Have to say this, that sure looks like fun. Chandra, Sunbirds and Compass... After the match, they are going to be sitting there asking what just ran over me?
Have to say this, that sure looks like fun. Chandra, Sunbirds and Compass... After the match, they are going to be sitting there asking what just ran over me?
Not a big fan of the 3 color approach deck but surprisingly I think the R/W approach deck looks fun and very competitive. I wouldn't play 4 Chandra (1. money reasons 2.not a good win condition) but I would try to play combustible gearhulk main deck as a win condition either through damage by attacking or through damage from its ability. I would also play glorybringer main deck as well as the other alternate win condition aside from approach.
The rest of the deck looks fine except for the 1 main deck silent gravestone and 1 main deck renewed faith. Also, I feel that slaughter the strong would be a better combination with sweltering suns main deck rather than settle the wreckage.
Between magma spray and abrade you can kill small guys, sweltering suns would take care of many creatures and then you can cast slaughter to kill big guys.
Anyway, it's a pretty cool deck and quite different than other color builds for sure.
This thread is a train wreck. A lot of random off color Approach builds. And UW midrange strategies.
Thanks for changing the title. Sorry if I posted off-topic. Approach decks seems to be in flux right now with lots of good options now that Energy was brought back to Earth. I'm still running UW! It kind of feels old fashioned now.
When this thread was first created by Xaltair, it was focused on a creature based approach (sorry for the pun) to this deck. I created one that was focused on a control version, at that time straight UW. The mod's decided that they were both close enough that only one thread was required, so the merged them. I felt at that time it was a mistake and still do. Nothing against Xaltair, his version is very cool and I think could put up good results. But there is a big difference between the 2 styles of decks. Right now it is like saying 'I run a Scarab God deck, it is my main win-con'. That just covers so many different decks, play styles and strategies that it would not make sense to try and encompass them all under one thread. /rant
Headed to Memphis GP next week and still no clue what I am playing. Right now UW with Baffling End is very solid and super consistent. Not really sure if the 3rd color is needed anymore for early spot removal. But Esper and Jeskai are still very strong and have great sideboard options. The Bant, 3 and 4 colors, versions are good but I just don't have enough rep's with them to take it to a major event. And I am too used to running 8-12 counters main board. I will post my current UW list later day after I get home so you guys can let me know what you think.
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Modern
Currently Playing UW UW Control/Miracles R Skred Red
This is the list I am going to run at FNM tomorrow and will take to Memphis. I may make a few changes but this is very close. I will post my sideboard plans shortly. Let me know what you guys think.
I've been running UW for several months now with reasonable results. I used to run 2x Search for Azcanta, but recently have been experimenting with a build that runs 4x treasure map and have been pretty impressed with the maps. Yes, they die to abrade every now and again, and yes you have to pay to scry (vs. the free pseudo-scry of Search), but if you manage to get one to stick, the 3 treasures are really very good for a number of things, including (1) turning on ascend (for Arch of Orazca), (2) ramping to Approach, and (3) getting bonus mana for counterspells. Some other advantages I see with Map are that it tends to flip faster (if it will flip), it draws extra cards with Treasure Cove, they are nonlegendary, and I feel like they are less likely to draw opponents' counterspells (as compared to Search).
Has anyone else experimented with Maps for card filtering? It may be that Search is better, or that some combination of the two is optimal, but I've been pretty impressed with the maps lately. I have also recently had a couple of grindy control matchups lately in which I've been down to fewer than 10 cards in my library (with Arch, Treasure Cove, and Azor, the Lawbringer, I've been drawing a bunch of cards). Seems like another upside to Map is that you're not pitching cards into the graveyard that you might want later...
This is the list I am going to run at FNM tomorrow and will take to Memphis. I may make a few changes but this is very close. I will post my sideboard plans shortly. Let me know what you guys think.
I really like this build. FWIW, it is quite similar to my current UW deck and I've been having good results online.
Our WinCons and wraths are identical. I think 2 Torrential Gearhulks complement Approach really well in Main and essentially gives us 5 Settle the Wreckage. Also totally with you on the 2 Field of Ruin and 2 Scavenger Grounds. I happen to also run 2 Essence Scatter, for whatever reason, that seems to be the right number. Really hoping to cast that in the latter rounds anyway.
