I have been watching the competitive Mono-U decklists pretty closely for some time.
They are remarkably consistent, with the same core cards always there at a base level.
The extended family of cards is also entirely consistent.
Constantly there is a 4 card interchange in the base deck, with the current inflow being Entrancing Melody.
The 16 card base of creatures seems set. Pter, SStorm, Trickster, Djinn
The landbase is set 19 Island +/- 1
The spells. (Obsession, DD, SP, Wiz No)
Opt is in, Chart a Course is disappearing, and Essence Capture is about 2
The other 4 cards switch around the choice of the last creature (Mistcloak / Warkite / SurgeM)
Or the last spells ( 4th DD? or 4th SP? or 2nd EssenceC )
For a decklist with constantly changing numbers, it is remarkable how little this deck changes.
The sideboard is also impressive in the variety, but only across a very narrow spectrum.
There is no Transformative Options. The weird stuff is consistent in the weirdness.
Almost everyone has chosen some collection of Negates and Surge Mare, with a pretty regular supply of spare Essence capture as well.
Cunning Jace is way cool.
Mezmerising Benthid is pretty well the only standout I have seen, and only once.
I came across mono-U from an odd place. I was trying to make Zahid playable, so artifacts were my primary concern. I so wanted Transmogrifying wand to work basedeck, but it doesn't. The Wand needs the opponent to have extremely valuable creatures, but most decks just don't have them. Think Niv-Mizzet. Seeing a Carnage Tyrant while you fondle your wand is sad making.
The other card I tried so hard to make work basedeck was Entrancing Melody. And That I had more success with, but it struggled as a 4 of.
Plainly, my approach was very different, but I did end up in the same place.
Until the Sphinx, and I don't get it. Zero recent decklists out there are using Sphinx.
It has become a source of fascination for me. I am still playing 2 of them.
They have been F'ken A when in the starting 7, poor when drawn early, and strong when drawn late.
Curious Blue Has real problems with Red, and Blue/Red.
Red beats us with burn and speed, Blue/Red beats us with burn and Strength.
Entrancing Melody helps against Red
TWand helps against Blue/Red
. . .And Sphinx helps against both of them. A 4 power flyer can block and kill all of Red & B/R's regular creatures.
But it is that opening 7 ability that is actually the power, it gets land, Curious, a One cost creature and the 1 cost defence spell.
Sphinx also kills you if you get it wrong.
The whole deck is like that. Tap out at the wrong time, and you lose, (provided they have the spell). Sphinx, and Pter/warkite (a bit) are the only recovery spells
I think a huge chunk of this is actually groupthink, and the bizarre cheapness of this deck. Very little innovation happens when the base is uncommons, the playbase is new players, and the decklist is large cohesive. Sphinx is hard. And sometimes it really is awful.
I have become fascinated by it almost because it makes me such an obvious outlier.
I went and searched, hard, for something just like it, but much weaker in the previous standard.
The fact it exists, but just as an add on to that opening 7 ability I find incredible.
The fact I alone seem to think it is still even worth playing I find astounding.
I have always been an outlier in magic circles. Every deck I have ever built seems to be essentially rouge. This one being Mono-U was accidental coevolution, mostly. The decklists all become largely the same because the rares just don't seem to fit. Search for Azcanta is the best example. It is an expensive rare that might be good enough for sideboard play. If it was much cheaper, it would appear much more, but doesn't purely because of the player base.
As example, a standard Sphinx of Foresight now costs 41 cents on SCG, so, the card is trash and they have lots of them.
But, a foil version costs $4, and they are out of stock.
What?
The foil (non-promo) version of sphinx is TEN times more expensive, and out of stock.
Transmogrifying wand is the only sort of similar card anywhere close to this deck with numbers like that, 49 cents, with the foil at $2, with lots of both.
Sphinx of Foresight is that weird, and divisive.
The tiny amount of people that want it, REALLY LOVE IT, and will pay for the foil version.
And everyone else thinks it smells like last weeks' prawns.
As example, a standard Sphinx of Foresight now costs 41 cents on SCG, so, the card is trash and they have lots of them.
But, a foil version costs $4, and they are out of stock.
What?
The foil (non-promo) version of sphinx is TEN times more expensive, and out of stock.
Ever hear of a thing called EDH? I hear they like their foils over there. That's probably why it's sold out. Nobody is playing the card in Standard.
Also, I've tried a few different cards and SB strategies with this deck, and at this point my advice is to read Autumn Burchett's article and do exactly what they say. It has been working really well for me on Arena lately.
