@hugelefboy inspector is a great card for monowhite. I ran relic because my concern against gy decks is minimal. Especially in this meta. I prefer it coming down quicker and cycling. I'm also on Eidolon of Rhetoric in my board which also answers gy to an extent. Snaps are shut off and living end can't go off.
To bring up another topic for discussion, recently I've been experimenting with between 1 and 2 Flagstones of Trokair in place of 1/2 Plains in my pretty standard list and I feel that it is a subtle but occasionally relevant and positive change. I'm not suggesting any LD shenanigans or anything, and I know that it is stricktly worse against Blood Moon than Plains, but I've often found myself in a scenario where GQ'ing myself to get another white source to play something like Flickerwisp or Crusader makes sense.
It definitely makes more sense to me than the 1-of Eiganjo Castle most people play. I'd replace that rather than a Plains.
I want to tell you that Shefet Dunes was bad, however, the card performed extremely well. Multiple times it put creatures out of range inside of important combat steps while also preventing me from getting worked in combat due to the potential back swing. The Walkers in the board also played a huge part of winning this league. They stopped Death Shadows and Black Red Moon from out grinding me.
...
Let me know what you think of Shefet Dunes!
-Catmix
It's one of my favorite new additions to the deck. I am a little concerned about numbers between Horizon Canopy and Shefet Dunes, however, especially with the lack of built-in lifegain in Monowhite.
Still not really feeling the microsplash for Lingering Souls/Shambling Vent. Probably just going to flip this thing to Monowhite. If so, manabase is, oddly, the primary concern.
“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
@chalupacabra I think Tec edge is too important in the current meta. I'd really fight to have at least 3 copies.
I ironically just won in a league because of shefet dunes yet again. My final score was 4-1 but my lost match was due to me timing out sick in the bathroom. (Reoccurring issues from my previous surgery).
I also noticed Burn has a major prescence that should not be ignored. Considering migrating some decent life gain affect to main deck. Finks or the new card from HOU might be reasonable inclusions.
Have we fallen out of love with Gideon of the Trials? I've noticed more and more exclusions of him from everyone's lists. I still run 2 in the mainboard and in the matchups that he is good: he's really good. However, in the matchups that he is bad: he's really a dead card. I've been considering moving him to the sideboard for consistency purposes bringing him in against the DS, Jund/Junk, and control matchups.
Also, @deathandcatmix: I'm genuinely curious as to the one-of Aven Mindcensor's role in your sideboard! Just additional hate to the greedy manabases in the meta right now?
@bigolebearim sure Gideon is still a great option. I've only stopped running him to connect more with the popular monowhite build. I've been rotating cards every week to learn as much as possible. Aven mindcensor is to answer the ever so popular card searching: gifts, scapeshift, titan, etc.
@chalupacabra I think Tec edge is too important in the current meta. I'd really fight to have at least 3 copies.
I ironically just won in a league because of shefet dunes yet again. My final score was 4-1 but my lost match was due to me timing out sick in the bathroom. (Reoccurring issues from my previous surgery).
I also noticed Burn has a major prescence that should not be ignored. Considering migrating some decent life gain affect to main deck. Finks or the new card from HOU might be reasonable inclusions.
The deck comfortably supports 9 colorless sources, which I feel works best as a 4-3-2 split. Ghost Quarter is uncontested for the 4-card slot, but I'm struggling to find my preference for the other two.
Tectonic Edge held the 3-slot for a while. It's not bad, but it's never particularly good either. It felt about the same at 2 copies as it did at 3.
Mutavault, on the other hand, is a freaking powerhouse alongside Blade Splicer. With 4 copies of the latter in the deck, it feels dead wrong not to utilize the former.
Scavenger Grounds is currently a test card in the 2-slot. I'm not really sold on it, but it's a curiousity, at least. Ultimately, I'm probably better off with something else there as I just don't think it's fast enough at what it does.
