Divination on a stick is good. Rogue Refiner replacement (less energy) is good. 4/3 for 3 is above rate P/T and allows to filter top of library. Allows for binning cards when lands are needed, if they are GY relevant cards, or if they are dead draws (good); drawing lands whether needed or not (good); and often providing a relevant body. The card is definitely good in a vacuum. With snek, the upside potential is even more so. 3-drop 6/5? Yes please.
This comparison bothers me a lot. It is absolutely not Divination. It's just filtering the top of your library. If the only cards you ever get to draw from it are lands, I need them to be awesome or have some utility for me to even want to compare it to a card drawing spell. Otherwise, I'm better off trying to bluff with an unknown card. Also, the whole "it gets to be a 6/5!" doesn't excite me nearly as much in this current format since it is dominated by early game removal.
The comparison to Divination is a recognition that the card is similar to modal cards (except we don't choose the mode, but rather, the top of our library does) with the drawback that we reveal each card:
In the event the top of the library is two lands, Jadelight Ranger draws us two cards. That is the definition of Divination (3-mana spell that draws two cards). Furthermore, we are left with a 2/1 body. Hence the comparison of this mode to "Divination on a stick."
In the event the top of the library is a land followed by a non-land card, Jadelight Ranger draws us a card and is a 3/2 body. This is comparable to Rogue Refiner, except without the energy. It also allows us to bin the second card, so in essence, it's like Rogue Refiner + pseudo-scry 1 (again, less the energy).
In the event the top of the library is a non-land card, we have three potential outcomes partially affected by our decision. We can leave the card, which makes Jadelight Ranger a 4/3 pseudo-scry 1 followed by a second pseudo-scry 1 (with the choice if binning the card on the second reveal). Our second option is to bin the first card, and if the second card is a non-land card, we can have the choice to bin again, leaving us with the same scenario as before (4/3 with double pseudo-scry 1) but we got to dig 2 deep instead of 1. Alternatively for the second option, we can bin the first card, and if the second card is a land, we are back to the 2nd scenario of Rogue Refiner with pseudo-scry 1 stapled onto it. It's actually closer to "Opt on a stick," as we "scried" away the non-land card to then draw the land card.
These are all legitimate comparisons, because they all accurately reflect the different ways Jadelight Ranger can behave in a game, depending on the top of our library. No, it's not Divination, because it doesn't always draw us 2 cards. But when it does, I'm happy because I either needed the two lands or I didn't and I skipped the next two draw steps without having to curse my deck for giving me two lands in a row I didn't need.
Yes, the game has a lot of early game a removal. But a 4/3 is significantly easier to remove over a 6/5 in the early game. The only early game removal that commonly sees play that can remove a 6/5 Jadelight Ranger is a revolted Fatal Push. Granted, our opponent can also respond to the double Explore trigger, but once it starts resolving (when Ranger is still a 2/1), they can't respond inbetween the two Explores. Therefore, if our opponent wants to use an Abrade on our 2/1 before it has been determined to become a 6/5, the end result is that they may have used it on an eventual 2/1 if we draw 2 lands. Either way, it eats a removal spell and provides us with value. Or it sticks as a 6/5 and is difficult for our opponent to deal with. Or they remove the snek and we have a 4/3, often requiring another removal spell on their part. No matter how I play it, I feel like I win, which is why I value Jadelight Ranger as a card.
I do think that Jadelight Ranger most at home in decks that run cycling lands, as it can let you convert some of the mana flood into card advantage.
While not a snake deck, I want to test out the Jund deck that Craig Rocco got 18th place with at GP Memphis. It looks like a solid build for most match-ups, though I'd probably try to move Cut//Ribbons to the MB to add some inevitability. IDK if there is a way to really add snake to that list, as much as I'd love to.
Cool seeing you run three Scrapheap Scroungers. How'd you feel they worked in the deck?
They were an obvious attempt at Explore synergy and I never dropped one through Explore. It was great against Grixis control. I brought one back twice in game one, which combined with the early damage to get me there. I sided them out against Mono-R and in the mirror on the draw. Overall, meh, but excellent against Control.
@DRay563, except they would kill the Constrictor in response. I would rarely ever bother trying to kill the Jadelight Ranger in response to its triggers if there is a Snake on the board.
Reflecting on last night, I have come to the conclusion that Hadana's Climb changes the center of the deck. The Explore creatures with Hadana's Climb are enough, which takes pressure off the 4 slot when we draw Climb.
Accordingly, I have tweaked to the following. There are still some testbed elements. Squire over Branchwalker is about having more big butts that can survive Sweltering Suns (with help) and shrug off blocking R creatures. The extra planeswalkers in the sideboard are also experimental.
@DRay - I played against a deck exploiting Ripjaw Raptor with Walking Ballista last night. We were playing with Ripjaw Raptor earlier. I wonder if the energy nerfs have pushed it ahead of Bristling Hydra in some decks. I may play around with an Enrage Constrictor brew. Can Savage Stomp be playable in a deck with many Blossoming Defense?
