How do you think this deck will do with no Ranger of Eos and Bloodbraids when rotation occurs? Is there anything that can replace them or will this deck loose its competitiveness?
Vengevine. Or Tuktuk Scrapper for all the Artifact decks that will surely come with Scars of Mirrodin.
Naya Charm never really seemed tough for me to cast. I run 3 and those are my only 3 noncreature cards in my deck. I mean, it might be tough to cast Turn 3, but typically I'd rather play something else in my hand, so it doesn't truly bother me. More of a Turn 5+ card, IMO, and much easier to cast then, too.
Try Emerged Unscathed as your non-creature spell. Helps against point removal and acts as a mini Kabira Evangel trigger.
I wonder what will happen to this deck when Shards rotates out and takes Dauntless escort with it?
And Bloodbraid Elf, too. My contingency for that is to replace BBEs with Vengevines then add more man lands (two each of Raging Ravine and Stirring Wildwood). The mana base will have to be adjusted to include more green sources. Naya Allies IMHO will live on post SoM rotation. Also, I think Tuktuk scrapper will be a sure SB (if not MD) card in the Artifact infested SoM block
On the issue of lands, I think it is prudent to add one each of Raging Ravine and Stirring Wildwood for the additional boost against U/W control and decks with DoJ. They can replace the other tap lands in the deck.
I would have you note that the deck that made it through the quarters (4th place) was running Emerges on the BOARD
Yeah, I know I'm awesome.
I find it interesting though that the 4th place deck in Kanto didn't run any Bloodbraid Elves or Rangers of Eos. Could this be an inkling of what the deck might look like post-rotation?
Vengevines will replace BBEs for sure. In my deck anyways. For an aggressive deck, hasty creatures are great.
Emerged Unscathed on the main! and forked bolt on the side for mana dorks, cobras and the like is interesting. The all-creature deck is also worth looking into.
Also, Naya Allies on the top 8 is really warms my Magic heart
@Zirath, xtian: Sure, I'll grant you that Emerge is never a dead card. This is fair to say. However, you're giving the right answer to the wrong question. Is Emerge the best card you would like to draw in any given situation? There are plenty of good cards, but we want a deck of only the best cards. For example, consider the following: If you have a 4/4 Blademaster out, that means you have 2 other allies out. If you're playing smart, one is probably a Survivalist, Freeblade, or another Blademaster. Is Emerge Unscathed better against any general deck I could name than just playing another ally and making another 4/4 with the pump guy you already have sitting around? I would like to stipulate that the only time the answer to that question is yes is against Jund, and if you grant me that then you have lost the argument.
Further, if you're using Emerge vs. U/W as a mini-Evangel trigger, then why aren't you playing Brave the Elements? It's a much better mini-Evangel trigger since it hits more than 1 guy. Worthy of note is that it hits Evangel. It also potentially blows out Bit Blast if they Bit Blast a white guy and cascade into another kill spell for another white guy. Since the best guys in the deck are white guys, it's unlikely they'll do anything else, and then you blow them out with a Brave.
Erm, I only play 4 non-creature spells main deck. I will always have a creature to trigger my Allies. The debate here is what non-creature spells to use. Some use Path or Naya Charm or Outbursts. I submit that it will be more useful to use Emerge Unscathed. At its worst (like in the U/W match-up), it becomes 8 additional mini Kabira Evangel triggers. At it's best it's Vines of Vastwood on opponents turns and Evangel triggers on my turn. It's also easier to cast than Naya Charm and Outbursts.
I also considered Brave the Elements. However, I have 14 non-white creatures (Escort, Akoum, Survivalist and BBE), a pretty significant number. Emerge offers more flexibility and more triggers as it has rebound. About its effectiveness against Bit Blast, well, for 5 mana, if they drew a Terminate to kill another creature then it's okay, 5 mana terminate is LOL. After that, I'll have a FREE mini Kabira trigger on my turn.
@xtian: Exactly. Emerge seems fan-freaking-tastic against Jund. That's why it's a SIDEBOARD card. It's terrible against U/W and even worse against Bant and Naya (compared to more guys)
Also, saying you did well on an MTGO queue is nothing new. Gordy's been slaughtering the queues for weeks already; when you've started WINNING the queues or doing well at GPs or PTQs, we'll treat your information as things we didn't already know or hadn't already thought of. I went 4-1 at FNM last week, but nobody really cares because it's FNM and not something that matters.
IMHO, Emerge Unscathed never lose usefulness, except maybe for Polymorph. Emerge acts as an instant speed mini Kabira for 2 turns and I've never sided out a Kabira. It's primary usefulness for me is That it let's my biggest guy do damage unhindered to the face or to a PW. It is very easy to cast too.
About my references to my games, that is what I have so that's what I'm going to reference to. Notice I don't even reference my FNMs and 8-man queues. I was referencing my GP (1K players) and premiere standard event (200+ players) so IMHO a legit source of data. The decks that I played there are the standard lists that we see around, not some random uncompetitive deck. Of course, player quality varies but I'll play a PTQ as soon as I can and report the results too.
Qty Card Name
3 Kor Firewalker
2 Manabarbs
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Ondu Cleric
3 Path to Exile
3 Pithing Needle
Don't have Arid Mesas as of the moment. Will include it if I had it. Will also include Vengevines if I have it but I do not know exactly what to replace (Perhaps the Escorts in the main and the Barbs in the SB?).
Need advice on the U/W/x and Super Friends match-up. Thoughts?
