Guys, I've noticed that latest lists go with grim flayer instead of bob. Apologizes in advance if it has been discussed earlier (checked back a couple of pages but didn't find anything about it) but has flayer dethroned dark confidant as the go-to 2 cmc drop?
After playing jund for a VERY long time, I have a hard time imagining a GBx shell without bobs.
The big problem with Flayer is that you only generate value when it hits the opponent, and a lot of things can wall it, especially on the draw. If Bob can't get in, he still generates value. That's why I've been experimenting with Rancor in my Flayer list, it helps a lot... either it's the extra push to actually hit the opponent, or it winds up in the GY and powers Flayer (and others) up that way.
I've recently started playing BG rock as a first entry in this archetype - in large parts because the mana is so solid - but have been struggling mightily against Jeskai control. Seems like it's really hard to go 1-for-1 with them and I often just get out-ground.
Any suggestions main/side board to help shore up the matchup ?
I've recently started playing BG rock as a first entry in this archetype - in large parts because the mana is so solid - but have been struggling mightily against Jeskai control. Seems like it's really hard to go 1-for-1 with them and I often just get out-ground.
Any suggestions main/side board to help shore up the matchup ?
This matchup takes a bit of experience to get used to but here are some two large general tips:
1) Understand which version of Jeskai/ UW control they are on
- You need to pay careful attention to what they are playing. Are they on the more midrange version with spell quellers or are they are the pure control version with Snapcaster + torrential gearhulks? Are they Jeskai or UW? (This will be very important information on how you should sideboard and what their top end choices are)
Similarly, you need to pay close attention to the answers they are using (usually you can use this to deduce what their most important cards are):
- If your opponent is playing 2-3 Logic Knots, there is a chance they are not playing rest in peace (Rest in peace is a very good card against you, it shutsdown your goyf and flares if they play them as well as kills half your souls)
- If your opponent is playing alot of spell quellers/ a more midrange version of the jeskai control deck, they likely have Elspeth in their sideboard (similarly, you need to determine what combination of removal you need to leave in your deck post board)
- If you see Wall of Omens, there is likely Restoration Angel in their deck (which could indicate they are playing sneaky kiki)
(as a control player myself, I can usually guess whats inside the Jeskai control's sideboard/ composition based on what you seen)
2) Understand how Abzan's threats line up against Jeskai's threats:
- Fulminator mage is very good in this matchup. You play it early and start attacking. If your opponent tries to remove it, you blow up their celesnial colonade in response. Otherwise you continue to attack with the fulminator to pressure their life total.
- If you're playing Tasigur, you usually don't play to play him unless you can get one activation off him.
- If you're playing tireless tracker, you want to play him before playing your 4th land. Fist try to resolve him, Then you get priority. Then play a fetchland and get a clue token (your opponent cannot respond to this). If your opponent tries to path your tireless tracker, crack the fetchland in response and you essentially used one card to get a land + get 2 clues
- If your opponent is leaving mana open and representing a counter spell, try to resolve a lingering souls. Even if your opponent counters it, they only get half of the souls.
- Its often correct to not play goyf (and sometimes flayer) until it gets out of bolt range.
- You often want your opponent to path your stuff. You can get an extra land (and discard your extra lands to Liliana) and get a good 2 for 1
Similarly about sideboarding:
- Hand disruption is generally good. Abzan threats require very specific answers. I seen the abzan player take their opponent's sweeper have force them to lightning bolt spirit tokens.
- Maelstorm pulse is very good. It removes their planeswalker and their rest in peace. (If you expect them to be pure jeskai with logic knots and snacpaster + revelations, then it is not very good)
- Fatal Push/ Paths are weak. I would board out all fatal pushes, but leave some paths (depending on how many maelstorm pulse/ fulminators you have) to answers colonades/ Gideons/ Spell Quellers.
- Your own planeswalkers are good
- Liliana of the Veil is also quite good. You can force them to ditch lands/ spells and the ultimate will pretty much win you the game. Similarly, UWR is usually pointing paths at your creatures and your 4th and 5th land drops aren't as important as their land drops. (Pathing your goyfs have a serious down side as you can ditch your 4th land with Liliana).