Ever hear of a thing called EDH? I hear they like their foils over there. That's probably why it's sold out. Nobody is playing the card in Standard.
Also, I've tried a few different cards and SB strategies with this deck, and at this point my advice is to read Autumn Burchett's article and do exactly what they say. It has been working really well for me on Arena lately.
I agree, Autumn pretty much nailed it with this deck. I think you have to start being ready for the turn1 answers tho. Sky tether and Fungal Infection are starting to see some play lol.
Hi guys i'm new here, so i was thinking to make this deck for play and go to showdowns with 2 of my friends, a RG Elves and a Monored (
which i can't beat xd). So the monored guy go to showdown this saturday, and he tell me for a lot of people in my possible meta it can be mono-red, (which is a bit tough). Actually i buy some non costy stuff and i don't care of refunded some things, so i have a question, what do you do?. Redo this deck for another? or continue and suffer the pain until the meta changes?.
The format will change soon, so if you are going to try for something competitive, this is the best deck.
It's is really cheap, and fairly easy to cobble together.
Don't worry about the red.
Play Surge Mares main, a full set of DiveDown & Spell pierce, and you will be fine.
Does the deck manipulator affect Best of Three? I always seem to draw tons of lands even if I drop to 18 or 19.
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EDH RRGrenzo plays your deck, GGYeva's mono green control, WW9-tails trys desperately for monowhite not to suck RWBUTymna and Kraum's saboteur tribal, UWG Kestia's Enchantress Aggro, RUB Jeleva casts big dumb spells, RGB Vaevictis' big critters can kill your critters hard
Hi guys i'm new here, so i was thinking to make this deck for play and go to showdowns with 2 of my friends, a RG Elves and a Monored (
which i can't beat xd). So the monored guy go to showdown this saturday, and he tell me for a lot of people in my possible meta it can be mono-red, (which is a bit tough). Actually i buy some non costy stuff and i don't care of refunded some things, so i have a question, what do you do?. Redo this deck for another? or continue and suffer the pain until the meta changes?.
About my english i have a b1 so if anyone can correct me i will be pleased.
I honestly don't feel that the Mono-R matchup has gotten to out of hand. It is still very winnable. If you are playing your friend consistantly change a few things up.
Went 3/1 and then ID'd into the final 8
Lost the final, 2nd is still just fine. (20 players, Games Lab)
.
lost to U-mirror
beat goblin red
beat U/R
Beat gates
ID
Beat U/R
Beat Nexus
Lost to U/R
Sphinx was Awesome, regularly. And uncast a couple of times.
I kept a ZERO land hand, and won. Don't play it, not my problem.
U/R is really hard.
I think I got blindingy lucky, twice. And didn't the third time.
Bolt, Dive, Bolt, Dive, Negate = loss
Niv-Miz is a problem.
I can see why the Mistcloaks are still appearing, they are good against U/R.
Deep Freeze seemed poor, and transmog didn't work.
Essence Capture is good against U/R though.
It is cheap, and stomps on some of the expensive decks, if played well.
Entrancing Melody can be AWESOME.
It's only problem is it's cost. In a mirror it is obscene. Steal a One drop with a curious on it, and the game swings. Or a Pter once adapted.
It is good against Red as well.
I am the only player that uses Sphinx. Sphinx is completely nonstandard, and an outlier. I still think it fantastic, but I am a voice in the wilderness. There is no point even asking about it.
Surge Mare is different to Wall of Runes.
And Wall of Runes looks interesting. Really interesting I like it. A lot.
Surge Mare can go offence in a big way, but that is not what I have been using it for. Very rarely do I ever have mana I am happy to allocate to pumping him. Although he does do it sometimes, which is definitely worth remembering.
Wall of Runes looks like the perfect card to stay alive with against aggro. And the scry is neat
Thank you for pointing it out.
Red decks have been a problem for me, and WoR looks very good against them.
Against White Aggro WoR is also going to be helpful.
If the Curious has kicked in, having anything that can stand in front of ground pounders seems good.
WoR is definitely something I am going to be trying out.
I think it is likely to end up as a SB card, but, maybe basedeck defending on how many aggro decks are out there. I think Sideboard more likely because things like Gates, Nexus, U/R, and U/W control are too common, for me anyway. And not interacting with anything they are doing is going to suck. . . But, against Aggro, WoR looks like a winner.
I am not seeing anything else for us from the new set.
