This list I have been running at my LGS's on both Standard FNM and Standard Mondays. The only struggle I seem to have currently is against the new Storm decks. for last 2 weeks i have gone 15-1 losing only to R/W aggro deck that got 2 copters online ASAP and started the beat downs.
You're trying to be too cute with modules. They're terrible separately and not worth it even by the smallest of chance you play them on curve. They're require too much mana investment and you're essentially doing nothing the first few turns and letting aggressive decks walk over you with nothing in your deck to take care of that problem.
It's an upgraded GW Token Angel list that was making some waves a month back.
- I was going back and forth with Gearhulk and Angel of Invention and decided on Gearhulk. Angel needs to have a board presence to really be good while Gearhulk is good on its own or with creatures.
- Removal package is pretty good. Quarantine Field is much better now without Duress or Dromoka's Command around.
- Selfless Spirit I feel is needed for the board wipes that no doubt will be around. Nothing else really fits in that slot for the two drop.
I messaged around with B/W Angels when Eldritch Moon first game out. I wasn't to impressed with it because Gisela is a 3 toughness and gets removed so easily, with Fiery Impulse gone, might be viable. I am looking to include the Modules, I believe they will do so much work, turn your missing a big creature you just create a token with a planeswalker and then create a bunch of 1/1 servo and get that many +1/+1 counters making a creature bigger.
I am looking to get this deck ready for opening weekend and take it to Indianapolis Starcityopen. Considering this deck or a R/W control deck that has been bouncing around this forum, had a similar idea and adapted a few cards from it.
The problem with the Modules is that they're a three-card combo and the pieces aren't all that good on their own. There is definitely a list for them, but for GW Tokens I'd consider going with more raw power or something like Servo Exhibition that fits into the strategy.
I've been trying with gw tokens myself. I'm a big fan of Angel of invention in the gw decks as Gideon into her seems so brutally efficient. Here's my take on the deck. Hopefully as it gets closers to release we might see some more articles on decks.
I messaged around with B/W Angels when Eldritch Moon first game out. I wasn't to impressed with it because Gisela is a 3 toughness and gets removed so easily, with Fiery Impulse gone, might be viable. I am looking to include the Modules, I believe they will do so much work, turn your missing a big creature you just create a token with a planeswalker and then create a bunch of 1/1 servo and get that many +1/+1 counters making a creature bigger.
I am looking to get this deck ready for opening weekend and take it to Indianapolis Starcityopen. Considering this deck or a R/W control deck that has been bouncing around this forum, had a similar idea and adapted a few cards from it.
Again the modules are limited fodder. You need too many pieces to have an average payoff.
I'd gladly have a Gisela in the grave. Bruna is reviving her most of the time anyways, so it saves me the trouble of finding her or keeping her on the field. I use to meld almost every round by timing your plays.
I like Avairy Mechanic as a 2 drop. Pairs really well with Oath Of Nissa and Thraben Inspector which I plan on running in my build. Turn 1 cast Oath of Nissa or Thraben Inspector, turn 2 cast Avairy Mechanic returning Oath of Nissa or Thraben to your hand to cast on turn 3 with another 2 drop. Or you can wait till turn 3 to cast Mechanic so you can do it all in the same turn.
I like Avairy Mechanic as a 2 drop. Pairs really well with Oath Of Nissa and Thraben Inspector which I plan on running in my build. Turn 1 cast Oath of Nissa or Thraben Inspector, turn 2 cast Avairy Mechanic returning Oath of Nissa or Thraben to your hand to cast on turn 3 with another 2 drop. Or you can wait till turn 3 to cast Mechanic so you can do it all in the same turn.
I like that idea a lot, especially with my list. Gearhulk, Lancers, Linvala, hell even recast a Stasis Snare.
My only concern is how bad it is on turn 2 unless Oath was turn 1. Still worth considering though.
If you only run Oath of Nissa then it might not be worth it but from my testing so far with Oath and Thraben Inspector it's unfair. Been testing some different lists with some friends and one game I castes Oath 6 times. It really is a nice interaction.
