The hardest part of getting this deck right at the moment for me has been the mana base.
With a golgari based deck it is either really painful, really slow or if you are unlucky both . My 4C red aggro decks mana base works better.
My sideboard had a mini rally package of 2 rally, 2 fleshbag marauders, 2 felidar cubs, 1 minister of pain and 2 arashin clerics as well as 3 anafenzas for red decks and the mirror. I played 2 transgresses and a duress because Starcity ran out of arashin clerics and I wanted to have enough cards to bring in for dead bone splinters against control. Bone splinters almost never had problems being turned on, and it proved very useful in efficiently flipping liliana. In a match against U/W control, I dug out a game facing a jace emblem by killing my own creature with bone splinters to flip liliana.
Charm is great against abzan aggro/anafenza, but the matchup is so bad that it feels like you're just wasting sideboard space.
I was impressed with the rally sideboard package and fleshbag/liliana interaction enough to start brewing up entirely rally-based lists.
So I've been playing with this list for a couple days and really like it. I think that Rally the Ancestors is a must in this deck. I was on 2 for a while then went up to 3. It seemed like I had a bunch of games where my opponent and I were in topdeck mode and a rally would just wipe them out. It's also great defensively; on their attack make a massive husk, drain them for a lot and/or make profitable chump blocks. I'm not sure how good my sideboard choices are though.
I have 3 infinite obliteration but I have my doubts. If he start he can play anafenza in the third turn so its late for infinite because it doesn't remove the one in the board. And a question for the ones using it. If you draw it in mid-late game its totally useless or you can get some utility from it?
I can't see bringing obliteration in the control match, but I have thought about bringing in gaea's revenge in place of the removal and just going that route. Planning on testing that out at fnm unless someone has a better idea?
I haven't watched the second one yet but the first is running fleshbags/executioners, Elvish visionary's, Collected Company and Rally.
His sideboard from what I've seen is a mix of;
Bone Splinters
Abzan Charm
Anafenza
arashin cleric
Ascendancy
Dromoka's command
Mastery of the unseen
and 1 other card I couldn't pick out I think, might have been another arashin cleric.
I'll edit after watching the second game.
Not much to say about that...GB using Vampiric Rites and a bunch of Smothering Abominations and Drana. He missed 2 draws, one not taking his draw step after drawing off the the upkeep sac from SA and another not sacing a Scion token with SA on the board in the face of a board wipe. Definitely think the first guys deck was so much better, but it's still interesting to see what people are coming up with.
Hey guys! Newbie here. Haven't played standard in a while but this aristocrats.dec concept really piqued my interest. I was thinking of a mardu build and I'd like your comments on it.
I'm mainly unsure about the manabase since going 4c seems pretty smooth and doesn't actually use as much taplands, but I'm sticking with mardu because of the faster, yet mid-range style that it brings with it as it can close games out with a butcher. Also the interesting interaction with flamewake phoenix is also nifty and allows for recurring fodder, the only problem is the heavy red in its cost so we'd need a way to reliably pitch it to the graveyard. This list I saw is actually somewhere in reddit/spikes and I'll provide a link to it as soon as I find it.
Removed the draw engines (Smothering/Grim Haruspex) in favor of tormenting voice since we can freely pitch the phoenix and get it to recur with Husk/Butcher. I guess the general idea is just to just keep swinging with weenies then stick a zulaport to maximize swings/avoid getting blown out by removal. The creatures are pretty resilient Phoenix/Emissary/Hangarback) although I'm not sure if the emissary should be replaced with a carrier thrall for a faster clock and the phoenix may actually be a bad idea. Would you guys recommend rally the ancestors for that extra reach in the late game too?
The big difference between mardu and the W/B/GX builds would be the card advantage in the form of Evolutionary Leap and Abzan Charm and that pulls it ahead of mardu when grinding a game out. So I guess if Drana is in then tokenators would be good? Also is the mana base okay?
In my testing so far, Minister of Pain is the "Hangarback? What's Hangarback?" card of choice - for the Abzan version, anyway. The initial X/X isn't the problem, its the potential tokens. This provides an answer and continues with the deck's main gameplan. It is also a potent play versus aggro decks and mana dorks (the few that actually remain in Standard). That being said, I think it slots best into the sideboard, it isn't "quite" a main deck card.