Despite the UU cost on Surge Mare, is it better than the upcoming Wall of Runes since it can attack and the loot?
Don't think people have moved on. I think there just isn't much discussion to be made with this deck. Lil shifts depending on your meta, i.e. surge mare in main. Things like that. I think if you added the sphinx, you would probably need 20 lands but i'm not sure. geek would def be the guy to answer that, as he said, hes the only advocate of that card on this forum. The mare will probably be better than the wall for the attack and because it survives a lava coil.
The melody was generally added for use against the mirror. With less people playing this deck, i think you could safely run the OG version that autumn is running still.
I generally play my gruul aggro now but i still occasionally let this deck rip. Just doesn't have the overwhelmingly good odds that it used to cause of the meta shift.
Entrancing Melody can also be very strong against golgari/sultai decks (you can always steal a Hydroid Krasis for 4 mana and can grab big Wildgrowth Walkers)
I also play 2 Sphinxes main. Hadn't spoken up yet because I hadn't gotten enough testing in, but I play 19 lands with it and so far I haven't had a problem.
I am not seeing anything else for us from the new set.
I dunno, what are your thoughts on these?:
===== I'm definitely testing ===== Lazotep Plating
Mass Dive Down effect that gives a tiny body for a chump blocker at the cost of an extra mana and no toughness boost. There are definite trade-offs, but plating also includes YOU in its effect, which means it can stop Settle, Banefire, Fight with Fire, Explosion, and hand disruption to name a few things
Narset's Reversal
I'm gonna test around with this. You can copy and send back a Banefire, Explosion, or Fight with Fire as the biggest wins. I can see bouncing and copying removal being good as well. Plus against UR Drakes and control you can fizzle a jump-started Chemister's Insight (which is how drakes and control always pulls ahead of me)
Narset, Parter of Veils
This is another one I'm definitely trying out in the sideboard (or main depending on how prevalent control is). I plan to bring her and 2 Jaces in against control (or maybe the reverse). She seems so good to stop their card advantage and can also grab obsession from her search ability if you must. Incidentally, if you can keep their drakes off of this against UR then she shuts down Niv's dreaded draw/ping of doom.
===== some maybes ===== God-Eternal Kefnet
Other than Opt, Chart, and maaaaybe a pre-combat dive down our spells down't really work well with his ability. Although a 4/5 recursive flying beater who can't be stopped by exile might make up for that, not sure. Could be played in a more cantrip heavy version.
Augur of Bolas
I'd also be curious to see if there's a build that likes this fellow. I love me some card advantage, and Wizard is relevant.
Teferi's Time Twist
In something with cantrips and Augur of Bolas above this could be interesting. Flicker Augur to get card advantage, flicker trickster to get another tap. Doesn't work with curious obsession and is bad for our salamanders though :/
Kasmina's Transmutation
How does this compare to deep freeze? One cheaper but lets it attack. Although it's a 1/1 vs a 0/4 so you can kill it easier
I plan to see what Augur of Bolas and K. Transmutation bring to the table, watch how meta evolves and what walker needs to be in the sideboard.
KT seems like a big upgrade over Freeze, one mana cheaper is huge and sometimes that wall stops Obsessed Trickster and Surge Mare from attack.
Lazotep Plating seems nice vs control and their discard/edict package, while 1/1 can still wear important hats.
The Lazotep Plating & Kasmina's Transmutation might be good enough.
The second mana does make the plating way more expensive, obviously, but giving me hexproof does seem a good thing to point out.
For two mana, I think I would really just prefer an all purpose counterspell.
KT does seem a cheaper Deep freeze.
Thing is, Deep freeze has really not been working for me.
When U/R beats me, putting a deep freeze on their Drake just doesn't seem good enough. They still draw a card. Putting a Freeze on Niv is OK I spoze, since the alternative is losing. Carnage tyrant still beats both, but at least it doesn't fly.
The rest, aren't for me, but I have been wrong before.
Many do seem quite playable, but, just not in this.
Narset's Reversal does seem way cool, if you can pull it off.
Teferi's Time Twist just doesn't play well with Curious Obsession, the strongest card in the deck.
None of our creatures are worth investing 2 mana to flicker.
Augur of Bolas is strong, and earlier, similar versions of it have seen play.
But. Not really in this style of play.
It is a slow card that allows people to stay alive, find good spells, and then win a lot by being impressive.
That doesn't describe this deck.
Narset is similar. Against a big slow dumb opponent, and us using lots of spells, she rocks.
That aint us.
