@Cherry (on phone so didn't feel like spending time to modify the quote to the part. It's late too, so sorry :D)
Regarding changes:
I would probably try and find room in my build for blink, commit and maybe spygladd main. Also debating illumination over glimmer (currently using glimmer). And my threat base is currently 3:2:2 hulk:teferi:Scarab. Looking to go 3:3:2 or 3:3:1.
Do you think a 2nd God is warranted?
How was Seal Away? Blink? Commit?
Here's where I'm at with my build currently. I've been talking with a few players that I trust and had a limited amount of testing (due to work and standard being a small thing where I'm currently living).
Thoughts:
I think my manabase needs work, but unsure how to fix it.
Seal Away or Cast Out? Everyone I've talked to say one or the other in about a 50:50 ratio. I'm currently leaning on Cast Out due to it's ability to hit everything. But then is my 4 drop spot too big?..
2 SB spots. I'm currently going with 4th Duress and 1 Gonti, but am also tossing up with 2 Lyra.
2:2 or 3:1 with Teferi:Scarab? Again people are 50:50. The person I trust most said there's no real point only running 1 Scarab in his mind, so...
I've liked Censor so far. It's nuts vs curve outs, which is what seems to be happening in a lot of the games I've played recently.
1) My suggestion: two more Islands and Irrigated Farmlands, go down a Plains, Isolated Chapel and Drowned Catacomb. having double black is the least important color to be able to get, but having double white is SUPER important. You only need 1 basic plains since your islands and tap-lands turn on chapel anyway.
2) I removed Cast out from my list, other than being a really nice cycle option it fights with a bunch of 4 mana options and also is less efficient than just outright countering or removing something all together. It can be a good sideboard 1 of but otherwise it's been pretty meh. I've also gone down to 3 seal away 1 cast down as my non fatal push/vraska's removal - there is so many vehicles/benalia running around that you don't want it to be a dead card in g1
3) I'm not a fan of Lyra, since it requires us to tap down and is pretty easily removable by pretty much every deck, I love Gonti though because he does something whether he leaves the battlefield or not and deathtouch is also a nice added bonus. I'd probably cut a Vraska's in the SB you don't need the whole grip of 4. I'd go with Doomfall for persistent threats/more discard instead. I've been experimenting with Regal Caracal as it achieves kind of the same thing as Lyra on an open board but goes wide enough to avoid Settle in the mirror/control. I might just go 2 Gonti but i'll let you know how the 1 Gonti 1 Caracal testing goes.
4) I run 3 Teferi and 2 Scarab currently and I'm probably going to go 3:1 instead. Scarab God is an amazing card but I run a full playset of syncopate, and that along with almost all of my removal exiles means that I have to disallow a creature spell if I want to Scarab God it and that just feels bad since Disallow is much more important and flexible than that. Did you mean the split of Gearhulk/Scarab God though, cause you only run 2 Teferi (I'd run 3) but you need at least 3 gearhulks as it is one of our only win conditions.
5) Censor seems pretty meh in the face of syncopate, in the fact that Censor doesn't scale well where syncopate scales exponentially. Censor isn't a dead card because it cycles but once the cat is out of the bag and they know you have it they can much more easily play around it. I would definitely run 4 Disallow though it's by a large margin the best counter in the entire format and i've won games in a variety of ways off denying triggers (the most recent one being fumigating the board and then disallowing the Scarab God trigger).
Thanks Yuz.
1. I'll definitely give that a shot!
2. I can see where you're coming from. I'll give the 4th Disallow a test in that spot.
3. I can try it, it just feels weird not running a full set in the 75. Does that make sense (re: cutting sb contempt)? Also, I get what you're saying about Lyra, but it is a must kill threat. I'm currently with Gonti and 4th Duress in that spot. I personally don't like Caracal as a 1 of.
4. I do mean Teferi:Scarab. Already running 3 Hulks. I would like to fit a 3rd Tef in, but gotta find room.
5. That is true, but currently, hardly anyone is running Censor. I could try -3 Censor +1 Tef +2 Synco. See how that goes. I'm jst worried I'm a little low of counter/removal early on.
