i have looked through the forums here and i have seen many deck use torstani and i understand the life gain thing but i went with a different route and have not had issues with it via play testing on tappedout and i proxied it and tested it in 3 games last night and won 2 outta 3. lost one due to deck just being put together and it not being shuffled up enough. i honestly feel i would have won the game if my deck was shuffled more. here is the deck i need to look more at the other decks listed in here to figure out how to combat some of the other types of decks control, zombies , jund etc...
There she be. In all her Naya glory! Opted for MD armada over thrag as i wanted a finisher rather than a staller at the top of my curve. After playing states the other way around i found myself without much firepower after exhausting Huntmaster of the fells. I will say that his interaction with both gavony township and restoration angel are absolutely out of this world. This deck is a bit slower than a traditional GW build however it pans out nicer versus control and pairs extremely nice against zombies. What i lost to all day were turn 2 smiters backed up by turn 3 paladins with rancor for added insult. in those moments i realized that thrag wasnt pulling his weight and post states i made the switch to armada wurm and havent looked back.
Another Naya list. Going to try this out at gameday and see how it does. Comments/criticism welcome! I found it fares well against Zombies and tokens, worried about Jund and USA match-ups but we will see how it goes. Seems a little better position against control than straight G/W...
Vorapede is a card I've always been keen to play with in a deck like this. How good is it against the common match ups?
To be honest I have only been 'solitaring' against B/G zombies since I think its the best deck in the format. I go main deck Vs aggro so its unlikely that I have to SB against aggro with a control / mirror / combo Sideboard.
I have only played 2 standard tournaments thus far, 3rd tomorrow. But I have never been disappointed to see or cast the card against aggro or control.
I went 4-3 at states with a list that was similar but had a significantly higher average mana cost. Since the change I haven't lost a match. I play a very competitive FNM (with two states top-8ers) and I managed to go undefeated at the last one. I will be playing this list at a PTQ in tampa on Sunday, I'll tell you all how it works out.
Any comments or critiques always welcome.
ALSO: I noticed people were talking about Vorapede, I'm not gonna tell you not to run him, just don't run him until you already run 4x Thragtusk and 2x Garruk Primal Hunter at minimum. Once you've got that, if you still need 5 mana plays, feel free to run Vorapede. Its not that he's bad, its that he's not good enough.
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To be honest I have only been 'solitaring' against B/G zombies since I think its the best deck in the format. I go main deck Vs aggro so its unlikely that I have to SB against aggro with a control / mirror / combo Sideboard.
I have only played 2 standard tournaments thus far, 3rd tomorrow. But I have never been disappointed to see or cast the card against aggro or control.
I think BG zombies is the worst of the established decks. I've gone undefeated at MNM with both American control and Delverless Delver and Rakdos Aggro is serving well online - even against GWx Midrange (the worst matchup) - but BG zombies is not coordinated enough in practise, even though the synergies look superb on paper.
Edit: Back to the question
Vorapede is a card I've always been keen to play with in a deck like this. How good is it against the common match ups?
Against American Control it won't be very good as their removal doesn't really involve it dying (Terminus, Sphere, Tamiyo).
Against Zombies it will be too expensive/slow and they'll just go around the sides.
Against Delverless Delver it will do some work if it resolves, but again at the high mana cost, the deck should have stabilised.
Not sure what it would be like in the mirror, that might be quite entertaining? I'm not a good GW player but seems like it would be nice.
So far im 21-6-2 in 4 tournaments so far. The black really gives us such a good late game and makes us not auto-lose to Entreat the angels.
Also all these aggresive decks dont really seem to be too "midrangey" to me. Playing Sublime and Silverblade is pretty aggresive and not so midrange.
Any comments on my deck would be greatly appreciated as I feel that this can be one of better decks of the format.
I also thought about making a slight splash of red for mainboard dreadbore because the only thing I been having problems with is walkers resolving and me not being able to do anything about it.
@ Talroma: Before you splash red and add all that complication (not mention inevitably hurt your arbor elf) try out duress. I run 2 MB to deal with planeswalkers, they can also hit sweepers or rancors or burn, so they're not too dead in non-UWx match-ups.
I notice you run a TON of dorks (7 instead of 3 or 4) plus the full farseek compliment. Has this not been a problem? Seems like you would make alot of plays that don't do much for the board. Is the turn 3 thragtusk really that worth it? I used to run Disciple of Bolas but I switched first one then all three over to Garruk, PH. I heartily advise the change, Big G costs one more mana but you get to keep the critter!!! Also, in situations where what you need is another beater Big G's got yo' back but Disciple really doesn't.