Also, unless you are going heavy into the B/G version, I don't see why you wouldn't main or side any copies of Rally the Ancestors. The card is too good in any version of this deck. It is a toolbox, combo engine and reach enabler all in one.
I would stick with 2 abomination instead of 3. Started with three and cut it down. Also went up to a 4th leap main, and between scrys, leap activations, extra draws, d command running around, the extra copies never bother me
Played this last night to go 3-1 at a win-a-box tournament, good for 2nd place.
2-0 vs Sultai aggro w/ Sidisi: Double Anafenza g2 completely locked him out. Merciless Execution is bad vs Hangarback.
2-1 vs Atarka Red: Lost g2 due to misplay of missing triggers, other games weren't close once my swarm locked down the ground.
0-2 vs GW Aggo/Leap: Could've been a winnable matchup, but opponent drew very very well and I had to concede g2 after drawing 6 lands in a row. I probably sideboarded wrong.
2-0 vs 5-Color Bring to Light (aka 8 Rhino): Seems to be a very positive matchup -- save Charms for Rhino and laugh at the value you get when they try to wrath you.
One card I had been testing online was Smothering Abomination in place of Whisperwood. I had bought copies online but they hadn’t arrived yet, and the store was asking too much for them, so I didn’t get the chance to play them. In all honesty, I think the Abomination is a better fit. Some people have been testing Haruspex instead, but the ability to sac your Scions at any time for cards is insane. Not to mention also drawing cards for every leap activation, every husk activation, and completely ignoring cards like Anafenza which hose Haruspex. In future lists I’m going to try swapping out 2 WW (probably move them to the board for control matchups) and maybe 1 Charm (also to the board) for 2-3 Abominations. I’m also a huge sucker for E-Leap and would like to have at least 3 maindeck, but drawing 2 is obviously terrible and having so many dead cards vs aggro is sub-optimal. As I mentioned, this deck has insane triggers, and would probably be terrible to play on modo (or maybe not, since you can’t forget there). There were numerous turns in a row where I’d EOT I’d leap a creature and have triggers for manifest, 2-3 scrys, Scion ETBs, and Cutthroats all going off. One mistake I made quite a bit, realizing in retrospect) is whether to scry or manifest first from a Qarsi High Priest – I was scrying then manifesting to scry non-creatures away, but afterwards realized it was probably just better to control the draw rather than the manifest, since oftentimes I’d scry away something, manifest a spell, then draw a useless land.
Yeah I know it's another decklist, but I'm quite happy with it. The main thing is trying to get the mana right. At the very least I think you guys should try out whirler rogue more.
Hal, this manabase has 18 white, 17 blue, 16 black, and 12 red sources with the same number of lands you were using. The one you posted only had 13 white sources and most of your cards require white.
I know there was some discussion of a Morph focused list to take advantage of the powerhouse Deathmist Raptor. I tweaked a list a bit and came up with this. Tell me what you guys think.
Lost my win and in in a 40 man I today in a game 3 where I flooded was versus aggro so was even worse round 1 I never drew more than the land in my opening hand (3) so one rediculous variance lose and one game 3 flood for top 8 I'll take it. I really liked the list and my sideboard options and how they impacted the game. Beast caller savant is the real deal as are the edict and crackling doom effects. May right a tourney report on it. List is on previous page.
Wins were too JesKai Black, Mardi aristocrats and 5 color bring to light. Loss was to Abzan, and R/G aggro in game 3 of last round. I got 9th in the tourney :/
I've tried to run a deck that has a generally lower curve and can apply pressure early in order to make a late game blowout easier. I do feel I should run more Husks and Haruspices but at the same time I don't want to give up the late game value Whisperwood Elemental gives me. Also, I personally think that Infinte Obliteration is pretty much a must-have for any sideboard, if only because it effectively eliminates the threat of Siege Rhinos and opposing Hangarback Walkers.
I'll be trying out the following list at this week's FNM:
I've tried to run a deck that has a generally lower curve and can apply pressure early in order to make a late game blowout easier. I do feel I should run more Husks and Haruspices but at the same time I don't want to give up the late game value Whisperwood Elemental gives me. Also, I personally think that Infinte Obliteration is pretty much a must-have for any sideboard, if only because it effectively eliminates the threat of Siege Rhinos and opposing Hangarback Walkers.