Kefnet : If I wanted a 4 mana creature, I would play the one that does something awesome on turn 1, and sometimes is a 4/4.
Wow.
Someone else that plays Sphinx. Weird. I have looked, and you do not exist.
I count the first sphinx as a land when I see ONE in opening hand. It actually allows LESS land in the deck. the effect is way worse if I ever draw 2, which is why I ended up going down to only 2. I do have games where I ignore the basic original concept, and roll out fast big flyers. Turn 3 Flyer, Turn 4 Flyer does kill people. But, don't mind me. I am prolly just typing to myself, and misreading your words.
the transmutation card is a definite upgrade to deepfreeze. rest are pretty pointless. like geek said, if you are paying 2 mana, might as well just play a counterspell.
I also dont find them impressive though geek. I normally only side in 6 cards
4x surge mare
1x melody
1x ess capture
So that's two for putting in a counterspell. But which counter? There's not all-purpose counter besides wizard's retort is there? So you'd have to choose between essence capture, negate, or quench. It might end up that just watching the meta and picking the appropriate counter to add is better, but I'm gonna try the lazotep as a 1 or 2 of and see how it works out.
Why 4 surge mares against drakes when everything flies? Is their purpose to be a creature that can't be lava coiled?
I usually put in
2x deep freeze (soon to be KT)
1x exclusion mage
1x selective snare
1x of either negate and essence capture
It seems like if they play Niv and I don't either bounce or deep freeze him the next turn then I always lose, but otherwise it's been roughly 50-50 for me so far
Just looking to get back to playing magic again and I would love to try this deck type out as it looks exciting! Anything I need to take note of post-rotation, what pieces are we losing, etc? I've been away from standard play for years and I have no idea to the current and upcoming rotation.
So that's two for putting in a counterspell. But which counter? There's not all-purpose counter besides wizard's retort is there? So you'd have to choose between essence capture, negate, or quench. It might end up that just watching the meta and picking the appropriate counter to add is better, but I'm gonna try the lazotep as a 1 or 2 of and see how it works out.
Why 4 surge mares against drakes when everything flies? Is their purpose to be a creature that can't be lava coiled?
I usually put in
2x deep freeze (soon to be KT)
1x exclusion mage
1x selective snare
1x of either negate and essence capture
It seems like if they play Niv and I don't either bounce or deep freeze him the next turn then I always lose, but otherwise it's been roughly 50-50 for me so far
Yea, i didn't mean 4 mares vs drakes i just meant those are the cards i actually side in the majority of games.
I run +1 catpure and +1 melody vs drakes.
i already run 3x capture and 2x melody in my build now.
Just looking to get back to playing magic again and I would love to try this deck type out as it looks exciting! Anything I need to take note of post-rotation, what pieces are we losing, etc? I've been away from standard play for years and I have no idea to the current and upcoming rotation.
Thanks!
Yeah, sadly the majority of the deck disappears after Q4 :/ This is what's in my main board that disappears:
Siren Stormtamer
Mist-Cloaked Herald
Surge Mare
Merfolk Trickster
Tempest Djinn
Spell Pierce
Dive Down
Opt
Blink of an Eye
Wizard's Retort
Chart a Course
Curious Obsession
Which ends up being 34 cards. However (although I haven't checked the prices recently so don't quote me), this deck is super cheap comparatively to get a hold of and we're only in Q2 right now, so you'd still have a while to play it and wouldn't be out too much when it rotates
Yea, i didn't mean 4 mares vs drakes i just meant those are the cards i actually side in the majority of games.
I run +1 catpure and +1 melody vs drakes.
i already run 3x capture and 2x melody in my build now.
Oh, gotcha. I'm curious about the melody though. How often have you been able to steal a drake with melody? Or is the goal to steal adapted pteramanders with it?
Pter's is the plan. I have stolen a few drakes though because i usually dont lose momentum until around turn 7-8 anyways.
izzet drakes was the worst matchup for me ever. It was nearly unwinnable most cases. The only person still playing it at my LGS is a bad player and doesn't even run Niv. So i beat that pretty easily.
So, my early impression on Arena is that this deck utterly gets its teeth kicked in by Teferi, Time Raveler. You either have a Spell Pierce for it, or you lose. Only a few matches in, but it seems bad for us.
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They are remarkably consistent, with the same core cards always there at a base level.
The extended family of cards is also entirely consistent.
Constantly there is a 4 card interchange in the base deck, with the current inflow being Entrancing Melody.