@chaos, you definitely can. But if everyone is prepared for Lyra, wouldn't it just eat removal? I'll put it into my consideration pile :).
I basically am running Gabs manabase -1 Farmland. It's been alright so far, just seems a bit weird on paper haha. I'll try it out, maybe 27 is the way to go.
Yea, that's where I'm going think. Thanks for reinforcing my thinking.
Yea, I still need to get 1 or 2 Teferi so the Lyra may have to wait a little.
Yup. Unsure about the 3rd Teferi. That might be something to test. Maybe over that Cast Out.
I don't have as much green in my meta as you do, so that may be why I'm liking it haha. I also run the pushes to deal with the elves. If that changes, it'll probs be 2 Seal Away/Cast Down, 3rd Scatter and either a Cast Out or 3rd Teferi.
Here's where I'm at with my build currently. I've been talking with a few players that I trust and had a limited amount of testing (due to work and standard being a small thing where I'm currently living).
Thoughts:
I think my manabase needs work, but unsure how to fix it.
Seal Away or Cast Out? Everyone I've talked to say one or the other in about a 50:50 ratio. I'm currently leaning on Cast Out due to it's ability to hit everything. But then is my 4 drop spot too big?..
2 SB spots. I'm currently going with 4th Duress and 1 Gonti, but am also tossing up with 2 Lyra.
2:2 or 3:1 with Teferi:Scarab? Again people are 50:50. The person I trust most said there's no real point only running 1 Scarab in his mind, so...
I've liked Censor so far. It's nuts vs curve outs, which is what seems to be happening in a lot of the games I've played recently.
Thanks NSC. There's a good amount to think about in there. The cast out/binding would be as a md answer to aritfacts/enchants.
I just found this from Gab Nassif from May 16th. Nice 2hr league of him playing Esper, with a really different build from what we are running here. (1 settle, 3 censors, 2 cast out, that sort of thing). Granted he only played one 'meta deck', but it was still a good watch. https://www.channelfireball.com/videos/esper-control-standard-channel-nassif/
EDIT: I went through my folder today looking at possible cards and saw profane procession. If the format goes more midrange, could it be looked at?
Thanks Yuz for the lists. I'll hopefully have my starting build ready this weekend and will be posting it for critiques :D.
And thanks to everyone for all the great discussion! It helps a lot.
How are people finding Syncopate? I liked it when I first started to play (in Theros RTR standard), but as time went on, I found I don't like it as much.
EDIT: Here's my list.
Notes:
I suck with manabases, but I think this one seems ok.
Thabks for the answers. I agree with you on the manabase.
Do you have an esper list built that you'd be willing to post?
I haven't developed my own yet, but it would be similar to NSC's but running a commit and probably pushes and seal aways. I prefer glimmer to heiro, but that's probably too greedy.
I like the look of that list, as a base. Need to get my lands together for esper.
A few thoughts:
1. Fumigate with it over the 4th settle? One more mana, but it's 'unconditional'.
2. With the expected rise in uw, is Blood Fast worth looking at in the board?
3. Commit/memory? As a one of. Seeing Hulk can instant speed it and it with teferi...
4. I get why the wilds is there, but could it be a 2nd ruin?
2-4 vs eldrazi tron.
Faced t2 chalice in 3 games though. 2 games I won were 2 champions with norin for one and an opponent misplay which let me Westvale. I hate this matchup! I probably sided wrong (-3 bolt +2 wear +1 light). I probably should of brought in the 2 stony and 2 moons, but for what?
2-0 vs br hollow one
These games seemed really easy, but the pilot was quite young and unskilled.
1-0 vs basically mono u turns.
He seemed to only draw islands and 2 remands, so...
I got suggested to run shattering spree as an out to chalice. Thoughts?
True true. I'm kinda only just getting 'into' modern. So forgot about a few of those decks. I'll try and find room, I guess. Harder than I thought to build a modern sideboard. I usually just play std and edh.
How's the eldrazi matchup? I saw a guy playing this on twitch and he had settle the wreckage in his board.
Should I look at getting Bonds in there? Just as a flyers thing.
