You need to play with pack rat more. The card is a blow out when it gets online. It also forces your opponent to deal with it immediately. Because if they don't they are way to far behind to ever get back in the game. It's real really good. Play with it some more and you will see.
Also, all I have been reading online is that lifebane zombie is the way to go for the main. I can't say I'm totally convinced but it's looking like that is the way that all the pros are recommending. Do you guys think it's possible to just swap out the ; lifebanes I have in my board for 4 specters? Is packing 4 specters in the board doing to much??
Agree on Pack Rat. Lifebane vs. Specter is really personal preference and metagame. Some people prefer Specter, other people prefer Lifebane. I think it really comes down to your meta. If you expect lots of GR, play Lifebane. If you think you'll see a lot of control, play Specter. And yes, Specter is bad in the board because it effectively means devoting at least half your sideboard to control.
I have a few things to say on the Lifebane Zombie versus Nightveil Specter debate.
Patrick Sullivan has made good points about that already in his articles that everybody can read on Starcity games. But you should have in mind that he talks about the high-level paper meta. Things that are right in there dont have to be right for you.
I play only on MTGO and the meta is 22% Mono-Black, 11% UW Control and 11% Mono-Blue and only 7% GR Monsters. http://www.mtgo-stats.com/
Nightveil Specter in the main is the right way to go if you play there and I would advise you to look at the meta first where you are playing before leaving the Specters at home. Lifebane Zombie is a better creature than Nightveil Specter in a vacuum but in the mirror he is obviously just terrible.
Also remember all the people saying that the meta wont change much? Those people were kinda true. The MTGO meta reflects that. GR Monsters doesnt have the resilience that the other decks have. A good UW/Esper Control/Mono-Blue/Mono-Black list can beat them handily. So you can expect the percentage of GR to decrease further and further the longer the season goes. I mean it has already started if you look at the results of the last SCG Open. No GR Monsters in the top 16. All it took was a few changes in the other decks.
Switched to an essentially mono-black list, and I'm not a huge fan of Desecration Demon. It's a big flier, but it just hasn't been that good for me, and I feel like I'd rather run more removal/maindeck Duress.
Demon is a beast against the G/R decks and with running so much removal a demon on an empty board means lights out. Plus you cannot beat a 6/6 for 4 casting cost. Stick with him he will pay off as well!
Galerion are you in the specter camp or lifebane for paper magic?
Galerion are you in the specter camp or lifebane for paper magic?
I play only on MTGO.
But if that is a hypothetical question of what I would run in paper and entering an unknown meta then I would go with the Lifebane Zombies main. Even if you dont exile a creature they are still 3 power unblockable against non-black deck. GR Monsters and its variants are also certainly more popular in paper and the mirror should not be as common. Besides the mirror is still winnable without Nightveil Specters so I wouldnt worry to much about it.
But like I said everybody has to make that decision for himself. Every meta is different.
I've finally decided to switch over to MBD. Had couple extra event tickets on mtgo after selling my Jace's and Revelations.
Noticed a couple of things. First one is mono black seems to be weaker than U/w control against hyper aggressive decks (RW burn, RDW etc). RDW and other creature based aggro decks has never been a problem for me with UW, just RW burn.
Second is Pack Rat. I don't know about you guys but it seems pretty weak for me. I almost always take 4 out against pretty much anything on game 2. I've been looking for a 2 cmc replacement for him but I can't find any. It seems this card is only being played because there are no other options?
This is what I'm running btw
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster--just wanted to say a few words about this post: if Pack Rat seems weak, it isn't being played properly. It has a unique (and almost counter-intuitive) strategy that requires full commitment as soon as it hits the board, assuming you are playing against aggro. If you Thoughtseize into Pack Rat against aggro on the play, it is very unlikely that you can lose that match. Hope that sures up any concern regarding the monoB aggro matchup.
