I am ok with keeping hands like the above if you are on the draw. We will see 4 to 5 cards in which we need to find a land. I also agree on 18 lands.
Last Thursday I had a hard time beating Breach Valakut with 4 Chalices Main. They can kill your dorks, they can resolve a chalice on 2 rather quickly and finish the turn after. I managed to win game 1, but failed in game 2 and 3 due to chalice on 2 + cage. I was able to resolve a gifts but my piles were not good enough. That made me think about 'anti chalice on 2' piles. I was looking through some Sideboards and noticed that nearly everyone would just scoop to Chalice. Am I missing something here ?
A very good card could be Ingot Chewer because it only costs 1 to destroy the chalice. Another good card is shattering spree because all the copies won't be countered if there is also a chalice on 1. After that it is quite hard to find a good option which does not take your whole next turn. Probably Shatterstorm ? I often find it too slow. If you play gifts + shatterstorm you just timewalked yourself for 2 turns. I played Vandalblast on thursday because it is more flexible than shatterstorm. I just figured out that it can't be flashbacked with the overload option. Is noxious revival an option ? I don't really like it because it takes our next draw. However it is quite good on its own in control and midrange matchups.
I have now finished the deck in paper and tomorrow I am going to play at my LGS. I could not decide whether I wanted to have Merchant Scroll or Thought Scour. You all know the pros and cons.. I personally prefer consistency over speed, so the logical choice would have been Merchant Scroll, but then I heard about Peer through Depths, which I hadn't thought about.
My current configuration is now 1 Scroll, which is mainly a fifth gifts and 2 Peer through Depths. Peer helps to find the missing piece (if you have Baral/Electromancer already). The major difference is that it is an Instant versus just a sorcery and it is more flexible.
What do you think about the Death's Shadow Jund Matchup ? It can be very difficult, but I think we have a chance. Especially Empty plays a major role here. It is easier to set up lethal, even with a small storm count.
I don't have 3 Blood Moons yet, so I play Leylines instead for the moment. My boarding would be something like this:
-1 Grapeshot
-3 Remand
-1 Sleight of hand
+1 Empty the warrens
+3 Leyline of Sactity
+1 Echoing Truth
With Empty it is also easier to play around stuff like Surgical Extraction. Did anyone play against this deck and can confirm this boarding ? Echoing truth is mainly there to buy an extra turn or bounce Eidolon of Rhetoric. It also punishes our enemy if he does something like Death's Shadow, Traverse, Death's Shadow.
Tomorrow my Sideboard will probably look something like this:
3 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Dispel
2 Vandalblast
1 Echoing Truth
1 Into the roil
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Blood Moon
Is Blood Moon worth in this Matchup ? I see the point in boarding it, since it can totally wreck them. But on the other hand it could be too slow.. What are your Sideboards at the moment ? The Leylines disappoint me more often than not, but with such a strong new contender it is probably good enough. What are your experiences with Leyline ? How aggressive would you take mulligans ? This is definitely the hardest part.
I just played yesterday again in my local modern tournament. I became second and went undefeated 4-0 and 8-0 in games. This deck is insane and so much fun to play. Although I am not quite sure if I am just extremely lucky or good at what I am doing!
Round 1 vs. BW Tokens
This is a fairly good MU. They probably have 1 Path and Discard but that's it. Once a Titan hits the board it is often over. To my advantage my opponent did not even know what Amulet Titan is or is capable of doing.
In both games, I am just to fast besides his Thoughtseizes.
My boarding was something like: +2 Pyroclasm -1 Slaughter Pact -1 Radiant Fountain
Round 2 vs. Merfolk
Game 1 was a struggle since he pressured me quite hard and bounced my Titan with his Merfolk. Luckily he attacks so that he just has 2 CMC 2 blockers left. My play was then, cast Titan, give Titan haste, cast EE, pop EE and swing for the win. And all of that even without an Amulet.I needed to be quite tricky since I had to search up for a Gemstone Mine and a Bounceland to bounce the Gemstone Mine so that I have 2 different colours to cast EE on 2.
