MTG Salvation

Thanks for the kind words, patbou_clone, I wrote that primer, and just did a very minor update.

I have found Unsettled Mariner to be excellent against many decks that are tough for Humans. There's no question that it helps with Burn, Mono-R-Prowess, and Jund, which are all pairings where we can use an assist. The stacking with itself and with Thalia (who, unlike Mariner, nonbos with herself and with Phantasmal Image) can be gross. How does a 3-CMC Bolt, or a 4-CMC Lili who can't minus, sound?

One thing that makes Burn and aggro decks tougher for Humans players are the Canopy lands--most lists run five total. I have only four and prefer that.

I don't favor Tajic and Kambal, personally.

Quote from user-100024666 »

Hey folks,
i play humans since february and it was a blast. I have a matchwin percentage of 70% and it feels like the most powerful deck i ever played in modern. But now i have a hogaak problem so i worked on a new 4c list. Let me know what you think about it.

Unsettled Mariner seems like it might be good, but which current problems is it solving for you? Freebooter's our only way to see our opponent's hand, and has evasion, so I still like it, though I have cut down to 3 now.

In general, I think cutting Ancient Ziggurat is probably a mistake, especially in a list that (like mine) runs Phantasmal Image, Deputy of Detention, and Gaddock Teeg. Even Mantis Rider probably needs Ziggurat--I've had problems casting Rider many times. And, you run Collector Ouphe, which is probably fine, but my Yixlid Jailers definitely require it.

As always, playing the deck will let you know. Good luck! I'm glad that Humans still has so much game in the current degeneracy.

I feel confidant against HogaakVine with my build. The deck can still just beat you on T3 in game 1, but overall I like my chances.

I really like the playset of Deputy, because it's great against the things that Humans is weak to. I had to change my land package a little to accommodate it, but it has totally been worth it. I cut a Reflector to make room since they overlap in their use.

I would not go back to 4x Image, but it might be wrong to cut the fourth Freebooter. The 2x Militia Buglers are flex slots that dig for SB hate and provide near-certain value against removal of all kinds, but maybe one of the newer MH1 or M20 cards would be better overall.

Lavinia doesn't stop Hogaak. I'd SB 4 Rips but also MB more than one Remorseful Clerics and maybe even a Scavenger Grounds.

WHoops, second Lavinia ability counters Hogaak. Seems potentially good

Quote from Aeonsz »

I understand that many of you will disagree, but I have yet to see a single main deck playable level card spoiled from MH1, excluding the slivers and the canopy land cycle.

Well, time will tell.

People testing Karn:

Do you side in the hate rocks in G2/3, or not? If so, do you side out Karn? How do you accommodate the fact that he only tutors from exile?

Super psyched that UW is putting up results and getting increased attention, I love that deck.

Eidolon of Rhetoric and Kira, Great Glass-Spinner together are as good as or better than 2x Drogskol, anybody try this angle out at all?

Creative, but my gut is telling me that Karn is too slow and (as you note) points us away from the deck's fast-aggro game plan. I know I'd miss the T2 Reshaper play. Also there's this weird tension in G2/3 where if you side in the hate rock, then you can't use Karn to go get it anymore. If Karn does work out, though, I wonder if Thorn of Amethyst might have a role to play in some matchups.

Speaking of tax effects, Jordan, have you played (or played against) the WC Thalia/Arbiter deck at all? I'd love a knowledgeable and experienced perspective on the relative pros and cons of the two builds as they play out in practice. And W buys us peerless hate, in Stony and RiP, that are just better at what they do than what the Colorless decks can put together.

Thanks for continuing to tinker with and post up about this fun aggro deck.

I love me some Zhalfirin Void, but I'm not really on board with 4x Ghost Quarter and 3-4x Scavenging Grounds. I'm on 3 GQ and 2 SG right now. Gotta have those manlands! This is an aggro deck we're playing here, not a control deck, and the Mutavaults and Blinkmoth Nexuses are often the best way to close out those last few points of damage for the win.

