Xanthic, I honestly completely blanked out on Searing Blaze . Not sure how I missed it. I am not sure about Wild Nacatl either but it has worked for other naya burn decks, it's amazing in Zoo, and it's been banned before so it's definitely a great card. Question is, if I take it out, what would go in? I'm not a fan of Grim Lavamancer because I feel that it's too slow. Instead maybe 2 Shard Volley and an extra Mountain and Lightning Helix ? I like life gain since I'm used to playing mono red and I'm not comfortable with fetching/shocking all the time.
Goldenoldboy, solid recommendations for swapping main cards. For SB, I am frightened a lot of lifegain, but I should focus on other deck strategies as well. Do you prefer Anger over Volcanic Fallout for the extra 1 damage to the creatures, for the exile, or just don't like to hit yourself for 2 as well?
This is the deck style that I want to use at my next GP. The next one that is near me is a few months away so I have time to prep. However, I'm not sure what to expect for the meta, so I could use some help to tweak my main and sideboard to make sure I'm not missing something.
I like to think of this of a hybrid of the best cards from 1 Drop Zoo and Burn. Call it Burn with extra creatures or small Zoo with more spells. I call it Zorn.
As far as the cards go, everything has a purpose. Now, I know Vexing Devil is a "trap" card, but I've always have had a thing for it and I was trying to figure out the best place for him. I think he fits this deck. Thunderous Wrath has been considered to bad since if you get it in opening hand it's a dead card, but I like high risk/high reward and dealing 5 damage for one mana is such a great feeling. Bonus: Thunderous Wrath won't trigger Eidolon.
Again, this is the style I want to play. This is a rough draft and any advice on it is appreciated. The biggest thing I am worried about is that this deck is trying to do two different things and will end up failing at both.
After seeing Relentless Dead, I figured a mono black zombie devotion deck would be fun to play. I choose Death Baron over the other zombie lords since he gives deathtouch and the other lords effects didn't seem to offer much to this deck.
I am slightly worried without the zombie knights the deck won't be strong. However, I am more worried the deck could become to slow with them. Here is what I have put together so far. Any tips are greatly appreciated.
I played Ojutai. Pulled zero dragons. Pulled zero good rares. Put together a deck of cheap flyers with megamorph. Ended up losing only one match and that to a buddy. Got third overall. However, the place we played at gave prizes to first and second, and then randomly assigned the rest of the prizes.
I was the only person to receive no prizes.
Seems like a really wacky price structure.
It really was. I expressed that if the prizes were random, the TO should have made sure they were handed out evenly. Some of the people received two prizes...
All in all though, it was fun even without the dragons, just didn't really match the set name, at least in my experience.
Our prizes were two booser boxes. Everyone walked away with 1 or 2 boosters. Idk what 1-4 and 6-8 got but it was scaled fairly. I took 5th and recivied 12 boosters. I think first had like 16-20 and 8th had like 6-8. 9th down to 50% mark had 2, and everyone under 3-3-1 recived 1.
I choose Dromoka. My only rare in colors was the command from the seeded pack, but my seeded hardly had any green value and all my boosters gave me rares of red, black, and blue. All unplayble. I ended up makin a mono white commons/uncommon deck. After 7 rounds I went 5-1-1 taking 5th place.
I had three Heralds and 2 Champions and a bunch of other warriors. Having lifelink, vigilance, and double strike was crazy good. If my opponent played anything big my only hard removal was Enduring Victory .
Round 1 I drew because I was going aganist and old man (came with his son) and played very, very slowly. It was Esper. 1-1-1
Round 2 Kolaghan, played alot of big hitters but no early game stuff. 2-0
Round 3 can't remember
Round 4 can't remember
Round 5 mirror match, he had the dragons. I had an army and I bolstered alot and had life link to outlast. Finnally top decked my removal and took it 2-1.
Round 6 lost to Ojutai flying monks.
Round 7 Too much aggro for him. Won by turn 6. Game 2 he scooped when he had 3 mana on turn 6 and I had 3 creatures and he had nothing and around 10 life. He was playing Naya.
Sadly due to pure exhuastion of FNM then DTK prerelease my body only let me do 1 event the whole weekend but I wish I did another.