I see you run 3/3 Supreme Will/Disallow. I've been running 2/4 but have been thinking about 3/3 as well. I'm never sorry to see Disallow but there have been times I've wanted to impulse with two Disallow in hand.
I feel Baffling End is one of the most important cards in our deck. The ability to remove cards like Glint-Sleeve Siphoner and exile Dreamstealer in a cost effective manner is crucial. I want to give that dinosaur on the card a great big hug.
The only place we really deviate in Main is Censor. I'm sure you are right because the majority of UW decks run with that and Censoring Chandra, Torch of Defiance is one of my favorite plays in all of magic. For me, most of the time, Censor is just an Opt with 50% effectiveness. Opt also let's me say "yes" to shaky initial draws and for those reasons I run with 4. It is quite possible as I move to play higher tiers of magic I will change my mind, but Opt is one of my favorite cards in Standard. I think part of it comes to my own personal preference of being really frustrated if I lose because I can't find land. If I am out-played or make a dumb decision, fine, because at least I'm playing Magic. . .
Sideboard we're also quite similar. Would love to hear when you board in Fragmentize, I've seen that in other places as well.
I run with 4 Authority of the Consuls because I am almost certainly down 0-1 and one trip-up against our Red Friends and it is often game over. Also this deck is back to #1 in the meta, with lots of two color derivatives so that is my thought process. On a personal note, my son played Ramunap Red when we started Magic and I lost so many games before I learned to sideboard effectively that I basically hate that deck. Can you imagine learning magic playing Control v Ramunap? Brutal.
Nezahal, Primal Tide is great. I like having another big creature in the sideboard so bring Azor, the Lawbringer in against aggro decks. Since I've sided out some Glimmer/Azcanta in that match-up I feel the heal/card draw more important in those games.
Anyway, great deck and best wishes at the Grand Prix!
I've been running UW for several months now with reasonable results. I used to run 2x Search for Azcanta, but recently have been experimenting with a build that runs 4x treasure map and have been pretty impressed with the maps. Yes, they die to abrade every now and again, and yes you have to pay to scry (vs. the free pseudo-scry of Search), but if you manage to get one to stick, the 3 treasures are really very good for a number of things, including (1) turning on ascend (for Arch of Orazca), (2) ramping to Approach, and (3) getting bonus mana for counterspells. Some other advantages I see with Map are that it tends to flip faster (if it will flip), it draws extra cards with Treasure Cove, they are nonlegendary, and I feel like they are less likely to draw opponents' counterspells (as compared to Search).
Has anyone else experimented with Maps for card filtering? It may be that Search is better, or that some combination of the two is optimal, but I've been pretty impressed with the maps lately. I have also recently had a couple of grindy control matchups lately in which I've been down to fewer than 10 cards in my library (with Arch, Treasure Cove, and Azor, the Lawbringer, I've been drawing a bunch of cards). Seems like another upside to Map is that you're not pitching cards into the graveyard that you might want later...
Thoughts?
Hey there;
I haven't tried that. I am so used to Search for Azcanta I think I would have a hard time paying for a Scry at this point. I had Arch of Orazca in my deck for a while but it was so rarely used I took it out.
This is the list I am going to run at FNM tomorrow and will take to Memphis. I may make a few changes but this is very close. I will post my sideboard plans shortly. Let me know what you guys think.
Have you tried doing 2 Cast out and 2 Ixalan's Binding main deck instead of a 3-1 ration? I usually sideboard 2 bindings in and play 2 cast out main deck and it has worked great for me.
Also, I'm on the 3 Fumigate and 3 Settle the wreckage as well as 3 Baffling ends main deck as well. I don't play Censors at all though, I have never liked them in control builds and I think they are better in a tempo deck like Merfolk or energy decks. So, although I am on the ten counterspells in a deck train the counters in my deck are:
I used to play 4 Essence scatters main deck but now I cut down to 3 because I replaced one with the 3rd baffling end. I really like having 2 Negates main deck so if that people do keep a counter back for my 2nd casting of Approach I can wait to get 9 mana and then I can cast approach with Negate back up, and in the early game I can use Negate against planeswalkers or random artifacts/enchantments.
