First a little back story. Last week i took an Izzet control build to my local FNM for the first time, i had thought that there would be aggro decks all over and thus i had tuned my list to best combat these. Turns out i ended up playing against one Naya midrange and four control decks, three of these were UWR. Against these deck my heavy burn no counters deck didn't really stand a chance and i lost everything.
So here i am, trying to figure out what to change. My first thought was going UWR like everyone else, but i decided against that (too boring). Instead i decided that Slaughter Games and Nephalia Drownyard were probably my best options for kicking UWR control's ass.
And now i ask all of you who use this page to point out all the things that are wrong or less than optimal in this deck. And please don't hold back.
A short explanation of the deck:
Win cons are Master, AEtherling and Drownyard
The deck aims to kill all threats that enter the battlefield until it can stick an AEtherling or a Master. Augur works as an early blocker as well as a way to search for spells. The sideboard is designed to give me a better match up against fast aggro and control.
First a little back story. Last week i took an Izzet control build to my local FNM for the first time, i had thought that there would be aggro decks all over and thus i had tuned my list to best combat these. Turns out i ended up playing against one Naya midrange and four control decks, three of these were UWR. Against these deck my heavy burn no counters deck didn't really stand a chance and i lost everything.
So here i am, trying to figure out what to change. My first thought was going UWR like everyone else, but i decided against that (too boring). Instead i decided that Slaughter Games and Nephalia Drownyard were probably my best options for kicking UWR control's ass.
And now i ask all of you who use this page to point out all the things that are wrong or less than optimal in this deck. And please don't hold back.
A short explanation of the deck:
Win cons are Master, AEtherling and Drownyard
The deck aims to kill all threats that enter the battlefield until it can stick an AEtherling or a Master. Augur works as an early blocker as well as a way to search for spells. The sideboard is designed to give me a better match up against fast aggro and control.
4 Izzet Charm may be a bit much. And I am not sure I like Homicidal Seclusion..seems like a wasted spot w/ the mana cost. Probably want to go up to 2 Drownyards and add a Jace, Memory Adept to the main. Forbidden Alchemy is also good for digging...where's Snapcaster Mage ? Probably should be a 2-of at least.
With so few actual win-con cards (Aetherling/Drownyard)...Augur of Bolas can be risky if you have no way to reshuffle your deck.
Also, Dissipate can be very relevant against Reanimator and Junk Aristocrats so I'd move it to the main.
In summary, I'd probably do something like this:
-3 Augur of Bolas
-2 Izzet Charm
-1 Homicidal Seclusion
-1 Counterflux
-1 Island or Cavern
-1 Think Twice
-1 Turn/Burn
As for sideboard: 3 Slaughter Games seems to be a bit much. 1 or 2 should suffice. Rakdos's Return should likely be x1 or x2 in the SB as well. Magmaquake is a solid sweeper option as long as you don't have any of your Walkers on the field when you cast it.
I am not competitive enough to post there, but I look over at the competitive side. As a married person once told me, "I can still look". There is a thread there that is too long to read in it's entirety. This is a recent list from one of the more successful pilots.
The preferred finishers seem to be Olivia and Aetherling where they focus on winning with Aetherling game 1, then diversify their threats G2-3. Most seem to think that Aetherling is much faster than mill.
[email]ryan.and.beard@gmail.com[/email] who posted above is competitive enough to post there, so I would pay attention to his advice.
4 Izzet Charm may be a bit much. And I am not sure I like Homicidal Seclusion..seems like a wasted spot w/ the mana cost. Probably want to go up to 2 Drownyards and add a Jace, Memory Adept to the main. Forbidden Alchemy is also good for digging...where's Snapcaster Mage ? Probably should be a 2-of at least.
With so few actual win-con cards (Aetherling/Drownyard)...Augur of Bolas can be risky if you have no way to reshuffle your deck.
Also, Dissipate can be very relevant against Reanimator and Junk Aristocrats so I'd move it to the main.
In summary, I'd probably do something like this:
-3 Augur of Bolas
-2 Izzet Charm
-1 Homicidal Seclusion
-1 Counterflux
-1 Island or Cavern
-1 Think Twice
-1 Turn/Burn
As for sideboard: 3 Slaughter Games seems to be a bit much. 1 or 2 should suffice. Rakdos's Return should likely be x1 or x2 in the SB as well. Magmaquake is a solid sweeper option as long as you don't have any of your Walkers on the field when you cast it.
Thanks for the input. Is Warped Physique really that good? I would worry about it being dead too often, but i have seen others mention it as a staple blue/black removal spell.
Concerning the snapcasters, you can probably guess why they are not in there. I don't own any and they rotate soon, which is only a problem because of the ridiculous price tag on him.
Ridiculous price? I have never been happier to dish out the cash for a non mythic card, but i guess that's just because he is one of my favorite cards I've ever played with.
Thanks for the input. Is Warped Physique really that good? I would worry about it being dead too often, but i have seen others mention it as a staple blue/black removal spell.
Concerning the snapcasters, you can probably guess why they are not in there. I don't own any and they rotate soon, which is only a problem because of the ridiculous price tag on him.
Warped has been excellent for me overall. Obviously, it's better early game, but even w/ 2 or 3 cards in hand, it can be good.
Ya, I understand about the Snapcasters...they have, what, 4 months left in Standard...which is a relatively long time as far as Magic is concerned. He is worth it though if you can afford it. He really ties the room together...
I'd like to see you cut something for a few Far/Away. Izzet Charm is more of a 2 of card from my testing. I prefer Dissipate over Counterflux so that you can get rid of cards that you don't want to fight twice.
Homicidal Seclusion: This card is excellent, but if you want to run it try incorporating Trading Post and some Rakdos Keyrunes with it and you will love it you can make goats recur your artifacts and gain life which is phenominal. I have a friend that plays the deck to success locally and if you want the list I can get it for you.
And before anyone else points it out the first advice should be to learn how to spell ADVICE....
While you are correct in that he should have used the word 'advice' instead of 'advise', your insinuation that advise isn't a word shows your lack of knowledge on a subject at the very same time you are trying to sound superior in intellect to another.
If you cannot keep your mouth shut on a subject and must point out a simple and very common grammatical error (and yes, this a matter of grammar, not spelling, as you suggest), then instead of being a ***** about it, perhaps you could point out to the fellow that these words, while having nearly identical definitions, are different in that one is a noun and the other is a verb. Actually, no, you couldn't have done that since you do not know what the word advise means in the first place.
In that case, how about just shutting the **** up and post on the topic at hand, hmmm?
While you are correct in that he should have used the word 'advice' instead of 'advise', your insinuation that advise isn't a word shows your lack of knowledge on a subject at the very same time you are trying to sound superior in intellect to another.
If you cannot keep your mouth shut on a subject and must point out a simple and very common grammatical error (and yes, this a matter of grammar, not spelling, as you suggest), then instead of being a ***** about it, perhaps you could point out to the fellow that these words, while having nearly identical definitions, are different in that one is a noun and the other is a verb. Actually, no, you couldn't have done that since you do not know what the word advise means in the first place.
In that case, how about just shutting the **** up and post on the topic at hand, hmmm?
Cute, now look at who posted the comment you are angry about and then look at who opened the thread. When you have done that you may smile and cheer up again
Back on topic: Far and away might very well be awesome in this deck. It does really make life tough for hexproof. I will somehow find room for it.
Alright all of you on the spelling troll calm down. The post says advice needed so how 'bout we give it to him?
Now, I play U/W/R control because I feel like a control deck without access to powerful sweepers like Supreme Verdict and Terminus can't hold back the aggro decks standard has right now. However, I have taken quite a few stabs at grixis control and this has been for two reasons:
1. I want to have access to a resilient win con in the form on Nephalia Drownyard.
2. I want to play big daddy Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker.
So when I go about building grixis control I go big, packing pure counter and removal backed with the full 4 snapcasters, some forbidden alchemy and think twice and another good win con named Aetherling. This allows me to stay alive long enough to land myself Nicol or Aetherling with the 26 lands I will never play less than. Maybe Nicol should just be a second aetherling, but he's so much fun.
P.S. I also hate not having sphinx's revelation on grixis. But make do with what grixis can and may control live on!
Ok, so i have been doing some searching around the different threads. Other than the expected "Snapcaster is the best blue card ever" stuff, i came across people talking a lot about Izzet Staticaster in mainboard. People seem so excited about this card because it works wonders against Aristocrats and aggro as well as hosing assemble the legion which has been then finisher of choice is some UWR control lists.
I have put together this new list based on the input i have gotten from you guys here (which i have found really helpful) and i have added staticaster in main. Tell me what you think, please.
I would replace Counterflux in the mainboard with Dissipate, because it's just easier to cast. The former only really helps in the control mirror, and there aren't enough of those to justify a playset.
I'd also get rid of Tribute to Hunger. I rarely, if ever, get very much life out of this, and you may as well just play Far // Away, which is much more versatile.
I would replace Counterflux in the mainboard with Dissipate, because it's just easier to cast. The former only really helps in the control mirror, and there aren't enough of those to justify a playset.
I'd also get rid of Tribute to Hunger. I rarely, if ever, get very much life out of this, and you may as well just play Far // Away, which is much more versatile.
