For JVL's article: look here Around the Block: a look at Block Constructed
I thought that perhaps we could use block constructed to speculate about future decks.
Archangel of Thune: This could reshape the deck to work a bit more on lifegain. Even with no reshaping, Trostani is insane with this, and a walking, lifelinking Gavony Township is certainly not a bad thing. Ajani, Caller of the Pride: This card is a sizable beating, as flying and doublestrike allow for huge damage swings. I'm not as sure about this one as I am about the angel. Imposing Sovereign: incredible... this card is scary
Burning Earth: punishes most decks in the format for playing spells Chandra, Pyromaster: good sideboard card against midrange and control Mutavault: good filler land
Scavenging Ooze: Lifegain and a large value creature... pure gold. Elvish Mystic: At least it's better than Deathrite Shaman. Polukranos, the World Eater: removal and beatstick Archangel of Thune: This allows the deck to play some basics if it chooses to forgo the Ghost Daddy for this. It's a walking township that has a few synergies. Doom Blade: cheap removal
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EDH Decks UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition) WRKalemne's Angels BRUG Yidris's Wild Party UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys UBRThe Pretender
i see the following being guaranteed to be good post rotation
esper
tokens
red variants (either it being grull, rdw, domri rade.dek)
golgari variants
everything else is a bit up in the air. i have a feeling theros will be supporting green and white decks and hating on control mainly so things will change. i dont think red is that great atm outside of aggro decks, so i dont think uwr will be that great since black has way better options than red post rotation.
Jace, Architect of Thought should make much more of an impact on the new Standard. It was heavily played in block so unless Theros has an even better blue planeswalker it will shoot up.
RDW is already impressive in block as others have mentioned so Theros will only improve this even more.
I think, based on the decks currently popular, that Burning Earth will be huge, so many disenchants will be in sideboards. Tokens might sideboard Naturalize to threaten Ratchet Bomb.
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Avatar by Disappointing Signet Inc
EDH Decks UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition) WRKalemne's Angels BRUG Yidris's Wild Party UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys UBRThe Pretender
I think, based on the decks currently popular, that Burning Earth will be huge, so many disenchants will be in sideboards. Tokens might sideboard Naturalize to threaten Ratchet Bomb.
I think the effectiveness of Burning Earth depends on the number of 3+ color decks. I think it takes a hit upon initial rotation, when people will be playing 2-color or monocolor. Then Burning Earth sees less play, people move to 3+ color decks, Burning Earth sees more play, rinse and repeat.
Given recent results, I think Aggro and Control are both big things. I feel like the sideboard options are enough to deal with Burning Earth, so I feel like the war is between aggro and control. Given that Doom Blade and Scavenging Ooze are both in M14, I wouldn't be surprised if more Junk esque decks exist in standard.
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Avatar by Disappointing Signet Inc
EDH Decks UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition) WRKalemne's Angels BRUG Yidris's Wild Party UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys UBRThe Pretender
I think bant could be pretty good, voice, ooze, smiter, jace, verdict, angel of thune, sphinx's, urban evolution, the 2 best charms, detention sphere, etc. I mean the deck already is fringe of T1 and rotation you lose all the powerhouse 4/5s that kinda make that deck bad right now. If the format slows down at all it seems like it could be pretty potent if you're able to start mixing in cards like advent of the wurm, trostani, armada wurm, prime speaker zegana, AoS, etc.
Naturalize doesnt fight ratchet bomb in tokens. It just cracks straight away
It forces it to crack. Later, you can spam tokens.
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Avatar by Disappointing Signet Inc
EDH Decks UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition) WRKalemne's Angels BRUG Yidris's Wild Party UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys UBRThe Pretender
Avatar by Disappointing Signet Inc
EDH Decks UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition) WRKalemne's Angels BRUG Yidris's Wild Party UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys UBRThe Pretender
As opposed to not running it in some number anyway? One of the main reasons the Sphere isn't seen much these days is because of the interplay between Oblivion Ring and Renounce the Guilds.
With Oblivion Ring rotating I would be surprised to not see Detention Sphere in some number in the 75's of control lists that can run it, Voice be damned.
