I was rooting for Ernest to win, dude played so good. Would have been sick if he came out on top against all those Red Black decks hehe.
I was a bit surprised to see the only mass removal he had was one Settle in the Sideboard. Just tons and tons of one for one removal.
And one main deck Arguel's seems risky in a meta that's so aggro heavy hehe. He was maybe expecting to go up against more control decks?
Either way, he did really well!
I agree. I don't think this is the format for MD Blood Fast. At least, if you're playing The Scarab God, you can repeatedly sac creatures to gain life. Still fairly dangerous.
I miss the Kevin Jones list. He was in the Feature Matches for the last 3 rounds on Sunday, he just needed a win out of the last two, unintentionally drawed in R15 and lost in R16. But yet I did not see his list.
I think he was UB mid-range, more than UB control.
I was listening to Todd Anderson's commentary in the SCG event this weekend (pre show) and he was talking about really liking Approach atm. As it just closes games instead of the stall outs that seem to happen. With the 7 life being just enough of a buffer.
Do you think we could look at that in the board as a 1 or 2 of? Specifically in the UB Teferi lists. Just as a way to diversify as the WW for Lyra could be problematic if people are going that route.
I was listening to Todd Anderson's commentary in the SCG event this weekend (pre show) and he was talking about really liking Approach atm. As it just closes games instead of the stall outs that seem to happen. With the 7 life being just enough of a buffer.
Do you think we could look at that in the board as a 1 or 2 of? Specifically in the UB Teferi lists. Just as a way to diversify as the WW for Lyra could be problematic if people are going that route.
EDIT: Autocorrect...
That was a call for the PT because his team felt like constrictor decks would be more popular. Uw has a major problem vs that decks board plan because they do not need to attack to beat you anymore so settle and seal away become blanks. If you are base ub you do not have those problems. In my opinion ub should be a gearhulk deck so you can close games out with gearhulk unlike the no wincon teferi decks.
If anyone is interested, Jim Davis is playing Guillaume's list on stream now. Should be in a vod later.
I highly recommend that list over all other teferi decks. I tried them all and that one has the least glaring weaknesses. The black removal is better against aggro than settle the wreckage is and the mana is solid.
This is probably the most tuned control list from the pt. Everything is instant except teferi, and ascanta and nothing can really be played around. It is hard to know to not play scarab god since the card is super strong but the creator of this list knew to just stick with hulks and teferi.
I was listening to Todd Anderson's commentary in the SCG event this weekend (pre show) and he was talking about really liking Approach atm. As it just closes games instead of the stall outs that seem to happen. With the 7 life being just enough of a buffer.
Do you think we could look at that in the board as a 1 or 2 of? Specifically in the UB Teferi lists. Just as a way to diversify as the WW for Lyra could be problematic if people are going that route.
EDIT: Autocorrect...
That was a call for the PT because his team felt like constrictor decks would be more popular. Uw has a major problem vs that decks board plan because they do not need to attack to beat you anymore so settle and seal away become blanks. If you are base ub you do not have those problems. In my opinion ub should be a gearhulk deck so you can close games out with gearhulk unlike the no wincon teferi decks.
Thanks for the reply. Just a thought haha
EDIT: I do like Guillaume's list. Just unsure in 28 lands. I know he's running the 8 cycle lands. I just feel 28 is too many, but it obvs worked for him.
Matthew Foulkes played an amended version of this list on his stream this week, going down to 27 land and a couple of other small tweaks here and there. Good to watch and see the process of changing it.
I'm the crazy mofo with Disallow, Vraska's Contempts, and Settle the Wreckage with no creatures in the main deck. Somehow, my main issue has been missing land drops, not color screw even though I'm running 27.
I'm the crazy mofo with Disallow, Vraska's Contempts, and Settle the Wreckage with no creatures in the main deck. Somehow, my main issue has been missing land drops, not color screw even though I'm running 27.
I'm in a similar boat, though I'm still on 3 Gearhulk and 1 Scarab God. Went up to 27, ans STILL having to mulligan and struggle missing lands...
I'm the crazy mofo with Disallow, Vraska's Contempts, and Settle the Wreckage with no creatures in the main deck. Somehow, my main issue has been missing land drops, not color screw even though I'm running 27.
I'm in a similar boat, though I'm still on 3 Gearhulk and 1 Scarab God. Went up to 27, ans STILL having to mulligan and struggle missing lands...
Would you mind sharing the list you're working with now?
Probably a little late, but Brad Nelson has put up an article about Esper on SCG. Unfortunately premium, so unsure how many people can read it all. The list is in the first bit (anyone can read).
Oddly enough, Mr. Nelson and I pretty much ended up at the same 60. I never considered Forsake the Worldly in the main deck, and I still like having one Scarab God in the main.
Oddly enough, Mr. Nelson and I pretty much ended up at the same 60. I never considered Forsake the Worldly in the main deck, and I still like having one Scarab God in the main.
