Advice on the following list? It's been playing very well at my local shop...won a few tournaments. GB is a bad matchup if I don't have removal for Snek in opening hand and they curve properly.
Instant (9)
4x Fiery Temper
1x Lightning Axe
4x Unlicensed Disintegration
Sorcery (3)
3x Cathartic Reunion
Artifact (2)
2x Key to the City
Creature (23)
4x Bloodhall Priest
1x Distended Mindbender
4x Haunted Dead
3x Heir of Falkenrath Flip
4x Insolent Neonate
4x Prized Amalgam
4x Scrapheap Scrounger
Land (22)
4x Foreboding Ruins
6x Mountain
4x Smoldering Marsh
8x Swamp
Hey bigliljames. The best card (in my experience) for the GB match it Voldaren Pariah. It is the reason many BR versions are maindecking 2-4. I run 3 in the main and 1 in the board, and just side out the 3 vs control. It is just a gamebreaker vs GB and other aggro strats. Also a couple fatal push help vs snek. I love the card unlicensed disintegration more than anybody, but I think in the BR zombies 1-2 is the right number. Lightning axe, fatal push, and fiery temper take care of most things.
How has Heir of Falkenrath been? Seems interesting.
Makes sense Ronnie... If Grixis zombies can't find the support even with Grafstone, I agree that BR or UR are the ways to go. Any new lists/old lists showing results anywhere? I am taking a BR amalgam list to GP New Jersey, but only plan on playing the standard constructed side events, not the main event. I'll post my list soon.
So after gameday, I'm going to play 3 axe, 3 push, 1 disintegration main. I think having 4 neonates to turn push on makes sense, and I'm considering cutting to 2 reunions in order to squeeze in a mindbender instead of having it in the board. Was really happy with the deck though, made top 8 after 6 rounds and had a ton of fun doing it.
What convinced you to play 3 MD push over only SB push? Is it worth having to have 4 neonates in deck for? Neonate is a good card, but I am currently running a 3 Cryptbreaker 2 Neonate setup. Maybe that is not ideal though... That being said, Unlicensed Disintegration just feels so good when it works
Has anyone tried Corrupted Grafstone? I've been running a higher casting cost version of the deck (UR Stitchwings and Masterpieces) in addition to having madness cards, and I run 4 each of Reunions and Voices. Thanks to the Reunions/Voices, I haven't been missing my land drops, but I've felt the deck can really use some ramp. I've been trying to think of ways to get some ramp in there because when I can revive a zombie and madness a Broken Concentration, it's a total blowout. I've been playing Drownyard Temples to maybe give me some ramp when I'm not spending my mana, but most of the time, it's all tied up until at least turn 6 or 7.
I think that it is definitely worth playing around with, I had never thought of it. I am running an aggressive RB version, which I do not think Grafstone makes sense for... But in your list it seems very capable, and perhaps it could actually be the key to getting a grixis version to... emerge? If I have time I will try to play around with it!
How bad is it for the deck when Cathartic Reunion gets countered? Worth any concern?
Bloodhall Priest (as like a 2 of, not 4) seems good. Worth checking out. Good instant speed threat via discard outlets. The ability sometimes is relevant as it is easy to become hellbent with this deck.
I had thoughts about incorporating Fevered Visions into this deck, but I just think its too sloppy and clunky. This deck usually has plenty to do with its mana and cards.
Wondering what people think about the pummeler combo builds in a meta that looks to be ripe with walking ballistas? I did a couple hours of testing last night (first time trying it, basic build) and found opps walking ballistas to be a bit of a nightmare.
I see many builds on this thread appear to be more the aggro/midrange plan without the pummeler package, and might give that a shot at next testing night. Thoughts?
Edit: ballista specifically problem because it essentially negates pummeler and is played in MB of strong decks (it seems)
For now i like it with 21 lands, but it makes smallpox much more difficult to cast so i might add 1 or 2
02-22-2012 11:35 PM
Yeah I don't think running pox with 21 is a good idea, you will end up screwing yourself pretty hard.
Where is everybody at with Faithless Looting going into this Friday? I currently run two, but still am not completely sold. There are moments when they are great, and others where you feel you are just putting yourself in a hole.
Thanks for the list, I have seen quite a few similar ones running the full morbid package. I have yet to try this out, to me on paper it seems too easily disrupted, but perhaps I need to see it in action. Has anyone here ran that list or something close?
Archie how did the Highborn Ghoul work for you on MNM? Still digging the 2 Ghoul 1 Legionnaire set up?
Holicisms I think that 4x Aristocrat may be too much. Have you ran with the full playset before? If so how is that going?
I am also a little concerned about having no answer to Geists and Thruns in your MB, I find they are common enough to warrant at least 1 MB spot. I recommend one MB Metamorph, he has great synergy with the deck naturally and will also give you an out to those pesky dudes.