I've been toying with moving Auriok Champion to the main for a while now. The way I see it, this deck has 6 flex slots, which I've been filling with
I've been toying with Serra Avenger and Selfless Spirit in this slot, but it might be worth running 2 maindeck Champions. They go great with all the flickering and the card is best buds with Brimaz. It also stonewalls Death's Shadow decks; is a nightmare for Jund, Junk, and Dredge; and improves game 1 against Burn. It also neuters any of Storm's creature-based finishers and shuts down Copycat hopefuls.
Who knows?
On an unrelated note, I'm down with the idea of using options that are not Stony Silence out of the board, as I want my Vials and Clues, but I'm just not sure there's another answer against Affinity that's effective enough.
“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
I want to tell you that Shefet Dunes was bad, however, the card performed extremely well. Multiple times it put creatures out of range inside of important combat steps while also preventing me from getting worked in combat due to the potential back swing. The Walkers in the board also played a huge part of winning this league. They stopped Death Shadows and Black Red Moon from out grinding me.
I played against Todd Stevens and he was streaming. I'll link my match against him below.
Let me know what you think of Shefet Dunes!
-Catmix
Shefet Dunes is a very interesting touch and I'm it was actually quite good! I definitely wanna hear more from the community that using Shefet Dunes in D&T is quite good. Very nicely done in your league!
I think Shefet Dunes have some potential. The fact that it can tap for C without pinging you is relevant, as is the pump effect. I don't know if it will replace Horizon Canopy entirely, but I'd be open to running a split.
I went to my weekly Modern Monday tournament and wound up going 3-1 I beat Merfolk, Valakut, and Esper Control and Lost to Counters Coco in game 3; he manaaged to play 7 collected Companies and I still almost won. One of the all stars of the night? Shefet Dunes. I only ran it as a 1 of, taking out a Canopy for a 3-1 split but might actually consider doing 2-2. It over performed in Merfolk and in Esper control as it gave me the reach to fly over them for a few extra points of damage to steal games.
I had a conversation with a friend of mine before the tournament as to what land to remove for the dunes. He asked me "When do you usually enjoy cracking a Horizon Canopy?" I told him I don't usually enjoy it; just usually use it when I have no cards in hand or I'm digging for an answer or a threat. Now I don't think I want to completely lose this utility, because being able to turn a land into a blade splicer or Flickerwisp is amazing. But the way I see it (since we are a creature deck) Shefet dunes IS a threat. So I felt comfortable removing a Canopy for a dunes and might (after Monday) be inclined to do a 2-2 split. So in short, I agree with you Rothgar13 and would definitely recommend everyone give it a shot. It's also a strictly better replacement for Caves of Koilos for anyone on Mono-White Eldrazi Taxes.
I also wanted to touch on something that was mentioned a few pages back about Serra Avenger. I just wanted to give me opinion on the card and why I feel its so powerful in the deck. Yes it's only a 3/3 beater and doesn't tax our opponents but no matter how much taxing we do we need to be able to win games and we do so by attacking. The power in Serra Avenger to me, lies in the mana cost. Part of what makes taxes so powerful is that we essentially get to use our lands as spells and we are always using our lands for things that aren't creatures which is what makes Vial so integral to our deck and Serra Avenger having such a cheap cost allows us to operate on that axis and STILL play a clock that can close out the game. It's not the best card ever printed but in practice I always see it as more than a "dumb beater" haha
I am however still just learning the deck. My question is about restoration angel. I find I almost never have 4 mana and I prefer my vials on 2 or even better 3 for wisp. I almost always board out 1 or 2 restos as I can never cast them. I am pretty aggressive with destroying lands though, which is what makes 4 mana difficult.
Should I be valuing 4 mana or a 4 counter vial more? Should I value them even more then destroying lands (except in like tron matchups)?
I am however still just learning the deck. My question is about restoration angel. I find I almost never have 4 mana and I prefer my vials on 2 or even better 3 for wisp. I almost always board out 1 or 2 restos as I can never cast them. I am pretty aggressive with destroying lands though, which is what makes 4 mana difficult.
Should I be valuing 4 mana or a 4 counter vial more? Should I value them even more then destroying lands (except in like tron matchups)?
A lot of playing this deck well is just being able to situationally pivot to the best strategy for a given situation.