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Avatar by Disappointing Signet Inc
EDH Decks UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition) WRKalemne's Angels BRUG Yidris's Wild Party UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys UBRThe Pretender
Grixis remains the strongest Control Deck going into rotation yet will still be criminally underplayed, if played at all, due to UW's absurd popularity despite being the inferior list as of late.
Hardly new "tech" as RDW has been splashing U for weeks now to primarily get access to a shock( Burn )while very seldom being able to fuse the card for added value.
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That looks pretty good actually. Also junk seems to be doing pretty well, any chance you might have a stock list for that? We also know that U/W is going to survive, but can it stand on its own or does it need a 3rd color?
Thanks TOG!! That looks pretty good actually. Also junk seems to be doing pretty well, any chance you might have a stock list for that? We also know that U/W is going to survive, but can it stand on its own or does it need a 3rd color?
*Please combine the posts MODS, I apologize I must have hit the send button again*
Grixis and Dega are where I am looking to be after rotation.
Grixis has a plethora of tools available to it that are just powerful. The biggest reason why I want Grixis over UW though, is the power blue has going for it.
Sphinx's Revelation is powerful and Grixis seems to be quite capable of just trumping this card with a pretty insane level of efficiency.
Grixis and Dega are where I am looking to be after rotation.
Grixis has a plethora of tools available to it that are just powerful. The biggest reason why I want Grixis over UW though, is the power blue has going for it.
Sphinx's Revelation is powerful and Grixis seems to be quite capable of just trumping this card with a pretty insane level of efficiency.
I'm looking at those Grixis lists, and I don't see how they're anymore powerful than UB (assuming we get a B wrath in Theros) splashing Godless Shrine for Sphinx's, or straight UW. In block, you don't have to deal with Manabarbs, and you can live with a slower manabase (look at all those guildgates, and assuming the duals in Theros aren't going to be so much better). Those two things means that Grixis while powerful in Block format, is not going to be as good in T2.
I'm hitching my wagon to UB Sphinx's for now, hoping for a Damnation reprint.
Thanks TOG!! That looks pretty good actually. Also junk seems to be doing pretty well, any chance you might have a stock list for that? We also know that U/W is going to survive, but can it stand on its own or does it need a 3rd color?
For all intents and purposes Doran/Junk is nonexistent, which seems strange as I really think GBW as a shard has allot going for it atm.
I'm actually quite surprised that it has been as poorly positioned as it was this past season, but hey, the strongest control deck in the format was completely overlooked at the previous pro tour, so take from that what you may.
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Strictly speaking from a block perspective. BRU is so much more powerful than just UB it's not even close. Granted control might look very very different once Theros rolls out but it would take a obscene jump in powerlevel for me to consider plain UB over the generally more diverse/ie powerful options.
If I really had to stick to dual colors for some reason or another it would probably be UR as it gives me access to more Walkers while also giving me more options against control or aggro. But that's just personal preference on my part.
Strictly speaking from a block perspective. BRU is so much more powerful than just UB it's not even close. Granted control might look very very different once Theros rolls out but it would take a obscene jump in powerlevel for me to consider plain UB over the generally more diverse/ie powerful options.
If I really had to stick to dual colors for some reason or another it would probably be UR as it gives me access to more Walkers while also giving me more options against control or aggro. But that's just personal preference on my part.
Again, that's only talking about block, not taking into account the core set, which gives 3 color decks a lot of headaches. Of course, adding a color will on the face, be more powerful because you have more cards to choose from (esp. when you have UB all ready and just add a third color), but there is something to be said for consistency as power. What's all that power good for if you're consistently a turn or two behind due to CITPT lands (Guildgates), or worse, not being able to cast your cards because you don't have the requisite mana.
Also, I'd wager that we have enough spot-removal in UB to not warrant having to add a third color, esp. with things like Lifebane Zombie that we want to hit on T3.
Honestly, in a control shell, LoTDR is probably as good as Ral Zarek. Though, to be honest, I don't think either Grixis, or UB can be competitive if B does not get a competently costed wrath effect in Theros. Also, I think the deck gets more from Sphinx's Revelation than anything red offers, while also not being too bad for the manabase considering it still offers swamps for Mutilate (while its still legal).
