I've recently turned to playing Scapeshift after playing Storm for a few months. I'm running a fairly standard decklist with nothing really out of the ordinary, however as I'm new to the deck I'm not too confident with my sideboard.
Scapeshift has tons of trouble dealing with big threats with over 3 toughness. Namely rhinos, tasigurs, angler (zombie fish), which are running rampant lately. Sure we have bounce spells, cryptics, roast etc, but its generally not very good.
Scapeshift is just not very good right now, its my favorite deck, but we have to face the reality.
Scapeshift has tons of trouble dealing with big threats with over 3 toughness. Namely rhinos, tasigurs, angler (zombie fish), which are running rampant lately. Sure we have bounce spells, cryptics, roast etc, but its generally not very good.
Scapeshift is just not very good right now, its my favorite deck, but we have to face the reality.
We also have remand and snapcaster mage. Most anglers die to block with snap, Flashback bolt. We have the tools we just need to tweak some things. Cryptic command is still a SUPER powerful card and I think this deck is by far the best Cryptic deck. I would love to put my money where my mouth is and play online more but this deck is hella expensive online
Scapeshift has tons of trouble dealing with big threats with over 3 toughness. Namely rhinos, tasigurs, angler (zombie fish), which are running rampant lately. Sure we have bounce spells, cryptics, roast etc, but its generally not very good.
Scapeshift is just not very good right now, its my favorite deck, but we have to face the reality.
We also have remand and snapcaster mage. Most anglers die to block with snap, Flashback bolt. We have the tools we just need to tweak some things. Cryptic command is still a SUPER powerful card and I think this deck is by far the best Cryptic deck. I would love to put my money where my mouth is and play online more but this deck is hella expensive online
Well just playing the deck in the current meta, it is weak to affinity, infect jund/junk. They two latter decks have a good amount of hand disruption/land hate and a clock which is all very good against scapeshift.
Scapeshift has tons of trouble dealing with big threats with over 3 toughness. Namely rhinos, tasigurs, angler (zombie fish), which are running rampant lately. Sure we have bounce spells, cryptics, roast etc, but its generally not very good.
Scapeshift is just not very good right now, its my favorite deck, but we have to face the reality.
We also have remand and snapcaster mage. Most anglers die to block with snap, Flashback bolt. We have the tools we just need to tweak some things. Cryptic command is still a SUPER powerful card and I think this deck is by far the best Cryptic deck. I would love to put my money where my mouth is and play online more but this deck is hella expensive online
Well just playing the deck in the current meta, it is weak to affinity, infect jund/junk. They two latter decks have a good amount of hand disruption/land hate and a clock which is all very good against scapeshift.
I disagree about the deck being weak to affinity and infect. If you're running lightning bolt and electrolyze in the main, you can slow down both decks considerably. Surprisingly,they're both hit by a lot of the same sideboard cards in our colors: anger, firespout, ancient grudge, fracturing gust, and nature's claim are all very strong against both decks. I'll admit that both decks can come out of the gates fast and just dead you, but other than that, I'd say they're favorable matchups. I'd actually say our deck is weak to Jund/junk, burn, and bloom titan. Titan has consistent turn 2-4 titan with counter backup and can usually clock you before you have game, and burn is usually just a race where your fetches and shocks give them a leg up.
Hooray for Roast! Just reading this page all I could think was, "Dammit guys we just need to play Roast."
I don't think there's anything with flying that we really care about right now outside of Affinity creatures, and you can play Bolt or Charm for those if you like. Your opponent can have a Pestermite or Vendilion Clique.
To those saying that this deck is poorly positioned: I agree. However, I do think that we have the tools to answer everybody's key threats and still assemble the combo. Kolaghan's Command has been a serious pain, though.
I haven't read all 111 pages, but the lists didn't look very up to date, what are peoples opinions on running summer bloom or explore as a 2-4 copies for extra ramp?
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Transcend Time! Modern Time walk Deck Primer (WIP)
The problem with Explore, and even more so with Summer Bloom, is that you have to have the land(s) in your hand. Using Summer Bloom effectively would require you to have 4 lands in your hand after your draw for the turn, which isn't ever going to realistically happen. We also don't get any benefit from using Bouncelands as pseudo-land drops because the only thing that matters is the number of lands, not how much mana is produced.
To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour. - William Blake
It was not delight, not wonder that arose among us, it was the peace of heaven. He who has thought most deeply loves what is most alive. - Friedrich Holderlin
I think it's strictly better to play a copy each of the snow-covered basics if you've got Gifts. Maybe you play pretty basics, though. Pivotal issue. I think that you should cut a Forest/Island for Flooded Grove, which I think is too powerful not to play if you've got access to it.
Have you considered playing a Roast in your maindeck? Seems critical to answering all the Tasigurs one will probably see going forward. I've been liking a Mana Leak in the maindeck as well.
Just played a pptq went 1-3-2. Most of my losses were due to blood moon when I couldn't actually deal with it. I want to run mainboard enchantment hate but I'm not sure what.
Do not despair!
