Vs Affinity (1-2) Total: 0-1
Game 1: Did him dirty as our deck should. He also flooded.
Game 2: Kept double mountain no black, lost to fliers and double plating. Should’ve shocked in a blood crypt because I miscounted my black sources.
Game 3: Drew Lili + 2 Pyro + 3 Reveler. He had 2 platings again, and I didn’t draw any removal other than a push. Game 2 only saw an EE and a bolt, so just didn’t draw enough removal.
Round 2 vs Grixis DS (2-0) Total: 1-1
Game 1: Opponent didn’t de-sideboard, game loss for him.
Game 2: He takes a ton of damage, I chump forever, and then he goes to 7 and I go bolt, bolt, attack with a spirit.
Round 3 vs Jund (2-0) Total 2-1
Game 1: He has to choose between killing pyro or moon with his decay off elf, he chooses moon because of triple ravine, but I draw 3 revelers and ended with 2 Pyros and hardcassted souls into flashback.
Game 2: I have ALL the removal but not threat until 4. He kept a 1 lander, gets a second one turn 3, but never sees another. Eventually my souls + reveler kill him.
Round 4 vs Jeskai Control (2-1) Total: 3-1
Game 1: Thoughtseize turn 1, I leave him with Azcanta and double logic. He slams Azcanta on 2, and I Blood Moon on 3. He doesn’t play magic until I end.
Game 2: I don’t really have a whole lot, we durdle a bit. He slams Lyra (Baneslayer angel???) and Teferi and I lose.
Game 3: I play turn 1 thoughtseize after he mulls, then I play double looting and find a blood moon. Slam it turn 3, he fetched a mountain in response. Turn 4 I Molten Rain him off his only island, and then he doesn’t play magic until I find a reveler and souls a few turns later.
Round 5: vs affinity (2-0) Total: 4-1
Game 1: Drew ALL THE REMOVAL. Won after a grind when I found a threat.
Game 2: He blood mooned me...? And went to 5 with mostly lands and I K-Commanded his only card in hand (Karn) and I won after finding threats.
Round 6 vs Tron (1-1-1) Total: 4-1-1
So, going into this game: I got paired down. If I win or draw I'm into top 8. However, my opponent can win and get into top 8. So I have to play it out, which leads to my tilt game 1....
Game 1: Turn 1: I looting, discard moon + land and am left with a mediocre land. He goes turn 1 Urza's Mine into egg. I think great, my first chance to make top 8 and I have to play vs. tron...Moving on: I thoughtseize Ugin turn 4, Karn turn 5, and he has trouble getting tron setup. I went through like 4-5 Pyro (2 from Last hope) and o-stone and Kozileks’s return blew me out. So he’s at 6. I have 3 lands, and like bolt, tap land, looting. I go looting and keep bolt, tap land, and shock. I play the tap land (which means I can’t flashback souls that turn) to try to draw the 4th bolt off the flashback of my looting. I do exactly that. play the shock land, and cast double bolt for game 1 win vs tron.
Game 2: We grind for like 35 mins. He Karn's the blood moon, I molten rain him and keep him off Tron for a while. Then I punt. If I would've waited 1 turn for faithless looting, I could've kept dreadbore + bolt. But instead I do it one turn where I'm left with 2 cards in hand, so I have to discard bolt. My opponent ended the game at 3, 3 turns later...
Game 3: We have 4 minutes left. I make some mistakes trying to play quick, but I get two pyromancer's out and play through his o-stone. He's at 2, while I have 2 spirits out. He could carn one, and go to one, but then he is dead to ANY burn spell (which I played 0 so far), so K-command, Bolt, Molten Rain are all live draws. He has a wurmcoil in hand, so he thinks if he slams it next turn, he would win after it connect. But that gives me 2 turns to draw a burn spell. In the end, we draw, which is what I needed to top 8 (neither of us would concede).
So, 46 people, cut to top 8, and I get 7th.
Top 8: vs. Dredge (2-1)
Game 1: Dredge. He does his thing. He misses on bloodghast until the bottom 15 cards, so I thought I had a chance because he kept getting bad dredges, but in the end couldn't make it work.
Game 2: Turn 2 he has 11 power out (3 Amalgam + Bloodghast). I go turn 3 slam Anger of the Gods (kept a mull with 2 lands + looting + anger, drew 3rd land on turn 3). After that, Hazoret does work with blocking, and I chip away with spirits. Eventually he alpha strikes, but doesn't think about Hazoret's ability, and I kill him from 12 on a backswing.