So after much time to fine tune and play a little more FNM games this is what I am currently using (Minus the Silkwrap , in it's place is Oppressive Rays until I get a playest)
Fate Unraveler was pretty good vs decks that drew a lot of cards. (Jeskai being #1) and with a 3/4 body it was pretty nice, but it felt like a win more in other match ups and not worth 4 mana for 1 damage a turn. Hardly ever was on the board with Master of the Feast. Speaking of which, if my opponent couldn't answer Master he was an auto win card. However, most of the time my opponent would draw a card then Hero's Downfall . Stab Wound was another card that was "okay" and did well in certain matches. (Two on one Siege Rhino being my fondest memory.) I took it out for cards that fit in more situations.
Doomwake needs no explanation. He should have been an auto include in the beginning. I added more land for the curve and he is a champ. After playing a second one most aggro decks scoop. Erebos was badly needed on so many occasions. Soulfire Grand Master and Nylea's Disciple were the biggest problems. Not to mention the card draw from Erebos was amazing. Gaining life from Underworld Coinsmith and Nyx Fleece Ram, it was more like free card draws. Underworld does it all. He gives two devotion to Athreos, God of Passage , triggers constellation, gives life, and provides a mana sink that kills so effectively. The card that I have been so happy to play from DTK is Silkwrap. Another playset of enchantment removal, that targets any early game threats. Beautiful card.
Downfall needs no introduction. Instant speed Dreadbore . A must if going against control with too many walkers and not enough Banishing Light to take them out due to counters. Also needed against combo decks when your Banishing Lights are to busy taking out opponent's enchantments. ( Jeskai Ascendancy and Temur Ascendancy .)
Extinguish is a great surprise card. In game 1 your opponent sees that you need your creatures to function so they know you won't use Crux of Fate or End Hostilities . To be fair, they are right. So, in game 2 they will try to out race you by playing more creatures than you can exile. However, most people have forgotten about the best boardwipe for us. Why Erase ? Well simply because it hits any and everything. Courser of Kruphix , Asendancy, and all Gods.
I have done some "tech style" plays. My Opponent is low on life or has a lot creatures with huge toughness. I say no problem. I have cast Suspension Field and Silkwrap on MY creature. Triggers constellation. Then Erase away my enchantment removal to bring my creature back which triggers another constellation. Now I know you are thinking, why not just cast the removal enchantment on your opponents creature? Well say your opponent has a creature over cmc 3 and you only have Silkwrap. Or you have Suspension Field and your opponent is swinging at you with a Boon Satyr . Worst yet, your opponent has a Stormbreath Dragon and you can't touch it with anything. It is nice that both Silkwrap and Suspension field is any creature and not just your opponents. I wish Banishing Light was Oblivion Ring but you take what you can.
Overall this deck has made this season of FNM very fun for me with plenty victories. I can say, at least for my LGS, using this deck I am always in Top 8 with (3-1) or better.
As for mana, you have alot of pain lands. Not saying that is bad, just becareful and don't kill yourself.
Having a few extra ETB tapped lands may slow you down, but it might be worth it. Or, if you perfer to use the pain lands, I understand having Whip of Erebos to get some life back. Not to mention whipping in something really nasty.
I'd personally rather have Rattleclaw Mystic over Fleecemane Lion . Maybe move those Nyx-Fleece Ram mainboard to help stall while you get the right cards. The worst thing to have is a creature and not having the right mana for it.
By turn 4-5 you should have your rainbow assembled, you just have to get there in one piece and not have your enemy get too far ahead. Also, as a last ditch effort, why not Duneblast ?
Not a sleeper of the set at all. I went up against 3 Red Devotion decks yesterday with Purphoros and this card in them. It makes mono red stupid strong, at least against UB control.
Play testing with proxies I am assuming since Impact Tremors isn't released yet?
Swinging with a huge body and deathtouch. And everytime you do it you can tutor? The options are limitless.
Only if you have another creature to sacrifice. You won't be able to sacrifice the token copy of Sidisi to its own exploit trigger because the Legendary Rule will kick in before the ability resolves.
JUDGE!
I was pretty sure you could sac the token when it ETB. With the Legend rule they both can't be on the battlefield--that much is true, however if you play the same legendary creature you still get ETB effects.
Xanthic, I honestly completely blanked out on Searing Blaze . Not sure how I missed it. I am not sure about Wild Nacatl either but it has worked for other naya burn decks, it's amazing in Zoo, and it's been banned before so it's definitely a great card. Question is, if I take it out, what would go in? I'm not a fan of Grim Lavamancer because I feel that it's too slow. Instead maybe 2 Shard Volley and an extra Mountain and Lightning Helix ? I like life gain since I'm used to playing mono red and I'm not comfortable with fetching/shocking all the time.