I feel that if you test play maybe 3 Negates main instead of 3 censors you might actually like that build more, I know censor can be cycled and can counter a variety of spells but it's pretty much dead after turn 4-5 and you have to cycle it only, while negate is good until the end of the game.
I don't have much to say about the sideboard since it's totally different from mine but as you know I change to a creature sideboard which makes my deck a U/W aggro deck after sideboarding. Game 1 I have only 4 creatures main deck, 3 Champion of wits and 1 Nezahal, but after sideboarding I have 13 creatures.
Here's my sideboard anyways if you want to try it out at FNM:
So, starting on turn 3 the deck can drop creatures, and Vizier of deferment is a bomb sometime, exiling an attacker and blocking another attacker, if you get to exile a bomat courier then the player will lose the cards under it.
( If Bomat Courier leaves the battlefield before you activate its last ability, any cards exiled by its triggered ability remain exiled face down for the rest of the game. If you somehow return the same Bomat Courier card to the battlefield, it will be a different object with no connection to those face-down cards.)
Against mono red they can cast bomat on turn 1, then on turn 2 I can essence scatter or baffling end whatever creature they cast, and on turn 3 when they atack with bomat and grab the 3rd card to put under it I can cast vizier of deferment, exile the bomat and block whatever other creature they have, if they don't sack bomat that turn to get the 3 cards they lose them, so it's the best possible play on turn 3 against mono red aggro.
Not to mention that vizier also kills tokens made by the scarab god since they get exiled and disappear forever, so it is a truly awesome card, or you can exile your own creatures after attacking or blocking and get their ETB abilities agLet.
LEt me know if you decided to use any of my suggestions main deck or in the sideboard and how it went for you.
Smashed Esper Approach and BW Approach last night at FNM. Lost to Mardu vehicles. Lost a tight match to a home brew UW embalm deck that had Oketra's Monument and Favorable winds. Then dropped out.
Easy easy wins vs the other Approach decks going 2-0 in both matches. And closing out both in under 20 minutes.
In both the Approach matches I was able to hit my Approach on turn 7. On turn 8 draw a card drop a land pass the turn. End step of opponent' turn sacrifice Ipnu Rivulet, cycle cast out or censor. Untap and draw my Approach
Went 3-0-2 at FNM to make top 8, then we all split. Changed the list I posted a few days ago some. Swapped the 3 Censor with 3 Opt to see how it worked and was very impressed. Never really missed the counter. Also tuned the deck to be a little better against aggro and midrange (ran 4 Essence Scatter, 2 Disallow, and 3 Supreme Will) but only played one aggro deck, which I just ran over. The other 4 where all control, had to laugh a little.
That was the first time running UW in awhile. I really like how smooth straight UW ran. I can't remember a single time I didn't have the right color mana to case what was in my hand. My only issue with the deck was how slow it was. It just felt like it took forever to finish each game. I would get control around turn 4-6 but then just could not close it out. Maybe just my matchups or just me.
The control matchups came down to who landed a Search first and who could flip it the fastest. Once one player had a flipped Search, it was really hard to beat them. The Cast Out/Ixalans Binding and 2 Field of Ruin did work all night.
I will keep tweaking the numbers some and will post my final list before next weekend.
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Modern
Currently Playing UW UW Control/Miracles R Skred Red
@Hobbits73 - I tried out last night, running 3 Opts instead of Censor and really liked it. Opt did so much work and really helped to smooth out my early hands I think I am going to keep it like that for now. May go back to Censor before the GP but will have to see.
I swapped the 2 Fragmentize out for a Forsake the Worldly in the sideboard. The 2 main reasons are it is instant, meaning gearhulk and flash it back and it exiles instead of destroy. I know it cost 3 instead of 1 but I like it better.
Ran 1 Nezahal, Primal Tide in the side also and love it each time it hit the board. Even talked to a friend last night about adding one main. Had Azor also but never had a chance to play him.