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I played this list to 4-1 at SCG Open in Indianapolis before my cards got soaked and declared unplayable by the judge, forcing me to drop. Got a feature match win over AJ Sacher's joke RWB control, don't know what creampuffs SCG gave him the first two rounds to face me.
The deck hits hard, hits fast, and is rarely at a loss for a beater. When it is, there usually are issues, but by then you ought to have a dominant enough board position to draw through it.
The Board: Rest in Peace goes a long way in shutting off any reanimation-fueled decks, be they zombies, frites, or even annoyingly efficient blood artists. (dies triggers require hitting the graveyard, after all) Oblivion Ring is a great catch-all card that is almost never dead, so if you need more removal, here it is. Centaur Healer buys us precious time against faster aggro with the lifegain and the 3/3 body - usually the one turn it gives us is enough to hit something that'll turn the game around. Selesnya Keyrune is a wrath-proof, mortars-proof, general pain in the ass for control decks to have to play through. Ray of Revelation is a great card to blow up detention spheres or oblivion rings from our opponent. (if opposing keyrunes are the issue, try sundering growth instead.) Collective Blessing is for the mirror, as it turns your mana bugs into big threats, and your big threats into even bigger ones.
The Matchups:
vs. Jund: The deck gives us a bit of trouble, but it's not a terrible matchup. We have a much better early game, and if we can keep them from going bonkers with olivia and aristocrat, they've really not got much to stop us. The clear MVP in this matchup is Sigarda - They have no answers to her other than pumping one of their fliers into charm range. if you can land her and a silverblade paladin together, then your opponent might as well scoop. About 50/50 pre-board, 60/40 post
vs. American Control: This deck is tougher due to detention sphere, terminus, supreme verdict, and mizzium mortars all being able to decimate our forces. If you can land a walker, then you can start taking more control of the game. Focus your attention on your opponents' walkers before their face, and definitely go after tamiyo before trying to deal with the Architect. Rancor isn't that good here, as they usually have very few creatures outside of entreat the angels - side it out for exiling removal. Swing for the fences with 1 or 2 dudes and force them to press the reset button as often as they can. We can grind them out if all their wraths are merely 2-for-1's. 40/60 pre-board, 50/50 post
vs. Rakdos Aggro: They run faster dudes than we do, but they're significantly smaller than ours. Keep your smiters and resto angels on defense until they run out of things to throw at you, then go to town with thrags and wurms. post-board, the lifegain from healer, thragtusk, and resto targeting either makes this almost automatic. 60/40 pre-board, 75/25 post
vs. Bant Control: This is the matchup we punt. They play 3 thragtusk, and follow up with angel of serenity to recycle them all when and if we manage to kill them. Add in cyclonic rift, detention sphere, and supreme verdict, and you have a damn-near impossible opponent. The one saving grace is that their matchup against jund is as bad as ours is against bant, so if jund is common, you won't see this much. If everyone locally has bant, you really ought to play something else. At best 10/90 pre-board, 10/90 post.
Vs Frites: This matchup depends solely on how quickly we see selesnya charm. We need to exile everything they can reanimate before they can revive it, and sometimes we're stuck exiling it afterwards. Post board rest in peace makes the win easier, but not even close to automatic.
If you have an opening hand that's got RiP and the mana to cast it, keep it no matter what else is in hand. That being said, a turn 2 RiP isn't always right - don't drop it until there's something sitting in the yard that's worth exiling, since they board in a lot of artifact/enchantment removal. 30/70 pre-board, 45/55 post
Those are the match-ups that I've played enough to be able to call with accuracy.
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@ Talroma: Before you splash red and add all that complication (not mention inevitably hurt your arbor elf) try out duress. I run 2 MB to deal with planeswalkers, they can also hit sweepers or rancors or burn, so they're not too dead in non-UWx match-ups.
I notice you run a TON of dorks (7 instead of 3 or 4) plus the full farseek compliment. Has this not been a problem? Seems like you would make alot of plays that don't do much for the board. Is the turn 3 thragtusk really that worth it? I used to run Disciple of Bolas but I switched first one then all three over to Garruk, PH. I heartily advise the change, Big G costs one more mana but you get to keep the critter!!! Also, in situations where what you need is another beater Big G's got yo' back but Disciple really doesn't.
The 7 dorks do have the times where they hurt me but against so many decks turn 3 thrag or even in game 2 or 3 turn 3 big garruk or vraska is extremely back breaking. the dorks also allow me to lingering souls turn 2 or centaur healer.