4x Smothering Abomination seems like far too many. You don't want multiples on the board. If you are using them more for their 4/3 flier aspect, you can easily use other cards (Priest of the Blood Rite, etc).
The hardest part of getting this deck right at the moment for me has been the mana base.
With a golgari based deck it is either really painful, really slow or if you are unlucky both . My 4C red aggro decks mana base works better.
Charm is great against abzan aggro/anafenza, but the matchup is so bad that it feels like you're just wasting sideboard space.
I was impressed with the rally sideboard package and fleshbag/liliana interaction enough to start brewing up entirely rally-based lists.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/eldrazi-aristocrats-2/
And if they get anafenza first at least it is only one you have to worry about
Modern: WURG Twin
Standard: Mardu Planeswalkers
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/deck-creation-standard/661834-mardu-planeswalker?comment=1
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Modern: WURG Twin
Standard: Mardu Planeswalkers
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/deck-creation-standard/661834-mardu-planeswalker?comment=1
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http://www.twitch.tv/hareruya/v/18718872
One at around 14mins and another around 09:10:00
I haven't watched the second one yet but the first is running fleshbags/executioners, Elvish visionary's, Collected Company and Rally.
His sideboard from what I've seen is a mix of;
Bone Splinters
Abzan Charm
Anafenza
arashin cleric
Ascendancy
Dromoka's command
Mastery of the unseen
and 1 other card I couldn't pick out I think, might have been another arashin cleric.
I'll edit after watching the second game.
Not much to say about that...GB using Vampiric Rites and a bunch of Smothering Abominations and Drana. He missed 2 draws, one not taking his draw step after drawing off the the upkeep sac from SA and another not sacing a Scion token with SA on the board in the face of a board wipe. Definitely think the first guys deck was so much better, but it's still interesting to see what people are coming up with.
| Omnath | Zada | Alesha | Scion |
| Mazirek | Animar |
Modern
UR Storm RU
UBRG Dredge GRBU
Standard
UR Thermo-Thing RU
4 Windswept Heath
2 Canopy Vista
1 Shambling Vent
1 Sandsteppe Citadel
3 Llanowar Wastes
2 Swamp
2 Forest
2 Plains
2 Caves of Koilos
1 Wooded Foothills
2 Bloodstained Mire
1 Cinder Glade
1 Smoldering Marsh
Creature: 30
4 Blisterpod
4 Zulaport Cutthroat
2 Carrier Thrall
2 Hangarback Walker
3 Beastcaller Savant
2 Anafenza, the Foremost
1 Nantuko Husk
2 Catacomb Sifter
4 Siege Rhino
2 Butcher of The Horde
1 Smothering Abomination
2 Wingmate Roc
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Sorcery: 3
3 Bone Splinters
Instant: 2
2 Rally The Ancestors
1 Anafenza, the Foremost
2 Infinite Obliteration
2 Evolutionary Leap
1 Tragic Arrogance
2 Mastery of the Unseen
2 Crackling Doom
1 Minister of Pain
1 Kolaghan's Command
2 Felidar Cub
1 Merciless Executioner
Updated list, taking to an IQ tonight. Let's see how it fairs
I'm mainly unsure about the manabase since going 4c seems pretty smooth and doesn't actually use as much taplands, but I'm sticking with mardu because of the faster, yet mid-range style that it brings with it as it can close games out with a butcher. Also the interesting interaction with flamewake phoenix is also nifty and allows for recurring fodder, the only problem is the heavy red in its cost so we'd need a way to reliably pitch it to the graveyard. This list I saw is actually somewhere in reddit/spikes and I'll provide a link to it as soon as I find it.