My last general advice is, your deck is the more aggressive deck here. You need to apply pressure, you really cannot deal with a resolve sphinx's revelation for X=5. But also, you cannot over extend. But fortunately, your threats are big enough to apply pressure.
Also, your deck has a set of cards that are very hard for the jeskai control deck to deal with. Cards like Liliana, Lingering souls etc all require specific answers. You need to try to constantly play hard to deal with threats to run the jskai control player out of answers.
I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Thanks for the detailed answer and general tips! I'll try and apply that to the future jeskai encounters. Reading your post, it seems to me that lingering souls is the key to the matchup and the way to break the ressource trading equity somehow. However, being in straight BG, I guess Confidant is the definite all-star then since by resolving and keeping him around, you eventually pull ahead and have more chance of running them out of ressources before you do.
I'll definitely try adding the fulminators (run 3 SB); my current sideboard plan was to only bring in 3x leyline of the void to try and keep them off snappy as much as possible as well as Thrun. For reference, here's what I'm running with at the moment:
Thanks for the detailed answer and general tips! I'll try and apply that to the future jeskai encounters. Reading your post, it seems to me that lingering souls is the key to the matchup and the way to break the ressource trading equity somehow. However, being in straight BG, I guess Confidant is the definite all-star then since by resolving and keeping him around, you eventually pull ahead and have more chance of running them out of ressources before you do.
I'll definitely try adding the fulminators (run 3 SB); my current sideboard plan was to only bring in 3x leyline of the void to try and keep them off snappy as much as possible as well as Thrun. For reference, here's what I'm running with at the moment:
here is what I personally would board out:
- 1 Putrefy, -2 abrupt decay, -1 fatal push, -1 kalitas. You want to board out most of your removal as they don't have too many targets (but you need some to kill vendilion cliques, spell quellers, and rest in peace etc). This is where understanding your opponent's deck composition really helps to figure out what composition is correct. Similarly, Kalitas is too easy for them to answer, I would cut him. (You have a more graveyard dependent version with more ooze, witness and last hope, I would keep 2 answers to rest in peace.
Abzan doesn't play cards that just auto win the game. You want your hand disruption to remove their answers and present difficult to deal with threats. Even if your dark confidant survives one turn and gets one trigger, that already puts you ahead. (also Leyline of the void should not be brought in against UWR control. Ooze is actually quite good against snapcaster mage)
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I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
In general hand disruption and LotV are awesome vs. control. One tip that has worked for me against blue permission spells is to slow my 2- and 3-drops down by a turn so I can cast an Inquisition or Thoughtseize first. They'll need two counterspells in hand if I IoK them on T3, and only then go for my Goyf, instead of just blindly throwing it into a counterspell on T2. Therefore it often makes sense to play a manland or uncracked fetch on T1 in these matches and save the disruption for a more relevant opportunity.
I didn't read this forum for some weeks (maybe months) until now. I'm thinking about moving Noble Hierarch out. How should look this change? I should add 23rd land, right? -3 Noble Hierarch +2 Tireless Tracker (maybe +1 Tireless Tracker and +1 Dark Confidant?) + Overgrown Tomb
I'm not sure, didn't change my deck for some time
I'm also thinking about my sideboard. Should I include more Stony Silence or some Blessed Alliance? What should I move out? I think that only Mirran Crusader and Lost Legacy are my floating SB spots.
I know it's local meta dependant. I've got here DS decks (grixis and esper), GW Tron, E-Tron, Storm, Jeskai ctrl, UW ctrl, CoCo decks, RG Valakut etc. Im also visiting some tournaments far from my LGS, so I should be geared for everything (LOL).
I will appreciate any kind of help or hint. Thank you, guys!
