I feel like between MTGO, MTGSalvation and Reddit, I'm fairly ready on what a deck looks like, minus crazy brews. I'd rather have Clique in the side, for the blue mirrors and combos.
Queller is already very delicate, I'd rather have Geist as the evasive threat (even if he requires clearing threats).
This deck is already so heavy on the 3, I don't think I want Clique, and sideboard space is cramped as always. Going lower on Geist I'm skeptical of, I've even been thinking of going up to 4 as getting one killed can be really devastating. Resto could work as she's a little less fragile but shares a deckslot with Cryptic, so I'm not sure I'd want more than one
For now I've been boarding out some number of geists for any matchup where stabilizing is crucial and closing the game is secondary, like affinity, but I have found myself without a wincon a lot or having to rely on a Queller carrying something scary, and praying it doesnt die. I don't think that boarding out more than one geist (going down to 2) is really ever correct with these kinds of lists.
I've found against Eldrazi Tron, Vizier Elves (what do we call this?) and Abzan, Geist isn't exactly the best plan. When it comes to these known tier decks, Flash Jeskai seems to be better for me in those instances. Vendilion Clique is particularly good for me against Eldrazi Tron as well. I'm not saying leave Geist at home for them because I still need a way to kill my opponent, but having flash and some info is generally as good or better than trying to rely on the Geist plan for me. To each, their own I guess.
I'd like to see both Bearscape and Choas' sideboard, as I'm retooling the deck and I don't really have one yet. If I had to register something tomorrow, sideboard would be this:
Not sure if I want some number of Runed Halo or Rejection. Whenever I board in Rejection, I get a Chalice on one from E-Tron and then draw it once said Chalice hits the field.
I really need help on this fast, the start date of the Open is looming ever closer.
Your main deck looks fine, but I would test it extensively to see if you really want 5 cantrips or maybe a "gotcha" spell, such as Shadow of Doubt or something else, like a Spell Pierce. I will say that Spell Snare as a two-of has been great for me, but to each their own. You may not be expecting opponents to play spells that make Spell Snare amazing.
Your sideboard is almost identical to what I've come up with. The only thing I'm wondering is what use do you have Izzet Staticaster? I had until recently myself, but I ended up cutting it for another Stony Silence.
I've found against Eldrazi Tron, Vizier Elves (what do we call this?) and Abzan, Geist isn't exactly the best plan. When it comes to these known tier decks, Flash Jeskai seems to be better for me in those instances. Vendilion Clique is particularly good for me against Eldrazi Tron as well. I'm not saying leave Geist at home for them because I still need a way to kill my opponent, but having flash and some info is generally as good or better than trying to rely on the Geist plan for me. To each, their own I guess.
I think you are absolutely right about geist being a lousy wincon vs decks like Etron. But i think this deck ends up just needing the big dumb beatstick at the end of the day as it does not have enough burn in it to rely on it entirely but not enough card advantage to reliably outgrind. Making your wincons slower and more fragile might be risky. I do think i will try out a full Flash list myself eventually
4x Cryptic is so clunky. I do think having 2 spellsnares seem correct, 2 mana is the magic number in modern, and on the draw, you play the non-colonnade land against certain decks to play it.
I couldn't possibly imagine playing a blue deck without at least 2x Rejections in the SB, E-Tron and Affinity are so popular in nearly every place I see, in large tournaments; I think it's a massive mistake to show up to a non-fnm without some number of those.
That's why it depends on what you expect to play against. Decks aren't just generically good just because they exist. Your list matters. So if you're facing a ton of Tron, then I wouldn't expect that Spell Snare to be good. It's all about context so you just saying it's largely dead for you without context means a whole boat load of nothing.
Just looking at the known, top tier decks if you were to go to a major tourney right now, I would say it's good against Affinity, the mirror, Eldrazi and Taxes, Burn (something you mentioned), UW control, Vizier Company and GB/x decks.
Spell Snare hardly seems like a "cheesy" answer. It always trades up in mana, and I always appreciate efficiency, especially in the early turns on the draw. If your metagame doesn't revolve around the first four turns, that's awesome, but that scenario isn't common. That said, if it's bad for, it's just that. I'm not arguing that point.
Not really sure why expensive sorcery speed threats and tempo would go hand in hand, as they've never really done so in the past.
Ajani vengeant, keranos, and PnK have seen play in jeskai from time to time, but none of those cards are really slam-dunks.
I'd honestly say that chandra, master of waves, and mentor are incorrect 100% of the time, and pyromancer is better suited for other decks (more delver styled decks, IMO).
With Nahiri not really a card, how come Keranos isn't being played in the sideboard again?
It's unbelievably slow. Not to mention, when Lightning Bolt isn't good, it's not that good either. Even most of the the Draw-Go versions of control don't bother playing it.
Some people may disagree with me here, but keranos is straight bad. The card is simply not good. If you ever have a problem you feel keranos could solve, there is almost always a better way to solve it.
Really, how many decks is keranos good against? Hes decent against jund, is decent against the mirror, hes decent against UW control, hes decent against lantern i guess? Pretty much every other deck doesm't really care about him. Basically everyone will just kill you when you play it.
I can't believe this. Peter Ingram took Nahiri control to a top 8 finish at SCG Classic Charlotte. I watched that guy flub wins away against aggro decks, but somehow he's making Nahiri control work. WTF?!