I may test out big garruk over disciple but he does so much more than just draw cards. He allows CA over and over again with Restoration and unburial rites.
And idk what exactly Iwould cut to run 2 MD duress. I already have 3 appetite for brains in the board. And I find duress may make my aggro matchups weaker even though this deck handles aggro like no other. Way to much life gain/removal for them to deal with.
I think BG zombies is the worst of the established decks. I've gone undefeated at MNM with both American control and Delverless Delver and Rakdos Aggro is serving well online - even against GWx Midrange (the worst matchup) - but BG zombies is not coordinated enough in practise, even though the synergies look superb on paper.
Edit: Back to the question
Against American Control it won't be very good as their removal doesn't really involve it dying (Terminus, Sphere, Tamiyo).
Against Zombies it will be too expensive/slow and they'll just go around the sides.
Against Delverless Delver it will do some work if it resolves, but again at the high mana cost, the deck should have stabilised.
Not sure what it would be like in the mirror, that might be quite entertaining? I'm not a good GW player but seems like it would be nice.
I will have to sleeve up B/R zombies to compare. But B/g does have some resilency due to rancor and troll, having larger creatures.
Vorapede suffers the same fate against control than any other 5 drop does other than Sigarda which I have 2 in the board for control. I tried vorapede as a test over 2 silverhearts. At times I would be in situations where I would like to attack but need the blocker, or would get blown out by have silverheart killed or bounced after blockers. Vorpede helps over come those situations where silverheart couldnt. So all in all I guess its just silverheart VS vorapede.
with 8 dorks and 4 farseek I usually have 5 mana by turn 4. Of course on the nut T3. Not too slow.
I'm having A LOT of trouble with BR control particularly. Mizzium Mortars, Dreadbores, and Sever the Bloodlines hurt big time and I have a hard time recovering when Olivia or Falkenrath is out. Any suggestions for the sideboard or main in that regard?
Sigarda is your best friend against BR. they don't have an answer to her, with her 5 toughness and hexproof, plus her "you can't force me to sac things" ability shuts liliana of the veil up. Trostani maindeck I don't agree with - I'd add a second sigarda and a 3rd charm, the latter is great at getting rid of olivia or falkenrath if they've pumped up. If they haven't...well, toss rancor on the vampire, THEN exile it.
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My bant deck takes on a more control-ish feel, running 8 counterspells and 4 detention spheres. Of course, after the draw-go phases are over, the fun begins with Thragtusk, Geist, and later in the game, a drogskol reaver that reacts nicely with Thraggy and the healer.
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I've been playing the following on cockatrice and I'm really enjoying it, maybe it's more of a tempo deck, but it feels really solid. Pike + Azouris Charm is a very good way of bringing the game back when you're behind in life totals.
Plays very well, and my local meta is mostly midrange and control, so I don't have to worry too much about the lack of a 1-drop. Farseeks, Knight of Glory, and Selesnya Charm tokens are my general turn 2 plays.
My hyper-midrange build. Instead of going all in on the aggressive plan, I opted to play bomb after bomb as I'm usually more of a control player. This deck aims to get overpowering inevitability. Any comments on the list are welcome.
Update: And now it's junk colors! Needed the extra removal, and lingering souls is just so good.
This deck has been consistently giving results for me, including a top 8 recently at a GPT. So many random wins from entreat the angels and so many soul-crushing moments for aggro players when I land Trostani and cast basically anything else.
After playing this past weekend FNM and Game day I have noticed a few things about this deck type. First, in my mirror matches I was decisively faster than decks that run 4 Arbor Elf's where I go without and run 4 Centaur Healer's. I feel the deck has enough ramp with 4 dorks and 2-3 Farseek's. Secondly, something that me and a friend decided to run for Zombie hate Rhox Faithmender is WAY better than Trostani and is easier on the mana, so I will be making a spot in the MD for 2. Lastly, mainly for the mirror match, and is something I have started seeing in some other builds is a different SB approach, Intrepid Hero. Which I like more and more over Thalia, as she seems to lack the punch I was hoping for.