Game 3: I have a tough choice, leave up turn 2 Rakdos Charm, or play a pyromancer to clock him. I leave up rakdos charm, and hit 3 dredgers, an amalgam, and a narcomeba. I then play a pyromancer, and have 1 more in hand, and 2 Manamorphose. I only have 3 lands, but if I draw another land I can live the dream. My opponent keeps chipping at me, I miss on a land, play pyro, and pass. Then the miracle turn happens. I go Manamorphose -> Manamorphose -> Lingering Souls, and had 14 power in play. He attacks out (because the ghasts can't block) and then I alpha strike him back for exactly lethal!!
Top 4: Split, money too much to pass up, I wanna go home, long day, and I used up all my luck drawing my graveyard hate in the last game. Good day of Magic.
Final Thoughts: Blood Moon is still amzing. Not sold on 2 K-Command only, the Lili Last hope, or Rabblemaster. 2 Manamorphose + 20 lands, was nice. Core of the deck still fantastic.
Firstly, thank you FlyingDelver for telling me to stick with young pyro. Went to an FNM last night and the deck did serious work (even beat Tron 2-0).
My only loss of the evening was to boggles. The matchup didn't feel even slightly close (mainboard leylines are a beating game 1). I have a crackling doom and a Liliana of the Veil in the sideboard, but I got totally steamrolled.
Is this just a bad matchup or is there something we can do other than sideboard more copies of crackling doom?
Sideboard for bogels: Wear // Tear & EE are the best two options in my testing. I think crackling doom can be too narrow. Matchup is definitely not favorable for us, but I've been able to squeak out some wins.
@Algernone25 Well its a good thing that the best / second best deck in the format also happens to play Faithless Looting, so it is a good thing they don't always know what we are playing from turn 1 looting!
Easy answer: Blood Moon is free win vs. Knightfall comobo. I have yet to lose a match to this deck, mostly off the back of bolt the bird and slam blood moon. Another example: on the play vs. Jeskai, they go turn 2 Search, we go turn 3 blood moon, cuts off 1-2 colors and then if its games 2/3 I can molten rain their 1-of plains.
EE & Anger of the Gods are very good cards vs. Elves and we have a lot of spot removal to kill lords / payoffs, very far from an unwinnable matchup.
Can't really tell if you are being serious when you say things like, "I'm trying to make this deck work, but I can't," or if you are just trying to spew nonsense (like your Young Pyro and "Go wide" comments). If you want to get better, you have to play the deck. Also watching videos of other people play the deck and maybe see some new lines you would not have seen (ie. watching Gerry Thompson vs. Humans, his use of Collective Brutality was very interesting and I learned a lot about the matchup from watching him).
For some reason I can't load the picture, but Mardu Pyro got 22nd at the GP! I didn't see it listed for Day 2, so I didn't even realize someone made it. Interesting notes: 3 Moons main (!!!???), 0 LOTv in the 75, 1 Hazoret side (so 12 threats only in the main).
Thanks! If you check the last page / my signature I have my list there, pretty standard stuff, gonna be running more Hazoret now because I probably won't have LOTV (my friend said he might lend them to me for GP Hartford tho, so fingers crossed!).
Pretty good result! As for Blood Moon, that's sort of the reason it was played initially. It's sort of a free win card sometimes. just shuts off enough of your opponents things that allows you to either get super far ahead or incrementally gain advantages all over the place. It's just not a great card in general though in the deck.
Congrats on the finish though.
Thanks! I get that blood moon doesn't always trade 1 for 1 like we want in this deck, but I think it is very good vs. Jeskai & Jund, and it trades for either removal (only Pulse for Jund, and sometimes the 2 mana exile a red/black card from Jeskai, but even then it trades). I kept it in because knowing the shop was very heavy control/midrange, and it worked out in those matchups, so I still think it is worthwile for the main deck, but as always that's up for debate and both sides have merit.
2. LOTV: I’m gonna be sad I have to return these to my friend, maybe I’ll play a hazoret and a last hope, but LOTV did work, eating cards, edict effect was strong, and her ultimate won me a game. Only awkward thing, sometimes I didn’t plus because I needed the cards in my hand. Maybe I’ll test a Nahiri to fill a similar role?
Its not mandatory to tick up Lili every turn! Don't force yourself to do it if you need the cards.