I'm write my opinions here, but I'm not really a BGx Guru:
- I think without noble, you may want +1 fatal push. With noble, you can curve out faster so you can get away with 1 less removal but otherwise. I personally would change last hope to another Liliana of the Veil. Especially since you have only 5 discard, I think you may want Liliana of the Veil to help against combo. (Or add a 6th discard)
- I would cut the surgical from the sideboard. You already have 2 spell bombs + 2 grafdigger's cage. I don't think you need that much gravehate. (Unless your meta is very dredge heavy) I also really like grafdigger in a meta to deal with CoCo. (read below, I would cut the 2 surgical for 1 damnation/ 1 collective brutality or stony silence)
- I think without noble, you want an extra sweeper. I would go to a second damnation. Especially since you have grafdigger, I don't think a flaying tendrills is really needed
- I personally would play a planeswalker like Gideon ally of zendikar or Elspeth instead of Painful truth.
- I don't feel you need Mirran crusader, I feel abzan is already favored against shadow. I'm also not a big fan of lost legacy, I think Liliana can carry the combo matchup.
- I find collective brutality and kitchen finks are more of a personal preference. I personally don't like Kitchen Finks, but alot of people do (the dck has too many 3 drops already). I'm not really a big fan of brutality, but I need some burn hate so I played 2.
- I would try to play 2 stony silence. It helps the Eldrazi Tron/ Tron matchup as well as the affinity/ ad nauseam matchup.
(Also I never really been a fan of blessed alliance. Its too easy to play around and the abzan deck really shouldn't be leaving up mana every turn)
- I'm also a big fan of slaughter pacts in the abzan sideboard. It can protect Liliana from an Obstinate baloth and kills titan. It also protects liliana from a reality smasher/ kills thoughtknot without having to leave up removal. Great answer to colonade.
But in summary, I definately would cut 2 graveyard hate (you already have alot) and I would not play Mirran or Painful truths. In the end, Abzan lists have quite a few flex slots and I think people should generally pick what they are comfortable with. If you want to play say Elspeth instead of Gideon (or vice versa) or you want 2 maelstorm pulse in the main (instead of the standard 1), you're really not that wrong.
I'm actively maintaining a comprehensive article to help explain to new cube players how some complex vintage level cards work in a cube environment. Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Greetings all, I am new to this forum but am a long time bgx player. I have been having some success in my area with consistantly making top 4 at fnms and recently 3rd at a pptq, I feel like this deck as well as jund are sorely underestimated lately. I am here to see how others play this deck and maybe pick up some new ideas.. Will post my list soon.
3 Grim Flayer
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Siege Rhino
2 Tireless Tracker
3 Liliana of the Veil
3 Lingering Souls
3 Abrupt Decay
4 Fatal Push
3 Path to Exile
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Collective Brutality
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Thoughtsieze
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Marsh Flats
2 Windswept Heath
2 Overgrown Tomb
1 Godless Shrine
1 Temple Garden
2 Shambling Vents
2 Swamp
1 Forest
1 Plains
Not sure how to post the decklist like everyone else, also I am posting from my phone.
I know it has probably been written that many times but I cant seem to find it. Ooze vs Snap and getting the timing right seems pretty key. Scenario: your opponent casts Snap with Terminate in their GY and you have an Ooze on board with Green mana. Snap resolves, the ETB goes on the stack at which time they need to target a spell giving it Flashback, correct? This should give you a chance to respond and eat the "Terminate" before it actually gets Flashback, correct as you are responding to Snaps ETB?
Only reason I ask again as this happened to me on Monday and my opponent was adamant he could Terminate my Scooze in response to the Scooze ability, even though I explained myself. I let it happen because I couldn't be bothered and the Judge was busy.
I know it has probably been written that many times but I cant seem to find it. Ooze vs Snap and getting the timing right seems pretty key. Scenario: your opponent casts Snap with Terminate in their GY and you have an Ooze on board with Green mana. Snap resolves, the ETB goes on the stack at which time they need to target a spell giving it Flashback, correct? This should give you a chance to respond and eat the "Terminate" before it actually gets Flashback, correct as you are responding to Snaps ETB?
Only reason I ask again as this happened to me on Monday and my opponent was adamant he could Terminate my Scooze in response to the Scooze ability, even though I explained myself. I let it happen because I couldn't be bothered and the Judge was busy.
Since you're responding to Snapcaster's ETB trigger, the spell hasn't actually gained flashback until that trigger resolves.
