Ugh. My friend just updated his dredge deck and went from being a good match-up where I would regularly win, to a nightmare where game one I'm really at a disadvantage. Strength of the Fallen is the real deal. We did a bunch of testing last night and he won 3 out of 4 (or 4 out of 5) games. I'm not sure if it's just that his deck has been kicked into overdrive, or that the changes I've made to mine are really bad..
Little of both probably. Obviously after board the match-up should be fine, but I'd rather not let flying aggro free-roll me game 1. (Other aggro has been giving me trouble too.)
Here's my current list, mainly testing Genesis Hydra as a main piece.
Most of the games I had slow but consistent starts with 3 land and a courser (no ramp tho) and probably should have mulled, but regardless, there are still a few powerful things the deck can do. (Specifically applicable to last nights games that is.)
One of the games, he didn't get t5 herald of torment swinging for 11+ in the air, and I was able to curve just right into a decent board with Polukranos and bow, and used a Hypnotic Siren to steal his Nylea and give me a flying 7/7 indestructible blocker. He scooped because next turn I monstrosity Polukranos while attacking and wipe his board. Polukranos is probably one of the best tools against other creature based decks, we just don't see it often with all the removal running around.
Hypnotic Siren is a like a surgical tool that continues to swing so many games around for me, I know its another one-off, and you don't want to gen hydra it, but I still see it as another Rift.
I misplayed with Kiora at least 2 games, tapping out when he had two creatures out. Gotta play around Strength of the Fallen big time.
I've since put a 3rd Prognostic Sphinx back in, another Arbor Colossus, 2 Dissolve, and a 4th Sylvan Caryatid but I need to test more before I can really see how it all works. I still love Genesis Hydra, but 4 might be too many. Even though you can set up a big nykthos turn 4 or 5, till then you're not pressuring the board much.
While I don't think you should focus too hard on replacements for your rotating cards just yet, since we have no idea what khans will give, I think that Kiora has been a strong part of my deck. I have been running 2 of her in my main board and her utility is amazing. You can shut down an enemy threat until you can ult to stop it with a kraken, or if you get a land on top of the deck after you already played one with courser, you can use her draw to play that second land as well, so it doesn't waste your draw next turn. Or if there is a card revealed that you could really use that turn, you can -1 her to grab it to play right away. I think she synergizes very well with courser. Though for straight card draw, hunters prowess, bay be a good route. I might try it out to see how it does. I really like having card draw attached to a permanent though like Garruk or Prime Speaker Zegana. Hopefully Khans gives us a body with some draw to replace them.
Also, off of the draw topic, but still related to post rotation options, you should try running Horizon Chimera as an evasive beater. At game day this past weekend, I have to say that it might have been the MVP of my deck. Prognostic Sphinx was also very strong for me.
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Legacy : WUGBBant DeathbladeBGUW
Modern : RGTitanshiftGR / UGWKnightfallWGU
How would you guys using Breeding Pool set up a 24-land mana bases without Breeding Pool?
If you already run 4 temples and 4 pain lands, I would go to either 3 forest & 1 island or 2 of each depending on your overall color balance. Though Khans could bring more multicolored lands that might help us out too.
Mine with pool is:
4 breeding pool
4 temple
4 painland
3 nykthos
6 forest
3 island
without would be:
4 temple
4 painland
3 nykthos
8 forest
5 island
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I don't run them either for the same reason and I have found it still runs smooth. I can't think of a time that I had to mull just because of wrong coloured lands. the painlands in M15 helped fix the gap of duals.
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Went 1-1-1 with this deck tonight at a casual+ event. Faced 3 aggro decks, so I'll be making adjustments accordingly. However, I was still very pleased with this build as it was. Oddly enough, my biggest regret with it was playing Jace. The card advantage from him was wonderful. Tapping out to drop him with 4 mana in play was not. Given the aggro-heavy meta, I will probably remove him and add another Kiora, maindeck the Hornet Nests, and swap out some of the counters for more bounce.