I went 2-2 this evening running a copy of the sultai list that came in 2nd at the Memphis Grand Prix. Only difference was I had 1 scarab god and 3 gearhulks.
I haven't been down to play for the last three weeks, so I felt pretty rusty and made some really stupid mistakes I did however feel the blue splash was awesome. Especially having access to Negate in the sideboard was really good. It was so sick having it and it basically won me the round when I got it.
Hadana's climb is awesome still.
Lost first game 0-2 against Merfolk... I got really good cards both rounds but I was pretty out of it and made too many ***** plays so I lost.
Won 2-1 against R/G monsters Hadana's won it for me.
Won 2-1 against U/W Approach deck. Turn 1 duress where I saw he had one approach in hand, fumigate and essence scatter. I chose essence scatter so I could get a glint sleeve out and then I kept my negate ready for his approach. Countered it and killed him. Negate... damn I've missed you!
Lost 1-2 against W/R vehicles (basically mardu but with more controlly stuff) Not fond of the guy I was playing against and I kinda just wanted it to be over. He won in the end from Settle The Wreckage my flying Hydra. I did negate his Chandra which made him pretty damn salty hehe.
I feel like the deck was way better than my performance. I ****ed up quite a bit, but I feel like the blue splash made the deck stronger. I'm kinda thinking about taking Scarab God out and making room for a third Hadana's climb and 4 Gearhulks. My brain is just telling me to use Scarab God if I can. Making Gearhulks flying with Hadana's Climb would be the best case scenario because it would trample through flying blockers.
Anyway. I definitely recommend trying a bit of blue in the deck. Those negates man.... Damn they're good.
I'm just glad it seems like my bad streak of losing everything is over. I think I'm going to run this deck again next week instead of going Grixis.
I really wish I could play more though... I never feel like I get better. Oh well.
The more I play Sultai, the more I'm convinced Deathgorge Scavenger just sucks. I think I'm going to play Deadeye Tracker in its place. Sure it dies to every removal spell under the sun, but it just does the job I need it to do.
Also, Hadana's Climb is legitimately disgusting. I did 20 damage in one turn twice!
Has anyone tried Champion of Wits in Sultai Counters/Energy? The card sifting seems interesting to me.
Deathgorge Scavanger... It's only good for a little graveyard hate, but I think I'd rather run something else in pretty much every situation. Deadeye Tracker seems sick.
I know I say it all the time, but Hadana's Climb is so ******* good. I need a playset asap hehe.
I think I've seen some of the Sultai lists run Champion of Wits. I kinda feel it would be counter productive in a way, unless you have it in the deck so you can throw it in the graveyard with some explore triggers. I don't know... I don't think I'm good enough to say if it's good or bad in the deck hehe.
It seems a bit slow in the deck. I'd rather have mana for other stuff by the time I have enough mana to eternalize it. I don't know I already feel like I don't have enough space for the "normal" stuff in the deck, so I'm not sure how I'd make space for it. I like the card though.
The more I play Sultai, the more I'm convinced Deathgorge Scavenger just sucks. I think I'm going to play Deadeye Tracker in its place. Sure it dies to every removal spell under the sun, but it just does the job I need it to do.
Also, Hadana's Climb is legitimately disgusting. I did 20 damage in one turn twice!
Has anyone tried Champion of Wits in Sultai Counters/Energy? The card sifting seems interesting to me.
I was tweaking my deck and had one open slot. I was really tempted by Champion of Wits. I decided to move the second The Scarab God into the main instead, but Exploring Champion into the bin would feel so good. It seems particularly good against Control.
I had a night about a month ago where two of my four matches were against GPG. I was playing Dinosaurs with 4 maindeck Deathgorge Scavengers. They were godly and put me in control of Gift. I still think a nearly guaranteed 2 life and a chump or eat a removal spell is not the worst against the deck formerly known as Ramunap. Tracker seems so slow against Mono-R.
So, my FNM meta is very control heavy. Mainly U/B and Grixis being the dominating ones. I'm having trouble figuring out what cards would be best to side out against control (against most decks actually) because I feel like almost every card will be a compromise taking out when I'm playing.
What would you guys recommend swapping in and out to unleash hate on U/B and Grixis control? Fatal push and walking ballistas go out? Maybe one Jadelight ranger too?
I only have one Lifecrafter's Bestiary which is a sick card, but I don't know if I should change much in the sideboard to be honest. It's packed with utility cards. I'm just mostly having trouble seeing what I should swap out most of the time.
This is what I ran last night. (Only played against one control deck, but I think 60% of the decks were control)
I'm thinking about removing the scarab god for another gearhulk or making room for a third Hadana's Climb. I just mostly don't think I ever get around to having enough mana ready to get value from Scarab God. I should be smashing them pretty hard by the time I have it up and running. Still... It's one of those cards that I sort of feel I need to use if I have it because it's so sick.