I (mostly) agree with what others have said about the modules, however I would run Animation Module on its own. It can give another +1/+1 to swing a combat or tick up your planeswalkers to allow them to use a minus ability more often. You'd be able to cast Gideon, create a knight, and still get an emblem on the next turn without saccing Gideon. Plus it gives you more tokens to work with.
I would not run the other two - but Animation does a lot of work in this deck.
Is the build I am going to be running Week 1 for Kaladesh. I feel the 2 planeswalkers alone can stall long enough to get those modules online and working over time. obviously my sideboard will have a lot of control cards and board wipes. against huge aggro decks the modules will be removed.
Based on the success of G/W Aggro at SCG Open Indianapolis, this thread is moving to Established. Stewardship of MTGSalvation members interested in variants of these decks lies with you. Please let me know if this is a problem. -- hoser2
My buddy actually swapped to this deck day of the SCG Open and played it, went 5-3-1 day one. Decklist above was updated to what was played.
From the break down of the SCG open for day 1. His 3 loses were to good players who were able to curve out very well.
Round 1: G/W Tokens VS R/G aggro, He won in 2. No issues
Round 2: G/W Tokens VS U/B Graveyard, He won in 3. Ran into trouble game 2 when opponent got all 4 of his prized amalgam into graveyard and was able to bring them back very early and kept them out.
Round 3: G/W Tokens VS Grixix Emerge, He lost in 3. Deadlock Trap locked down Gideon most turns and each game. Elder Deep Fiend finished the games off. Lack of manlands can hurt in times like these.
Round 4: G/W Tokens VS W/R Aggro, He won in 2. No issues
Round 5: G/W Tokens VS W/R Vehicle Aggro, He won in 2. No issues
Round 6: G/W Tokens VS Enerdrazzi, He lost in 3. Both loses opponent either Emerakul or Ulamog Turn 4 or 5.
Round 7: G/W Tokens VS Jund, He won in 2. No issues
Round 8: G/W Tokens VS W/U Double, He lost in 2. First game he didn't play around counterspells main board VS blue deck.
Round 9: G/W Tokens VS B/G Delirium, Went to round 3 with only 10 minutes left. Opponent slow played and went to time. He missed 1 trigger for a +1/+1 counter and that cost him the game. Opponent has 1 life after attacks on turn 4.
Finished the weekend with 5-3-1, didn't make day 2. Better luck next time.
I bounced from GW Tokens and BW Control last standard. I wanted something more midrangey at this time. You still have a lot of the same lines of play, the deck is designed to grind and grind well. I think Emerge decks will represent the biggest problem, but I've tested well against them so far. The Gearhulks give us a substantial power upgrade.
I will be doing some play testing with some of my local "Pro tournament players" to gauge if the deck is actually good against multiple tier 1 deck lists.
meta doesnt feel grindy enough to be running 3 mana nissa, she'll just drop a plant and either get ran over or just get completely ignored by copter/cruiser.
I felt the same way, which is why i include my own Smuggler's Copters. Takes longer to turn the copters on, but Nissa would protect my life for 2 turns while i produce some combo pieces. Been working fine at my LGS, try it out see what you guys think and give some feedback.
I run 3 Selfless spirits and 3 Avacyn. Spirit can block to allow you to set up your board. Avacyn can flash in and surprise block.
Sac Spirit to flip Avacyn, and they can't activate their copter.
We can stasis snare the copter.
Out of the sideboard: I actually have even quite a bit of hate dedicated towards the matchup.
3 Clip Wings
3 Fragmentize
3 Cataclysmic Gearhulk.
Of course each card has other uses. Clip Wings hits Emrakul, Fragmentize hits Fevered Visions, Stasis Snare, etc.
Gearhulk is a nice reset button vs aggro decks.
Honestly, the card that has consistently given me trouble is Liliana.