The 16 card base of creatures seems set. Pter, SStorm, Trickster, Djinn
The landbase is set 19 Island +/- 1
The spells. (Obsession, DD, SP, Wiz No)
Opt is in, Chart a Course is disappearing, and Essence Capture is about 2
The other 4 cards switch around the choice of the last creature (Mistcloak / Warkite / SurgeM)
Or the last spells ( 4th DD? or 4th SP? or 2nd EssenceC )
For a decklist with constantly changing numbers, it is remarkable how little this deck changes.
The sideboard is also impressive in the variety, but only across a very narrow spectrum.
There is no Transformative Options. The weird stuff is consistent in the weirdness.
Almost everyone has chosen some collection of Negates and Surge Mare, with a pretty regular supply of spare Essence capture as well.
Cunning Jace is way cool.
Mezmerising Benthid is pretty well the only standout I have seen, and only once.
I came across mono-U from an odd place. I was trying to make Zahid playable, so artifacts were my primary concern. I so wanted Transmogrifying wand to work basedeck, but it doesn't. The Wand needs the opponent to have extremely valuable creatures, but most decks just don't have them. Think Niv-Mizzet. Seeing a Carnage Tyrant while you fondle your wand is sad making.
The other card I tried so hard to make work basedeck was Entrancing Melody. And That I had more success with, but it struggled as a 4 of.
Plainly, my approach was very different, but I did end up in the same place.
Until the Sphinx, and I don't get it. Zero recent decklists out there are using Sphinx.
It has become a source of fascination for me. I am still playing 2 of them.
They have been F'ken A when in the starting 7, poor when drawn early, and strong when drawn late.
Curious Blue Has real problems with Red, and Blue/Red.
Red beats us with burn and speed, Blue/Red beats us with burn and Strength.
Entrancing Melody helps against Red
TWand helps against Blue/Red
. . .And Sphinx helps against both of them. A 4 power flyer can block and kill all of Red & B/R's regular creatures.
But it is that opening 7 ability that is actually the power, it gets land, Curious, a One cost creature and the 1 cost defence spell.
Sphinx also kills you if you get it wrong.
The whole deck is like that. Tap out at the wrong time, and you lose, (provided they have the spell). Sphinx, and Pter/warkite (a bit) are the only recovery spells
I think a huge chunk of this is actually groupthink, and the bizarre cheapness of this deck. Very little innovation happens when the base is uncommons, the playbase is new players, and the decklist is large cohesive. Sphinx is hard. And sometimes it really is awful.
I have become fascinated by it almost because it makes me such an obvious outlier.
I went and searched, hard, for something just like it, but much weaker in the previous standard.
The fact it exists, but just as an add on to that opening 7 ability I find incredible.
The fact I alone seem to think it is still even worth playing I find astounding.
I have always been an outlier in magic circles. Every deck I have ever built seems to be essentially rouge. This one being Mono-U was accidental coevolution, mostly. The decklists all become largely the same because the rares just don't seem to fit. Search for Azcanta is the best example. It is an expensive rare that might be good enough for sideboard play. If it was much cheaper, it would appear much more, but doesn't purely because of the player base.
As example, a standard Sphinx of Foresight now costs 41 cents on SCG, so, the card is trash and they have lots of them.
But, a foil version costs $4, and they are out of stock.
What?
The foil (non-promo) version of sphinx is TEN times more expensive, and out of stock.
Transmogrifying wand is the only sort of similar card anywhere close to this deck with numbers like that, 49 cents, with the foil at $2, with lots of both.
Sphinx of Foresight is that weird, and divisive.
The tiny amount of people that want it, REALLY LOVE IT, and will pay for the foil version.
And everyone else thinks it smells like last weeks' prawns.
Ever hear of a thing called EDH? I hear they like their foils over there. That's probably why it's sold out. Nobody is playing the card in Standard.
Also, I've tried a few different cards and SB strategies with this deck, and at this point my advice is to read Autumn Burchett's article and do exactly what they say. It has been working really well for me on Arena lately.
I agree, Autumn pretty much nailed it with this deck. I think you have to start being ready for the turn1 answers tho. Sky tether and Fungal Infection are starting to see some play lol.
which i can't beat xd). So the monored guy go to showdown this saturday, and he tell me for a lot of people in my possible meta it can be mono-red, (which is a bit tough). Actually i buy some non costy stuff and i don't care of refunded some things, so i have a question, what do you do?. Redo this deck for another? or continue and suffer the pain until the meta changes?.