I run 4 Emerge MD...leave PTEs on the board and concentrate on creatures. I find that this deck is not really interested in killing creatures. This deck aims to goldfish into wins asap.
Emerge Unscathed is very nice. Used it in GP Manila and in a MTGO Premiere Standard event. Did not do that well in GP Manila but got 5-2 in MTGO. Does double duty, saving creatures from spells and damage from blocking and acts as a mini Kabira Evangel 5-8.
As for the issue with Jund...My past three matches with Jund (1 in GP Manila and 2 in MTGO Premiere event) ended all with wins. This is mainly because of two reasons, 1.) the speed and consistency of the deck and 2.) Emerged Unscathed
I'm really high on Emerge as it has proven invaluable to my matches and I never regretted drawing it, even in multiples.
Played Naya Allies at a PTQ yesterday along with a freind whose list I used. He made top 4 with it whilst I made top 20. Uses Realm Razor in main deck and it is just a bomb vs control or any deck if you have better board control especially if you hit it with your path to exile before its coming into play effect resolves.
Even if it not in main deck it is a very viable sideboard option.
Interesting. Will check this deck tech out! I am having problems with UWx Control and Super Friends.
Thanks
Please don't raise dead threads from their grave, especially not to ask an entirely different question after over two years. -Carsten
Sigh
Vengevine. Or Tuktuk Scrapper for all the Artifact decks that will surely come with Scars of Mirrodin.
Lol, he just does not believe that this deck can handle Jund quite easily. While I would not say 70/30 win ratio, it's better than 50% for sure.
Anyway, your SB seems to be a house against RDW, too much in fact. I dunno -1 Cleric maybe and insert something better for the control matchups?
Try Emerged Unscathed as your non-creature spell. Helps against point removal and acts as a mini Kabira Evangel trigger.
And Bloodbraid Elf, too. My contingency for that is to replace BBEs with Vengevines then add more man lands (two each of Raging Ravine and Stirring Wildwood). The mana base will have to be adjusted to include more green sources. Naya Allies IMHO will live on post SoM rotation. Also, I think Tuktuk scrapper will be a sure SB (if not MD) card in the Artifact infested SoM block
Vengevines will replace BBEs for sure. In my deck anyways. For an aggressive deck, hasty creatures are great.
Emerged Unscathed on the main!
Also, Naya Allies on the top 8 is really warms my Magic heart
Erm, I only play 4 non-creature spells main deck. I will always have a creature to trigger my Allies. The debate here is what non-creature spells to use. Some use Path or Naya Charm or Outbursts. I submit that it will be more useful to use Emerge Unscathed. At its worst (like in the U/W match-up), it becomes 8 additional mini Kabira Evangel triggers. At it's best it's Vines of Vastwood on opponents turns and Evangel triggers on my turn. It's also easier to cast than Naya Charm and Outbursts.
I also considered Brave the Elements. However, I have 14 non-white creatures (Escort, Akoum, Survivalist and BBE), a pretty significant number. Emerge offers more flexibility and more triggers as it has rebound. About its effectiveness against Bit Blast, well, for 5 mana, if they drew a Terminate to kill another creature then it's okay, 5 mana terminate is LOL. After that, I'll have a FREE mini Kabira trigger on my turn.
So there.
IMHO, Emerge Unscathed never lose usefulness, except maybe for Polymorph. Emerge acts as an instant speed mini Kabira for 2 turns and I've never sided out a Kabira. It's primary usefulness for me is That it let's my biggest guy do damage unhindered to the face or to a PW. It is very easy to cast too.
About my references to my games, that is what I have so that's what I'm going to reference to. Notice I don't even reference my FNMs and 8-man queues. I was referencing my GP (1K players) and premiere standard event (200+ players) so IMHO a legit source of data. The decks that I played there are the standard lists that we see around, not some random uncompetitive deck. Of course, player quality varies but I'll play a PTQ as soon as I can and report the results too.
Qty Card Name
4 Akoum Battlesinger
4 Ancient Ziggurat
4 Bloodbraid Elf
2 Dauntless Escort
4 Emerge Unscathed
2 Evolving Wilds
2 Forest
4 Hada Freeblade
3 Harabaz Druid
4 Jungle Shrine
4 Kabira Evangel
4 Kazandu Blademaster
3 Mountain
1 Ondu Cleric
4 Oran-Rief Survivalist
4 Plains
4 Sunpetal Grove
3 Talus Paladin
And my SB:
Qty Card Name
3 Kor Firewalker
2 Manabarbs
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Ondu Cleric
3 Path to Exile
3 Pithing Needle
Don't have Arid Mesas as of the moment. Will include it if I had it. Will also include Vengevines if I have it but I do not know exactly what to replace (Perhaps the Escorts in the main and the Barbs in the SB?).
Need advice on the U/W/x and Super Friends match-up. Thoughts?
I run 4 Emerge MD...leave PTEs on the board and concentrate on creatures. I find that this deck is not really interested in killing creatures. This deck aims to goldfish into wins asap.
As for the issue with Jund...My past three matches with Jund (1 in GP Manila and 2 in MTGO Premiere event) ended all with wins. This is mainly because of two reasons, 1.) the speed and consistency of the deck and 2.) Emerged Unscathed
I'm really high on Emerge as it has proven invaluable to my matches and I never regretted drawing it, even in multiples.
Interesting. Will check this deck tech out! I am having problems with UWx Control and Super Friends.