I am planning on taking this deck to a FNM this week, I am looking for advice. I have never played a jeskai token deck so if you have any advice for matchups and what to look for, that would be greatly appreciated. I have seen other builds online but this is what I have came up with. I wish I had monastery mentor instead of soulfire grand master but I don't have any of them as of right now. I know Goblin rabble master is pretty salty but I am in the same boat with them.
I don't have any access to goblin rabble master, monsatery mentor, Brimaz or ojutai dragon lord.I am going to see if I can make some trade for the mentor or dragon lord.
If you're going to side in Elspeth, I suggest going up to 24 lands in the maindeck, with a 25th in the sideboard. 23 lands is not enough to cast six-drops reliably.
If you trade for one high-money card for this deck, I'd go for one or two copies of Dragonlord Ojutai rather than the Monastery Mentor. Mentor is not all that great and is interchangeable with the other token generators. Ojutai is nice in this deck because it gets around Drown in Sorrow and other token hate. A nice trick you can do: play Ascendancy, play Ojutai, attack with the Ojutai. If they try to Hero's Downfall the Ojutai, you can respond with an instant, get the Ascendancy trigger, and your Ojutai has hexproof countering the Downfall. Even one copy of Ojutai works here because you can use Anticipate & Treasure Cruise to find your one copy.
Even if you can't pick up an Ojutai though, this build seems OK. Don't be discouraged if you don't do well right away -- this is a difficult deck. Stick with it, get some practice in. There are a lot of instant-speed "tricks" with this deck especially when Ascendancy is out, and with time you'll get the hang of it.
Your best bet would be the Jeskai thread under the proven tab in the competitive section. We have a lot of Jeskai Tokens players who'd be happy to help you tune and give matchup information.
Should I keep the card dragon fodder or replace it with hordeling outburst? Do you think the soulfire grand master are even needed in the deck, to be honest I just like them for their late game ability to bounce spells back to your hand. I really like mantis rider as a card because it puts a lot of pressure on your opponent. Hopefully I can pick up a Dragonlord Ojutai
So I ended up going 2-2 with this deck and it was my first time to play it.
Match 1: I played a monoblack deck which beat me up pretty good just because I had mana issues,0-2
Match 2: I went 2-1, played a sultai exploit deck which was interesting, myth realized won me both games which was awesome.
Match 3: I played a RDW, and I went 2-0, I don't know if it is a good match up or not, but the games were really close.
match 4: This was a beating, I lost 0-2 to U/B Dragons, I know this is for sure a bad matchup for me. 1st matchup I had no chance, game 2 I sided in Mantis rider and got his life total to 3 but he gained control of the game by that time and it was over
Speaking from experience, monastery mentor isn't really worth it. Occasionally he'll take over a game, but most of the time he's just kinda there, and you'd usually want to do something else instead of play him. Ojutai is the business though, try to get some
Speaking from experience, monastery mentor isn't really worth it. Occasionally he'll take over a game, but most of the time he's just kinda there, and you'd usually want to do something else instead of play him. Ojutai is the business though, try to get some
I'll look in about getting a couple dragonlord ojutai for the deck but for right now I will have to stick to what I have. I know this deck struggles flyers so I am thinking about mainboarding reality shift, I think it could be a solid card, also I can going to play sarkhan, the dragonspeaker, that helps get rid of a big flyer if needed or put pressure on my opponent.
I have realized that myth realized is a great card and has helped me out a lot but it needs to be side boarded.
Well I am going to play this friday and try this deck out again. I really enjoyed playing the deck and the deck can really blow up put of nowhere which makes it fun to play.
Here in my deck for Friday with changes from last week. I dunno if I need the soulfire grand master in the sideboard but there is alot of RDW in my meta, and could possibly help me with Esper dragons to put spells back in my hand
So played this deck at a FNM last friday for the second time and came in second place. I ended up going 4-0 and playing 3 really good decks and one janky one that was 2-0.
Match 1:
I played U/B control, game 1 he beat me but it was very close, game 2 I side boarded in all my tempo cards and taking out all my token cards because i figured he was preparing himself for that and it was a smart play by me and i won game 2 pretty easily and game 3 I won but it was very close.