Kiora isn't great against aggro. Stopping one weenie is nothing when there are several. Jace however will power down all the weenies at once. But still I prefer a creature over either one in an aggro match. Courser is perfect, and I play 4. Nylea's Disciple is another good target. And Setessan Tactics to clear the board. Inspiration is just insufficient for this situation.
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Current Awesome Deck: UWAll-In GiftsWU Consistent, Resiliant, and way overpowered, making multiple 4/4s per turn.
GB Electric Dreams BG Deal 20 in one shot, or discard their hand?
GWUFree Stuff MidrangeUWG Slowly bury the opponent with more threats and answers than they can handle.
R1 vs Monoblack Aggro: Lose 1-2, all I remember is I should've used more cards from my sideboard for game 3. I had 2 Voyage's End which I could've used to buy me more time and I left them out.
R2 vs Mirror Match: Win 1-0, this guy actually put together my very own list (I sold him the base of the deck) and is learning how to play it. Game one he actually had the cards to take the game on his favor but his inexperienced stopped him from doing so. He had Aetherling but I saved my Dissolve for it. I had my Aetherling, and the had spent his Dissolves. Game 2 went to time.
R3 vs Monoblack Aggro: Win 2-0, on game one he got stuck on 2 lands while I went Elvish Mystic, Courser, Polukranos, etc. On game 2 I have a ton of sideboard, speed and Curse of the Swine, bye bye devotion.
R4 vs Simic Midrange featuring Kiora, the Crashing Wave and Nissa, Worldwaker: Win 2-0, while his deck is pretty good I just happen to have a much more offensive one and there's not much he can do against Prognostic Sphinx. In the end, both games came down to who stuck a Bow of Nylea first, because the deathtouch was what made damage get through (and my creatures were superior too... well hi there Master Biomancer).
Kiora isn't great against aggro. Stopping one weenie is nothing when there are several. Jace however will power down all the weenies at once. But still I prefer a creature over either one in an aggro match. Courser is perfect, and I play 4. Nylea's Disciple is another good target. And Setessan Tactics to clear the board. Inspiration is just insufficient for this situation.
The Hornet Nest is the main stopper, not Kiora. I was also thinking that Inspiration wouldn't be so good, but it turned out great. There were numerous situations where I had 4 mana available and could hold out with a counterspell and then utilize the Inspiration if my opponent did nothing warranting a response. I understand now why this guy ran them as a 4-of.
I've seen three variants on aggro. They were all white (1x monowhite/2x Boros) with Banishing Light & Brave the Elements. If I had to guess, I'd say these represent at least 20% of the meta; maybe more.
The MW and 1 Boros builds threw out very large creatures very quickly. Both relied on enchantments - either Madcap Skills or Eidolon of Countless Battles - and were able to run right over early blockers (Caryatids, Coursers). They were also too large to eat with Polukranos. I don't see Jace working against them. Setessan Tactics might work. It would pair well with the Hornet Nest. The other MW build utilized Preeminent Captain, Brimaz, King of Oreskos, Spear of Heliod, and Iroas, God of Victory. The guy running that deck is also one of the better players in the store and is consistently there every week. The other two guys aren't as skilled and tend to show up every other week.
"this guy" has a very curious build. 4 elves, 0 two-drops, 2 three-drops, 11 fours, 3 fives (prophet), and Aetherling. And then backing that up with counterspells and bounce and Inspiration. So evidently the game plan is to play an elf (if it shows), then counter everything that shows up, then play a 4 drop. But he has precious little to do if he's waiting to obstruct his opponent, until the Prophet shows up. After that, the game is his, because he can play his 4, pass, and ruin his opponent's turn.
This sort of play is why I like having both Boon Satyr and Horizon Chimera - to have a play on turns when I expect them to try something dangerous I need to counter, but then they don't. I can't imagine not playing a second set of mana guys, and I certainly can't imagine this guy deck holding back with 4 mana before Prophet shows up as he's trying to catch up on the board.
On to your newest deck. Looks good except Swan Song. How do you stop the swans you give them? I prefer Negate for the role.
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Current Awesome Deck: UWAll-In GiftsWU Consistent, Resiliant, and way overpowered, making multiple 4/4s per turn.
GB Electric Dreams BG Deal 20 in one shot, or discard their hand?