Yea I definitely didn't! I was just commentating that was the only awkward part of her sometimes. But it never mattered, because she was usually dead by more than 1 point of damage when I wouldn't tick her up. I'm debating on using a Nahiri in her spot, because she fills a similar role but for more mana, but I think that is a little loose so not totally sold yet. If LOTV price goes down / reprinted, I'm definitely picking some up tho!
I plan on sticking to a list pretty similar to my IQ one, but with upgrades to the sideboard as I get some explosives, and I'm going to try 1 Dire Fleet Daredevil because it seems sweet. I also picked up some Traverses to play around with, so we'll see how 4c feels, but I was doing a bit of testing with it proxied and it felt super shady due to the manabase. The other version I might also try out is Mardu Shadow, because that also seems like it could be pretty decent and improves the burn matchup a lot. But that deviates a bit from the Mardu Pyro standard so I probably won't be on that list for long.
Round 1 vs Grixis control (2-1)
Game 1: We were pretty even, until JTMS came down and I couldn’t deal with it in a timely fashion, and then he slams a Keranos...and I lose three turns later.
Game 2: He kept a two lander and I IoK a cantrip, and turn 3 molten rain him. He stumbles on lands for a while, which allows me to get advantage and win.
Game 3: See game 2, but he doesn’t find a third land. Hazoret allows me to end quickly and is a threat he can’t terminate.
1-0
Round 2 vs Jund (0-2)
Game 1: 2 bloodbraid elves, a LOTV, a Last Hope, and finally a ravine killed me, I didn’t draw that well either.
Game 2: Was very even, we were trading one for one for a while, then I drew 2 lands and IOK, with nothing in play or in my hand and lost to BBE.
1-1
Round 3 vs UG Folk (2-1)
Game 1: Nuts hand, turn 1 discard, then 2 double looting (hold onto land so he pierces the first one), turn 4 pyro and reveler, turn 5 I had 2 morphose, 2 kill spells. He dies turn 6.
Game 2: He merfolks me, I quad block a lord, and he CoCo’s and blows me out, was not expecting that but I was going to lose anyway, he just drew more threats than I had removals for.
Game 3: Lili comes down turn 3, turn 4 I have reveler. I knew he had coco in hand, and he topdecked a land turn 4, but it was a botanical sanctum that came in tapped. I Lili ultimate him and kill 2 lands, leaving him with vial and 2 lands. He scoops to my reveler the next turn.
2-1
Round 4 vs 4 color Retreat combo (2-0)
Game 1: Blood moon won me this game, went to like 4 life but stabilized with reveler and pyro tokens blocking his voices, he couldn’t get out of blood moon.
Game 2: We both have slow starts, I keep a slow hand of 4 lands and a spellbomb. He starts with leyline, and I cry, I didn’t side in wear // tear. We grind, I go to like 5, I had double pyromancer on turn 4 and he didn’t kill them, which allowed me to chump forever and he never finds Knight, so I win.
3-1
Round 5 vs Jeskai Geist? (2-0)
Game 1: I eat his hand with discard, and blood moon and reveler clean up after I drop to like 7.
Game 2: Blood moon him like turn 4. I try to oust his snap, he restoration angels it, but doesn’t use its ETB to oath on of my dudes. Resto brings me to 1, I win with 2 revelers on the board, by going looting, manamorphose, kommand to shock him and win. He complained to me that I was slow rolling him, but I was nervous and didn’t want to mess up the math, and am not used to killing opponents at 13 with 2 Revelers out. I think he was just salty because he only played 1 spell game 1, and like 5 game 2.
4-1
Round 6 vs Grixis Delver (Kevin Jones) (0-2)
Kevin Jones sits across from me, as I’m already a little shaky as one more match win means I at least top 16. I’ve been a huge fan of his, so it was fun to have a match with him. I know he’s on grixis delver, which leads to a bad game 1...
Game 1: kept a risky 7 of push, 3iok, crypt, looting, and I think reveler. Second land came on turn 3, third didn’t come because a fish killed me. I definitely think keeping that hand was risky, and I thought I’d try it because of decent disruption and looting, but probably should’ve mulled it.
Game 2: First hand no lands, second hand almost no interaction, so I went to 5. I grinded a long time thanks to souls, but Last Hope ruined me, then he had unanswered pyro and had a tasigur which he could activate. I draw 2 late game revelers that aren’t enough to save me from the pyro swarm.
