One match was a Blow out win, round 8 against Blue.
One match was a Blow out Loss, round 6 against Esper
The other 7 rounds went to 3 games, and could have gone either way.
Every deck I played against was a stereotype.
I played against 9 rounds of Tier One deck with no innovation or interesting cards.
Each deck I faced can be described with a single word, and if you know the format, you will know the entire decklist, and probably the complete sideboard.
The only surprise for me was one that wasn't.
Red/Green is no longer playing Anger of the Gods because Xenagos wants creatures. Fine by me.
Over (9+9+7 = 25) games, I think I mulliganed 3-4 times.
I avoided colour cards I could not have cast once.
I got Colour screwed once, the final game. If I got a red, the burn would have kicked in killing the Pack Rat, and then the Assemble would have won it. Instead I looked at 5 red cards and died on turn 5ish.
Every other game I lost was because the opponent kicked, hard.
I played well.
I made about 2 mistakes over 25 games.
I confused and rattled players.
I won a lot of games on turn 5 against live opposition.
The deck works.
It still needs some changes, but ya get that.
I kept notes about each of the rounds, maybe I will type them up.
I earned a couple of shocked opponents as spectators for the rest of the tournament.
My matches were just more interesting to watch.
Like when my Black/white opponent was blocking 40+ points of damage from Slivers, and Elsepth took the 4 damage from a Boon Satyr. Any one of the Slivers would kill him, and Elspeth next turn would haver got a boardwipe.
He casts Obzedat, and I attack again with 56 points of attacking Slivers. He blocks all 4 Slivers, and The Boon Satyr gets another Boon Satyr Bestowed on him, dealing 8 points for leathal...
The round I count as a walkover for Esper involved him wiping the board on turn 4, and then wiping it again, and again. And then he dicked around for ages as his hands became a Blur of do this, do that, do this, change this die, cast this, cast that......He was amazing.
Counting a triple wipe as a walkover is how hard my opponents had to work to kill me.
Pack rats were a real problem though.
Despite that final game, I think Burn and then Assemble the Legion may well be the only believable way.
Taking out that many Green/White Slivers seemed enthusiastic, but maybe that is just what I gotta do.
Assemble (with burn) did just beat Mono Black in one game, but I think I need more practice and understanding of how to beat Black.
Having 14 Assemble the Legion counters sit idle while 3xBlood Barons waltz across was irritating. Jace going +1, all attacking creatures get -1/0 was a tad rude. Having 2 Assembles sitting there being useless was BAD. I really dont know if bring them in against Esper is the right idea or not.
I wasn't saying to ignore good cards just because successful decks play them but rather that if you keep up with this switch, that's just where you'll end up. 16 slivers gives up a lot of critical mass in that sense and the more you drop them in number, the more they're going to come out disjointed as opposed to in numbers as where their strength will reach the point you'll end up cutting them entirely and just becoming GR splash white monsters. And that point isn't far off at all if you drop any more.
The Colossus were there to help against Desecration Demon, and Board position recovery after a Verdict
Same with Boon Satyrs, but they can be cast on turn 3 if needed.
Colossus is also rather effective against Blue, not that I need it I spoze.
Blue still seemed pretty easy to beat, so the Mistcutters have started moving back to the board.
Skylashers just dont seem effective enough.
And Witchstalkers just suck.
All of the Sideboard was used, and fairly regularly.
The Boon Satyrs did a job, and fairly well. Not sure about them though.
Same with Collossus.
I am going to include some Burning Earth to have a go at the Esper decks.
Elspeth is often the final, killing card. If she is used as a board wipe, or if the 3 token appear...Yuk. Both are BAD. I have won by flying over the top with a Galerider & team, and I have killed her with a Mistcutter/Blur/Mutavault, and then managed to win...but it aint pretty.
Burning Earth AFTER her doesnt seem like much of a solution.
Burning earth certainly sounds like a house against a Maze's End deck, if I ever meet one.
And it is REALLY going to hurt Me, But I just don't think that would matter against the decks I want that effect against. hmmmmm.
The collossus never actually went Monstrous for the win. They tried to go monstrous once, and got spot killed by a Doomblade. 11 mana vs 2 for no effect. Seems Fair.
They kinda did do their job though. And they were able to be cast.
I got greedy once, and it worked. Temple of Mystery + Lay of the land + Manaweft. = Keep . . . even though the rest is 5 cost stuff.
I did not face a Boros Reckoner all day.
My current problems are Pack Rat & Supreme Verdict decks.
Working on it.
She kills Rats, makes tokens to lock down DDemons. Should beat Esper, and is much faster and more effective than Garruk.
Even so.... YUK!
She is just like Assemble the Legion, but faster. I think.
It is like how I ended up with Polukranos, can't beat em, join em.
Helps perma block Reckoner, and locks down an entire Red God Team,
And might kill rats. and dodges board wipe.
I played in another minor standard tourney, but didn't quite have the cards together, and it cost me.
I had taken out the lightning strikes to get them signed, and then couldn't find them.
Got killed round one by 3 defence Minotaurs. Game 3 I should have won, if I had the sideboard above.
Lost to straight black as well. yuck.
Got two Elspeths in trades, since the shop had none.
Now I am not sure what to do with them.
I figure I should include them basedeck, just to find out if they do anything.
6 mana still seems a lot.
1 forests
1 mountain
1 Plains
1 island
4 Stomping ground
2 Temple Garden
1 Temple of Plenty
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Mutavaults
4 Lay of the Land
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
Sideboard
-2 Assemble the Legion
+2 Burning Earth (giving this a try against Esper)
Not sure about these changes. It is an attempt to hurt Black.
Assemble is just not fast enough. Assemble is just not enough of a board presence quickly enough.
Assemble does not effect the decks I need it to fast enough.
Going lots of burn and hoping to survive long enough for the Assemble to kick in just wasn't a good enough plan. Maybe Elspeth is a better one.
Maybe not.