Game 2 was easy since he keeps a questionable hand without that much action. He has some lords but gets beat up by 3 Titans which I chain together.
Boarding was something along these lines: +2 Dismember +1 Pyroclasm -X (can't remeber)
Round 3 vs. Jeskai Control (janky version with Isochron Scepter)
Game 1 he doesn't even know what's up, I beat him very quickly.
In Game 2 I was very lucky, having 2 Amulets in my starting hand. The game ended even quicker.
I just boarded in 1 Spell Pierce and 1 Ancient Grudge and took out 1 Radiant Fountain and 1 Slaughter Pact
I wanted to draw at this point but we had three 3-0 at that moment with me being third. I got paired down, so I had to play.
I played vs. Kiki Evolution/Chord/Nahiri
Game 1 was difficult since I had a slow hand and he can remove my Amulet with a Pridemage. Turn three he dropps Nahiri, so my outs were exactly Azusa and Amulet. I drew both and after the game he told me that, if he had not drawn his Kiki-Jiki, he would have been able to combo off. Phew!
Game 2 was again very easy with a double Amulet draw and counterbackup for any of his Evolution tricks.
Boarding was: +1 Spell Pierce +1 Dismember -X
So in the end I had a 100% Game Score but only a 47% Oppscore All in all I think I got quite lucky with some of my draws and Matchups. Only Merfolk can be hard I guess, but all the others are walkovers. The Sideboard wasn't perfect but it did not really matter since you only board in a maximum of 4 cards at the same time. I will continue playing this deck and will probably play it at the MKM Event in Prague!
On Thursday I played this deck for the first time in paper in my local store's tournament. My list was not optimal, I tried to play the GP list with 1 Spell Pierce, 1 Spirit Guide, 1 Hive Mind, 1 Slaughterpact and 1 EE, but I had to exchange 2 of the 3 Azusas with Journey of Discovery. I still went 3-0-1 because we drew in the final round, so we would be first and second. We played out and I lost 1-2. so overall my record was 3-1.
1. Round against a UR Reservoir Deck
I kept a hand without Amulet, but with 2 Snakes and a Hivemind + blue pact. He put down the Reservoir on turn 3 and tried to combo off a tutn later but my pact of negation countered his ritual, so he just gained a bunch of life and passed the turn. I only spent the turn paying the pact and he could not finish me in his turn. So he was Hiveminded with a drawn Summoner's pact.
Game 2 I had double Amulet and a turn 4 winning titan after he Flame Jabbed my 2 Snakes.
I boarded in some Ancient Grudges to kill the Reservoir. I believe 1 Land and a Slaughter Pact had to go.
2. Round against Elves
I have a fast Hive Mind + Slaughter pact which was just enough, since he pressured me with a bunch of Elves + a Lord.
In game 2 he quickly build a critical mass, which could have been lethal if he had a lord in hand. I had a snake + amulett in play and a Tolaria West in Hand. So I could either search a Titan and cast it or search an EE and blow up his but also my own board. I decide to get the EE. It was definitely right because he had the lord in hand. After a couple of turns I get a Titan and win.
Bording was something like: +2 Pyroclasm +1 Gutshot +1 Flamejab and I think -1 Hivemind -1 Pact of Negation -1 Spell Pierce and -1 Cavern probably
Round 3 was against a Jeskai Flicker Deck
In game 1 I had Titan and Hivemind so I baited his Counter with a Titan and won when he tapped out with Hivemind + Summoner's Pact.
In the second game I had a Hornet Queen which checked his Kitchen Finks and I finished the Game with a drawn Titan.
Boarding was just + 1 Hornet Queen +1 Bojuka Bog. I think I cut the EE and a Land.
The last round was versus a Grixis Pyromacer/Delver Deck
In Game 1 he has everything. A Pyromancer + a Gangler with Removal for my Titan.
In Game 2 chained Titans were enough to finish him.
