I've been playtesting a lot against Jeskai Tempo with a Mardu Superfriends/Control build and feel like game one is favorable for us, then after sideboarding, it gets closer to 50/50 with all their counters they bring in. Against Abzan I've had a hard time, but I've only got a chance to play against it a few times and I've heard others say that this should be our best matchup. I had Butcher in my SB for a bit and never brought him in once, so I cut him. With that being said, I have no idea how good or bad he is, just that he didn't seem to fit with my control build.
Really like the deck, the lands look very solid.
Only thing I have in my preference is I like chained over downfalls...mainly bc I own chains and I dont like to feel as if my three spot is heavily clogged.
I don't thin Heros downfall belongs in this deck. I think for this deck to be consistent enough for standard we need to play 2 colors and splash the third. I really like Raphael's build as it's WRb. He has no black cards that cost double. This is key to being able to cast our spells.
Being required to have double red for Sarkhan and Chandra. Double white for elspeth and end hostilities. And now double black for a Heros downfall. Something has to give and I think having black just as a splash is the much better choice. Enabling mardu charm, crackling doom and Thoughtseize. Just my thoughts but I think that's how this deck needs to be built in order to maintain enough consistency in the mana base to put up decent results at a GP or any larger event.
Really like the deck, the lands look very solid.
Only thing I have in my preference is I like chained over downfalls...mainly bc I own chains and I dont like to feel as if my three spot is heavily clogged.
I haven't played any version of the sligh deck yet, so I don't have any feedback on that match yet, but I'm hoping to get some more games in this weekend.
I could see running chained. It can sometimes feel like your three spot is a little clogged, but it hasn't really punished me yet. Time will tell with more testing.
I don't thin Heros downfall belongs in this deck. I think for this deck to be consistent enough for standard we need to play 2 colors and splash the third. I really like Raphael's build as it's WRb. He has no black cards that cost double. This is key to being able to cast our spells.
Being required to have double red for Sarkhan and Chandra. Double white for elspeth and end hostilities. And now double black for a Heros downfall. Something has to give and I think having black just as a splash is the much better choice. Enabling mardu charm, crackling doom and Thoughtseize. Just my thoughts but I think that's how this deck needs to be built in order to maintain enough consistency in the mana base to put up decent results at a GP or any larger event.
I think you have a very valid point. I haven't really been running into mana issues, but it's still early to say. By fetching correctly and taking advantage of the scrys from the lands and jets I've been getting the colors I need as I need them. Also, Urborg, while a one of, gives us some amazing fixing. It is definitely something I have considering, and as I get some more time with it I think any mana issues will become more apparent. Hero's Downfall is just so good in this format that I have try being as greedy as possible for now haha.
I don't thin Heros downfall belongs in this deck. I think for this deck to be consistent enough for standard we need to play 2 colors and splash the third. I really like Raphael's build as it's WRb. He has no black cards that cost double. This is key to being able to cast our spells.
Being required to have double red for Sarkhan and Chandra. Double white for elspeth and end hostilities. And now double black for a Heros downfall. Something has to give and I think having black just as a splash is the much better choice. Enabling mardu charm, crackling doom and Thoughtseize. Just my thoughts but I think that's how this deck needs to be built in order to maintain enough consistency in the mana base to put up decent results at a GP or any larger event.
Chained to the Rocks is good but it can be destroyed. Double black is not hard to do, particularly if you are fine with running Evolving Wilds alongside fetchlands.
Last time I played I had real trouble against Stormbreath Dragon. Crackling Doom will kill him but we need other spells.
Play Murderous Cut. Being able to play two spells a turn will help us catch up to a board state we have not been able to 1-for-1.
Tuesday I lost only 1 Round to a Jeskai Aggro deck after whooping a Jeskai Aggro deck and a Rabble Red deck.
I feel like it was a bit of a fluke, Mainboard Strikes/Anger/Blight... so a bit of bad luck.
I made a few tweeks to my list as I expected more Jeskai; there's a ton of that at my shop.
Friday came; I lost 2 rounds, finishing 2 and 2. I whooped on 2 Aggro/Speedy decks, and lost to 1 Planeswalker Control 4 Color deck and a Green/Red Monsters deck.
The Monsters matchup I feel was a bit of bad luck combined with a few misplays, but the 4 Color Control Planeswalker deck did totally catch me by surprise.