The only card on that list that genuinely would be main deckable and that I'd want is Dreadbore because the deck as is right now, is pretty weak to PW's.
As far as the walker comment, I don't see the effectiveness of Ral Zarek, or Chandra, Pyromaster. At least not enough to drop removal, or card draw for it. If they were legitimate win-cons like Elspeth, or Gideon Jura, then sure, or just Control All-stars like JtMS/Jace Beleren...but they're not.
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Around the Block: a look at Block Constructed
I thought that perhaps we could use block constructed to speculate about future decks.
9 Forest
7 Plains
4 Selesnya Guildgate
4 Temple Garden
4 Experiment One
4 Gyre Sage
4 Loxodon Smiter
3 Trostani Selesnya's Voice
4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Call of the Conclave
2 Rootborn Defenses
3 Selesnya Charm
4 Centaur Healer
3 Gideon, Champion of Justice
2 Gift of Orzhova
1 Selesnya Charm
1 Trosatani, Selesnya's Voice
4 Unflinching Courage
9 Forest
9 Plains
1 Selesnya Guildgate
4 Temple Garden
4 Dryad Militant
4 Experiment One
4 Judge's Familiar
4 Loxodon Smiter
4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Call of the Conclave
1 Civic Saber
4 Rootborn Defenses
4 Selesnya Charm
2 Druid's Deliverance
1 Gift of Orzhova
2 Glaring Spotlight
4 Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
4 Unflinching Courage
2 Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage
Archangel of Thune: This could reshape the deck to work a bit more on lifegain. Even with no reshaping, Trostani is insane with this, and a walking, lifelinking Gavony Township is certainly not a bad thing.
Ajani, Caller of the Pride: This card is a sizable beating, as flying and doublestrike allow for huge damage swings. I'm not as sure about this one as I am about the angel.
Imposing Sovereign: incredible... this card is scary
3 Breeding Pool
5 Forest
4 Golgari Guildgate
4 Overgrown Tomb
7 Swamp
1 Watery Grave
1 Blood Srivener
4 Deadbridge Goliath
4 Dreg Mangler
4 Dryad Militant
4 Experiment One
1 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
4 Lotleth Troll
4 Voralz, the Scar Striped
2 Far // Away
4 Putrefy
2 Far // Away
2 Gaze of Granite
4 Gift of Orzhova
3 Golgari Charm
4 Underworld Connections
Shadowborn Demon: a potential curb topper
Doom Blade: cheap, versatile removal
Polukranos, the World Eater: huge body and removal
Scavenging Ooze: get fat with your graveyard resources
19 Mountain
4 Ash Zealot
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Firefist Striker
4 Foundary Street Denizen
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Rubblebelt Maaka
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Act of Treason
2 Electrickery
2 Mizzium Mortars
3 Mugging
4 Skullcrack
2 Toil // Trouble
Burning Earth: punishes most decks in the format for playing spells
Chandra, Pyromaster: good sideboard card against midrange and control
Mutavault: good filler land
1 Boros Guildgate
3 Forest
2 Gruul Guildgate
2 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Sacred Foundry
2 Selesnya Guidgate
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple Garden
2 Aurelia, the War Leader
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Burning Tree Emissary
2 Gyre Sage
1 Keening Apperation
4 Loxodon Smiter
1 Ruric-Thaar, the Unbowed
4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Zhur-Taa Druid
4 Mizzium Mortars
1 Selesnya Charm
3 Domri Rade
1 Assemble the Legion
1 Aurelia, the Warleader
2 Boros Charm
1 Boros Keyrune
1 Domri Rade
2 Ground Assault
1 Keening Apparition
2 Mugging
1 Possibility Storm
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
2 Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
Archangel of Thune: very powerful top end
Kalonian Hydra: ditto
Polukranos, the World Eater: creature and removal
Elvish Mystic: mana elf
Garruk, Caller of Beasts: possible sideboard card vs control
Chandra, Pyromaster: possible sideboard card vs. midrange and control
Scavenging Ooze: huge value guy
10 Mountain
3 Plains
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple Garden
