I play UW these days, but I always love the elgance of the old mono U, well done sir!
couple of questions: 4 dictate 3 mines seems A LOT. even back when there was no jace we were running 4+2. i see you have no jace but you have narset that can dig. did you ever feel it was too many mine effects?
I'm super excited to play with kefnet, how did it go when you sided it in?
Remand is a card that lots of people aren't running anymore, how did it perform form you?
Hi doc!
First, the mines. It has been a time, approx. 2 years ago when we were playing 4+2 with 11 turns. With Narset coming into the deck, I felt that 4+3 was more efficient because the drawback of the mines is really tempered through her passive. 4+2 was the number because of the symetrical effects, now that it's not as symetrical as before, I feel quite fine with that setup.
I did side in Kefnet, I did not cast it. Against Hatebear, I got 2 Titi that transformed and it was enough not to cast Kefnet (and it is a bad synergy). Against Merfolk, Kefnet was just too expensive.
Remand has to be viewed, imho, as a pseudo-mine and tempo enabler. Everytime I can cancel an opp turn with it, I just cast it saying "Time Walk" and this is what it always feel like. Some matchups are not so free Remanding cards, that's why I have Negate and Commandeer in the sideboard.
Izzet Phoenix (2-0)
Game one i slam a Narset on turn 3 and game two opp did not draw his 2nd land until late. I cryptic a thing and bounce the 3rd land. Next I draw narset and he condedes.
-2 Remand -2 Snapcaster Mage
+2 Surgical Extraction +2 Chalice of the Void
Hi everyone ! I played a FNM two weeks ago and I went 3-1 and got 3rd place. I changed my last Howling Mine for a Mission Briefing as I really hate to drop a T2 Howling Mine on the board right now in my LGS metagame. Here's the new list :
Most of the games were really not pro-active and I won twice milling myself out, using my Cryptic to bounce my Dictates and end the game with only Nexus of Fate in the library. This set up works wonderful with Azcanta and I am considering going to 2 Nexus of Fate for more efficiency.
In my case, Azcanta gets transformed as soon as possible and it is in itself a Time Warp because we got a bonus land and when the game is closing, it helps finding Jace or another Time Walk effect to continue. It has been really wonderful and helpful.
Next thing to figure out is about the sideboard, I'm quite happy with it but I don't know if it could be any better
When Jace, the Mind Sculptor was unbanned, I switched my win-condition to it because it helps a lot digging the deck and it gives some help to get the board in check. Recentl, I added Nexus of Fate to the list and I haven't played much these days. I would like to here what you have to say about my list as I do not have much time to playtest by now and I will attend a PPTQ soon with it.
I am wondering :
1 - What were the decks you expected in this tournament ? I do not quite understand the sideboarding plan of yours
2 - What were the decks you really encountered ? What have you been sideboarding
Second,
The main deck is quite the same as usual. Did the couple of Drowned Catacombs help you in any way ?
Any advice when Mono U verus UW Hatebear? Thalia and Arbitor just wrecks the mana curve so much
Yes, this matchup is really hard and all you can do is wait to be able to get into your combo. Be sure NOT TO PLAY ANY mine effect before you are sure to start comboing otherwise they will have too much of an advantage.
My sideboarding plan is :
- 2 Howling Mine
+ 2 Spellskite
To be sure you don't get any PtE when you will aim for their life
I've been building this deck for quite some time now (since we knew we would go down to starting 20 HP).
The matchups are obvious, I can't merely win against Baby Jace but whatsoever, I think we should just give up on one matchup. But the tests went to my win 7-3 against Vial/Kraum. Yesterday, I've been playing against Geist of Saint Traft and I just lost 2-8 after a straight 6 loses. Since this series, I've changed some cards in the deck and I'd like your help to make this deck better.
Hi doc!
First, the mines. It has been a time, approx. 2 years ago when we were playing 4+2 with 11 turns. With Narset coming into the deck, I felt that 4+3 was more efficient because the drawback of the mines is really tempered through her passive. 4+2 was the number because of the symetrical effects, now that it's not as symetrical as before, I feel quite fine with that setup.
I did side in Kefnet, I did not cast it. Against Hatebear, I got 2 Titi that transformed and it was enough not to cast Kefnet (and it is a bad synergy). Against Merfolk, Kefnet was just too expensive.
Remand has to be viewed, imho, as a pseudo-mine and tempo enabler. Everytime I can cancel an opp turn with it, I just cast it saying "Time Walk" and this is what it always feel like. Some matchups are not so free Remanding cards, that's why I have Negate and Commandeer in the sideboard.