In Game 3 he starts with Serum Visions and I can play the Amulet. He cast a Delver and passes. Now a can set up the Thragtusk in my hand with a Serum Visions showing me a Bounceland + Titan. Just when I thought I had enough to kill him, he reveals a Vandalblast wih his Delver and so he timewalks me quite hard and wins with a Delve Critter. It was still close but in the end he had 2 Lightning Bolts to finish me off.
All in all I was very happy with the list and my performance. I didn't like the Spirit Guide but I do like the Hive Mind. It won me so many games that I'll add a second one to my maindeck. I also liked Spell pierce. It often hindered my opponents countering or removing something. What is your call on a second Hive Mind ? And also what is your opinion on a GQ Main. I play a City of Brass in its place at the moment to maximize the potential turn 1 green or blue sources. What is your current Sideboard Configuration ?
Just getting started with this deck, I feel like the deck is very good if you have Amulet and kinda slow if not (no surprise there). What do you think of Trinket Mage ? I know it does not help to get Titan early but it helps to get the Amulet or the Engineered. I don't think Trinket Mage is super strong but could be a decent 1-off. Does anyone have experience with it ?
In regards to the bouncelands, do you want to have 2 boros garrisons ? Sometimes if they are stuck in my hand it hinders me to attack, even win. How do you handle such situations ?
Another question of mine is, how good Inkmoth Nexus is. I feel that it can be strong if you search for it in combination with kessig, so that the enemy needs the removal. On the other hand you can just chain titans with tolaria west at that point. What is your feeling about this combination?
Matt Ness played only with Titans in his list as wincons. Do you want to play more or be more consistent in game one with sleight of hand ? I feel like I want to have titans as wincon and 1 engineered explosives as flex slot.
At the moment I try the Matt Ness list -2 sleight of hand +1 Hive Mind +1 Engineered.
I am looking forward to read the new primer! Keep up the good work!
Gerry T who has a similiar Maindeck compared to Crypto cuts all Spell Snares and Remands. He also kicks Emrakul, which makes perfectly sense. He brings in Clique, that really puts pressure on them. Notable aswell: He leaves Timely inside. Are the blockers worth it ?
Against Infect he keeps in 2 Spell Snares, so probably -1 Emrakul +1 Spell Snare.
I will go with Surgical Extraction. It can be boarded in in all sorts of combo matchups but especially against dredge. Imagine taking their Bloodghasts, then they are left with about ~5 more threats for which we have Path, Anger and Nahiri. Another strength of Surgical Extraction is, that it can be flashbacked via Snapcaster. I think a mix of Timely, Anger and Surgical can be enough. However we still have to hope that non Gargadon lists will establish.
Last thursday I faced a non Gargadon dredge list. I have won 2-0 with Gerry Ts configuration. Timely was great and so was Path + Snapcaster. Postboard the Staticaster was unreal. Celestial Purge is ok at being a fifth path.
But isn't it better to Mana Leak/Spell Snare Plating, Ravager, Goyf, Eidolon ? Remand is obviously good versus any flashback spells and delve critter/spells, but how about 4 Mana Leak, 3 Spell Snare and probably 1 Logic Knot (or even Negate, since we can deal with creatures quite well) ?
It should definitely ok to question all the cards. And Remand for examle is a card which goes in like 50% of the postboard games, since it is overall not that great. It is not good against all the fast decks and in longer, grindier matches it becomes obsolet quite fast. Remand is probably better in the preboard games' because we have dedicated cards after boarding. In addition, if I recall correctly, Gerry T already cut down to 2 in the versus series.
While some questions come again and again, instead of reading through the last couple of pages, other discussions are necessary. As far as I remember there wasn't really much of a discussion about Remand. Even if it is right to play 3 copies of remand, which is likely to be, then it probably helps others to understand the deck better
I don't think a quick summary of the article is disrespectful to be honest. If you think about book reviews/summaries, it is nothing wrong about that..
Did anyone also notice how Gerry boards ? Never thought about cutting Emrakul or Nahiri or leaving in AV in those Match Ups. I can see that Gerry might be right, what is your oppinion ?