About my english i have a b1 so if anyone can correct me i will be pleased.
The format will change soon, so if you are going to try for something competitive, this is the best deck.
It's is really cheap, and fairly easy to cobble together.
Don't worry about the red.
Play Surge Mares main, a full set of DiveDown & Spell pierce, and you will be fine.
RRGrenzo plays your deck, GGYeva's mono green control, WW9-tails trys desperately for monowhite not to suck
RWBUTymna and Kraum's saboteur tribal, UWG Kestia's Enchantress Aggro, RUB Jeleva casts big dumb spells, RGB Vaevictis' big critters can kill your critters hard
Arena Standard
UUUU Tempo, since before it was cool
Various Wx decks running Fountain of Renewal and Day of Glory
Anything I can cram Chaos Wand in to
I honestly don't feel that the Mono-R matchup has gotten to out of hand. It is still very winnable. If you are playing your friend consistantly change a few things up.
surge mare is a boss against red
so is diamond mare and spell pierce and dive down an become 4 ofs to help stiffen your matchup
Lost the final, 2nd is still just fine. (20 players, Games Lab)
.
lost to U-mirror
beat goblin red
beat U/R
Beat gates
ID
Beat U/R
Beat Nexus
Lost to U/R
4 Pteramander
4 Siren Stormtamer
4 Tempest Djinn
2 Sphinx of Foresight
3 Dive Down
4 Opt
3 Spell Pierce
4 Wizard's Retort
4 Curious Obsession
2 Chart a Course
2 Essence Capture
2 Entrancing Melody
2 Essence Capture
4 Negate
2 Deep Freeze
1 Jace, Cunning Castaway
2 Surge Mare
1 Transmogrifying Wand
1 Dive Down
Sphinx was Awesome, regularly. And uncast a couple of times.
I kept a ZERO land hand, and won. Don't play it, not my problem.
U/R is really hard.
I think I got blindingy lucky, twice. And didn't the third time.
Bolt, Dive, Bolt, Dive, Negate = loss
Niv-Miz is a problem.
I can see why the Mistcloaks are still appearing, they are good against U/R.
Deep Freeze seemed poor, and transmog didn't work.
Essence Capture is good against U/R though.
I am skeptical regarding Entrancing Melody. How important has it been?
If we include 2 Sphinx of Foresight, the 20nd island is a must?
Despite the UU cost on Surge Mare, is it better than the upcoming Wall of Runes since it can attack and the loot?
It is cheap, and stomps on some of the expensive decks, if played well.
Entrancing Melody can be AWESOME.
It's only problem is it's cost. In a mirror it is obscene. Steal a One drop with a curious on it, and the game swings. Or a Pter once adapted.
It is good against Red as well.
I am the only player that uses Sphinx. Sphinx is completely nonstandard, and an outlier. I still think it fantastic, but I am a voice in the wilderness. There is no point even asking about it.
Surge Mare is different to Wall of Runes.
And Wall of Runes looks interesting. Really interesting I like it. A lot.
Surge Mare can go offence in a big way, but that is not what I have been using it for. Very rarely do I ever have mana I am happy to allocate to pumping him. Although he does do it sometimes, which is definitely worth remembering.
Wall of Runes looks like the perfect card to stay alive with against aggro. And the scry is neat
Thank you for pointing it out.
Red decks have been a problem for me, and WoR looks very good against them.
Against White Aggro WoR is also going to be helpful.
If the Curious has kicked in, having anything that can stand in front of ground pounders seems good.
WoR is definitely something I am going to be trying out.
I think it is likely to end up as a SB card, but, maybe basedeck defending on how many aggro decks are out there. I think Sideboard more likely because things like Gates, Nexus, U/R, and U/W control are too common, for me anyway. And not interacting with anything they are doing is going to suck. . . But, against Aggro, WoR looks like a winner.
I am not seeing anything else for us from the new set.