GWUFree Stuff MidrangeUWG Slowly bury the opponent with more threats and answers than they can handle.
If you're having trouble with enchantments just run a playset of Reclamation Sage. Aura decks cry when you play them. I'm playing a playset of Gameday full art ones 8)
"this guy" has a very curious build. 4 elves, 0 two-drops, 2 three-drops, 11 fours, 3 fives (prophet), and Aetherling. And then backing that up with counterspells and bounce and Inspiration. So evidently the game plan is to play an elf (if it shows), then counter everything that shows up, then play a 4 drop. But he has precious little to do if he's waiting to obstruct his opponent, until the Prophet shows up. After that, the game is his, because he can play his 4, pass, and ruin his opponent's turn.
This sort of play is why I like having both Boon Satyr and Horizon Chimera - to have a play on turns when I expect them to try something dangerous I need to counter, but then they don't. I can't imagine not playing a second set of mana guys, and I certainly can't imagine this guy deck holding back with 4 mana before Prophet shows up as he's trying to catch up on the board.
On to your newest deck. Looks good except Swan Song. How do you stop the swans you give them? I prefer Negate for the role.
I think that guy was built perfectly for a heavy MBC meta (look at the decks he played against over on the right), but I liked the general idea that his build was focused on control. It reminded me of something Leonin said back in the OP: "For me, Simic Midrange is actually a control deck that disguises itself as midrange."
For the Swans, I think there are lots of options: Polukranos, Setessan Tactics + anything that's not the Caryatid, Aetherspouts, Prognostic Sphinx, and even Kiora. Swan Song lets you play something a turn earlier at the expense of not being able to stop planeswalkers and artifacts that aren't also enchantments. Those aggro decks don't play anything in those categories. In almost every situation I have seen from those decks so far, I would rather give them a 2/2 flier than what they were going for. And the surprise factor is enormous with it. The first time, they almost certainly don't see it coming. The second time, they can't stop wondering.
I agree about Negate. Generally speaking, it's better and was in my original build for that reason, but this fast meta probably calls for an adjustment. I haven't quite got the new sideboard figured out, but Negate is already on the list. Essentially, I would like the side to get back closer to the original build but with Thassa instead of the Naiads (which I was using as a placeholder for her while I awaited her arrival). Working towards that.
Re:Reclamation Sage, I think I would go with him here if he had flash. I need something that can respond in real time.
I saw those Gameday Sages on eBay the other day for the first time. So sweet!
Ah yeah... I am in the midst of acquiring a couple of them and will re-think things after they arrive. I like the versatility in that card, and it fits in nicely with the control/responsive nature I'm looking to nurture.
Probably won't be for another 10 days or so, though.
Went draw-lose-win-draw tonight (Almost got first though cause last draw was against the top player,) with pretty much LeoninKha's deck and sideboard but minus one Scavenging Ooze (I only have one), and... can't remember. I had one Swan Song main instead of one of the Dissolve (Not terrible. Prob better side) and a Soul of Zendikar (I like it. Didn't do a whole lot, but almost won me the final against control and I was never sad to see it. I liked it enough to want to try more. It's a scary beast factory with the prophet out). Also one Aetherspouts main and another in the side. It worked, but I'm not entirely sold. Obviously rift is better, but this can help us get there against aggro stuff. (I still can't get over that Aetherize is 1 mana less and its too easy to play around.) Hour of need did a whole lot of nothing :/.
So yeah, mainly the main list but with 4 nykthos and the above stuff. Control is still a very tough match-up. Planar cleansing and supreme verdict (and Azorias Charm.) I don't know if going up to 3 mistcutters in the side, or more souls main, or even trying Soul of new phyrexia is the way to go. (Or just splash black for golgari charm.) All the negates and dissolves are tough. Good games though. It was close. I've only played against that deck or a variant of it a few times.
I'm probably try something a bit more enchantment/devotion-y, (Eidolon's+land Auras+kiora's follower/untap land effects+genesis hydra.) for more explosive plays. Nothing too crazy though. Maybe even Garruk's packleader+ Soul of Zendikar for beast and draw factory :D.)