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Firefist Striker
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Frontline Medic
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Rakdos Cackler
3 Legion's Initiative
4 Mizzium Mortars
2 Act of Treason
2 Arrest
4 Boros Reckoner
2 Electrickery
1 Legion's Initiative
4 Viashino Firstblade
Burning Earth: king of the red sideboards
The New Boros Guy: good sideboard card against control
1 Gruul Guildgate
7 Mountain
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple Garden
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Dryad Militant
4 Experiment One
4 Firefist Striker
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Domri Rade
3 Arrest
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Mizzium Mortars
4 Skullcrack
Burning Earth
1 Boros Guildgate
1 Forest
2 Godless Shrine
1 Golgari Guildgate
1 Gruul Guildgate
1 Orzhov Guildgate
4 Overgrown Tomb
1 Plains
1 Rakdos Guildgate
1 Sacred Foundry
3 Selesnya Guildgate
2 Stomping Ground
1 Swamp
4 Temple Garden
1 Angel of Serenity
2 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
3 Centaur Healer
2 Deadbridge Goliath
4 Gatecreeper Vine
4 Sin Collector
2 Sire of Insanity
4 Voice of Resurgence
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Deadbridge Chant
2 Devour Flesh
1 Golgari Charm
3 Selesnya Charm
2 Gaze of Granite
1 Golgari Charm
2 High Priest of Penance
1 Maze's End
1 Merciless Eviction
1 Pithing Needle
1 Ready // Willing
1 Saruli Gatekeepers
4 Slaughter Games
Scavenging Ooze: makes chant less random, huge value
Polukranos, the World Eater: removal and huge creature
4 Blood Crypt
4 Godless Shrine
4 Overgrown Tomb
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple Garden
3 Aurelia, the Warleader
3 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Deathrite Shaman
3 Desecration Demon
4 Loxodon Smiter
2 Obzedat, Ghost Council
4 Dreadbore
1 Putrefy
1 Rakdos's Return
2 Warleader's Helix
3 Assemble the Legion
1 Gaze of Granite
3 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
3 Sire of Insanity
3 Slaughter Games
2 Warleader's Helix
Scavenging Ooze: Lifegain and a large value creature... pure gold.
Elvish Mystic: At least it's better than Deathrite Shaman.
Polukranos, the World Eater: removal and beatstick
Archangel of Thune: This allows the deck to play some basics if it chooses to forgo the Ghost Daddy for this. It's a walking township that has a few synergies.
Doom Blade: cheap removal
1 Forest
4 Godless Shrine
4 Golgari Guildgate
2 Orzhov Guildgate
4 Overgrown Tomb
1 Plains
3 Selesnya Guildgate
1 Swamp
4 Temple Garden
2 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
4 Deadbridge Goliath
4 Gatecreeper Vine
1 Gyre Sage
3 Obzedat, Ghost Council
4 Sin Collector
4 Voice of Resurgence
3 Deadbridge Chant
2 Devour Flesh
3 Golgari Charm
2 Putrefy
Doom Blade
Polukranos, the World Eater
Scavenging Ooze
2 Azorius Guildgate
2 Boros Guildgate
2 Dimir Guildgate
2 Golgari Guildgate
2 Gruul Guildgate
2 Izzet Guildgate
4 Maze's End
3 Mountain
2 Orzhov Guildgate
2 Rakdos Guildgate
2 Selesnya Guildgate
2 Simic Guildgate
1 Swamp
4 Devour Flesh
4 Dreadbore
3 Far // Away
4 Mizzium Mortars
4 Mugging
2 Supreme Verdict
4 Urban Evolution
3 Warleader's Helix
3 Centaur Healer
2 Crackling Perimeter
1 Far // Away
2 Pithing Needle
2 Sire of Insanity
1 Slaughter Games
Jace, Memory Adept: possible alternate win condition
4 Blood Crypt
2 Dimir Guildgate
5 Island
3 Izzet Guildgate
3 Mountain
1 Rakdos Guildgate
4 Steam Vents
1 Swamp
4 Watery Grave
3 Izzet Staticaster
2 Dreadbore
4 Far // Away
4 Izzet Charm
1 Mizzium Mortars
2 Psychic Strike
2 Rakdos's Return
4 Syncopate
2 Turn // Burn
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Ral Zarek
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
4 Nightveil Specter
2 Notion Thief
1 Rakdos's Return
4 Woodlot Crawler
Divination: card draw
Doom Blade: good, cheap removal
Oppurtunity: big draw to keep up with Sphinx's Rev
4 Azorius Guildgate
4 Godless Shrine
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Island
2 Orzhov Guildgate
