I just began playing modern myself. Started with the U/W/R and don't really have the funds to branch out. I've just recently converted into a Geist-Twin deck and have been having great success in practice matches with other players. There is a GPT and other event this weekend, looking forward to see how I can do!
The deck is a house though, I'll provide a list later. I don't really like the wall of omens in my testing. I much prefer a full set of Snapcasters and running 2 of electrolyze. Path seems to be better in the sideboard or a 2 of as this deck has plenty of meat to defend itself and lots of burn.
I have seen soldiers. So I will test it out definitely, I'm just naming cards to test heavily, as I cam hopefully attend GP providence.
I forget bird is only sorc and instants. Against junk or B/G, for them to not having the ability to golgari charm on my verdict was a cool thing. Its only one deck, but again it also means I can stop boros charm, more testing with the card means I can note all the pros and cons of all the situations.
It depends on your meta. It's not great against hyper aggro, but if you are facing down G/r devotion or esper control the Heroes downfalls will win you the game where Doom blade is just laughed at.
I think 1-2 is great MB. I'm currently maniboarding 1 with 1 in the side. I'm finding the cheap removal like Devour Flesh/Doom Blade to be a safer bet in my deck.
I'm having a lot of trouble facing this matchup. It seems that every detention sphere is so important in this matchup, and I'm sometimes just overwhelmed by how much card advantage they can get.
Is Underworld Connections an top priority for d-sphere? What about Erebos? What I'm finding is that it's easy for them to just stick a Desecration Demon and wait until I either use a sweeper or one of my precious removal spells, then put on another threat that I have to deal with. Getting hit twice by the same Gray Merchant via whip is always a pain.
It only gets worse against the B(g) matchup. The golgari charm and abrupt decay is just really good against my d-spheres, which is almost always aimed towards their card advantage engines.
Any tips - sideboarding, overall mentality, useful tips would be great!
D. Sphere is a beast in this matchup. You definitely want more Blood Barons in this match as well as Ratchet Bomb and any Hero's Downfall in the board. Negate isn't an awful idea to shut down Underworld Connections, Whip, Golgari Charm and more.
we don't see a lot of G/W, so idk how last breath is absolutely useful other than chandra's phoenix? Pharikas cure could replace devour flesh, if u run 2 far/aways, as there isn't a lot of hex proof in the format, other than opposing BBoVs, where 2 far/aways is already good enough.
Double BB isn't as bad as you think with the 16-18 black sources that you draw into and the 8 scry lands is 8 black sources already, scrying into another black source.
Devour Flesh is really underrated. I feel like not for long. Kills everything. Sure, you can't target but you play it right and you get the creatures you want..the card is valuable at all stages of the game. Again, for this threads topic, the whole point is to shut down as much life loss as possible until turn 4-5. The cure is really good, but risky. Devour Flesh/Doom Blade..not risky.
This card is amazing but with the many variants of hyper aggro running around do you guys think it might be too slow? I seen many high level players cutting this card down to 1 in their lists.
I do think so. I started with 4 MB and progressively went down to 1. It's dead vs. hyper aggro. I put 1 SB because the card has tons of value but get clogged up with one or two in your hand vs hyper aggro, you're in trouble.
On youtube, LSV has been sideboarding BBoVs, and Pharika's Cure. So BBoV is pretty obvious in uses, but the Pharika's Cure is a pretty cool choice. Is pharika's cure is card we should test out?
Dealing 2 damage to most of the creatures is relevant in aggro, and having BB is pretty common with 16-18 sources of black. Gaining 2 life is also very relevant in the early game with thought seizes.
I am liking the idea of Pharika's Cure..but disliking the double black. The card is almost useless to us past turn 3. If you get it to work, it's massively helpful though essentially setting the opponent back a creature and one of their initial attacks (through the life gain).
I think I like Last Breath more. I upped to 3 x devour flesh and a doom blade mainboard. That with Azorius Charm x 4 and Hero's Downfall x 1 I think my deck is quite ready for aggro. Not much room for additional aggro prep.
I didn't see your earlier version, but you're now running 8 2cmc removal spells in the main, none SB. This gives you a 70% chance of drawing one by T2. If you want an 80% chance (a number I'm much more comfortable with), add 2 more.
I know Ashiok feels fun, but what specifically are you using him for, and how does it help you stabilize and/or win the game? It seems to me there are faster, more reliable ways to gain card advantage. If you feel you need to dispose of early threats, take him out & add 2 Hero's Downfall or Doom Blade. If you need more threats on the board, take him out for 2 Blood Barons. If you like using his ultimate vs control, put him in the SB because it sounds like your meta is full of aggro and light on control.
My meta is whatever is at SCG Open and TCG events. So..everything. I expect lots of control, Red Aggro, R/B Aggro, Mono U/B, G/R Devotion.
From testing, the addition of 2 more 2 costing removal spells has been great. If I removed Ashiok I would probably return my 2nd Elspeth and add a 2nd Baron MB.