4-2
(Note, talked to Kevin after the match, he said we should try direfleet, it would be been great that match, and I have some spots in my sideboard that didn’t really go so well so.....maybe? xD)
This is it, I know my breaker are AWFUL, so me being the one 5-2 in top 8 is impossible, so I fight on to avenge my friends who all dropped and attempt for the top 16....
Round 7 vs Jund (2-1)
Game 1: IOK into moon on 3, they only had 1 black, he doesn’t cast any more spells.
Game 2: don’t really remember, i mulled to 5 or 6 and lost to double LiLi and 1-2 BBE, wasn’t looking good at any point.
Game 3: We trade one for ones forever, seriously this was a long game they we grinded thru lands, removal, threats, PWs, etc. I go to like 7, and draw souls and LOTV off a lotting. The souls chimp while LOTV eats his last cards and edicts him twice. Then I draw reveler which draws souls, and then get another reveler to end the game.
(5-2)
First modern event, and I ended 5-2 and at 12th place! Was a tough fight, and I made some mistakes, but the field was what I expected and the deck felt good vs this field. So top cards:
1. Blood Moon single handily won me several games, I’m glad I left it in. I still think it’s good vs. control and Jund. Along with this, the land tax package of Molten Rain also performed well.
2. LOTV: I’m gonna be sad I have to return these to my friend, maybe I’ll play a hazoret and a last hope, but LOTV did work, eating cards, edict effect was strong, and her ultimate won me a game. Only awkward thing, sometimes I didn’t plus because I needed the cards in my hand. Maybe I’ll test a Nahiri to fill a similar role?
3. Manamorphose: this card with pyro out it nutty, I didn’t live the dream enough, but did it a few time. Super good with reveler and making black or white mans under moon. Amazing card, and I got some funny looks from my opponent after casting it sometimes which made me smile.
Overall, I think I need to work on mulligans and sideboarding. Hazoret didn’t perform that well, but just as a threat she was fine. Surgical and Wear//Tears did nothing, but that’s just because of the field. I dodged the 2 Tron players, but didn’t face either of the affinity players who also got top 16, maybe there is a world where I faced an affinity player instead of Kevin jones and I make top 8, but oh well. I’m happy with the results. I can answer any sideboard choices, or anything else if people wanna know.
Totally didn't think about Leyline, and with my having 2 LOTV for this tournament, that seems very good to be able to kill Leylines, I'll probably bring 2 in my sideboard. Not sure if I can fit a second Kambal, would mean I would have to go off of all my spellbombs, unless I went down to 2 Surgicals.
I'd just play (2) Dreadbore. You're casting your spells sorcery speed anyways. There's almost no downside with a huge upside.
Also, I love Kambal. He helps the burn match up and the storm match up. Both of which I think are particularly poor for this deck. I am on 2 copies in my board now because of that. Just my opinion though. I've all but given up on a lot of the bad match ups and have primarily started focusing on making the rest of my games better against decks that we aren't as bad against. Tron is always going to be a problem and there's not a whole lot you can do about it except try to be lucky so I have no dedicated tron SB hate (BM in this case). I still have fulminators and molten rains but that's because they are also good against control. I still run GY hate because, well graveyard decks are always going to be around.
Burn and storm are bad matchups game one but get so much better post board. Kambal is an all-star against them.
Good point on dreadbore, I might just run 2 of those.
I feel like Storm isn't that bad, we have so much disruption, I wouldn't say its less than 45-55, and I would give us the 55 pre-board and higher post-board.
What's your sideboard look like? I'm thinking about 2 spellbomb 3 surgical, but that might be too much. I would have to make room to fit another 1-2 Kambal.
If I go down the Hazoret, I think 19 lands + 2 manamorphose should be enough. I'm not sold on Kambal but I've also never drawn it in my testings, so haven't really played with it yet lol.
@FlyingDelver Why 2 wear//tear, for bogles? I'm currently on one.
Also I think I'm gonna do 1 LOTV main, with 1 LOTV and 1 Hazoret side. I might only be able to get 1 LOTV, so might play a Last Hope in the sideboard for my second Lili.
Last thing I have is 2 spots for removal, what do you guys think about 1 dreadbore & 1 terminate vs. 2 dreadbore?
Thanks guy, I'll those in mind. Especially the spreading seas + only 2 swamps, good call and something that went over my head.