If you're not in a position to gain advantage from blasting lands, leave them down to cast creatures. If you can GQ your opponent out of mana, then it's okay to have an unused Resto in hand when you close out the game.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
I agree on Serra Avenger, it's one of the few creatures in the deck that plays offense and defense, it's great vs Lingering Souls and Spell Queller too. Coval's Avenger won the SCG invitational for him off a Thraben Inspector clue. It's a very efficient card, and the deck does need a certain number of beaters to help close out the game. Legacy D&T players have learned this over the past year or so, and the general advice they have is that you need 3-4 copies of beaters like Mirran Crusader or Serra Avenger in the main deck in addition to the Stoneforge Mystic package to help you close out games in the aggro role.
Blade Splicer certainly fills this role in Modern, but Since Stoneforge Mystic is banned in modern, the deck needs some help at beating down earlier, and doesn't have a solidified 2 drop dedicated to helping to close out games quickly. If you count Stoneforge + Equipment, the Legacy version of the deck carries 3-4 beater creatures, 4 Stoneforge Mystic, and 3 equipment cards for a total of 10-11 cards dedicated to beating down.
That said, I struggle to run more than one copy of Serra Avenger in modern due to the fact that there are only 10-11 2 cmc slots for creatures in the deck at the moment. I want at minimum 10 2 drops that I can cast on turn 2 (so that I have one 4/5 games on the play, and 5/6 games on the draw). I know that clues can be a turn 2 play, but I'd much rather get on the board if I don't have an Aether Vial with that turn 2 mana.
So I'm looking for more ways to put faster clocks in the deck, and put them on the table more quickly. I'm planning to give 3-4 copies of Glory-Bound Initiate a try in the 2 cmc flex slots this weekend. I figure that it can come down on turn 2, which speeds up our clock given that it's a 3 power creature on turn 2 (something the deck doesn't usually have). They can also make up for the damage the deck now takes from its manabase, be it from Horizon Canopy, or Shefet Dunes. It also gives Flickerwisp and Restoration Angel another proactive value flicker target in the deck if you exert it. Considering how Thraben Inspector has given the deck better proactive plays for Flickerwisp and Restoration Angel that reward us with more cards and increased ability to grind, I currently wonder if Glory-Bound Initiate can make curving into a turn 3 Flickerwisp a stronger proactive beatdown play. Glory-Bound Initiate did help an interesting Esper Control list top 8 a Japanese Grand Prix earlier this year. That version of the deck was using GBI's life gaining Exert to counteract life loss from Painful Truths, and provided the deck with an efficient beater that those type of decks usually lack in Modern. It made the deck work a little bit like a Stoneblade deck in Legacy.
(Link for reference: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/658269#paper)
Shefet Dunes is Certainly Interesting. I think I'll try 1-2. Grats on the 5-0 Catmix!
Glory-Bound Initiate did help an interesting Esper Control list top 8 a Japanese Grand Prix earlier this year. That version of the deck was using GBI's life gaining Exert to counteract life loss from Painful Truths, and provided the deck with an efficient beater that those type of decks usually lack in Modern. It made the deck work a little bit like a Stoneblade deck in Legacy.
(Link for reference: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/658269#paper)
I actually tested the GBI deck. My thoughts on that card were that GBI was a great beater and often traded up or just ate a bunch of blockers. Even without flicker effects the life gain usually offset all or most of the crack back as well as ate a creature with my attack. The only issue was that it was slow with exert so you need other controlling elements. I tried it in a Mardu deck with painful truths and dark confidant and then I just couldn't compensate for how slow it was. However you make a really good point about the flicker working so well with it.
Streaming about Lingering Taxes if y'all are free.
Missed it, how'd it go?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
Streaming about Lingering Taxes if y'all are free.
Missed it, how'd it go?
he ran wb lingering taxes I missed the match he lost to death's shadow, beat affinity, ur delver and the 2nd death's shadow deck. Then lost a close super grindy match to mono white d&t
Not going to have a chance to test wb version before pptq due to family obligations Friday so will missy likely run mono - white build. I will post it below and many people will probably argue against some of my choices (like militant over inspector) but with the way I personally pilot the deck and with the expected meta I believe they are correct. I am not saying n other choices are bad or not correct in different circumstances but just tuning to what I expect.