About nightveil vs. lifebane, historically they did a very good job together MD and SB, respectively. So why now lifebane MD and nightveil out? I figure that it's for GR monsters, but it can be handled game 1 even with nightveil, a card that is more than decent against control and aggro.
I love lifebane too, but what are the benefits kicking out nightveil? What do you guys add in the SB instead? To me, doing so lowers the threat density (critical against control when we want to play both), and weakens the mirror and aggro matchups.
I've finally decided to switch over to MBD. Had couple extra event tickets on mtgo after selling my Jace's and Revelations.
Noticed a couple of things. First one is mono black seems to be weaker than U/w control against hyper aggressive decks (RW burn, RDW etc). RDW and other creature based aggro decks has never been a problem for me with UW, just RW burn.
Second is Pack Rat. I don't know about you guys but it seems pretty weak for me. I almost always take 4 out against pretty much anything on game 2. I've been looking for a 2 cmc replacement for him but I can't find any. It seems this card is only being played because there are no other options?
This is what I'm running btw
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster--just wanted to say a few words about this post: if Pack Rat seems weak, it isn't being played properly. It has a unique (and almost counter-intuitive) strategy that requires full commitment as soon as it hits the board, assuming you are playing against aggro. If you Thoughtseize into Pack Rat against aggro on the play, it is very unlikely that you can lose that match. Hope that sures up any concern regarding the monoB aggro matchup.
I cannot agree with this more. Great point about our friend pack rat. I am still torn on this lifebane specter situation. I am running out of time to test it for Cincinnati. Anyone have some experience with which one is better? I know you want specter in the mirror and mono blue but it would seem the zombie would be better against the rest of the field.
I've finally decided to switch over to MBD. Had couple extra event tickets on mtgo after selling my Jace's and Revelations.
Noticed a couple of things. First one is mono black seems to be weaker than U/w control against hyper aggressive decks (RW burn, RDW etc). RDW and other creature based aggro decks has never been a problem for me with UW, just RW burn.
Second is Pack Rat. I don't know about you guys but it seems pretty weak for me. I almost always take 4 out against pretty much anything on game 2. I've been looking for a 2 cmc replacement for him but I can't find any. It seems this card is only being played because there are no other options?
This is what I'm running btw
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster--just wanted to say a few words about this post: if Pack Rat seems weak, it isn't being played properly. It has a unique (and almost counter-intuitive) strategy that requires full commitment as soon as it hits the board, assuming you are playing against aggro. If you Thoughtseize into Pack Rat against aggro on the play, it is very unlikely that you can lose that match. Hope that sures up any concern regarding the monoB aggro matchup.
I cannot agree with this more. Great point about our friend pack rat. I am still torn on this lifebane specter situation. I am running out of time to test it for Cincinnati. Anyone have some experience with which one is better? I know you want specter in the mirror and mono blue but it would seem the zombie would be better against the rest of the field.
While both are very strong cards and should be swapped based on meta, I am currently running nightveils main. Based on your own post, you seem to have answered the question. NVS is a must against the mirror (any control mirror as a matter of fact), monoU, and most importantly U/W sphinx shenanigans. We're bringing in lifebanes against the latter post-board to pick off an Archangel of Thune or Brimaz, King of Oreskos, but LBZ is essentially a dead card G1.
Lifebane hoses R/G monsters and W/x aggro. This accounts for a substantially smaller part of the meta than the former three. As I said in my opening sentence, you should play whatever is right for your local meta, but from a purely quantitative perspective, we should be mainboarding NVS.
@stranadorn Totally. That was my reasoning for playing NVS as well.
I actually like Lifebane less than most people. If your opponent has a Domri on board when you play it, you're not actually gaining any card advantage from it.
I've finally decided to switch over to MBD. Had couple extra event tickets on mtgo after selling my Jace's and Revelations.
Noticed a couple of things. First one is mono black seems to be weaker than U/w control against hyper aggressive decks (RW burn, RDW etc). RDW and other creature based aggro decks has never been a problem for me with UW, just RW burn.
Second is Pack Rat. I don't know about you guys but it seems pretty weak for me. I almost always take 4 out against pretty much anything on game 2. I've been looking for a 2 cmc replacement for him but I can't find any. It seems this card is only being played because there are no other options?
This is what I'm running btw
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster--just wanted to say a few words about this post: if Pack Rat seems weak, it isn't being played properly. It has a unique (and almost counter-intuitive) strategy that requires full commitment as soon as it hits the board, assuming you are playing against aggro. If you Thoughtseize into Pack Rat against aggro on the play, it is very unlikely that you can lose that match. Hope that sures up any concern regarding the monoB aggro matchup.
I cannot agree with this more. Great point about our friend pack rat. I am still torn on this lifebane specter situation. I am running out of time to test it for Cincinnati. Anyone have some experience with which one is better? I know you want specter in the mirror and mono blue but it would seem the zombie would be better against the rest of the field.
While both are very strong cards and should be swapped based on meta, I am currently running nightveils main. Based on your own post, you seem to have answered the question. NVS is a must against the mirror (any control mirror as a matter of fact), monoU, and most importantly U/W sphinx shenanigans. We're bringing in lifebanes against the latter post-board to pick off an Archangel of Thune or Brimaz, King of Oreskos, but LBZ is essentially a dead card G1.
Lifebane hoses R/G monsters and W/x aggro. This accounts for a substantially smaller part of the meta than the former three. As I said in my opening sentence, you should play whatever is right for your local meta, but from a purely quantitative perspective, we should be mainboarding NVS.
I've finally decided to switch over to MBD. Had couple extra event tickets on mtgo after selling my Jace's and Revelations.
Noticed a couple of things. First one is mono black seems to be weaker than U/w control against hyper aggressive decks (RW burn, RDW etc). RDW and other creature based aggro decks has never been a problem for me with UW, just RW burn.
Second is Pack Rat. I don't know about you guys but it seems pretty weak for me. I almost always take 4 out against pretty much anything on game 2. I've been looking for a 2 cmc replacement for him but I can't find any. It seems this card is only being played because there are no other options?
This is what I'm running btw
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster--just wanted to say a few words about this post: if Pack Rat seems weak, it isn't being played properly. It has a unique (and almost counter-intuitive) strategy that requires full commitment as soon as it hits the board, assuming you are playing against aggro. If you Thoughtseize into Pack Rat against aggro on the play, it is very unlikely that you can lose that match. Hope that sures up any concern regarding the monoB aggro matchup.
I cannot agree with this more. Great point about our friend pack rat. I am still torn on this lifebane specter situation. I am running out of time to test it for Cincinnati. Anyone have some experience with which one is better? I know you want specter in the mirror and mono blue but it would seem the zombie would be better against the rest of the field.
While both are very strong cards and should be swapped based on meta, I am currently running nightveils main. Based on your own post, you seem to have answered the question. NVS is a must against the mirror (any control mirror as a matter of fact), monoU, and most importantly U/W sphinx shenanigans. We're bringing in lifebanes against the latter post-board to pick off an Archangel of Thune or Brimaz, King of Oreskos, but LBZ is essentially a dead card G1.
Lifebane hoses R/G monsters and W/x aggro. This accounts for a substantially smaller part of the meta than the former three. As I said in my opening sentence, you should play tever is right for your local meta, but from a purely quantitative perspective, we should be mainboarding NVS.
I disagree with the notion that Lifebane is a dead card game 1 vs UWx. In fact after heavy play testing, I don't miss specter in the control matchup.
The thing you forget... its a 3/1 unblockable. Elspeth tokens can't block it (and elspeth can't kill it), it can't be blocked by mutavaults, aetherlings, etc.
Moreover, it shows you their hand which is HUGE vs control. It lets you know exactly how you can go about winning the game.