I Hope I was clear enough
4 Time Warp
3 Temporal Mastery
3 Part the Waterveil
// Mine-Effects (11)
4 Dictate of Kruphix
3 Howling Mine
4 Narset, Parter of Veils
// Interactions (14)
4 Gigadrowse
3 Exhaust
4 Remand
3 Cryptic Command
2 Snapcaster Mage
20 Island
1 Mikokoro, Center at the Sea
1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
1 Inkmoth Nexus
2 Chalice of the Void
3 Dispel
2 Surgical Extraction
2 God-Eternal Kefnet
1 Negate
2 Hurkyl's Recall
3 Thing in the Ice
Modifications are as bellow :
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Mission Briefing
1 Gigadrowse
1 Remand
1 Cryptic Command
I played against :
W Hatebears (2-0)
Did not cast Thalias, it was easier and Cryptic + Exhaust were the MVPs
-2 Snapcaster -1 Howling Mine -1 Time Warp -1 Temporal Mastery
+3 Thing in the Ice +2 God-Eternal Kefnet
Maybe juste had to cut 2 HM and a TM to keep TW as going off is easier with 4 TW.
RG Scapeshift (2-0)
Easy matchup, just have to keep counters to scapeshift and over-development cards while we draw to our turns
-3 Howling Mines -1 Remand
+1 Negate +1 Commandeer +2 Surgical Extraction
Merfolk (1-2)
The matchup is hard but not unwinnable. I think might have made a mistake G3 not wanting to put a Dictate and casting a Cryptic to a non lethal attack phase
G2 OTP : -2 Snapcaster Mage -4 Narset, Parter of Veils +3 Thing in the Ice +2 God-Eternal Kefnet +1 Surgical Extraction
G3 OTD : -4 Remand +2 Dispel +1 Surgical Extraction +1 Negate
Kefnet was not a good Idea
Izzet Phoenix (2-0)
Game one i slam a Narset on turn 3 and game two opp did not draw his 2nd land until late. I cryptic a thing and bounce the 3rd land. Next I draw narset and he condedes.
-2 Remand -2 Snapcaster Mage
+2 Surgical Extraction +2 Chalice of the Void
This week, I'm planning to go to LGS tournaments with Mono U Turns (as usual). Here's the list I'll play :
4 Time Warp
3 Temporal Mastery
3 Part the Waterveil
// Mine-Effects (13)
4 Dictate of Kruphix
3 Howling Mine
2 Search for Azcanta
4 Narset, Parter of Veils
// Interactions (14)
3 Gigadrowse
3 Exhaust
3 Remand
2 Cryptic Command
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Mission Briefing
20 Island
1 Mikokoro, Center at the Sea
1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
1 Inkmoth Nexus
2 Chalice of the Void
3 Dispel
2 Surgical Extraction
2 God-Eternal Kefnet
1 Negate
2 Hurkyl's Recall
3 Thing in the Ice
What are your thoughts about this list ?
4 Time Warp
4 Temporal Mastery
1 Nexus of Fate
// Mine Effect
2 Search for Azcanta
4 Dictate of Kruphix
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
// Interaction
3 Gigadrowse
3 Exhaustion
4 Remand
3 Cryptic Command
1 Mission Briefing
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Serum Visions
// Lands
1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
1 Gemstone Caverns
20 Island
1 Snow-Covered Island
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Dispel
3 Chalice of the Void
3 Thing in the Ice
1 Negate
2 Ceremonious Rejection
3 Damping Sphere
Most of the games were really not pro-active and I won twice milling myself out, using my Cryptic to bounce my Dictates and end the game with only Nexus of Fate in the library. This set up works wonderful with Azcanta and I am considering going to 2 Nexus of Fate for more efficiency.
In my case, Azcanta gets transformed as soon as possible and it is in itself a Time Warp because we got a bonus land and when the game is closing, it helps finding Jace or another Time Walk effect to continue. It has been really wonderful and helpful.
Next thing to figure out is about the sideboard, I'm quite happy with it but I don't know if it could be any better
When Jace, the Mind Sculptor was unbanned, I switched my win-condition to it because it helps a lot digging the deck and it gives some help to get the board in check. Recentl, I added Nexus of Fate to the list and I haven't played much these days. I would like to here what you have to say about my list as I do not have much time to playtest by now and I will attend a PPTQ soon with it.
Here's the list I'm currently playing :
1 Flooded Strand
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
15 Island
1 Snow-Covered Island
2 Gemstone Caverns
1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
// 9 Mines
1 Howling Mine
1 Search for Azcanta
4 Dictate of Kruphix
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Time Warp
3 Temporal Mastery
2 Nexus of Fate
1 Part the Waterveil
// 14 Interaction
3 Gigadrowse
3 Exhaustion
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Remand
3 Cryptic Command
// 4 Cantrips
4 Serum Visions
1 Surgical Extraction
1 Dispel
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Negate
2 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Damping Sphere
3 Thing in the Ice
1 Search for Azcanta
2 Spellskite
3 Thing in the Ice
1 Relic of Progenitus
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Swan Song
2 Negate
1 Dispel
1 Shadow of Doubt
2 Vendilion Clique
I am wondering :
1 - What were the decks you expected in this tournament ? I do not quite understand the sideboarding plan of yours
2 - What were the decks you really encountered ? What have you been sideboarding
Second,
The main deck is quite the same as usual. Did the couple of Drowned Catacombs help you in any way ?