And splashing hard for blue and only using Hadana's climb seems a bit funky. Why not also just throw Scarab in you know?
I'm also going to swap Appetite for the unnatural out with Naturalize since it's faster.
I'm also thinking about finding a different land than Ifnir Deadlands. I'm not really liking it. It feels pretty clunky to me.
I'll throw in my half a cent to give people something to critique, partly to alleviate my guilt for never updating the sideboarding part of the primer.
For a majority Grixis/UB Control meta, I would change your board as follows:
-1 Fatal Push
-1 Appetite/Naturalize
Is anyone playing tokens? How do you do against them? If you won't see them most nights or can just smash them anyway: -1 Yahenni's Expertise
How much Aggro is left? Consider shaving a Cartouche.
+1 Bestiary
+1 to 2 Carnage Tyrant if you have them. They aren't cheap if you don't already have them.
+1 Vraska
Honestly, I could justify Champion, Scrounger or a single Spell Pierce for that meta, but ... Too much good stuff!
Sideboarding against aggressive Grixis:
-2 Ballista
-2 Servant
-1 Constrictor
-1 Gearhulk
+1 Bestiary
+1 Vraska
+2 Contempt
+2 Duress
I could see an argument for siding out Push, too. Siphoner might be slow against us.
UB Control: the above plus
-2 Push
-2 Defense
-1 Climb
-1 Servant
+2 Carnage Tyrant
+The rest of the Negate/Duress
More controlling Grixis: split the difference
I really want to see other opinions so I can steal them for the primer.
Thanks for the reply dude. All your comments are duly noted hehe
You mean a Vraska planeswalker in the sideboard yeah? not a contempt. What about a Nissa, Vital Force?
I'm surprised you don't want to use negates against grixis. I figured it would be really good against them and one of the main reasons splashing blue.
I don't have any Carnage Tyrants... but I'm very close to buying two since control is so heavy right now. Maybe Nissa vital force instead of one if I don't want to spend money for it. Carnage Tyrant just seems insanely rad in the meta.
I kinda miss having spell pierce, but I think I'd rather have blossoming defense in this deck.
Yahenni's is for mono red and other small creature decks. I always felt it's been a good value card and would feel kinda naked not having access to one pseudo boardwipe, but I think the meta doesn't require having it. I just think Yahenni is cool as ***** hehe. Love Aetherborn, but it should go out.
The only token deck in my meta is my best friend who plays B/W Vampires
I'd like to keep the two Naturalize/Appetite because I ALWAYS play against the dude with the W/R vehicle deck... That dude really gets on my nerves.. Just one of those types of people who you're on totally different pages from so you of course get put in a match against each other all the time... I just need those two artifact/enchantment hate cards.
@Simto - as you know, I've been playing everything, so I am not the best to provide feedback. I've also been playing sub-PPTQ competition and it sounds like your meta is generally more competitive than mine (generally only 2-3 of my four matches are grinder level). The above is just a target to make it easier for the people with the reps to correct rather than have to write up a whole thing.
I love Vraska most for the versatility and power. I like both Nissa's and Liliana too. Chandra, too, in decks that can run her. But I don't think it's a sexual thing, really. Nissa Steward can win the game in a turn and synergizes with Jadelight. Too many good cards!
It's not that I don't like Negate. I value Duress more for the information, but it's a worse topdeck. My thinking is that Grixis has inevitability, so I want to leave enough of our engine intact to go under them. What else are you going to take out for Negate? Push is reasonable. I don't care about Whirler, but I like having some Push for their Siphoners.
The Yahenni's call seems to hinge partly on whether you need them. Can you generally blow them up anyway? Maybe it should be the third Climb? And maybe you don't mind losing to your friend as much.
Yeah, I remember now. The Naturalizes makes sense when we consider your consistent pairing against your nemesis . Vraska is way too slow against Mardu to remove Heart.
played snek for a few days because I think I'll try and make an upcoming GP
my 'budget' list was strictly B/G but you'll want blue in your list in some capacity, think I 5-0'd the newbie leagues once or twice
toughest matchups were against control where they trade card for card and I get them to 1 life and they resolve Scarab God and it's over
lost a few to white control decks like Hidden Cache, or Second Sun because of multiple Settle the Wreckage/Fumigate. Don't think I ever lost to Red or creature strategies in general; maybe once to dinosaurs. I think in 50 games I never played a mirror, of any Constricter build.
my sideboard is nothing to write home about; different hand removal, Naturalize, I'll probably put in Lost Legacy somewhere when I get around to it.
thoughts on cards in my list: Fatal Push didn't do much that another card didn't do better(given my list is overloaded vs aggro, and why not? not every can drop $ on Scarabs). dead draws against control game 1 are baaaaaad, I suppose they have Siphoners. Ifnir Deadlands underperformed; mana intensive or dying to Field of Ruin, but the cycling land was solid with many Jadelight Ranger 'whiffs' being closer to an actual Divination.
