Has anyone tried playing Tasigur, the Golden Fang in their decks? I went up to 26 lands to play a Watery Grave and Swamp to fit two Tasigurs in my maindeck. I have the opportunity to play some matches tonight, so hopefully I can come back with a useful report.
What does he do for us? He seems bad in almost every way imaginable...
1) He puts our lands into the GY, pretty hard to win when you don't have enough mountains in your deck to Scapeshift and trigger Valakut.
2) He puts our Scapeshifts into the GY, again, pretty hard to win when you can't even Scapeshift.
3) With regards to the above point, why would an opponent allow you to take Scapeshift back to your hand off his ability?
4) He makes our mana base more inconsistent, also, Sundering Titan's wet dream.
5) What did you take out to get up to 26 lands and 2 Tasigur?
He hurts our Snapcasters as well by Delving, unless we up the Snapcaster count to help offset this. If so we just end up taking consistency out of the deck from other places. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong and we need him; but I'm not banking on it. Do get back with how it works out though, I'm actually kind of keen to be proven wrong on this, though it seems like the "Flavor du Jour" of Modern.
Going forward I probably wouldn't recommend playing Scapeshift--many of my matches were very close/hard. If you do play it, you need a board plan that beats Tron casting Slaugher Games--Kiora might be it, or Vendilion Cliques; Kiora having the added value of being decent against junk decks that leave in Path (rather than Wurmcoil or a Titan). Bolts are bad, but I'm not sure what the best card for that slot is--Sleight of Hand was merely okay; upping the ramp count might be it.
Vendilion Clique seems like a good proactive answer to Slaughter Games for sure, and yes; if you can keep her alive through Karn and Oblivion Stone Kiora does provide an alternate wincon against Tron. Has anyone tried out Mindbreak Trap as an answer to Slaughter Games? It can also pull double duty against Emrakul if the game goes that long. They still get the extra turn, but it beats getting slapped for 15.
Generally speaking, you can kill them before they get to Emrakul. In my experience, if you cast two counterspells you can't possibly lose unless you draw incredibly poorly, because their deck has 7-8 cards that can actually win the game and countering two of them gives you enough time to get to eight mana.
So long as you are keeping Karn off the board and have a way to stall against the Wurmcoil life gain, I'd be inclined to agree. Can someone just briefly explain for me why they (or others) think Reality Shift is a playable card over something like Mana Leak, Izzet Charm or a fourth copy of Cryptic?
Eh, Kiora does have one quality that is nice against BGx, namely that she is actually really good at stonewalling the creature light builds. She fights Liliana by drawing cards while her +1 disables most of their creature based threats. She dodges Abrupt Decay and most decks aren't playing more than a single Pulse (if that), which makes her nearly unkillable unless they have multiple threats on the board....... in which case you're losing anyway. The Junk decks can't play Bolt, which was a big reason why she wasn't played before, so if you expect a lot of BGW she's a solid choice. Since Scapeshift already plays tons of red sweeepers to answer the boardstates where she's bad and BGx doesn't run many Bolts these days, she's actually really good in the warped environment we saw at this Pro Tour.
A turn 3 Kiora would actually be very annoying if I was on the typical BGx builds we've seen at this PT, and that's a very real possibility if Scapeshift is on the play.
I also bring her in against Tron. If a Wurmcoil slips through your counterspells, she stops it dead.
Do you think running spell snare instead of izzet charm its better??? I mean, i found myself boardin out charms in every matchup, i know it loots so you dont get it stick in your hand like snare but snare still seems moré powerful
I don't think so. Izzet Charm isn't a dead card as it can still loot. Spell Snare seems more restrictive in what it can do, even though it is a hard counter, it only hits CMC 2.
It feels like everyone is trying to shoehorn Ugin in because we all want him to be good, instead of looking at the bigger picture, we are only looking at one card. In short, if you can fit him, run him, but don't make sacrifices to try and get him in.
In response to "Why 2 Spellskites main?" It is a very simple answer for a couple reasons, G1 against Twin - you can just flat out steal games because their artifact destruction is generally in their SB, they have no real answer for it unless they run MB Flame Slash. G1 against G/W Auras - I don't really think I need to explain why stealing enchantments to a 0/4 body WITHOUT Defender is kind of a good thing. G1 against Infect - Again, this functions on the same premise as stealing auras. A few other things Spellskite is good for include, but are not limited to, redirecting Valakut triggers, blocking 3/4 Goyfs, blocking Wild Nacatl, Goblin Guide, Swiftspear, etc., protecting your own permanents (Karn from Bolt, Wurmcoil from Path) and just being an all around good card. I run 2 in the main and 1 side, Spellskite can, as I said earlier, steal games; no one expects it pre-board.
Pyroclasms, why are we even considering running less than 3 in the main? If you do decide to run 3, have one in the side to shore the Affinity match up. Pyroclasm is here for that, it also deals really well with Lingering Souls tokens (remember how Junk is getting really big)? "Why not Firespout instead?" The big difference is being able to wipe the board against fast aggro decks that one turn sooner, Zoo is slightly slower than Affinity, I have never been T3'd by Zoo, but I have been by Robots on the nut draw. I guess what I'm trying to say here is if you are that concerned about Zoo, put a Clasm in the sideboard, alongside a Spout, and stick another in the main so you are 3/1 Clasm to Spout. Or, just run all is dust instead, because Tron ALWAYS has the mana for T3 Karn, Wormcoil, All is Dust... the later I'd like to point out is the bomb against Affinity (Please note that last sentence is riddled with sarcasm).
On the subject of Oblivion Stone, Slivortal is right - think of it as an 8 drop. If you start getting cheeky and dropping it when you can't crack it immediately then yes, you will just lose it to cards like Krosan Grip (worst case scenario), Abrupt Decay, Smash to Smithereens, Ancient Grudge, the list just goes on and on. It is good to drop for 3 if... you opponent just nailed you with a T3 Blood Moon, O-Stone on turn 5 is probably your out. Oh, and again, this is why Spellskite is good, it protects your O-stone. Personally I run 3 stones, never felt a need for more. It is also better than All is Dust, and even Ugin I'd say *dodges fruit from some members of the forum*.
Finally, Relics. Why run less than 2 MB? They help vs control, Dredge deck may come around (they are creeping into my local meta), and yes it may seem expensive when you need to cantrip, but sometimes that one extra card getting you to where you need to be is better than an utterly unplayable 8-drop because you have 3-5 lands and tron is not online.
Those are just my opinions, take them as you will.
Is Defense Grid now not the better option over Torpor Orb? Pod decks are gone from the format so we really only have to worry about Uxx decks with ETB creatures. It also puts a heavy tax on counterspells that Torpor Orb does not. They both cost 2... Just feels like the better option is Defense Grid at this time due to its all around versatility.
No matter what happens over the next few weeks with regards to the modern meta, today was truly shocking for the whole format. Whether you are on the side of the bannings being heavy handed or totally justified, consequences will never be the same in the days ahead. I believe (for whatever it's worth) that Junk and Twin will become kings of the format again alongside Affinity and Burn with, UWR seeing a resurgence.
It may be prudent to wait and see what the Junk decks do, to see if Fulminator Mages truly do become part of the mainboard strategy. If so, then we do run into the Life from the Loam/Crucible of Worlds/Pithing Needle/etc debate. Until that point, I still stand on the belief that BGx decks getting to play with Dark Confidant again is enough to keep Fulminator safely tucked away in the sideboard as a 2-3 of.
Taking stock of the decks that have the potential to surface again, I feel as though it would be an egregious mistake to remove Pyroclasm from the Mainboard in place of Lightning Bolt. Yes, Bolt has its merits, but how does it help against Lingering Souls on Flashback, which just so happens to be something Junk likes to do. For anyone that has dropped the early Pyroclasm on Affinity, you know why it is just not worth removing it. Even if you are only able to take out a couple Ornithopters or Memnites, it can make a huge difference in surviving long enough to stick a Wurmcoil Engine or Karn.