I'm working on my list now and will post my tentative 75 later, but what do you think about 2 moon 1 hazoret, 1 LOTV main? I'm most likely playing 19 lands with 2 manamorphose, 1 dreadbore, 1 terminate as most of the "flex" spots.
While I agree it is less good post-BBE, I still think Nuking their yard while cycling a card is good. That's why I like it vs. Jund.
I agree surgicals are nice against Tron, thats why I want to have more than 1 in the board, maybe 2-3? Not sure on numbers yet.
So I'm going to an IQ on Sunday, and apparently there is a lot of control in the meta. There is a chance of me borrowing 2 LOTV, should I play both? And any tips on things I should know playing vs. BBE Jund and Jace decks?
Why 2 Spellbomb / 1 Surgical split? No more Hazoret main? Why 2 Wear // Tear? I'm in a similar state with the graveyard hate, I'm just not sure what number of those is correct, but I really like spellbomb vs. Jund and surgical vs. other decks. Hopefully going to an IQ on Sunday, so I can represent, but we'll see if that happens.
Vs Affinity (1-2) Total: 0-1
Game 1: Did him dirty as our deck should. He also flooded.
Game 2: Kept double mountain no black, lost to fliers and double plating. Should’ve shocked in a blood crypt because I miscounted my black sources.
Game 3: Drew Lili + 2 Pyro + 3 Reveler. He had 2 platings again, and I didn’t draw any removal other than a push. Game 2 only saw an EE and a bolt, so just didn’t draw enough removal.
Round 2 vs Grixis DS (2-0) Total: 1-1
Game 1: Opponent didn’t de-sideboard, game loss for him.
Game 2: He takes a ton of damage, I chump forever, and then he goes to 7 and I go bolt, bolt, attack with a spirit.
Round 3 vs Jund (2-0) Total 2-1
Game 1: He has to choose between killing pyro or moon with his decay off elf, he chooses moon because of triple ravine, but I draw 3 revelers and ended with 2 Pyros and hardcassted souls into flashback.
Game 2: I have ALL the removal but not threat until 4. He kept a 1 lander, gets a second one turn 3, but never sees another. Eventually my souls + reveler kill him.
Round 4 vs Jeskai Control (2-1) Total: 3-1
Game 1: Thoughtseize turn 1, I leave him with Azcanta and double logic. He slams Azcanta on 2, and I Blood Moon on 3. He doesn’t play magic until I end.
Game 2: I don’t really have a whole lot, we durdle a bit. He slams Lyra (Baneslayer angel???) and Teferi and I lose.
Game 3: I play turn 1 thoughtseize after he mulls, then I play double looting and find a blood moon. Slam it turn 3, he fetched a mountain in response. Turn 4 I Molten Rain him off his only island, and then he doesn’t play magic until I find a reveler and souls a few turns later.
Round 5: vs affinity (2-0) Total: 4-1
Game 1: Drew ALL THE REMOVAL. Won after a grind when I found a threat.
Game 2: He blood mooned me...? And went to 5 with mostly lands and I K-Commanded his only card in hand (Karn) and I won after finding threats.
Round 6 vs Tron (1-1-1) Total: 4-1-1
So, going into this game: I got paired down. If I win or draw I'm into top 8. However, my opponent can win and get into top 8. So I have to play it out, which leads to my tilt game 1....
Game 1: Turn 1: I looting, discard moon + land and am left with a mediocre land. He goes turn 1 Urza's Mine into egg. I think great, my first chance to make top 8 and I have to play vs. tron...Moving on: I thoughtseize Ugin turn 4, Karn turn 5, and he has trouble getting tron setup. I went through like 4-5 Pyro (2 from Last hope) and o-stone and Kozileks’s return blew me out. So he’s at 6. I have 3 lands, and like bolt, tap land, looting. I go looting and keep bolt, tap land, and shock. I play the tap land (which means I can’t flashback souls that turn) to try to draw the 4th bolt off the flashback of my looting. I do exactly that. play the shock land, and cast double bolt for game 1 win vs tron.
Game 2: We grind for like 35 mins. He Karn's the blood moon, I molten rain him and keep him off Tron for a while. Then I punt. If I would've waited 1 turn for faithless looting, I could've kept dreadbore + bolt. But instead I do it one turn where I'm left with 2 cards in hand, so I have to discard bolt. My opponent ended the game at 3, 3 turns later...