I am trying something very similar to this version, tweaked to my meta. I love Settle, but the mana base is still ugly, and I have an SCG IQ for money I want to win tomorrow, so we'll see. If i do well, I'll post whatever list I play and some thoughts.
I am trying something very similar to this version, tweaked to my meta. I love Settle, but the mana base is still ugly, and I have an SCG IQ for money I want to win tomorrow, so we'll see. If i do well, I'll post whatever list I play and some thoughts.
Went 3-1-1 (29 people), lost in Top 8. I don't take notes, but from memory:
Beat Mostly Black Control 2-1,
Beat Jeskai Control 2-0,
Lost to Rb Aggro 0-2 (to the winner),
Beat Rb Aggro 2-1 in a nail biter that involved him bricking for 3 turns game 3 while 2 Vraska's Contempt and 2 Gearhulks wrecked his board and got me out of burn range.
Drew to Top 8.
Lost to the same Red player in Top 8 1-2. here is where not having all 4 Push hurt. Round 3, I lost a game to Kari Zev single-handedly . In top 8, I also missed double white for Lyra. In hindsight, I wish the Lyras were Essence Extractions.
This is basically Brad Nelson/Guillame Matignon's (sp?) version with some tweaks:
MD
3/3 Push/Cast Down - I, foolishly, changed this. Wasn't the end of the world, but contributed to my two losses. I say foolishly, because damn near the whole room was control and red variants, so I should have maxed on Push.
3 Torrential Gearhulk, 1 Scarab God main - I wanted the easy win, and it's a trump in the control mirror if you can stick it. Won me a couple game ones.
SB
2 The Eldest Reborn - One of my new favorite cards. I wanted this as a hedge against Carnage Tyrant (there were none), since I gave up Settle to play this version. It's also great against midrange in general (again little to none smh). I hate Jace's Defeat, so out it went, along with the Cast Downs and Scarab God, since they were in the main. Also a bomb in control mirrrors. The issue is siding out that many cards. Stealing someone's Teferi, or getting back your countered Scarab God without exiling him is really good.
2 Lyra Dawnbringer - wanted a bomb against red since there was so much. Should have been a cheap life gain removal, Moment or Essence Extraction. She mainly ate Disintegrations, though she won a game in top 8.
Note: UW is now almost non-existant, and there were no History Of Benalia decks that I saw, so Knight got sided in exactly zero times. I think he's done. Will probably be more anti- Red cards, maybe a Settle or two. And at least a second Duress. Playing one felt terrible...
Interesting side note: My bro came in 4th with Esper Cycling. This is by FAR the hardest match for control right now. I never beat that deck. He wanted to avoid red and play control all day. He lost to the same guy I did. We agreed later he misconfigured his board. The Lyra and the Sunscourge Champions (he's actually good here, the discard triggers the cycling enchantments/Archfiend) should have been 4 Authority Of The Consuls. All that deck needs is time and it wins. IMO, arguably the real best deck in the format. Also, The Approach was unneeded. Should have been the 4th Renewed Faith .
Core set brings interesting things to the table. Esper can play Chromium, the Mutable and Cleansing Nova. Decks that still run Lyra can potentially make use of Resplendent Angel. Blue give Tezzeret, Artifice Master (who, imo, is going to likely see a lot of play), along reprints of Sleep and Sift which could see play. Duress is now assured a place in Standard for some time, which is all black gives us this time at first glance, with some potential cards for sideboarding. The interesting thing here is that, with Guttersnipe coming back,UR and UBR control may be more viable. UBR would get to play with two versions of Bolas if they wanted, both Scarab and Scorpion God, Banefire as a finisher, along with Shock, Abrade, and Lightning Strike for more removal options. UR could bring in Enigma Drake instead as a finisher.
Overall, control is still in a good place, imo, though mainly on the back of existing cards. UB is still gonna be the core, but there are more options now to flesh that core out and fit individual play/meta
I was a bit surprised to see the only mass removal he had was one Settle in the Sideboard. Just tons and tons of one for one removal.
And one main deck Arguel's seems risky in a meta that's so aggro heavy hehe. He was maybe expecting to go up against more control decks?
Either way, he did really well!
I agree. I don't think this is the format for MD Blood Fast. At least, if you're playing The Scarab God, you can repeatedly sac creatures to gain life. Still fairly dangerous.
Do you think we could look at that in the board as a 1 or 2 of? Specifically in the UB Teferi lists. Just as a way to diversify as the WW for Lyra could be problematic if people are going that route.
EDIT: Autocorrect...
That was a call for the PT because his team felt like constrictor decks would be more popular. Uw has a major problem vs that decks board plan because they do not need to attack to beat you anymore so settle and seal away become blanks. If you are base ub you do not have those problems. In my opinion ub should be a gearhulk deck so you can close games out with gearhulk unlike the no wincon teferi decks.
I highly recommend that list over all other teferi decks. I tried them all and that one has the least glaring weaknesses. The black removal is better against aggro than settle the wreckage is and the mana is solid.
http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=19359&d=323145&f=ST&show_pts=Y
This is probably the most tuned control list from the pt. Everything is instant except teferi, and ascanta and nothing can really be played around. It is hard to know to not play scarab god since the card is super strong but the creator of this list knew to just stick with hulks and teferi.