Thinking I might want to add an extra Lightning strike to the board, or the 4th Mizz Mort, or maybe switch the Magma's in base to strikes/mortars . . .but then they kick in as they should and just seem great.
Now that the Sliver count is going down to 24, maybe it is time to cut it back to 21 and remove the Blue entirely, and shore up the white/red.
It would have some fairly significant effects.. I could maybe lose all 4 Lay of the Lands, and the 4 basics
Speed would go up since comes into play tapped lands would go down, and Maybe Elvish Mystics would replace the Lay's.
Flying is still rather good, but the swarming hammer is just not that needed, and may well be replaced sometime soon.
Thinking....
The possibilities in simplifying the manabase by removing blue+Galerider sure are tempting.
The lays could become Elven Mystics, the mystery become plenty.
Slight dip in red sources, about the same for white, and green.
But, instead of Lay, I get a mystic. That is some real speed. And if the second land is a temple, I still get a predator or Weft. Making a turn 3 a four or five mana play, and just maybe Elspeth on turn 4, before the Verdict.
Arbor Colossus has been a little tricky to cast lately. Triple green when trying to spread across 4 colours was stretching it.
It also frees up the 3 galerider slots themselves.
I got a Voice of resurgence in a trade. Maybe I should try him out. Just not sure he is as good for me as any of my 10 current 2 drops.
Xenagos, The Reveller looks promising too.
He is smaller than most, at 4 cost, and wants the game to go long for his second and major, and short for his fountain of mana to pay off.
All three abilties seem relevent against black. More speed, more dudes and more everything.
Been following this thread for awhile now and it's rather interesting but I can't make any suggestions for you. Seems effective and fun at the same time. Would you mind posting your current decklist?
-1 Green
-1 Red
-1 White
-1 Blue
-4 Green, -4 Blue
-4 Any (not really Green, though sometimes I do go get the Forest)
-3 Galeriders
So... I want the green to be just as abundant.
I want slightly more White.
I want slightly more Red.
-1, -4 Green (-4)
-1 Red (-4)
-1 White (-4)
12-ish Mana Sources
+3 Temple of Plenty (W/G Temple)
+1 Temple Garden
+1 Forest
+3 Elven Mystic
+1 Sacred Foundry (Untapped red/white may be important)
Much more initial green. More actual white. Bit less red because of the missing lay's.... Need to work on RED. Hmmmm
+1 Xenagos, the Reveler
+1 Stormbreath Dragon
+1 Voice of Resurgence
...3 more cards....
Maybe another Xenagos & Stormbreath & Polukranos
I have been looking at a whole lot of Red/Green decks.
The speed bump that the Elvish Mystic's get over is the reason Domri Works for them.
With enuff untapped land coming into play, a turn 2 Domri, turn 3 Polukranos is a whole lot better than the Domri's I was playing way back when I started. I can see why a lot of the red/green decks have the cards they do. This is partly why I took this approach from the start. I now understand large chunks of how the standard field operates, and am learning what works against it.
It looks as though the two standout cards in environment are Elspeth & Pack Rat.
Master of Waves still seems like the single strongest card out there, but the rest of Mono U is just not as strong. Maybe I am just not rating blue enough because this deck seems to kick Mono U's arse.
Black is common enough, and strong enough, and easy and cheap enough, that the basic concept of how Slivers wants to be played just doesn't work.
1) Thoughtseize,
2) doomblade,
3) Lifebane Zombie,
4) Desecration Demon
...is a HARSH first four turns, and it is what should be happening a lot of the time.
And that is ignoring the back up Pack Rat route entirely.
Being able to beat the above really is a stretch, but that is exactly what needs ocussed on.
The Thoughtseize picks apart the cohesion of the Slivers, the Doomblade kills the first, the Lifebane expunges a problem and makes a clock, the Demon is huge and hungry.
Just wish there was something, anything, as brutal against Black as Lifebane Zombie is to White & Green.
I can see how zippy red would work well against Mono Black.
I really like Rakdos Returns, but I dont see how I fit it in.
Green is definately the core of the deck, red secondary, and white/blue as bonuses.
Elspeth now seems like the plan against slower decks, which is certainly a pretty reasonable plan. She is a whole lot faster than Garruk.
Hmmm, maybe eventually this is going to have all the Slivers fall out of it.
Really not sure about the Blue Swap out for power Mythic rares.
Weirdly, it is the Elvish Mystics that are proving hardest to find.
I think It should work. Taking out So Much of the mana stability, and reducing the colour spectrum should work too. So many two colour lands have been added along the way that I think it should be fine to reduce the overall investment in Mana. Xenagos should help a little in reaching 6 mana, and making huge Mystveil serpents.
I like the speed increase that the Mystic's should give. They should also help colour stability a little by absorbing the initial Kill Spell, maybe leaving the Manawefts alive, or at least slowing them down because of the time and effort involved killing the elf. I think I will go with 3, because I do not want to draw 2 in an initial hand, not that it would be critical either way I just think I have enough to do....
I do not like the loss of the flying swarm hammer, but I think that may well just be how it is.
I do hope Elspeth is worth the effort. Just maybe she will go off and give all the Slivers flying anyway.
I played a fairly similiar listing to the one above at an FNM.
(no Domri, no second Stormbreath, with a fourth Elf, and a second Xenagos. Switch A Mystcutter for a MizMort in the board)
I went 2 wins, 2 losses.
The wins were walk overs. The losses were hard fought.
The first loss to one cost White Weenie was embarrassing. Lost twice to Fortify. Oh well. Felt less bad when this 14 year old went undefeated. even so. Yuk!
I also lost to Blue(/white). The detention spheres were strong.
Not sure what happened. I played some more games, and mostly lost those too. Maybe it was the loss of flying, but I used to POUND blue. It was the deck I wanted to face. (Rapid Hybridization on Thasa is such a classy way to kill a 2/2 Hydra.)
I played a lot of games before the tournament, and had no mana problems at all.