Rishkar was always great! unless I had my first 3 plays removed. Rishkar into Rishkar never seemed awful. I originally started with 2 Ghalta but I think he'll be sideboard only for Dinosaurs or other non-interactives. If you to want to live the dream of 26 power on turn 4 as I did you can leave 1 in.
Even with Jadelight Rangers sometimes I couldn't muster 5 mana for on-curve Gearhulks, but they were usually excellent unless my opening 7 was 5 land 2 hulk.
I liked Harsh Scrutiny to hedge dicey 2 land keeps and the knowledge of my opponents' hand helped me maximize which 2 drop to play out if I had to bait removal to resolve snek or Gifted Aetherborn.
Dreamstealer was deece, but Magma Spray is trending up now so he'll get cut
This was all done on budget for 80~ tix I never felt I needed extra Ballistae, though not having Vraska's Contempt was/is agony.
play a blue version. and use Carnage Tyrant & Scarab God
@Simto, I find Scarab God to be my second backup plan, which is the only reason I still have one in my 75. As far as sideboard plans, this is what I would do:
vs UB control
-1 The Scarab God
-2 Fatal Push
-2 Walking Ballista
-1 Jadelight Ranger
+3 Duress
+2 Negate
+1 Vraska's Contempt
The whole concept for me to run them down. Use Negate and Blossoming Defense to mess with their ability to trade 1-for-1. Bristling Hydra is usually an all-star in this match.
vs Grixis control
-1 The Scarab God
-1 Jadelight Ranger
-2 Fatal Push
-1 Verdurous Gearhulk
-1 Foul Orchard
-1 Jadelight Ranger
+3 Duress
+2 Negate
+2 Vraska's Contempt
Awkwardly enough, I tend to cut a land and some of the top of my curve against Grixis control. This is a control deck that is terrified of what might happen before turn 5. I try to get a couple threats down and protect them as best I can to force the opponent to do something. Often times, one misstep in the early going is all you need to wrap up this match. You may want to only bring in 2 Duress instead of three and leave in the last Jadelight Ranger if they go to a heavy midrange plan. I could also see cutting one Walking Ballista. They usually don't generate the energy to keep Whirler Virtuoso relevant. I go back and forth on that.
@chaos021
I gotta say, it was nice having Bristling Hydra back in the deck. People always sort of do a "gulp" when you land one and it kinda forces them to play a certain way. I managed to get a lot of energy in every game so I had plenty to threaten multiple activations on the Hydra.
Cutting a Foul Orchard is fine by me hehe, I hate that land....
Maybe go 2 duress and 3 negate vs Grixis control? getting a turn 1 Duress is stupid good though. It won the match for me vs the U/B approach.
What's your take on Carnage Tyrant? Do you think I should get one or run 1 Vraska and Nissa instead? Would be nice not to have to buy two expensive cards hehe, but in this meta....
I got two more Hadana's Climb by the way. Thinking about running three in the deck (the last one is for my Atraxa commander deck hehe)
I understand why people are playing Carnage Tyrant. It's not a bad idea to be honest. I just feel I can "get there" against control without resorting to big Carnie T.
After tonight, I'm convinced that I don't need any more help against control decks. Bristling Hydra and company did some work. I actually did poorly overall though. I'm at a loss for how this deck deals with Approach and Gift decks. I've never had a problem with these decks until recently. Does everyone just try to aggro out?
I think the only answer is Scavenger Grounds. preferably with a few other deserts laying around. I'd probably end up with at least 1 in the maindeck much to the detriment of a clunky manabase already.
Deadeye Tracker might work and be cute with a snek
Approach decks don't bother me because you can clear that easy with Lost Legacy or a bunch of Duress
but Gifts decks are an impossible headache without you curving out & having disruption.
even Dispossess on Gifts doesn't end the game, they still have Wrath's to clear everything you've put out and a GY full of 'free' 4 toughness creatures which draw them more free cards or grab your stuff.
I'm going to make a spreadsheet of my testing because I'm pretty sure my Gifts matchups have been putrid, but I play against control so much more often I could have tunnel vision worrying about coin flip matches when I should worry about the 20/80.
I think the only answer is Scavenger Grounds. preferably with a few other deserts laying around. I'd probably end up with at least 1 in the maindeck much to the detriment of a clunky manabase already.
Deadeye Tracker might work and be cute with a snek
Approach decks don't bother me because you can clear that easy with Lost Legacy or a bunch of Duress
but Gifts decks are an impossible headache without you curving out & having disruption.
even Dispossess on Gifts doesn't end the game, they still have Wrath's to clear everything you've put out and a GY full of 'free' 4 toughness creatures which draw them more free cards or grab your stuff.
