So I am usually a control player, but with Narset I am drawn to jeskai tokens. Other than bogging down the sideboard with erase and counterspells, I think that there is not a lot we can do against black decks. what thoughts do people have against black decks that I may be missing for round 2 and 3
There is plenty we can do against black decks. Now they are siding in drown in sorow, so to counteract this we run 4 toughness creatures in the sb (brimaz, wingmate roc) and planes walkers...mainly sarkhan. When black decks start putting this card into thier sideboard not much will change. Noone will be playing this game 1. Sideboard accordingly with some more resilient threats and erase type effects.
I doubt that a lot of people will even be running plague week one, it's just so narrow. This is more of a thing to worry about a few weeks down the road when the meta shakes out. Even then there needs to be a lot of token decks for this to be anymore than a 1-of in the board, if even that.
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Standard/Block = The on-again, off-again holiday fling
Modern/Vintage/Legacy = Stable, homely. A ***** after absence/misreading
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I doubt it. I'm an Abzan player and I'm not even using Virulent Plague. Drown in Sorrow is just better - more resilient, scry 1, hits non-tokens, doesn't screw up Elspeth, and honestly most tokens decks are dying to a well-placed Drown anyway.
I figure pretty much every other player running black anti-token cards is thinking the same way.
Only monoblack aggro or BW warriors will want Virulent Plague because it doesn't hit their own creatures. Everyone else will just board in Drown in Sorrow--though it looks like random black-based control/midrange lists are maindecking Drown for additional token/red hate.
Personally, I'm much more high on Bile Blight because it's an instant that I can hit a Rabblemaster with right away, but I can also off a Mantis Rider or triggered Seeker of the Way in a pinch as well as some niche cards like Fanatic of Xenagos or Brutal Hordechief (this guy can WRECK your day if unanswered). Then again, I'm generally unlikely to run a deck that doesn't include some high toughness blockers, so the wipe effect of a Drown is less necessary.
I only use Drown in Sorrow in my mono black agro becaause is the solution to those pesky tokens wich are quite problematic.With the plague i don't need to sacrifice my cretures so i aprove of this sideboard card
I doubt Virulent Plague would affect Jeskai Tokens any more than Illness in the Ranks did to B/W tokens during INN/RTR.
Cost to effect wise, Plague is inefficient. It also shuts off things like Sorin, Elspeth, and Sidisi and Empty the Pits, typically wincons to the decks that could run this.
I'd worry more about Dromoka's Command than this narrow token hate. Command force you to sacrifice ascendancy and, for example, kills your rabblemaster. And it will be played mainboard.
To be fair most of the token hate has been out already. As the guy above me pointed out, Dromoka's Command is the card that scares token decks the most. Especially if you're relying on Jeskai Ascendency and the new Impact Tremors as a main engine.
Dromoka's Command and Plague are diferent cards...
Saying one is better then the other ind ealing with tokens is odd to say atleast.My mon black agro deck will use the Plague not the command not because one is stronegr then the other but having no choice in the matter.
Here is how I see Virulent Plague working out. I think it will automatically balance itself.
If tokens becomes popular then it will be in every sideboard. If it goes into ever SB then people will stop playing tokens. If people keep the card in their SB with no tokens in the meta it is a dead spot and the decks will lose to other matchups so the other decks will want to take this card out. It's the same cycle seen in any competitive market, it will approach a balance point but at some points it will be out of balance. It is your job as a non-token deck to guess when its more or less popular slightly and go from 1-3 copies in your SB. I really doubt 4 copies will ever be useful but it's possible at times it would be.
I could see a UB variation on control that uses it mainboarded with Curse of the Swine and Swan Song, but only if the meta goes heavily toward token based decks.
I'm talking about the tokens side of things. Granted the lists are all very tight as is, it can work out of the side board against any black or control deck.
I'm talking about the tokens side of things. Granted the lists are all very tight as is, it can work out of the side board against any black or control deck.
No. Just no. There are so, so many better alternatives, lets be real.
BUGShardless SultaiBUG
Modern
URSplinter TwinUR
BWGAbzan MidrangeBWG
Standard
URWJeskai TokensURW
Standard/Block = The on-again, off-again holiday fling
Modern/Vintage/Legacy = Stable, homely. A ***** after absence/misreading
Limited/Sealed = Heart breaking free spirit
Commander/Cube = Agreeable, needy and expensive
Pauper/Peasant = Sweet, kind, practical, but shy and boring
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I figure pretty much every other player running black anti-token cards is thinking the same way.
GW ~ Angels ~ WG
Modern:
RBW ~ Shadowmancer ~ WBR
Legacy:
BUG ~ Shadow Delver ~ GUB
Sorin Tokens, Mardu Strike Leader and Zombie Tokens are around - so I don't see Virulent Plague in every black deck.
It will not main deck - only sideboard.
Personally, I'm much more high on Bile Blight because it's an instant that I can hit a Rabblemaster with right away, but I can also off a Mantis Rider or triggered Seeker of the Way in a pinch as well as some niche cards like Fanatic of Xenagos or Brutal Hordechief (this guy can WRECK your day if unanswered). Then again, I'm generally unlikely to run a deck that doesn't include some high toughness blockers, so the wipe effect of a Drown is less necessary.
Cost to effect wise, Plague is inefficient. It also shuts off things like Sorin, Elspeth, and Sidisi and Empty the Pits, typically wincons to the decks that could run this.
Standard:
UR Ral Combo
Modern:
U Merfolk
R Goblins
Commander
RB Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
R Feldon of the Third Path
UR ....... WUBR ........... WB ............. RGW ........ UBR ....... WUB .... BGU
Spells / Blink & Combo / Token Grind / Dino Tribal / Draw Cards / Zombies / Reanimate
Saying one is better then the other ind ealing with tokens is odd to say atleast.My mon black agro deck will use the Plague not the command not because one is stronegr then the other but having no choice in the matter.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
If tokens becomes popular then it will be in every sideboard. If it goes into ever SB then people will stop playing tokens. If people keep the card in their SB with no tokens in the meta it is a dead spot and the decks will lose to other matchups so the other decks will want to take this card out. It's the same cycle seen in any competitive market, it will approach a balance point but at some points it will be out of balance. It is your job as a non-token deck to guess when its more or less popular slightly and go from 1-3 copies in your SB. I really doubt 4 copies will ever be useful but it's possible at times it would be.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
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UR ....... WUBR ........... WB ............. RGW ........ UBR ....... WUB .... BGU
Spells / Blink & Combo / Token Grind / Dino Tribal / Draw Cards / Zombies / Reanimate
no, you DON'T run Impact Tremors
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UR ....... WUBR ........... WB ............. RGW ........ UBR ....... WUB .... BGU
Spells / Blink & Combo / Token Grind / Dino Tribal / Draw Cards / Zombies / Reanimate
No. Just no. There are so, so many better alternatives, lets be real.
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