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Current Decks Standard : WB Orzhov Vampires BWGUB Sultai Constrictor BUG Brawl : GB Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons BG Modern : GB Golgari Elves BGGR Atarka Goblins RG Pauper : W Heroic WGB Delve BG
The sideboard is a dog's breakfast. I've seen a lot of American Control, and a 4 colour Miracle control in my meta, hence the Izzet Charm/Snapcaster in the sideboard. Centaur Healer was for Jund, RIP for Reanimator, and Mortars/Rift for Aggro
The mana is actually really good. With Farseek and 24 lands, you're hitting your land drops easily. Really, the hardest thing to do is remembering to play your lands properly so you have the right lands untapped at the right time. You typically don't take damage with the Shocklands, so it's important to play the right Shocklands at the right time in order to ensure that your M10/Innistrad lands come in to play untapped.
Took down game day with this build. Beat Jund twice, Rakdos Zombies, and GW Aggro, losing to Bant control.
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Currently playing:
Standard BUG Control
Modern :UAffinity, GNyxWave
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BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
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Side board:
dredge and zombies:
Dryad Militant and Rest in Peace
Control:
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Ramp:
Selsyna Charm
4 Arbor Elf
3 Sigrada, Host of Herons
3 Armada Wurm
3 Thragtusk
3 CENTAUR HEALER
4 Silverblade Paladin
3 Restoration Angel
3 Farseek
3 Rancor
4 Temple Garden
7 Plains
9 Forest
4 Sunpetal Grove
3 Dryad Militant
3 Selsynas Charm
3 Rest in Peace
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4x Loxodon Smiter
3x Borderland Ranger
4x Huntmaster of the fells
3x Restoration Angel
1x Sigarda Host of Herons
3x Armada Wurm
4x Pillar of Flame
4x Farseek
2x Bonfire of the Damned
2x Garruk Relentless
2x Senslaya Charm
1x Kessig Wolfrun
2x Cavern of Souls
4x Temple garden
4x Rootbound Crag
2x Cliftop Retreat
2x Sunpetal Grove
5x Forest
1x Plains
1x Mountain
3x Thragtusk
2x Ray of revalation
2x Zealous Conscripts
3x Cloudshift
2x Crushing Vines
2x Senslaya Charm
1x Sigarda Host of Herons
There she be. In all her Naya glory! Opted for MD armada over thrag as i wanted a finisher rather than a staller at the top of my curve. After playing states the other way around i found myself without much firepower after exhausting Huntmaster of the fells. I will say that his interaction with both gavony township and restoration angel are absolutely out of this world. This deck is a bit slower than a traditional GW build however it pans out nicer versus control and pairs extremely nice against zombies. What i lost to all day were turn 2 smiters backed up by turn 3 paladins with rancor for added insult. in those moments i realized that thrag wasnt pulling his weight and post states i made the switch to armada wurm and havent looked back.
Standard:
RUGDeadeye Combo/Midrange
UGRWBDefender Combo
Modern:
GardgaGeddon
4x Avacyn's Pilgrim
4x Centaur Healer
4x Loxodon Smiter
4x Silverblade Paladin
3x Restoration Angel
1x Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
1x Sigarda, Host of Herons
4x Thragtusk
3x Call of the Conclave
2x Farseek
3x Selesnya Charm
4x Sunpetal Grove
4x Temple Garden
9x Forest
4x Plains
2x Gavony Township
2x Ajani, Caller of the Pride
2x Garruk Relentless
1x Garruk, Primal Hunter
3x Rest in Peace
2x Silklash Spider
2x Sundering Growth
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Current Decks
Standard : WB Orzhov Vampires BW GUB Sultai Constrictor BUG
Brawl : GB Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons BG
Modern : GB Golgari Elves BG GR Atarka Goblins RG
Pauper : W Heroic W GB Delve BG
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
3 Borderland Ranger
2 Centaur Healer
3 Loxodon Smiter
4 Huntmaster of the Fells
4 Restoration Angel
2 Thragtusk
2 Wolfir Silverheart
2 Armada Wurm
Spells
3 Selesnya Charm
2 Bonfire of the Damned
3 Pillar of Flame
3 Farseek
2 Clifftop Retreat
2 Gavony Township
5 Forest
1 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Temple Garden
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
2 Ray of Revelation
2 Zealous Conscripts
2 Rest In Peace
2 Selesnya Keyrune
1 Wolfir Silverheart
3 Knight of Glory
2 Oblivion Ring
4 arbor Elf
4 avacyn's pilgrim
4 centaur Healer
3 restoration angel
4 thragtusk
2 wolfir silverheart - cant decide which is better,'Pede or WSH....
2 vorapede - try it out, its winning my heart
2 Armada Wurm
1 angel of serenity
3 Selesnya Charm
3 oblivion ring
10 forest
4 temple garden
4 sunpetal grove
2 hallowed fountain - detention spheres are good against control.