@Kpal - I like Thopter Arrest just not sure what I would cut to add it. Currently running 7 enchantment-based removal , 3 baffle, 4 cast out/binding and don't think I would want to change those numbers much.
And are you still running a Jeskai list or did you go back to UW? Gratz on the nice finish.
@xaltair - Yes, I go back and forth between 3/1 split of Cast Out and Bindings and a 2/2. I think it just comes down to personal preference and your meta what the right call is.
34 spells:
4 farm/market
4 baffling end
4 cast out
4 thaumatic compass
4 disallow
3 search for azcanta
3 approach of the second sun
3 fumigate
3 settle the wreckage
2 pull from tomorrow
15 sideboard:
1 Jace's Defeat
3 Negate
1 River's Rebuke
1 Nezahal Primal Tide
3 Gideon of the Trials
4 Forsake the Worldy
2 Authority of the Consuls
------------------------------
My key card is Thaumatic Compass.
But in the endgame Aftermath Market is very essential.
I'll post later my sideboard againts our meta in our local gamestore.
Thanks for the list Ryder. Its interesting
Four Farm // Market is not a number that anyone is expecting to see. How well do you like tapping out on the opponent's attack phase? It looks like your list is geared toward answering the board rather than keeping threats from resolving
But in the endgame Aftermath Market is very essential.
I'll post later my sideboard againts our meta in our local gamestore.
Nice, I wanted to go up to 3 thaumatic compass in my build too but I just couldn't find anything to take out so that's why I stuck with 2.
I am a huge proponent of that card ever since Ixalan came out so I'm glad you're doing so good with it. Once you hit 7 lands you can cast it for 2 mana and flip it the same turn to keep some creatures at bay, and if you have 3 flipped ones then it's pretty hard for the opp to get anything through unless they're playing a token deck.
I might even try to run 3 from now on and see how that works out in my deck.
As for your sideboard, I don't think that forsake the worldly is needed anymore, it would be good to play Ixalan's binding instead, that's what I'm doing. It's one mana more expensive and not an instant but it hits more than just enchantments/artifacts, it also hits planeswalkers which is really good.
I went to our local game store last sunday feb 18 for our pptq and i went top 8 again with that list above.
I included there 4 forsake the worldy because of mardu vehicles.
I lost at the top quarterfinals vs UW Auras Deck.
Game 1 vs UW Aura
I lost
2 mana only mana screwed
Game 2 vs UW Aura
I won
Settle
Fumigate
Approach x 2
Game 3 vs UW Aura
Mana Flood
I lost
These are my matches (elimination)
Game 1 vs Mardu Vehicles (2-1)
Game 2 vs Grixis Control (2-1)
Game 3 vs Bant Approach (2-0)
Game 4 vs Grixis Mid Range (1-2)
-----------------------------
I will be testing my updated uw deck list tomorrow
Here's my list:
25 Lands:
1 Arch of Orazca
3 Field of Ruin
4 Ipnu Rivulet
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Irrigated Farmland
2 Islands
7 Plains
35 Spells:
4 Search for Azcanta
4 Thaumatic Compass
4 Cast Out
4 Disallow
4 Supreme Will
3 Approach of the Second Sun
3 Settle the Wreckage
3 Fumigate
3 Gideon of the Trials
2 Azor the Lawbringer
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
15 Sideboard:
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
4 Negate
1 Jace's Defeat
3 Silent Gravestone
3 Forsake the Wordly
3 Authority of the Consuls
------------------------------
SIDEBOARDING PLANS:
VS Aggro Decks
In:
3 Authority of the Consuls
Out:
3 Disallow
If theres vehicle:
In:
3 Authority of the Consuls
3 Forsake the Wordly
Out:
4 Disallow
2 Search for Azcanta
If theres Lost Legacy
In:
4 Negate
Out:
Additional 2 Search and 2 Supreme Will
Vs Control Decks:
In:
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
1 Jace's Defeat
4 Negate
Out:
Creature-Base Spells
------------------------------
I add 3 silent gravestones because theres so many grixis deck around with Scarab God. Also to protect Azor the Lawbringer if he is at my graveyard.