I had my opponent down big in Game 1, I had the finish in hand; and he Top Decks Sarkhan and Garruk to stabilize and ruin my finish. Game 2 I won, and then Game 3 it again was because of Garruk. I kept up pretty good but as soon as he dropped Garruk, it thumped me pretty good.
All in all my control list has been doing well though; having only lost 5 matches in 4 weeks. 1 each till this past Friday where I lost 2. To be fair, I skewed my main to deal with heavy speedy agro and Jeskai decks, so the slippage I had VS GR wasn't surprising, I still feel like I coulda won that tho.
Because my shop is so heavy agro; I opted to sideboard the Thoughtseizes and keep the Despises.
Although I really liked Bitter Revelation; I opted to go with Read the Bones, I think being a Turn Earlier is a bit more significant, but I kept one Revelations for a good Dig 4 Spell; at times this deck can run out of removal and you need to dig for a Threat or more Removal. So I like it...
Beyond that; it is pretty much the same... I moved the End Hostilities to the Main.
As for the comments about this deck can't handle Downfalls or can't handle all the Dual Colors; that's incorrect.
There's a reason it can; it's called Fetches and TRI Lands. It's actually quite easy to hit the colors.
At times the only issue I have is knowing when to play what color or tap land... sometimes I end up with both Blight and Anger in my opening hand, and I catch myself having the ability to cast both; but it's 1 or the other on curve. I usually opt for the Turn 2 Blight, and shoot for the Anger of the Gods on Turn 4, this is fine.
Originally, Mogis and Ashcloud were supposed to be filler until I can find more Chandra and a couple of Sarkhan... but they were really good in a heavily Jeskai field (I faced it 3/4 games, with the 4th being UW Heroic). Ashcloud is a must-answer threat that typically takes two removal spells (at least) to kill off, and Mogis is a potent clock when you've managed to keep all of their creatures away. I'm still looking to add at least one more Chandra and at least one Sarkhan.
Originally, Mogis and Ashcloud were supposed to be filler until I can find more Chandra and a couple of Sarkhan... but they were really good in a heavily Jeskai field (I faced it 3/4 games, with the 4th being UW Heroic). Ashcloud is a must-answer threat that typically takes two removal spells (at least) to kill off, and Mogis is a potent clock when you've managed to keep all of their creatures away. I'm still looking to add at least one more Chandra and at least one Sarkhan.
Any thoughts?
How did Chained to the Rocks work out for you? I'm so scared to run it in a meta filled with Reclamation Sage and Back to Nature...
Have you had a chance to do any testing yet? I've put together a similar list that I want to get more walkers in, but I've only had a chance to play against mono black aggro. The list performed pretty well, but you can't really take away too much from one match up.
So far I've really liked Crackling Doom as a way to get a threat off the board and to get in for a little bit of damage. Crater's Claw also really surprised me by just winning games out of no where. The look on your opponent's face when you top deck this late game and dome them for 10 is wonderful. Haunted Plate Mail did some work too by activating it after a wrath and swinging. I even got to live the dream one time with it, by strapping it to a dragon Sarkhan and swinging for 8 in the air with pseudo vigilance! Plate Mail was really just a place holder until I rounded up some other cards, but fun to mess around with. Like I said, I think upping the amount of walkers will go a long way, but I think Mardu control has real potential.
Amazing.
I was just going to leave a message on how Haunted Plate Mail fits his list.
That card needs some more love.
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Currently playing:
Modern: UR Dragonfish
Legacy: Merfolk
Tiny Leaders: Mono Anafenza
Have you had a chance to do any testing yet? I've put together a similar list that I want to get more walkers in, but I've only had a chance to play against mono black aggro. The list performed pretty well, but you can't really take away too much from one match up.
So far I've really liked Crackling Doom as a way to get a threat off the board and to get in for a little bit of damage. Crater's Claw also really surprised me by just winning games out of no where. The look on your opponent's face when you top deck this late game and dome them for 10 is wonderful. Haunted Plate Mail did some work too by activating it after a wrath and swinging. I even got to live the dream one time with it, by strapping it to a dragon Sarkhan and swinging for 8 in the air with pseudo vigilance! Plate Mail was really just a place holder until I rounded up some other cards, but fun to mess around with. Like I said, I think upping the amount of walkers will go a long way, but I think Mardu control has real potential.
Amazing.
I was just going to leave a message on how Haunted Plate Mail fits his list.
That card needs some more love.
Haha. I want to like it...
I just think at CMC 4, we are definitely better served with Chandra or Ashcloud Phoenix.
Chained has actually been really nice. I haven't run into too many Back to Nature or Reclamation Sage yet. Against green decks, I typically side out some of the Chains and put in more sweepers/rabbles.
Chained has actually been really nice. I haven't run into too many Back to Nature or Reclamation Sage yet. Against green decks, I typically side out some of the Chains and put in more sweepers/rabbles.
You bring in Rabblemaster vs. green? Seems subpar. I'd rather have Brimaz.
Have you had a chance to do any testing yet? I've put together a similar list that I want to get more walkers in, but I've only had a chance to play against mono black aggro. The list performed pretty well, but you can't really take away too much from one match up.
So far I've really liked Crackling Doom as a way to get a threat off the board and to get in for a little bit of damage. Crater's Claw also really surprised me by just winning games out of no where. The look on your opponent's face when you top deck this late game and dome them for 10 is wonderful. Haunted Plate Mail did some work too by activating it after a wrath and swinging. I even got to live the dream one time with it, by strapping it to a dragon Sarkhan and swinging for 8 in the air with pseudo vigilance! Plate Mail was really just a place holder until I rounded up some other cards, but fun to mess around with. Like I said, I think upping the amount of walkers will go a long way, but I think Mardu control has real potential.
Amazing.
I was just going to leave a message on how Haunted Plate Mail fits his list.
That card needs some more love.
Haha. I want to like it...
I just think at CMC 4, we are definitely better served with Chandra or Ashcloud Phoenix.
Haha. I'm glad to see someone else out there appreciates a bit of jank, but Tapped out you're right if we're going for the most competitive build.
Chained has actually been really nice. I haven't run into too many Back to Nature or Reclamation Sage yet. Against green decks, I typically side out some of the Chains and put in more sweepers/rabbles.
You bring in Rabblemaster vs. green? Seems subpar. I'd rather have Brimaz.
I'd rather have Brimaz as well. I got Rabbles while they were cheap. Budget regulates. I'll be swapping them for Brimaz when I can.
Our biggest weapon against G/x devotion decks is End Hostilities. With monogreen Garruk gone, they don't really have any way to draw extra cards. And that's perfectly fine. 2- or 5-for-ing them is a back-breaking play and I would play to that long before bringing in a bunch of subpar mobs out of the sideboard to race them (you won't win).
I played this deck last week at FNM, went 3-1. Was the first time playing the deck and it felt amazing. After playing abzan since the beginning of rotation, I felt the deck has been tested against and every new deck has a plan for abzan.
The one thing I think this deck need MB is an utter end. Whenever a player drops a Whip of Erebos against me, its very difficult to come out ahead. Other than that, this deck thrives stalling out until I can sweep then go to town with my Walkers. Chandra, Pyromaster is an allstar, i mostly used her for the 0 ability allowing me to drown the opp in card advantage. Mardu Charm first looked like it was out of place in this deck, ive always hated this charm and thought of it as the worst but it makes sense because it is relevant in most situations, Duress EOT to snatch any counters or make sure coast is clear, Flame Slash a courser of kruphix or any creature to comfortably land a walker, or make extra blockers. This will probably be my deck for a while until something more fun comes along but what is more fun than having 4-5 walkers against your opp which happened alot.
Since my last report, I've been 7-1-1 with that draw being intentional.
Every match where I won, I haven't lost game, the match I lost, I was destroyed by a r/g aggro deck that transformed into a midrange deck second game, so I sideboarded wrong.
Cards I am very high on are mardu charm, the games where it is bad are other midrange match ups. anything with blue, I side in the other two.
Chandra I'm kinda on the edge about. I love the card advantage but it's lack luster against many decks unless it's protected.
Brimaz is a card I might change out with hordeling outburst because with very few creatures, it's very hard for it to survive a full turn.
Everything else is prefect in this deck, I love how it works and flows together. It also is different and not a deck on anyone's radar.
mana base is actually not bad considering you want double b, w, r on turn three.