4 Pteramander
4 Siren Stormtamer
4 Merfolk Trickster
4 Tempest Djinn
20 Island
3 Dive Down
4 Opt
3 Spell Pierce
1 Chart a Course
2 Essence Capture
4 Wizard's Retort
2 Disdainful Stroke
3 Entrancing Melody
2 Essence Capture
2 Negate
4 Surge Mare
1 Deep Freeze
1 Transmogrifying Wand
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1820382#paper
Competitive Standard League 2019-04-18, (5-0)
4 Pteramander
4 Siren Stormtamer
4 Merfolk Trickster
4 Tempest Djinn
19 Island
4 Curious Obsession
4 Dive Down
4 Opt
3 Spell Pierce
1 Chart a Course
1 Entrancing Melody
2 Essence Capture
1 Negate
4 Wizard's Retort
1 Island
1 Disdainful Stroke
3 Entrancing Melody
1 Essence Capture
3 Negate
3 Surge Mare
2 Deep Freeze
1 Jace, Cunning Castaway
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1790980#paper
Competitive Standard League 2019-04-08, (5-0) Apr 08, 2019
4 Pteramander
4 Siren Stormtamer
4 Merfolk Trickster
4 Tempest Djinn
20 Island
4 Curious Obsession
3 Dive Down
4 Opt
2 Spell Pierce
1 Chart a Course
1 Entrancing Melody
2 Essence Capture
1 Negate
4 Wizard's Retort
1 Disdainful Stroke
2 Entrancing Melody
1 Essence Capture
2 Faerie Duelist
2 Negate
2 Search for Azcanta
3 Surge Mare
2 Deep Freeze
http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=21642&d=345321&f=ST
11/04/19
1 Mist-Cloaked Herald
4 Pteramander
4 Siren Stormtamer
4 Tempest Djinn
19 Island
4 Curious Obsession
4 Opt
3 Spell Pierce
1 Chart a Course
2 Essence Capture
1 Negate
4 Wizard's Retort
1 Entrancing Melody
1 Disdainful Stroke
3 Entrancing Melody
2 Essence Capture
1 Island
1 Jace, Cunning Castaway
3 Negate
4 Surge Mare
http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=21704&d=345846&f=ST
1 Mist-Cloaked Herald
4 Pteramander
4 Siren Stormtamer
4 Tempest Djinn
19 Island
4 Dive Down
4 Opt
3 Spell Pierce
1 Chart a Course
1 Entrancing Melody
2 Essence Capture
1 Negate
4 Wizard's Retort
4 Curious Obsession
2 Deep Freeze
1 Disdainful Stroke
3 Entrancing Melody
1 Essence Capture
1 Island
1 Jace, Cunning Castaway
3 Negate
3 Surge Mare
Don't think people have moved on. I think there just isn't much discussion to be made with this deck. Lil shifts depending on your meta, i.e. surge mare in main. Things like that. I think if you added the sphinx, you would probably need 20 lands but i'm not sure. geek would def be the guy to answer that, as he said, hes the only advocate of that card on this forum. The mare will probably be better than the wall for the attack and because it survives a lava coil.
The melody was generally added for use against the mirror. With less people playing this deck, i think you could safely run the OG version that autumn is running still.
I generally play my gruul aggro now but i still occasionally let this deck rip. Just doesn't have the overwhelmingly good odds that it used to cause of the meta shift.
Curious to see how the meta shapes up.
Tempo
Modern
Eldrazi and Staxes
Whir Prison
Legacy
5c Humans
DnT
"I'm a lead farmer... !" Quote ruined due to policy.
Entrancing Melody can also be very strong against golgari/sultai decks (you can always steal a Hydroid Krasis for 4 mana and can grab big Wildgrowth Walkers)
I also play 2 Sphinxes main. Hadn't spoken up yet because I hadn't gotten enough testing in, but I play 19 lands with it and so far I haven't had a problem.
I dunno, what are your thoughts on these?:
===== I'm definitely testing =====
Lazotep Plating
Mass Dive Down effect that gives a tiny body for a chump blocker at the cost of an extra mana and no toughness boost. There are definite trade-offs, but plating also includes YOU in its effect, which means it can stop Settle, Banefire, Fight with Fire, Explosion, and hand disruption to name a few things
Narset's Reversal
I'm gonna test around with this. You can copy and send back a Banefire, Explosion, or Fight with Fire as the biggest wins. I can see bouncing and copying removal being good as well. Plus against UR Drakes and control you can fizzle a jump-started Chemister's Insight (which is how drakes and control always pulls ahead of me)
Narset, Parter of Veils
This is another one I'm definitely trying out in the sideboard (or main depending on how prevalent control is). I plan to bring her and 2 Jaces in against control (or maybe the reverse). She seems so good to stop their card advantage and can also grab obsession from her search ability if you must. Incidentally, if you can keep their drakes off of this against UR then she shuts down Niv's dreaded draw/ping of doom.