My sideboarding plan is :
- 2 Howling Mine
+ 2 Spellskite
To be sure you don't get any PtE when you will aim for their life
I've been building this deck for quite some time now (since we knew we would go down to starting 20 HP).
The matchups are obvious, I can't merely win against Baby Jace but whatsoever, I think we should just give up on one matchup. But the tests went to my win 7-3 against Vial/Kraum. Yesterday, I've been playing against Geist of Saint Traft and I just lost 2-8 after a straight 6 loses. Since this series, I've changed some cards in the deck and I'd like your help to make this deck better.
-1 Fatal Push
-1 Berserk
+ Yahenni's Expertise
+ Radiant Flames
// Kills
1 Arlinn Kord
1 Fecundity
1 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Goblin Bombardment
1 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
1 Sarkhan Vol
1 Skullclamp
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Westvale Abbey
// Tutors
1 Dark Petition
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Intent
1 Crop Rotation
1 Expedition Map
1 Primeval Titan
// Ramp
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Coldsteel Heart
1 Cultivate
1 Dark Ritual
1 Golgari Signet
1 Gruul Signet
1 Kodama's Reach
1 Nature's Lore
1 Rakdos Signet
1 Talisman of Impulse
1 Talisman of Indulgence
1 Three Visits
1 Xenagos, the Reveler
1 Abrupt Decay
1 Chain Lightning
1 Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast
1 Dismember
1 Dreadbore
1 Go for the Throat
1 Hero's Downfall
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Nature's Claim
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 Putrefy
1 Terminate
// Mass Removal
1 Damnation
1 Fiery Confluence
1 Fire Covenant
1 Firespout
1 Languish
1 Radiant Flames
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Yahenni's Expertise
// Hand Disruption
1 Duress
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Thoughtseize
// Other
1 Goblin Dark-Dwellers
1 Mirri's Guile
1 Night's Whisper
1 Painful Truths
1 Read the Bones
1 Sylvan Library
1 Thragtusk
1 Arid Mesa
1 Badlands
1 Bayou
1 Blood Crypt
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Command Tower
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Grove of the Burnwillows
1 Llanowar Wastes
1 Marsh Flats
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
5 Snow-Covered Forest
2 Snow-Covered Mountain
5 Snow-Covered Swamp
1 Stomping Ground
1 Taiga
1 Temple of Abandon
1 Temple of Malady
1 Temple of the False God
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Windswept Heath
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Woodland Cemetery
4 Arbor Elf
4 Utopia Sprawl
4 Fertile Ground
4 Courser of Kruphix
// Prison Enchantments
4 Ghostly Prison
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Greater Auramancy
2 Journey to Nowhere
2 Sphere of Safety
// Wincon
4 Eidolon of Blossoms
2 Starfield of Nyx
2 Luminarch Ascension
1 Sigil of the Empty Throne
3 Kruphix's Insight
// Lands
3 Temple Garden
2 Canopy Vista
1 Horizon Canopy
6 Forest
4 Windswept Heath
2 Wooded Foothills
2 Nevermore
3 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
4 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Suppression Field
2 Seal of Primordium
I'm digging up this post because i fell in love with this deck and i want to share my feelings :
After reading this Primer, I totally changed my version to something more effective :
4 Aluren
1 Cavern Harpy
1 Dream Stalker
4 Imperial Recruiter
1 Man-o'-War
1 Parasitic Strix
1 Selkie Hedge-Mage
Toolbox
1 Eternal Witness
4 Baleful Strix
4 Coiling Oracle
4 Brainstorm
3 Preordain
Control
3 Cabal Therapy
4 Daze
4 Force of Will
Lands
1 Bayou
2 Forest
2 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Polluted Delta
1 Swamp
2 Tropical Island
1 Underground Sea
2 Verdant Catacombs
1 Taiga
4 Aluren
1 Cavern Harpy
1 Imperial Recruiter
2 Man-o'-War
1 Parasitic Strix
Toolbox
2 Eternal Witness
4 Shardless Agent
4 Living Wish
Draw
4 Brainstorm
3 Ponder
3 Preordain
4 Coiling Oracle
3 Cabal Therapy
4 Force of Will
Lands
1 Bayou
2 Forest
2 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Polluted Delta
1 Swamp
2 Tropical Island
1 Underground Sea
2 Verdant Catacombs
1 Taiga
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Cavern Harpy
1 Drake Familiar
1 Eternal Witness
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Man-o'-War
1 Parasitic Strix
1 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Selkie Hedge-Mage
1 Spellskite
1 Imperial Recruiter
1 Bone Shredder