2 cavern of souls
2 gavony township
3 detention spheres - entreat, tokens, planeswalkers
2 Garruk primal hunter - since I have extra slots, 3?
2 sigarda, host of herons - Grixis type control decks
1 angel of serenity
1 Selesnya Charm - midrange//ramp//mirror
I am still ironing out my SBing plans against other archetypes. Once I get that down I can fill in my SB.
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
To be honest I have only been 'solitaring' against B/G zombies since I think its the best deck in the format. I go main deck Vs aggro so its unlikely that I have to SB against aggro with a control / mirror / combo Sideboard.
I have only played 2 standard tournaments thus far, 3rd tomorrow. But I have never been disappointed to see or cast the card against aggro or control.
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
3x Forest
2x Gavony Township
4x Isolated Chapel
4x Overgrown Tomb
2x Plains
3x Sunpetal Grove
4x Temple Garden
1x Woodland Cemetery
Sorcery (7)
2x Duress
3x Farseek
2x Sever the Bloodline
2x Angel of Serenity
4x Avacyn's Pilgrim
3x Centaur Healer
3x Loxodon Smiter
3x Restoration Angel
4x Thragtusk
3x Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
Planeswalker (6)
2x Ajani, Caller of the Pride
3x Garruk, Primal Hunter
1x Vraska the Unseen
Instant (2)
2x Abrupt Decay
3x Oblivion Ring
1x Sever the Bloodline
2x Purify the Grave
2x Appetite for Brains
3x Rhox Faithmender
2x Loxodon Smiter
2x Underworld Connections
I went 4-3 at states with a list that was similar but had a significantly higher average mana cost. Since the change I haven't lost a match. I play a very competitive FNM (with two states top-8ers) and I managed to go undefeated at the last one. I will be playing this list at a PTQ in tampa on Sunday, I'll tell you all how it works out.
Any comments or critiques always welcome.
ALSO: I noticed people were talking about Vorapede, I'm not gonna tell you not to run him, just don't run him until you already run 4x Thragtusk and 2x Garruk Primal Hunter at minimum. Once you've got that, if you still need 5 mana plays, feel free to run Vorapede. Its not that he's bad, its that he's not good enough.
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"People with needs have trivial purchasing power while people with purchasing power have trivial needs."
-Steve Randy Waldman, Interfludity
I think BG zombies is the worst of the established decks. I've gone undefeated at MNM with both American control and Delverless Delver and Rakdos Aggro is serving well online - even against GWx Midrange (the worst matchup) - but BG zombies is not coordinated enough in practise, even though the synergies look superb on paper.
Edit: Back to the question
Against American Control it won't be very good as their removal doesn't really involve it dying (Terminus, Sphere, Tamiyo).
Against Zombies it will be too expensive/slow and they'll just go around the sides.
Against Delverless Delver it will do some work if it resolves, but again at the high mana cost, the deck should have stabilised.
Not sure what it would be like in the mirror, that might be quite entertaining? I'm not a good GW player but seems like it would be nice.
3 Arbor Elf
3 Centaur Healer
4 Restoration Angel
2 Disciple of Bolas
4 Thragtusk
2 Angel of Serenity
4 Farseek
1 Oblivion Ring
2 Sever the Bloodline
2 Selesnya Charm
1 Unburial Rites
4 Temple Garden
4 Overgrown Tomb
3 Sunpetal Grove
2 Woodland Cemetary
2 Gavony Township
2 Vault of the Archangel
5 Forest
2 Plains
So far im 21-6-2 in 4 tournaments so far. The black really gives us such a good late game and makes us not auto-lose to Entreat the angels.
Also all these aggresive decks dont really seem to be too "midrangey" to me. Playing Sublime and Silverblade is pretty aggresive and not so midrange.
Any comments on my deck would be greatly appreciated as I feel that this can be one of better decks of the format.
I also thought about making a slight splash of red for mainboard dreadbore because the only thing I been having problems with is walkers resolving and me not being able to do anything about it.
Standard:RWUJeskai WinsRWU
Modern:GWBMelira PodGWB
Legacy:WDeath & TaxesW
I notice you run a TON of dorks (7 instead of 3 or 4) plus the full farseek compliment. Has this not been a problem? Seems like you would make alot of plays that don't do much for the board. Is the turn 3 thragtusk really that worth it? I used to run Disciple of Bolas but I switched first one then all three over to Garruk, PH. I heartily advise the change, Big G costs one more mana but you get to keep the critter!!! Also, in situations where what you need is another beater Big G's got yo' back but Disciple really doesn't.
