Maelstrom Wanderer BWU Sydri, Galvanic Genius BGB Meren of Clan Nel Toth WGW Nazahn, Revered Bladesmith RRR Feldon of the Third Path WWW Heliod, God of the Sun
How goes it for all you dredge players? Still doing good with it? I decided to treat myself and just got the the rest of the missing cards to play Dredge minus the ones I already had (ghast, loam, conflag, fetches, some lands, all of the SB). I was about to buy into this deck right before the GGT ban and was glad I did not pull the trigger. I look forward to dredging nonstop and watching my opponents roll their eyes
Played my first FNM yesterday with Dredge and it went pretty good. I went 2-1 and the deck played great.
Only Rest in Piece is a proper killer I experienced. I played Affinity a couple years ago so it feels the same as a Stony Silence so I am used to it but what do you guys bring in to combat it?
I was just boarding in Thoughtseize and Abrupt Decay and it did some work but the deck I list from was boarding in 4 copies of it.
A lot to learn but I got a feeling I will be getting there pretty fast and I will be having a lot of going there I know that for sure.
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Legacy - Reanimator
Modern - Burn
EDH - Neheb the Eternal
How goes it for all you dredge players? Still doing good with it? I decided to treat myself and just got the the rest of the missing cards to play Dredge minus the ones I already had (ghast, loam, conflag, fetches, some lands, all of the SB). I was about to buy into this deck right before the GGT ban and was glad I did not pull the trigger. I look forward to dredging nonstop and watching my opponents roll their eyes
Commander GUR Maelstrom Wanderer BWU Sydri, Galvanic Genius BGB Meren of Clan Nel Toth WGW Nazahn, Revered Bladesmith RRR Feldon of the Third Path WWW Heliod, God of the Sun
1. If your opponent drops a turn 1 Cage, do you NOT dredge and just hope that you draw into an Ancient Grudge/Natural State/Abrupt Decay?
2. Let's say there's an Imp in your yard and a Faithless Looting in hand and you REALLY need a land. Do you choose to dredge the imp on your draw step and hope you find the land with Faithless Looting? Or do you just draw normally in hopes of finding a land first and then loot if you haven't found it. Would the first scenario actually hurt your chances of finding a land because you might dredge them away?
IMHO,
1) Dig like hell off the top of the deck for the answer. I'll often keep a faithless+mom hug hand post board even without an answer, because I'll see another 7 cards by turn 2. I did lose a match at a decent event because j kept a hand that didn't hand answers and I didn't anticipate cage when caching burn.
2) remember that just because the deck uses the GY it doesn't have to do it exclusively. If I keep a 1 lander that is otherwise amazing I'll draw from the top like hell to get the second land. Usually I'll be dripping the necessary pieces in the yard while doing so. Then when I hit that land drop after draw, land, looting, draw I can mom hug my way to a decent board state. Also, I run 20 lands. That's 1/3 cards. If I'm hurting for the second land drop I'm going to just draw all 3 chances naturally.
I don't think Brutality is that great against DS decks and Eldrazitron. Against both those decks, I think I would rather have a Neonate. Your brutality will probably be stripped against DS and Brutality isn't too hot against Tron. Brutality is amazing against a lot of other decks though. Maybe a 2/2 split between neonate and brutality? I've been thinking about upping the Gemstone Mines to 3 and replacing a Copperline Gorge, sometimes not getting B mana for a turn 1 Thoughtseize or Darkblast sucks.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, 3x Stinkweed Imp? I can't see the justification for 3x Stinkweed Imp and 3x Golgari Thug. If you need space, then go down to 2 Golgari Thugh so you can have a 4th Stinkweed Imp, right? Am I crazy? That's our best dredger!
I have Thoughtseizes available, just haven't tried them yet. I understand why using them would be 'very' good in getting rid of sideboard hate for Dredge. I just don't know what to change in the sideboard for them because I do like my sideboard right now any suggestions?
Dredge (117-70 W/L in games) (Pre-GGT ban: 103-70 W/L in games)
I agree about Abrupt Decay. The times I need it the mana is too hard to get at the right time. I'm back to 2 Nature's Claim in their spots. But no big finishes to report for me.
@Chill_Axe, if you have a bunch of them in your local maybe running a Prepare // Fight would be good? Seems a little cute and a little slow, but you could always make them fight your Narcomoeba. I wouldn't worry about it for a large event though. It is a fairly small part of the meta and the matchup lottery is just a part of modern.