3 Plains
2 Swamp
4 Watery Grave
3 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
3 Sin Collector
4 Azorius Charm
3 Detention Sphere
4 Far // Away
3 Sphinx's Revelation
4 Supreme Verdict
3 Syncopate
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Cyclonic Rift
2 Dispel
3 Nightveil Specter
2 Obzedat, Ghost Council
1 Pithing Needle
2 Precinct Captain
2 Psychic Strike
Doom Blade: solid removal
3 Azorius Guildgate
1 Boros Guildgate
1 Godless Shrine
4 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
1 Izzet Guildgate
2 Mountain
3 Plains
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Steam Vents
1 Assemble the Legion
4 Azorius Charm
3 Counterflux
1 Dispel
2 Izzet Charm
3 Prophetic Prism
3 Renounce the Guilds
3 Sphinx's Revelation
4 Supreme Verdict
2 Thoughtflare
2 Turn // Burn
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Assemble the Legion
3 Boros Reckoner
1 Counterflux
2 Dispel
1 Dramatic Rescue
2 Mugging
3 Rakdos's Return
Any thoughts? Which decks will stay? Which will go? Block constructed helps. After all, Jund was a block deck too.
EDH Decks
UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life
RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them
WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition)
WRKalemne's Angels
BRUG Yidris's Wild Party
UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys
UBR The Pretender
esper
tokens
red variants (either it being grull, rdw, domri rade.dek)
golgari variants
everything else is a bit up in the air. i have a feeling theros will be supporting green and white decks and hating on control mainly so things will change. i dont think red is that great atm outside of aggro decks, so i dont think uwr will be that great since black has way better options than red post rotation.
http://puremtgo.com/articles/around-block-19-block-standard
RDW is already impressive in block as others have mentioned so Theros will only improve this even more.
4 Stomping Ground
4 Gruul Guildgate
10 Forest
6 Mountain
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Scavenging Ooze
4 Experiment One
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
3 Polukranos, the World Eater
2 Ogre Battledriver
2 Kalonian Hydra
3 Mizzium Mortars
4 Burning Earth
2 Mugging
3 Ruric-Thaar, the Unbowed
4 Skullcrack
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
4 Watery Grave
4 Godless Shrine
4 Hallowed Fountain
3 Azorius Guidgate
2 Dimir Guidgate
1 Orzhov Guidgate
5 Island
3 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
4 Supreme Verdict
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
4 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Detention Sphere
4 Azorius Charm
4 Far // Away
2 Doom Blade
2 Warped Physique
3 Duress
2 Detention Sphere
4 Wear // Tear
1 Merciless Eviction
3 Sin Collector
3 Breeding Pool
5 Forest
4 Golgari Guildgate
4 Overgrown Tomb
7 Swamp
1 Watery Grave
1 Blood Srivener
2 Deadbridge Goliath
2 Polukranos, the World Eater
4 Dreg Mangler
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Experiment One
1 Shadowborn Demon
2 Lotleth Troll
4 Scavenging Ooze
3 Voralz, the Scar Striped
2 Far // Away
2 Doom Blade
2 Putrefy
4 Golgari Charm
2 Far // Away
2 Lotleth Troll
1 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
1 Blood Scrivenger
2 Deadbrige Goliath
3 Duress
I think, based on the decks currently popular, that Burning Earth will be huge, so many disenchants will be in sideboards. Tokens might sideboard Naturalize to threaten Ratchet Bomb.
EDH Decks
UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life
RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them
WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition)
WRKalemne's Angels
BRUG Yidris's Wild Party
UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys
UBR The Pretender
I think the effectiveness of Burning Earth depends on the number of 3+ color decks. I think it takes a hit upon initial rotation, when people will be playing 2-color or monocolor. Then Burning Earth sees less play, people move to 3+ color decks, Burning Earth sees more play, rinse and repeat.