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"The worst part isn't the pain, or the smell, or even the fear of death. It's hearing the clatter of bone on stone and knowing the bones are yours."BRG
Eldrazi Tron is miserable. Fulminators suck against them. You need T1 discard, T2 Goyf, T3 Lili and a good bit of luck to beat them.
Grixis Shadow is slightly favored, Souls are great at keeping them at bay but it's a very strong deck and your misplays will get punished hard.
Most people don't run Confidants, I still do - can't beat that card advantage. If your meta is heavy on Burn or Valakut you probably don't want it. Have a look at mtggoldfish to see what people have been doing well with lately, it's a pretty grindy build, slow but very consistent. Trackers are the hot new card right now.
Not sure how to post the decklist like everyone else, also I am posting from my phone.
You can quote this and see the tags. The deck tags can be created from a button - at least from a PC browser, not sure about the mobile version - but the name in the tag has to be done manually otherwise it will reflect the poster.
Question: Why run Ramunap Excavator as a one-of in a Traverse-free build over Crucible of Worlds? Is it simply because we want the clock of Excavator over the removal resistance of Crucible, or is there something I'm missing?
I was thinking of Ramunap Excavator as a sideboard card in a Traverse deck. You can't tutor up Crucible...Was there someone that ran it in a non-Traverse build?
I was thinking of Ramunap Excavator as a sideboard card in a Traverse deck. You can't tutor up Crucible...Was there someone that ran it in a non-Traverse build?
I'm playing a list very similar to this one, but without Excavator because I don't get it:
I was thinking of Ramunap Excavator as a sideboard card in a Traverse deck. You can't tutor up Crucible...Was there someone that ran it in a non-Traverse build?
I'm playing a list very similar to this one, but without Excavator because I don't get it:
I do own a Crucible and have considered it in the deck. As a side bonus, it could pump Goyf and help Flayer get delerium if it ends up in the yard.
I'm not sure Ramunap Excavator or Crucible of Worlds is much use without Ghost Quarter or something similar. Just replaying fetches doesn't seem much use. There are other reasons one might want these cards - Landfall, various enchantments that deal damage when lands are discarded, but I don't see any of those things being used in Abzan.
I can see it if you have delirium and can tutor up Ranumap Excavator to cast your Ghost Quarter over and over again. Not sure if Abzan has the space for it though...Maybe in a GB Rock deck.
There are lots of Storm deck in my area and I plan on testing siding out Goyf and Lingering Souls for grave Hate and Voice. Looks clunky, but might surprise my opponents. Will let you know how it went.
I was thinking of Ramunap Excavator as a sideboard card in a Traverse deck. You can't tutor up Crucible...Was there someone that ran it in a non-Traverse build?
I'm playing a list very similar to this one, but without Excavator because I don't get it:
I do own a Crucible and have considered it in the deck. As a side bonus, it could pump Goyf and help Flayer get delerium if it ends up in the yard.
I'm not sure Ramunap Excavator or Crucible of Worlds is much use without Ghost Quarter or something similar. Just replaying fetches doesn't seem much use. There are other reasons one might want these cards - Landfall, various enchantments that deal damage when lands are discarded, but I don't see any of those things being used in Abzan.
I can see it if you have delirium and can tutor up Ranumap Excavator to cast your Ghost Quarter over and over again. Not sure if Abzan has the space for it though...Maybe in a GB Rock deck.
Agreed. I have a BG Rock build that runs three Ghost Quarters. Path, Souls, and Rhino are great cards but I am digging the ability to run Bob and plenty of BB (LotV and LtLH) and GG spells (like maindeck Finks and Eternal Witness).
Anyway, the list I linked did well at GP Birmingham (2nd I think?) and it has Excavator but not Traverse. Crucible is so much harder to remove that it seems better than Excavator to me, if you can;'t tutor for it. But I'm new to GBx and thought I'd ask the experts.
Anyone have thoughts about dropping Grim Flayer from the main for a second Liliana, the Last Hope after the uniqueness rule changes next week? That is kind of what I'm planning for now.