I very much like the idea of pressuring the board while steadily gaining card advantage Kiora has been really nice on previous weeks I've run her main. Maybe Chasm Skulker might be a decent threat against control? As long as they don't charm it and you're drawing cards, eventually they can't verdict! (Or' they'll die to a lot of tokens.) But then, you probably want to just mistcutter theM in the face. (Still, getting around mutavaults is a pain too.)
I dunno. curving into prophet then AEtherling does the job, but that doesn't always come up. I'd usually get sphinx or polukranos out, but then they just wrath.
Its probably just my experience though. Again, those games were close.
I apologize ahead of time if someone already mentioned this as I am pretty much too lazy to read every single post...but has anyone considered the fact that having 2 Kiora's Followers and an Illusionist's Bracers gives you access to infinite anything that taps?
I like Followers for late game utility more than early ramp, so I still run 2 in my deck.
It's nice for double tapping nykthos if you run it, makes it easier for big chord targets or massive genesis hydras.
Nice to be able to untap prognistic sphinx after making it hexproof as well.
And actually, as dumb as it sounds, a lot of the time people miss that I can tap the follower to untap a bigger creature that I already attacked with to block.
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I was going to list the reasons I love Kiora's Follower and run 4 of them all day, but you just nailed it. It's a great card and so easy to combo with. You can use him to untap Vorel of The Hull Clade, Bow of Nylea, and Yisan too.
Just playtested and found an AMAZING combo with two of my new favorite cards; Bident of Thassa and Ætherspouts
Tap for 2 on Bident to make them swing all in on their turn and then Spout them away. If they don't scoop there then you will most likely swing all in next turn.
Just playtested and found an AMAZING combo with two of my new favorite cards; Bident of Thassa and Ætherspouts
Tap for 2 on Bident to make them swing all in on their turn and then Spout them away. If they don't scoop there then you will most likely swing all in next turn.
I won 2 games with this and I would recommend it
Really? It's 4 to play bident, 2 to use the ability, and 5 for Aetherspouts. Which means, (if you play the bident turn 3-4) you STILL are paying 7 mana at least and need 2 cards to do pretty much what cyclonic rift does. Now switch AEtherspouts for Polymorphist's Jest and then we're getting somewhere... (Since it will only cost you a total of 5 mana and you'll probably kill everything instead of just bouncing it.. Maybe.)
An overloaded Cyclonic Rift would cost 7 anyways (although it is better), but I am looking for combos with Aetherspouts post-rotation because I have already pulled 6 of them and I want to do something with them other then throw them in a binder. It has to much potential just to be a bulk rare.
Polymorphist's Jest is also a card that I want to work with, but I can't find any for trade. It would be a better version of Curse of the Swine if you have immediate consequences for their creatures (like bident or removal), and I just love the card. Frog cavalry ftw.
Yeah, Polymorphist's Jest is a tricky one. I had one main for a while, and it does completely hose slivers... But against a lot of decks that are tough matches, it doesn't help.
Against red, you make their 1/1s into.. 1/1s. (A madcap skills on a frog is still madcap skills. :/ ) Yes their first striking Ash Zealots will lose first strike, but that's about it.
Against U/W it does literally nothing (Neither does Aetherspouts.) So an easy board out.
Against Black... Results can vary. It makes certain creatures fall out of the sky and intimidate less effective, but still.
Don't get me wrong, I understand looking at spouts and jest, but for it to be a "Main plan" for mass removal is still dicey I think.
My favorite thing to do is just swing in with Polukranos while I have a Bow of Nylea out and just wipe the board with monstrosity deathtouch.
I like Bident+jest/AEtherspouts/Aetherize too, it just seems like without consistent evasion off cheap flyers (like mono U) you're not getting the full benefit of running the bident. (I'm running Nykthos too, so UU is less useful that GG ).
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Little of both probably. Obviously after board the match-up should be fine, but I'd rather not let flying aggro free-roll me game 1. (Other aggro has been giving me trouble too.)
Here's my current list, mainly testing Genesis Hydra as a main piece.