MtG Sales List
1st Grixis
2nd Esper
3rd Mono Red
4th GW Aggro
5th Esper
6th Naya
7th Junk
8th Esper
Our archetype breakdown is as follows:
Esper 3
Grixis 1
Mono Red 1
Naya 1
Junk 1
Decklists are here
It seems aggro's dominance was rebutted by control. Control seems to be very good, and midrange is actually showing up.
Naya Blitz 3
UWR 3
Esper 3
Grixis 2
Bant 1
Gruul 1
Little Naya Domri 1
Given this and that Esper won a premier event, i'd say Esper is the best, though Naya Blitz is up an coming.
1 Gruul Guildgate
7 Mountain
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple Garden
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Dryad Militant
4 Experiment One
4 Firefist Striker
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Domri Rade
3 Arrest
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Mizzium Mortars
4 Skullcrack
Given recent results, I think Aggro and Control are both big things. I feel like the sideboard options are enough to deal with Burning Earth, so I feel like the war is between aggro and control. Given that Doom Blade and Scavenging Ooze are both in M14, I wouldn't be surprised if more Junk esque decks exist in standard.
EDH Decks
UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life
RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them
WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition)
WRKalemne's Angels
BRUG Yidris's Wild Party
UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys
UBR The Pretender
It forces it to crack. Later, you can spam tokens.
EDH Decks
UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life
RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them
WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition)
WRKalemne's Angels
BRUG Yidris's Wild Party
UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys
UBR The Pretender
Good point.
Does anyone here feel Detention Sphere will be mainboarded in control decks to kill Voice of Resurgence?
EDH Decks
UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life
RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them
WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition)
WRKalemne's Angels
BRUG Yidris's Wild Party
UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys
UBR The Pretender
As opposed to not running it in some number anyway? One of the main reasons the Sphere isn't seen much these days is because of the interplay between Oblivion Ring and Renounce the Guilds.
With Oblivion Ring rotating I would be surprised to not see Detention Sphere in some number in the 75's of control lists that can run it, Voice be damned.
Grixis-3
RDW-2
Junk Midrange-1
Borzhov-1
GW-1
Naya Beatdown-1 (1 win)
Red Deck Wins-2
Grixis-2
Esper-2
Maze's End-1
14 Mountain
4 Steam Vents
4 Ash Zealot
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Firefist Striker
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Rubblebelt Maaka
3 Mizzium Mortars
3 Turn // Burn
4 Boros Reckoner
2 Frostburn Weird
1 Mizzium Mortars
3 Mugging
4 Skullcrack
1 Turn // Burn
2 Boros Guildgate
1 Forest
2 Gruul Guildgate
3 Plains
4 Sacred Foundry
2 Selesnya Guildgate
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple Garden
4 Dryad Militant
4 Experiment One
3 Firemane Avenger
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Loxodon Smiter
3 Precinct Captain
4 Voice of Resurgence
3 Domri Rade
2 Selesnya Charm
3 Arrest
1 Boros Charm
1 Domri Rade
4 Mizzium Mortars
1 Naturalize
1 Selesnya Charm
4 Unflinching Courage
Thoughts?
EDH Decks
UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life
RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them
WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition)
WRKalemne's Angels
BRUG Yidris's Wild Party
UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys
UBR The Pretender
Grixis remains the strongest Control Deck going into rotation yet will still be criminally underplayed, if played at all, due to UW's absurd popularity despite being the inferior list as of late.
Hardly new "tech" as RDW has been splashing U for weeks now to primarily get access to a shock( Burn )while very seldom being able to fuse the card for added value.
Thanks to xeno for the sig and avvy!!!
