I'm also giving Cobra-Valakut a try; I've never really liked it, but at least if I play an FNM with it and scrub out, then I'm at least a better-informed hater...
To those with experience with the Cobra variant, how do you typically sideboard vs. RDW, Vamps, and U/X control? Levin's list is probably a good example list to make sure we're all on the same page.
when are you going to pay 2 mana for naturalize? I would think you're always going to want acidic slime instead.
Against White Weenie Quest, Acidic Slime is usually not fast enough, whereas Naturalize is typically an auto-win. If your meta is Quest-heavy, it's a fine choice.
How are people dealing with Mimic Vat? Every UW and UB deck I see now is playing it, and we really don't want any of our guys underneath there. Rohkey brought up SB'ing in Naturalize and kinda got shot down, so what are other people doing to deal with this? Or am I just in an odd meta that everyone loves Mimic Vat?
I'm unfamiliar with MTGO; how long will these be available? Will they sell a set number and then stop, or sell them until a certain date, or will they just be around forever? Trying to figure out what kind of time frame I have for deciding whether or not to get one of these.
I'm having a heck of a time trying to figure out how to sideboard against all the major archetypes right now - not just what to side in, but what to side out as well. How do you combat the top decks (UW Control, Mono-Green Eldrazi, Fauna Shaman decks, the mirror match, etc?)
... In a lot of matches you'll probably be taking out an Avenger for the Wurmcoil in G2.
What matchups do you do this for? Serious question, not sarcasm; I'm having a really hard time trying to hammer out my sideboarding, and it's really helpful for me to see how other people are thinking.
Unrelated note, is anyone else having trouble winning against the WW Armor Quest deck? When the first untuned lists came out I could beat it really easily, but now that people are figuring out what hands to keep/ mulligan and how to optimize their builds, I've been having a lot of trouble with it; my girlfriend has been testing it with me since she's going to be playing it at States, and she's swept our last four matches (either by early Argentum lockdown or Kor Firewalker + Sword of Body and Mind beatdown). How are other people faring against this one, and how are you sideboarding to beat it?
How important are Summoning Traps in the maindeck, as opposed to SB'ing them? More often than not, I find myself SB'ing them out in favor of more big critters, but then again I haven't had the chance to play against heavy control that much. Are they a "make or break" card in those matchups? Or can we reasonably win game 1 without them and SB them for extra effect in game 2/3?
Thoughts on Wurmcoil Engine in the mirror? I've been liking it, because it draws a lot of fire if they want to keep a Primeval Titan alive for more than one turn, but my mirror match testing is still limited, so I'm wondering what others are thinking.
How are people SB'ing in the mirror? Not just what goes in, but what comes out as well? I've been experimenting with my number of maindeck Lightning Bolts (2-4) and cutting those in the mirror in favor of Wurmcoil Engines in an attempt to out-big-dude my opponent. Haven't tried the Memoricide strategy yet. Those who use it, how many do you board in? And what other sb options are people trying out (both successful and not, it saves us time to know what hasn't been working out as well).
Ironic card suggestions in the title; I decided last night that I was running Warp World tonight for probably the last time ever in a sanctioned tournament. God I love that card...
As a flavor junkie, I was very upset to see colored artifacts in Shards of Alara. The very definition of an artifact is that it's something that doesn't require a specific color of mana to play. WotC's done quite a few things lately that just screw with the game's fundemental rules, and it really bugs me because it really seems like it's just "for the hell of it."
I will say that more than any one card or mechanic or possible deck idea, my favorite thing about Scars of Mirrodin is that there are no colored artifacts.
Regardless of whether or not he should be banned, he won't be, because a ton of loyal players have shelled out $250+ for their set, and WotC doesn't want to piss those players off.
To those with experience with the Cobra variant, how do you typically sideboard vs. RDW, Vamps, and U/X control? Levin's list is probably a good example list to make sure we're all on the same page.
Against White Weenie Quest, Acidic Slime is usually not fast enough, whereas Naturalize is typically an auto-win. If your meta is Quest-heavy, it's a fine choice.
My current list for reference:
4 Evolving Wilds
4 Terramorphic Expanse
5 Forest
11 Mountain
4 Primeval Titan
2 Inferno Titan
3 Avenger of Zendikar
4 Khalni Heart Expedition
4 Cultivate
4 Harrow
3 Summoning Trap
4 Explore
Eldrazi Green Ramp:
-4 Lightning Bolt, -2 Inferno Titan, +3 Wurmcoil Engine, +3 Brittle Effigy
UW Control:
-4 Harrow, -1 Lightning Bolt, +2 Gaea's Revenge, +3 Wurmcoil Engine
Mirror Match:
-3 Lightning Bolt, +3 Wurmcoil Engine
Elves:
+4 Pyroclasm, +1 Burst Lightning, but what to take out...?
White Weenie Relic:
+4 Pyroclasm, +1 Burst Lightning, +2 Naturalize, but what to take out...?
Fauna Shaman decks vary based on colors...
Thoughts? Am I way off here? And what should I take out vs. Elves and White Weenie?
What matchups do you do this for? Serious question, not sarcasm; I'm having a really hard time trying to hammer out my sideboarding, and it's really helpful for me to see how other people are thinking.
Unrelated note, is anyone else having trouble winning against the WW Armor Quest deck? When the first untuned lists came out I could beat it really easily, but now that people are figuring out what hands to keep/ mulligan and how to optimize their builds, I've been having a lot of trouble with it; my girlfriend has been testing it with me since she's going to be playing it at States, and she's swept our last four matches (either by early Argentum lockdown or Kor Firewalker + Sword of Body and Mind beatdown). How are other people faring against this one, and how are you sideboarding to beat it?
I will say that more than any one card or mechanic or possible deck idea, my favorite thing about Scars of Mirrodin is that there are no colored artifacts.