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I'm not comfortable running Brimaz or Wingmate, and I'm concerned with a lack CC2 spells. The board is still quite loose, rabblemaster or stormbreath might just not be needed and its possible that I might need access to more sweepers.
From the list I posted a few posts back, I took out liliana and added a lightning strike. I may want to add a second one, it really helps against jeskai aggro because they pick at your life and usually you are always one turn behind on removing their threats. I also want to add a second or even third utter end. Whip decks just outlast our removal.
After playing abzan whip last night, I realized stopping the whip and clearing the board is gg agains most decks.
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you can see some changes have been made to this deck. All creatures have been removed and put in the SB. Tricks some people to take out all removal for game2, ive won a few games this way. also, it makes their removal dead game one. Lightning Strike has actually won me a few games with the damage but it also gives us a turn 2 play against hyper aggressive decks. Utter end has been moved up to 3 in the MB due to whip decks and Jeskai token decks. i dont regret this decision at all. a friend of mine has taken out Sorin and put one in the SB, im not a fn but im open to more changes in this deck. i have been doing very well with this deck, going 4-1-1 at a wed night tourney. winning several FNMs.
here is a breakdown of what happened today at the PPTQ.
rd1
Temur - I won this in three. the mass amount of removal and sweepers allow my walkers to take the game over in 1. the 2nd game was a major misplay by me, using charms wrong mode which allowed him to keep Xenagos and eventually win. Game 3 was grindy but Sarkhan went the distance while i destroyed everything in site. I normally bring in Thoughtseize and Charm against blue decks.
rd2
BG constellations(win) - this match up was so easy, thoughtseize, utter end and anger made game1 a breeze. game 2 was more hand distruption and sweepers while chandra won me so much card advantage
rd3
abzan aggro(loss) - my deck just didnt want to give me more than 3 lands either game. Had to waste so much good removal just to stay alive then Fleecemain Lion just won it for him.
rd4
rw tokens(win) - not sure hot this deck went 2-1 but both games were easy. Sorin was key to stabilizing game 1 but i was never in any harm when all her burn went to my walkers. Chandra was amazing once again cleaning up any tokens then just getting extra cards
rd5
jeskai tokens(win) - treasure cruise is probably the main reason this match up is so hard. i can more than keep up with any threat but the fact that they can restock their hand is bad news for us. i hate to keep in thoughtseize but i brought in the 4th. game 3 was a bit grindy but sorin gaining 3 each turn plus a resolute angel in my hand didnt make me sweat this one at all.
rd6
mardu mid(win) - games basically came down to chandra sticking the longest. butcher is just a bad card, go ahead and sac some tokens before i kill it. Chandra was the reason i won this match plus my long game is so much better.
top8
rd1
Heroic(loss) - yeah i got murdered against this deck, game one i got there with lots of removal and sweepers but game 2&3 came with all the counters in the world. this match up is very hard with no turn1 or 2 thoughtseize.
Chandra ended up being the mvp of the night, putting her on an empty board meant drawing at least a few extra cards. Sorin pulled his weight by making more creatures and lifelink helped me out in some spots. not sure if i would make any changes to the deck right now but im always open to suggestions.
i hope more people start to play this deck and give advice on it. ill always keep posting more results
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I was playing a deck very similar to the one you were playing from Nov 19th. But with Stormbreath Dragon instead of Wingmate Roc rock. And it was going pretty well. I tried out your newest one last night on Modo, not to bad! I will give you updates from time to time.
2 Thoughtseize
4 Lightning Strike
4 Crackling Doom
4 Hero's Downfall
2 Magma Jet
3 End Hostilities
3 Mardu Charm
2 Utter End
1 Tormenting Voice
3 Nyx-Fleece Ram
Planeswalkers (7):
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
3 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion
Land (25):
3 Nomad Outpost
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Temple of Silence
2 Temple of Triumph
1 Temple of Malice
3 Battlefield Forge
2 Swamp
2 Plains
3 Mountain
1 Scoured Barrens
1 Wind-Scarred Crag
Really like the deck, the lands look very solid.
Only thing I have in my preference is I like chained over downfalls...mainly bc I own chains and I dont like to feel as if my three spot is heavily clogged.
Every week I have lost only 1 Round due to a bit of bad luck IMO.
Last week I lost to Mardu Tokens...
All in all, the deck has played very well; made a few tweeks from last week.