Match 2;
I played Abzan midrange and I went 2-0, I had nuts draws and just was two fast for her and was able to burn able all her creature and swing for a ton with jeskai ascendancy.
Match 3:
This was some kind of jankey u/b heroic deck or something, I never saw his deck play because my token deck was firing on all cylinders and I went 2-0
Match 4:
This is probably the best I have ever played and I was playing smart, aggressive at the right times and controlling when I needed to be. Well the last deck i played was esper dragons and I am pretty sure my head hurt after this match. Game 1 he beat me and but same 2 and 3, I turned my token deck into a tempo deck which caught him off guard and I ended up winning game 2 and 3.
So what I took from this FNM, I know it was a total gamble on the sideboard and luck could of been a major factor, but being able to swap out from being a token deck to a tempo deck was a game changer for me, it was hard for my opponents to deal with. I was so happy how this deck played out and worked all night, but there are a few things I still question.
1: Is the card Anticipate worth it? I always find myself sideboarding them out to be more aggressive, I will say they have came in handy every now and then,
2: I played with Sarkhan, the dragonspeaker, I only got to play him twice but when I did I was able to punch through for 4 damage or kill a creature for my token to get through, set off jeskai ascendancy, but would i rather have narset main deck?
3: 24 lands too many? I usually seem to get land flooded at times when play testing.
4. So I added mastery of the Unseen for the U/B match up and for when I change to a tempo deck, this card played brilliant. I know I don't get to take full advantage of it by always flipping cards but it got around the opponents virulent plagues because the manifest 2/2 creature are not tokens. I really liked having that card.
Here is my updated list from the FNM, I am open for comments.
Token deck doesn't run 24 lands because it needs it. It runs them for cards to pitch to ascendancy. Narset is bomb in tokens though. Maybe more so than Sarkhan.
After I get a good land base, I start holding lands to make it look like I have spells in my hand or to discard them with ascendancy. I understand that concept
For my side boarding
any black deck is going to play virulent plague, bile blight and drown in sorrow for against token decks, and basically sideboard out all their single hate cards,etc
So game one I sideboarded everything besides end hostilities
+3 disdainful stroke -3 wild slash
+4 mantis rider for -3 hordeling outburst
+2 mastery of the unseen -2 dragon fodder
+2 negate -2 lightning strike
+3 seeker of the way -2 anticipate -1 wild slash
changes the whole concept of the deck and seemed to work out for me all night for both U/B and Esper Dragon deck, the mantis riders really put alot of pressure on my opponent catched them off guard.
I don't know if these are the best decisions or best cards to side board with but you have to use what you have available and it worked like the champ. With adding these side board cards, it changes the whole deck concept, so game 2 when your opponent is expecting one thing, and you go the opposite way, it really messes with their mind. My favorite is dropping a raise the alarm at their end step then dropping mantis rider and swing for 5, or drop a goblin rabble master and next turn drop a mantis rider.
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I don't have any access to goblin rabble master, monsatery mentor, Brimaz or ojutai dragon lord.I am going to see if I can make some trade for the mentor or dragon lord.
4 Seeker of the Way
2 Soulfire Grand Master
Enchantment (4)
4 Jeskai Ascendancy
Instant (20)
2 Anticipate
3 Lightning Strike
2 Ojutai's Command
4 Raise the Alarm
2 Secure the Wastes
4 Stoke the Flames
3 Wild Slash
3 Dragon Fodder
4 Treasure Cruise
Land (23)
3 Battlefield Forge
3 Flooded Strand
1 Island
2 Mountain
4 Mystic Monastery
2 Plains
3 Shivan Reef
3 Temple of Epiphany
2 Temple of Triumph
2 Anger of the Gods
3 Disdainful Stroke
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 End Hostilities
2 Glare of Heresy
3 Mantis Rider
2 Valorous Stance
If you're going to side in Elspeth, I suggest going up to 24 lands in the maindeck, with a 25th in the sideboard. 23 lands is not enough to cast six-drops reliably.