Forked Bolt would be a good swap for Skewer, since getting spectacle active can be tough sometimes, and prowess means we want burn spells pre-combat as often as possible. Maybe go 2-2, I´m thinking.


Regarding leading with Soul-Scar/Swiftspear: If we have the choice, then we have both cards in-hand. Imagine this opener: Soul-Scar, Swiftspear, Lava Spike, Mountain x2, and two other cards. In this scenario we´ll get more damage total by T2 if we play the Soul-Scar first (7 points vs. 6 by leading with Swiftspear), because of dual prowess triggers. Also, if the opponent has removal, we still get to swing with a prowess creature on T2 by sequencing this way (5 points total damage vs. 4 from a T1 Swftspear). OTOH, with only one Mountain by T2, the Swiftspear leads by a point.

I´m curious how others evaluate this. One thing is that my example above disregards the option of playing Manamorphose T2 instead of playing out the second prowess creature. I guess in an opener with two lands and the two prowess critters, PLUS Manamorphose, Arclight, and Looting, the Swiftspear is better by a point? But then do we want to go all-in on T2, or do we want to hold off a turn and get an even bigger swing T3? My guess is that Soul-Scar is a better lead most of the time.


After reflection, I don´t think Bomat Courier is a good fit. Since we play so many sorceries, I find myself tapping out frequently. Keeping R up for Bomat seems tempo-negative. And, a 1/1 is just too small. Not sure I´m in love with Reveler, though.


Also, I wish I could fit in some copies of Mutagenic Growth, and I´m kind of tempted to heresy, and just jam a couple in there and go to 62 cards. Anybody else playing this deck? Seems great, and with Tormod´s Crypt over Surgical Extraction, it´s only $325 or so.

Noticing a few lists popping up with only three Powders, something I've tried myself in the past but never drew any conclusions about.

I feel better about maxing out Powder with my playset of Zhalfirin Void, and wonder at these lists that pass on that land, seems like a huge boost to me.

Greetings, MTGS-keteers, I searched but found no evidence of a thread for the Mono-R Arclight Phoenx deck that is seeing some results. It's the Phoenix deck I want to play, so I thought I'd start a thread for us to discuss this particular build, which is quite different from the UR lists and seems to merit separate consideration.

First, what I understand to be the "current accepted 60" (obviously there are exceptions):

Some of the exceptions include Hazoret the Fervent in place of one or both Revelers, and Ramunap Ruins in place of a single Mountain. Some lists don't play all four Light Up the Stages.

Sideboards vary widely, but as I understand it they tend to feature:

Grave Hate (3-4)

• Surgical Extraction
  
• Tormod's Crypt
  
• Ravenous Trap

Artifact Hate (3-4)

• Abrade
  
• Shattering Spree
  
• Shatterstorm

More Removal (3-4)

• Rending Volley
  
• Flame Slash
  
• Dismember

Burn Hate (2-4)

• Dragon's Claw
  
• Leyline of Sanctuary

Land Hate (2-3)

• Molten Rain
  
• Blood Moon

So what do the players of this deck think? Did I overlook something important? What does your sideboard look like? What are the good and bad matches for this deck? What are some tips about sequencing? For instance, am I right generally playing Soul-Scar T1 over Swiftspear?

And: How often do you mull an opener with no one-drop creature? Could Bomat Courier be an early-game card-advantage replacement for Bedlam Reveler, while providing an extra discard outlet for Arclight Phoenix? Or am I crazy?

No way I'd be keeping Chalice in the 60 in G2/3 after board vs. BGx.

I'm not a fan of the 22 land lists, personally.

We don't want a Smasher or Seer to have to wait around in hand because we're mana constrained. And unlike any other deck, all our lands have spells attached to them, so flood is less of an issue. Make your 23rd land a Mutavault or Blinkmoth Nexus and you should be good to go.

But we already don't always exile seven.