Here it is:
3 Thoughtseize
2 Despise
4 Anger of the Gods
2 Bile Blight
4 Hero's Downfall
2 Murderous Cut
2 Utter End
4 Lightning Strike
2 Bitter Revelation
Planeswalkers: 9
4 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
3 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
4 Nomad Outpost
2 Mana Confluence
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Temple of Silence
4 Temple of Triumph
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Swamp
3 Mountain
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Liliana Vess
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
3 End Hostilities
4 Crackling Doom
2 Nyx-Fleece Ram
1 Deicide
1 Mardu Charm
1 Thoughtseize
Bare in mind; I built the mainboard mostly to battle Jeskai Decks, Aggro Decks, Speedy Aggro, Rabble Master.Decks, Rabble Red, you get the picture.
I can bring in Hostilities, Dooms, Heresy to battle Abzan, while the extra walkers do great VS any control decks.
Being required to have double red for Sarkhan and Chandra. Double white for elspeth and end hostilities. And now double black for a Heros downfall. Something has to give and I think having black just as a splash is the much better choice. Enabling mardu charm, crackling doom and Thoughtseize. Just my thoughts but I think that's how this deck needs to be built in order to maintain enough consistency in the mana base to put up decent results at a GP or any larger event.
I haven't played any version of the sligh deck yet, so I don't have any feedback on that match yet, but I'm hoping to get some more games in this weekend.
I could see running chained. It can sometimes feel like your three spot is a little clogged, but it hasn't really punished me yet. Time will tell with more testing.
I think you have a very valid point. I haven't really been running into mana issues, but it's still early to say. By fetching correctly and taking advantage of the scrys from the lands and jets I've been getting the colors I need as I need them. Also, Urborg, while a one of, gives us some amazing fixing. It is definitely something I have considering, and as I get some more time with it I think any mana issues will become more apparent. Hero's Downfall is just so good in this format that I have try being as greedy as possible for now haha.
Last time I played I had real trouble against Stormbreath Dragon. Crackling Doom will kill him but we need other spells.
Play Murderous Cut. Being able to play two spells a turn will help us catch up to a board state we have not been able to 1-for-1.
Last week I ran the deck twice.
Tuesday I lost only 1 Round to a Jeskai Aggro deck after whooping a Jeskai Aggro deck and a Rabble Red deck.
I feel like it was a bit of a fluke, Mainboard Strikes/Anger/Blight... so a bit of bad luck.
I made a few tweeks to my list as I expected more Jeskai; there's a ton of that at my shop.
Friday came; I lost 2 rounds, finishing 2 and 2. I whooped on 2 Aggro/Speedy decks, and lost to 1 Planeswalker Control 4 Color deck and a Green/Red Monsters deck.
The Monsters matchup I feel was a bit of bad luck combined with a few misplays, but the 4 Color Control Planeswalker deck did totally catch me by surprise.
I had my opponent down big in Game 1, I had the finish in hand; and he Top Decks Sarkhan and Garruk to stabilize and ruin my finish. Game 2 I won, and then Game 3 it again was because of Garruk. I kept up pretty good but as soon as he dropped Garruk, it thumped me pretty good.
All in all my control list has been doing well though; having only lost 5 matches in 4 weeks. 1 each till this past Friday where I lost 2. To be fair, I skewed my main to deal with heavy speedy agro and Jeskai decks, so the slippage I had VS GR wasn't surprising, I still feel like I coulda won that tho.
So here's the current list I'm on:
3 Despise
3 End Hostilities
3 Anger of the Gods
3 Utter End
4 Hero's Downfall
4 Lightning Strike
2 Bile Blight
1 Bitter Revelation
2 Read the Bones
Planeswalkers: 9
4 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
3 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Mana Confluence
4 Nomad Outpost
4 Temple of Silence
4 Temple of Triumph
2 Temple of Malice
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Swamp
3 Mountain
2 Nyx-Fleece Ram
1 Anger of the Gods
2 Crackling Doom
2 Deicide
3 Thoughtseize
2 Mind Rot
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Liliana Vess
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
Because my shop is so heavy agro; I opted to sideboard the Thoughtseizes and keep the Despises.
Although I really liked Bitter Revelation; I opted to go with Read the Bones, I think being a Turn Earlier is a bit more significant, but I kept one Revelations for a good Dig 4 Spell; at times this deck can run out of removal and you need to dig for a Threat or more Removal. So I like it...