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The big problem with Flayer is that you only generate value when it hits the opponent, and a lot of things can wall it, especially on the draw. If Bob can't get in, he still generates value. That's why I've been experimenting with Rancor in my Flayer list, it helps a lot... either it's the extra push to actually hit the opponent, or it winds up in the GY and powers Flayer (and others) up that way.
I've recently started playing BG rock as a first entry in this archetype - in large parts because the mana is so solid - but have been struggling mightily against Jeskai control. Seems like it's really hard to go 1-for-1 with them and I often just get out-ground.
Any suggestions main/side board to help shore up the matchup ?
WGB Traverse
This matchup takes a bit of experience to get used to but here are some two large general tips:
1) Understand which version of Jeskai/ UW control they are on
- You need to pay careful attention to what they are playing. Are they on the more midrange version with spell quellers or are they are the pure control version with Snapcaster + torrential gearhulks? Are they Jeskai or UW? (This will be very important information on how you should sideboard and what their top end choices are)
Similarly, you need to pay close attention to the answers they are using (usually you can use this to deduce what their most important cards are):
- If your opponent is playing 2-3 Logic Knots, there is a chance they are not playing rest in peace (Rest in peace is a very good card against you, it shutsdown your goyf and flares if they play them as well as kills half your souls)
- If your opponent is playing alot of spell quellers/ a more midrange version of the jeskai control deck, they likely have Elspeth in their sideboard (similarly, you need to determine what combination of removal you need to leave in your deck post board)
- If you see Wall of Omens, there is likely Restoration Angel in their deck (which could indicate they are playing sneaky kiki)
(as a control player myself, I can usually guess whats inside the Jeskai control's sideboard/ composition based on what you seen)
2) Understand how Abzan's threats line up against Jeskai's threats:
- Fulminator mage is very good in this matchup. You play it early and start attacking. If your opponent tries to remove it, you blow up their celesnial colonade in response. Otherwise you continue to attack with the fulminator to pressure their life total.
- If you're playing Tasigur, you usually don't play to play him unless you can get one activation off him.
- If you're playing tireless tracker, you want to play him before playing your 4th land. Fist try to resolve him, Then you get priority. Then play a fetchland and get a clue token (your opponent cannot respond to this). If your opponent tries to path your tireless tracker, crack the fetchland in response and you essentially used one card to get a land + get 2 clues
- If your opponent is leaving mana open and representing a counter spell, try to resolve a lingering souls. Even if your opponent counters it, they only get half of the souls.
- Its often correct to not play goyf (and sometimes flayer) until it gets out of bolt range.
- You often want your opponent to path your stuff. You can get an extra land (and discard your extra lands to Liliana) and get a good 2 for 1
Similarly about sideboarding:
- Hand disruption is generally good. Abzan threats require very specific answers. I seen the abzan player take their opponent's sweeper have force them to lightning bolt spirit tokens.
- Maelstorm pulse is very good. It removes their planeswalker and their rest in peace. (If you expect them to be pure jeskai with logic knots and snacpaster + revelations, then it is not very good)
- Fatal Push/ Paths are weak. I would board out all fatal pushes, but leave some paths (depending on how many maelstorm pulse/ fulminators you have) to answers colonades/ Gideons/ Spell Quellers.
- Your own planeswalkers are good
- Liliana of the Veil is also quite good. You can force them to ditch lands/ spells and the ultimate will pretty much win you the game. Similarly, UWR is usually pointing paths at your creatures and your 4th and 5th land drops aren't as important as their land drops. (Pathing your goyfs have a serious down side as you can ditch your 4th land with Liliana).
My last general advice is, your deck is the more aggressive deck here. You need to apply pressure, you really cannot deal with a resolve sphinx's revelation for X=5. But also, you cannot over extend. But fortunately, your threats are big enough to apply pressure.