Then I am looking at six mana and no 3rd red to Overload the Miz Mortar for the win.
7 cards no land, 6 cards one Mutavault. ...Draws like that.
Xenagos is just not that good against fast decks.
Against Black, theoretically it is a damn fine card.
I think he is going to go live in sideboard for a while.
Magma Jet wants to go live in sideboard, but it is really good against White Weenie, and Blue, so, maybe not.
Elspeth is really good against slow decks, and midrange (R/G especially).
Elspeth is BAD against Blue, and maybe just too slow against White Weenie.
The Elvish Mystics worked a treat.
The difference in speed is VERY strong.
The third green for Arbor Collossus is still a bit tricky.
Being able to entirely side out the Slivers combat engine is actually kinda cool.
In go the point and kill, and the stand alone strong creatures.
I like this version.
Played last night Win,Win,Win, Loss
D'oh.
Lost to a weird arse Japanese Tech, Agent of Fates deck with nuts draws and insane recurring creature kill. So close and, no.
Anyhoo, the deck is way cool, and much faster.
The Elf Mana Dorks are WAY faster than Lay of the land. Compressing into three colours has become possible with more lands, and chipping away all of the cards that just dont quite make the cut. The Elf upgrade really is huge.
Elspeth seems strong too. Sometimes. And gets thrown out against fast stuff, and blue.
Xenagoes straight to the sideboard. Will give him a try against Black and Esper.
Sideboarding is OK.
The cards have been thru enough fire that the weak have burnt off.
What follows are the cards to think about taking out so the sideboard cards go in.
What follows is all of the sideboard cards that might be good against each deck.
...And the a full list of possible cards to remove.
I did not make one match the other....interesting.
In Against Blue.. (little creature Devotion) -9 Cards
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
2 Mistcutter Hydra
1 Arbor Colossus
In Against Black - 11 cards! (stupid pack rat...)
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
Out Against Black - 11 cards!
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Mistcutter Hydra
In Against Red 7 - ?9?
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
1 Arbor Colossus
?2 Xenagos, the Reveler ?
Out Against Red 10 Cards
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
(Just not sure I will live long enough to cast Elspeth with burnt mana dorks)
In Against Green/White 5 Cards
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Magma Jet
?1 Arbor Colossus?
Out Against Green/White 2 cards ?4?
2 Mistcutter Hydra
?2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess? nah
In Against White and Blue 8 cards - ?9?
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Burning Earth
? 1 Arbor Colossus
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
Out Against White and Blue - 8 cards
?4 Elvish Mystic
2 Magma Jet
2 Mizzium mortars
In Against White and Black 7 cards
?2 Burning Earth
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
Out Against White and Black - 6 cards
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Magma Jet
2 Mizzium mortars
It worked great for me.
turn 4 overloaded Mortars works.
Massive sideboarding all worked.
The token creature idea works, if the burn comes in to...but that means the creature density goes down so lots of creatures need to go...The expensive Slivers go first since they are easy targets, but the basic idea really works. Sometimes it is just like a classic red green, except my version of a Sylvan hits for 2 with doublestrike, and gives his friend the ability to tap for the final mana to summon elspeth.
Neat.
Manaweft - turn 2,
Blur, then Predator, take 2 - turn 3,
Bonescythe, take [(1+1) + (2+1) + (1+1) + (2+1)] x2 = [(2)+(3)+(2)+(3)]x2=[10]x2 = 20
Selesnya charm has been suggestted, and deserves thought, maybe instead of a boonie.
The deck feels complete now.
I understand how to mostly sideboard, and that can sometimes be 13 cards worth.
I think it comfortably goes toe to toe with anything.
It is like a red/green monsters deck, but with aggressive creatures instead of Sylvan Walls. And Mutavaults. The Overloaded Mizz Mortars is also proving to be a regular game winner on turn 4.
Playing it again tonite.
I really like the list because it confuses people.
And then they sideboard wrong.
People know I am the guy playing Slivers, and that is just fine.
'Slivers' is not actually the style of deck this is any more.
A single 'wrath' effect should kill most 'Sliver' decks, but not this one.
One is unpleasant, two is a problem, three is enough. Or maybe Elspeth.
Individually many of the Slivers are not strong enough, but together they are.
A Predator Sliver by itself is just a bear, but, with a friend they both become 3/3, sure thats obvious, but that is precisely what I am pointing out.
Predator Sliver is also regularly tapped as the sixth mana.
And double striking is really just a bonus.
But the point is that the above regularly does not happen. There is not one specific way to win, but all of the cards interact nicely without any one of them regularly being the indivual one that 'Wins'.
Well... Mutavault regularly does the final points.
Speaking of which, Mutavault is the only man land, and it is best in this.
My current concern is figuring out Red (white) burn.
I am really not sure if I should dedicate some sideboard slots to lifegain.
The sideboard is finally getting to grips with Black...
Burning Earth just dont work.
Lost 2-0 to Esper Control.
They got a Verdict on the play, some point and kill, and an Elspeth on turn 6 for the win.
Game 2= 6 cards, colour screwed for white on turn 4 & 5. No Bonescythe for maybe the game.
Fast, and sad making.
Lost to Red (white).
Lost to his rush.
Lost to his rush.
Chained to the rocks on my Polukranos wins both games.
Fast. Phoenix is a hassle, as is the quality Red creature base.
Burning Earth turned up as the last card drawn in game 2 of the Esper Loss.
Burning Earth has spectacularly failed enough to be thrown out in disgrace.
Nyx-Sheep was surprisingly effective against my dudes. Maybe it is worth a slot against red rush.
War-Leaders Helix is another I am considering.
Magma Spray seems interesting instead of a Magma Jet or maybe Lightning Strike. Making them Exiled might be worthwhile. Missing Boros Reckoner does suck though.
I am getting closer, but still not beating Black.
The Pack Rat is reliably not making it, but the Desecration Demon is still a problem. Well, the second one is anyway.
Red just seems too fast.