------------------------------
I love 4 search the azcanta now... possible 2nd turn azcanta.
Have to say this, that sure looks like fun. Chandra, Sunbirds and Compass... After the match, they are going to be sitting there asking what just ran over me?
Also this is a pretty interesting version of Esper Approach, ESPER APPROACH DECK, BY DANIEL CRAVO
Modern
Currently Playing
UW UW Control/Miracles
R Skred Red
Retired
BU Faeries
RGW Naya Burn
BW B/W Tokens
C Long Live Eldrazi C
That said, I built the RW list online and it’s indeed fun. And good.
Not a big fan of the 3 color approach deck but surprisingly I think the R/W approach deck looks fun and very competitive. I wouldn't play 4 Chandra (1. money reasons 2.not a good win condition) but I would try to play combustible gearhulk main deck as a win condition either through damage by attacking or through damage from its ability. I would also play glorybringer main deck as well as the other alternate win condition aside from approach.
The rest of the deck looks fine except for the 1 main deck silent gravestone and 1 main deck renewed faith. Also, I feel that slaughter the strong would be a better combination with sweltering suns main deck rather than settle the wreckage.
Between magma spray and abrade you can kill small guys, sweltering suns would take care of many creatures and then you can cast slaughter to kill big guys.
Anyway, it's a pretty cool deck and quite different than other color builds for sure.
Check out my Youtube channel where I upload MTG content videos twice a week!
Mtg Lifestyle
Thanks for changing the title. Sorry if I posted off-topic. Approach decks seems to be in flux right now with lots of good options now that Energy was brought back to Earth. I'm still running UW! It kind of feels old fashioned now.
C Long Live Eldrazi C
If you want to talk about RW or Cycling Approach, please create a thread in SDC.
UW Approach players, stay the course.
-- Lugger
Headed to Memphis GP next week and still no clue what I am playing. Right now UW with Baffling End is very solid and super consistent. Not really sure if the 3rd color is needed anymore for early spot removal. But Esper and Jeskai are still very strong and have great sideboard options. The Bant, 3 and 4 colors, versions are good but I just don't have enough rep's with them to take it to a major event. And I am too used to running 8-12 counters main board. I will post my current UW list later day after I get home so you guys can let me know what you think.
Modern
Currently Playing
UW UW Control/Miracles
R Skred Red
Retired
BU Faeries
RGW Naya Burn
BW B/W Tokens
C Long Live Eldrazi C
Thanks
3 Approach of the Second Sun
2 Torrential Gearhulk
Removal
3 Baffling End
3 Cast Out
1 Ixalan's Binding
Counters
3 Censor
3 Disallow
2 Essence Scatter
3 Supreme Will
Board Wipes
3 Settle the Wreckage
3 Fumigate
3 Glimmer of Genius
1 Pull from Tomorrow
Utility
2 Search for Azcanta
Lands
1 Arch of Orazca
2 Field of Ruin
2 Scavenger Grounds
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Irrigated Farmland
6 Island
7 Plains
3 Authority of the Consuls
2 Aether Meltdown
2 Fragmentize
4 Negate
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
3 Regal Caracal
Modern
Currently Playing
UW UW Control/Miracles
R Skred Red
Retired
BU Faeries
RGW Naya Burn
BW B/W Tokens
Has anyone else experimented with Maps for card filtering? It may be that Search is better, or that some combination of the two is optimal, but I've been pretty impressed with the maps lately. I have also recently had a couple of grindy control matchups lately in which I've been down to fewer than 10 cards in my library (with Arch, Treasure Cove, and Azor, the Lawbringer, I've been drawing a bunch of cards). Seems like another upside to Map is that you're not pitching cards into the graveyard that you might want later...
Thoughts?
pumpmonkey;
I really like this build. FWIW, it is quite similar to my current UW deck and I've been having good results online.
Our WinCons and wraths are identical. I think 2 Torrential Gearhulks complement Approach really well in Main and essentially gives us 5 Settle the Wreckage. Also totally with you on the 2 Field of Ruin and 2 Scavenger Grounds. I happen to also run 2 Essence Scatter, for whatever reason, that seems to be the right number. Really hoping to cast that in the latter rounds anyway.