Game 3: We have 4 minutes left. I make some mistakes trying to play quick, but I get two pyromancer's out and play through his o-stone. He's at 2, while I have 2 spirits out. He could carn one, and go to one, but then he is dead to ANY burn spell (which I played 0 so far), so K-command, Bolt, Molten Rain are all live draws. He has a wurmcoil in hand, so he thinks if he slams it next turn, he would win after it connect. But that gives me 2 turns to draw a burn spell. In the end, we draw, which is what I needed to top 8 (neither of us would concede).
So, 46 people, cut to top 8, and I get 7th.
Top 8: vs. Dredge (2-1)
Game 1: Dredge. He does his thing. He misses on bloodghast until the bottom 15 cards, so I thought I had a chance because he kept getting bad dredges, but in the end couldn't make it work.
Game 2: Turn 2 he has 11 power out (3 Amalgam + Bloodghast). I go turn 3 slam Anger of the Gods (kept a mull with 2 lands + looting + anger, drew 3rd land on turn 3). After that, Hazoret does work with blocking, and I chip away with spirits. Eventually he alpha strikes, but doesn't think about Hazoret's ability, and I kill him from 12 on a backswing.
Game 3: I have a tough choice, leave up turn 2 Rakdos Charm, or play a pyromancer to clock him. I leave up rakdos charm, and hit 3 dredgers, an amalgam, and a narcomeba. I then play a pyromancer, and have 1 more in hand, and 2 Manamorphose. I only have 3 lands, but if I draw another land I can live the dream. My opponent keeps chipping at me, I miss on a land, play pyro, and pass. Then the miracle turn happens. I go Manamorphose -> Manamorphose -> Lingering Souls, and had 14 power in play. He attacks out (because the ghasts can't block) and then I alpha strike him back for exactly lethal!!
Top 4: Split, money too much to pass up, I wanna go home, long day, and I used up all my luck drawing my graveyard hate in the last game. Good day of Magic.
Final Thoughts: Blood Moon is still amzing. Not sold on 2 K-Command only, the Lili Last hope, or Rabblemaster. 2 Manamorphose + 20 lands, was nice. Core of the deck still fantastic.
Deck: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/mardu-pyromancer-v12/?cb=1526265542
Sideboard for bogels: Wear // Tear & EE are the best two options in my testing. I think crackling doom can be too narrow. Matchup is definitely not favorable for us, but I've been able to squeak out some wins.
Easy answer: Blood Moon is free win vs. Knightfall comobo. I have yet to lose a match to this deck, mostly off the back of bolt the bird and slam blood moon. Another example: on the play vs. Jeskai, they go turn 2 Search, we go turn 3 blood moon, cuts off 1-2 colors and then if its games 2/3 I can molten rain their 1-of plains.
EE & Anger of the Gods are very good cards vs. Elves and we have a lot of spot removal to kill lords / payoffs, very far from an unwinnable matchup.
Can't really tell if you are being serious when you say things like, "I'm trying to make this deck work, but I can't," or if you are just trying to spew nonsense (like your Young Pyro and "Go wide" comments). If you want to get better, you have to play the deck. Also watching videos of other people play the deck and maybe see some new lines you would not have seen (ie. watching Gerry Thompson vs. Humans, his use of Collective Brutality was very interesting and I learned a lot about the matchup from watching him).
Thanks! If you check the last page / my signature I have my list there, pretty standard stuff, gonna be running more Hazoret now because I probably won't have LOTV (my friend said he might lend them to me for GP Hartford tho, so fingers crossed!).
Thanks! I get that blood moon doesn't always trade 1 for 1 like we want in this deck, but I think it is very good vs. Jeskai & Jund, and it trades for either removal (only Pulse for Jund, and sometimes the 2 mana exile a red/black card from Jeskai, but even then it trades). I kept it in because knowing the shop was very heavy control/midrange, and it worked out in those matchups, so I still think it is worthwile for the main deck, but as always that's up for debate and both sides have merit.
Yea I definitely didn't! I was just commentating that was the only awkward part of her sometimes. But it never mattered, because she was usually dead by more than 1 point of damage when I wouldn't tick her up. I'm debating on using a Nahiri in her spot, because she fills a similar role but for more mana, but I think that is a little loose so not totally sold yet. If LOTV price goes down / reprinted, I'm definitely picking some up tho!