It always has solutions for my speed. It picks off my little creatures AND hurts me at the same time.
Trying to Block their creatures is actually quite tricky, since Phoenix has haste, and flying, and comes back.
And next game they will have no Creatures... Dóh.
I am thinking I might try out the new Gain Life Sheep.
....And Banishing Light may well be the solution I always wanted.
I think I might end up playing 3 base, and increasing the white a touch again.
Banishing Light solves Desecration Demon, Boros Reckoner, Elspeth, Chained to the rocks, Thasa, Porpy, Polukranos, Arbor Colossus, Voice of Resurgence, Chandra's Phoenix, Jace, Corsor ofK ....
Sometimes it is even going to deal with Pack Rat!
Ah... Yup.
I think I am going to get 3 and try them out immediately.
That looks like it really could be the missing key.
After writing all that out, I am feeling much more positive about this decks future.
I actually managed to get Xenagos to Ultimate !
I thought that would just NEVER happen.
He does help cast Elspeth though.... And Mistcutter is his best friend.
The next time I play it, It will have slightly more White Sources, and 3xBanishing Light base, and maybe a 4th in the board.
Changes
+ white sources
+ Banishing Light
+ Elspeth
so...
+3 Banishing Light
+1 Elspeth
+X Plains or Sacred Foundry or Temple of Triumph
Looks like another 2-4 white sources will be needed
7 land and 4 Manaweft (and friends) is not enough.
11 land + 4 seems fine...
And... What to lose?
The Mountains are looking kinds Luxurious.
And, the 4th Elf is nervous. Drawing two aint great.
-1 Magma Jet??
-1 Mizzium Mortar??
Maybe the Stormbreath, a Polukranos, Boonie, or Mistcutter.
Possible candidates for replacement in the new world order.....
I lost to Stupid Esper, coz I iz dum.
I made a bad play error, (walked an Elf into a Mutavault) which meant I was one mana short of Overload, which meant the Manaweft had to tap, which means the Manaweft does not get to double strike Elspeth, which means she lives.... and I do not.
And I Lost to a ridiculous Green/Black/Red spamfest.
Double green for Corsar of Krupix.
Double black for Desecration Demon
Double red for Stormbreath.
The fact that deck can work shows how stable the current landbases are. And that Caryatid really is strong, and hard to attack. And thoughtseize, doomblade and yadda yadda yadda
Not seeing a good way for me to get Caryatid before it has done it's damage.
Wish there was some way of effectively attacking landbases...
Lifebane Zombie is just wrong for the environment. The card is broken. It alone scares off so many other potential lines of play just by it's existence. In an earlier version of this deck I started trying to sideboard out all of the green & white creatures that cost 4 or more. Showing them a hand that has not targets is great, and then it just becomes a 3/1 intimidate. Errrgh.
I am starting to lose faith in Magma Jet. The above deck just ignores it. Nothing with less than 4 thoughness, that I can see. I didn't get the 3rd red to overload my mortars against him either. Lost the third game because of the missing 3rd red. Close though.
I like this version of the deck, but it does not have the aggression it used to have.
All this, 'make target thing go away' is just not the 'take 80, flying' that the deck used to do.
The next card for examination is 'Heroes' Reunion'
WG instant = Target player gains 7 life.
I am tired of losing to burn.
I tried out Warleader Helix, and that is OK, but 4 of these in the board should do the trick against that stupid Red/white deck.
Try ignoring my creatures and killing me now.
Wonder if there is any other good lifegain I should look at....
Black, Red/(white) and Supreme Verdict decks are what I am focussed on.
4/1/0 was Great!
5/4/0 was OK
One match was a Blow out win, round 8 against Blue.
One match was a Blow out Loss, round 6 against Esper
The other 7 rounds went to 3 games, and could have gone either way.
Every deck I played against was a stereotype.
I played against 9 rounds of Tier One deck with no innovation or interesting cards.
Each deck I faced can be described with a single word, and if you know the format, you will know the entire decklist, and probably the complete sideboard.
The only surprise for me was one that wasn't.
Red/Green is no longer playing Anger of the Gods because Xenagos wants creatures. Fine by me.
Over (9+9+7 = 25) games, I think I mulliganed 3-4 times.
I avoided colour cards I could not have cast once.
I got Colour screwed once, the final game. If I got a red, the burn would have kicked in killing the Pack Rat, and then the Assemble would have won it. Instead I looked at 5 red cards and died on turn 5ish.
Every other game I lost was because the opponent kicked, hard.
I played well.
I made about 2 mistakes over 25 games.
I confused and rattled players.
I won a lot of games on turn 5 against live opposition.
The deck works.
It still needs some changes, but ya get that.
I kept notes about each of the rounds, maybe I will type them up.
I earned a couple of shocked opponents as spectators for the rest of the tournament.
My matches were just more interesting to watch.
Like when my Black/white opponent was blocking 40+ points of damage from Slivers, and Elsepth took the 4 damage from a Boon Satyr. Any one of the Slivers would kill him, and Elspeth next turn would haver got a boardwipe.
He casts Obzedat, and I attack again with 56 points of attacking Slivers. He blocks all 4 Slivers, and The Boon Satyr gets another Boon Satyr Bestowed on him, dealing 8 points for leathal...
The round I count as a walkover for Esper involved him wiping the board on turn 4, and then wiping it again, and again. And then he dicked around for ages as his hands became a Blur of do this, do that, do this, change this die, cast this, cast that......He was amazing.
Counting a triple wipe as a walkover is how hard my opponents had to work to kill me.
Pack rats were a real problem though.
Despite that final game, I think Burn and then Assemble the Legion may well be the only believable way.
Taking out that many Green/White Slivers seemed enthusiastic, but maybe that is just what I gotta do.
Assemble (with burn) did just beat Mono Black in one game, but I think I need more practice and understanding of how to beat Black.