The only time I wish I still had specter is vs RDW or Devotion to Red. That's because having a 2/3 blocker... stops 2/2 first strikers all day long. I miss that : /.
But RDW and devotion to red are not popular enough to keep specter around.
I've finally decided to switch over to MBD. Had couple extra event tickets on mtgo after selling my Jace's and Revelations.
Noticed a couple of things. First one is mono black seems to be weaker than U/w control against hyper aggressive decks (RW burn, RDW etc). RDW and other creature based aggro decks has never been a problem for me with UW, just RW burn.
Second is Pack Rat. I don't know about you guys but it seems pretty weak for me. I almost always take 4 out against pretty much anything on game 2. I've been looking for a 2 cmc replacement for him but I can't find any. It seems this card is only being played because there are no other options?
This is what I'm running btw
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster--just wanted to say a few words about this post: if Pack Rat seems weak, it isn't being played properly. It has a unique (and almost counter-intuitive) strategy that requires full commitment as soon as it hits the board, assuming you are playing against aggro. If you Thoughtseize into Pack Rat against aggro on the play, it is very unlikely that you can lose that match. Hope that sures up any concern regarding the monoB aggro matchup.
I cannot agree with this more. Great point about our friend pack rat. I am still torn on this lifebane specter situation. I am running out of time to test it for Cincinnati. Anyone have some experience with which one is better? I know you want specter in the mirror and mono blue but it would seem the zombie would be better against the rest of the field.
While both are very strong cards and should be swapped based on meta, I am currently running nightveils main. Based on your own post, you seem to have answered the question. NVS is a must against the mirror (any control mirror as a matter of fact), monoU, and most importantly U/W sphinx shenanigans. We're bringing in lifebanes against the latter post-board to pick off an Archangel of Thune or Brimaz, King of Oreskos, but LBZ is essentially a dead card G1.
Lifebane hoses R/G monsters and W/x aggro. This accounts for a substantially smaller part of the meta than the former three. As I said in my opening sentence, you should play whatever is right for your local meta, but from a purely quantitative perspective, we should be mainboarding NVS.
I've finally decided to switch over to MBD. Had couple extra event tickets on mtgo after selling my Jace's and Revelations.
Noticed a couple of things. First one is mono black seems to be weaker than U/w control against hyper aggressive decks (RW burn, RDW etc). RDW and other creature based aggro decks has never been a problem for me with UW, just RW burn.
Second is Pack Rat. I don't know about you guys but it seems pretty weak for me. I almost always take 4 out against pretty much anything on game 2. I've been looking for a 2 cmc replacement for him but I can't find any. It seems this card is only being played because there are no other options?
This is what I'm running btw
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster--just wanted to say a few words about this post: if Pack Rat seems weak, it isn't being played properly. It has a unique (and almost counter-intuitive) strategy that requires full commitment as soon as it hits the board, assuming you are playing against aggro. If you Thoughtseize into Pack Rat against aggro on the play, it is very unlikely that you can lose that match. Hope that sures up any concern regarding the monoB aggro matchup.
I cannot agree with this more. Great point about our friend pack rat. I am still torn on this lifebane specter situation. I am running out of time to test it for Cincinnati. Anyone have some experience with which one is better? I know you want specter in the mirror and mono blue but it would seem the zombie would be better against the rest of the field.
While both are very strong cards and should be swapped based on meta, I am currently running nightveils main. Based on your own post, you seem to have answered the question. NVS is a must against the mirror (any control mirror as a matter of fact), monoU, and most importantly U/W sphinx shenanigans. We're bringing in lifebanes against the latter post-board to pick off an Archangel of Thune or Brimaz, King of Oreskos, but LBZ is essentially a dead card G1.
Lifebane hoses R/G monsters and W/x aggro. This accounts for a substantially smaller part of the meta than the former three. As I said in my opening sentence, you should play tever is right for your local meta, but from a purely quantitative perspective, we should be mainboarding NVS.
I disagree with the notion that Lifebane is a dead card game 1 vs UWx. In fact after heavy play testing, I don't miss specter in the control matchup.
The thing you forget... its a 3/1 unblockable. Elspeth tokens can't block it (and elspeth can't kill it), it can't be blocked by mutavaults, aetherlings, etc.
Moreover, it shows you their hand which is HUGE vs control. It lets you know exactly how you can go about winning the game.
The only time I wish I still had specter is vs RDW or Devotion to Red. That's because having a 2/3 blocker... stops 2/2 first strikers all day long. I miss that : /.
But RDW and devotion to red are not popular enough to keep specter around.
@PJ I
I've been play testing lifebane zombie main substantially. Here are my exact findings:
VS GR: Excellent. Lifebane zombie is amazing vs the GR archetypes. The fact that he is unblockable is amazing. It forces the GR player to remove it or never have a pw. I can't tell you how many times someone - dromi just to kill a 3/1... which feels amazing xD. The only time I've ever wished I had specter is when they have 2 dragons in play and we're racing.
VS UWx Control: Also amazing. I thought I would miss specter in this matchup, but I don't. The nice thing about zombie: unlike specter, it can not be last breathed. That means it can only be removed via azorious charm (temporary), supreme verdict, sphere, etc. And on an additional bright side, it can not be blocked by those pesky elspeth tokesn or mutavaults. Additionally... being able to see your opponents hand and decide whether you should over extend or not... is huge.
VS Mirror: Terrible if its not a BW variant with barons. A 3/1 for 3 that does nothing (and can be blocked) is pretty meh. Since I started maining zombie, I've found myself taking out zombie post board (while keeping demon in). This is one match up where I wish I had specter.
VS MUD: Zombie is a faster clock than specter ever was. The only time I regret not having specter... is when my opponent casts specter and I have no way of dealing with it. Then I wish I had a blocker... of course desecration demon helps with this too. For this matchup... I am undecided what is better. It depends alot on the individual matchup, and can change based on draws.
VS RDW/Devotion to Red: Hate zombie in this matchup. It hits nothing. It can very rarely block and live (the 2/2 first striker). This matchup I wish I had specter simply for the 2/3 body. Plus the specter blocks flyers.
VS Other Aggro Variants: Depends on matchup. But aggro tends to be more miss than hit with lifebane zombie.
Personal opinion definitely plays a role here; you've made a valid point point about seeing their hand. It basically comes down to whether you'd rather see their hand more G1 or steal their topdecks, because either way, if UW gets nervous they'll just wrath it away or burn a D-sphere.
Also some food for thought: NVS can't be blocked by tokens, mutavault, aetherling, or wrathed by Elspeth.
Personal opinion definitely plays a role here; you've made a valid point point about seeing their hand. It basically comes down to whether you'd rather see their hand more G1 or steal their topdecks, because either way, if UW gets nervous they'll just wrath it away or burn a D-sphere.
Also some food for thought: NVS can't be blocked by tokens, mutavault, aetherling, or wrathed by Elspeth.
but it can be last breathed
Honestly... not being hit by last breath is kind of huge IF they run it.
correction* They can still LB if they + jace and you attack like a fool
If they're at the point that they start charging Jace to use him as a win con...it's been a bad day for the black deck.
Not necessarily. It can mean several things. Like if they don't... jace dies and they have no other card draw in hand
Coming from a longtime control player, if Jace is getting +1'd, either they'll die if they don't +1 him or they're absolutely certain that he won't get Downfalled for a while. And if that's the case, you're screwed.
If they're at the point that they start charging Jace to use him as a win con...it's been a bad day for the black deck.
Not necessarily. It can mean several things. Like if they don't... jace dies and they have no other card draw in hand
Coming from a longtime control player, if Jace is getting +1'd, either they'll die if they don't +1 him or they're absolutely certain that he won't get Downfalled for a while. And if that's the case, you're screwed.