4 Bloodstained mire
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Caves of Koilos
3 Swamp
2 Mountain
2 Nomad Outpost
2 Shambling Vent
2 Smoldering Marsh
1 Plains
4 Butcher of the Horde
4 Flamewake Phoenix
4 Hangarback Walker
4 Zulaport Cutthroat
4 Sultai Emissary
3 Nantuko Husk
4 Mardu Charm
3 Crackling Doom
Sorcery:6
4 Tormenting Voice
2 Dragon Fodder
Removed the draw engines (Smothering/Grim Haruspex) in favor of tormenting voice since we can freely pitch the phoenix and get it to recur with Husk/Butcher. I guess the general idea is just to just keep swinging with weenies then stick a zulaport to maximize swings/avoid getting blown out by removal. The creatures are pretty resilient Phoenix/Emissary/Hangarback) although I'm not sure if the emissary should be replaced with a carrier thrall for a faster clock and the phoenix may actually be a bad idea. Would you guys recommend rally the ancestors for that extra reach in the late game too?
-4 Flamewake Phoenix
-4 Tormenting Voice
+3 Drana, Liberator of Malakir
+2 Dragon Fodder
+1 Crackling Doom
+1 Smothering Abomination[?]
The big difference between mardu and the W/B/GX builds would be the card advantage in the form of Evolutionary Leap and Abzan Charm and that pulls it ahead of mardu when grinding a game out. So I guess if Drana is in then tokenators would be good? Also is the mana base okay?
Also, unless you are going heavy into the B/G version, I don't see why you wouldn't main or side any copies of Rally the Ancestors. The card is too good in any version of this deck. It is a toolbox, combo engine and reach enabler all in one.
4x Butcher of the Horde
4x Carrier Thrall
4x Flamewake Phoenix
4x Hangarback Walker
2x Liliana, Heretical Healer
2x Nantuko Husk
2x Smothering Abomination
4x Zulaport Cutthroat
3x Bone Splinters
2x outpost siege
3x Battlefield Forge
4x Bloodstained Mire
2x Caves of Koilos
1x Mountain
4x Nomad Outpost
1x Shambling Vent
4x Smoldering Marsh
4x Swamp
1x Mortuary Mire
2x Rally the Ancestors
3x Infinite Obliteration
2x Felidar Cub
3x Complete Disregard
2x Planar Outburst
I don't have any problems getting the phoenixes out. Also I'm still not 100% convinced on Crackling dooms in the main simply because of Hangarback
Modern: WURG Twin
Standard: Mardu Planeswalkers
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/deck-creation-standard/661834-mardu-planeswalker?comment=1
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2x Qarsi High Priest
4x Sultai Emissary
4x Zulaport Cutthroat
4x Hangarback Walker
4x Catacomb Sifter
3x Nantuko Husk
2x Whisperwood Elemental
4x Abzan Ascendancy
2x Evolutionary Leap
4x Llanowar Wastes
4x Windswept Heath
4x Forest
3x Caves of Koilos
3x Sandsteppe Citadel
2x Shambling Vent
2x Swamp
1x Canopy Vista
1x Plains
3x Arashin Cleric
2x Felidar Cub
1x Abzan Charm
2x Sorin, Solemn Visitor
1x Evolutionary Leap
2x Murderous Cut
2x Dromoka’s Command
Played this last night to go 3-1 at a win-a-box tournament, good for 2nd place.
2-0 vs Sultai aggro w/ Sidisi: Double Anafenza g2 completely locked him out. Merciless Execution is bad vs Hangarback.
2-1 vs Atarka Red: Lost g2 due to misplay of missing triggers, other games weren't close once my swarm locked down the ground.
0-2 vs GW Aggo/Leap: Could've been a winnable matchup, but opponent drew very very well and I had to concede g2 after drawing 6 lands in a row. I probably sideboarded wrong.
2-0 vs 5-Color Bring to Light (aka 8 Rhino): Seems to be a very positive matchup -- save Charms for Rhino and laugh at the value you get when they try to wrath you.