If you trade for one high-money card for this deck, I'd go for one or two copies of Dragonlord Ojutai rather than the Monastery Mentor. Mentor is not all that great and is interchangeable with the other token generators. Ojutai is nice in this deck because it gets around Drown in Sorrow and other token hate. A nice trick you can do: play Ascendancy, play Ojutai, attack with the Ojutai. If they try to Hero's Downfall the Ojutai, you can respond with an instant, get the Ascendancy trigger, and your Ojutai has hexproof countering the Downfall. Even one copy of Ojutai works here because you can use Anticipate & Treasure Cruise to find your one copy.
Even if you can't pick up an Ojutai though, this build seems OK. Don't be discouraged if you don't do well right away -- this is a difficult deck. Stick with it, get some practice in. There are a lot of instant-speed "tricks" with this deck especially when Ascendancy is out, and with time you'll get the hang of it.
Best of luck at your FNM.
Match 1: I played a monoblack deck which beat me up pretty good just because I had mana issues,0-2
Match 2: I went 2-1, played a sultai exploit deck which was interesting, myth realized won me both games which was awesome.
Match 3: I played a RDW, and I went 2-0, I don't know if it is a good match up or not, but the games were really close.
match 4: This was a beating, I lost 0-2 to U/B Dragons, I know this is for sure a bad matchup for me. 1st matchup I had no chance, game 2 I sided in Mantis rider and got his life total to 3 but he gained control of the game by that time and it was over
This is the deck I played
3 Seeker of the Way
Enchantment
4 Jeskai Ascendancy
2 Myth Realized
Instant (16)
2 Lightning Strike
4 Raise the Alarm
3 Secure the Wastes
4 Stoke the Flames
2 Wild Slash
2 Anticipate
Sorcery
4 Dragon Fodder
3 Hordeling Outburst
4 Treasure Cruise
2 Battlefield Forge
4 Flooded Strand
2 Island
2 Mountain
4 Mystic Monastery
2 Plains
2 Shivan Reef
3 Temple of Epiphany
2 Temple of Triumph
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Disdainful Stroke
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 End Hostilities
1 Erase
4 Mantis Rider
1 Negate
2 Valorous Stance
things I will change
I know hordeling outburst is good card but it seemed slow for the deck, I am going to leave it in there but between the raise the alarm, dragon fodder, secure the waste,myth realized and seeker of the way, I had plenty of creatures.
this to possibly add in the main deck
monastery mentor
soulfire grandmaster
valorous stance
disdainful stroke
sideboard
- 2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
+ 1 myth realized
+ 1 disdainful stroke
Lemme know you think,I have checked the proven tab on the forum but I can't post anything when I want to ask questions, so this will have to do
I'll look in about getting a couple dragonlord ojutai for the deck but for right now I will have to stick to what I have. I know this deck struggles flyers so I am thinking about mainboarding reality shift, I think it could be a solid card, also I can going to play sarkhan, the dragonspeaker, that helps get rid of a big flyer if needed or put pressure on my opponent.
I have realized that myth realized is a great card and has helped me out a lot but it needs to be side boarded.
Well I am going to play this friday and try this deck out again. I really enjoyed playing the deck and the deck can really blow up put of nowhere which makes it fun to play.
Here in my deck for Friday with changes from last week. I dunno if I need the soulfire grand master in the sideboard but there is alot of RDW in my meta, and could possibly help me with Esper dragons to put spells back in my hand
1 Monastery Mentor
3 Seeker of the Way
Enchantment (4)
4 Jeskai Ascendancy
Instant (18)
2 Lightning Strike
4 Raise the Alarm
2 Reality Shift
2 Secure the Wastes
4 Stoke the Flames
4 Wild Slash
Planeswalker (1)
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
//Sorcery (9)
2 Dragon Fodder
3 Hordeling Outburst
4 Treasure Cruise
2 Battlefield Forge
4 Flooded Strand
2 Island
2 Mountain
4 Mystic Monastery
2 Plains
2 Shivan Reef
3 Temple of Epiphany
3 Temple of Triumph
2 Disdainful Stroke
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Erase
4 Mantis Rider
2 Myth Realized
1 Negate
2 Soulfire Grand Master
2 Valorous Stance
Match 1:
I played U/B control, game 1 he beat me but it was very close, game 2 I side boarded in all my tempo cards and taking out all my token cards because i figured he was preparing himself for that and it was a smart play by me and i won game 2 pretty easily and game 3 I won but it was very close.