If they're at the point that they start charging Jace to use him as a win con...it's been a bad day for the black deck.
Not necessarily. It can mean several things. Like if they don't... jace dies and they have no other card draw in hand
Coming from a longtime control player, if Jace is getting +1'd, either they'll die if they don't +1 him or they're absolutely certain that he won't get Downfalled for a while. And if that's the case, you're screwed.
My point exactly.
Not exactly. I was really taking a stance somewhere between the two opinions.
On another note, I've noticed some people maindecking Duress. What are everyone's thoughts on that?
I feel like its pretty solid. but my meta has a lot of decks with white in them. lots of G/W U/W R/W creature decks
We can't run both because of the logjam at the 3-slot, with Hero's Downfall and Underworld Connections to compete with. With Deso in the mix to make curving 3 into scryland-3 much harder, your curve seems like a nightmare.
Also, you should be running 4 copies of Pack Rat. Pack Rat is awesome. There is no excuse for not running 4.
I feel like its pretty solid. but my meta has a lot of decks with white in them. lots of G/W U/W R/W creature decks
We can't run both because of the logjam at the 3-slot, with Hero's Downfall and Underworld Connections to compete with. With Deso in the mix to make curving 3 into scryland-3 much harder, your curve seems like a nightmare.
Also, you should be running 4 copies of Pack Rat. Pack Rat is awesome. There is no excuse for not running 4.
Ok boys, I am going to test the lifebanes tomorrow at FNM but unless it proves to be out of this world I am leaning toward the nightveils. With that said, what does everyones's removal suite look like? Mine is currently 4 downfall, 3 bile blight, and 3 devour flesh. I have also tried -1 bile blight and -1 devour flesh and put 2 ultimate price in their place. I have to be honest, during testing I did not like the ultimate price. What is everyone running for removal?
Ok boys, I am going to test the lifebanes tomorrow at FNM but unless it proves to be out of this world I am leaning toward the nightveils. With that said, what does everyones's removal suite look like? Mine is currently 4 downfall, 3 bile blight, and 3 devour flesh. I have also tried -1 bile blight and -1 devour flesh and put 2 ultimate price in their place. I have to be honest, during testing I did not like the ultimate price. What is everyone running for removal?
My current removal suite (or at least the part that's relevant to you) is 4 Downfall, 3 Bile Blight, and 4 Ultimate Price. I really like Ultimate Price in the current format, since it kills most of the creatures that Doom Blade kills but is also live in the mirror. I'm not a fan of Devour Flesh, which I often feel is necessitated by Blood Baron. With many Orzhov players dropping their white splash, it's less useful now.
I meant Negate is only good against one deck. Gainsay can get sided in against Mono-U.
Agree on Pack Rat. Lifebane vs. Specter is really personal preference and metagame. Some people prefer Specter, other people prefer Lifebane. I think it really comes down to your meta. If you expect lots of GR, play Lifebane. If you think you'll see a lot of control, play Specter. And yes, Specter is bad in the board because it effectively means devoting at least half your sideboard to control.
Patrick Sullivan has made good points about that already in his articles that everybody can read on Starcity games. But you should have in mind that he talks about the high-level paper meta. Things that are right in there dont have to be right for you.
I play only on MTGO and the meta is 22% Mono-Black, 11% UW Control and 11% Mono-Blue and only 7% GR Monsters.
http://www.mtgo-stats.com/
Nightveil Specter in the main is the right way to go if you play there and I would advise you to look at the meta first where you are playing before leaving the Specters at home.
Lifebane Zombie is a better creature than Nightveil Specter in a vacuum but in the mirror he is obviously just terrible.
Also remember all the people saying that the meta wont change much? Those people were kinda true. The MTGO meta reflects that. GR Monsters doesnt have the resilience that the other decks have. A good UW/Esper Control/Mono-Blue/Mono-Black list can beat them handily. So you can expect the percentage of GR to decrease further and further the longer the season goes. I mean it has already started if you look at the results of the last SCG Open. No GR Monsters in the top 16. All it took was a few changes in the other decks.