Goldenoldboy, solid recommendations for swapping main cards. For SB, I am frightened a lot of lifegain, but I should focus on other deck strategies as well. Do you prefer Anger over Volcanic Fallout for the extra 1 damage to the creatures, for the exile, or just don't like to hit yourself for 2 as well?
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lava Spike
4x Rift Bolt
2x Thunderous Wrath
4x Atarka's Command
4x Boros Charm
2x Lightning Helix
Creatures 17
4x Goblin Guide
3x Monastery Swiftspear
3x Vexing Devil
4x Wild Nacatl
3x Eidolon of the Great Revel
4x Arid Mesa
4x Wooded Foothills
4x Bloodstained Mire
3x Sacred Foundry
2x Stomping Ground
2x Mountain
2x Path To Exile
4x Destructive Revelry
4x Skullcrack
2x Deflecting Palm
3x Kor Firewalker
This is the deck style that I want to use at my next GP. The next one that is near me is a few months away so I have time to prep. However, I'm not sure what to expect for the meta, so I could use some help to tweak my main and sideboard to make sure I'm not missing something.
I like to think of this of a hybrid of the best cards from 1 Drop Zoo and Burn. Call it Burn with extra creatures or small Zoo with more spells. I call it Zorn.
As far as the cards go, everything has a purpose. Now, I know Vexing Devil is a "trap" card, but I've always have had a thing for it and I was trying to figure out the best place for him. I think he fits this deck. Thunderous Wrath has been considered to bad since if you get it in opening hand it's a dead card, but I like high risk/high reward and dealing 5 damage for one mana is such a great feeling. Bonus: Thunderous Wrath won't trigger Eidolon.
Again, this is the style I want to play. This is a rough draft and any advice on it is appreciated. The biggest thing I am worried about is that this deck is trying to do two different things and will end up failing at both.
I debated on adding the zombie knights for the first strike to combo off Death Baron but I wasn't sure where they would fit.
I am slightly worried without the zombie knights the deck won't be strong. However, I am more worried the deck could become to slow with them. Here is what I have put together so far. Any tips are greatly appreciated.
4x Gravecrawler
4x Relentless Dead
3x Stromgald Crusader
4x Geralf's Messenger
4x Death Baron
4x Gray Merchant of Asphodel
3x Inquisition of Kozelik
3x Thoughtseize
3x Dismember
2x Phyrexian Arena
2x Profane Command
2x Whip of Erebos
10x Swamps
4x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
4x Cavern of Souls
3x Mutavaults
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Our prizes were two booser boxes. Everyone walked away with 1 or 2 boosters. Idk what 1-4 and 6-8 got but it was scaled fairly. I took 5th and recivied 12 boosters. I think first had like 16-20 and 8th had like 6-8. 9th down to 50% mark had 2, and everyone under 3-3-1 recived 1.
Best cards for me:
I had three Heralds and 2 Champions and a bunch of other warriors. Having lifelink, vigilance, and double strike was crazy good. If my opponent played anything big my only hard removal was Enduring Victory .
Round 1 I drew because I was going aganist and old man (came with his son) and played very, very slowly. It was Esper. 1-1-1
Round 2 Kolaghan, played alot of big hitters but no early game stuff. 2-0
Round 3 can't remember
Round 4 can't remember
Round 5 mirror match, he had the dragons. I had an army and I bolstered alot and had life link to outlast. Finnally top decked my removal and took it 2-1.
Round 6 lost to Ojutai flying monks.
Round 7 Too much aggro for him. Won by turn 6. Game 2 he scooped when he had 3 mana on turn 6 and I had 3 creatures and he had nothing and around 10 life. He was playing Naya.
Sadly due to pure exhuastion of FNM then DTK prerelease my body only let me do 1 event the whole weekend but I wish I did another.