EDIT: What are the matchups I should board towards? Most common matchups are probs Jund, ux/uxx control and storm. What others? Naus, tron, eldrazi, lantern, ponza. How are all those matchups?
Any suggestions on my board? Also siding seems interesting for me. Are there any must cuts vs particular matchups? Eg: genesis chamber vs coco? Or something like that.
I'm on the fence about trying a singleton Angel and the Lieutenant (Pridemate/Copter).
Also, what do most people use Leyline for in the board? I have it in my esper draw go as an answer to burn/discard, but haven't played modern for a good 4-5 months. This deck seems like it would have a good born matchup.
Regarding changes:
I would probably try and find room in my build for blink, commit and maybe spygladd main. Also debating illumination over glimmer (currently using glimmer). And my threat base is currently 3:2:2 hulk:teferi:Scarab. Looking to go 3:3:2 or 3:3:1.
Do you think a 2nd God is warranted?
How was Seal Away? Blink? Commit?
Your list has given me some idea on changes for mine too. Seriously, sweet work!
Thanks Yuz.
1. I'll definitely give that a shot!
2. I can see where you're coming from. I'll give the 4th Disallow a test in that spot.
3. I can try it, it just feels weird not running a full set in the 75. Does that make sense (re: cutting sb contempt)? Also, I get what you're saying about Lyra, but it is a must kill threat. I'm currently with Gonti and 4th Duress in that spot. I personally don't like Caracal as a 1 of.
4. I do mean Teferi:Scarab. Already running 3 Hulks. I would like to fit a 3rd Tef in, but gotta find room.
5. That is true, but currently, hardly anyone is running Censor. I could try -3 Censor +1 Tef +2 Synco. See how that goes. I'm jst worried I'm a little low of counter/removal early on.
@chaos, you definitely can. But if everyone is prepared for Lyra, wouldn't it just eat removal? I'll put it into my consideration pile :).
Yea, that's where I'm going think. Thanks for reinforcing my thinking.
Yea, I still need to get 1 or 2 Teferi so the Lyra may have to wait a little.
Yup. Unsure about the 3rd Teferi. That might be something to test. Maybe over that Cast Out.
I don't have as much green in my meta as you do, so that may be why I'm liking it haha. I also run the pushes to deal with the elves. If that changes, it'll probs be 2 Seal Away/Cast Down, 3rd Scatter and either a Cast Out or 3rd Teferi.
Thoughts:
4x Drowned Catacomb
4x Fetid Pools
2x Field of Ruin
4x Glacial Fortress
3x Irrigated Farmland
1x Island
4x Isolated Chapel
2x Plains
2x Swamp
Sorcery (1)
1x Fumigate
Instant (23)
1x Cast Down
3x Censor
3x Disallow
2x Essence Scatter
4x Fatal Push
4x Glimmer of Genius
3x Settle the Wreckage
3x Vraska's Contempt
2x The Scarab God
3x Torrential Gearhulk
Enchantment (3)
1x Seal Away
2x Search for Azcanta
Planeswalker (2)
2x Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
2x Arguel's Blood Fast
3x Duress
1x Essence Scatter
2x Forsake the Worldly
1x Fumigate
3x Negate
1x Vraska's Contempt
2x ???
I just found this from Gab Nassif from May 16th. Nice 2hr league of him playing Esper, with a really different build from what we are running here. (1 settle, 3 censors, 2 cast out, that sort of thing). Granted he only played one 'meta deck', but it was still a good watch.
https://www.channelfireball.com/videos/esper-control-standard-channel-nassif/
EDIT: I went through my folder today looking at possible cards and saw profane procession. If the format goes more midrange, could it be looked at?
And thanks to everyone for all the great discussion! It helps a lot.
How are people finding Syncopate? I liked it when I first started to play (in Theros RTR standard), but as time went on, I found I don't like it as much.
EDIT: Here's my list.