Beyond that; it is pretty much the same... I moved the End Hostilities to the Main.
As for the comments about this deck can't handle Downfalls or can't handle all the Dual Colors; that's incorrect.
There's a reason it can; it's called Fetches and TRI Lands. It's actually quite easy to hit the colors.
At times the only issue I have is knowing when to play what color or tap land... sometimes I end up with both Blight and Anger in my opening hand, and I catch myself having the ability to cast both; but it's 1 or the other on curve. I usually opt for the Turn 2 Blight, and shoot for the Anger of the Gods on Turn 4, this is fine.
It's not as bad as people make it out to be.
4 Crackling Doom
1 Utter End
4 Mardu Charm
4 Lightning Strike
Sorceries:
2 End Hostilities
2 Thoughtseize
2 Anger of the Gods
1 Read the Bones
Enchantments:
4 Chained to the Rocks
1 Banishing Light
Walkers:
1 Liliana Vess
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
3 Nomad Outpost
1 Temple of Malice
4 Temple of Silence
4 Temple of Triumph
2 Bloodstained Mire
2 Plains
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
6 Mountain
1 Swamp
3 Evolving Wilds
Creatures:
2 Ashcloud Phoenix
2 Mogis, God of Slaughter
4 Nyx-Fleece Ram
2 Stain the Mind
1 Resolute Archangel
3 Goblin Rabblemaster
2 Thoughtseize
1 End Hostilities
1 Anger of the Gods
1 Liliana Vess
Originally, Mogis and Ashcloud were supposed to be filler until I can find more Chandra and a couple of Sarkhan... but they were really good in a heavily Jeskai field (I faced it 3/4 games, with the 4th being UW Heroic). Ashcloud is a must-answer threat that typically takes two removal spells (at least) to kill off, and Mogis is a potent clock when you've managed to keep all of their creatures away. I'm still looking to add at least one more Chandra and at least one Sarkhan.
Any thoughts?
Amazing.
I was just going to leave a message on how Haunted Plate Mail fits his list.
That card needs some more love.
Modern: UR Dragonfish
Legacy: Merfolk
Tiny Leaders: Mono Anafenza
I just think at CMC 4, we are definitely better served with Chandra or Ashcloud Phoenix.
Haha. I'm glad to see someone else out there appreciates a bit of jank, but Tapped out you're right if we're going for the most competitive build.
I'd rather have Brimaz as well. I got Rabbles while they were cheap. Budget regulates. I'll be swapping them for Brimaz when I can.
The one thing I think this deck need MB is an utter end. Whenever a player drops a Whip of Erebos against me, its very difficult to come out ahead. Other than that, this deck thrives stalling out until I can sweep then go to town with my Walkers. Chandra, Pyromaster is an allstar, i mostly used her for the 0 ability allowing me to drown the opp in card advantage. Mardu Charm first looked like it was out of place in this deck, ive always hated this charm and thought of it as the worst but it makes sense because it is relevant in most situations, Duress EOT to snatch any counters or make sure coast is clear, Flame Slash a courser of kruphix or any creature to comfortably land a walker, or make extra blockers. This will probably be my deck for a while until something more fun comes along but what is more fun than having 4-5 walkers against your opp which happened alot.
3 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2 Wingmate Roc
3 Chandra, Pyromaster
3 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Liliana Vess
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4 Crackling Doom
4 End Hostilities
4 Hero's Downfall
2 Mardu Charm
3 Thoughtseize
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Mana Confluence
2 Mountain
1 Nomad Outpost
3 Plains
1 Swamp
2 Temple of Malice
4 Temple of Silence
4 Temple of Triumph
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Since my last report, I've been 7-1-1 with that draw being intentional.
Every match where I won, I haven't lost game, the match I lost, I was destroyed by a r/g aggro deck that transformed into a midrange deck second game, so I sideboarded wrong.
Cards I am very high on are mardu charm, the games where it is bad are other midrange match ups. anything with blue, I side in the other two.
Chandra I'm kinda on the edge about. I love the card advantage but it's lack luster against many decks unless it's protected.
Brimaz is a card I might change out with hordeling outburst because with very few creatures, it's very hard for it to survive a full turn.