I took GameDay today with the deck, beating RW aggro in the finals. The first game went Declaration in stone into stasis snare into Gideon, and with him on the ropes on T4, he couldn't recover.
Game 2: Avacyn/Selfless Spirit/Oath of nissa and 3 lands after a Mull to 6. After taking a ton of damage to the face early on, Flashed in Avacycn, blocks killed all but 1 vehicle. Sac'd Spirit to flip her, killed his last dude. A few bad top decks for him later and I took it down.
Only 14 cards have been spoiled so far for the next set, but among them is Oath of Ajani This might allow this deck(or some version of it) to come back to standard as a top deck.
Can't wait to see what other cards are also coming. Turn 3 Gideon is fun
Please don't discuss spoiled cards outside of Standard New Card Discussion until the entire set is spoiled. Thanks! -- Lugger
I've never played the original GW Tokens list from the past standard, but I always admired the plays that it was able to make, so as soon as I saw Walking Ballista spoiled, I knew I had to at least give this archetype a try.
There were 21 players and we were going to play 5 rounds. The field looked like a mix composed of a majority of Saheeli Combo and GB (Aggro and Delirium).
Round 1 - Bye: Got lucky this round and got to scope out the field a bit more.
Round 2 - UB Control (2-0): I got to see a bit of this deck during Round 1 and remembered him getting value off of Metalurgic Summonings against his Metalworks Collosus opponent. With his removal and counter suite, this may be an uphill battle for me, but Games 1 and 2, I started with Heart of Kiran on turn 2 and curved out with Pacifist into Gideon.
Sideboard
Out - 2 Stasis Snare, 1 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, and 1 Walking Ballista
In - 2 Declaration in Stone, 1 Nissa, Vital Force, and 1 Ajani Unyielding
Round 3 - GB Aggro (Counters) (1-2): This matchup was really difficult. She was playing the energy package (Longtusk Cut, Glint-Sleeve Siphoner, and Aethersphere Harvester). Her list was a lot lower to the ground and during all three games, I felt like I was playing catch up. I was able to get some early aggression with an Turn 2 Heart of Kiran, but her creatures got bigger super quick with access to Winding Constrictor. During Games 2 and 3, I had access to Fumigate, which allowed me to slow her down some, but in Game 3, the Glint-Sleeve Siphoner's Menace allowed it to get too much damage in with the Verdurous Gearhulk and Rishkar counters for me to stabilize.
Sideboard
Out - 4 Oath of Nissa, 1 Lambholt Pacifist, 1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
In - 3 Fumigate, 2 Declaration in Stone, 1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
Round 4 - Jeskai Saheeli (2-0): Unfortunately for my opponent, we had a random deck check, and he had the Game 1 loss due to having two of his sideboard cards in his main. We were to proceed with Game 2, no sideboard, and with my opponent having the choice of play or draw. My plan was to build an aggressive board and force him to search for the Saheeli combo. I brought him down to 10 life with a Felidar Guardian on the field. He eventually found the Saheeli, but I had a Walking Ballista with 4 counters on the field. Sideboard - None
Round 5 - GW Tokens (Draw)
Top 8 - GW Tokens (0-2): I ended playing the opponent that I drew with to get in to Top 8. This was a tough back and forth match up, and I felt my inexperience with the deck fell through a bit. My opponent had a much more aggressive start than I did Game 1, and for Game 2, I decided to go a bit more towards the control route with more removal and boardwipes. During Game 2, I was able to clear the board twice with 2 Fumigates, but with each time, my opponent was able rebuild a stable field presence quicker than I could. Sideboard
Out - 4 Oath of Nissa, 4 Walking Ballista, 1 Lambholt Pacifist
In - 1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar, 3 Fumigate, 1 Descend Upon the Sinful, 2 Blessed Alliance, 2 Declaration in Stone
Overall, it was an interesting tournament for me on GW Tokens. The only sideboard cards that I debated about in my 75 was Fragmentize. With the Verdurous Gearhulk and Metalwork Collosus seeing some more play, I'm thinking of moving to Appetite for the Unnatural, since it doesn't have the restrictions of Fragmentize and hits a lot more targets at instant speed.