If I am correct, you cannot play Boom on your second turn targeting your Fetchland because you need 2 mana to play it. I haven't played versus Tron yet, but I imagine any of those combinations are winning moves: Stony Silence + Spreding Seas, Spreding Seas + Crumble to Dust, Crumble to Dust + Geist/Vendilion Clique, Stony Silence + Geist. Of course they still have outs, but they are very limited at that point of the game.
Boom // Bust is an option but it really hurts, if you don't have a fetch. If you get to untap with Nahiri, the game is almost over. Bust is often just winmore I guess.
I am a bit surprised that no body wants ancestral vision against elves. Of course they are fast and you need to take all their birds down, but vs control decks they often just try to outvalue the opponent with Coco and Lead the Stampede/Sylvan Messenger.
Also it is not clear what is meant by Zoo. For example against Big Zoo (with a higher curve and Plainswalker) I definitely want AV, but not against Bushwhacker Zoo.
I can imagine that AV is good in the Merfolk Matchup. There is no creature you want to bolt on turn 1, so a Vision suspended can be quite good there. This is probably only true for when you are on the play.
Your point was, that the metagame has not become any faster, which I tried to relativise. Both Bushwhacker and Suicide Zoo are newer decks. If you have a lot of fast deck at your local meta, I think it might be a good idea to cut down on AV.
Is there actually a card, which always is a good card ? I guess it is not even true for Nahiri or Lightning Bolt. Even if those are our Wincons. But that is a general problem in Modern. There are so many different decks, that deckbuilding becomes a lot different. This is the problem why there can't be a good Control deck (Control as in the old Jeskai or an Esper draw go), because you have to be grindy enough to win against the Midrange decks, but also have to have a lot of removal to win against hyper aggro. In a big tournament 3 Av is probably where you want to be at the moment, but at a local level, where a loss is more devastating standings wise, you have to tweak your deck.
Last Thursday I had a hard time beating Breach Valakut with 4 Chalices Main. They can kill your dorks, they can resolve a chalice on 2 rather quickly and finish the turn after. I managed to win game 1, but failed in game 2 and 3 due to chalice on 2 + cage. I was able to resolve a gifts but my piles were not good enough. That made me think about 'anti chalice on 2' piles. I was looking through some Sideboards and noticed that nearly everyone would just scoop to Chalice. Am I missing something here ?
A very good card could be Ingot Chewer because it only costs 1 to destroy the chalice. Another good card is shattering spree because all the copies won't be countered if there is also a chalice on 1. After that it is quite hard to find a good option which does not take your whole next turn. Probably Shatterstorm ? I often find it too slow. If you play gifts + shatterstorm you just timewalked yourself for 2 turns. I played Vandalblast on thursday because it is more flexible than shatterstorm. I just figured out that it can't be flashbacked with the overload option. Is noxious revival an option ? I don't really like it because it takes our next draw. However it is quite good on its own in control and midrange matchups.
My current configuration is now 1 Scroll, which is mainly a fifth gifts and 2 Peer through Depths. Peer helps to find the missing piece (if you have Baral/Electromancer already). The major difference is that it is an Instant versus just a sorcery and it is more flexible.
What do you think about the Death's Shadow Jund Matchup ? It can be very difficult, but I think we have a chance. Especially Empty plays a major role here. It is easier to set up lethal, even with a small storm count.
I don't have 3 Blood Moons yet, so I play Leylines instead for the moment. My boarding would be something like this:
-1 Grapeshot
-3 Remand
-1 Sleight of hand
+1 Empty the warrens
+3 Leyline of Sactity
+1 Echoing Truth
With Empty it is also easier to play around stuff like Surgical Extraction. Did anyone play against this deck and can confirm this boarding ? Echoing truth is mainly there to buy an extra turn or bounce Eidolon of Rhetoric. It also punishes our enemy if he does something like Death's Shadow, Traverse, Death's Shadow.