I plan on sticking to a list pretty similar to my IQ one, but with upgrades to the sideboard as I get some explosives, and I'm going to try 1 Dire Fleet Daredevil because it seems sweet. I also picked up some Traverses to play around with, so we'll see how 4c feels, but I was doing a bit of testing with it proxied and it felt super shady due to the manabase. The other version I might also try out is Mardu Shadow, because that also seems like it could be pretty decent and improves the burn matchup a lot. But that deviates a bit from the Mardu Pyro standard so I probably won't be on that list for long.
Round 1 vs Grixis control (2-1)
Game 1: We were pretty even, until JTMS came down and I couldn’t deal with it in a timely fashion, and then he slams a Keranos...and I lose three turns later.
Game 2: He kept a two lander and I IoK a cantrip, and turn 3 molten rain him. He stumbles on lands for a while, which allows me to get advantage and win.
Game 3: See game 2, but he doesn’t find a third land. Hazoret allows me to end quickly and is a threat he can’t terminate.
1-0
Round 2 vs Jund (0-2)
Game 1: 2 bloodbraid elves, a LOTV, a Last Hope, and finally a ravine killed me, I didn’t draw that well either.
Game 2: Was very even, we were trading one for one for a while, then I drew 2 lands and IOK, with nothing in play or in my hand and lost to BBE.
1-1
Round 3 vs UG Folk (2-1)
Game 1: Nuts hand, turn 1 discard, then 2 double looting (hold onto land so he pierces the first one), turn 4 pyro and reveler, turn 5 I had 2 morphose, 2 kill spells. He dies turn 6.
Game 2: He merfolks me, I quad block a lord, and he CoCo’s and blows me out, was not expecting that but I was going to lose anyway, he just drew more threats than I had removals for.
Game 3: Lili comes down turn 3, turn 4 I have reveler. I knew he had coco in hand, and he topdecked a land turn 4, but it was a botanical sanctum that came in tapped. I Lili ultimate him and kill 2 lands, leaving him with vial and 2 lands. He scoops to my reveler the next turn.
2-1
Round 4 vs 4 color Retreat combo (2-0)
Game 1: Blood moon won me this game, went to like 4 life but stabilized with reveler and pyro tokens blocking his voices, he couldn’t get out of blood moon.
Game 2: We both have slow starts, I keep a slow hand of 4 lands and a spellbomb. He starts with leyline, and I cry, I didn’t side in wear // tear. We grind, I go to like 5, I had double pyromancer on turn 4 and he didn’t kill them, which allowed me to chump forever and he never finds Knight, so I win.
3-1
Round 5 vs Jeskai Geist? (2-0)
Game 1: I eat his hand with discard, and blood moon and reveler clean up after I drop to like 7.
Game 2: Blood moon him like turn 4. I try to oust his snap, he restoration angels it, but doesn’t use its ETB to oath on of my dudes. Resto brings me to 1, I win with 2 revelers on the board, by going looting, manamorphose, kommand to shock him and win. He complained to me that I was slow rolling him, but I was nervous and didn’t want to mess up the math, and am not used to killing opponents at 13 with 2 Revelers out. I think he was just salty because he only played 1 spell game 1, and like 5 game 2.
4-1
Round 6 vs Grixis Delver (Kevin Jones) (0-2)
Kevin Jones sits across from me, as I’m already a little shaky as one more match win means I at least top 16. I’ve been a huge fan of his, so it was fun to have a match with him. I know he’s on grixis delver, which leads to a bad game 1...
Game 1: kept a risky 7 of push, 3iok, crypt, looting, and I think reveler. Second land came on turn 3, third didn’t come because a fish killed me. I definitely think keeping that hand was risky, and I thought I’d try it because of decent disruption and looting, but probably should’ve mulled it.
Game 2: First hand no lands, second hand almost no interaction, so I went to 5. I grinded a long time thanks to souls, but Last Hope ruined me, then he had unanswered pyro and had a tasigur which he could activate. I draw 2 late game revelers that aren’t enough to save me from the pyro swarm.
4-2
(Note, talked to Kevin after the match, he said we should try direfleet, it would be been great that match, and I have some spots in my sideboard that didn’t really go so well so.....maybe? xD)
This is it, I know my breaker are AWFUL, so me being the one 5-2 in top 8 is impossible, so I fight on to avenge my friends who all dropped and attempt for the top 16....
Round 7 vs Jund (2-1)
Game 1: IOK into moon on 3, they only had 1 black, he doesn’t cast any more spells.