4 Breeding Pool
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Yavimaya Coast
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
5 Forest
2 Islands
30 Creatures
4 Elvish Mystic
3 Sylvan Caryatid
3 Kiora's Follower
4 Courser of Kruphix
2 Boon Satyr
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Genesis Hydra
2 Prophet of Kruphix
2 Prognostic Sphinx
1 Thassa, God of the Sea
1 Hypnoyic Siren
1 AEtherling
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2 Bow of Nylea
1 Cyclonic Rift
2 Curse of the Swine
Most of the games I had slow but consistent starts with 3 land and a courser (no ramp tho) and probably should have mulled, but regardless, there are still a few powerful things the deck can do. (Specifically applicable to last nights games that is.)
One of the games, he didn't get t5 herald of torment swinging for 11+ in the air, and I was able to curve just right into a decent board with Polukranos and bow, and used a Hypnotic Siren to steal his Nylea and give me a flying 7/7 indestructible blocker. He scooped because next turn I monstrosity Polukranos while attacking and wipe his board. Polukranos is probably one of the best tools against other creature based decks, we just don't see it often with all the removal running around.
Hypnotic Siren is a like a surgical tool that continues to swing so many games around for me, I know its another one-off, and you don't want to gen hydra it, but I still see it as another Rift.
I misplayed with Kiora at least 2 games, tapping out when he had two creatures out. Gotta play around Strength of the Fallen big time.
I've since put a 3rd Prognostic Sphinx back in, another Arbor Colossus, 2 Dissolve, and a 4th Sylvan Caryatid but I need to test more before I can really see how it all works. I still love Genesis Hydra, but 4 might be too many. Even though you can set up a big nykthos turn 4 or 5, till then you're not pressuring the board much.
While I don't think you should focus too hard on replacements for your rotating cards just yet, since we have no idea what khans will give, I think that Kiora has been a strong part of my deck. I have been running 2 of her in my main board and her utility is amazing. You can shut down an enemy threat until you can ult to stop it with a kraken, or if you get a land on top of the deck after you already played one with courser, you can use her draw to play that second land as well, so it doesn't waste your draw next turn. Or if there is a card revealed that you could really use that turn, you can -1 her to grab it to play right away. I think she synergizes very well with courser. Though for straight card draw, hunters prowess, bay be a good route. I might try it out to see how it does. I really like having card draw attached to a permanent though like Garruk or Prime Speaker Zegana. Hopefully Khans gives us a body with some draw to replace them.
Also, off of the draw topic, but still related to post rotation options, you should try running Horizon Chimera as an evasive beater. At game day this past weekend, I have to say that it might have been the MVP of my deck. Prognostic Sphinx was also very strong for me.
Modern : RGTitanshiftGR / UGWKnightfallWGU
If you already run 4 temples and 4 pain lands, I would go to either 3 forest & 1 island or 2 of each depending on your overall color balance. Though Khans could bring more multicolored lands that might help us out too.
Mine with pool is:
4 breeding pool
4 temple
4 painland
3 nykthos
6 forest
3 island
without would be:
4 temple
4 painland
3 nykthos
8 forest
5 island
Modern : RGTitanshiftGR / UGWKnightfallWGU
Thanks!
Modern : RGTitanshiftGR / UGWKnightfallWGU
8 Forest
5 Island
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Yavimaya Coast
1 Mana Confluence
2 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Creatures
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
2 Courser of Kruphix
2 Nimbus Naiad
3 Polukranos, World Eater
1 Deadbridge Goliath
3 Prophet of Kruphix
2 Prognostic Sphinx
1 Ætherling
2 Negate
3 Dissolve
3 Inspiration
2 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2 Curse of the Swine
2 Swan Song
3 Unravel the Æther
2 Pithing Needle
3 Hornet Nest
2 Arbor Colossus
2 Ætherspouts
1 Cyclonic Rift
GB Electric Dreams BG Deal 20 in one shot, or discard their hand?
GWU Free Stuff Midrange UWG Slowly bury the opponent with more threats and answers than they can handle.
My greatest hits:
GURFate Reforged Temur Ascendancy COMBORUG
GUDragons of Tarkir Whisperwood Forever UG
R1 vs Monoblack Aggro: Lose 1-2, all I remember is I should've used more cards from my sideboard for game 3. I had 2 Voyage's End which I could've used to buy me more time and I left them out.