I'm going to make a spreadsheet of my testing because I'm pretty sure my Gifts matchups have been putrid, but I play against control so much more often I could have tunnel vision worrying about coin flip matches when I should worry about the 20/80.
Would maybe sense to put swap an Ifnir deadlands out with a Scavenger Grounds if your meta has lots of graveyard stuff. I rarely ever see use for the Ifnir Deadlands when I get it on the table.
I've only ever seen one dude play the God Pharaos deck at my local store so I'm not too sure what what's sick against it. It's all control and a couple of aggro decks like me. I'm more or less known as the Snake Guy now lol.
I suck at this game hehe. went 2-1 (we only played three rounds)
Went like ***** most of the evening. I feel like I have the same story each week hehe... I just ******* suck.
Lost 0-2 against my nemesis. Didn't get any threats going first round. He landed a solemnity turn 3 and I didn't get any of my naturalize or anything out. it was over. I hate that guy.
Lost 0-2 against green/white/blue approach. It was a weird hour of promise style deck with Approach as the main win condition. Lost first match. Didn't get him fast enough. TOTALLY flooded out second match. Only mana mana mana mana....
Won 2-1 against Grixis. It was one the sliiightly less control versions. I had a gearhulk go out on him with Hadana's Climb that he couldn't answer.
Round 2. He made a pretty good reversal and finished me off with a glorybringer. He got a chandra and Liliana out to do some damage before hand which slowed me down enough for him to do a good reversal. I will say though, I landed a Beastiary turn 3... DAMN that card rocks!!! So good! I need more of it.
Third match was really weird. I got three snakes and two Servant of the conduit on the board. Not all at once. I basically killed him slowly with my Servants lol. Weird game, but it went out alright in the end. I only used my utility creatures to beat him down.
I was glad I beat Grixis though since that's sort of the top dog right now. And the dude I beat usually ends up in the top two or three spots at my local store.
The more controlly decks won again this evening though.
I by the way took out the Scarab god in favour of a third Hadana's Climb and put a Vraska, Nissa and Beastiary in the sideboard.
I'm almost thinking about main boarding four negates at this meta because it would be ******* great hehe.
I always lose hard when I feel confident about my deck hehe... ***** sucks
Not going to do a lot of tweaking for next week as I feel the deck is WAY better than what I can do with it.
Interesting review of midrange decks here. While we may like the conclusion, I see the results of a lot of testing and discussion that are worth considering.
Cool seeing you run three Scrapheap Scroungers. How'd you feel they worked in the deck?
The comparison to Divination is a recognition that the card is similar to modal cards (except we don't choose the mode, but rather, the top of our library does) with the drawback that we reveal each card:
Yes, the game has a lot of early game a removal. But a 4/3 is significantly easier to remove over a 6/5 in the early game. The only early game removal that commonly sees play that can remove a 6/5 Jadelight Ranger is a revolted Fatal Push. Granted, our opponent can also respond to the double Explore trigger, but once it starts resolving (when Ranger is still a 2/1), they can't respond inbetween the two Explores. Therefore, if our opponent wants to use an Abrade on our 2/1 before it has been determined to become a 6/5, the end result is that they may have used it on an eventual 2/1 if we draw 2 lands. Either way, it eats a removal spell and provides us with value. Or it sticks as a 6/5 and is difficult for our opponent to deal with. Or they remove the snek and we have a 4/3, often requiring another removal spell on their part. No matter how I play it, I feel like I win, which is why I value Jadelight Ranger as a card.
While not a snake deck, I want to test out the Jund deck that Craig Rocco got 18th place with at GP Memphis. It looks like a solid build for most match-ups, though I'd probably try to move Cut//Ribbons to the MB to add some inevitability. IDK if there is a way to really add snake to that list, as much as I'd love to.
B/G Rock BG | Jund BGR | Mardu Pyromancer BRW | Ponza RG | Burn RW
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.
Accordingly, I have tweaked to the following. There are still some testbed elements. Squire over Branchwalker is about having more big butts that can survive Sweltering Suns (with help) and shrug off blocking R creatures. The extra planeswalkers in the sideboard are also experimental.
4 Seekers' Squire
4 Winding Constrictor
1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
4 Glint-Sleeve Siphoner
1 Hostage Taker
1 Ravenous Chupacabra
4 Jadelight Ranger
1 The Scarab God
Enchantment
2 Hadana's Climb
Land
4 Botanical Sanctum
4 Blooming Marsh
3 Aether Hub
5 Forest
2 Swamp
4 Fetid Pools
1 Drowned Catacomb
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Foul Orchard
1 Island
3 Walking Ballista
2 Verdurous Gearhulk
Instant
3 Blossoming Defense
2 Fatal Push
2 Vraska's Contempt
1 Deathgorge Scavenger
1 Thrashing Brontodon
1 The Scarab God
2 Carnage Tyrant
2 Lifecrafter's Bestiary
1 Scrapheap Scrounger
1 Fatal Push
2 Vraska's Contempt
1 Negate
1 Liliana, Death's Majesty
1 Nissa, Steward of Elements
1 Vraska, Relic Seeker
@DRay - I played against a deck exploiting Ripjaw Raptor with Walking Ballista last night. We were playing with Ripjaw Raptor earlier. I wonder if the energy nerfs have pushed it ahead of Bristling Hydra in some decks. I may play around with an Enrage Constrictor brew. Can Savage Stomp be playable in a deck with many Blossoming Defense?