I've basically just enjoyed Ashiok overall. The ultimate hasn't really been used to do massive damage yet (but it will) while the exile/play creature feature has worked very well for me. Especially vs. Mono-Blue and G/R which I do expect to see lots of.
I do like the card..but I guess it comes down to removal vs. counter. Syncopate really really shines vs. Phoenix and Burning-Tree emissary whereas 2 Doom Blades or Devour Flesh instead will give more utility overall.
A few people in here don't understand Esper very well, the ridiculous idea that using precious removal on Ashiok, a card that supposedly doesn't do anything is hilarious.
Just made some updates and I really like the look of it. It's much stronger vs. hyper aggro, burning earth with some SB changes making the deck much stronger vs. mirror, general control and Mono-U and B.
By less downfalls how many do you mean? I can't imagine there would be more than 3 in their 75, I'm running 3 mainboard and I feel like that might be too much
They are running 1 MB, none SB. I really do love the card. At 3, it's becoming too risky in this hyper-aggressive meta though. Turn 3 is way too late to kill 1 creature.
As for Judge's familiar and tidebinder, they just don't do enough in the Esper deck.
It's looking like I'll be subtracting 1 Downfall and mainboaring a 3rd devour flesh (which I am really loving this card right now).
Some newer top tier decks are popping up with less Hero's Downfall, more 2 cost cards like more Devour Flesh/Doom Blade. I do want to stick the 4th Spinx's Rev in here also. I also do agree that I can cut a shock land or two or basics. I do expect to see Burning Earth this weekend, so it would be nice to have 8-9 basics.
GW is dead, G/r Ramp has replaced the midrange variant and Ashiok is quite underwhelming against. Ashiok often does nothing against control, he just durdles a bit before getting removed.
If your opponent uses a spell or damage to remove Ashiok, they have done you a favor. You exiled 3 possibly important cards from their deck and had them use vital removal on something that's not your biggest win condition. Ashiok will possibly soak up 5 damage also. That is all in one turn. If he lives for 2 he just gets more dangerous while you prepare to play your big threats.
The deck is a house though, I'll provide a list later. I don't really like the wall of omens in my testing. I much prefer a full set of Snapcasters and running 2 of electrolyze. Path seems to be better in the sideboard or a 2 of as this deck has plenty of meat to defend itself and lots of burn.
I'll be at Providence. Find me. =D
I think 1-2 is great MB. I'm currently maniboarding 1 with 1 in the side. I'm finding the cheap removal like Devour Flesh/Doom Blade to be a safer bet in my deck.
D. Sphere is a beast in this matchup. You definitely want more Blood Barons in this match as well as Ratchet Bomb and any Hero's Downfall in the board. Negate isn't an awful idea to shut down Underworld Connections, Whip, Golgari Charm and more.
Devour Flesh is really underrated. I feel like not for long. Kills everything. Sure, you can't target but you play it right and you get the creatures you want..the card is valuable at all stages of the game. Again, for this threads topic, the whole point is to shut down as much life loss as possible until turn 4-5. The cure is really good, but risky. Devour Flesh/Doom Blade..not risky.
I do think so. I started with 4 MB and progressively went down to 1. It's dead vs. hyper aggro. I put 1 SB because the card has tons of value but get clogged up with one or two in your hand vs hyper aggro, you're in trouble.
I am liking the idea of Pharika's Cure..but disliking the double black. The card is almost useless to us past turn 3. If you get it to work, it's massively helpful though essentially setting the opponent back a creature and one of their initial attacks (through the life gain).
I think I like Last Breath more. I upped to 3 x devour flesh and a doom blade mainboard. That with Azorius Charm x 4 and Hero's Downfall x 1 I think my deck is quite ready for aggro. Not much room for additional aggro prep.
My meta is whatever is at SCG Open and TCG events. So..everything. I expect lots of control, Red Aggro, R/B Aggro, Mono U/B, G/R Devotion.
From testing, the addition of 2 more 2 costing removal spells has been great. If I removed Ashiok I would probably return my 2nd Elspeth and add a 2nd Baron MB.
I've basically just enjoyed Ashiok overall. The ultimate hasn't really been used to do massive damage yet (but it will) while the exile/play creature feature has worked very well for me. Especially vs. Mono-Blue and G/R which I do expect to see lots of.
Truth.
"Oh, Hero's Downfall on Ashiok? Shame..."
3 turns later..
"Elspeth."
They are running 1 MB, none SB. I really do love the card. At 3, it's becoming too risky in this hyper-aggressive meta though. Turn 3 is way too late to kill 1 creature.
As for Judge's familiar and tidebinder, they just don't do enough in the Esper deck.
It's looking like I'll be subtracting 1 Downfall and mainboaring a 3rd devour flesh (which I am really loving this card right now).
If your opponent uses a spell or damage to remove Ashiok, they have done you a favor. You exiled 3 possibly important cards from their deck and had them use vital removal on something that's not your biggest win condition. Ashiok will possibly soak up 5 damage also. That is all in one turn. If he lives for 2 he just gets more dangerous while you prepare to play your big threats.