4 Blood Crypt
8 Island
4 Izzet Guildgate
3 Rakdos Guildgate
4 Steam Vents
4 Watery Grave
Creatures(7)
3 Aetherling
4 Izzet Staticaster
3 Counterflux
1 Dreadbore
3 Far // Away
4 Izzet Charm
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Rakdos's Return
3 Ral Zarek
2 Syncopate
4 Turn // Burn
1 Counterflux
1 Dispel
1 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
1 Far // Away
1 Frostburn Weird
2 Mizzium Mortars
4 Nightveil Specter
4 Woodlot Crawler
This would be a pretty stock and standard Grixis Block list barring a few minor tweaks.
Thanks to xeno for the sig and avvy!!!
*Please combine the posts MODS, I apologize I must have hit the send button again*
Thanks to xeno for the sig and avvy!!!
Grixis has a plethora of tools available to it that are just powerful. The biggest reason why I want Grixis over UW though, is the power blue has going for it.
Sphinx's Revelation is powerful and Grixis seems to be quite capable of just trumping this card with a pretty insane level of efficiency.
I'm looking at those Grixis lists, and I don't see how they're anymore powerful than UB (assuming we get a B wrath in Theros) splashing Godless Shrine for Sphinx's, or straight UW. In block, you don't have to deal with Manabarbs, and you can live with a slower manabase (look at all those guildgates, and assuming the duals in Theros aren't going to be so much better). Those two things means that Grixis while powerful in Block format, is not going to be as good in T2.
I'm hitching my wagon to UB Sphinx's for now, hoping for a Damnation reprint.
For instance, here is my current decklist:
4 Watery Grave
4 Godless Shrine
2 Ghost Quarter (Encroaching Wastes for rotation if good nonbasics)
8 Swamp
10 Island
Creatures: 5
3 Lifebane Zombie
2 Aetherling
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
Non-Creatures: 24
2 Syncopate
1 Ratchet Bomb
2 Warped Physique
4 Think Twice (Hoping for good cheap cantrip in Theros)
3 Doom Blade
3 Dimir Charm
2 Essence Scatter
2 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Mutilate (Hoping for B wrath in Theros)
2 Far/Away
2 Ultimate Price
1 Doom Blade
2 Notion Thief
3 Negate
1 Lifebane Zombie
2 Underworld Connections
1 Ratchet Bomb
2 Duress
1 Dimir Charm
For all intents and purposes Doran/Junk is nonexistent, which seems strange as I really think GBW as a shard has allot going for it atm.
You get
And more!
I'm actually quite surprised that it has been as poorly positioned as it was this past season, but hey, the strongest control deck in the format was completely overlooked at the previous pro tour, so take from that what you may.
Well...
Strictly speaking from a block perspective. BRU is so much more powerful than just UB it's not even close. Granted control might look very very different once Theros rolls out but it would take a obscene jump in powerlevel for me to consider plain UB over the generally more diverse/ie powerful options.
If I really had to stick to dual colors for some reason or another it would probably be UR as it gives me access to more Walkers while also giving me more options against control or aggro. But that's just personal preference on my part.
Again, that's only talking about block, not taking into account the core set, which gives 3 color decks a lot of headaches. Of course, adding a color will on the face, be more powerful because you have more cards to choose from (esp. when you have UB all ready and just add a third color), but there is something to be said for consistency as power. What's all that power good for if you're consistently a turn or two behind due to CITPT lands (Guildgates), or worse, not being able to cast your cards because you don't have the requisite mana.
Also, I'd wager that we have enough spot-removal in UB to not warrant having to add a third color, esp. with things like Lifebane Zombie that we want to hit on T3.
Honestly, in a control shell, LoTDR is probably as good as Ral Zarek. Though, to be honest, I don't think either Grixis, or UB can be competitive if B does not get a competently costed wrath effect in Theros. Also, I think the deck gets more from Sphinx's Revelation than anything red offers, while also not being too bad for the manabase considering it still offers swamps for Mutilate (while its still legal).
The only card on that list that genuinely would be main deckable and that I'd want is Dreadbore because the deck as is right now, is pretty weak to PW's.
As far as the walker comment, I don't see the effectiveness of Ral Zarek, or Chandra, Pyromaster. At least not enough to drop removal, or card draw for it. If they were legitimate win-cons like Elspeth, or Gideon Jura, then sure, or just Control All-stars like JtMS/Jace Beleren...but they're not.