We also need to stop assuming T3 Karn/Wurmcoil is an everyday thing, It's not. It DOES happen, and it DOES happen quite often, but not enough to be a certainty in every game. In my experience its about 60% of the time you will have T3 Tron online, this DOES NOT include having a Wurmcoil or Karn to play, it is ONLY having Tron, this goes to about 80% on turn 4. In the same vein as casting big things early game, Ugin seems to be a 0-1 of main with a 0-1 of side due to his mana cost and lack of versatility against Affinity. He almost seems like our special version of Keranos.
I'm going to miss the exasperated sighs of Pod players when we go Turn 1 Tron piece into Ex-Map... Just like the Jund players did.
I agree on the Bloodbraid Elf unbanning, without the DRS ramp (and just being an all around good card) it feels as though Bloodbraid can come back into modern and not be a format breaking card. As Lord Seth said, this is good for us. Plus, why not bring the Grave Troll back? It would be fun to have him around.
With regards to the delver match up, it really does seem (as Dopespot pointed out) that a turn 1 Delver into a turn 2 flip + Gitaxian Probe is incredibly hard for tron to deal with, they know your hand, and have a clock... Not to mention the counterspell and tempo back up the deck has. Yes, Pyroclasm is a knock out card, but good luck casting it. In my experience of playing against Delver, you really have to get lucky to stick a threat and not have it dealt with before you get to swing. I'm a fan of Defense Grid in the SB against them, 2-3 of. It's been a saving grace in these types of matches. Allows us to work almost unopposed.
Employment: Commuter Train Operator
Views?: Atheist, Classical Liberal
Never heard of this before, what colors was it? Jund I'd assume, no?
What does he do for us? He seems bad in almost every way imaginable...
1) He puts our lands into the GY, pretty hard to win when you don't have enough mountains in your deck to Scapeshift and trigger Valakut.
2) He puts our Scapeshifts into the GY, again, pretty hard to win when you can't even Scapeshift.
3) With regards to the above point, why would an opponent allow you to take Scapeshift back to your hand off his ability?
4) He makes our mana base more inconsistent, also, Sundering Titan's wet dream.
5) What did you take out to get up to 26 lands and 2 Tasigur?
He hurts our Snapcasters as well by Delving, unless we up the Snapcaster count to help offset this. If so we just end up taking consistency out of the deck from other places. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong and we need him; but I'm not banking on it. Do get back with how it works out though, I'm actually kind of keen to be proven wrong on this, though it seems like the "Flavor du Jour" of Modern.
Vendilion Clique seems like a good proactive answer to Slaughter Games for sure, and yes; if you can keep her alive through Karn and Oblivion Stone Kiora does provide an alternate wincon against Tron. Has anyone tried out Mindbreak Trap as an answer to Slaughter Games? It can also pull double duty against Emrakul if the game goes that long. They still get the extra turn, but it beats getting slapped for 15.
So long as you are keeping Karn off the board and have a way to stall against the Wurmcoil life gain, I'd be inclined to agree. Can someone just briefly explain for me why they (or others) think Reality Shift is a playable card over something like Mana Leak, Izzet Charm or a fourth copy of Cryptic?
I also bring her in against Tron. If a Wurmcoil slips through your counterspells, she stops it dead.
I don't think so. Izzet Charm isn't a dead card as it can still loot. Spell Snare seems more restrictive in what it can do, even though it is a hard counter, it only hits CMC 2.
In response to "Why 2 Spellskites main?" It is a very simple answer for a couple reasons, G1 against Twin - you can just flat out steal games because their artifact destruction is generally in their SB, they have no real answer for it unless they run MB Flame Slash. G1 against G/W Auras - I don't really think I need to explain why stealing enchantments to a 0/4 body WITHOUT Defender is kind of a good thing. G1 against Infect - Again, this functions on the same premise as stealing auras. A few other things Spellskite is good for include, but are not limited to, redirecting Valakut triggers, blocking 3/4 Goyfs, blocking Wild Nacatl, Goblin Guide, Swiftspear, etc., protecting your own permanents (Karn from Bolt, Wurmcoil from Path) and just being an all around good card. I run 2 in the main and 1 side, Spellskite can, as I said earlier, steal games; no one expects it pre-board.
Pyroclasms, why are we even considering running less than 3 in the main? If you do decide to run 3, have one in the side to shore the Affinity match up. Pyroclasm is here for that, it also deals really well with Lingering Souls tokens (remember how Junk is getting really big)? "Why not Firespout instead?" The big difference is being able to wipe the board against fast aggro decks that one turn sooner, Zoo is slightly slower than Affinity, I have never been T3'd by Zoo, but I have been by Robots on the nut draw. I guess what I'm trying to say here is if you are that concerned about Zoo, put a Clasm in the sideboard, alongside a Spout, and stick another in the main so you are 3/1 Clasm to Spout. Or, just run all is dust instead, because Tron ALWAYS has the mana for T3 Karn, Wormcoil, All is Dust... the later I'd like to point out is the bomb against Affinity (Please note that last sentence is riddled with sarcasm).
On the subject of Oblivion Stone, Slivortal is right - think of it as an 8 drop. If you start getting cheeky and dropping it when you can't crack it immediately then yes, you will just lose it to cards like Krosan Grip (worst case scenario), Abrupt Decay, Smash to Smithereens, Ancient Grudge, the list just goes on and on. It is good to drop for 3 if... you opponent just nailed you with a T3 Blood Moon, O-Stone on turn 5 is probably your out. Oh, and again, this is why Spellskite is good, it protects your O-stone. Personally I run 3 stones, never felt a need for more. It is also better than All is Dust, and even Ugin I'd say *dodges fruit from some members of the forum*.
Finally, Relics. Why run less than 2 MB? They help vs control, Dredge deck may come around (they are creeping into my local meta), and yes it may seem expensive when you need to cantrip, but sometimes that one extra card getting you to where you need to be is better than an utterly unplayable 8-drop because you have 3-5 lands and tron is not online.
Those are just my opinions, take them as you will.
It may be prudent to wait and see what the Junk decks do, to see if Fulminator Mages truly do become part of the mainboard strategy. If so, then we do run into the Life from the Loam/Crucible of Worlds/Pithing Needle/etc debate. Until that point, I still stand on the belief that BGx decks getting to play with Dark Confidant again is enough to keep Fulminator safely tucked away in the sideboard as a 2-3 of.
Taking stock of the decks that have the potential to surface again, I feel as though it would be an egregious mistake to remove Pyroclasm from the Mainboard in place of Lightning Bolt. Yes, Bolt has its merits, but how does it help against Lingering Souls on Flashback, which just so happens to be something Junk likes to do. For anyone that has dropped the early Pyroclasm on Affinity, you know why it is just not worth removing it. Even if you are only able to take out a couple Ornithopters or Memnites, it can make a huge difference in surviving long enough to stick a Wurmcoil Engine or Karn.
We also need to stop assuming T3 Karn/Wurmcoil is an everyday thing, It's not. It DOES happen, and it DOES happen quite often, but not enough to be a certainty in every game. In my experience its about 60% of the time you will have T3 Tron online, this DOES NOT include having a Wurmcoil or Karn to play, it is ONLY having Tron, this goes to about 80% on turn 4. In the same vein as casting big things early game, Ugin seems to be a 0-1 of main with a 0-1 of side due to his mana cost and lack of versatility against Affinity. He almost seems like our special version of Keranos.
I'm going to miss the exasperated sighs of Pod players when we go Turn 1 Tron piece into Ex-Map... Just like the Jund players did.
Let's see what come up,
Happy Hunting
With regards to the delver match up, it really does seem (as Dopespot pointed out) that a turn 1 Delver into a turn 2 flip + Gitaxian Probe is incredibly hard for tron to deal with, they know your hand, and have a clock... Not to mention the counterspell and tempo back up the deck has. Yes, Pyroclasm is a knock out card, but good luck casting it. In my experience of playing against Delver, you really have to get lucky to stick a threat and not have it dealt with before you get to swing. I'm a fan of Defense Grid in the SB against them, 2-3 of. It's been a saving grace in these types of matches. Allows us to work almost unopposed.