Today i tested the deck above against a friend who played a Simic/Selesnia aggro build with exp one, smiter and topped by advent of the wurm. And a Golgari rock like deck with Lotleth, Varolz and the like.
The deck seemed to do very well against both builds, Staticaste was MVP against the first deck. It just beats so many of the small evolvers and it couples brilliantly with turn (from turn//burn) and Ral'Zarek to take out bigger threats.
Another card that worked absolute wonders in both match ups was Far//Away, far kills advent tokens and the forced sacrifice takes out the regenerating monsters from golgari. I will certainly drop Tribute to Hunger to get two of these in main.
Three Dreadbore seems fine, but i might even go to four, i was never once unhappy to see it, it did almost as well as Far//Away.
I am really excited that the deck actually did well, i can't wait to trying it against some of the more mainstream decks
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First a little back story. Last week i took an Izzet control build to my local FNM for the first time, i had thought that there would be aggro decks all over and thus i had tuned my list to best combat these. Turns out i ended up playing against one Naya midrange and four control decks, three of these were UWR. Against these deck my heavy burn no counters deck didn't really stand a chance and i lost everything.
So here i am, trying to figure out what to change. My first thought was going UWR like everyone else, but i decided against that (too boring). Instead i decided that Slaughter Games and Nephalia Drownyard were probably my best options for kicking UWR control's ass.
This deck is what i came up with:
2x AEtherling
3x Augur of Bolas
1x Master of Cruelties
Instants
2x Counterflux
4x Think Twice
3x Turn//Burn
2x Tribute to Hunger
4x Izzet Charm
Sorceries
2x Mizzium Mortars
3x Dreadbore
4x Pillar of Flame
Enchantments
1x Homicidal Seclusion
1x Ral Zarek
1x Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Lands
4x Blood Crypt
2x Cavern of Souls
1x Desolate Lighthouse
2x Dragonskull Summit
4x Drowned Catacomb
1x Island
1x Nephalia Drownyard
4x Steam Vents
4x Sulfur Falls
4x Watery Grave
2x Counterflux
3x Dissipate
3x Izzet Staticaster
3x Rolling Temblor
3x Slaughter Games
1x Turn//Burn
And now i ask all of you who use this page to point out all the things that are wrong or less than optimal in this deck. And please don't hold back.
A short explanation of the deck:
Win cons are Master, AEtherling and Drownyard
The deck aims to kill all threats that enter the battlefield until it can stick an AEtherling or a Master. Augur works as an early blocker as well as a way to search for spells. The sideboard is designed to give me a better match up against fast aggro and control.
so pithing needle or witchbane orb.
aetherling is also stopped by pithing needle.
Depending on the type of control curse of death's hold stops lingering souls as does izzet staticaster
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
4 Izzet Charm may be a bit much. And I am not sure I like Homicidal Seclusion..seems like a wasted spot w/ the mana cost. Probably want to go up to 2 Drownyards and add a Jace, Memory Adept to the main. Forbidden Alchemy is also good for digging...where's Snapcaster Mage ? Probably should be a 2-of at least.
With so few actual win-con cards (Aetherling/Drownyard)...Augur of Bolas can be risky if you have no way to reshuffle your deck.
Also, Dissipate can be very relevant against Reanimator and Junk Aristocrats so I'd move it to the main.
In summary, I'd probably do something like this:
-3 Augur of Bolas
-2 Izzet Charm
-1 Homicidal Seclusion
-1 Counterflux
-1 Island or Cavern
-1 Think Twice
-1 Turn/Burn
+3 Snapcaster Mage
+2 Forbidden Alchemy
+1 Jace, Memory Adept
+2 Dissipate
+2 Warped Physique
As for sideboard: 3 Slaughter Games seems to be a bit much. 1 or 2 should suffice. Rakdos's Return should likely be x1 or x2 in the SB as well.
Magmaquake is a solid sweeper option as long as you don't have any of your Walkers on the field when you cast it.
2+master of cruelties
2+guttersnipes
If you have a budget, you shouldn't play magic competitively
Main Deck: What's left
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/standard-deck-creation/602378-kolaghan-dragons
trade me:
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/trading-post/details/1277-almost-done
The preferred finishers seem to be Olivia and Aetherling where they focus on winning with Aetherling game 1, then diversify their threats G2-3. Most seem to think that Aetherling is much faster than mill.
[email]ryan.and.beard@gmail.com[/email] who posted above is competitive enough to post there, so I would pay attention to his advice.
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.
Thanks for the input. Is Warped Physique really that good? I would worry about it being dead too often, but i have seen others mention it as a staple blue/black removal spell.
Concerning the snapcasters, you can probably guess why they are not in there. I don't own any and they rotate soon, which is only a problem because of the ridiculous price tag on him.