Are SCG events really that bad as far as the level of competition or is something else going on?
i wouldn't say keranos is that bad.... it's great against most other midrange decks except for eldrazi tron... i will say that if you are playing geist you probably don't want keranos as it would be a bit redundant... it's basically a lower costed elspeth and if you're on 24 or less lands you want your finisher to not cost 6 cmc....
if you're playing keranos you want to transform into more of a control deck postboard... if you're playing 8 or more creatures with keranos then you're probably doing it wrong since you don't want to be behind on board when casting him...
i wouldn't say keranos is that bad.... it's great against most other midrange decks except for eldrazi tron... i will say that if you are playing geist you probably don't want keranos as it would be a bit redundant... it's basically a lower costed elspeth and if you're on 24 or less lands you want your finisher to not cost 6 cmc....
if you're playing keranos you want to transform into more of a control deck postboard... if you're playing 8 or more creatures with keranos then you're probably doing it wrong since you don't want to be behind on board when casting him...
Keranos and Elspeth aren't comparable. Keranos is good on board control aspects when Lightning Bolts are good. Otherwise, there are just better draw engines. Elspeth dominates a board that isn't completely out of control while protecting you.
Also, when I cast Keranos back in the day, I did not want to be behind on the board. That only complicates the math on whether you can take a turn off to do so.
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I feel like between MTGO, MTGSalvation and Reddit, I'm fairly ready on what a deck looks like, minus crazy brews. I'd rather have Clique in the side, for the blue mirrors and combos.
Queller is already very delicate, I'd rather have Geist as the evasive threat (even if he requires clearing threats).
For now I've been boarding out some number of geists for any matchup where stabilizing is crucial and closing the game is secondary, like affinity, but I have found myself without a wincon a lot or having to rely on a Queller carrying something scary, and praying it doesnt die. I don't think that boarding out more than one geist (going down to 2) is really ever correct with these kinds of lists.
4 Spell Queller
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Serum Visions
4 Cryptic Command
2 Electrolyze
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Logic Knot
2 Opt
4 Path to Exile
4 Flooded Strand
2 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
1 Plains
1 Mountain
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
2 Sulfur Falls
I'd like to see both Bearscape and Choas' sideboard, as I'm retooling the deck and I don't really have one yet. If I had to register something tomorrow, sideboard would be this:
1x Celestial Purge
2x Disdainful Stroke
2x Dispel
1x Dusk / Dawn
1x Izzet Staticaster
1x Negate
2x Relic of Progenitus
1x Stony Silence
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Vendilion Clique
1x Wear / Tear
Not sure if I want some number of Runed Halo or Rejection. Whenever I board in Rejection, I get a Chalice on one from E-Tron and then draw it once said Chalice hits the field.
I really need help on this fast, the start date of the Open is looming ever closer.
Thanks so so much, guys. You're lifesavers.
UWR Control
BR Hollow One
Your sideboard is almost identical to what I've come up with. The only thing I'm wondering is what use do you have Izzet Staticaster? I had until recently myself, but I ended up cutting it for another Stony Silence.
I think you are absolutely right about geist being a lousy wincon vs decks like Etron. But i think this deck ends up just needing the big dumb beatstick at the end of the day as it does not have enough burn in it to rely on it entirely but not enough card advantage to reliably outgrind. Making your wincons slower and more fragile might be risky. I do think i will try out a full Flash list myself eventually
UWR Control
BR Hollow One
UWR Control
BR Hollow One
I couldn't possibly imagine playing a blue deck without at least 2x Rejections in the SB, E-Tron and Affinity are so popular in nearly every place I see, in large tournaments; I think it's a massive mistake to show up to a non-fnm without some number of those.
Spell Snare hardly seems like a "cheesy" answer. It always trades up in mana, and I always appreciate efficiency, especially in the early turns on the draw. If your metagame doesn't revolve around the first four turns, that's awesome, but that scenario isn't common. That said, if it's bad for, it's just that. I'm not arguing that point.
Maybe one with chandra, torch defiance or master of waves or even a your pyromancer and monastery mentor build and some other non flash creatures.
Since this deck does look more like a tempo deck.
Chandrs is a bad and slow card in a lot of matchups
Master of Waves is more tempo oriented in a tribal deck
Pyromancer is better in legacy
Mentor was really broken in legacy and vintage but poorly suited for modern
Ajani vengeant, keranos, and PnK have seen play in jeskai from time to time, but none of those cards are really slam-dunks.
I'd honestly say that chandra, master of waves, and mentor are incorrect 100% of the time, and pyromancer is better suited for other decks (more delver styled decks, IMO).
It's unbelievably slow. Not to mention, when Lightning Bolt isn't good, it's not that good either. Even most of the the Draw-Go versions of control don't bother playing it.
Really, how many decks is keranos good against? Hes decent against jund, is decent against the mirror, hes decent against UW control, hes decent against lantern i guess? Pretty much every other deck doesm't really care about him. Basically everyone will just kill you when you play it.
Are SCG events really that bad as far as the level of competition or is something else going on?
if you're playing keranos you want to transform into more of a control deck postboard... if you're playing 8 or more creatures with keranos then you're probably doing it wrong since you don't want to be behind on board when casting him...
Keranos and Elspeth aren't comparable. Keranos is good on board control aspects when Lightning Bolts are good. Otherwise, there are just better draw engines. Elspeth dominates a board that isn't completely out of control while protecting you.
Also, when I cast Keranos back in the day, I did not want to be behind on the board. That only complicates the math on whether you can take a turn off to do so.