22 or 23 is correct if you're playing Mind stones and relics to help you dig in. If you're running 25 lands + mind stones, nearly half your deck is lands and that is definitely wrong. I don't even run 25 lands when im not running mana rocks. A reason why 22 might be "correct" right now might be because our manabase is less vulnerable now due to K-command not being as prevalent.
On Kevin Mackie: I wouldn't take advice about Skred from him, despite him winning a GP with it. His list is clearly adonis2k's list (There was no "standard" decklist at the time, nobody ran the same things) and is supposed to run 23 lands. Mackie ran one less for some reason and it seemed like he changed his mind afterwards. We watched his matches and he was clearly not experienced with the deck, taking sub-optimal lines and not knowing how some of his cards worked (Chandra, Scourge, etc). He didn't know how Ricochet trap worked against counterspells and sat there for 5 minutes trying to figure it out when his opponent called judge on him. His top8 matchups were extremely favorable. 5 of them being unlosable (3 Infect, Jeskai Control, and Dredge), one favored because of land destruction and blood moon (titanshift), and the grixis matchup which was also slightly favored. He also said in the interview that the deck was weak to control decks, but in reality we absolutely crushed those matchups (aside from blue tron).
Our LGS meta is full of Affinity and Eldrazi Tron. Which cards are especially good against them?
I'm also considering dropping Sundering Titan to the SB. There's a few Grixis DS, but not enough to justify keeping it in the MB. I always find myself sideboarding it out. I also don't know how I feel about UU spells like Torrential Gearhulk and Summary Dismissal. They seem quite hard to cast, especially in an aggressive meta like ours. I want to bring this deck to a 5k event in a few weeks and the event meta was also quite E-Tron + Affinity heavy in the most recent 5k event.
Would that by any chance be the facetoface 5k event? I'm going to be playing u tron there, and I'll probably bringing some extra spreading seas and ceremonious rejections. Maybe an extra wurmcoil too because its so strong against DS and tron. The last event I went to maybe 30% of the players were on eldrazi tron.
Look pretty good considering it's a "chandra" and the number of 1drops and mindstones in our deck. It's really unfortunate that our 4cmc slot is a such heavily contested spot
I picked up some through the breaches and I think I can do something nutty with them. Maybe something like Sundering Titan, which can also be cast by Koth, or Godo??? Godo end of opponent's turn, and then swing for 14 lifelink your turn and then have a batterskull leftover?? Or even Inferno Titan end of turn, and then swing for 3+3+6+fire breathing??
It costs the same as tect edge since it refunds you a mana. I'm not sure which I prefer, I like that tect edge can possibly cut someone off a color. e.g tect edge someone off Crytic mana, and then playing a threat in the next phase
Yes, X is 0 but scry 2 is better than nothing and Repeal on a Chalice or token can be relevant. This mostly doesn't matter however as you will be hitting Spatial, Thirst, Supreme Will, Remand, ... almost always. Spell Burst cannot be bought back.
Spell Swindle seems unplayable in every way.
Spell Burst CAN be bought back because gearhulk's exile is not on resolution like flashback but a replacement effect for it hitting the graveyard.
He blocks and kills tasigur, angler clean. Is fetchable with treasure mage (Yes, sometimes this is a better target than slaver or wurmcoil). Is a great clock. Can be recurred with Ruins. Can be discarded with TFK, can drown out an opponent with card advantage if you hit a TFK and all that at instant speed.
I'd easily rank it over Sundering Titan and even Angel
That list is strong enough to take 1st place. You can probably the 2nd tec edge for another island for more consistency, or for another utility land. Phyrexian's Core is what I used as a "budget" chalice to protect wurmcoil from Path and so that I can recurr it with Academy Ruins.
Gearhulk is a cheaper, and arguably better Snapcaster. You'd get a better bang for your buck with him over smallcaster mage.
Aside from the obvious stuff like taking out blood moons/sweepers in matchups where they don't do much, you can usually trim a relic, mindstone or 5cmc. Against fast decks I take out a 5 drop. A copy of Koth can go out if it's a matchup where you'll have trouble protecting him and you have a better card that can take the slot. The 4th Blood Moon can trimmed as well if you have a better card.
Just be careful that the deck has a pretty clunky curve, and taking out too many mindstones/relics can make it even moreso.
we did it everybody
On Kevin Mackie: I wouldn't take advice about Skred from him, despite him winning a GP with it. His list is clearly adonis2k's list (There was no "standard" decklist at the time, nobody ran the same things) and is supposed to run 23 lands. Mackie ran one less for some reason and it seemed like he changed his mind afterwards. We watched his matches and he was clearly not experienced with the deck, taking sub-optimal lines and not knowing how some of his cards worked (Chandra, Scourge, etc). He didn't know how Ricochet trap worked against counterspells and sat there for 5 minutes trying to figure it out when his opponent called judge on him. His top8 matchups were extremely favorable. 5 of them being unlosable (3 Infect, Jeskai Control, and Dredge), one favored because of land destruction and blood moon (titanshift), and the grixis matchup which was also slightly favored. He also said in the interview that the deck was weak to control decks, but in reality we absolutely crushed those matchups (aside from blue tron).
For some reason it took us more than a year of running x4 mind stones to figure this out
Would that by any chance be the facetoface 5k event? I'm going to be playing u tron there, and I'll probably bringing some extra spreading seas and ceremonious rejections. Maybe an extra wurmcoil too because its so strong against DS and tron. The last event I went to maybe 30% of the players were on eldrazi tron.
I picked up some through the breaches and I think I can do something nutty with them. Maybe something like Sundering Titan, which can also be cast by Koth, or Godo??? Godo end of opponent's turn, and then swing for 14 lifelink your turn and then have a batterskull leftover?? Or even Inferno Titan end of turn, and then swing for 3+3+6+fire breathing??
Spell Burst CAN be bought back because gearhulk's exile is not on resolution like flashback but a replacement effect for it hitting the graveyard.
I'd easily rank it over Sundering Titan and even Angel
Gearhulk is a cheaper, and arguably better Snapcaster. You'd get a better bang for your buck with him over smallcaster mage.
Just be careful that the deck has a pretty clunky curve, and taking out too many mindstones/relics can make it even moreso.
Thanks for the advice. I was not aware that the deck played blue sources.
opt is only better on turn 1, anticipate is better on any other turn.
There are two, sometimes three turn 1s in a round, but many more "other turns".
:thinking: