Is this a primer or what is it? Because viewing other primers, the intro of this seems a little outdated compared to others. Just curious that is all, no need to start an argument.
Is this a primer or what is it? Because viewing other primers, the intro of this seems a little outdated compared to others. Just curious that is all, no need to start an argument.
It would help if you pointed out exactly what is "outdated".
Is this a primer or what is it? Because viewing other primers, the intro of this seems a little outdated compared to others. Just curious that is all, no need to start an argument.
It would help if you pointed out exactly what is "outdated".
Just things in the front page of the primer, there really isn't any explanations of match ups only percentage like data.
Hello, I recently became interested in this deck for its playstyle, but I'm not sure wich list to follow. I have some question of how to play and build the deck, maybe they are super basic and have been answered so I apologize in advance. I'd really apreciate your help.
1- I'm following my instinct of 19 lands and 3 Streer Wraith, Is there a common agreement of wich proportion of lands/wraith is the best? I've seen a lot of lists with 18/4.
2- Kolaghan's Command seems kinda weak right now, is it really necesary the 1 or 2 copies mainboard?
3- How do you deal with Aggro swarm strategies like Merfolk or Humans? I like Anger in the side but the two red may be problematic, I know that some list use Temur Battle Rage but seems hard to rely on.
4- Is the red splash way better than the white? I'm fond of cards like Path to exile, Lingering souls and Orzhov charm, but haven't seen recently any Esper Shadow in any competition.
That'll be all for now, thanks a lot.
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"The sparkmage shrieked, calling on the rage of the storms of his youth. To his surprise, the sky responded with a fierce energy he'd never thought to see again."
Here's a short tournament report from a weekly event I played in yesterday. I played a fairly stock list, one Liliana of the Veil in the main, two in the board. 4 Opts, 2 Serum Visions, 4 Thought Scour, and 18 lands.
Round 1 Blue Moon Breach
Game 1 I assumed he was on Blue Moon from seeing the Desolate Lighthouse, didn't recognize it was this Breach variant. I haven't been keeping up with Modern lately so I just assumed stock Blue Moon, especially when he played a guru land (assumed a pet deck of some rich kid). Anyway, in game 1 he just didn't draw any of the important cards, no Breach, no Blood Moon, no Emrakul, so yeah it was pretty smooth sailing. In game 2, he drew Blood Moon but I had a basic Swamp in play and a fetch land to find an Island. That pretty much nullified his Blood Moon and the game was pretty easy for me afterward.
Record: 1-0
Round 2 vs Counters Company
Game 1 I just had all the right answers, and eventually some creatures finished out the game. In game two, I didn't really draw any creatures and had far too many lands. My opponent just ran away with that one, I couldn't keep up with the wide array of creatures (I was still live to Anger of the Gods). In game 3, my opponent mulled and struggled a bit on lands, and it gave me enough room to find my own creatures. I got to the point I was putting him into lose-lose situations.
Record: 2-0
Round 3 Ad Nauseam
Game 1 my opponent led off with double Lotus on the play, and I thought it would go poorly for me. However, he basically ran out of steam with my early discard. After his double Lotus came off, I ended up casting Inquisition with the Lightning Storm in his hand... that was the end of that game, I won shortly after. In the second game my opponent mulled and then ran out of steam. He ended up having to go for an Ad Nauseam with no way to protect himself at 5 life, and flipped over a Leyline immediately.
Basically, the combination of counters and discard were good here. Kept my opponent off of doing what he needed, and I had early creatures. The fact they're 100% on a combo plan is nice because it makes me not care whatsoever about burning myself out to make DS bigger.
Record: 3-0
Round 4 vs Grixis Death's Shadow
We were both 3-0 and I offered to split, my opponent didn't want to. Alright then, we'll play out the mirror, which I haven't lost yet.
Game 1 I have turn 1 Tasigur and a bunch of removal backup, my opponent bricked on lands: game ended without too much trouble In game 2 my opponent bricked on lands early, but found some later on, enough to stabilize. I didn't have enough pressure and he just had a good hand of removal and dudes to overturn it. He was extremely low but I just couldn't find the last few points. In game 3, I got off to a good start. He played Young Pyromancer but couldn't do enough with it (only one dude), and eventually I just ran him over with some big dudes.
Record: 4-0
Was pretty pleased considering I haven't really been playing Modern much lately. I think a second Stubborn Denial in the side (I played only 3 total) would be good. I found in the mirror, I didn't have enough cards to board in (I board out all the removal that Tasigur/Gurmag dodge and the discard), so probably some more cards that are just good against them is ideal. I'm still not sure whether 18 lands is correct, it's definitely better than 19, but I think maybe with the right amount of Scry, you can manage drawing too many lands. I'm also somewhat tempted to dump the Kolaghan's because I think it is hard to cast with Snapcaster, and you can more easily play fewer lands without it.
Here's a short tournament report from a weekly event I played in yesterday. I played a fairly stock list, one Liliana of the Veil in the main, two in the board. 4 Opts, 2 Serum Visions, 4 Thought Scour, and 18 lands.
Round 1 Blue Moon Breach
Game 1 I assumed he was on Blue Moon from seeing the Desolate Lighthouse, didn't recognize it was this Breach variant. I haven't been keeping up with Modern lately so I just assumed stock Blue Moon, especially when he played a guru land (assumed a pet deck of some rich kid). Anyway, in game 1 he just didn't draw any of the important cards, no Breach, no Blood Moon, no Emrakul, so yeah it was pretty smooth sailing. In game 2, he drew Blood Moon but I had a basic Swamp in play and a fetch land to find an Island. That pretty much nullified his Blood Moon and the game was pretty easy for me afterward.
Record: 1-0
Round 2 vs Counters Company
Game 1 I just had all the right answers, and eventually some creatures finished out the game. In game two, I didn't really draw any creatures and had far too many lands. My opponent just ran away with that one, I couldn't keep up with the wide array of creatures (I was still live to Anger of the Gods). In game 3, my opponent mulled and struggled a bit on lands, and it gave me enough room to find my own creatures. I got to the point I was putting him into lose-lose situations.
Record: 2-0
Round 3 Ad Nauseam
Game 1 my opponent led off with double Lotus on the play, and I thought it would go poorly for me. However, he basically ran out of steam with my early discard. After his double Lotus came off, I ended up casting Inquisition with the Lightning Storm in his hand... that was the end of that game, I won shortly after. In the second game my opponent mulled and then ran out of steam. He ended up having to go for an Ad Nauseam with no way to protect himself at 5 life, and flipped over a Leyline immediately.
Basically, the combination of counters and discard were good here. Kept my opponent off of doing what he needed, and I had early creatures. The fact they're 100% on a combo plan is nice because it makes me not care whatsoever about burning myself out to make DS bigger.
Record: 3-0
Round 4 vs Grixis Death's Shadow
We were both 3-0 and I offered to split, my opponent didn't want to. Alright then, we'll play out the mirror, which I haven't lost yet.
Game 1 I have turn 1 Tasigur and a bunch of removal backup, my opponent bricked on lands: game ended without too much trouble In game 2 my opponent bricked on lands early, but found some later on, enough to stabilize. I didn't have enough pressure and he just had a good hand of removal and dudes to overturn it. He was extremely low but I just couldn't find the last few points. In game 3, I got off to a good start. He played Young Pyromancer but couldn't do enough with it (only one dude), and eventually I just ran him over with some big dudes.
Record: 4-0
Was pretty pleased considering I haven't really been playing Modern much lately. I think a second Stubborn Denial in the side (I played only 3 total) would be good. I found in the mirror, I didn't have enough cards to board in (I board out all the removal that Tasigur/Gurmag dodge and the discard), so probably some more cards that are just good against them is ideal. I'm still not sure whether 18 lands is correct, it's definitely better than 19, but I think maybe with the right amount of Scry, you can manage drawing too many lands. I'm also somewhat tempted to dump the Kolaghan's because I think it is hard to cast with Snapcaster, and you can more easily play fewer lands without it.
Not sure on a couple of those cards, I don't think I ran two Spellbombs in the board nor the third Collective Brutality. I also don't think I had all 4 Push. I think the rest is right.
If Rabblemaster is good, it's as an _additional_ threat. 8 threats is not very many, and in metagames where Rabblemaster is likely to get through without too much trouble, the extra threat would be very welcome.
I was wondering what people's thoughts on sideboarding for the mirror is. Every time I look at a guide or video, people advocate for taking out Stubborn Denial and Kolaghan's Command, while leaving in discard. I tend to go the other way, board out the discard and leave in the Stubborn Denials and Kolaghan's Command. I have a huge emphasis on the late game, so I'm wondering what other people think.