Modern: Bogles // 8-Whack/Goblins // UW Titan // Hollow One // Affinity // Dredge
EDH: Nissa, Vastwood Seer // Atraxa, Praetor's Voice // Meren of Clan Nel Toth
Notably, he shares his thoughts on Collective Brutality in the main over Insolent Neonate, and sideboard choices such as Maelstrom Pulse.
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
I do really like the idea behind Pulses. They hit everything that Abrupt Decay does, plus Leylines, Eldrazi, Tasigur, and Titans. Sometimes in multiples. There is some sacrifice in being sorcery speed and 3 mana instead of 2, but again, could come down to a meta call and the problem cards you anticipate needing to get rid of.
Modern:
Dredge | Restore Balance | Titanshift
My [360][Unpowered][Modern-Frame] Cube
as far as pulse... sure, maybe, as a 1 of. it hits more targets than decay, forsure. but its also worse against the hate used against us. (but it hits laylines!) At 3 mana. again, you are sacrificing speed.
Dredge isnt a stable grind you out deck. If it is doing that, it is on its plan b. We are still a combo aggro race deck who is good midgame-lategame. We arent a midrange deck who plans to grind out.
Gemstone Caverns? You mean Gemstone Mine?
GURB Grixis/Jund Shadow
RBG Dredge
xUx U Ballista Tron
Commander
GUR Maelstrom Wanderer
BWU Sydri, Galvanic Genius
BGB Meren of Clan Nel Toth
WGW Nazahn, Revered Bladesmith
RRR Feldon of the Third Path
WWW Heliod, God of the Sun
Only Rest in Piece is a proper killer I experienced. I played Affinity a couple years ago so it feels the same as a Stony Silence so I am used to it but what do you guys bring in to combat it?
I was just boarding in Thoughtseize and Abrupt Decay and it did some work but the deck I list from was boarding in 4 copies of it.
A lot to learn but I got a feeling I will be getting there pretty fast and I will be having a lot of going there I know that for sure.
Modern - Burn
EDH - Neheb the Eternal
I read it but he will cover the audeboarding part next week.
Modern - Burn
EDH - Neheb the Eternal
Ah ok, I didn't read your post right. Interesting though, but that colorless might mess you up more often than not
GURB Grixis/Jund Shadow
RBG Dredge
xUx U Ballista Tron
Commander
GUR Maelstrom Wanderer
BWU Sydri, Galvanic Genius
BGB Meren of Clan Nel Toth
WGW Nazahn, Revered Bladesmith
RRR Feldon of the Third Path
WWW Heliod, God of the Sun
1. If your opponent drops a turn 1 Cage, do you NOT dredge and just hope that you draw into an Ancient Grudge/Natural State/Abrupt Decay?
2. Let's say there's an Imp in your yard and a Faithless Looting in hand and you REALLY need a land. Do you choose to dredge the imp on your draw step and hope you find the land with Faithless Looting? Or do you just draw normally in hopes of finding a land first and then loot if you haven't found it. Would the first scenario actually hurt your chances of finding a land because you might dredge them away?
450 Unpowered Cube Cobra
1) Dig like hell off the top of the deck for the answer. I'll often keep a faithless+mom hug hand post board even without an answer, because I'll see another 7 cards by turn 2. I did lose a match at a decent event because j kept a hand that didn't hand answers and I didn't anticipate cage when caching burn.
2) remember that just because the deck uses the GY it doesn't have to do it exclusively. If I keep a 1 lander that is otherwise amazing I'll draw from the top like hell to get the second land. Usually I'll be dripping the necessary pieces in the yard while doing so. Then when I hit that land drop after draw, land, looting, draw I can mom hug my way to a decent board state. Also, I run 20 lands. That's 1/3 cards. If I'm hurting for the second land drop I'm going to just draw all 3 chances naturally.
Modern: Bogles // 8-Whack/Goblins // UW Titan // Hollow One // Affinity // Dredge
EDH: Nissa, Vastwood Seer // Atraxa, Praetor's Voice // Meren of Clan Nel Toth
450 Unpowered Cube Cobra
I just started playing Dredge.
I will definitely use it when I play and when I am still learning the Dredge sideboard.
Modern - Burn
EDH - Neheb the Eternal