Having 14 Assemble the Legion counters sit idle while 3xBlood Barons waltz across was irritating. Jace going +1, all attacking creatures get -1/0 was a tad rude. Having 2 Assembles sitting there being useless was BAD. I really dont know if bring them in against Esper is the right idea or not.
What I Played at GP Melbourne.....
1 forests
1 mountain
1 Plains
1 island
4 Stomping ground
2 Temple Garden
1 Temple of Plenty
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Mutavaults
4 Lay of the Land
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
1 Megantic Sliver
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
3 Galerider Sliver
3 Polukranos
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Boon Satyr
2 Arbor Colossus
2 Magma Jet
Sideboard
4 Assemble the Legion
3 Mizzium mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
1 Arbor Colossus
1 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Mistcutter Hydra
The Colossus were there to help against Desecration Demon, and Board position recovery after a Verdict
Same with Boon Satyrs, but they can be cast on turn 3 if needed.
Colossus is also rather effective against Blue, not that I need it I spoze.
Blue still seemed pretty easy to beat, so the Mistcutters have started moving back to the board.
Skylashers just dont seem effective enough.
And Witchstalkers just suck.
All of the Sideboard was used, and fairly regularly.
The Boon Satyrs did a job, and fairly well. Not sure about them though.
Same with Collossus.
I am going to include some Burning Earth to have a go at the Esper decks.
Elspeth is often the final, killing card. If she is used as a board wipe, or if the 3 token appear...Yuk. Both are BAD. I have won by flying over the top with a Galerider & team, and I have killed her with a Mistcutter/Blur/Mutavault, and then managed to win...but it aint pretty.
Burning Earth AFTER her doesnt seem like much of a solution.
Burning earth certainly sounds like a house against a Maze's End deck, if I ever meet one.
And it is REALLY going to hurt Me, But I just don't think that would matter against the decks I want that effect against. hmmmmm.
The collossus never actually went Monstrous for the win. They tried to go monstrous once, and got spot killed by a Doomblade. 11 mana vs 2 for no effect. Seems Fair.
They kinda did do their job though. And they were able to be cast.
I got greedy once, and it worked. Temple of Mystery + Lay of the land + Manaweft. = Keep . . . even though the rest is 5 cost stuff.
I did not face a Boros Reckoner all day.
My current problems are Pack Rat & Supreme Verdict decks.
Working on it.
The Top 8 has some fascinating overall trends.
Age range of 20-32
Occupations of the top 8...
Student x4
Store Owner
Father of 2
Cook
& 'Pool Boy'
Having an Actual Job seems to make the Top 8 a distant prospect.
Creatures punch the opponent to death in 8 out of 8 decks, even if it is Mutavaults and Elspeth Tokens.
I think I should be playing Elspeth.
YUK!
She kills Rats, makes tokens to lock down DDemons. Should beat Esper, and is much faster and more effective than Garruk.
Even so.... YUK!
She is just like Assemble the Legion, but faster. I think.
It is like how I ended up with Polukranos, can't beat em, join em.
Helps perma block Reckoner, and locks down an entire Red God Team,
And might kill rats. and dodges board wipe.
Yuk!
What a waste of good money.
I had taken out the lightning strikes to get them signed, and then couldn't find them.
Got killed round one by 3 defence Minotaurs. Game 3 I should have won, if I had the sideboard above.
Lost to straight black as well. yuck.
Got two Elspeths in trades, since the shop had none.
Now I am not sure what to do with them.
I figure I should include them basedeck, just to find out if they do anything.
6 mana still seems a lot.
1 forests
1 mountain
1 Plains
1 island
4 Stomping ground
2 Temple Garden
1 Temple of Plenty
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Mutavaults
4 Lay of the Land
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
3 Galerider Sliver
2 Polukranos
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Boon Satyr
2 Arbor Colossus
2 Magma Jet
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
Sideboard
2 Assemble the Legion
3 Mizzium mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
1 Arbor Colossus
1 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Mistcutter Hydra
Base
+2 Elspeth
-1 Megantic Sliver
-1 Polukranos
Sideboard
-2 Assemble the Legion
+2 Burning Earth (giving this a try against Esper)
Not sure about these changes. It is an attempt to hurt Black.
Assemble is just not fast enough. Assemble is just not enough of a board presence quickly enough.
Assemble does not effect the decks I need it to fast enough.
Going lots of burn and hoping to survive long enough for the Assemble to kick in just wasn't a good enough plan. Maybe Elspeth is a better one.
Maybe not.
Thinking I might want to add an extra Lightning strike to the board, or the 4th Mizz Mort, or maybe switch the Magma's in base to strikes/mortars . . .but then they kick in as they should and just seem great.
Now that the Sliver count is going down to 24, maybe it is time to cut it back to 21 and remove the Blue entirely, and shore up the white/red.
It would have some fairly significant effects.. I could maybe lose all 4 Lay of the Lands, and the 4 basics
Speed would go up since comes into play tapped lands would go down, and Maybe Elvish Mystics would replace the Lay's.
Flying is still rather good, but the swarming hammer is just not that needed, and may well be replaced sometime soon.
Thinking....
The lays could become Elven Mystics, the mystery become plenty.
Slight dip in red sources, about the same for white, and green.
But, instead of Lay, I get a mystic. That is some real speed. And if the second land is a temple, I still get a predator or Weft. Making a turn 3 a four or five mana play, and just maybe Elspeth on turn 4, before the Verdict.
Arbor Colossus has been a little tricky to cast lately. Triple green when trying to spread across 4 colours was stretching it.
It also frees up the 3 galerider slots themselves.
I got a Voice of resurgence in a trade. Maybe I should try him out. Just not sure he is as good for me as any of my 10 current 2 drops.
He is smaller than most, at 4 cost, and wants the game to go long for his second and major, and short for his fountain of mana to pay off.
All three abilties seem relevent against black. More speed, more dudes and more everything.
Find me on TappedOut also!
Trade with me!! Always in search of cards!