I see you run 3/3 Supreme Will/Disallow. I've been running 2/4 but have been thinking about 3/3 as well. I'm never sorry to see Disallow but there have been times I've wanted to impulse with two Disallow in hand.
I feel Baffling End is one of the most important cards in our deck. The ability to remove cards like Glint-Sleeve Siphoner and exile Dreamstealer in a cost effective manner is crucial. I want to give that dinosaur on the card a great big hug.
The only place we really deviate in Main is Censor. I'm sure you are right because the majority of UW decks run with that and Censoring Chandra, Torch of Defiance is one of my favorite plays in all of magic. For me, most of the time, Censor is just an Opt with 50% effectiveness. Opt also let's me say "yes" to shaky initial draws and for those reasons I run with 4. It is quite possible as I move to play higher tiers of magic I will change my mind, but Opt is one of my favorite cards in Standard. I think part of it comes to my own personal preference of being really frustrated if I lose because I can't find land. If I am out-played or make a dumb decision, fine, because at least I'm playing Magic. . .
Sideboard we're also quite similar. Would love to hear when you board in Fragmentize, I've seen that in other places as well.
I run with 4 Authority of the Consuls because I am almost certainly down 0-1 and one trip-up against our Red Friends and it is often game over. Also this deck is back to #1 in the meta, with lots of two color derivatives so that is my thought process. On a personal note, my son played Ramunap Red when we started Magic and I lost so many games before I learned to sideboard effectively that I basically hate that deck. Can you imagine learning magic playing Control v Ramunap? Brutal.
Nezahal, Primal Tide is great. I like having another big creature in the sideboard so bring Azor, the Lawbringer in against aggro decks. Since I've sided out some Glimmer/Azcanta in that match-up I feel the heal/card draw more important in those games.
Anyway, great deck and best wishes at the Grand Prix!
Hey there;
I haven't tried that. I am so used to Search for Azcanta I think I would have a hard time paying for a Scry at this point. I had Arch of Orazca in my deck for a while but it was so rarely used I took it out.
Have you tried doing 2 Cast out and 2 Ixalan's Binding main deck instead of a 3-1 ration? I usually sideboard 2 bindings in and play 2 cast out main deck and it has worked great for me.
Also, I'm on the 3 Fumigate and 3 Settle the wreckage as well as 3 Baffling ends main deck as well. I don't play Censors at all though, I have never liked them in control builds and I think they are better in a tempo deck like Merfolk or energy decks. So, although I am on the ten counterspells in a deck train the counters in my deck are:
I used to play 4 Essence scatters main deck but now I cut down to 3 because I replaced one with the 3rd baffling end. I really like having 2 Negates main deck so if that people do keep a counter back for my 2nd casting of Approach I can wait to get 9 mana and then I can cast approach with Negate back up, and in the early game I can use Negate against planeswalkers or random artifacts/enchantments.
I feel that if you test play maybe 3 Negates main instead of 3 censors you might actually like that build more, I know censor can be cycled and can counter a variety of spells but it's pretty much dead after turn 4-5 and you have to cycle it only, while negate is good until the end of the game.
I don't have much to say about the sideboard since it's totally different from mine but as you know I change to a creature sideboard which makes my deck a U/W aggro deck after sideboarding. Game 1 I have only 4 creatures main deck, 3 Champion of wits and 1 Nezahal, but after sideboarding I have 13 creatures.
Here's my sideboard anyways if you want to try it out at FNM:
So, starting on turn 3 the deck can drop creatures, and Vizier of deferment is a bomb sometime, exiling an attacker and blocking another attacker, if you get to exile a bomat courier then the player will lose the cards under it.
( If Bomat Courier leaves the battlefield before you activate its last ability, any cards exiled by its triggered ability remain exiled face down for the rest of the game. If you somehow return the same Bomat Courier card to the battlefield, it will be a different object with no connection to those face-down cards.)