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.
I haven't been down to play for the last three weeks, so I felt pretty rusty and made some really stupid mistakes I did however feel the blue splash was awesome. Especially having access to Negate in the sideboard was really good. It was so sick having it and it basically won me the round when I got it.
Hadana's climb is awesome still.
Lost first game 0-2 against Merfolk... I got really good cards both rounds but I was pretty out of it and made too many ***** plays so I lost.
Won 2-1 against R/G monsters Hadana's won it for me.
Won 2-1 against U/W Approach deck. Turn 1 duress where I saw he had one approach in hand, fumigate and essence scatter. I chose essence scatter so I could get a glint sleeve out and then I kept my negate ready for his approach. Countered it and killed him. Negate... damn I've missed you!
Lost 1-2 against W/R vehicles (basically mardu but with more controlly stuff) Not fond of the guy I was playing against and I kinda just wanted it to be over. He won in the end from Settle The Wreckage my flying Hydra. I did negate his Chandra which made him pretty damn salty hehe.
I feel like the deck was way better than my performance. I ****ed up quite a bit, but I feel like the blue splash made the deck stronger. I'm kinda thinking about taking Scarab God out and making room for a third Hadana's climb and 4 Gearhulks. My brain is just telling me to use Scarab God if I can. Making Gearhulks flying with Hadana's Climb would be the best case scenario because it would trample through flying blockers.
Anyway. I definitely recommend trying a bit of blue in the deck. Those negates man.... Damn they're good.
I'm just glad it seems like my bad streak of losing everything is over. I think I'm going to run this deck again next week instead of going Grixis.
I really wish I could play more though... I never feel like I get better. Oh well.
Also, Hadana's Climb is legitimately disgusting. I did 20 damage in one turn twice!
Has anyone tried Champion of Wits in Sultai Counters/Energy? The card sifting seems interesting to me.
I know I say it all the time, but Hadana's Climb is so ******* good. I need a playset asap hehe.
I think I've seen some of the Sultai lists run Champion of Wits. I kinda feel it would be counter productive in a way, unless you have it in the deck so you can throw it in the graveyard with some explore triggers. I don't know... I don't think I'm good enough to say if it's good or bad in the deck hehe.
It seems a bit slow in the deck. I'd rather have mana for other stuff by the time I have enough mana to eternalize it. I don't know I already feel like I don't have enough space for the "normal" stuff in the deck, so I'm not sure how I'd make space for it. I like the card though.
I had a night about a month ago where two of my four matches were against GPG. I was playing Dinosaurs with 4 maindeck Deathgorge Scavengers. They were godly and put me in control of Gift. I still think a nearly guaranteed 2 life and a chump or eat a removal spell is not the worst against the deck formerly known as Ramunap. Tracker seems so slow against Mono-R.
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.
What would you guys recommend swapping in and out to unleash hate on U/B and Grixis control? Fatal push and walking ballistas go out? Maybe one Jadelight ranger too?
I only have one Lifecrafter's Bestiary which is a sick card, but I don't know if I should change much in the sideboard to be honest. It's packed with utility cards. I'm just mostly having trouble seeing what I should swap out most of the time.
This is what I ran last night. (Only played against one control deck, but I think 60% of the decks were control)
4 walking ballista
4 winding Constrictor
4 Glint-Sleeve Siphoner
4 Servant of the Conduit
4 Jadelight Ranger
3 Bristling Hydra
3 Verdurous Gearhulk
1 Scarab God
Spells
3 Blossoming Defense
2 Fatal Push
2 Vraska's Contempt
2 Hadana's Climb
Lands
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Botanical Sanctum
4 Aether Hub
2 Fetid Pools
2 Foul Orchard
2 Hashep Oasis
1 Ifnir Deadlands
3 Forest
2 Swamp
3 Duress
3 Negate
2 Fatal Push
2 Vraska's Contempt
2 Cartouche of Ambition
2 Appetite for the unnatural
1 Yahenni's Expertise
I'm thinking about removing the scarab god for another gearhulk or making room for a third Hadana's Climb. I just mostly don't think I ever get around to having enough mana ready to get value from Scarab God. I should be smashing them pretty hard by the time I have it up and running. Still... It's one of those cards that I sort of feel I need to use if I have it because it's so sick.