This list I have been running at my LGS's on both Standard FNM and Standard Mondays. The only struggle I seem to have currently is against the new Storm decks. for last 2 weeks i have gone 15-1 losing only to R/W aggro deck that got 2 copters online ASAP and started the beat downs.
4 Fortified Village
4 Canopy Vista
7 Forest
7 Plains
3 Westvale Abbey
Planeswalker(8)
4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
4 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
Creatures(10)
4 Sylvan Advocate
4 Smuggler's Copter
2 Archangel Avacyn
3 Animation Module
4 Decocation Module
3 Fabrication Module
1 Aetherworks Marvel
Enchantment(1)
1 Consulate Surveillance
Instant/Sorcery(5)
3 Declaration in Stone
2 Skywhaler's Shot
2 Cataclysmic Gearhulk
1 Quarantine Field
2 Blessed Alliance
2 Nissa, Vital Force
3 Fragmentize
3 Tireless Tracker
2 Collective Effort
This is the list I've been working on:
4 Sylvan Advocate
3 Selfless Spirit
2 Gisela, the Broken Blade
3 Verdurous Gearhulk
1 Sigarda, Heron's Grace
1 Thalia's Lancers
1 Linvala, the Preserver
1 Bruna, the Fading Light
Spells
4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
3 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
4 Oath of Nissa
3 Declaration in Stone
2 Stasis Snare
1 Quarantine Field
1 Westvale Abbey
1 Geir-Reach Sanctum
4 Fortified Village
4 Canopy Vista
8 Forest
8 Plains
2 Nissa, Vital Force
1 Sigarda, Heron's Grace
2 Cataclysmic Gearhulk
1 Bruna, the Fading Light
1 Declaration in Stone
1 Quarentine Field
2 Stasis Snare
2 Aerial Responder
It's an upgraded GW Token Angel list that was making some waves a month back.
- I was going back and forth with Gearhulk and Angel of Invention and decided on Gearhulk. Angel needs to have a board presence to really be good while Gearhulk is good on its own or with creatures.
- Removal package is pretty good. Quarantine Field is much better now without Duress or Dromoka's Command around.
- Selfless Spirit I feel is needed for the board wipes that no doubt will be around. Nothing else really fits in that slot for the two drop.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
I am looking to get this deck ready for opening weekend and take it to Indianapolis Starcityopen. Considering this deck or a R/W control deck that has been bouncing around this forum, had a similar idea and adapted a few cards from it.
4 Tireless Tracker
2 Archangel of Avacyn
1 Cataclysmic Gearhulk
1 Verdant Gearhulk
2 Angel of Fabrication
4 Stasis Snare
2 Declaration in Stone
4 Oath of Nissa
1 Oath of Gideon
1 Quarantine Field
4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2 Nissa, Vital Force
4 Canopy Vista
4 Fortified Village
4 Aether Hub
4 Forest
5 Plains
3 Westvale Abbey
3 Fragmentize
2 Fumigate
1 Quarantine Field
1 Cataclysmic Gearhulk
4 Filigree Familiar
2 Authority of Consuls
Again the modules are limited fodder. You need too many pieces to have an average payoff.
I'd gladly have a Gisela in the grave. Bruna is reviving her most of the time anyways, so it saves me the trouble of finding her or keeping her on the field. I use to meld almost every round by timing your plays.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
I like that idea a lot, especially with my list. Gearhulk, Lancers, Linvala, hell even recast a Stasis Snare.
My only concern is how bad it is on turn 2 unless Oath was turn 1. Still worth considering though.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
I would not run the other two - but Animation does a lot of work in this deck.