Thanks for the reply. Just a thought haha
EDIT: I do like Guillaume's list. Just unsure in 28 lands. I know he's running the 8 cycle lands. I just feel 28 is too many, but it obvs worked for him.
Modern: UW Spirits
I'm in a similar boat, though I'm still on 3 Gearhulk and 1 Scarab God. Went up to 27, ans STILL having to mulligan and struggle missing lands...
Would you mind sharing the list you're working with now?
Is it simply a concession to the manabase, or is there something I'm not seeing?
3 Essence Scatter
2 Negate
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Forsake the Worldly
4 Disallow
1 Hieroglyphic Illumination
2 Glimmer of Genius
4 Vraska's Contempt
3 Settle the Wreckage
2 Fumigate
4 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
1 Approach of the Second Sun
1 Pull from Tomorrow
2 Evolving Wilds
3 Irrigated Farmland
3 Fetid Pools
4 Isolated Chapel
3 Galcial Fortress
3 Drowned Catacombs
2 Field of Ruin
1 Aether Hub
2 Island
2 Plains
2 Swamp
2 Duress
2 Negate
1 Jace's Defeat
2 Essence Extraction
1 Arguel's Blood Fast
1 Doomfall
2 Nezahal, Primal Tide
2 Torrential Gearhulk
2 Hour of Revelation
Modern: UW Spirits
Much easier to cast, a resilient early threat vs UW, and first strike is highly relevant against aggro.
Modern: UW Spirits
Immune to Cast Out and Seal Away, beats History tokens due to First Strike.
http://www.starcitygames.com/articles/37270_The-Guide-To-Standard-Esper-Control.html
I am trying something very similar to this version, tweaked to my meta. I love Settle, but the mana base is still ugly, and I have an SCG IQ for money I want to win tomorrow, so we'll see. If i do well, I'll post whatever list I play and some thoughts.
Luckily, SCG did it for me
http://www.starcitygames.com/decks/121804
Went 3-1-1 (29 people), lost in Top 8. I don't take notes, but from memory:
Beat Mostly Black Control 2-1,
Beat Jeskai Control 2-0,
Lost to Rb Aggro 0-2 (to the winner),
Beat Rb Aggro 2-1 in a nail biter that involved him bricking for 3 turns game 3 while 2 Vraska's Contempt and 2 Gearhulks wrecked his board and got me out of burn range.
Drew to Top 8.
Lost to the same Red player in Top 8 1-2. here is where not having all 4 Push hurt. Round 3, I lost a game to Kari Zev single-handedly . In top 8, I also missed double white for Lyra. In hindsight, I wish the Lyras were Essence Extractions.
This is basically Brad Nelson/Guillame Matignon's (sp?) version with some tweaks:
MD
3/3 Push/Cast Down - I, foolishly, changed this. Wasn't the end of the world, but contributed to my two losses. I say foolishly, because damn near the whole room was control and red variants, so I should have maxed on Push.
3 Torrential Gearhulk, 1 Scarab God main - I wanted the easy win, and it's a trump in the control mirror if you can stick it. Won me a couple game ones.
SB
2 The Eldest Reborn - One of my new favorite cards. I wanted this as a hedge against Carnage Tyrant (there were none), since I gave up Settle to play this version. It's also great against midrange in general (again little to none smh). I hate Jace's Defeat, so out it went, along with the Cast Downs and Scarab God, since they were in the main. Also a bomb in control mirrrors. The issue is siding out that many cards. Stealing someone's Teferi, or getting back your countered Scarab God without exiling him is really good.
2 Lyra Dawnbringer - wanted a bomb against red since there was so much. Should have been a cheap life gain removal, Moment or Essence Extraction. She mainly ate Disintegrations, though she won a game in top 8.
Note: UW is now almost non-existant, and there were no History Of Benalia decks that I saw, so Knight got sided in exactly zero times. I think he's done. Will probably be more anti- Red cards, maybe a Settle or two. And at least a second Duress. Playing one felt terrible...
Interesting side note: My bro came in 4th with Esper Cycling. This is by FAR the hardest match for control right now. I never beat that deck. He wanted to avoid red and play control all day. He lost to the same guy I did. We agreed later he misconfigured his board. The Lyra and the Sunscourge Champions (he's actually good here, the discard triggers the cycling enchantments/Archfiend) should have been 4 Authority Of The Consuls. All that deck needs is time and it wins. IMO, arguably the real best deck in the format. Also, The Approach was unneeded. Should have been the 4th Renewed Faith .
You guys see anything interesting that Esper control can use? Reliquary Tower could be a nice addition.
Overall, control is still in a good place, imo, though mainly on the back of existing cards. UB is still gonna be the core, but there are more options now to flesh that core out and fit individual play/meta
Standard - Some kind of control
Modern - UB Mill (casual)
EDH - Meren's Grave Shenanigans