Also, your deck has a set of cards that are very hard for the jeskai control deck to deal with. Cards like Liliana, Lingering souls etc all require specific answers. You need to try to constantly play hard to deal with threats to run the jskai control player out of answers.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
I'll definitely try adding the fulminators (run 3 SB); my current sideboard plan was to only bring in 3x leyline of the void to try and keep them off snappy as much as possible as well as Thrun. For reference, here's what I'm running with at the moment:
4 Dark Confidant
1 Eternal Witness
2 Kitchen Finks
3 Scavenging Ooze
4 Tarmogoyf
1 Tireless Tracker
1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
3 Liliana of the Veil
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
2 Forest
3 Swamp
1 Bloodstained Mire
4 Blooming Marsh
3 Ghost Quarter
3 Hissing Quagmire
2 Overgrown Tomb
4 Verdant Catacombs
1 Wooded Foothills
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Fatal Push
1 Geth's Verdict
1 Putrefy
2 Collective Brutality
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Thoughtseize
2 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Ratchet Bomb
3 Fulminator Mage
1 Ramunap Excavator
3 Leyline of the Void
1 Shadow of Doubt
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Damnation
2 Flaying Tendrils
WGB Traverse
here is what I personally would board out:
- 1 Putrefy, -2 abrupt decay, -1 fatal push, -1 kalitas. You want to board out most of your removal as they don't have too many targets (but you need some to kill vendilion cliques, spell quellers, and rest in peace etc). This is where understanding your opponent's deck composition really helps to figure out what composition is correct. Similarly, Kalitas is too easy for them to answer, I would cut him. (You have a more graveyard dependent version with more ooze, witness and last hope, I would keep 2 answers to rest in peace.
Board in:
+3 Fulminator Mage, + 1 Ramunap Excavator, +1 Thurn.
Abzan doesn't play cards that just auto win the game. You want your hand disruption to remove their answers and present difficult to deal with threats. Even if your dark confidant survives one turn and gets one trigger, that already puts you ahead. (also Leyline of the void should not be brought in against UWR control. Ooze is actually quite good against snapcaster mage)
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
In general hand disruption and LotV are awesome vs. control. One tip that has worked for me against blue permission spells is to slow my 2- and 3-drops down by a turn so I can cast an Inquisition or Thoughtseize first. They'll need two counterspells in hand if I IoK them on T3, and only then go for my Goyf, instead of just blindly throwing it into a counterspell on T2. Therefore it often makes sense to play a manland or uncracked fetch on T1 in these matches and save the disruption for a more relevant opportunity.
I'm write my opinions here, but I'm not really a BGx Guru:
- I think without noble, you may want +1 fatal push. With noble, you can curve out faster so you can get away with 1 less removal but otherwise. I personally would change last hope to another Liliana of the Veil. Especially since you have only 5 discard, I think you may want Liliana of the Veil to help against combo. (Or add a 6th discard)
- I would cut the surgical from the sideboard. You already have 2 spell bombs + 2 grafdigger's cage. I don't think you need that much gravehate. (Unless your meta is very dredge heavy) I also really like grafdigger in a meta to deal with CoCo. (read below, I would cut the 2 surgical for 1 damnation/ 1 collective brutality or stony silence)
- I think without noble, you want an extra sweeper. I would go to a second damnation. Especially since you have grafdigger, I don't think a flaying tendrills is really needed
- I personally would play a planeswalker like Gideon ally of zendikar or Elspeth instead of Painful truth.
- I don't feel you need Mirran crusader, I feel abzan is already favored against shadow. I'm also not a big fan of lost legacy, I think Liliana can carry the combo matchup.
- I find collective brutality and kitchen finks are more of a personal preference. I personally don't like Kitchen Finks, but alot of people do (the dck has too many 3 drops already). I'm not really a big fan of brutality, but I need some burn hate so I played 2.
- I would try to play 2 stony silence. It helps the Eldrazi Tron/ Tron matchup as well as the affinity/ ad nauseam matchup.
(Also I never really been a fan of blessed alliance. Its too easy to play around and the abzan deck really shouldn't be leaving up mana every turn)
- I'm also a big fan of slaughter pacts in the abzan sideboard. It can protect Liliana from an Obstinate baloth and kills titan. It also protects liliana from a reality smasher/ kills thoughtknot without having to leave up removal. Great answer to colonade.
But in summary, I definately would cut 2 graveyard hate (you already have alot) and I would not play Mirran or Painful truths. In the end, Abzan lists have quite a few flex slots and I think people should generally pick what they are comfortable with. If you want to play say Elspeth instead of Gideon (or vice versa) or you want 2 maelstorm pulse in the main (instead of the standard 1), you're really not that wrong.