From my most recent list (a few posts above), I boarded as follows:
-4 Thoughtseize
-2 Inquisition
-3 Fatal Push
-1 Bolt
+2 Liliana of the Veil
+1 Stubborn Denial
+1 Surgical Extraction
+1 Nihil Spellbomb
+2 Collective Brutality
+1 Engineered Explosives
+1 Kolaghan's Command
+1 Dreadbore
My thought process is that the mirror is an incredibly grindy game. They go back and forth quite a bit and typically we go extremely late, or so that's how the majority of my mirror matches have gone. I like boarding out cards that are bad topdecks. Discard is bad because it doesn't do much late (people have Thoughtseized me and seen a land as the only card), and the Pushes / Bolts seem mediocre when they're very situational removal. What I like about Kolaghan's is that it's a good value card, and with Stubborn Denial, it's good at protecting my creatures, so as long as I have something on board, it's a winner; it also answers Liliana sometimes.
Liliana is obviously an all star, as is Dreadbore. Surgical and Spellbomb are similarly quite good. I like Kolaghan's for the reasons above, and I like EE as a catch all that can answer Pyromancer / Liliana. I brought in Brutality mostly because it seemed more versatile than the discard (it can answer things like Pyromancer and Snapcaster).
What do other people think about the mirror match? Do you agree with my reasoning and the sideboard plan?
I tested out the 4x opts and 2x serums in a ton of games this week, and I was really underwhelmed with it. I think the deck manipulation is more crucial than the bluff, 4x serums and 2x opt definitely seems better.
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It would help if you pointed out exactly what is "outdated".
1- I'm following my instinct of 19 lands and 3 Streer Wraith, Is there a common agreement of wich proportion of lands/wraith is the best? I've seen a lot of lists with 18/4.
2- Kolaghan's Command seems kinda weak right now, is it really necesary the 1 or 2 copies mainboard?
3- How do you deal with Aggro swarm strategies like Merfolk or Humans? I like Anger in the side but the two red may be problematic, I know that some list use Temur Battle Rage but seems hard to rely on.
4- Is the red splash way better than the white? I'm fond of cards like Path to exile, Lingering souls and Orzhov charm, but haven't seen recently any Esper Shadow in any competition.
That'll be all for now, thanks a lot.
Round 1 Blue Moon Breach
Game 1 I assumed he was on Blue Moon from seeing the Desolate Lighthouse, didn't recognize it was this Breach variant. I haven't been keeping up with Modern lately so I just assumed stock Blue Moon, especially when he played a guru land (assumed a pet deck of some rich kid). Anyway, in game 1 he just didn't draw any of the important cards, no Breach, no Blood Moon, no Emrakul, so yeah it was pretty smooth sailing. In game 2, he drew Blood Moon but I had a basic Swamp in play and a fetch land to find an Island. That pretty much nullified his Blood Moon and the game was pretty easy for me afterward.
Record: 1-0
Round 2 vs Counters Company
Game 1 I just had all the right answers, and eventually some creatures finished out the game. In game two, I didn't really draw any creatures and had far too many lands. My opponent just ran away with that one, I couldn't keep up with the wide array of creatures (I was still live to Anger of the Gods). In game 3, my opponent mulled and struggled a bit on lands, and it gave me enough room to find my own creatures. I got to the point I was putting him into lose-lose situations.
Record: 2-0
Round 3 Ad Nauseam
Game 1 my opponent led off with double Lotus on the play, and I thought it would go poorly for me. However, he basically ran out of steam with my early discard. After his double Lotus came off, I ended up casting Inquisition with the Lightning Storm in his hand... that was the end of that game, I won shortly after. In the second game my opponent mulled and then ran out of steam. He ended up having to go for an Ad Nauseam with no way to protect himself at 5 life, and flipped over a Leyline immediately.
Basically, the combination of counters and discard were good here. Kept my opponent off of doing what he needed, and I had early creatures. The fact they're 100% on a combo plan is nice because it makes me not care whatsoever about burning myself out to make DS bigger.
Record: 3-0
Round 4 vs Grixis Death's Shadow
We were both 3-0 and I offered to split, my opponent didn't want to. Alright then, we'll play out the mirror, which I haven't lost yet.