4 Canopy Vista
7 Forest
7 Plains
3 Westvale Abbey
4 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
4 Sylvan Advocate
3 Verdurous Gearhulk
3 Angel of Invention
4 Decocation Module
3 Fabrication Module
2 Stasis Snare
2 Aetherworks Marvel
Is the build I am going to be running Week 1 for Kaladesh. I feel the 2 planeswalkers alone can stall long enough to get those modules online and working over time. obviously my sideboard will have a lot of control cards and board wipes. against huge aggro decks the modules will be removed.
RNA Standard: Grixis Midrange, Jund Deathwhirler, Sultai Vannifar
GRN Standard: Red Midrange, Mono-Blue Tempo, Wr Aggro, Gruul Experimental Dinosaurs, Sultai Midrange, Jeskai Midrange
Modern: Bant Spirits
Forcing a single archetype in all formats: too many colors, bad mana.
From the break down of the SCG open for day 1. His 3 loses were to good players who were able to curve out very well.
Round 1: G/W Tokens VS R/G aggro, He won in 2. No issues
Round 2: G/W Tokens VS U/B Graveyard, He won in 3. Ran into trouble game 2 when opponent got all 4 of his prized amalgam into graveyard and was able to bring them back very early and kept them out.
Round 3: G/W Tokens VS Grixix Emerge, He lost in 3. Deadlock Trap locked down Gideon most turns and each game. Elder Deep Fiend finished the games off. Lack of manlands can hurt in times like these.
Round 4: G/W Tokens VS W/R Aggro, He won in 2. No issues
Round 5: G/W Tokens VS W/R Vehicle Aggro, He won in 2. No issues
Round 6: G/W Tokens VS Enerdrazzi, He lost in 3. Both loses opponent either Emerakul or Ulamog Turn 4 or 5.
Round 7: G/W Tokens VS Jund, He won in 2. No issues
Round 8: G/W Tokens VS W/U Double, He lost in 2. First game he didn't play around counterspells main board VS blue deck.
Round 9: G/W Tokens VS B/G Delirium, Went to round 3 with only 10 minutes left. Opponent slow played and went to time. He missed 1 trigger for a +1/+1 counter and that cost him the game. Opponent has 1 life after attacks on turn 4.
Finished the weekend with 5-3-1, didn't make day 2. Better luck next time.
2x Cataclysmic Gearhulk
9x Forest
3x Archangel Avacyn
1x Quarantine Field
4x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
4x Fortified Village
4x Oath of Nissa
4x Declaration in Stone
2x Stasis Snare
4x Canopy Vista
4x Sylvan Advocate
4x Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
3x Selfless Spirit
3x Verdurous Gearhulk
1x Cataclysmic Gearhulk
1x Quarantine Field
2x Fragmentize
2x Nissa, Vital Force
2x Tireless Tracker
3x Lambholt Pacifist
2x Clip Wings
I bounced from GW Tokens and BW Control last standard. I wanted something more midrangey at this time. You still have a lot of the same lines of play, the deck is designed to grind and grind well. I think Emerge decks will represent the biggest problem, but I've tested well against them so far. The Gearhulks give us a substantial power upgrade.
What's the new list?
I will be doing some play testing with some of my local "Pro tournament players" to gauge if the deck is actually good against multiple tier 1 deck lists.
I felt the same way, which is why i include my own Smuggler's Copters. Takes longer to turn the copters on, but Nissa would protect my life for 2 turns while i produce some combo pieces. Been working fine at my LGS, try it out see what you guys think and give some feedback.
Arguments for and against the Modules.
I run 3 Selfless spirits and 3 Avacyn. Spirit can block to allow you to set up your board. Avacyn can flash in and surprise block.
Sac Spirit to flip Avacyn, and they can't activate their copter.
We can stasis snare the copter.
Out of the sideboard: I actually have even quite a bit of hate dedicated towards the matchup.
3 Clip Wings
3 Fragmentize
3 Cataclysmic Gearhulk.
Of course each card has other uses. Clip Wings hits Emrakul, Fragmentize hits Fevered Visions, Stasis Snare, etc.
Gearhulk is a nice reset button vs aggro decks.