R2 vs Mirror Match: Win 1-0, this guy actually put together my very own list (I sold him the base of the deck) and is learning how to play it. Game one he actually had the cards to take the game on his favor but his inexperienced stopped him from doing so. He had Aetherling but I saved my Dissolve for it. I had my Aetherling, and the had spent his Dissolves. Game 2 went to time.
R3 vs Monoblack Aggro: Win 2-0, on game one he got stuck on 2 lands while I went Elvish Mystic, Courser, Polukranos, etc. On game 2 I have a ton of sideboard, speed and Curse of the Swine, bye bye devotion.
R4 vs Simic Midrange featuring Kiora, the Crashing Wave and Nissa, Worldwaker: Win 2-0, while his deck is pretty good I just happen to have a much more offensive one and there's not much he can do against Prognostic Sphinx. In the end, both games came down to who stuck a Bow of Nylea first, because the deathtouch was what made damage get through (and my creatures were superior too... well hi there Master Biomancer).
The Hornet Nest is the main stopper, not Kiora. I was also thinking that Inspiration wouldn't be so good, but it turned out great. There were numerous situations where I had 4 mana available and could hold out with a counterspell and then utilize the Inspiration if my opponent did nothing warranting a response. I understand now why this guy ran them as a 4-of.
I've seen three variants on aggro. They were all white (1x monowhite/2x Boros) with Banishing Light & Brave the Elements. If I had to guess, I'd say these represent at least 20% of the meta; maybe more.
The MW and 1 Boros builds threw out very large creatures very quickly. Both relied on enchantments - either Madcap Skills or Eidolon of Countless Battles - and were able to run right over early blockers (Caryatids, Coursers). They were also too large to eat with Polukranos. I don't see Jace working against them. Setessan Tactics might work. It would pair well with the Hornet Nest. The other MW build utilized Preeminent Captain, Brimaz, King of Oreskos, Spear of Heliod, and Iroas, God of Victory. The guy running that deck is also one of the better players in the store and is consistently there every week. The other two guys aren't as skilled and tend to show up every other week.
8 Forest
5 Island
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Yavimaya Coast
1 Mana Confluence
2 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Hornet Nest
2 Thassa, God of the Sea
3 Polukranos, World Eater
2 Prophet of Kruphix
2 Prognostic Sphinx
1 Ætherling
2 Swan Song
2 Setessan Tactics
2 Back to Nature
3 Inspiration
3 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2 Ætherspouts
I'd like to work more disruption into the early game, but that seems too risky of an inclusion.
This sort of play is why I like having both Boon Satyr and Horizon Chimera - to have a play on turns when I expect them to try something dangerous I need to counter, but then they don't. I can't imagine not playing a second set of mana guys, and I certainly can't imagine this guy deck holding back with 4 mana before Prophet shows up as he's trying to catch up on the board.
On to your newest deck. Looks good except Swan Song. How do you stop the swans you give them? I prefer Negate for the role.
GB Electric Dreams BG Deal 20 in one shot, or discard their hand?
GWU Free Stuff Midrange UWG Slowly bury the opponent with more threats and answers than they can handle.
My greatest hits:
GURFate Reforged Temur Ascendancy COMBORUG
GUDragons of Tarkir Whisperwood Forever UG
I think that guy was built perfectly for a heavy MBC meta (look at the decks he played against over on the right), but I liked the general idea that his build was focused on control. It reminded me of something Leonin said back in the OP: "For me, Simic Midrange is actually a control deck that disguises itself as midrange."
For the Swans, I think there are lots of options: Polukranos, Setessan Tactics + anything that's not the Caryatid, Aetherspouts, Prognostic Sphinx, and even Kiora. Swan Song lets you play something a turn earlier at the expense of not being able to stop planeswalkers and artifacts that aren't also enchantments. Those aggro decks don't play anything in those categories. In almost every situation I have seen from those decks so far, I would rather give them a 2/2 flier than what they were going for. And the surprise factor is enormous with it. The first time, they almost certainly don't see it coming. The second time, they can't stop wondering.