Notes:
4x Drowned Catacomb
1x Evolving Wilds
2x Fetid Pools
2x Field of Ruin
4x Glacial Fortress
2x Irrigated Farmland
3x Island
4x Isolated Chapel
2x Plains
2x Swamp
Instant (22)
1x Cast Down
1x Commit
4x Disallow
4x Fatal Push
2x Glimmer of Genius
2x Hieroglyphic Illumination
1x Pull from Tomorrow
3x Settle the Wreckage
4x Vraska's Contempt
2x Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
Enchantment (5)
3x Seal Away
2x Search for Azcanta
Creature (5)
2x The Scarab God
3x Torrential Gearhulk
2x Arguel's Blood Fast
3x Duress
2x Essence Scatter
2x Fumigate
2x Invoke the Divine
4x Negate
Thabks for the answers. I agree with you on the manabase.
Do you have an esper list built that you'd be willing to post?
I haven't developed my own yet, but it would be similar to NSC's but running a commit and probably pushes and seal aways. I prefer glimmer to heiro, but that's probably too greedy.
Thoughts on Pull?
I like the look of that list, as a base. Need to get my lands together for esper.
A few thoughts:
1. Fumigate with it over the 4th settle? One more mana, but it's 'unconditional'.
2. With the expected rise in uw, is Blood Fast worth looking at in the board?
3. Commit/memory? As a one of. Seeing Hulk can instant speed it and it with teferi...
4. I get why the wilds is there, but could it be a 2nd ruin?
@all
On a different note, Shaheen put up an interesting article about uw today.
http://www.starcitygames.com/articles/37101_The-Flaws-Of-UW-Control.html
EDIT: to fix an autocorrect
I actually forgot about the counter part...thought it was 'can't play'. I ended up holding onto the cards hoping to rip the wear or banishing light.
Thanks guys
2-4 vs eldrazi tron.
Faced t2 chalice in 3 games though. 2 games I won were 2 champions with norin for one and an opponent misplay which let me Westvale. I hate this matchup! I probably sided wrong (-3 bolt +2 wear +1 light). I probably should of brought in the 2 stony and 2 moons, but for what?
2-0 vs br hollow one
These games seemed really easy, but the pilot was quite young and unskilled.
1-0 vs basically mono u turns.
He seemed to only draw islands and 2 remands, so...
I got suggested to run shattering spree as an out to chalice. Thoughts?
Manabase for reference
2 Cavern of Souls
4 inspiring vantage
1 kher keep
1 mountain
3 plains
4 sacred foundry
2 Westvale abbey
EDIT: probably a silly question, but has anyone thought of a u splash? For ephara, god of the polis. It's consistent draw, esp with norin out.
How's the eldrazi matchup? I saw a guy playing this on twitch and he had settle the wreckage in his board.
Should I look at getting Bonds in there? Just as a flyers thing.
EDIT: What are the matchups I should board towards? Most common matchups are probs Jund, ux/uxx control and storm. What others? Naus, tron, eldrazi, lantern, ponza. How are all those matchups?
@agua I'll make that change.
Any suggestions on my board? Also siding seems interesting for me. Are there any must cuts vs particular matchups? Eg: genesis chamber vs coco? Or something like that.
I know they are slightly different. Just wanted to check if it was on people's radar.
EDIT: Also, here is my first attempt at a build. Any suggestions?
3x Auriok Champion
4x Champion of the Parish
1x Legion Loyalist
4x Norin the Wary
2x Purphoros, God of the Forge
2x Ranger of Eos
3x Soul Warden
3x Soul's Attendant
2x Thalia's Lieutenant
4x Thraben Inspector
Noncreature
3x Lightning Bolt
4x Path to Exile
1x Return to the Ranks
4x Genesis Chamber
3x Battlefield Forge
2x Cavern of Souls
4x Clifftop Retreat
1x Kher Keep
1x Mountain
3x Plains
4x Sacred Foundry
2x Westvale Abbey
1x Banishing Light
2x Blood Moon
2x Boros Charm
2x Fulminator Mage
2x Impact Tremors
2x Rest in Peace
2x Stony Silence
2x Wear//Tear
I'm on the fence about trying a singleton Angel and the Lieutenant (Pridemate/Copter).
Also, what do most people use Leyline for in the board? I have it in my esper draw go as an answer to burn/discard, but haven't played modern for a good 4-5 months. This deck seems like it would have a good born matchup.