1) Highly prioritize fetching islands with your Steves, SFTomorrows and fetchlands
2) Run Repeal in your deck, in addition to Cryptic. Having at least 6 bounce spells (as well as additional SB counters and enchantment hate) really is good enough, as long as you're following Step 1 effectively.
Blood Moon is scary, but it's much less of a problem if you're proactively playing around it before you even see them cast it. I'm honestly tempted to make room for a 4th Island so I can Snap + Cryptic while Blood Moon is out.
Repeal + Islands is the way to go against Blood Moon. Being able to bounce Moon eot and combo on your turn is great, and Repeal is a solid card in most matchups.
Unrelated note: I haven't played Scapeshift in a while so I'm updating my sideboard and I'm wondering what fatties you guys recommend and what matchups you use the fatties in. I know I want at least 2 Obstinate Baloths, and beyond that I've seen Batterskull, Surrak Dragonclaw, Thragtusk, Teferi, Wurmcoil, Inferno Titan, etc. There are so many options.
Inferno Titans in the side are a great way to deal with blood moon, as well. Game 2 you usually are leaving the combo behind a bit and getting a plan b going.
BlooMeanie: Obviously the gifts package did pretty well for you (although no singleton of eternal witness?), but how much have you played that list vs BGx? I would think Ooze would hurt that plan heavily. And I like the life from the loam. What about crucible of worlds? could fulfill a similar role.
Unrelated note: I haven't played Scapeshift in a while so I'm updating my sideboard and I'm wondering what fatties you guys recommend and what matchups you use the fatties in. I know I want at least 2 Obstinate Baloths, and beyond that I've seen Batterskull, Surrak Dragonclaw, Thragtusk, Teferi, Wurmcoil, Inferno Titan, etc. There are so many options.
Thragtusk is very, very good right now. I'd play at least one, and if you have four slots for fatties I'd make the last one Keranos, God of Storms because he gets to come in against both Grixis Twin and Jund. My fifth choice would likely be Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir, and I don't plan to go anywhere near Batterskull or Wurmcoil Engine in the near future.
I've seen a few lists run Koth in the sideboard to bring in against blood moon. A little harder to kill than a Titan.
I've also been thinking of following what the rug moon decks are doing and run shackles, academy ruins, and engineered explosives main. I know that Kologhan's command is everywhere, but I think shackles is a good delay tactic for a turn or two while we set up the combo. In testing, two main deck roasts has been pretty good.
I think the counter magic we use in most lists needs to be leaner. Many of the grixis and rug moon decks run fewer cryptics and more cheap, efficient counter magic. I'd like to shave a cryptic and maybe something else for a dispel and maybe a mana leak.
Also, those decks are running a play set of dispels between the main and side to handle the burn matchup. Might be a good idea since those would also help in other fast combo matchups. Frees up some sideboard slots for other matchups.
Also heavy cantrips would offset the fact that we have to run 24 lands and 8+ ramp spells. It would help with our late game draw quality vs other leaner, lower-the-ground decks.
Overall, I want to increase average card/draw quality.
How about some graveyard hate in the sideboard? All these decks lose so much efficiency without graveyard shenanigans. This deck doesn't use the graveyard so much; maybe two relic of progenitus sideboard? Or, if we're using academy ruins main, tormod's crypt for recurring graveyard clear?
Here is what I currently have:
1 Batterskull
1 Counterflux
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Firespout
1 Inferno Titan
1 Krosan Grip
1 Negate
3 Obstinate Baloth
1 Relic of Progenitus
2 Swan Song
My Meta isn't particularly big but these are the following decks I have seen (in no particular order of popularity):
- BGx
- Storm
- 8rack
- Living End
- U/W/R Control
- Mono Black Infect
- Boggles
- Amulet Bloom
- Ad Nauseam
- U Tron
The rest are homebrews, usually creature based.
Would anyone be able to offer any insight for any changes I should make to my SB based on my Meta?
Much appreciated.
Scapeshift is just not very good right now, its my favorite deck, but we have to face the reality.
We also have remand and snapcaster mage. Most anglers die to block with snap, Flashback bolt. We have the tools we just need to tweak some things. Cryptic command is still a SUPER powerful card and I think this deck is by far the best Cryptic deck. I would love to put my money where my mouth is and play online more but this deck is hella expensive online
Well just playing the deck in the current meta, it is weak to affinity, infect jund/junk. They two latter decks have a good amount of hand disruption/land hate and a clock which is all very good against scapeshift.
I disagree about the deck being weak to affinity and infect. If you're running lightning bolt and electrolyze in the main, you can slow down both decks considerably. Surprisingly,they're both hit by a lot of the same sideboard cards in our colors: anger, firespout, ancient grudge, fracturing gust, and nature's claim are all very strong against both decks. I'll admit that both decks can come out of the gates fast and just dead you, but other than that, I'd say they're favorable matchups. I'd actually say our deck is weak to Jund/junk, burn, and bloom titan. Titan has consistent turn 2-4 titan with counter backup and can usually clock you before you have game, and burn is usually just a race where your fetches and shocks give them a leg up.
I don't think there's anything with flying that we really care about right now outside of Affinity creatures, and you can play Bolt or Charm for those if you like. Your opponent can have a Pestermite or Vendilion Clique.
To those saying that this deck is poorly positioned: I agree. However, I do think that we have the tools to answer everybody's key threats and still assemble the combo. Kolaghan's Command has been a serious pain, though.
RUGTemur ScapeshiftGUR
UWRJeskai ControlRWU
UGUG InfectGU
here is a list I fixed up real quick
4 Stomping Ground
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Breeding Pool
2 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
1 Flooded Grove
3 Island
2 Forest
2 Mountain
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Scapeshift
4 Search for Tomorrow
4 Cryptic Command
4 Remand
2 Izzet Charm
2 Electrolyze
1 Temple of Mystery
1 Halimar Depths
4 Serum Visions
2 Gifts Ungiven
1 Noxious Revival
1 Shadow of Doubt
1 Gitaxian Probe
2 Nature's Claim
1 Negate
4 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Teferi Mage Guy
1 Engineered Explosives
3 Anger of the Gods
2 Seal of Primordium
2 Swan Song
It was not delight, not wonder that arose among us, it was the peace of heaven. He who has thought most deeply loves what is most alive. - Friedrich Holderlin
1907 Constructed Rating on Magic Online.
Have you considered playing a Roast in your maindeck? Seems critical to answering all the Tasigurs one will probably see going forward. I've been liking a Mana Leak in the maindeck as well.
RUGTemur ScapeshiftGUR
UWRJeskai ControlRWU
UGUG InfectGU
Do not despair!
1) Highly prioritize fetching islands with your Steves, SFTomorrows and fetchlands
2) Run Repeal in your deck, in addition to Cryptic. Having at least 6 bounce spells (as well as additional SB counters and enchantment hate) really is good enough, as long as you're following Step 1 effectively.
Blood Moon is scary, but it's much less of a problem if you're proactively playing around it before you even see them cast it. I'm honestly tempted to make room for a 4th Island so I can Snap + Cryptic while Blood Moon is out.
Unrelated note: I haven't played Scapeshift in a while so I'm updating my sideboard and I'm wondering what fatties you guys recommend and what matchups you use the fatties in. I know I want at least 2 Obstinate Baloths, and beyond that I've seen Batterskull, Surrak Dragonclaw, Thragtusk, Teferi, Wurmcoil, Inferno Titan, etc. There are so many options.
Modern
Value Town
Amulet Titan
Legacy
4C Loam
My Peasant Cube
http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/11667
BlooMeanie: Obviously the gifts package did pretty well for you (although no singleton of eternal witness?), but how much have you played that list vs BGx? I would think Ooze would hurt that plan heavily. And I like the life from the loam. What about crucible of worlds? could fulfill a similar role.
Legacy: UW RiP/Helm, UR Sneak and Show
Thragtusk is very, very good right now. I'd play at least one, and if you have four slots for fatties I'd make the last one Keranos, God of Storms because he gets to come in against both Grixis Twin and Jund. My fifth choice would likely be Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir, and I don't plan to go anywhere near Batterskull or Wurmcoil Engine in the near future.
RUGTemur ScapeshiftGUR
UWRJeskai ControlRWU
UGUG InfectGU
I've also been thinking of following what the rug moon decks are doing and run shackles, academy ruins, and engineered explosives main. I know that Kologhan's command is everywhere, but I think shackles is a good delay tactic for a turn or two while we set up the combo. In testing, two main deck roasts has been pretty good.
I think the counter magic we use in most lists needs to be leaner. Many of the grixis and rug moon decks run fewer cryptics and more cheap, efficient counter magic. I'd like to shave a cryptic and maybe something else for a dispel and maybe a mana leak.
Also, those decks are running a play set of dispels between the main and side to handle the burn matchup. Might be a good idea since those would also help in other fast combo matchups. Frees up some sideboard slots for other matchups.
Also heavy cantrips would offset the fact that we have to run 24 lands and 8+ ramp spells. It would help with our late game draw quality vs other leaner, lower-the-ground decks.
Overall, I want to increase average card/draw quality.
How about some graveyard hate in the sideboard? All these decks lose so much efficiency without graveyard shenanigans. This deck doesn't use the graveyard so much; maybe two relic of progenitus sideboard? Or, if we're using academy ruins main, tormod's crypt for recurring graveyard clear?
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
2 Snapcaster Mage
Sorcery (10)
4 Scapeshift
4 Search for Tomorrow
1 Farseek
1 Pyroclasm
Instant (19)
4 Cryptic Command
4 Remand
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Peer Through Depths
2 Electrolyze
2 Izzet Charm
1 Repeal
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Flooded Grove
2 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
2 Breeding Pool
2 Mountain
2 Forest
3 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Stomping Ground
4 Steam Vents
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Anger of the Gods
1 Back to Nature
1 Inferno Titan
1 Creeping Corrosion
1 Counterflux
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Negate
2 Thragtusk
3 Obstinate Baloth