Also for those who are playing with the Woodland Cemetery for Ancient Grudge flashback, how is this working out? Any issues with it slowing you down?
Sideboard very basic at the moment. Barbs, Manic, Ratchet, still filling up the last few spots.
3x Fume Spitter for more consistent turn two Berserker, playing off of Geralf's Messenger, and Brimstone + Tragic Slip morbid activation.
2x Mortarpod for more consistent morbid activation and great value as card itself. Can add reach with Messenger.
2x Metamorphs go great with Messenger, and if need be act as legend removal.
2x Faithless Looting does wonders for this deck. The deck operates very cleanly off of three land, the inclusion of Faithless Looting as a two of means more hands that can be kept as well as further reach as a way to dig for burn or a Messenger. It only has minor impact as far as slowing the deck down, and gives much more reach and consistency in return. If you haven't tried running one or two, give it a go.
4x Brimstone is great here. Easy morbid activation means many games will end via the Lava Axe.
I saw this BR list from a competitive league: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/564652#online
I'm not sold on the 4/4 neonate and cryptbreaker split but maybe it is the right move. Hmm...
Hey bigliljames. The best card (in my experience) for the GB match it Voldaren Pariah. It is the reason many BR versions are maindecking 2-4. I run 3 in the main and 1 in the board, and just side out the 3 vs control. It is just a gamebreaker vs GB and other aggro strats. Also a couple fatal push help vs snek. I love the card unlicensed disintegration more than anybody, but I think in the BR zombies 1-2 is the right number. Lightning axe, fatal push, and fiery temper take care of most things.
How has Heir of Falkenrath been? Seems interesting.
What convinced you to play 3 MD push over only SB push? Is it worth having to have 4 neonates in deck for? Neonate is a good card, but I am currently running a 3 Cryptbreaker 2 Neonate setup. Maybe that is not ideal though... That being said, Unlicensed Disintegration just feels so good when it works
I think that it is definitely worth playing around with, I had never thought of it. I am running an aggressive RB version, which I do not think Grafstone makes sense for... But in your list it seems very capable, and perhaps it could actually be the key to getting a grixis version to... emerge? If I have time I will try to play around with it!
Bloodhall Priest (as like a 2 of, not 4) seems good. Worth checking out. Good instant speed threat via discard outlets. The ability sometimes is relevant as it is easy to become hellbent with this deck.
I had thoughts about incorporating Fevered Visions into this deck, but I just think its too sloppy and clunky. This deck usually has plenty to do with its mana and cards.
Wondering what people think about the pummeler combo builds in a meta that looks to be ripe with walking ballistas? I did a couple hours of testing last night (first time trying it, basic build) and found opps walking ballistas to be a bit of a nightmare.
I see many builds on this thread appear to be more the aggro/midrange plan without the pummeler package, and might give that a shot at next testing night. Thoughts?
Edit: ballista specifically problem because it essentially negates pummeler and is played in MB of strong decks (it seems)
Woo! Excited to hear about it.
Yeah I don't think running pox with 21 is a good idea, you will end up screwing yourself pretty hard.
Where is everybody at with Faithless Looting going into this Friday? I currently run two, but still am not completely sold. There are moments when they are great, and others where you feel you are just putting yourself in a hole.
Archie how did the Highborn Ghoul work for you on MNM? Still digging the 2 Ghoul 1 Legionnaire set up?
I am also a little concerned about having no answer to Geists and Thruns in your MB, I find they are common enough to warrant at least 1 MB spot. I recommend one MB Metamorph, he has great synergy with the deck naturally and will also give you an out to those pesky dudes.
Also for those who are playing with the Woodland Cemetery for Ancient Grudge flashback, how is this working out? Any issues with it slowing you down?
Land:
Total - 22
Creatures:
Total - 23
Sorcery:
Total - 4
Instant:
Total - 9
Artifact
2 Mortarpod
Total - 2
Sideboard very basic at the moment. Barbs, Manic, Ratchet, still filling up the last few spots.
3x Fume Spitter for more consistent turn two Berserker, playing off of Geralf's Messenger, and Brimstone + Tragic Slip morbid activation.
2x Mortarpod for more consistent morbid activation and great value as card itself. Can add reach with Messenger.
2x Metamorphs go great with Messenger, and if need be act as legend removal.
2x Faithless Looting does wonders for this deck. The deck operates very cleanly off of three land, the inclusion of Faithless Looting as a two of means more hands that can be kept as well as further reach as a way to dig for burn or a Messenger. It only has minor impact as far as slowing the deck down, and gives much more reach and consistency in return. If you haven't tried running one or two, give it a go.
4x Brimstone is great here. Easy morbid activation means many games will end via the Lava Axe.