Game 1 I have turn 1 Tasigur and a bunch of removal backup, my opponent bricked on lands: game ended without too much trouble In game 2 my opponent bricked on lands early, but found some later on, enough to stabilize. I didn't have enough pressure and he just had a good hand of removal and dudes to overturn it. He was extremely low but I just couldn't find the last few points. In game 3, I got off to a good start. He played Young Pyromancer but couldn't do enough with it (only one dude), and eventually I just ran him over with some big dudes.
Record: 4-0
Was pretty pleased considering I haven't really been playing Modern much lately. I think a second Stubborn Denial in the side (I played only 3 total) would be good. I found in the mirror, I didn't have enough cards to board in (I board out all the removal that Tasigur/Gurmag dodge and the discard), so probably some more cards that are just good against them is ideal. I'm still not sure whether 18 lands is correct, it's definitely better than 19, but I think maybe with the right amount of Scry, you can manage drawing too many lands. I'm also somewhat tempted to dump the Kolaghan's because I think it is hard to cast with Snapcaster, and you can more easily play fewer lands without it.
Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund, UW Tron, Jeskai Control, Storm, Counters Company, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, Living End, Infect, Merfolk, Dredge, Ad Nauseam, Amulet, Bogles, Eldrazi Tron, Mono U Tron, Lantern, Mardu Pyromancer
1 Island
1 Swamp
1 Steam Vents
2 Watery Grave
2 Blood Crypt
3 Steam Vents
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
Creatures: 16
4 Death's Shadow
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Street Wraith
2 Gurmag Angler
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Liliana of the Veil
Spells: 26
2 Serum Visions
4 Thought Scour
4 Opt
2 Stubborn Denial
1 Lightning Bolt
4 Fatal Push
1 Kolaghan's Command
4 Thoughtseize
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Terminate
2 Liliana of the Veil
1 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Stubborn Denial
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Nihil Spellbomb
3 Collective Brutality
2 Anger of the Gods
1 Dreadbore
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Kolaghan's Command
Not sure on a couple of those cards, I don't think I ran two Spellbombs in the board nor the third Collective Brutality. I also don't think I had all 4 Push. I think the rest is right.
Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund, UW Tron, Jeskai Control, Storm, Counters Company, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, Living End, Infect, Merfolk, Dredge, Ad Nauseam, Amulet, Bogles, Eldrazi Tron, Mono U Tron, Lantern, Mardu Pyromancer
@Robo_Memer on Twitter, Twitch, Reddit, and YouTube
Feel free to PM me about Affinity decks in any format!
From my most recent list (a few posts above), I boarded as follows:
-4 Thoughtseize
-2 Inquisition
-3 Fatal Push
-1 Bolt
+2 Liliana of the Veil
+1 Stubborn Denial
+1 Surgical Extraction
+1 Nihil Spellbomb
+2 Collective Brutality
+1 Engineered Explosives
+1 Kolaghan's Command
+1 Dreadbore
My thought process is that the mirror is an incredibly grindy game. They go back and forth quite a bit and typically we go extremely late, or so that's how the majority of my mirror matches have gone. I like boarding out cards that are bad topdecks. Discard is bad because it doesn't do much late (people have Thoughtseized me and seen a land as the only card), and the Pushes / Bolts seem mediocre when they're very situational removal. What I like about Kolaghan's is that it's a good value card, and with Stubborn Denial, it's good at protecting my creatures, so as long as I have something on board, it's a winner; it also answers Liliana sometimes.
Liliana is obviously an all star, as is Dreadbore. Surgical and Spellbomb are similarly quite good. I like Kolaghan's for the reasons above, and I like EE as a catch all that can answer Pyromancer / Liliana. I brought in Brutality mostly because it seemed more versatile than the discard (it can answer things like Pyromancer and Snapcaster).
What do other people think about the mirror match? Do you agree with my reasoning and the sideboard plan?
Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund, UW Tron, Jeskai Control, Storm, Counters Company, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, Living End, Infect, Merfolk, Dredge, Ad Nauseam, Amulet, Bogles, Eldrazi Tron, Mono U Tron, Lantern, Mardu Pyromancer
@Robo_Memer on Twitter, Twitch, Reddit, and YouTube
Feel free to PM me about Affinity decks in any format!
UBR Grixis Shadow UBR
UR Izzet Phoenix UR
UW UW Control UW
GB GB Rock GB
Commander
BG Meren of Clan Nel Toth BG
BGUW Atraxa, Praetor's Voice BGUW