And splashing hard for blue and only using Hadana's climb seems a bit funky. Why not also just throw Scarab in you know?
I'm also going to swap Appetite for the unnatural out with Naturalize since it's faster.
I'm also thinking about finding a different land than Ifnir Deadlands. I'm not really liking it. It feels pretty clunky to me.
For a majority Grixis/UB Control meta, I would change your board as follows:
Honestly, I could justify Champion, Scrounger or a single Spell Pierce for that meta, but ... Too much good stuff!
Sideboarding against aggressive Grixis:
UB Control: the above plus
More controlling Grixis: split the difference
I really want to see other opinions so I can steal them for the primer.
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.
You mean a Vraska planeswalker in the sideboard yeah? not a contempt. What about a Nissa, Vital Force?
I'm surprised you don't want to use negates against grixis. I figured it would be really good against them and one of the main reasons splashing blue.
I don't have any Carnage Tyrants... but I'm very close to buying two since control is so heavy right now. Maybe Nissa vital force instead of one if I don't want to spend money for it. Carnage Tyrant just seems insanely rad in the meta.
I kinda miss having spell pierce, but I think I'd rather have blossoming defense in this deck.
Yahenni's is for mono red and other small creature decks. I always felt it's been a good value card and would feel kinda naked not having access to one pseudo boardwipe, but I think the meta doesn't require having it. I just think Yahenni is cool as ***** hehe. Love Aetherborn, but it should go out.
The only token deck in my meta is my best friend who plays B/W Vampires
I'd like to keep the two Naturalize/Appetite because I ALWAYS play against the dude with the W/R vehicle deck... That dude really gets on my nerves.. Just one of those types of people who you're on totally different pages from so you of course get put in a match against each other all the time... I just need those two artifact/enchantment hate cards.
I love Vraska most for the versatility and power. I like both Nissa's and Liliana too. Chandra, too, in decks that can run her. But I don't think it's a sexual thing, really. Nissa Steward can win the game in a turn and synergizes with Jadelight. Too many good cards!
It's not that I don't like Negate. I value Duress more for the information, but it's a worse topdeck. My thinking is that Grixis has inevitability, so I want to leave enough of our engine intact to go under them. What else are you going to take out for Negate? Push is reasonable. I don't care about Whirler, but I like having some Push for their Siphoners.
The Yahenni's call seems to hinge partly on whether you need them. Can you generally blow them up anyway? Maybe it should be the third Climb? And maybe you don't mind losing to your friend as much.
Yeah, I remember now. The Naturalizes makes sense when we consider your consistent pairing against your nemesis . Vraska is way too slow against Mardu to remove Heart.
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.
my 'budget' list was strictly B/G but you'll want blue in your list in some capacity, think I 5-0'd the newbie leagues once or twice
toughest matchups were against control where they trade card for card and I get them to 1 life and they resolve Scarab God and it's over
lost a few to white control decks like Hidden Cache, or Second Sun because of multiple Settle the Wreckage/Fumigate. Don't think I ever lost to Red or creature strategies in general; maybe once to dinosaurs. I think in 50 games I never played a mirror, of any Constricter build.
2 Harsh Scrutiny
2 Duress
2 Fourth Bridge Prowler
1 Fatal Push
1 Blossoming Defense
4 Winding Constrictor
2 Kitesail Freebooter
4 Gifted Aetherborn
4 Jadelight Ranger
3 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
2 Aethersphere Harvester
1 Dreamstealer
1 Rhonas the Indomitable
2 Walking Ballista
4 Verdurous Gearhulk
1 Ghalta, Primal Hunger
1 Desert of the Glorified
4 Blooming Marsh
2 Ifnir Deadlands
4 Aether Hub
4 Foul Orchard
5 Forest
4 Swamp
my sideboard is nothing to write home about; different hand removal, Naturalize, I'll probably put in Lost Legacy somewhere when I get around to it.
thoughts on cards in my list: Fatal Push didn't do much that another card didn't do better(given my list is overloaded vs aggro, and why not? not every can drop $ on Scarabs). dead draws against control game 1 are baaaaaad, I suppose they have Siphoners. Ifnir Deadlands underperformed; mana intensive or dying to Field of Ruin, but the cycling land was solid with many Jadelight Ranger 'whiffs' being closer to an actual Divination.
Rishkar was always great! unless I had my first 3 plays removed. Rishkar into Rishkar never seemed awful. I originally started with 2 Ghalta but I think he'll be sideboard only for Dinosaurs or other non-interactives. If you to want to live the dream of 26 power on turn 4 as I did you can leave 1 in.
Even with Jadelight Rangers sometimes I couldn't muster 5 mana for on-curve Gearhulks, but they were usually excellent unless my opening 7 was 5 land 2 hulk.
I liked Harsh Scrutiny to hedge dicey 2 land keeps and the knowledge of my opponents' hand helped me maximize which 2 drop to play out if I had to bait removal to resolve snek or Gifted Aetherborn.