Against mono red they can cast bomat on turn 1, then on turn 2 I can essence scatter or baffling end whatever creature they cast, and on turn 3 when they atack with bomat and grab the 3rd card to put under it I can cast vizier of deferment, exile the bomat and block whatever other creature they have, if they don't sack bomat that turn to get the 3 cards they lose them, so it's the best possible play on turn 3 against mono red aggro.
Not to mention that vizier also kills tokens made by the scarab god since they get exiled and disappear forever, so it is a truly awesome card, or you can exile your own creatures after attacking or blocking and get their ETB abilities agLet.
LEt me know if you decided to use any of my suggestions main deck or in the sideboard and how it went for you.
Check out my Youtube channel where I upload MTG content videos twice a week!
Mtg Lifestyle
Here some Enchantments and Artifacts it cant hit:
Also, what are opinions of adding a card like Thopter Arrest to help deal with problematic threats Rekindling Phoenix, Hazoret, and The Scarab God?
C Long Live Eldrazi C
Easy easy wins vs the other Approach decks going 2-0 in both matches. And closing out both in under 20 minutes.
In both the Approach matches I was able to hit my Approach on turn 7. On turn 8 draw a card drop a land pass the turn. End step of opponent' turn sacrifice Ipnu Rivulet, cycle cast out or censor. Untap and draw my Approach
C Long Live Eldrazi C
That was the first time running UW in awhile. I really like how smooth straight UW ran. I can't remember a single time I didn't have the right color mana to case what was in my hand. My only issue with the deck was how slow it was. It just felt like it took forever to finish each game. I would get control around turn 4-6 but then just could not close it out. Maybe just my matchups or just me.
The control matchups came down to who landed a Search first and who could flip it the fastest. Once one player had a flipped Search, it was really hard to beat them. The Cast Out/Ixalans Binding and 2 Field of Ruin did work all night.
I will keep tweaking the numbers some and will post my final list before next weekend.
Modern
Currently Playing
UW UW Control/Miracles
R Skred Red
Retired
BU Faeries
RGW Naya Burn
BW B/W Tokens
I swapped the 2 Fragmentize out for a Forsake the Worldly in the sideboard. The 2 main reasons are it is instant, meaning gearhulk and flash it back and it exiles instead of destroy. I know it cost 3 instead of 1 but I like it better.
Ran 1 Nezahal, Primal Tide in the side also and love it each time it hit the board. Even talked to a friend last night about adding one main. Had Azor also but never had a chance to play him.
@Kpal - I like Thopter Arrest just not sure what I would cut to add it. Currently running 7 enchantment-based removal , 3 baffle, 4 cast out/binding and don't think I would want to change those numbers much.
And are you still running a Jeskai list or did you go back to UW? Gratz on the nice finish.
@xaltair - Yes, I go back and forth between 3/1 split of Cast Out and Bindings and a 2/2. I think it just comes down to personal preference and your meta what the right call is.
Modern
Currently Playing
UW UW Control/Miracles
R Skred Red
Retired
BU Faeries
RGW Naya Burn
BW B/W Tokens
Been running uw approach with this deck list...
2 x first at standard showdown
1 x 4th place at PPTQ last week (28 players)
1 x 8th place at PPTQ yesterday (26 players)
Heres my list
26 lands:
1 scavenger grounds
1 arch of orazca
4 irrigated farmland
4 glacial fortress
4 island
10 plains
2 ipnu rivulet
34 spells:
4 farm/market
4 baffling end
4 cast out
4 thaumatic compass
4 disallow
3 search for azcanta
3 approach of the second sun
3 fumigate
3 settle the wreckage
2 pull from tomorrow
15 sideboard:
1 Jace's Defeat
3 Negate
1 River's Rebuke
1 Nezahal Primal Tide
3 Gideon of the Trials
4 Forsake the Worldy
2 Authority of the Consuls
------------------------------
My key card is Thaumatic Compass.
But in the endgame Aftermath Market is very essential.
I'll post later my sideboard againts our meta in our local gamestore.