4x Nyx-Fleece Ram
4x Underworld Coinsmith
4x Brain Maggot
4x Grim Guardian
2x Athreos, God of Passage
2x Erebos, God of the Dead
4x Doomwake Giant
4x Suspension Field
4x Silkwrap
4x Banishing Light
Lands (24)
4x Temple of Silence
4x Caves of Koilos
8x Plains
8x Swamp
Out:
Fate Unraveler was pretty good vs decks that drew a lot of cards. (Jeskai being #1) and with a 3/4 body it was pretty nice, but it felt like a win more in other match ups and not worth 4 mana for 1 damage a turn. Hardly ever was on the board with Master of the Feast. Speaking of which, if my opponent couldn't answer Master he was an auto win card. However, most of the time my opponent would draw a card then Hero's Downfall . Stab Wound was another card that was "okay" and did well in certain matches. (Two on one Siege Rhino being my fondest memory.) I took it out for cards that fit in more situations.
In:
Doomwake needs no explanation. He should have been an auto include in the beginning. I added more land for the curve and he is a champ. After playing a second one most aggro decks scoop. Erebos was badly needed on so many occasions. Soulfire Grand Master and Nylea's Disciple were the biggest problems. Not to mention the card draw from Erebos was amazing. Gaining life from Underworld Coinsmith and Nyx Fleece Ram, it was more like free card draws. Underworld does it all. He gives two devotion to Athreos, God of Passage , triggers constellation, gives life, and provides a mana sink that kills so effectively. The card that I have been so happy to play from DTK is Silkwrap. Another playset of enchantment removal, that targets any early game threats. Beautiful card.
Only problem I have faced is Back to Nature when I didn't have Athreos, God of Passage on the battlefield.
Sideboard cards I have played around with:
Downfall needs no introduction. Instant speed Dreadbore . A must if going against control with too many walkers and not enough Banishing Light to take them out due to counters. Also needed against combo decks when your Banishing Lights are to busy taking out opponent's enchantments. ( Jeskai Ascendancy and Temur Ascendancy .)
Extinguish is a great surprise card. In game 1 your opponent sees that you need your creatures to function so they know you won't use Crux of Fate or End Hostilities . To be fair, they are right. So, in game 2 they will try to out race you by playing more creatures than you can exile. However, most people have forgotten about the best boardwipe for us. Why Erase ? Well simply because it hits any and everything. Courser of Kruphix , Asendancy, and all Gods.
I have done some "tech style" plays. My Opponent is low on life or has a lot creatures with huge toughness. I say no problem. I have cast Suspension Field and Silkwrap on MY creature. Triggers constellation. Then Erase away my enchantment removal to bring my creature back which triggers another constellation. Now I know you are thinking, why not just cast the removal enchantment on your opponents creature? Well say your opponent has a creature over cmc 3 and you only have Silkwrap. Or you have Suspension Field and your opponent is swinging at you with a Boon Satyr . Worst yet, your opponent has a Stormbreath Dragon and you can't touch it with anything. It is nice that both Silkwrap and Suspension field is any creature and not just your opponents. I wish Banishing Light was Oblivion Ring but you take what you can.
Overall this deck has made this season of FNM very fun for me with plenty victories. I can say, at least for my LGS, using this deck I am always in Top 8 with (3-1) or better.
4x Dragonlord's Servant
4x Generator Servant
4x Thunderbreak Regent
3x Stormbreath Dragon
1x Spawn of Thraxes
4x Draconic Roar
4x Lightning Strike
3x Magma Jet
Land (24)
22x Mountain
2x Haven of the Spirit Dragon
3x Roast
Enchantment (3)
3x Dragon Tempest
Planeswalker (3)
3x Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
Having a few extra ETB tapped lands may slow you down, but it might be worth it. Or, if you perfer to use the pain lands, I understand having Whip of Erebos to get some life back. Not to mention whipping in something really nasty.
I'd personally rather have Rattleclaw Mystic over Fleecemane Lion . Maybe move those Nyx-Fleece Ram mainboard to help stall while you get the right cards. The worst thing to have is a creature and not having the right mana for it.
By turn 4-5 you should have your rainbow assembled, you just have to get there in one piece and not have your enemy get too far ahead. Also, as a last ditch effort, why not Duneblast ?
Ah. Thanks for explaining. Very helpful and I am a little sad.
Play testing with proxies I am assuming since Impact Tremors isn't released yet?
JUDGE!
I was pretty sure you could sac the token when it ETB. With the Legend rule they both can't be on the battlefield--that much is true, however if you play the same legendary creature you still get ETB effects.
Maybe I am wrong, or I can't understand the new rule change that much.
http://archive.wizards.com/Magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/248f
Swinging with a huge body and deathtouch. And everytime you do it you can tutor? The options are limitless.
Sight of the Scalelords