Galerion are you in the specter camp or lifebane for paper magic?
Thanks to xeno for the sig and avvy!!!
I play only on MTGO.
But if that is a hypothetical question of what I would run in paper and entering an unknown meta then I would go with the Lifebane Zombies main. Even if you dont exile a creature they are still 3 power unblockable against non-black deck. GR Monsters and its variants are also certainly more popular in paper and the mirror should not be as common. Besides the mirror is still winnable without Nightveil Specters so I wouldnt worry to much about it.
But like I said everybody has to make that decision for himself. Every meta is different.
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster--just wanted to say a few words about this post: if Pack Rat seems weak, it isn't being played properly. It has a unique (and almost counter-intuitive) strategy that requires full commitment as soon as it hits the board, assuming you are playing against aggro. If you Thoughtseize into Pack Rat against aggro on the play, it is very unlikely that you can lose that match. Hope that sures up any concern regarding the monoB aggro matchup.
BMono Black DevotionB
BB/w ControlW
I love lifebane too, but what are the benefits kicking out nightveil? What do you guys add in the SB instead? To me, doing so lowers the threat density (critical against control when we want to play both), and weakens the mirror and aggro matchups.
I cannot agree with this more. Great point about our friend pack rat. I am still torn on this lifebane specter situation. I am running out of time to test it for Cincinnati. Anyone have some experience with which one is better? I know you want specter in the mirror and mono blue but it would seem the zombie would be better against the rest of the field.
Thanks to xeno for the sig and avvy!!!
While both are very strong cards and should be swapped based on meta, I am currently running nightveils main. Based on your own post, you seem to have answered the question. NVS is a must against the mirror (any control mirror as a matter of fact), monoU, and most importantly U/W sphinx shenanigans. We're bringing in lifebanes against the latter post-board to pick off an Archangel of Thune or Brimaz, King of Oreskos, but LBZ is essentially a dead card G1.
Lifebane hoses R/G monsters and W/x aggro. This accounts for a substantially smaller part of the meta than the former three. As I said in my opening sentence, you should play whatever is right for your local meta, but from a purely quantitative perspective, we should be mainboarding NVS.
BMono Black DevotionB
BB/w ControlW
I actually like Lifebane less than most people. If your opponent has a Domri on board when you play it, you're not actually gaining any card advantage from it.
I disagree with the notion that Lifebane is a dead card game 1 vs UWx. In fact after heavy play testing, I don't miss specter in the control matchup.
The thing you forget... its a 3/1 unblockable. Elspeth tokens can't block it (and elspeth can't kill it), it can't be blocked by mutavaults, aetherlings, etc.
Moreover, it shows you their hand which is HUGE vs control. It lets you know exactly how you can go about winning the game.
The only time I wish I still had specter is vs RDW or Devotion to Red. That's because having a 2/3 blocker... stops 2/2 first strikers all day long. I miss that : /.
But RDW and devotion to red are not popular enough to keep specter around.
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@PJ I
I've been play testing lifebane zombie main substantially. Here are my exact findings:
VS GR: Excellent. Lifebane zombie is amazing vs the GR archetypes. The fact that he is unblockable is amazing. It forces the GR player to remove it or never have a pw. I can't tell you how many times someone - dromi just to kill a 3/1... which feels amazing xD. The only time I've ever wished I had specter is when they have 2 dragons in play and we're racing.
VS UWx Control: Also amazing. I thought I would miss specter in this matchup, but I don't. The nice thing about zombie: unlike specter, it can not be last breathed. That means it can only be removed via azorious charm (temporary), supreme verdict, sphere, etc. And on an additional bright side, it can not be blocked by those pesky elspeth tokesn or mutavaults. Additionally... being able to see your opponents hand and decide whether you should over extend or not... is huge.