Four Farm // Market is not a number that anyone is expecting to see. How well do you like tapping out on the opponent's attack phase? It looks like your list is geared toward answering the board rather than keeping threats from resolving
1 scavenger grounds
1 arch of orazca
4 irrigated farmland
4 glacial fortress
4 island
10 plains
2 ipnu rivulet
Spells 34
4 farm // market
4 baffling end
4 cast out
4 thaumatic compass
4 disallow
3 search for azcanta
3 approach of the second sun
3 fumigate
3 settle the wreckage
2 pull from tomorrow
1 Jace's Defeat
3 Negate
1 River's Rebuke
1 Nezahal Primal Tide
3 Gideon of the Trials
4 Forsake the Worldly
2 Authority of the Consuls
C Long Live Eldrazi C
Nice, I wanted to go up to 3 thaumatic compass in my build too but I just couldn't find anything to take out so that's why I stuck with 2.
I am a huge proponent of that card ever since Ixalan came out so I'm glad you're doing so good with it. Once you hit 7 lands you can cast it for 2 mana and flip it the same turn to keep some creatures at bay, and if you have 3 flipped ones then it's pretty hard for the opp to get anything through unless they're playing a token deck.
I might even try to run 3 from now on and see how that works out in my deck.
As for your sideboard, I don't think that forsake the worldly is needed anymore, it would be good to play Ixalan's binding instead, that's what I'm doing. It's one mana more expensive and not an instant but it hits more than just enchantments/artifacts, it also hits planeswalkers which is really good.
Congrats on the top 4 and top 8 with this deck!
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Mtg Lifestyle
I went to our local game store last sunday feb 18 for our pptq and i went top 8 again with that list above.
I included there 4 forsake the worldy because of mardu vehicles.
I lost at the top quarterfinals vs UW Auras Deck.
Game 1 vs UW Aura
I lost
2 mana only mana screwed
Game 2 vs UW Aura
I won
Settle
Fumigate
Approach x 2
Game 3 vs UW Aura
Mana Flood
I lost
These are my matches (elimination)
Game 1 vs Mardu Vehicles (2-1)
Game 2 vs Grixis Control (2-1)
Game 3 vs Bant Approach (2-0)
Game 4 vs Grixis Mid Range (1-2)
-----------------------------
I will be testing my updated uw deck list tomorrow
Here's my list:
25 Lands:
1 Arch of Orazca
3 Field of Ruin
4 Ipnu Rivulet
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Irrigated Farmland
2 Islands
7 Plains
35 Spells:
4 Search for Azcanta
4 Thaumatic Compass
4 Cast Out
4 Disallow
4 Supreme Will
3 Approach of the Second Sun
3 Settle the Wreckage
3 Fumigate
3 Gideon of the Trials
2 Azor the Lawbringer
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
15 Sideboard:
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
4 Negate
1 Jace's Defeat
3 Silent Gravestone
3 Forsake the Wordly
3 Authority of the Consuls
------------------------------
SIDEBOARDING PLANS:
VS Aggro Decks
In:
3 Authority of the Consuls
Out:
3 Disallow
If theres vehicle:
In:
3 Authority of the Consuls
3 Forsake the Wordly
Out:
4 Disallow
2 Search for Azcanta
If theres Lost Legacy
In:
4 Negate
Out:
Additional 2 Search and 2 Supreme Will
Vs Control Decks:
In:
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
1 Jace's Defeat
4 Negate
Out:
Creature-Base Spells
------------------------------
I add 3 silent gravestones because theres so many grixis deck around with Scarab God. Also to protect Azor the Lawbringer if he is at my graveyard.
------------------------------
I love 4 search the azcanta now... possible 2nd turn azcanta.
------------------------------
Ill give you updates soon after the tourney..
Tnx
2 Torrential Gearhulk
Spells 33
3 Approach of the Second Sun
3 Fumigate
3 Censor
2 Disallow
4 Essence Scatter
1 Farm // Market
3 Glimmer of Genius
1 Hieroglyphic Illumination
1 Pull from Tomorrow
3 Settle the Wreckage
3 Supreme Will
4 Cast Out
2 Search for Azcanta
2 Field of Ruin
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Ipnu Rivulet
4 Irrigated Farmland
3 Island
6 Plains
2 Scavenger Grounds
Also of note that it is now common for UW Suns to main deck two T-Hulk
C Long Live Eldrazi C