I'm a proud member of the Online Campaign for Real English. If you believe in capital letters, correct spelling, and good sentence structure, then copy this into your signature.
"People with needs have trivial purchasing power while people with purchasing power have trivial needs."
-Steve Randy Waldman, Interfludity
4 Temple Garden
4 Sunpetal Grove
3 Gavony Township
7 Forest
6 Plains
Creatures (22)
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
2 Arbor Elf
4 Loxodon Smiter
3 Silverblade Paladin
3 Restoration Angel
3 Thragtusk
2 Sigarda, Host of Herons
1 Armada Wurm
4 Rancor
3 Selesnya Charm
4 Call of the Conclave
2 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Oblivion Ring
3 Rest in Peace
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Centaur Healer
2 Selesnya Keyrune
2 Ray of Revelation
2 Collective Blessing
The deck hits hard, hits fast, and is rarely at a loss for a beater. When it is, there usually are issues, but by then you ought to have a dominant enough board position to draw through it.
The Board: Rest in Peace goes a long way in shutting off any reanimation-fueled decks, be they zombies, frites, or even annoyingly efficient blood artists. (dies triggers require hitting the graveyard, after all) Oblivion Ring is a great catch-all card that is almost never dead, so if you need more removal, here it is. Centaur Healer buys us precious time against faster aggro with the lifegain and the 3/3 body - usually the one turn it gives us is enough to hit something that'll turn the game around. Selesnya Keyrune is a wrath-proof, mortars-proof, general pain in the ass for control decks to have to play through. Ray of Revelation is a great card to blow up detention spheres or oblivion rings from our opponent. (if opposing keyrunes are the issue, try sundering growth instead.) Collective Blessing is for the mirror, as it turns your mana bugs into big threats, and your big threats into even bigger ones.
The Matchups:
vs. Jund: The deck gives us a bit of trouble, but it's not a terrible matchup. We have a much better early game, and if we can keep them from going bonkers with olivia and aristocrat, they've really not got much to stop us. The clear MVP in this matchup is Sigarda - They have no answers to her other than pumping one of their fliers into charm range. if you can land her and a silverblade paladin together, then your opponent might as well scoop. About 50/50 pre-board, 60/40 post
vs. American Control: This deck is tougher due to detention sphere, terminus, supreme verdict, and mizzium mortars all being able to decimate our forces. If you can land a walker, then you can start taking more control of the game. Focus your attention on your opponents' walkers before their face, and definitely go after tamiyo before trying to deal with the Architect. Rancor isn't that good here, as they usually have very few creatures outside of entreat the angels - side it out for exiling removal. Swing for the fences with 1 or 2 dudes and force them to press the reset button as often as they can. We can grind them out if all their wraths are merely 2-for-1's. 40/60 pre-board, 50/50 post
vs. Rakdos Aggro: They run faster dudes than we do, but they're significantly smaller than ours. Keep your smiters and resto angels on defense until they run out of things to throw at you, then go to town with thrags and wurms. post-board, the lifegain from healer, thragtusk, and resto targeting either makes this almost automatic. 60/40 pre-board, 75/25 post
vs. Bant Control: This is the matchup we punt. They play 3 thragtusk, and follow up with angel of serenity to recycle them all when and if we manage to kill them. Add in cyclonic rift, detention sphere, and supreme verdict, and you have a damn-near impossible opponent. The one saving grace is that their matchup against jund is as bad as ours is against bant, so if jund is common, you won't see this much. If everyone locally has bant, you really ought to play something else. At best 10/90 pre-board, 10/90 post.
Vs Frites: This matchup depends solely on how quickly we see selesnya charm. We need to exile everything they can reanimate before they can revive it, and sometimes we're stuck exiling it afterwards. Post board rest in peace makes the win easier, but not even close to automatic.
If you have an opening hand that's got RiP and the mana to cast it, keep it no matter what else is in hand. That being said, a turn 2 RiP isn't always right - don't drop it until there's something sitting in the yard that's worth exiling, since they board in a lot of artifact/enchantment removal. 30/70 pre-board, 45/55 post
Those are the match-ups that I've played enough to be able to call with accuracy.