Vintage Cube Cards Explained
Here are some other articles I've written about fine tuning your cube:
1. Minimum Archetype Support
2. Improving Green Archetypes
3. Improving White Archetypes
4. Matchup Analysis
5. Cube Combos (Work in Progress)
Draft my Cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/d8i
3 Grim Flayer
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Siege Rhino
2 Tireless Tracker
3 Liliana of the Veil
3 Lingering Souls
3 Abrupt Decay
4 Fatal Push
3 Path to Exile
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Collective Brutality
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Thoughtsieze
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Marsh Flats
2 Windswept Heath
2 Overgrown Tomb
1 Godless Shrine
1 Temple Garden
2 Shambling Vents
2 Swamp
1 Forest
1 Plains
Not sure how to post the decklist like everyone else, also I am posting from my phone.
Only reason I ask again as this happened to me on Monday and my opponent was adamant he could Terminate my Scooze in response to the Scooze ability, even though I explained myself. I let it happen because I couldn't be bothered and the Judge was busy.
Modern: Jund
Grixis Shadow is slightly favored, Souls are great at keeping them at bay but it's a very strong deck and your misplays will get punished hard.
Most people don't run Confidants, I still do - can't beat that card advantage. If your meta is heavy on Burn or Valakut you probably don't want it. Have a look at mtggoldfish to see what people have been doing well with lately, it's a pretty grindy build, slow but very consistent. Trackers are the hot new card right now.
Abzan Traverse / Traverse Shadow / UR Kiki
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Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/738167#paper
I do own a Crucible and have considered it in the deck. As a side bonus, it could pump Goyf and help Flayer get delerium if it ends up in the yard.
I'm not sure Ramunap Excavator or Crucible of Worlds is much use without Ghost Quarter or something similar. Just replaying fetches doesn't seem much use. There are other reasons one might want these cards - Landfall, various enchantments that deal damage when lands are discarded, but I don't see any of those things being used in Abzan.
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Dark Confident
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Siege Rhino
Spells (22)
3 Fatal Push
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Path to Exile
3 Thoughtseize
3 Abrupt Decay
4 Lingering Souls
3 Liliana of the Veil
4 Overgrown Tomb
4 Windswept Heath
3 Blooming Marsh
2 Marsh Flats
2 Verdant Catacomb
1 Forest
1 Godless Shrine
1 Plains
1 Shambling Vent
1 Swamp
1 Temple Garden
1 Treetop Village
2 Grafdigger's Cage
4 Voice of Resurgence
3 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
1 Spellskite
1 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Damnation
There are lots of Storm deck in my area and I plan on testing siding out Goyf and Lingering Souls for grave Hate and Voice. Looks clunky, but might surprise my opponents. Will let you know how it went.
Anyway, the list I linked did well at GP Birmingham (2nd I think?) and it has Excavator but not Traverse. Crucible is so much harder to remove that it seems better than Excavator to me, if you can;'t tutor for it. But I'm new to GBx and thought I'd ask the experts.
Here is my deck list for comparison:
4x Blooming Marsh
2x Forest
3x Ghost Quarter
3x Hissing Quagmire
1x Marsh Flats
3x Overgrown Tomb
2x Swamp
1x Treetop Village
4x Verdant Catacombs
Creature (17)
4x Dark Confidant
2x Eternal Witness
1x Grim Flayer
2x Kitchen Finks
2x Scavenging Ooze
4x Tarmogoyf
2x Tireless Tracker
3x Abrupt Decay
3x Fatal Push
1x Go for the Throat
Sorcery (9)
1x Collective Brutality
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
2x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Thoughtseize
Planeswalker (4)
3x Liliana of the Veil
1x Liliana, the Last Hope
1x Collective Brutality
1x Damnation
2x Flaying Tendrils
3x Fulminator Mage
1x Go for the Throat
1x Grafdigger's Cage
1x Liliana, the Last Hope
2x Nihil Spellbomb
2x Surgical Extraction
1x Thrun, the Last Troll