Match 2;
I played Abzan midrange and I went 2-0, I had nuts draws and just was two fast for her and was able to burn able all her creature and swing for a ton with jeskai ascendancy.
Match 3:
This was some kind of jankey u/b heroic deck or something, I never saw his deck play because my token deck was firing on all cylinders and I went 2-0
Match 4:
This is probably the best I have ever played and I was playing smart, aggressive at the right times and controlling when I needed to be. Well the last deck i played was esper dragons and I am pretty sure my head hurt after this match. Game 1 he beat me and but same 2 and 3, I turned my token deck into a tempo deck which caught him off guard and I ended up winning game 2 and 3.
So what I took from this FNM, I know it was a total gamble on the sideboard and luck could of been a major factor, but being able to swap out from being a token deck to a tempo deck was a game changer for me, it was hard for my opponents to deal with. I was so happy how this deck played out and worked all night, but there are a few things I still question.
1: Is the card Anticipate worth it? I always find myself sideboarding them out to be more aggressive, I will say they have came in handy every now and then,
2: I played with Sarkhan, the dragonspeaker, I only got to play him twice but when I did I was able to punch through for 4 damage or kill a creature for my token to get through, set off jeskai ascendancy, but would i rather have narset main deck?
3: 24 lands too many? I usually seem to get land flooded at times when play testing.
4. So I added mastery of the Unseen for the U/B match up and for when I change to a tempo deck, this card played brilliant. I know I don't get to take full advantage of it by always flipping cards but it got around the opponents virulent plagues because the manifest 2/2 creature are not tokens. I really liked having that card.
Here is my updated list from the FNM, I am open for comments.
3 Goblin Rabblemaster
1 Monastery Mentor
Enchantment
4 Jeskai Ascendancy
Instant
2 Anticipate
2 Lightning Strike
4 Raise the Alarm
1 Secure the Wastes
4 Stoke the Flames
1 Valorous Stance
4 Wild Slash
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
//Sorcery (9)
2 Dragon Fodder
3 Hordeling Outburst
4 Treasure Cruise
//Land (24)
2 Battlefield Forge
4 Flooded Strand
2 Island
2 Mountain
4 Mystic Monastery
3 Plains
2 Shivan Reef
3 Temple of Epiphany
2 Temple of Triumph
1 End Hostilities
4 Mantis Rider
2 Mastery of the Unseen
2 Negate
3 Seeker of the Way
Can you give some examples of what your sideboarded when.
For my side boarding
any black deck is going to play virulent plague, bile blight and drown in sorrow for against token decks, and basically sideboard out all their single hate cards,etc
So game one I sideboarded everything besides end hostilities
+3 disdainful stroke -3 wild slash
+4 mantis rider for -3 hordeling outburst
+2 mastery of the unseen -2 dragon fodder
+2 negate -2 lightning strike
+3 seeker of the way -2 anticipate -1 wild slash
changes the whole concept of the deck and seemed to work out for me all night for both U/B and Esper Dragon deck, the mantis riders really put alot of pressure on my opponent catched them off guard.
For the abzan deck,
+4 mantis rider -3 hordeling outburst -1 lightning strike
+3 disdainful stroke -2 anticipate -1 lightning strike
the other deck, I didn't sideboard at all.
I don't know if these are the best decisions or best cards to side board with but you have to use what you have available and it worked like the champ. With adding these side board cards, it changes the whole deck concept, so game 2 when your opponent is expecting one thing, and you go the opposite way, it really messes with their mind. My favorite is dropping a raise the alarm at their end step then dropping mantis rider and swing for 5, or drop a goblin rabble master and next turn drop a mantis rider.