Note on missionary over finks etc... with decks locally like revolt zoo recently I find finks is often too slow so line missionary coming down a turn earlier and gaining the full 4 is relevant I may make room in side for burrenton or mark of asylum just got top keep tweaking the board.
@chalupacabra yea went 3-2... Mostly because we experimented live on the stream with sb options and did not run cards we should have in the known meta. But even what that, I am fairly impressed with this rendition of the list.
R1 vs Death Shadow 1-2
G1 he literally had the nuts.
G2 lingering souls ran away with the game.
G3 I didn't draw very well through hand disruption early on.
R2 vs Affinity 2-0
G1 Was flickerwisp and path protecting lingering souls.
G2 Pontiff wreaked havoc.
R3 vs Death Shadow 2-1
Pretty much a reverse of the round 1 scenario.
R4 vs UR Delver 2-1
G1 I thought he was storm and played accordingly. Then thought he was Blood moon and played around it. Didn't see it so went back to original game plan. Then opps played blood moon.
G2-G3 Aether Vial just moonwalked through games.
R5 vs Mono-White DNT 1-2
G1 & G2 were grind fest and really boiled down to best draws win.
G3 was similar but the opps has a miser blinmoth (literally lol'ing as i type this) then plays "WRATH OF GOD", swings with single blink moth and attacks me to death. Semi-hilarious at the time it happened, fully hilarious now...
Ultimately, I think I did not give black enough credit as a support recently. I think with tweaking the deck could have got 4-1 (and maybe) a 5-0 from this league. I will continue to improve.
If you wanna watch the video check the stream out!
I took 1st place at a modern event last night with WB Eldrazi Taxes! I beat titanshift, knightfall, and burn.
It was a stock list, with 3 Dark Confidant for the flex slots. I was very happy with it My only loss was to Counters Company, which completely steamrolled me. Anyone have advice for that matchup? I currently side in my 2 Fatal Push and 2 Grafdigger's Cage (siding out Eldrazi Displacer) but their combo is just too easy and redundant for my limited removal.
WWModern Death And Taxes (w/ Militia Bugler) (JUL '19)
GWModern Maverick (JUL '19)
WBCatmix on Twitch!
WWCatmix on Youtube
That used to be one of my favorite cards in the deck. It's one of my favorite new additions to the deck. I am a little concerned about numbers between Horizon Canopy and Shefet Dunes, however, especially with the lack of built-in lifegain in Monowhite.
Still not really feeling the microsplash for Lingering Souls/Shambling Vent. Probably just going to flip this thing to Monowhite. If so, manabase is, oddly, the primary concern.
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Horizon Canopy
3 Mutavault
6 Plains
2 Scavenger Grounds
4 Shefet Dunes
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
I ironically just won in a league because of shefet dunes yet again. My final score was 4-1 but my lost match was due to me timing out sick in the bathroom. (Reoccurring issues from my previous surgery).
I also noticed Burn has a major prescence that should not be ignored. Considering migrating some decent life gain affect to main deck. Finks or the new card from HOU might be reasonable inclusions.
WWModern Death And Taxes (w/ Militia Bugler) (JUL '19)
GWModern Maverick (JUL '19)
WBCatmix on Twitch!
WWCatmix on Youtube
Also, @deathandcatmix: I'm genuinely curious as to the one-of Aven Mindcensor's role in your sideboard! Just additional hate to the greedy manabases in the meta right now?
WWModern Death And Taxes (w/ Militia Bugler) (JUL '19)
GWModern Maverick (JUL '19)
WBCatmix on Twitch!
WWCatmix on Youtube
Tectonic Edge held the 3-slot for a while. It's not bad, but it's never particularly good either. It felt about the same at 2 copies as it did at 3.
Mutavault, on the other hand, is a freaking powerhouse alongside Blade Splicer. With 4 copies of the latter in the deck, it feels dead wrong not to utilize the former.
Scavenger Grounds is currently a test card in the 2-slot. I'm not really sold on it, but it's a curiousity, at least. Ultimately, I'm probably better off with something else there as I just don't think it's fast enough at what it does.