Tomorrow my Sideboard will probably look something like this:
3 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Dispel
2 Vandalblast
1 Echoing Truth
1 Into the roil
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Blood Moon
Is Blood Moon worth in this Matchup ? I see the point in boarding it, since it can totally wreck them. But on the other hand it could be too slow.. What are your Sideboards at the moment ? The Leylines disappoint me more often than not, but with such a strong new contender it is probably good enough. What are your experiences with Leyline ? How aggressive would you take mulligans ? This is definitely the hardest part.
Round 1 vs. BW Tokens
This is a fairly good MU. They probably have 1 Path and Discard but that's it. Once a Titan hits the board it is often over. To my advantage my opponent did not even know what Amulet Titan is or is capable of doing.
In both games, I am just to fast besides his Thoughtseizes.
My boarding was something like: +2 Pyroclasm -1 Slaughter Pact -1 Radiant Fountain
Round 2 vs. Merfolk
Game 1 was a struggle since he pressured me quite hard and bounced my Titan with his Merfolk. Luckily he attacks so that he just has 2 CMC 2 blockers left. My play was then, cast Titan, give Titan haste, cast EE, pop EE and swing for the win. And all of that even without an Amulet.I needed to be quite tricky since I had to search up for a Gemstone Mine and a Bounceland to bounce the Gemstone Mine so that I have 2 different colours to cast EE on 2.
Game 2 was easy since he keeps a questionable hand without that much action. He has some lords but gets beat up by 3 Titans which I chain together.
Boarding was something along these lines: +2 Dismember +1 Pyroclasm -X (can't remeber)
Round 3 vs. Jeskai Control (janky version with Isochron Scepter)
Game 1 he doesn't even know what's up, I beat him very quickly.
In Game 2 I was very lucky, having 2 Amulets in my starting hand. The game ended even quicker.
I just boarded in 1 Spell Pierce and 1 Ancient Grudge and took out 1 Radiant Fountain and 1 Slaughter Pact
I wanted to draw at this point but we had three 3-0 at that moment with me being third. I got paired down, so I had to play.
I played vs. Kiki Evolution/Chord/Nahiri
Game 1 was difficult since I had a slow hand and he can remove my Amulet with a Pridemage. Turn three he dropps Nahiri, so my outs were exactly Azusa and Amulet. I drew both and after the game he told me that, if he had not drawn his Kiki-Jiki, he would have been able to combo off. Phew!
Game 2 was again very easy with a double Amulet draw and counterbackup for any of his Evolution tricks.
Boarding was: +1 Spell Pierce +1 Dismember -X
So in the end I had a 100% Game Score but only a 47% Oppscore
1. Round against a UR Reservoir Deck
I kept a hand without Amulet, but with 2 Snakes and a Hivemind + blue pact. He put down the Reservoir on turn 3 and tried to combo off a tutn later but my pact of negation countered his ritual, so he just gained a bunch of life and passed the turn. I only spent the turn paying the pact and he could not finish me in his turn. So he was Hiveminded with a drawn Summoner's pact.
Game 2 I had double Amulet and a turn 4 winning titan after he Flame Jabbed my 2 Snakes.
I boarded in some Ancient Grudges to kill the Reservoir. I believe 1 Land and a Slaughter Pact had to go.
2. Round against Elves
I have a fast Hive Mind + Slaughter pact which was just enough, since he pressured me with a bunch of Elves + a Lord.
In game 2 he quickly build a critical mass, which could have been lethal if he had a lord in hand. I had a snake + amulett in play and a Tolaria West in Hand. So I could either search a Titan and cast it or search an EE and blow up his but also my own board. I decide to get the EE. It was definitely right because he had the lord in hand. After a couple of turns I get a Titan and win.
Bording was something like: +2 Pyroclasm +1 Gutshot +1 Flamejab and I think -1 Hivemind -1 Pact of Negation -1 Spell Pierce and -1 Cavern probably
Round 3 was against a Jeskai Flicker Deck
In game 1 I had Titan and Hivemind so I baited his Counter with a Titan and won when he tapped out with Hivemind + Summoner's Pact.
In the second game I had a Hornet Queen which checked his Kitchen Finks and I finished the Game with a drawn Titan.
Boarding was just + 1 Hornet Queen +1 Bojuka Bog. I think I cut the EE and a Land.