Currently Playing:
GBStandard - Golgari Safari MidrangeBG
RBWModern - Mardu PyromancerWBR
RLegacy - Good Old Fashioned BurnR
Clan Contest 3 Mafia - Mafia Co-MVP
The 7 dorks do have the times where they hurt me but against so many decks turn 3 thrag or even in game 2 or 3 turn 3 big garruk or vraska is extremely back breaking. the dorks also allow me to lingering souls turn 2 or centaur healer.
I may test out big garruk over disciple but he does so much more than just draw cards. He allows CA over and over again with Restoration and unburial rites.
And idk what exactly Iwould cut to run 2 MD duress. I already have 3 appetite for brains in the board. And I find duress may make my aggro matchups weaker even though this deck handles aggro like no other. Way to much life gain/removal for them to deal with.
Standard:RWUJeskai WinsRWU
Modern:GWBMelira PodGWB
Legacy:WDeath & TaxesW
I will have to sleeve up B/R zombies to compare. But B/g does have some resilency due to rancor and troll, having larger creatures.
Vorapede suffers the same fate against control than any other 5 drop does other than Sigarda which I have 2 in the board for control. I tried vorapede as a test over 2 silverhearts. At times I would be in situations where I would like to attack but need the blocker, or would get blown out by have silverheart killed or bounced after blockers. Vorpede helps over come those situations where silverheart couldnt. So all in all I guess its just silverheart VS vorapede.
with 8 dorks and 4 farseek I usually have 5 mana by turn 4. Of course on the nut T3. Not too slow.
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
2x Armada Wurm
4x Avacyn's Pilgrim
4x Loxodon Smiter
4x Restoration Angel
1x Sigarda, Host of Herons
2x Silverblade Paladin
4x Thragtusk
2x Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
4x Rancor
2x Selesnya Charm
4x Call of the Conclave
3x Farseek
Land: 24
11x Forest
4x Plains
1x Gavony Township
4x Sunpetal Grove
4x Temple Garden
I'm having A LOT of trouble with BR control particularly. Mizzium Mortars, Dreadbores, and Sever the Bloodlines hurt big time and I have a hard time recovering when Olivia or Falkenrath is out. Any suggestions for the sideboard or main in that regard?
Currently Playing:
GBStandard - Golgari Safari MidrangeBG
RBWModern - Mardu PyromancerWBR
RLegacy - Good Old Fashioned BurnR
Clan Contest 3 Mafia - Mafia Co-MVP
9 Forest
1 Gavony Township
5 Plains
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Temple Garden
// Creatures
4 Arbor Elf
1 Armada Wurm
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
2 Centaur Healer
3 Loxodon Smiter
4 Restoration Angel
3 Strangleroot Geist
2 Thragtusk
2 Wolfir Silverheart
1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride
3 Oblivion Ring
4 Rancor
4 Selesnya Charm
2 Centaur Healer
2 Dryad Militant
3 Faith's Reward
1 Oblivion Ring
3 Rest in Peace
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
3 Arbor Elf
3 Selesnya Keyrune
Creatures
4 Restoration Angel
4 Centaur Healer
4 Thragtusk
2 Sigarda, Host of Herons
2 Armada Wurm
4 Rancor
4 Selesnya Charm
2 Garruk Relentless
Lands
8 Forest
6 Plains
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Temple Garden
2 Gavony Township
1 Angel of Serenity
2 Sundering Growth
2 Rhox Faithmender
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
2 Rest in Peace
4 Elite Inquisitor
2 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Oblivion Ring
Lost to BR Zombies Round One.
Won against UR Delver Round Two.
Won against Jund Zombies Round Three.
Won against URW Tempo Round Four.
10/24/12 @ 10:00 AM if you want to watch.
3 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Thragtusk
2 Silverblade Paladin
2 Restoration Angel
1 Drogskol Reaver
4 Centaur Healer
1 Armada Wurm
2 Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
4 Farseek
4 Dissipate
4 Syncopate
4 Detention Sphere
1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
5 Forest
4 Plains
2 Island
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Temple Garden
3 Hallowed Fountain
2 Sunpetal Grove
2 Hinterland Harbor
My bant deck takes on a more control-ish feel, running 8 counterspells and 4 detention spheres. Of course, after the draw-go phases are over, the fun begins with Thragtusk, Geist, and later in the game, a drogskol reaver that reacts nicely with Thraggy and the healer.