I've been toying with moving Auriok Champion to the main for a while now. The way I see it, this deck has 6 flex slots, which I've been filling with
Who knows?
On an unrelated note, I'm down with the idea of using options that are not Stony Silence out of the board, as I want my Vials and Clues, but I'm just not sure there's another answer against Affinity that's effective enough.
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
Shefet Dunes is a very interesting touch and I'm it was actually quite good! I definitely wanna hear more from the community that using Shefet Dunes in D&T is quite good. Very nicely done in your league!
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
I went to my weekly Modern Monday tournament and wound up going 3-1 I beat Merfolk, Valakut, and Esper Control and Lost to Counters Coco in game 3; he manaaged to play 7 collected Companies and I still almost won. One of the all stars of the night? Shefet Dunes. I only ran it as a 1 of, taking out a Canopy for a 3-1 split but might actually consider doing 2-2. It over performed in Merfolk and in Esper control as it gave me the reach to fly over them for a few extra points of damage to steal games.
I had a conversation with a friend of mine before the tournament as to what land to remove for the dunes. He asked me "When do you usually enjoy cracking a Horizon Canopy?" I told him I don't usually enjoy it; just usually use it when I have no cards in hand or I'm digging for an answer or a threat. Now I don't think I want to completely lose this utility, because being able to turn a land into a blade splicer or Flickerwisp is amazing. But the way I see it (since we are a creature deck) Shefet dunes IS a threat. So I felt comfortable removing a Canopy for a dunes and might (after Monday) be inclined to do a 2-2 split. So in short, I agree with you Rothgar13 and would definitely recommend everyone give it a shot. It's also a strictly better replacement for Caves of Koilos for anyone on Mono-White Eldrazi Taxes.
I also wanted to touch on something that was mentioned a few pages back about Serra Avenger. I just wanted to give me opinion on the card and why I feel its so powerful in the deck. Yes it's only a 3/3 beater and doesn't tax our opponents but no matter how much taxing we do we need to be able to win games and we do so by attacking. The power in Serra Avenger to me, lies in the mana cost. Part of what makes taxes so powerful is that we essentially get to use our lands as spells and we are always using our lands for things that aren't creatures which is what makes Vial so integral to our deck and Serra Avenger having such a cheap cost allows us to operate on that axis and STILL play a clock that can close out the game. It's not the best card ever printed but in practice I always see it as more than a "dumb beater" haha
My Art Page
I have also been running Shefet Dunes but more for budgetary reasons, good to hear it had been preforming well. Other then that is is the exact stock list from GP vegas http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=15927&d=297925&f=MO]
I am however still just learning the deck. My question is about restoration angel. I find I almost never have 4 mana and I prefer my vials on 2 or even better 3 for wisp. I almost always board out 1 or 2 restos as I can never cast them. I am pretty aggressive with destroying lands though, which is what makes 4 mana difficult.
Should I be valuing 4 mana or a 4 counter vial more? Should I value them even more then destroying lands (except in like tron matchups)?
If you're not in a position to gain advantage from blasting lands, leave them down to cast creatures. If you can GQ your opponent out of mana, then it's okay to have an unused Resto in hand when you close out the game.
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
Blade Splicer certainly fills this role in Modern, but Since Stoneforge Mystic is banned in modern, the deck needs some help at beating down earlier, and doesn't have a solidified 2 drop dedicated to helping to close out games quickly. If you count Stoneforge + Equipment, the Legacy version of the deck carries 3-4 beater creatures, 4 Stoneforge Mystic, and 3 equipment cards for a total of 10-11 cards dedicated to beating down.
That said, I struggle to run more than one copy of Serra Avenger in modern due to the fact that there are only 10-11 2 cmc slots for creatures in the deck at the moment. I want at minimum 10 2 drops that I can cast on turn 2 (so that I have one 4/5 games on the play, and 5/6 games on the draw). I know that clues can be a turn 2 play, but I'd much rather get on the board if I don't have an Aether Vial with that turn 2 mana.