Game 2: don’t really remember, i mulled to 5 or 6 and lost to double LiLi and 1-2 BBE, wasn’t looking good at any point.
Game 3: We trade one for ones forever, seriously this was a long game they we grinded thru lands, removal, threats, PWs, etc. I go to like 7, and draw souls and LOTV off a lotting. The souls chimp while LOTV eats his last cards and edicts him twice. Then I draw reveler which draws souls, and then get another reveler to end the game.
(5-2)
First modern event, and I ended 5-2 and at 12th place! Was a tough fight, and I made some mistakes, but the field was what I expected and the deck felt good vs this field. So top cards:
1. Blood Moon single handily won me several games, I’m glad I left it in. I still think it’s good vs. control and Jund. Along with this, the land tax package of Molten Rain also performed well.
2. LOTV: I’m gonna be sad I have to return these to my friend, maybe I’ll play a hazoret and a last hope, but LOTV did work, eating cards, edict effect was strong, and her ultimate won me a game. Only awkward thing, sometimes I didn’t plus because I needed the cards in my hand. Maybe I’ll test a Nahiri to fill a similar role?
3. Manamorphose: this card with pyro out it nutty, I didn’t live the dream enough, but did it a few time. Super good with reveler and making black or white mans under moon. Amazing card, and I got some funny looks from my opponent after casting it sometimes which made me smile.
Overall, I think I need to work on mulligans and sideboarding. Hazoret didn’t perform that well, but just as a threat she was fine. Surgical and Wear//Tears did nothing, but that’s just because of the field. I dodged the 2 Tron players, but didn’t face either of the affinity players who also got top 16, maybe there is a world where I faced an affinity player instead of Kevin jones and I make top 8, but oh well. I’m happy with the results. I can answer any sideboard choices, or anything else if people wanna know.
4x Blackcleave Cliffs
2x Blood Crypt
4x Bloodstained Mire
3x Marsh Flats
2x Mountain
1x Sacred Foundry
2x Swamp
1x Wooded Foothills
4x Bedlam Reveler
4x Young Pyromancer
Sorcery (19)
2x Collective Brutality
2x Dreadbore
4x Faithless Looting
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
4x Lingering Souls
3x Thoughtseize
2x Fatal Push
3x Kolaghan's Command
4x Lightning Bolt
2x Manamorphose
Enchantment (2)
2x Blood Moon
Planeswalker (1)
1x Liliana of the Veil
Sideboard
1x Anger of the Gods
2x Collective Brutality
1x Hazoret the Fervent
1x Liliana of the Veil
3x Molten Rain
2x Nihil Spellbomb
3x Surgical Extraction
2x Wear / Tear
This is what I'm pretty sure I'm bringing. If I can only get 1 LOTV, a Last Hope, second anger, or Kambal will be in the sideboard.
Good point on dreadbore, I might just run 2 of those.
I feel like Storm isn't that bad, we have so much disruption, I wouldn't say its less than 45-55, and I would give us the 55 pre-board and higher post-board.
What's your sideboard look like? I'm thinking about 2 spellbomb 3 surgical, but that might be too much. I would have to make room to fit another 1-2 Kambal.
@FlyingDelver Why 2 wear//tear, for bogles? I'm currently on one.
Also I think I'm gonna do 1 LOTV main, with 1 LOTV and 1 Hazoret side. I might only be able to get 1 LOTV, so might play a Last Hope in the sideboard for my second Lili.
Last thing I have is 2 spots for removal, what do you guys think about 1 dreadbore & 1 terminate vs. 2 dreadbore?
I'm working on my list now and will post my tentative 75 later, but what do you think about 2 moon 1 hazoret, 1 LOTV main? I'm most likely playing 19 lands with 2 manamorphose, 1 dreadbore, 1 terminate as most of the "flex" spots.
I agree surgicals are nice against Tron, thats why I want to have more than 1 in the board, maybe 2-3? Not sure on numbers yet.
So I'm going to an IQ on Sunday, and apparently there is a lot of control in the meta. There is a chance of me borrowing 2 LOTV, should I play both? And any tips on things I should know playing vs. BBE Jund and Jace decks?
Why 2 Spellbomb / 1 Surgical split? No more Hazoret main? Why 2 Wear // Tear? I'm in a similar state with the graveyard hate, I'm just not sure what number of those is correct, but I really like spellbomb vs. Jund and surgical vs. other decks. Hopefully going to an IQ on Sunday, so I can represent, but we'll see if that happens.