Honestly, the card that has consistently given me trouble is Liliana.
I took GameDay today with the deck, beating RW aggro in the finals. The first game went Declaration in stone into stasis snare into Gideon, and with him on the ropes on T4, he couldn't recover.
Game 2: Avacyn/Selfless Spirit/Oath of nissa and 3 lands after a Mull to 6. After taking a ton of damage to the face early on, Flashed in Avacycn, blocks killed all but 1 vehicle. Sac'd Spirit to flip her, killed his last dude. A few bad top decks for him later and I took it down.
Can't wait to see what other cards are also coming. Turn 3 Gideon is fun
Please don't discuss spoiled cards outside of Standard New Card Discussion until the entire set is spoiled. Thanks! -- Lugger
Decklist: http://decks.deckedbuilder.com/d/271227
There were 21 players and we were going to play 5 rounds. The field looked like a mix composed of a majority of Saheeli Combo and GB (Aggro and Delirium).
Round 1 - Bye: Got lucky this round and got to scope out the field a bit more.
Round 2 - UB Control (2-0): I got to see a bit of this deck during Round 1 and remembered him getting value off of Metalurgic Summonings against his Metalworks Collosus opponent. With his removal and counter suite, this may be an uphill battle for me, but Games 1 and 2, I started with Heart of Kiran on turn 2 and curved out with Pacifist into Gideon.
Sideboard
Out - 2 Stasis Snare, 1 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, and 1 Walking Ballista
In - 2 Declaration in Stone, 1 Nissa, Vital Force, and 1 Ajani Unyielding
Round 3 - GB Aggro (Counters) (1-2): This matchup was really difficult. She was playing the energy package (Longtusk Cut, Glint-Sleeve Siphoner, and Aethersphere Harvester). Her list was a lot lower to the ground and during all three games, I felt like I was playing catch up. I was able to get some early aggression with an Turn 2 Heart of Kiran, but her creatures got bigger super quick with access to Winding Constrictor. During Games 2 and 3, I had access to Fumigate, which allowed me to slow her down some, but in Game 3, the Glint-Sleeve Siphoner's Menace allowed it to get too much damage in with the Verdurous Gearhulk and Rishkar counters for me to stabilize.
Sideboard
Out - 4 Oath of Nissa, 1 Lambholt Pacifist, 1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
In - 3 Fumigate, 2 Declaration in Stone, 1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
Round 4 - Jeskai Saheeli (2-0): Unfortunately for my opponent, we had a random deck check, and he had the Game 1 loss due to having two of his sideboard cards in his main. We were to proceed with Game 2, no sideboard, and with my opponent having the choice of play or draw. My plan was to build an aggressive board and force him to search for the Saheeli combo. I brought him down to 10 life with a Felidar Guardian on the field. He eventually found the Saheeli, but I had a Walking Ballista with 4 counters on the field. Sideboard - None
Round 5 - GW Tokens (Draw)
Top 8 - GW Tokens (0-2): I ended playing the opponent that I drew with to get in to Top 8. This was a tough back and forth match up, and I felt my inexperience with the deck fell through a bit. My opponent had a much more aggressive start than I did Game 1, and for Game 2, I decided to go a bit more towards the control route with more removal and boardwipes. During Game 2, I was able to clear the board twice with 2 Fumigates, but with each time, my opponent was able rebuild a stable field presence quicker than I could. Sideboard
Out - 4 Oath of Nissa, 4 Walking Ballista, 1 Lambholt Pacifist
In - 1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar, 3 Fumigate, 1 Descend Upon the Sinful, 2 Blessed Alliance, 2 Declaration in Stone
Overall, it was an interesting tournament for me on GW Tokens. The only sideboard cards that I debated about in my 75 was Fragmentize. With the Verdurous Gearhulk and Metalwork Collosus seeing some more play, I'm thinking of moving to Appetite for the Unnatural, since it doesn't have the restrictions of Fragmentize and hits a lot more targets at instant speed.