1 mountain
1 Plains
1 island
4 Stomping ground
2 Temple Garden
1 Temple of Plenty
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Mutavaults
4 Lay of the Land
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
3 Galerider Sliver
2 Polukranos
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Boon Satyr
2 Arbor Colossus
2 Magma Jet
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
2 Assemble the Legion
3 Mizzium mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
1 Arbor Colossus
1 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Burning Earth
Current chopping Block.....
1 mountain
1 Plains
1 island
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Lay of the Land
3 Galerider Sliver
...Wow, fully 15 cards!
-1 Green
-1 Red
-1 White
-1 Blue
-4 Green, -4 Blue
-4 Any (not really Green, though sometimes I do go get the Forest)
-3 Galeriders
So... I want the green to be just as abundant.
I want slightly more White.
I want slightly more Red.
-1, -4 Green (-4)
-1 Red (-4)
-1 White (-4)
12-ish Mana Sources
+3 Temple of Plenty (W/G Temple)
+1 Temple Garden
+1 Forest
+3 Elven Mystic
+1 Sacred Foundry (Untapped red/white may be important)
Much more initial green. More actual white. Bit less red because of the missing lay's.... Need to work on RED. Hmmmm
+1 Xenagos, the Reveler
+1 Stormbreath Dragon
+1 Voice of Resurgence
...3 more cards....
Maybe another Xenagos & Stormbreath & Polukranos
Current Tasty Meat...
2 Temple Garden
1 Temple of Plenty
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Mutavaults
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Boon Satyr
2 Arbor Colossus
2 Magma Jet
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
3 Mizzium mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Burning Earth
1 Arbor Colossus
1 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Assemble the Legion
Standard Decks
WR Boros Heroic
The speed bump that the Elvish Mystic's get over is the reason Domri Works for them.
With enuff untapped land coming into play, a turn 2 Domri, turn 3 Polukranos is a whole lot better than the Domri's I was playing way back when I started. I can see why a lot of the red/green decks have the cards they do. This is partly why I took this approach from the start. I now understand large chunks of how the standard field operates, and am learning what works against it.
It looks as though the two standout cards in environment are Elspeth & Pack Rat.
Master of Waves still seems like the single strongest card out there, but the rest of Mono U is just not as strong. Maybe I am just not rating blue enough because this deck seems to kick Mono U's arse.
Black is common enough, and strong enough, and easy and cheap enough, that the basic concept of how Slivers wants to be played just doesn't work.
1) Thoughtseize,
2) doomblade,
3) Lifebane Zombie,
4) Desecration Demon
...is a HARSH first four turns, and it is what should be happening a lot of the time.
And that is ignoring the back up Pack Rat route entirely.
Being able to beat the above really is a stretch, but that is exactly what needs ocussed on.
The Thoughtseize picks apart the cohesion of the Slivers, the Doomblade kills the first, the Lifebane expunges a problem and makes a clock, the Demon is huge and hungry.
Just wish there was something, anything, as brutal against Black as Lifebane Zombie is to White & Green.
I can see how zippy red would work well against Mono Black.
I really like Rakdos Returns, but I dont see how I fit it in.
Green is definately the core of the deck, red secondary, and white/blue as bonuses.
Elspeth now seems like the plan against slower decks, which is certainly a pretty reasonable plan. She is a whole lot faster than Garruk.
Hmmm, maybe eventually this is going to have all the Slivers fall out of it.
Really not sure about the Blue Swap out for power Mythic rares.
Weirdly, it is the Elvish Mystics that are proving hardest to find.
I think It should work. Taking out So Much of the mana stability, and reducing the colour spectrum should work too. So many two colour lands have been added along the way that I think it should be fine to reduce the overall investment in Mana. Xenagos should help a little in reaching 6 mana, and making huge Mystveil serpents.
I like the speed increase that the Mystic's should give. They should also help colour stability a little by absorbing the initial Kill Spell, maybe leaving the Manawefts alive, or at least slowing them down because of the time and effort involved killing the elf. I think I will go with 3, because I do not want to draw 2 in an initial hand, not that it would be critical either way I just think I have enough to do....
I do not like the loss of the flying swarm hammer, but I think that may well just be how it is.
I do hope Elspeth is worth the effort. Just maybe she will go off and give all the Slivers flying anyway.
2 Sacred Foundry
1 Temple of W/R
1 Temple Garden
1 Forest
3 Elven Mystic
1 Xenagos, the Reveler
2 Stormbreath Dragon
1 Domri
4 Stomping ground
2 Temple Garden
1 Temple of Plenty
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Mutavaults
4 Predatory Sliver
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Polukranos
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Boon Satyr
2 Arbor Colossus
2 Magma Jet
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
3 Mizzium mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Burning Earth
1 Arbor Colossus
1 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Assemble the Legion
(no Domri, no second Stormbreath, with a fourth Elf, and a second Xenagos. Switch A Mystcutter for a MizMort in the board)
I went 2 wins, 2 losses.
The wins were walk overs. The losses were hard fought.
The first loss to one cost White Weenie was embarrassing. Lost twice to Fortify. Oh well. Felt less bad when this 14 year old went undefeated. even so. Yuk!
I also lost to Blue(/white). The detention spheres were strong.
Not sure what happened. I played some more games, and mostly lost those too. Maybe it was the loss of flying, but I used to POUND blue. It was the deck I wanted to face. (Rapid Hybridization on Thasa is such a classy way to kill a 2/2 Hydra.)
I played a lot of games before the tournament, and had no mana problems at all.
Then I am looking at six mana and no 3rd red to Overload the Miz Mortar for the win.
7 cards no land, 6 cards one Mutavault. ...Draws like that.
Xenagos is just not that good against fast decks.
Against Black, theoretically it is a damn fine card.
I think he is going to go live in sideboard for a while.
Magma Jet wants to go live in sideboard, but it is really good against White Weenie, and Blue, so, maybe not.
Elspeth is really good against slow decks, and midrange (R/G especially).
Elspeth is BAD against Blue, and maybe just too slow against White Weenie.