Dreamstealer was deece, but Magma Spray is trending up now so he'll get cut
This was all done on budget for 80~ tix I never felt I needed extra Ballistae, though not having Vraska's Contempt was/is agony.
play a blue version. and use Carnage Tyrant & Scarab God
vs UB control
-1 The Scarab God
-2 Fatal Push
-2 Walking Ballista
-1 Jadelight Ranger
+3 Duress
+2 Negate
+1 Vraska's Contempt
The whole concept for me to run them down. Use Negate and Blossoming Defense to mess with their ability to trade 1-for-1. Bristling Hydra is usually an all-star in this match.
vs Grixis control
-1 The Scarab God
-1 Jadelight Ranger
-2 Fatal Push
-1 Verdurous Gearhulk
-1 Foul Orchard
-1 Jadelight Ranger
+3 Duress
+2 Negate
+2 Vraska's Contempt
Awkwardly enough, I tend to cut a land and some of the top of my curve against Grixis control. This is a control deck that is terrified of what might happen before turn 5. I try to get a couple threats down and protect them as best I can to force the opponent to do something. Often times, one misstep in the early going is all you need to wrap up this match. You may want to only bring in 2 Duress instead of three and leave in the last Jadelight Ranger if they go to a heavy midrange plan. I could also see cutting one Walking Ballista. They usually don't generate the energy to keep Whirler Virtuoso relevant. I go back and forth on that.
I gotta say, it was nice having Bristling Hydra back in the deck. People always sort of do a "gulp" when you land one and it kinda forces them to play a certain way. I managed to get a lot of energy in every game so I had plenty to threaten multiple activations on the Hydra.
Cutting a Foul Orchard is fine by me hehe, I hate that land....
Maybe go 2 duress and 3 negate vs Grixis control? getting a turn 1 Duress is stupid good though. It won the match for me vs the U/B approach.
What's your take on Carnage Tyrant? Do you think I should get one or run 1 Vraska and Nissa instead? Would be nice not to have to buy two expensive cards hehe, but in this meta....
I got two more Hadana's Climb by the way. Thinking about running three in the deck (the last one is for my Atraxa commander deck hehe)
Deadeye Tracker might work and be cute with a snek
Approach decks don't bother me because you can clear that easy with Lost Legacy or a bunch of Duress
but Gifts decks are an impossible headache without you curving out & having disruption.
even Dispossess on Gifts doesn't end the game, they still have Wrath's to clear everything you've put out and a GY full of 'free' 4 toughness creatures which draw them more free cards or grab your stuff.
I'm going to make a spreadsheet of my testing because I'm pretty sure my Gifts matchups have been putrid, but I play against control so much more often I could have tunnel vision worrying about coin flip matches when I should worry about the 20/80.
Would maybe sense to put swap an Ifnir deadlands out with a Scavenger Grounds if your meta has lots of graveyard stuff. I rarely ever see use for the Ifnir Deadlands when I get it on the table.
I've only ever seen one dude play the God Pharaos deck at my local store so I'm not too sure what what's sick against it. It's all control and a couple of aggro decks like me. I'm more or less known as the Snake Guy now lol.
Went like ***** most of the evening. I feel like I have the same story each week hehe... I just ******* suck.
Lost 0-2 against my nemesis. Didn't get any threats going first round. He landed a solemnity turn 3 and I didn't get any of my naturalize or anything out. it was over. I hate that guy.
Lost 0-2 against green/white/blue approach. It was a weird hour of promise style deck with Approach as the main win condition. Lost first match. Didn't get him fast enough. TOTALLY flooded out second match. Only mana mana mana mana....
Won 2-1 against Grixis. It was one the sliiightly less control versions. I had a gearhulk go out on him with Hadana's Climb that he couldn't answer.
Round 2. He made a pretty good reversal and finished me off with a glorybringer. He got a chandra and Liliana out to do some damage before hand which slowed me down enough for him to do a good reversal. I will say though, I landed a Beastiary turn 3... DAMN that card rocks!!! So good! I need more of it.
Third match was really weird. I got three snakes and two Servant of the conduit on the board. Not all at once. I basically killed him slowly with my Servants lol. Weird game, but it went out alright in the end. I only used my utility creatures to beat him down.
I was glad I beat Grixis though since that's sort of the top dog right now. And the dude I beat usually ends up in the top two or three spots at my local store.
The more controlly decks won again this evening though.
I by the way took out the Scarab god in favour of a third Hadana's Climb and put a Vraska, Nissa and Beastiary in the sideboard.
I'm almost thinking about main boarding four negates at this meta because it would be ******* great hehe.
I always lose hard when I feel confident about my deck hehe... ***** sucks
Not going to do a lot of tweaking for next week as I feel the deck is WAY better than what I can do with it.
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.