Warped has been excellent for me overall. Obviously, it's better early game, but even w/ 2 or 3 cards in hand, it can be good.
Ya, I understand about the Snapcasters...they have, what, 4 months left in Standard...which is a relatively long time as far as Magic is concerned. He is worth it though if you can afford it. He really ties the room together...
Homicidal Seclusion: This card is excellent, but if you want to run it try incorporating Trading Post and some Rakdos Keyrunes with it and you will love it you can make goats recur your artifacts and gain life which is phenominal. I have a friend that plays the deck to success locally and if you want the list I can get it for you.
While you are correct in that he should have used the word 'advice' instead of 'advise', your insinuation that advise isn't a word shows your lack of knowledge on a subject at the very same time you are trying to sound superior in intellect to another.
If you cannot keep your mouth shut on a subject and must point out a simple and very common grammatical error (and yes, this a matter of grammar, not spelling, as you suggest), then instead of being a ***** about it, perhaps you could point out to the fellow that these words, while having nearly identical definitions, are different in that one is a noun and the other is a verb. Actually, no, you couldn't have done that since you do not know what the word advise means in the first place.
In that case, how about just shutting the **** up and post on the topic at hand, hmmm?
Cute, now look at who posted the comment you are angry about and then look at who opened the thread. When you have done that you may smile and cheer up again
Back on topic: Far and away might very well be awesome in this deck. It does really make life tough for hexproof. I will somehow find room for it.
<.<
o.O
Who writes a post to be a spelling nazi about their selves? You got me ...
I hereby take back my defense of your honor!
Now, I play U/W/R control because I feel like a control deck without access to powerful sweepers like Supreme Verdict and Terminus can't hold back the aggro decks standard has right now. However, I have taken quite a few stabs at grixis control and this has been for two reasons:
1. I want to have access to a resilient win con in the form on Nephalia Drownyard.
2. I want to play big daddy Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker.
So when I go about building grixis control I go big, packing pure counter and removal backed with the full 4 snapcasters, some forbidden alchemy and think twice and another good win con named Aetherling. This allows me to stay alive long enough to land myself Nicol or Aetherling with the 26 lands I will never play less than. Maybe Nicol should just be a second aetherling, but he's so much fun.
P.S. I also hate not having sphinx's revelation on grixis. But make do with what grixis can and may control live on!
UGQuirion DelverGU
RWUhttp://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=10209544My American Control PrimerUWR
EDH
UWRZedruu ShenanigansRWU
Sig by DarkKnightCavalier
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=508252
Niv mizzet dracogenious, the sphinxes relvation of Grixis
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
I have put together this new list based on the input i have gotten from you guys here (which i have found really helpful) and i have added staticaster in main. Tell me what you think, please.
2x AEtherling
4x Izzet Staticaster
1x Master of Cruelties
1x Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
Instants
2x Counterflux
3x Think Twice
3x Turn//Burn
2x Tribute to Hunger
2x Izzet Charm
2x Forbidden Alchemy
Sorceries
2x Mizzium Mortars
3x Dreadbore
4x Pillar of Flame
1x Ral Zarek
1x Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Lands
4x Blood Crypt
2x Cavern of Souls
1x Desolate Lighthouse
2x Dragonskull Summit
4x Drowned Catacomb
1x Island
1x Nephalia Drownyard
4x Steam Vents
4x Sulfur Falls
4x Watery Grave
2x Counterflux
3x Dissipate
2x Rakdos' Return
3x Rolling Temblor
2x Slaughter Games
1x Turn//Burn
2x Far//Away
I'd also get rid of Tribute to Hunger. I rarely, if ever, get very much life out of this, and you may as well just play Far // Away, which is much more versatile.
Three Dreadbore seems like overkill.
i agree with all but dreadbore thing, keep in mind that it kills planeswalkers and anything creature
If you have a budget, you shouldn't play magic competitively
Main Deck: What's left
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/standard-deck-creation/602378-kolaghan-dragons
trade me:
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/trading-post/details/1277-almost-done
The deck seemed to do very well against both builds, Staticaste was MVP against the first deck. It just beats so many of the small evolvers and it couples brilliantly with turn (from turn//burn) and Ral'Zarek to take out bigger threats.
Another card that worked absolute wonders in both match ups was Far//Away, far kills advent tokens and the forced sacrifice takes out the regenerating monsters from golgari. I will certainly drop Tribute to Hunger to get two of these in main.
Three Dreadbore seems fine, but i might even go to four, i was never once unhappy to see it, it did almost as well as Far//Away.
I am really excited that the deck actually did well, i can't wait to trying it against some of the more mainstream decks