The Elvish Mystics worked a treat.
The difference in speed is VERY strong.
The third green for Arbor Collossus is still a bit tricky.
Being able to entirely side out the Slivers combat engine is actually kinda cool.
In go the point and kill, and the stand alone strong creatures.
2 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple Garden
3 Forest
4 Stomping ground
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Mutavaults
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Boon Satyr
3 Polukranos
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Magma Jet
2 Mizzium mortars
1 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Burning Earth
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
I like this version.
Played last night Win,Win,Win, Loss
D'oh.
Lost to a weird arse Japanese Tech, Agent of Fates deck with nuts draws and insane recurring creature kill. So close and, no.
Anyhoo, the deck is way cool, and much faster.
The Elf Mana Dorks are WAY faster than Lay of the land. Compressing into three colours has become possible with more lands, and chipping away all of the cards that just dont quite make the cut. The Elf upgrade really is huge.
Elspeth seems strong too. Sometimes. And gets thrown out against fast stuff, and blue.
Xenagoes straight to the sideboard. Will give him a try against Black and Esper.
The cards have been thru enough fire that the weak have burnt off.
What follows are the cards to think about taking out so the sideboard cards go in.
What follows is all of the sideboard cards that might be good against each deck.
...And the a full list of possible cards to remove.
I did not make one match the other....interesting.
In Against Blue.. (little creature Devotion) -9 Cards
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
2 Mistcutter Hydra
1 Arbor Colossus
Out Against Blue.. (little creature Devotion) 14 Cards
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Boon Satyr
1 Polukranos
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
In Against Black - 11 cards! (stupid pack rat...)
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
Out Against Black - 11 cards!
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
2 Mistcutter Hydra
In Against Red 7 - ?9?
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
1 Arbor Colossus
?2 Xenagos, the Reveler ?
Out Against Red 10 Cards
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
(Just not sure I will live long enough to cast Elspeth with burnt mana dorks)
In Against Green/White 5 Cards
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Magma Jet
?1 Arbor Colossus?
Out Against Green/White 2 cards ?4?
2 Mistcutter Hydra
?2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess? nah
In Against White and Blue 8 cards - ?9?
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Burning Earth
? 1 Arbor Colossus
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
Out Against White and Blue - 8 cards
?4 Elvish Mystic
2 Magma Jet
2 Mizzium mortars
In Against White and Black 7 cards
?2 Burning Earth
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
Out Against White and Black - 6 cards
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Magma Jet
2 Mizzium mortars
4/0 , Finally.
Sure it's just an Fnm. Eh. It's stll fine by me.
Deck good.
Fought 4 real decks.
4 Temple Garden
3 Forest
4 Stomping ground
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Mutavaults
2 mountains
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
3 Boon Satyr
3 Polukranos
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Magma Jet
4 Mizzium mortars
1 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
2 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Burning Earth
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
1 Arbor Colossus
It worked great for me.
turn 4 overloaded Mortars works.
Massive sideboarding all worked.
The token creature idea works, if the burn comes in to...but that means the creature density goes down so lots of creatures need to go...The expensive Slivers go first since they are easy targets, but the basic idea really works. Sometimes it is just like a classic red green, except my version of a Sylvan hits for 2 with doublestrike, and gives his friend the ability to tap for the final mana to summon elspeth.
Neat.
Manaweft - turn 2,
Blur, then Predator, take 2 - turn 3,
Bonescythe, take [(1+1) + (2+1) + (1+1) + (2+1)] x2 = [(2)+(3)+(2)+(3)]x2=[10]x2 = 20
Turn 4, take Twenty.
bam.
Switching a temple garden to a Temple of Plenty might work, slower though.
The Elves have been amazing.
The deck feels complete now.
I understand how to mostly sideboard, and that can sometimes be 13 cards worth.
I think it comfortably goes toe to toe with anything.
It is like a red/green monsters deck, but with aggressive creatures instead of Sylvan Walls. And Mutavaults. The Overloaded Mizz Mortars is also proving to be a regular game winner on turn 4.
I really like the list because it confuses people.
And then they sideboard wrong.
People know I am the guy playing Slivers, and that is just fine.
'Slivers' is not actually the style of deck this is any more.
A single 'wrath' effect should kill most 'Sliver' decks, but not this one.
One is unpleasant, two is a problem, three is enough. Or maybe Elspeth.
Individually many of the Slivers are not strong enough, but together they are.
A Predator Sliver by itself is just a bear, but, with a friend they both become 3/3, sure thats obvious, but that is precisely what I am pointing out.
Predator Sliver is also regularly tapped as the sixth mana.
And double striking is really just a bonus.
But the point is that the above regularly does not happen. There is not one specific way to win, but all of the cards interact nicely without any one of them regularly being the indivual one that 'Wins'.
Well... Mutavault regularly does the final points.
Speaking of which, Mutavault is the only man land, and it is best in this.
My current concern is figuring out Red (white) burn.
I am really not sure if I should dedicate some sideboard slots to lifegain.
The sideboard is finally getting to grips with Black...
Burning Earth just dont work.
Beat two good decks, lost to two good decks.
Lost 2-0 to Esper Control.
They got a Verdict on the play, some point and kill, and an Elspeth on turn 6 for the win.
Game 2= 6 cards, colour screwed for white on turn 4 & 5. No Bonescythe for maybe the game.
Fast, and sad making.
Lost to Red (white).
Lost to his rush.
Lost to his rush.
Chained to the rocks on my Polukranos wins both games.
Fast. Phoenix is a hassle, as is the quality Red creature base.
Burning Earth turned up as the last card drawn in game 2 of the Esper Loss.
Burning Earth has spectacularly failed enough to be thrown out in disgrace.
Nyx-Sheep was surprisingly effective against my dudes. Maybe it is worth a slot against red rush.
War-Leaders Helix is another I am considering.