VS Mirror: Terrible if its not a BW variant with barons. A 3/1 for 3 that does nothing (and can be blocked) is pretty meh. Since I started maining zombie, I've found myself taking out zombie post board (while keeping demon in). This is one match up where I wish I had specter.
VS MUD: Zombie is a faster clock than specter ever was. The only time I regret not having specter... is when my opponent casts specter and I have no way of dealing with it. Then I wish I had a blocker... of course desecration demon helps with this too. For this matchup... I am undecided what is better. It depends alot on the individual matchup, and can change based on draws.
VS RDW/Devotion to Red: Hate zombie in this matchup. It hits nothing. It can very rarely block and live (the 2/2 first striker). This matchup I wish I had specter simply for the 2/3 body. Plus the specter blocks flyers.
VS Other Aggro Variants: Depends on matchup. But aggro tends to be more miss than hit with lifebane zombie.
Twitter: twitter.com/axmanonline
Stream: twitch.tv/axman
Current Decks
Modern: Affinity
Standard: BW Control
Legacy: Death and Taxes :symw::symr:
Vintage: NA
Personal opinion definitely plays a role here; you've made a valid point point about seeing their hand. It basically comes down to whether you'd rather see their hand more G1 or steal their topdecks, because either way, if UW gets nervous they'll just wrath it away or burn a D-sphere.
Also some food for thought: NVS can't be blocked by tokens, mutavault, aetherling, or wrathed by Elspeth.
BMono Black DevotionB
BB/w ControlW
but it can be last breathed
Honestly... not being hit by last breath is kind of huge IF they run it.
correction* They can still LB if they + jace and you attack like a fool
Twitter: twitter.com/axmanonline
Stream: twitch.tv/axman
Current Decks
Modern: Affinity
Standard: BW Control
Legacy: Death and Taxes :symw::symr:
Vintage: NA
BMono Black DevotionB
BB/w ControlW
Not necessarily. It can mean several things. Like if they don't... jace dies and they have no other card draw in hand
Twitter: twitter.com/axmanonline
Stream: twitch.tv/axman
Current Decks
Modern: Affinity
Standard: BW Control
Legacy: Death and Taxes :symw::symr:
Vintage: NA
Coming from a longtime control player, if Jace is getting +1'd, either they'll die if they don't +1 him or they're absolutely certain that he won't get Downfalled for a while. And if that's the case, you're screwed.
My point exactly.
BMono Black DevotionB
BB/w ControlW
Not exactly. I was really taking a stance somewhere between the two opinions.
On another note, I've noticed some people maindecking Duress. What are everyone's thoughts on that?
4x Desecration demon
4x Gray Merchant of Asphodel
4x Nightveil Specter
3x Lifebane zombie
2x Pack rat
I feel like its pretty solid. but my meta has a lot of decks with white in them. lots of G/W U/W R/W creature decks
Decks
Modern
BGR Jund RGB
BW Eldrazi and Taxes WB
BWGAbzan Company GWB
Mtgo Modern
G Company Elves G
We can't run both because of the logjam at the 3-slot, with Hero's Downfall and Underworld Connections to compete with. With Deso in the mix to make curving 3 into scryland-3 much harder, your curve seems like a nightmare.
Also, you should be running 4 copies of Pack Rat. Pack Rat is awesome. There is no excuse for not running 4.
^This.
BMono Black DevotionB
BB/w ControlW
Thanks to xeno for the sig and avvy!!!
My current removal suite (or at least the part that's relevant to you) is 4 Downfall, 3 Bile Blight, and 4 Ultimate Price. I really like Ultimate Price in the current format, since it kills most of the creatures that Doom Blade kills but is also live in the mirror. I'm not a fan of Devour Flesh, which I often feel is necessitated by Blood Baron. With many Orzhov players dropping their white splash, it's less useful now.
Thanks to xeno for the sig and avvy!!!