Standard Bearer is a good option for sideboard. I prefer Bodyguard since it smooths out the curve better.
The 3 Pilgrims are also due to the curve. We have a LOT of 3 cmc cards, so running more Commune with the Gods helps unclog the 3 cmc options. Commune plus Pilgrim gives us plenty of ways to find combo pieces, but feel free to include more as you see fit.
By the way, this deck won the second MTGO Pauper Challenge. Sure this is the paper forum, but I'd call that a significant result worth taking a look at.
Looks like a solid variation of the traditional Soul Sisters shell! I haven't paid attention to it in a while, so I didn't know it was going this direction.
The only card we lose in Paper is Battle Screech (which is a big card). A paper replacement would be Triplicate Spirits.
I would be very curious to see how those games unfolded and how many times the combo was the cause of victory and at which point the pilot stabilized.
The problems I see with this deck is how vulnerable it is to spot removal and the lack of threat density. There is no pressure in the early game while you set up your combo, then it folds to a breeze of interaction. The opponent just has to sit there and counter/bounce/remove the 4 copies of your win condition. Both my MBC and Affinity lists each use 12 pieces of removal.
I have been trying to brew a decent Tortured Existence deck recently and have considered adding a small Midnight Gond package either as a toolbox mainboard or through a transformational sideboard.
Lands aren't optimized and I'm still considering a few cards. Duress would be an all-star right before you Gond.
Goldfishing it looks like a more resilient shell for the combo with more early game beef against aggro and protection vs control. Let me know what you think.
Sweet I've been interested in TortEx and finally started thinking about making a more modern deck, since no one talks about it anymore. I'm really interested to see what you come up with. I don't even care if it's not too competitive ... I just want to play with the card and do some fun recursion.
If you end up making a different thread about it, please post or PM me a link. I've never run TortEx so I'm not very useful with suggestions, except that maybe Enchantment-based removal might be nice if you're already running Commune, e.g. Dead Weight or Journey to Nowhere instead of Ghastly?
I would be very curious to see how those games unfolded and how many times the combo was the cause of victory and at which point the pilot stabilized.
The problems I see with this deck is how vulnerable it is to spot removal and the lack of threat density. There is no pressure in the early game while you set up your combo, then it folds to a breeze of interaction. The opponent just has to sit there and counter/bounce/remove the 4 copies of your win condition. Both my MBC and Affinity lists each use 12 pieces of removal.
I think those aren't really problems with that deck. It has two ways to win. First with the combo and second with the tokens attacking + Rally backed up with life gain. The spot removal can kill the combo, but the tokens created over time can win. Alternatively, sweepers can kill the tokens, but most sweepers in Pauper will let the combo live. This really stretches your opponents option's for sideboarding which makes this a fairly strong deck.
You're right, sweepers aren't very common in pauper. Electrickery, Pestilence and Crypt Rats are the only ones I can think of. Prismatic strands is pretty sweet tech. Apostle's blessing would also protect the combo against spot removal, but counters are still a problem. The Kuldotha Boros shell might be decent and add some late game card advantage.
Curby, I think adding the Gond package to TortEx is more for kicks but removes consistency. I'll let you know if I start a thread for my main ToretEx list.
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The 3 Pilgrims are also due to the curve. We have a LOT of 3 cmc cards, so running more Commune with the Gods helps unclog the 3 cmc options. Commune plus Pilgrim gives us plenty of ways to find combo pieces, but feel free to include more as you see fit.
4 Benevolent Bodyguard
4 Midnight Guard
4 Soul Warden
4 Soul's Attendant
Sorcery (10)
4 Battle Screech
2 Cenn's Enlistment
4 Commune with the Gods
Instant (5)
3 Prismatic Strands
2 Rally the Peasants
Enchantment (6)
2 Journey to Nowhere
4 Presence of Gond
2 Ash Barrens
4 Blossoming Sands
1 Boros Garrison
1 Forest
2 Holdout Settlement
4 Khalni Garden
1 Mountain
5 Plains
3 Selesnya Sanctuary
60 Cards
1 Journey to Nowhere
1 Flaring Pain
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Ray of Revelation
2 Relic of Progenitus
4 Spidersilk Armor
2 Standard Bearer
2) Use the right number of each card.
3) Know your probabilities.
4) Print your deck lists; make yourself and your judges happier.
The only card we lose in Paper is Battle Screech (which is a big card). A paper replacement would be Triplicate Spirits.
The problems I see with this deck is how vulnerable it is to spot removal and the lack of threat density. There is no pressure in the early game while you set up your combo, then it folds to a breeze of interaction. The opponent just has to sit there and counter/bounce/remove the 4 copies of your win condition. Both my MBC and Affinity lists each use 12 pieces of removal.
I have been trying to brew a decent Tortured Existence deck recently and have considered adding a small Midnight Gond package either as a toolbox mainboard or through a transformational sideboard.
If it was main deck, this is what I have so far.
The New Abzan Existence - Midnight Gond Edition
1 Auramancer
2 Golgari Brownscale
3 Gurmag Angler
2 Midnight Guard
4 Putrid Leech
4 Satyr Wayfinder
1 Spore Frog
1 Stinkweed Imp
4 Abundant Growth
4 Tortured Existence
2 Presence of Gond
Sorcery
4 Commune with the Gods
4 Duress
Instant
4 Ghastly Demise
1 Ash Barrens
6 Forest
3 Jungle Hollow
1 Plains
3 Scoured Barrens
6 Swamp
Lands aren't optimized and I'm still considering a few cards. Duress would be an all-star right before you Gond.
Goldfishing it looks like a more resilient shell for the combo with more early game beef against aggro and protection vs control. Let me know what you think.
If you end up making a different thread about it, please post or PM me a link. I've never run TortEx so I'm not very useful with suggestions, except that maybe Enchantment-based removal might be nice if you're already running Commune, e.g. Dead Weight or Journey to Nowhere instead of Ghastly?
2) Use the right number of each card.
3) Know your probabilities.
4) Print your deck lists; make yourself and your judges happier.
I think those aren't really problems with that deck. It has two ways to win. First with the combo and second with the tokens attacking + Rally backed up with life gain. The spot removal can kill the combo, but the tokens created over time can win. Alternatively, sweepers can kill the tokens, but most sweepers in Pauper will let the combo live. This really stretches your opponents option's for sideboarding which makes this a fairly strong deck.
Curby, I think adding the Gond package to TortEx is more for kicks but removes consistency. I'll let you know if I start a thread for my main ToretEx list.