Magma Spray seems interesting instead of a Magma Jet or maybe Lightning Strike. Making them Exiled might be worthwhile. Missing Boros Reckoner does suck though.
Went 3 wins, 2 losses
2-0 Lost to Black (green)
2-1 Lost to Red (white)
I am getting closer, but still not beating Black.
The Pack Rat is reliably not making it, but the Desecration Demon is still a problem. Well, the second one is anyway.
Red just seems too fast.
It always has solutions for my speed. It picks off my little creatures AND hurts me at the same time.
Trying to Block their creatures is actually quite tricky, since Phoenix has haste, and flying, and comes back.
And next game they will have no Creatures... Dóh.
I am thinking I might try out the new Gain Life Sheep.
....And Banishing Light may well be the solution I always wanted.
I think I might end up playing 3 base, and increasing the white a touch again.
Banishing Light solves Desecration Demon, Boros Reckoner, Elspeth, Chained to the rocks, Thasa, Porpy, Polukranos, Arbor Colossus, Voice of Resurgence, Chandra's Phoenix, Jace, Corsor ofK ....
Sometimes it is even going to deal with Pack Rat!
Ah... Yup.
I think I am going to get 3 and try them out immediately.
That looks like it really could be the missing key.
After writing all that out, I am feeling much more positive about this decks future.
4 Temple Garden
3 Forest
4 Stomping ground
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Mutavaults
2 Mountains
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
3 Boon Satyr
3 Polukranos
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Magma Jet
4 Mizzium mortars
1 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
2 Magma Jet
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Temple of (Red/White)
2 Magma Spray
I actually managed to get Xenagos to Ultimate !
I thought that would just NEVER happen.
He does help cast Elspeth though.... And Mistcutter is his best friend.
The next time I play it, It will have slightly more White Sources, and 3xBanishing Light base, and maybe a 4th in the board.
4 Temple Garden
3 Forest
4 Stomping ground
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Mutavaults
2 Mountains
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
4 Blur Sliver
2 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
3 Boon Satyr
3 Polukranos
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Magma Jet
4 Mizzium mortars
1 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Elspeth, Sun-Goddess
2 Magma Jet
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Temple of (Red/White)
2 Magma Spray
Changes
+ white sources
+ Banishing Light
+ Elspeth
so...
+3 Banishing Light
+1 Elspeth
+X Plains or Sacred Foundry or Temple of Triumph
Looks like another 2-4 white sources will be needed
7 land and 4 Manaweft (and friends) is not enough.
11 land + 4 seems fine...
And... What to lose?
The Mountains are looking kinds Luxurious.
And, the 4th Elf is nervous. Drawing two aint great.
-1 Magma Jet??
-1 Mizzium Mortar??
Maybe the Stormbreath, a Polukranos, Boonie, or Mistcutter.
Possible candidates for replacement in the new world order.....
2 Mountains
1 Battle Sliver
1 Bonescythe Sliver
1 Boon Satyr
1 Polukranos
1 Mistcutter Hydra
1 Mizzium mortars
1 Stormbreath Dragon
In...
0-1 Temple of Plenty
0-1-2 Sacred Foundry
0-1-2-3-4 Temple of Triumph
3-4 Banishing Light
1-2 Elspeth, Sun Goddess
0-1 Xenagos
Out....
-2 Mountain
-1 Elf
-1 Magma Jet
-1 Mizzium Mortar
-1 Polukranos
-1 Boon Satyr
-2 Mistcutter
-1 Blur Sliver
-1 Battle Sliver
hmmmmmmm
Banishing Light works.
4 Temple Garden
3 Forest
4 Stomping ground
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Mutavaults
3 Temple of Triumph
4 Banishing Light
2 Elspeth
1 Xenagos, the Reveller
4 Predatory Sliver
3 Blur Sliver
1 Battle Sliver
3 Bonescythe Sliver
3 Elvish Mystic
2 Boon Satyr
3 Polukranos
1 Magma Jet
3 Mizzium mortars
1 Stormbreath Dragon
4 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Assemble the Legion
1 Xenagos, the Reveller
2 Warleader's Helix
2 Magma Jet
1 Mizzium mortars
2 Magma Spray
1 Arbor Collossus
I beat a well made U/W/(g)
I beat a Home brew
I lost to Stupid Esper, coz I iz dum.
I made a bad play error, (walked an Elf into a Mutavault) which meant I was one mana short of Overload, which meant the Manaweft had to tap, which means the Manaweft does not get to double strike Elspeth, which means she lives.... and I do not.
And I Lost to a ridiculous Green/Black/Red spamfest.
Double green for Corsar of Krupix.
Double black for Desecration Demon
Double red for Stormbreath.
The fact that deck can work shows how stable the current landbases are. And that Caryatid really is strong, and hard to attack. And thoughtseize, doomblade and yadda yadda yadda
Not seeing a good way for me to get Caryatid before it has done it's damage.
Wish there was some way of effectively attacking landbases...
Lifebane Zombie is just wrong for the environment. The card is broken. It alone scares off so many other potential lines of play just by it's existence. In an earlier version of this deck I started trying to sideboard out all of the green & white creatures that cost 4 or more. Showing them a hand that has not targets is great, and then it just becomes a 3/1 intimidate. Errrgh.
I am starting to lose faith in Magma Jet. The above deck just ignores it. Nothing with less than 4 thoughness, that I can see. I didn't get the 3rd red to overload my mortars against him either. Lost the third game because of the missing 3rd red. Close though.
I like this version of the deck, but it does not have the aggression it used to have.
All this, 'make target thing go away' is just not the 'take 80, flying' that the deck used to do.
The next card for examination is 'Heroes' Reunion'
WG instant = Target player gains 7 life.
I am tired of losing to burn.
I tried out Warleader Helix, and that is OK, but 4 of these in the board should do the trick against that stupid Red/white deck.
Try ignoring my creatures and killing me now.
Wonder if there is any other good lifegain I should look at....
Black, Red/(white) and Supreme Verdict decks are what I am focussed on.