The last round was versus a Grixis Pyromacer/Delver Deck
In Game 1 he has everything. A Pyromancer + a Gangler with Removal for my Titan.
In Game 2 chained Titans were enough to finish him.
In Game 3 he starts with Serum Visions and I can play the Amulet. He cast a Delver and passes. Now a can set up the Thragtusk in my hand with a Serum Visions showing me a Bounceland + Titan. Just when I thought I had enough to kill him, he reveals a Vandalblast wih his Delver and so he timewalks me quite hard and wins with a Delve Critter. It was still close but in the end he had 2 Lightning Bolts to finish me off.
All in all I was very happy with the list and my performance. I didn't like the Spirit Guide but I do like the Hive Mind. It won me so many games that I'll add a second one to my maindeck. I also liked Spell pierce. It often hindered my opponents countering or removing something. What is your call on a second Hive Mind ? And also what is your opinion on a GQ Main. I play a City of Brass in its place at the moment to maximize the potential turn 1 green or blue sources. What is your current Sideboard Configuration ?
In regards to the bouncelands, do you want to have 2 boros garrisons ? Sometimes if they are stuck in my hand it hinders me to attack, even win. How do you handle such situations ?
Another question of mine is, how good Inkmoth Nexus is. I feel that it can be strong if you search for it in combination with kessig, so that the enemy needs the removal. On the other hand you can just chain titans with tolaria west at that point. What is your feeling about this combination?
Matt Ness played only with Titans in his list as wincons. Do you want to play more or be more consistent in game one with sleight of hand ? I feel like I want to have titans as wincon and 1 engineered explosives as flex slot.
At the moment I try the Matt Ness list -2 sleight of hand +1 Hive Mind +1 Engineered.
I am looking forward to read the new primer! Keep up the good work!
1 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Nahiri, the Harbinger
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Mana Leak
4 Path to Exile
3 Remand
2 Spell Snare
3 Ancestral Vision
4 Serum Visions
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Arid Mesa
3 Celestial Colonnade
4 Flooded Strand
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
2 Sulfur Falls
1 Izzet Staticaster
2 Rest in Peace
2 Spreading Seas
1 Celestial Purge
1 Dispel
2 Negate
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Crumble to Dust
Against Infect he keeps in 2 Spell Snares, so probably -1 Emrakul +1 Spell Snare.
Last thursday I faced a non Gargadon dredge list. I have won 2-0 with Gerry Ts configuration. Timely was great and so was Path + Snapcaster. Postboard the Staticaster was unreal. Celestial Purge is ok at being a fifth path.
While some questions come again and again, instead of reading through the last couple of pages, other discussions are necessary. As far as I remember there wasn't really much of a discussion about Remand. Even if it is right to play 3 copies of remand, which is likely to be, then it probably helps others to understand the deck better
Did anyone also notice how Gerry boards ? Never thought about cutting Emrakul or Nahiri or leaving in AV in those Match Ups. I can see that Gerry might be right, what is your oppinion ?
Boom // Bust is an option but it really hurts, if you don't have a fetch. If you get to untap with Nahiri, the game is almost over. Bust is often just winmore I guess.
Also it is not clear what is meant by Zoo. For example against Big Zoo (with a higher curve and Plainswalker) I definitely want AV, but not against Bushwhacker Zoo.
I can imagine that AV is good in the Merfolk Matchup. There is no creature you want to bolt on turn 1, so a Vision suspended can be quite good there. This is probably only true for when you are on the play.
Is there actually a card, which always is a good card ? I guess it is not even true for Nahiri or Lightning Bolt. Even if those are our Wincons. But that is a general problem in Modern. There are so many different decks, that deckbuilding becomes a lot different. This is the problem why there can't be a good Control deck (Control as in the old Jeskai or an Esper draw go), because you have to be grindy enough to win against the Midrange decks, but also have to have a lot of removal to win against hyper aggro. In a big tournament 3 Av is probably where you want to be at the moment, but at a local level, where a loss is more devastating standings wise, you have to tweak your deck.