===== some maybes =====
God-Eternal Kefnet
Other than Opt, Chart, and maaaaybe a pre-combat dive down our spells down't really work well with his ability. Although a 4/5 recursive flying beater who can't be stopped by exile might make up for that, not sure. Could be played in a more cantrip heavy version.
Augur of Bolas
I'd also be curious to see if there's a build that likes this fellow. I love me some card advantage, and Wizard is relevant.
Teferi's Time Twist
In something with cantrips and Augur of Bolas above this could be interesting. Flicker Augur to get card advantage, flicker trickster to get another tap. Doesn't work with curious obsession and is bad for our salamanders though :/
Kasmina's Transmutation
How does this compare to deep freeze? One cheaper but lets it attack. Although it's a 1/1 vs a 0/4 so you can kill it easier
KT seems like a big upgrade over Freeze, one mana cheaper is huge and sometimes that wall stops Obsessed Trickster and Surge Mare from attack.
Lazotep Plating seems nice vs control and their discard/edict package, while 1/1 can still wear important hats.
The second mana does make the plating way more expensive, obviously, but giving me hexproof does seem a good thing to point out.
For two mana, I think I would really just prefer an all purpose counterspell.
KT does seem a cheaper Deep freeze.
Thing is, Deep freeze has really not been working for me.
When U/R beats me, putting a deep freeze on their Drake just doesn't seem good enough. They still draw a card. Putting a Freeze on Niv is OK I spoze, since the alternative is losing. Carnage tyrant still beats both, but at least it doesn't fly.
The rest, aren't for me, but I have been wrong before.
Many do seem quite playable, but, just not in this.
Narset's Reversal does seem way cool, if you can pull it off.
Teferi's Time Twist just doesn't play well with Curious Obsession, the strongest card in the deck.
None of our creatures are worth investing 2 mana to flicker.
Augur of Bolas is strong, and earlier, similar versions of it have seen play.
But. Not really in this style of play.
It is a slow card that allows people to stay alive, find good spells, and then win a lot by being impressive.
That doesn't describe this deck.
Narset is similar. Against a big slow dumb opponent, and us using lots of spells, she rocks.
That aint us.
Kefnet : If I wanted a 4 mana creature, I would play the one that does something awesome on turn 1, and sometimes is a 4/4.
Wow.
Someone else that plays Sphinx. Weird. I have looked, and you do not exist.
I count the first sphinx as a land when I see ONE in opening hand. It actually allows LESS land in the deck. the effect is way worse if I ever draw 2, which is why I ended up going down to only 2. I do have games where I ignore the basic original concept, and roll out fast big flyers. Turn 3 Flyer, Turn 4 Flyer does kill people. But, don't mind me. I am prolly just typing to myself, and misreading your words.
I also dont find them impressive though geek. I normally only side in 6 cards
4x surge mare
1x melody
1x ess capture
pretty much my go to.
Why 4 surge mares against drakes when everything flies? Is their purpose to be a creature that can't be lava coiled?
I usually put in
2x deep freeze (soon to be KT)
1x exclusion mage
1x selective snare
1x of either negate and essence capture
It seems like if they play Niv and I don't either bounce or deep freeze him the next turn then I always lose, but otherwise it's been roughly 50-50 for me so far
Just looking to get back to playing magic again and I would love to try this deck type out as it looks exciting! Anything I need to take note of post-rotation, what pieces are we losing, etc? I've been away from standard play for years and I have no idea to the current and upcoming rotation.
Thanks!
Yea, i didn't mean 4 mares vs drakes i just meant those are the cards i actually side in the majority of games.
I run +1 catpure and +1 melody vs drakes.
i already run 3x capture and 2x melody in my build now.
Yeah, sadly the majority of the deck disappears after Q4 :/ This is what's in my main board that disappears:
Siren Stormtamer
Mist-Cloaked Herald
Surge Mare
Merfolk Trickster
Tempest Djinn
Spell Pierce
Dive Down
Opt
Blink of an Eye
Wizard's Retort
Chart a Course
Curious Obsession
Which ends up being 34 cards. However (although I haven't checked the prices recently so don't quote me), this deck is super cheap comparatively to get a hold of and we're only in Q2 right now, so you'd still have a while to play it and wouldn't be out too much when it rotates
Oh, gotcha. I'm curious about the melody though. How often have you been able to steal a drake with melody? Or is the goal to steal adapted pteramanders with it?
izzet drakes was the worst matchup for me ever. It was nearly unwinnable most cases. The only person still playing it at my LGS is a bad player and doesn't even run Niv. So i beat that pretty easily.