Everything else is prefect in this deck, I love how it works and flows together. It also is different and not a deck on anyone's radar.
mana base is actually not bad considering you want double b, w, r on turn three.
I'm not comfortable running Brimaz or Wingmate, and I'm concerned with a lack CC2 spells. The board is still quite loose, rabblemaster or stormbreath might just not be needed and its possible that I might need access to more sweepers.
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Evolving Wilds
4 Mountain
2 Nomad Outpost
2 Plains
2 Swamp
1 Temple of Malice
4 Temple of Silence
4 Temple of Triumph
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Sorcery
3 Anger of the Gods
2 Chained to the Rocks
2 End Hostilities
4 Thoughtseize
2 Tormenting Voice
2 Utter End
2 Mardu Charm
4 Hero's Downfall
3 Crackling Doom
Walker
1 Liliana Vess
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
3 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
3 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
3 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Hushwing Gryff
2 Erase
1 End Hostilities
2 Suspension Field
1 Liliana Vess
2 Stormbreath Dragon
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
After playing abzan whip last night, I realized stopping the whip and clearing the board is gg agains most decks.
4 Crackling Doom
3 Mardu Charm
4 End Hostilities
2 Anger of the Gods
3 Thoughtseize
2 Lightning Strike
3 Utter End
3 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
3 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
4 Temple of Triumph
2 Temple of Malice
2 Nomad Outpost
2 Mana Confluence
2 Mountain
2 Swamp
3 Plains
3 Bloodstained Mire
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Hushwing Gryff
1 Erase
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Stormbreath Dragon
3 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1 Thoughtseize
1 Mardu Charm
1 Resolute Archangel
1 Glare of Heresy
you can see some changes have been made to this deck. All creatures have been removed and put in the SB. Tricks some people to take out all removal for game2, ive won a few games this way. also, it makes their removal dead game one. Lightning Strike has actually won me a few games with the damage but it also gives us a turn 2 play against hyper aggressive decks. Utter end has been moved up to 3 in the MB due to whip decks and Jeskai token decks. i dont regret this decision at all. a friend of mine has taken out Sorin and put one in the SB, im not a fn but im open to more changes in this deck. i have been doing very well with this deck, going 4-1-1 at a wed night tourney. winning several FNMs.
here is a breakdown of what happened today at the PPTQ.
rd1
Temur - I won this in three. the mass amount of removal and sweepers allow my walkers to take the game over in 1. the 2nd game was a major misplay by me, using charms wrong mode which allowed him to keep Xenagos and eventually win. Game 3 was grindy but Sarkhan went the distance while i destroyed everything in site. I normally bring in Thoughtseize and Charm against blue decks.
rd2
BG constellations(win) - this match up was so easy, thoughtseize, utter end and anger made game1 a breeze. game 2 was more hand distruption and sweepers while chandra won me so much card advantage
rd3
abzan aggro(loss) - my deck just didnt want to give me more than 3 lands either game. Had to waste so much good removal just to stay alive then Fleecemain Lion just won it for him.
rd4
rw tokens(win) - not sure hot this deck went 2-1 but both games were easy. Sorin was key to stabilizing game 1 but i was never in any harm when all her burn went to my walkers. Chandra was amazing once again cleaning up any tokens then just getting extra cards
rd5
jeskai tokens(win) - treasure cruise is probably the main reason this match up is so hard. i can more than keep up with any threat but the fact that they can restock their hand is bad news for us. i hate to keep in thoughtseize but i brought in the 4th. game 3 was a bit grindy but sorin gaining 3 each turn plus a resolute angel in my hand didnt make me sweat this one at all.
rd6
mardu mid(win) - games basically came down to chandra sticking the longest. butcher is just a bad card, go ahead and sac some tokens before i kill it. Chandra was the reason i won this match plus my long game is so much better.
top8
rd1
Heroic(loss) - yeah i got murdered against this deck, game one i got there with lots of removal and sweepers but game 2&3 came with all the counters in the world. this match up is very hard with no turn1 or 2 thoughtseize.
Chandra ended up being the mvp of the night, putting her on an empty board meant drawing at least a few extra cards. Sorin pulled his weight by making more creatures and lifelink helped me out in some spots. not sure if i would make any changes to the deck right now but im always open to suggestions.
i hope more people start to play this deck and give advice on it. ill always keep posting more results