So I'm looking for more ways to put faster clocks in the deck, and put them on the table more quickly. I'm planning to give 3-4 copies of Glory-Bound Initiate a try in the 2 cmc flex slots this weekend. I figure that it can come down on turn 2, which speeds up our clock given that it's a 3 power creature on turn 2 (something the deck doesn't usually have). They can also make up for the damage the deck now takes from its manabase, be it from Horizon Canopy, or Shefet Dunes. It also gives Flickerwisp and Restoration Angel another proactive value flicker target in the deck if you exert it. Considering how Thraben Inspector has given the deck better proactive plays for Flickerwisp and Restoration Angel that reward us with more cards and increased ability to grind, I currently wonder if Glory-Bound Initiate can make curving into a turn 3 Flickerwisp a stronger proactive beatdown play. Glory-Bound Initiate did help an interesting Esper Control list top 8 a Japanese Grand Prix earlier this year. That version of the deck was using GBI's life gaining Exert to counteract life loss from Painful Truths, and provided the deck with an efficient beater that those type of decks usually lack in Modern. It made the deck work a little bit like a Stoneblade deck in Legacy.
(Link for reference: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/658269#paper)
Shefet Dunes is Certainly Interesting. I think I'll try 1-2. Grats on the 5-0 Catmix!
I actually tested the GBI deck. My thoughts on that card were that GBI was a great beater and often traded up or just ate a bunch of blockers. Even without flicker effects the life gain usually offset all or most of the crack back as well as ate a creature with my attack. The only issue was that it was slow with exert so you need other controlling elements. I tried it in a Mardu deck with painful truths and dark confidant and then I just couldn't compensate for how slow it was. However you make a really good point about the flicker working so well with it.
WWModern Death And Taxes (w/ Militia Bugler) (JUL '19)
GWModern Maverick (JUL '19)
WBCatmix on Twitch!
WWCatmix on Youtube
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
4 dryad militant
4 leonin arbiter
4 Thalia, guardian of thraben
2 serra avenger
4 flickerwisp
4 blade splicer
2 mirran crusader
1 aven mindcensor
4 restorations angel
4 aether vial
4 path to exile
Land 23
4 ghost quarter
4 tectonic edge
4 shefet dunes
11 plains
1 Aven Mindcensor
2 Dismember
2 Dusk // dawn
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Lone Missionary
2 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
Note on missionary over finks etc... with decks locally like revolt zoo recently I find finks is often too slow so line missionary coming down a turn earlier and gaining the full 4 is relevant I may make room in side for burrenton or mark of asylum just got top keep tweaking the board.
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
R1 vs Death Shadow 1-2
G1 he literally had the nuts.
G2 lingering souls ran away with the game.
G3 I didn't draw very well through hand disruption early on.
R2 vs Affinity 2-0
G1 Was flickerwisp and path protecting lingering souls.
G2 Pontiff wreaked havoc.
R3 vs Death Shadow 2-1
Pretty much a reverse of the round 1 scenario.
R4 vs UR Delver 2-1
G1 I thought he was storm and played accordingly. Then thought he was Blood moon and played around it. Didn't see it so went back to original game plan. Then opps played blood moon.
G2-G3 Aether Vial just moonwalked through games.
R5 vs Mono-White DNT 1-2
G1 & G2 were grind fest and really boiled down to best draws win.
G3 was similar but the opps has a miser blinmoth (literally lol'ing as i type this) then plays "WRATH OF GOD", swings with single blink moth and attacks me to death. Semi-hilarious at the time it happened, fully hilarious now...
Ultimately, I think I did not give black enough credit as a support recently. I think with tweaking the deck could have got 4-1 (and maybe) a 5-0 from this league. I will continue to improve.
If you wanna watch the video check the stream out!
WWModern Death And Taxes (w/ Militia Bugler) (JUL '19)
GWModern Maverick (JUL '19)
WBCatmix on Twitch!
WWCatmix on Youtube
It was a stock list, with 3 Dark Confidant for the flex slots. I was very happy with it My only loss was to Counters Company, which completely steamrolled me. Anyone have advice for that matchup? I currently side in my 2 Fatal Push and 2 Grafdigger's Cage (siding out Eldrazi Displacer) but their combo is just too easy and redundant for my limited removal.