__________________
(because) IWannaBTractor
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Resoration Angel
2 Thragtusk
4 Azouris Charm
4 Selesnya Charm
3 Syncopate
2 Dissipate
4 Think Twice
4 Thoughtscour
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Temple Garden
4 Glacial Fortress
1 Sunpetal Grove
4 Hinterland Harbour
4 Islands
2 Moorland Haunt
2 Sundering Growth
2 Negate
4 Knight of Glory
2 Feeling of Dread
2 Rootborn Defenses
3 Pithing Needle
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
3 Borderland Ranger
4 Centaur Healer
4 Restoration Angel
2 Disciple of Bolas
4 Thragtusk
2 Armada Wurm
1 Angel of Serenity
2 Abrupt Decay
3 Grisly Salvage
2 Unburial Rites
4 Temple Garden
4 Overgrown Tomb
3 Sunpetal Grove
3 Woodland Cemetery
2 Isolated Chapel
2 Gavony Township
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Plains
3 Forest
1 Swamp
3 Deathrite Shaman
3 Knight of Glory
2 Loxodon Smiter
2 Sigarda, Host of Herons
1 Angel of Serenity
2 Golgari Charm
2 Oblivion Ring
- whhhhhaaat?
Standard Decks:
UBRGrixis ControlRBU
4 Loxodon Smiter
4 Silverblade Paladin
4 Sublime Archangel
4 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Knight of Glory
2 Thragtusk
2 Sigarda, Host of Herons
Spells
4 Selesnya Charm
2 Farseek
2 Azorius Charm
3 Rancor
3 Oblivion Ring
Land
4 Temple Garden
4 Sunpetal Grove
3 Hallowed Fountain
3 Glacial Fortress
2 Hinterland Harbor
3 Forest
2 Plains
1 Island
1 Gavony Township
3 Ray of Revelation
3 Negate
3 Feeling of Dread
2 Centaur Healer
2 Detention Sphere
2 Rest in Peace
Plays very well, and my local meta is mostly midrange and control, so I don't have to worry too much about the lack of a 1-drop. Farseeks, Knight of Glory, and Selesnya Charm tokens are my general turn 2 plays.
Update: And now it's junk colors! Needed the extra removal, and lingering souls is just so good.
Updated 10/11/12
4 Forest
1 Gavony Township
4 Isolated Chapel
4 Overgrown Tomb
2 Plains
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Temple Garden
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Woodland Cemetery
Creatures (19):
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
4 Restoration Angel
3 Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
4 Thragtusk
3 Armada Wurm
4 Farseek
1 Ultimate Price
3 Entreat the Angels
4 Lingering Souls
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Sever the Bloodline
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
2 Garruk, Primal Hunter
2 Erase
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
1 Plummet
1 Slayer of the Wicked
2 Purify the Grave
1 Ground Seal
1 Ultimate Price
2 Cavern of Souls
This deck has been consistently giving results for me, including a top 8 recently at a GPT. So many random wins from entreat the angels and so many soul-crushing moments for aggro players when I land Trostani and cast basically anything else.
Modern: Jund Legacy: RUG Delver EDH: Captain Sisay
Current Decks
Standard : WB Orzhov Vampires BW GUB Sultai Constrictor BUG
Brawl : GB Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons BG
Modern : GB Golgari Elves BG GR Atarka Goblins RG
Pauper : W Heroic W GB Delve BG
4 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Huntmaster of the Fells
4 Restoration Angel
3 Thragtusk
2 Zealous Conscripts
2 Angel of Serenity
Sorceries and Instants
4 Farseek
4 Bonfire of the Damned
2 Entreat the Angels
2 Azorious Charm
2 Selesnia Charm
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Detention Sphere
Lands
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Steam Vents
4 Temple Garden
3 Rootbound Crag
4 Hinterland Harbor
3 Clifftop Retreat
2 Sunpetal Grove
4 Izzet Charm
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Centaur Healer
2 Rest in Peace
1 Mizzium Mortars
1 Cyclonic Rift
The sideboard is a dog's breakfast. I've seen a lot of American Control, and a 4 colour Miracle control in my meta, hence the Izzet Charm/Snapcaster in the sideboard. Centaur Healer was for Jund, RIP for Reanimator, and Mortars/Rift for Aggro
The mana is actually really good. With Farseek and 24 lands, you're hitting your land drops easily. Really, the hardest thing to do is remembering to play your lands properly so you have the right lands untapped at the right time. You typically don't take damage with the Shocklands, so it's important to play the right Shocklands at the right time in order to ensure that your M10/Innistrad lands come in to play untapped.
Took down game day with this build. Beat Jund twice, Rakdos Zombies, and GW Aggro, losing to Bant control.
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Currently playing:
Standard BUG Control
Modern :UAffinity, GNyxWave
Legacy UBTezzAffinity
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