One card I had been testing online was Smothering Abomination in place of Whisperwood. I had bought copies online but they hadn’t arrived yet, and the store was asking too much for them, so I didn’t get the chance to play them. In all honesty, I think the Abomination is a better fit. Some people have been testing Haruspex instead, but the ability to sac your Scions at any time for cards is insane. Not to mention also drawing cards for every leap activation, every husk activation, and completely ignoring cards like Anafenza which hose Haruspex. In future lists I’m going to try swapping out 2 WW (probably move them to the board for control matchups) and maybe 1 Charm (also to the board) for 2-3 Abominations. I’m also a huge sucker for E-Leap and would like to have at least 3 maindeck, but drawing 2 is obviously terrible and having so many dead cards vs aggro is sub-optimal. As I mentioned, this deck has insane triggers, and would probably be terrible to play on modo (or maybe not, since you can’t forget there). There were numerous turns in a row where I’d EOT I’d leap a creature and have triggers for manifest, 2-3 scrys, Scion ETBs, and Cutthroats all going off. One mistake I made quite a bit, realizing in retrospect) is whether to scry or manifest first from a Qarsi High Priest – I was scrying then manifesting to scry non-creatures away, but afterwards realized it was probably just better to control the draw rather than the manifest, since oftentimes I’d scry away something, manifest a spell, then draw a useless land.
Modern: WURG Twin
Standard: Mardu Planeswalkers
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/deck-creation-standard/661834-mardu-planeswalker?comment=1
Monthly Proxy Legacy
Charlotte/Greensboro area, NC
Pm me for details
4 Hangarback Walker
3 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
3 Whirler Rogue
3 Nantuko Husk
2 Butcher of the Horde
3 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
4 Crackling Doom
3 Dig Through Time
3 Valorous Stance
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Flooded Strand
2 Evolving Wilds
2 Prairie Stream
2 Sunken Hollow
1 Smoldering Marsh
2 Island
2 Plains
2 Swamp
1 Mountain
3 Exquisite Firecraft
3 Rally the Ancestors
2 Negate
1 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
1 Blighted Steppe
1 Grim Haruspex
Yeah I know it's another decklist, but I'm quite happy with it. The main thing is trying to get the mana right. At the very least I think you guys should try out whirler rogue more.
Also how important are the Catacomb Sifters?
4 Polluted Delta
4 Flooded Strand
2 Evolving Wilds
2 Prairie Stream
1 Smouldering Marsh
1 Sunken Hollow
2 Nomad Outpost
2 Mystic Monastery
2 Plains
2 Island
1 Mountain
2 Swamp
Modern: UW Spirits
4x Blisterpod
2x Qarsi High Priest
4x Sultai Emissary
2x Den Protector
4x Zulaport Cutthroat
4x Deathmist Raptor
2x Liliana, Heretical Healer
2x Catacomb Sifter
3x Grim Haruspex
2x Whisperwood Elemental
4x Collected Company
2x Murderous Cut
Enchantments:2
2x Evolutionary Leap
Lands:23
4x Llanowar Wastes
2x Spawning Bed
2x Mortuary Mire
1x Blighted Fen
8x Forest
6x Swamp
Wins were too JesKai Black, Mardi aristocrats and 5 color bring to light. Loss was to Abzan, and R/G aggro in game 3 of last round. I got 9th in the tourney :/
4x Bloodsoaked Champion
4x Blisterpod
4x Zulaport Cutthroat
2x Grim Haruspex
2x Nantuko Husk
4x Catacomb Sifter
4x Smothering Abomination
3x Hangarback Walker
1x Liliana, Heretical Healer
2x Whisperwood Elemental
2x Evolutionary Leap
Instant/Sorcery (4)
4x Bone Splinters
Land (24)
4x Llanowar Wastes
4x Jungle Hollow
10x Swamp
6x Forest
3x Murderous Cut
2x Infinite Obliteration
3x Caustic Caterpillar
4x Duress
3x Jaddi Offshoot
I've tried to run a deck that has a generally lower curve and can apply pressure early in order to make a late game blowout easier. I do feel I should run more Husks and Haruspices but at the same time I don't want to give up the late game value Whisperwood Elemental gives me. Also, I personally think that Infinte Obliteration is pretty much a must-have for any sideboard, if only because it effectively eliminates the threat of Siege Rhinos and opposing Hangarback Walkers.
4x Smothering Abomination seems like far too many. You don't want multiples on the board. If you are using them more for their 4/3 flier aspect, you can easily use other cards (Priest of the Blood Rite, etc).
I would cut two of them and up Grim Haruspex and Nantuko Husk both up by one.
Modern: WURG Twin
Standard: Mardu Planeswalkers
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/deck-creation-standard/661834-mardu-planeswalker?comment=1
Monthly Proxy Legacy
Charlotte/Greensboro area, NC
Pm me for details