I agree about Negate. Generally speaking, it's better and was in my original build for that reason, but this fast meta probably calls for an adjustment. I haven't quite got the new sideboard figured out, but Negate is already on the list. Essentially, I would like the side to get back closer to the original build but with Thassa instead of the Naiads (which I was using as a placeholder for her while I awaited her arrival). Working towards that.
Re:Reclamation Sage, I think I would go with him here if he had flash. I need something that can respond in real time.
I saw those Gameday Sages on eBay the other day for the first time. So sweet!
Probably won't be for another 10 days or so, though.
So yeah, mainly the main list but with 4 nykthos and the above stuff. Control is still a very tough match-up. Planar cleansing and supreme verdict (and Azorias Charm.) I don't know if going up to 3 mistcutters in the side, or more souls main, or even trying Soul of new phyrexia is the way to go. (Or just splash black for golgari charm.) All the negates and dissolves are tough. Good games though. It was close. I've only played against that deck or a variant of it a few times.
I'm probably try something a bit more enchantment/devotion-y, (Eidolon's+land Auras+kiora's follower/untap land effects+genesis hydra.) for more explosive plays. Nothing too crazy though. Maybe even Garruk's packleader+ Soul of Zendikar for beast and draw factory :D.)
I very much like the idea of pressuring the board while steadily gaining card advantage Kiora has been really nice on previous weeks I've run her main. Maybe Chasm Skulker might be a decent threat against control? As long as they don't charm it and you're drawing cards, eventually they can't verdict! (Or' they'll die to a lot of tokens.) But then, you probably want to just mistcutter theM in the face. (Still, getting around mutavaults is a pain too.)
I dunno. curving into prophet then AEtherling does the job, but that doesn't always come up. I'd usually get sphinx or polukranos out, but then they just wrath.
Its probably just my experience though. Again, those games were close.
It's nice for double tapping nykthos if you run it, makes it easier for big chord targets or massive genesis hydras.
Nice to be able to untap prognistic sphinx after making it hexproof as well.
And actually, as dumb as it sounds, a lot of the time people miss that I can tap the follower to untap a bigger creature that I already attacked with to block.
Modern : RGTitanshiftGR / UGWKnightfallWGU
Tap for 2 on Bident to make them swing all in on their turn and then Spout them away. If they don't scoop there then you will most likely swing all in next turn.
I won 2 games with this and I would recommend it
Really? It's 4 to play bident, 2 to use the ability, and 5 for Aetherspouts. Which means, (if you play the bident turn 3-4) you STILL are paying 7 mana at least and need 2 cards to do pretty much what cyclonic rift does. Now switch AEtherspouts for Polymorphist's Jest and then we're getting somewhere... (Since it will only cost you a total of 5 mana and you'll probably kill everything instead of just bouncing it.. Maybe.)
Polymorphist's Jest is also a card that I want to work with, but I can't find any for trade. It would be a better version of Curse of the Swine if you have immediate consequences for their creatures (like bident or removal), and I just love the card. Frog cavalry ftw.
There are a lot of ways for creatures to not become 1/1s.
Against red, you make their 1/1s into.. 1/1s. (A madcap skills on a frog is still madcap skills. :/ ) Yes their first striking Ash Zealots will lose first strike, but that's about it.
Against U/W it does literally nothing (Neither does Aetherspouts.) So an easy board out.
Against Black... Results can vary. It makes certain creatures fall out of the sky and intimidate less effective, but still.
Monstrosity Polukranos, World Eater to target 2 creatures (4G) PLUS Polymorphist's Jest (1UU) is 8 mana total.
Don't get me wrong, I understand looking at spouts and jest, but for it to be a "Main plan" for mass removal is still dicey I think.
My favorite thing to do is just swing in with Polukranos while I have a Bow of Nylea out and just wipe the board with monstrosity deathtouch.
I like Bident+jest/AEtherspouts/Aetherize too, it just seems like without consistent evasion off cheap flyers (like mono U) you're not getting the full benefit of running the bident. (I'm running Nykthos too, so UU is less useful that GG ).